Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year Award
Every year, restaurateurs around the state are honored for work in their communities, leadership success, and entrepreneurial spirit. Winners of the Outstanding Restaurateur Award are recognized during Texas Restaurant Awards & Lone Star Bash event. The finalists for this award come from the pool of Outstanding Restaurateur Awards, chosen by their chapter.
2024 Outstanding Restaurateur of the Year Winner:
Gloria Reyna, Matt's El Rancho (Austin)
2024 Chapter Outstanding Restaurateur Winners:
Abilene Chapter - Cory & Ryan Marrs, Belle's Chicken Dinner House
Brazos Valley Chapter - David Girela, Fuego Tortilla Grill
Coastal Bend Chapter - Kathryn Snapka, Snapka's Drive-In
East Texas Chapter - Scott Williams, FD's, Javi's, & Twelve
El Paso Chapter - John Geske & Nick Bauer, Union Draft House
Galveston Chapter - Jan Collier, Rudy & Paco Restaurant & Bar
Greater Austin Chapter - Gloria Reyna, Matt's El Rancho
Greater Dallas Chapter - Lauran Weiner, Big Al's Smokehouse
Greater Houston Chapter - Alex Au Yeung, Phat Eatery
Lubbock Chapter - Joe Keller, Triple J Chophouse
Montgomery County Chapter - Mario Valadez, Conroe's Incredible Pizza Company
North Texas Chapter - Craig Martindale, Taco Casa
Panhandle Chapter - Colby Monroe, Panhandle Restaurant Group
Permian Basin Chapter - Chris Morales, Gerardo's Casita
Rio Grande Valley Chapter - Gabriel Fuentes, Nuri Fusion Street Kitchen
San Angelo Chapter - Kurt Klausner, Sunset Jr.
San Antonio Chapter - Lisa Wong, Rosario's ComidaMex & Bar
Southeast Texas Chapter - Jesi Jones & Jami Abbo, Courville's Catering & Meat Co.
Tarrant Co. Chapter - Jon Bonnell, Bonnell's Restaurant Group
Waco Chapter - Ted Browning & Kyle Ferguson, Shorty's Pizza Shack
Past Winners:
2023 Winner of the Texas Restaurateur of the Year Award:
Blanca Aldaco, Aldaco's Mexican Cuisine (San Antonio)
2023 Chapter Outstanding Restaurateur Winners:
Abilene Chapter - Amanda O'Connor, Cypress Street Station Restaurant
Brazos Valley Chapter - Mary Beckman, Admiral Catering
Coastal Bend Chapter - Glenn Mier, Black Sheep Bistro and The Angry Marlin
East Texas Chapter - Paul Bambrey, Jalapeno Tree
El Paso Chapter - Vanessa Duran, L&J Cafe
Galveston Chapter - Chef Megan Walker, Galveston Restaurant Group
Greater Austin Chapter - Travis Tober, Nickel City
Greater Dallas Chapter - Hiawatha Williams, Williams Chicken
Greater Houston Chapter - Janice Jucker, Three Brothers Bakery
Lubbock Chapter - Carrie Britton, The Funky Door
Montgomery County Chapter - Jim Hallers, Citizens Grill
North Texas Chapter - Craig Bolles, Texas Roadhouse
Panhandle Chapter - Chef Jessica Higgins, Girasol Bakery and Cafe
Permian Basin Chapter - Amber Davis, Cork & Pig Tavern, Red Oak Kitchen
Rio Grande Valley Chapter - Russell Walker, Pasta Ventures
Sabine Area Chapter - Min Dai, Obana Restaurant Group
San Angelo Chapter - Yolanda Franco, Western Sky Steakhouse
San Antonio Chapter - Blanca Aldaco, Aldaco's Mexican Cuisine
Tarrant County Chapter - Marcus Paslay, From Scratch Hospitality
