Michelin announces Texas’ best restaurants. Find Dallas-Fort Worth winners here

Texas history will be made on Nov. 11, 2024, when the star-studded Michelin ceremony in Houston names the state’s best restaurants for the first time.

Michelin has been reviewing restaurants in France since 1926, but despite expanding its coverage area to New York in 2005, then to cities like San Francisco and Chicago, this European company had never looked at Texas in its nearly 100-year history.

“I knew it was just a matter of time before it made it to Texas,” said chef Stephan Pyles. He has owned and worked in Dallas restaurants for more than 45 years.

“I just hoped it had gotten here three to four years earlier.”

Pyles is semi-retired now. Several of his former restaurants might have gotten Michelin attention, including Dallas Arts District restaurant Flora Street Cafe, which closed in 2020. “Bittersweet” is the word Pyles uses as he reflects on Michelin’s long-awaited entry into Texas.

Michelin chose to come to Texas in mid-2024 after representatives from Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Houston partnered up with Travel Texas. Like a fine French wine, the behind-closed-doors deals took years. The visitors’ bureaus paid a reported $900,000 in total, and Michelin was officially in Texas.

“Texas definitely has something to say on the world global culinary stage,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guides, on the day of Texas’ first ceremony.

“The inspectors in Texas were very much impressed by the diversity [of cuisines].”

The attention from one of the world’s most recognized star-rating systems is likely to make the state’s culinary scene more vibrant.

“I think it’s going to absolutely up the game,” Pyles said. “I think it’s going to put everybody on their guard. Because everybody wants one.”

The Michelin Guide also has the opportunity to bring more international tourists to Dallas, Fort Worth and Texas’ other major cities. Michelin-starred restaurants are often considered the gold standard — an Olympic level of culinary caliber.

“It’s going to shine a spotlight on great places in Dallas,” said Jennifer Scripps, president and CEO of Downtown Dallas Inc.

Watch the awards event live below.

In this live-updated story, we will publish the Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants announced at the Michelin Guide Texas ceremony, one by one. The ceremony starts at 7 p.m. CT Nov. 11, 2024. Keep it here to get the latest information on restaurants receiving 1-, 2- or 3-star awards, Bib Gourmands, Recommended status and more.

Rye in Dallas: Michelin ‘Exceptional Cocktails’ award

Among the four “special awards” from Michelin, one went to Dallas. Lowest Greenville restaurant Rye was lauded for its Exceptional Cocktails created by bar manager Julian Shaffer.

Indeed, Shaffer’s creative cocktail menu dances between classic and contemporary. The Wake and Bake is a cold brew and blueberry vodka drink while the Rye and Pumpkin is a whiskey drink focusing on an autumnal favorite. As the name of the restaurant suggests, the bar has a stout selection of whiskies and spirits-based dinners, like the $400 per person Whistle Pig event on Nov. 21, 2024, with nine courses and cocktails.

Rye has a speakeasy next door called Apothecary, which we called ‘Dallas’ most impressive date-night spot” in 2021.

Rye is at 1920 Greenville Ave., Dallas.

Bib Gourmand awards given to Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants

Michelin’s Bib Gourmand restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth are:

Cattleack Barbeque in Dallas/Farmers Branch

Open just a few days a week for lunch only, Cattleack Barbeque has managed to maintain its status as a restaurant worth the hour-long wait. Fans know to show up at 10 a.m. (or earlier) on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and First Saturdays for some of the best brisket in the state. Cattleack Barbeque is at 13628 Gamma Road, Dallas.

Gemma in East Dallas

American bistro Gemma’s owners, married couple Allison Yoder and Stephen Rogers, re-imagined the restaurant in fall 2023. That appears to be just in time for Michelin’s inspectors, who surely had the pleasure of watching this neighborhood bistro fine-tune itself 10 years in. We can’t know what Michelin critics ate, but we hoped they tried one of each of the frites dishes: mussels, chicken, steak and duck. Gemma is at 2323 N. Henderson Ave., Dallas.

Goldee’s Barbecue in Fort Worth

Called Texas’ No. 1 barbecue joint by Texas Monthly in 2021, Goldee’s is one of the most famous smoked-meat spots in the United States right now. We’re glad it got the Bib Gourmand nod, but we’re surprised Michelin’s critics didn’t like it even more. Goldee’s opened in February 2020 — unforseen but terrible timing — and managed to survive and thrive through the COVID-19 pandemic. The owners now have a spinoff ribs joint called Ribbee’s. Goldee’s Barbecue is at 4645 Dick Price Road, Fort Worth.

Lucia in Dallas’ Oak Cliff

Lucia is often lauded as Dallas’ best Italian restaurant. Owners David and Jennifer Uygur — he, the chef, she, the sommelier — sell house-made pasta, chef-made salumi and secondis like poached halibut and Wagyu bavette. The dining room is small, just nine tables, and it seems they like it that way: It means delightfully personal service and a closeness to the kitchen that large restaurants can’t achieve. Michelin gave it a puzzling Bib Gourmand, meaning a several-course meal could total $50. Most times we go, it’s hundreds of dollars for a couple. Lucia is at 287 N. Bishop Ave., Dallas.

