After weeks of being on pins and needles, the most effective eating places, bars, cooks, and extra culinary superstars have been topped on the 2025 CultureMap San Antonio Tastemaker Awards.
For the previous few weeks, you’ve examine all of the deliciously gifted nominees in our particular editorial collection, then voted on your favourite new restaurant in a bracket-style match. On Thursday, April 10, the winners have been lastly revealed.
Alamo Metropolis’s culinary trendsetters and a whole lot of ravenous followers gathered on the Briscoe Museum for our annual tasting occasion and awards ceremony, emceed by KENS-5 afternoon anchor Sarah Forgany. Company sampled savory and candy delights from nominated eating places and sipped drinks from our sponsors earlier than our winners have been unveiled. A portion of the proceeds benefited Culinaria.
Our 2025 CultureMap San Antonio Tastemaker Award winners seize the spirit of town — heat hospitality, a dedication to excellence, and an eternal sense of group. So, let’s get proper to it! Be part of us in toasting our Tastemakers:
Restaurant of the 12 months: LadinoNamed after a language, a stir of Castellano, French, Italian, Greek, Turkish, and Hebrew, this Pearl restaurant relishes regionality. Conventional Mediterranean dishes like Medjool date cake and shawarma, up to date with mushrooms and peanut salsa, are up to date with out dropping their tether to an historic previous. No matter else is on the desk, be certain that there’s an order of hummus — a spreadable masterpiece that solely bears a passing resemblance to the grocery retailer stuff.
Chef of the 12 months: John Russ, ClementineRuss earned his chops within the luxurious sector, starting his culinary profession on the Ritz-Carlton and the tony Capella Lodge Group. Nonetheless, the neighborhood eating places he remembers from his New Orleans youth extra totally outlined his method to eating. Dishes like contemporary berries paired with pickled ramps and creamy stracciatella present his finesse with cautious sourcing and a world palate. They nonetheless have the convenience of a Sunday household supper.
Finest New Restaurant: Freight Fried ChickenThis Bottling Division meals corridor stall is a tribute to Black girls entrepreneurs throughout Emancipation. It makes use of a conventional dry batter to present its fried hen additional crunch; fried corn, mac ‘n’ cheese, and flaky biscuits lengthen the Southern hospitality.
Pastry Chef of the 12 months: Alessia Benavides, ChocolatlAfter constructing a profitable on-line enterprise, Benavides opened a brick-and-mortar in February. Thank goodness! Her gleaming bonbons have to be seen in particular person to get the total impact. The geometric bars peacock with delicate ornament and sudden flavors like guava, Speculaas (a Dutch shortbread cookie), and pistachio kunafa — her tackle the viral Dubai chocolate development.
Bar of the 12 months: Gimme GimmeLike the Ramones music it references, this Southtown bar does probably the most with three chords. The decor could also be stripped down, however the stellar cocktails, conversational workers, and distinctive meals amp up what may have been a run-of-the-mill dive. Seize one of many cubicles with some reformed punk rock buddies and picture how rad it could be if CBGB made it into maturity.
Neighborhood Restaurant of the 12 months: Cullum’s AttagirlA nation cousin to Chris Cullum’s extra metropolitan Attaboy, this Tobin Hill sizzling spot is embellished with the shopworn muddle of a rural common retailer. Right here, the chef’s trademark nostalgia is thrown in a blender, constructing Paradise Storage in Mayberry. What would Aunt Bee consider Opie getting rowdy on a frozen piña colada and a plate of Nashville sizzling wings?
Brewery of the 12 months: Roadmap Brewing Co.Roadmap has brewed a line of award-winning core beers, such because the Alright Alright Alright Pilsner, Craven Cottage English pub ale, and Mama Dukes West Coast IPA. However there’s a big rotating choice of brews, together with a New England IPA collection named “Cat on a ….” with enjoyable fill-in-the-blanks each time a brand new beer is launched. Moreover, Roadmap affords widespread annual brews, similar to Cousin Eddy’s Scorching Coco Marshmallow and Cocoa Stout, which are inclined to run out quick.
Wildcard: Finest Espresso Store – Folklores Espresso HouseThough the emblem riffs on The Exploited’s acquainted cranium and mohawk, the Beacon Hill and Authorities Hill areas of this store present none of punk’s surliness. As an alternative, it focuses on the motion’s individuality and penchant for DIY. The interiors are lived-in, crammed with band posters and a graffitied skateboard decks. And drinks just like the pistachio matcha latte undeniably have an edge. However homeowners Tatu and Emilie Herrera have a softer aspect, serving to their group any time there’s a necessity.
The Tastemaker Awards ceremony was dropped at you by The Yuengling Firm, H-E-B, Jim Beam Black, Hornitos, PicMe Occasions, and Reyka Vodka.
