Two Austin Restaurants Are Named to Texas Monthly’s Best New List of 2019

Texas Monthly critic Patricia Sharpe named her best new restaurants of 2019 and once again, there are two Austin restaurants on the list. Masa-focused Suerte landed at the number two while whole-animal Italian restaurant Intero grabbed the number five.

Sharpe only considered new restaurants that opened between December 2017 and December 2018 (with a slight grace period). She was pleased to have another year of diverse dining, noting that there was a “range from an industrial-chic emporium with a stunning skyline view to a teeny converted gas station bedecked with bundles of dried herbs.” Houston had the top restaurant(s) yet again, with three from James Beard award-winning chef Chris Shepherd: UB Preserv, One Fifth Mediterranean, and Georgia James, all of which opened last year.

Sharpe said that “obsession is not a bad thing” at Suerte, highlighting owner Sam Hellman-Mass and executive chef Fermín Núñez’s dedication to making excellent masa for tortillas, tamales, and molotes. The restaurant was also named to Eater’s former roving critic Bill Addison’s list of best new restaurants in America for 2018, and Núñez won the Eater Austin award and reader’s choice for Chef of the Year.

At Intero, Sharpe says “Italian is spoken with a modern accent,” praising chef and co-owner Ian Thurwachter’s reimagining of risotto and chocolatier Krystal Craig’s confections.

Two other Austin restaurants nabbed honorable mentions: Loro for combining barbecue with Asian sides and Sour Duck Market for its all-day offerings.

Last year, Texas Monthly’s list included Kemuri Tatsu-ya and Pitchfork Pretty in the top ten, with El Chipiron and now-shuttered Bonhomie getting honorable mentions.

• The Best New Restaurants in Texas for 2019 [Texas Monthly]