After much anticipation, the best restaurants, bars, chefs, and more culinary superstars were crowned at our 2024 CultureMap Austin Tastemaker Awards.
For the past few weeks, you’ve read about all the extraordinary nominees for Austin's best restaurants, chefs, and bars of the year in our special editorial series, then voted for your favorite new restaurant in a bracket-style tournament. On Thursday, April 11, the winners finally were revealed.
Photo courtesy of Canje
2024's Restaurant of the Year: Canje
We came together with distinguished chefs, bartenders, and members of Austin's culinary scene, alongside hundreds of hungry fans, at Distribution Hall for our annual tasting event and awards ceremony. Guests sampled delicious bites from nominees and sipped drinks from our sponsors before our winners were unveiled by emcee Tim League. A portion of the event proceeds benefited the Wine & Food Foundation.
Our 2024 winners are a perfect representation of the city's spirited and diverse culinary scene. Without further ado, let's give a round of applause for our Tastemakers.
Rising Star Chef of the Year: Eli Rodriguez, Bufalina Due
If you've enjoyed the rustic and beautiful olive oil cake at Bufalina Due (or are now looking forward to enjoying it), you have executive chef Eli Rodriguez to thank. It's not all desserts for this well-rounded chef, though, who says on Instagram that rice is his "love language" and is a bit of a beverage connoisseur. The beauty of this pizza spot lies in the simple layering of dough, sauce, and toppings, so it's lucky to have someone giving those layers the care they deserve.
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year: Birdie's
Birdie's would be an enigma, were it not so upfront about everything. It's uncommon to see a counter service restaurant that's constantly lauded — even on a national level — for its upscale dishes and a well-respected wine program. But this restaurant commits to the laid-back vibes and does it well. It also switches the menu regularly and hosts occasional pop-ups, further ensuring that high-quality food is only a casual meal away.
Bar of the Year: Holiday
Holiday is a newer addition to Austin's restaurant and bar scene, but its owners are industry veterans that share a common interest in providing the best dining experience for all. Guests can relax on one of the couches in the lounge while they wait for their drinks, or they can take a seat at one of the shaded tables on the patio. Holiday is walk-in only, so there's no rush to secure a half-price cocktail on Sundays.
Bartender of the Year: Amanda Carto, Daydreamer
Amanda Carto spent six brilliant years as the general manager at Nickel City before setting off to open her own cocktail and champagne bar in fall 2023. She now serves as the beverage director of this aesthetic hangout on East Sixth, dreaming up an array of signature and inspired cocktails, wine and champagne by the glass, mocktails, and more.
Pastry Chef of the Year: Sarah McIntosh, Épicerie
A masterful knowledge and appreciation for French-Louisiana cuisine is what brought fame to Épicerie owner and executive chef Sarah McIntosh. While she's well known for her to-die-for beignets, Austinites also love her spin-off dishes, like her limited edition brisket-filled croissants made in collaboration with barbecue legend Aaron Franklin.
Brewery of the Year: Jester King Brewery
Located on 41 acres of beautiful ranch land in Dripping Springs, Jester King Brewery is a Hill Country treasure. It's a great place to relax and explore different beers, like the Demi-tone Farmhouse Ale, or perhaps a darker brew like the Black Metal Russian Imperial Stout. Its sprawling compound also makes for a fun country visit.
Wild Card: Best Patio – Cosmic Saltillo
This South-to-East spinoff of a popular coffee bar and beer garden is bigger than its original location, but similar in beauty thanks to its industrial nooks and foliage-filled crannies. Cosmic Saltillo seems made for a large gatherings, with a variety of seating choices like picnic tables, outdoor bar seats, and a whole second-floor additional patio that overlooks the rest of the garden. The otherworldly space looks imaginatively overgrown with lily pads, climbing vines, unconventional exteriors, and graffiti murals.
Best New Restaurant: Poeta
When the team behind Intero opened Poeta, they emphasized the stay-all-day attitude. Although the dishes are upscale, Italian cooking will always feel homey.
Chef of the Year: Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Birdie's
Family restaurants aren't always quaint and DIY. Chef Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel and her husband, "wine guy" Arjav Ezekiel, have really spread their wings at Birdie's, which is constantly snagging nominations and praise by national publications. Malechek-Ezekiel's European and fine dining sensibilities don't override the familial feeling, though. Her skills lead her straight to comfort foods and family recipes, and Austinites feel at home with the counter service approach.
Restaurant of the Year: Canje
This Caribbean restaurant's colorful reputation doesn't just come from its many fruits and roots. It's Chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph's enthusiastic vision that has charmed reviewers, from the country's top magazines to regular Austinites. There's much to say about tradition and its subversion (and there's much of the latter), but even diners who know nothing of the cuisine love the vibrant flavors. From spicy jerk chicken to sweet plantains, this menu will wake up any palate, no matter how informed.