Mot Hai Ba in East Dallas

Vietnamese-French spot Mot Hai Ba is a tiny place. All the better for snacking on bao buns filled with brisket, curries of several kinds, and the restaurant’s beloved shaking beef in a cozy restaurant. We have to hope Michelin critics enjoyed chef-owner Peja Krstic’s delicious, inexpensive garlic noodles, just $10. Mot Hai Ba is at 6047 Lewis St., Dallas.

Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen in East Dallas

The most refreshing Bib Gourmand recipient on Michelin’s list of Dallas-Fort Worth restaurants is Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen on Greenville Avenue. Unlike the other Bib recipients in D-FW, Ngon is truly a casual, inexpensive restaurant. Owner Carol Nguyen brings some moxie to the restaurant as a female businessowner honoring the recipes passed down from her mom and grandmother. Noodles, rice and curries each cost about $20 to $25. Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen is at 1907 Greenville Ave., Dallas.

Nonna in Highland Park

Aging seems to be some restaurateurs’ greatest enemy, but that hasn’t been the case at Nonna, a nearly 20-year-old Italian restaurant in Highland Park. About a decade ago, our restaurant critic noted that Nonna “continues to dazzle year after year after year,” and Michelin’s Bib Gourmand award in 2024 suggests that’s still true today. The menu changes regularly — a great way to keep this restaurant fresh. Nonna is at 4115 Lomo Alto Drive, Dallas.

Michelin’s Recommended restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth

Recommended restaurants are eateries are worthy of attention, but they don’t meet Michelin’s rigorous standards for 1-, 2- or 3-star status, and they weren’t chosen for the Bib Gourmand, which notes “simple yet skillful cooking,” and often at an affordable price.

Michelin’s Recommended restaurants list includes dozens across the state. Here are the Recommended restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth:

Barsotti’s. Cuisine: Italian. 4208 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas.

Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez. Cuisine: Mexican. 2220 E. Rosedale Street, Fort Worth.

The Charles. Cuisine: Italian. 1632 Market Center Boulevard, Dallas.

Crown Block. Cuisine: Steakhouse and sushi. 300 Reunion Boulevard E., Dallas.

El Carlos Elegante. Cuisine: Mexican. 1400 N. Riverfront Boulevard, Dallas.

Fearing’s. Cuisine: Southwestern. 2121 McKinney Avenue, Dallas.

Georgie. Cuisine: New American. 4514 Travis Street, Dallas.

Harvest. Cuisine: American. 215 N. Kentucky Street, McKinney.

Knox Bistro. Cuisine: French. 3230 Knox Street, Dallas.

Mercat Bistro. Cuisine: French. 2501 N. Harwood Street #225, Dallas.

Monarch. Cuisine: Italian. 1401 Elm Street, Dallas.

Panther City BBQ. Cuisine: Barbecue. 201 E. Hattie Street, Fort Worth.

Quarter Acre. Cuisine: Global. 2023 Greenville Avenue #110, Dallas.

Rye. Cuisine: Modern American. 1920 Greenville Avenue, Dallas.

Sachet. Cuisine: Mediterranean. 4270 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas.

Smoke’N Ash BBQ. Cuisine: Barbecue. 5904 S. Cooper Street, Arlington.

Stillwell’s. Cuisine: Steakhouse. Hôtel Swexan, 2575 McKinnon Street, Dallas.

Stock & Barrel. Cuisine: Modern American. 316 W. Davis Street, Dallas.

Tei-An. Cuisine: Japanese. 1722 Routh Street, Dallas.

Written by the Seasons. Cuisine: Global. 380 Melba Street, Dallas.

What’s next for the Michelin Guide Texas

Michelin will continue rating restaurants across Texas until at least 2027. The next Michelin ceremony is expected to be in the fourth quarter of 2025 — about a year away from the inaugural announcement on Nov. 11, 2024.

Restaurants that have received a Michelin star will be challenged to maintain it in the future. Restaurants without a star can strive to get one next year.

“It’s the very beginning of the journey between the Michelin Guide and Texas,” Poullennec said. He believes Michelin’s entry into Texas will challenge chefs to make better food.

“We do believe, looking at the potential of the food scene today, that in the years to come, we will have restaurants being able to move to the next level,” he said.

He reflected on the continued pressure chefs will feel to serve their best food every day.

“It’s an ongoing process,” he said. “And an endless process.”

This story is part of The Dallas Morning News’ coverage of the Michelin Guide Texas. Read more about the restaurant picks in Dallas-Fort Worth and across Texas.

For more food news, follow Sarah Blaskovich on X at @sblaskovich.