Here are the winners of the 2024 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. These bars, restaurants, and individuals represent the best of Houston’s culinary scene, as selected by our judges’ panel of former winners and local experts and revealed at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, March 27 at Silver Street Studios.
While some of them have earned recognition before, this year’s awards also recognized a few nominees who had received multiple nominations without taking home a prize. Extra congratulations to Pastry Chef of the Year winner Vanarin Kuch and Best Pop-Up/Startup winner Jane Wild on continuing to set a high standard for such a long time.
Finding a theme to unite the other winners is elusive. An upscale steakhouse edged out a to-go pizzeria for Best New Restaurant, and the city’s most ambitious fine dining restaurant took home the prize for Wine Program of the Year. Chefs and restaurants that had received recognition in one category took home a prize in another, a testament to both their evolution and continued excellence.
Regardless, Houstonians are fortunate to be living in a city with so many talented people who work so hard to make our restaurant scene as diverse and exciting as it is. All of this year’s nominees are worth visiting. We suggest patronizing any of them, especially for the first time.
Find the full list of winners below:
Rising Star Chef of the Year – Lucas McKinney, Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition
The Mississippi-born chef earned a top 5 ranking on Texas Monthly’s list of the state’s best new restaurants for this Midtown seafood restaurant. By blending childhood memories with his professional experiences working for Chris Shepherd and others, McKinney has created a compelling menu that honors classics like the shrimp po’ boy while also offering more modern fare like an Italian-inspired dish of steamed clams. More recently, McKinney has been earning raves for his crawfish, which are best enjoyed on Josephine’s patio.
Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year – Burger Bodega
Attention to detail helps sets this restaurant apart from other burger joints. That starts with the interior, which puts a cheeky, Houston-inspired spin on a New York City bodega — complete with shelves stocked with items from local vendors. Chef-owner Abbas Dhanani brings similar precision to his smash burgers, which are based on his extensive tastings in Los Angeles and New York. Thin, crispy patties, get topped with gooey cheese, grilled onions, housemade pickles, and a tangy sauce to create a mashup of textures and flavors that’s easy to devour. Guest chef collabs allow the restaurant to pay homage to its pop-up roots.
Bar of the Year – Refuge
With its dimly-lit room and lively atmosphere, Refuge is equally adapt at serving as a date-night stop or a destination for celebrations. Not only do the bar’s cocktails use premium spirits, they’re presented on linen bar napkins and served in elegant glassware. Then again, considering that three of its current or former bartenders are nominated for Bartender of the Year, perhaps it’s the staff that deserves most of the credit for Refuge’s success.
Bartender of the Year – Fabio Pontes, Bludorn
A veteran of restaurants such as Hay Merchant and Rosie Cannonball, Pontes has found a home behind the bar at Bludorn, where his friendly demeanor has made him a favorite of regulars. That commitment to service is what has kept him at the fine dining restaurant. Diners will get another opportunity to experience Pontes’ drinks at Bar Bludorn when it opens this week — Negroni with Jägermeister, anyone?
Wine Program of the Year – March
Not only does March have the largest cellar of any of this year’s nominees — a list that’s deep in select producers, large format bottles, and plenty of ways to splurge — it’s also the only one that offers wine pairings. The restaurant’s sommelier team brings in new bottles to match the menu biannual rotations, ensuring each pour enhances every dish.
Pastry Chef of the Year – Vanarin Kuch, Koffeteria
The talented chef first made a splash with an eye-catching Hot Cheetos croissant, but he’s gone far beyond that initial output. Now, he’s earning his just desserts as a Tastemaker Award winner at the same time that national recognition in the form of a semifinalist nomination for Outstanding Bakery in the James Beard Awards has shined a spotlight on the EaDo bakery. Like that organization, our judges acknowledge the work Kuch has done to honor his Cambodian heritage both through his pastries and by cooking alongside members of his family for sit-down dinners.
Best Pop-up/Startup – Jane Wild
After working at restaurants such as The Dunlavy, Wild began selling sweet and savory pastries at markets around town. She quickly developed a following for everything from savory breakfast sandwiches and kolaches to her signature salted honey pie. Always devoted to showcasing ingredients from local farms, Wild has expanded her efforts with Jane’s Dine Inn, an intimate dinner series in Montrose that helps expand the community she’s slowly building.
Best Patio – Better Luck Tomorrow
After a number of recent upgrades, the patio at Bobby Heugel and Justin Yu’s bar in the Heights is more comfortable than ever. Yu has been tinkering with the food menu, too, swapping out the patty melt for the “Everyday Cheeseburger” and introducing chilled seafood. Go during happy hour (2-5 pm, Monday-Friday) to enjoy half-off drinks — indoors or outside.
Best New Restaurant – Andiron
After four rounds of voting by CultureMap readers, it seems entirely fitting that a steakhouse won Best New Restaurant. Andiron sets itself apart by incorporating live fire elements into many of its dishes, adding a compelling smoky flavor to everything from steaks to sides. The elegant dining room adds a sense of occasion to any meal.
Chef of the Year – Luis Mercardo and Paolo Justo, Neo
After winning Best Pop-Up/Startup in 2022, the two chefs take one of the night’s most coveted awards. Omakase counters have become more popular in Houston, but these two Uchi vets set themselves apart by offering an intimate experience that only serves 10 people per seating. Mercardo and Justo have refined their use of dry-aged fish and incorporate elements from their global travels into Neo’s nigiri and other dishes, making their progressions compelling from start to finish.
Restaurant of the Year – Tatemó
Last year’s Rising Star Chef of the Year winner follows up that success by taking home the night’s top prize. As both a James Beard Award finalist and a Food & Wine Best New Chef honoree, Emmanuel Chavez has emerged as one of the rising stars of Houston’s food scene. At Tatemó, Chavez and his team celebrate heirloom corn with an eight-course tasting menu that blends Mexican traditions with locally sourced ingredients. As Chavez has dialed in his techniques, so too has the restaurant sharpened its service. Add in the convenience of BYOB, and it’s easy to understand why our judges’ panel selected this restaurant as Houston’s best.
—-
The Tastemaker Awards ceremony was brought to you by Stella Artois, Rías Baixas Albariño, Topo Chico Sparkling Mineral Water, 8th Wonder Cannabis, Tito’s Vodka, and CASE Chocolates. A portion of proceeds benefited our nonprofit partner, the Southern Smoke Foundation.
