A New Era of Dining

Michelin Guide plates up first Texas picks, with 7 stars in Austin

Barley Swine was awarded one Michelin star.

The first ever Michelin Guide in Texas has finally made its picks known. At a black-tie event in Houston on November 11, the guide has announced that 47 Austin restaurants have won recognition.

To many, these are the most prestigious and coveted markers of a restaurant worth visiting. Others have questions about how locals should take outside opinions of their own local favorites. Either way, the presence of the Michelin Guide will doubtlessly change the Texas dining landscape.

After spending some time in Texas, the Michelin Guide’s famously anonymous reviewers have decided which restaurants are Texas' best. The guide is officially in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth.

Young Chef Award
A special award for a rising star with a promising young chef went to Edgar Rico of Nixta Taqueria, who gave a shoutout to Mexican immigrants.

Michelin stars
The peak Michelin distinction "awarded to restaurants offering outstanding cooking," according to the guide. One star is very good, two are excellent, and three are the best rating available.

One star: Barley Swine, Bryce Gilmore
One star: Craft Omakase, Charlie Wang and Nguyen Nguyen
One star: Hestia, Kevin Fink
One star: Olamaie, Michael Fojtasek
One star: InterStellar BBQ, John Bates
One star: La Barbecue, Alison Clem
One star: LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, Evan LeRoy and Sawyer Lewis

Bib Gourmand
"Restaurants that offer great quality food at good prices."

Barbs B Q (Lockhart)
Briscuits
Cuantos Tacos
Dai Due
Distant Relatives
Emmer & Rye
Franklin Barbecue
Kemuri Tatsu-Ya
KG BBQ
La Santa Barbacha
Micklethwait Craft Meats
Nixta Taqueria
Odd Duck
Ramen Del Barrio
Veracruz Fonda & Bar

Recommended
A step down from a star, but worth trying.

APT 115
Birdie's
Comedor
Con Todo
Dipdipdip Tatsu-Ya
Discada
Este
Ezov
Garrison
Jeffrey's Restaurant
Joe's Bakery & Coffee Shop
La Condesa
Launderette
Lenoir
Ling Kitchen
Lutie's
Maie Day
Mexta
Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen
Suerte
Tare
Terry Black's BBQ
Toshokan

Green stars
“Restaurants that are leaders in sustainable gastronomy.” Two Austin restaurants were the only green star winners.

Dai Due
Emmer & Rye

WHOM THE BELL SOTOLS

Poolside sotol bar splashes into high-end downtown Austin hotel

Photo by Jade Hammer

Cantero Austin.

Austin's thirst for desert spirits may not be precisely quantifiable, but there's no doubt it is on the rise. Over the last decade, several mezcal and tequila bars have popped up throughout the city. No wonder the Line Austin is eager to enter the game with its newest nightlife offering, Cantero.

Officially open as of November 12, it's the Capital City's first bar emphasizing sotol, a sibling spirit of mezcal made with the desert spoon plant instead of agave. The chic space, decorated with Mexican modernist neutrals, opens up to the downtown property's pool.

"When planning Cantero, we knew we wanted to highlight local ingredients and Texas spirits," explained Line head of creative Stefan Merriweather in a release. "Sotol, a regional gem, stood out as something we hadn't yet encountered in a dedicated bar, and we saw an opportunity to introduce our guests to something fresh and unexpected."

Although the bar stocks other spirits, it has one of the broadest sotol collections in the region. While Mexican brands like Flor del Desierto are featured, Cantero stocks Texan trailblazers like Desert Door and Marfa Spirit Co.

Guests can enjoy sotol via standalone tastings or mixed in signature cocktails like the Yucca with Aperol, lemon cordial, habanero bitters, and soda; or the Strelitzia with ginger, lemon, and lavender-honey soda. Other liquors anchor more sippers, like the Dahlia with mezcal, green pepper, sweet corn, and smoked chili bitters.

The lounge also enjoys proximity to the Line's outpost of Veracruz All Natural. Guests can soak up the booze with the entire taco and appetizer menu from the Austin favorite, located adjacent to Cantero.

Cantero is now open from noon to 10 pm Monday through Thursday, 10 am to midnight Friday through Saturday, and 10 am to 10 pm on Sunday.

Photo by Jade Hammer

Cantero is dedicated specifically to sotol.

nightlife hotels bars cocktails openings