As one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, Fort Worth welcomed a lengthy list of new restaurants, along with new residents, over the past year. And now it’s time for readers to choose which is best.
There are 16 contenders in this bracket-style tournament for the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Best New Restaurant title. Make your voice heard by voting for your favorite new Fort Worth restaurants during the four rounds of competition. You can vote once per day at this link through April 21.
The winners will be revealed at our awards party on April 23 at The 4 Eleven (411 S. Main St.) The culinary extravaganza will feature bites and sips from the nominees, who are being highlighted in our editorial series leading up to the event. A short-and-sweet awards ceremony will be emceed by chef Jon Bonnell.
Get your tickets here, and use the code TOURNAMENT15 for a $15 discount.
Here are the 16 nominees for Best New Restaurant. Let the voting begin!
Soy Cowboy
Flashy Pan-Asian concept from the B&B Butchers & Restaurant team anchors the ground floor of the new Loews Arlington Hotel. Named for a buzzy street in Bangkok called Soi Cowboy, the restaurant boasts sushi, tempura, wok dishes, robatayaki, hibachi, teppanyaki, Korean barbeque, and dim sum.
The Chumley House
Sophisticated European-style steakhouse, with its opulent old-world feel and luxurious intimate setting, is Duro Hospitality’s first venture outside of Dallas. Guests rave over signature dishes like beef Wellington, butter chicken pie, tenderloin stroganoff, and tallow popovers.
Crystal Springs Hideaway
Housed in a 100-year-old bungalow with a stone carriage house and water tower, this beer garden and burger spot features more than 25 taps, cocktails, and a wine and cheese shop. Burgers ground in-house, with toppings like seasonal jam and beer-battered jalapeno spears, come from former food truck Big Kat Burgers now permanently located on-site.
Cafe Americana
This downtown Arlington tapas-style cocktail bar and restaurant fuses flavors of Spain, Argentina, Peru, and the Caribbean. Signature dishes include yucca bravas, mussels with chorizo and white and seafood broth, Peruvian stir fry, and an array of empanadas.
Rex's Bar & Grill
This sports bar sibling to Ol’ South Pancake House opened just next door in January, serving an elevated menu of American dishes like Wagyu chicken fried steak, bayou Creole pasta, burgers, and brick-oven pizzas. Patrons are loving the family-friendly vibe and spacious covered patio area for game-watching.
The Blue Room
Hiding behind frosted glass doors inside The Crescent Hotel’s Emilia’s restaurant is this blue-hued, intimate fine dining experience with just a dozen or so tables and a luxe menu of Mediterranean dishes. Tableside experiences include filleted dover sole, carved rack of lamb, and caviar service.
Los Guapos
Angel Fuentes, Rising Star Chef winner at the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, opened this Mexican street food concept in the West 7th area serving his signature pozole along with gorditas, trompo tacos, tortas, quesadillas, and huaraches. There's also breakfast tacos all day and Sunday brunch with bloody Marias and micheladas.
The Sicilian Butcher
Modern Italian restaurant comes from celeb chef and concept king Joey Maggiore, who made his Texas debut in Alliance Town Center last summer. Known for its craft meatball Ferris wheels, scratch-made pasta, and lengthy charcuterie platters, the restaurant also boasts all-day happy hour and a gelato counter.
Bouvier Brasserie
French-Texas fusion all-day restaurant anchors the new Le Meridien Fort Worth hotel, led by CultureMap Fort Worth Tastemaker Award “Rising Star Chef” nominee Damian Lopez. Specialties include spicy sausage and camembert croquettes, Texas Wagyu and steak frites, crepes, quiche, and beignets.
La Cabrona
A colorful, flashy Mexican restaurant inside Crockett Street’s Artisan Circle, La Cabrona has breathed new life into the area with its chiles rellenos, shrimp and snapper dishes, carne asada, and chicken mole. Weekday happy hour and live mariachi music during the Sunday brunch buffet add to the fun.
Milo's Cocina Mexicana
Mid-cities Mexican restaurant is a cousin of Bedford’s Los Jimadores with a menu that spans beyond typical Tex-Mex. Dishes include salmon over shrimp chilaquiles with pineapple and poblano cream, mushroom chimichangas, and pan fried chicken with tequila cream sauce over chipotle mashed potatoes.
Fort Redemption
A food truck-turned-restaurant, this casual steak and barbecue destination has become known for its affordable entrees that rival high-end steakhouses in quality. Examples include rack of lamb, beef tenderloin, ahi tuna salad, and lobster tail over pasta.
Bocca Osteria Romana
Rome-inspired cuisine with an emphasis on house-made al dente pastas can be found at this cozy South Main District space, and diners are raving. Bocca has been a hot destination for classic cacio e pepe, lasagnas, gnocchi, spaghetti alla carbonara, osso bucco, and ravioli.
Son of a Baker Pizzeria
Located inside The Archibald bar downtown, this rooftop pizzeria comes from Rising Star Chef nominee Joshua Villegas, recently recruited to expand his concept to Rustic on the River, coming soon to the River District. Artisan pies include Mama’s Drunken Margherita with vodka sauce and The Angry Popper with jalapeno cream cheese ranch.
Whiskey Cake
The Dallas-based American tavern named for its signature sticky toffee cake dessert opened in Alliance Town Center last fall, bringing with it popular entrees like crab fritters, goat cheese fondue, and chicken and waffles. Brunch is busy and features crab Benedict and colossal cinnamon rolls.
James Provisions
Originated in Brooklyn, this Hurst concept has become a foodie destination for fine-casual cuisine by chef Deborah Williamson, a New York transplant who grew up in North Richland Hills. High-end health-focused dishes include roasted chicken with fennel and radicchio salad, crispy chickpeas, pink beet dip, and salmon tacos.
The CultureMap Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored by The Yuengling Company, Still Austin Whiskey, Hornitos, PicMe Events, and more to be announced. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Fort Worth Food and Wine Foundation.
