by Crystal Clear Photography
Birrieria Y Taqueria Cortez
Turns out Michelin loves a good rerun. The guide’s new Texas edition was unveiled Tuesday night, and Fort Worth’s honorees didn’t change a bit. Every distinction went to the exact same restaurants as last year, the guide’s inaugural year in Texas.
In a way, that repetition makes sense: Michelin’s entire ethos is built on consistency. The guide’s undercover inspectors revisit restaurants to see if excellence has been maintained, not just achieved once. That focus on reliability helps explain why this year’s Fort Worth honorees look so familiar.
Once again, Goldee’s Bar-B-Q, the nationally acclaimed smokehouse in south Fort Worth, was bestowed a Bib Gourmand Award, meant to honor value restaurants with exceptional food.
Once again, Panther City BBQ, Birrieria Y Taqueria Cortez, and Smoke N’ Ash in Arlington were recognized with “Recommended” nods - a sign that each has kept up the same high standards that earned them Michelin’s attention last year.
And once again, no restaurant in Fort Worth was given a star ranking, the ultimate Michelin blessing. Those were given sparingly: 18 in total, 15 repeats from last year, plus three additions: a pair of San Antonio restaurants, Isidore and Nicosi, and Dallas French-Italian restaurant Mamani, opened less than two months ago.
Tatsu in Dallas was among the one-star recipients from last year again honored with a single star this year, now giving Dallas two Michelin-starred restaurants. No two- or three-star awards - Michelin’s highest honors - were given to any Texas restaurant.
Also in Dallas, Chas Martin of Mister Charles was given a “Special Award” for exceptional cocktails.
Strangely, and unfortunately, the “Recommended” restaurants were not mentioned during the brisk, hourlong broadcast, shown locally on the WFAA+ app. While the designation doesn’t carry the same weight as a star ranking, it still represents a significant mark of quality and consistency. Last year, those restaurants were not only recognized on air but invited on stage to celebrate at Houston’s Wortham Theater Center, where the ceremony takes place.
According to a release, 140 Texas restaurants have now been recognized by Michelin, the French tire company that produces the wildly popular guide, which can often change the fortunes of restaurants honored by it.
For a complete list of Tuesday night’s recipients, click here.