Waco Chapter - Phillip & Yvette Helberg, Helberg Barbecue
2022 Winner of the Texas Restaurateur of the Year Award:
Alli Jarrett, Harold's Restaurant (Houston)
2022 Chapter Outstanding Restaurateur Winners:
Abilene Chapter — Lindsay Flores, Lytle Land & Cattle Company
Brazos Valley Chapter — Clayton Rhoades, Chicken Express
Coastal Bend Chapter — Sam Canavati, Brewsters Street Ice House
El Paso Chapter — Jim Diaz, Pelican's Steak & Seafood
Galveston Chapter — Dennis Byrd, Island Famous
Greater Austin Chapter — Alex Eagle, Freebirds World Burrito
Greater Dallas Chapter — Christopher Aslam, Rock Strategic Restaurant Group
Greater Houston Chapter — Alli Jarrett, Harold's Restaurant
Lubbock Chapter — Jerol Fanta, Orlando's Italian Restaurant
Montgomery County Chapter — Darin McKenzie, McKenzie's Barbecue & Burgers
North Texas Chapter — Bob Bratcher, Daddy Bob's Smokewagon
Panhandle Chapter — Dallas Hager, Joe Taco
Permian Basin Chapter — Michael Ramirez, 10 Sports Bar & Grill
Rio Grande Valley Chapter — Sony Rego, Santa Fe Steakhouse
Sabine Area Chapter — Frankie Randazzo, Madison's Group
San Angelo Chapter — Ronnie Cajas, Street Eats
San Antonio Chapter — Dave Saylor, Acadiana Café
Tarrant County Chapter — Rena Frost, Mac's on Main
Waco Chapter — Massimo Di Campli, Di Campli's Italian Ristorante
2021 Winner of the Texas Restaurateur of the Year Award:
Masroor Fatany, The Halal Guys (Houston)
2021 Chapter Outstanding Restaurateur Winners:
- Luis and Rita Barragan (Casa Chapala – Austin)
- May Nardone (Mikel May’s Beachside Bar and Grill – Coastal Bend)
- Lloyd Nichols (The Diner – East Texas)
- Mike Dean (Yaga’s Presents – Galveston)
- Jimmy Contreras (Taco y Vino – Dallas)
- Bob Bratcher (Daddy Bob’s BBQ – North Texas)
- Jessica Delgado (Salome – Rio Grande Valley)
- Rosa Hogeda Torrez (Original Henry’s Diner – San Angelo)
- Russell Kirkpatrick (Reata – Tarrant County)
- Chris Berry (River Smith’s – Lubbock)
2019 Chapter Outstanding Restaurateur Winners:
- Richard Dewitt Jr.
Clear Springs Restaurant, East Texas Chapter
-
Jerry Maddox
Fazoli's, Rio Grande Valley Chapter
-
Yolanda Franco
Western Sky Steakhouse, San Angelo Chapter
-
Chris Berry
River Smith's, Lubbock Chapter
-
Ed Hudson
Jason's Deli, Coastal Bend Chapter
-
Tilman Fertitta
Landry's,Greater Houston Restaurant Association
2018 Chapter Outstanding Restaurateur Winners:
- Tim Condon
Lonestar Cheeseburger Company
Angry Cactus West Texas Bar & Grill
San Angelo
- Larry Delgado
house. wine. & bistro.
SALT – New American Table
McAllen - Rio Grande Chapter
- Andrew Gugar
Posadas Cafe
East Texas
- Kendall Howard
Howard Restaurant Group
Lubbock
- Doris and Paul Miller
Gr8 Plate Hospitality
Greater Houston
2017 Chapter Outstanding Restaurateur Winners:
- Sharon Watkins
Chez Zee American Bistro | Austin
- Damian and Trina Mandola
Mandola’s | Austin
- Janice Provost
Parigi | Dallas
- Aaron Lyons
Dish Society | Houston
- Mike Van Syckle
Atomic Omelette and Grill | Rio Grande Valley
- Phil Bradley
Copper Caboose | Lubbock
- Erik Zobel and Je’na Wall (posthumous)
Zero One Ale House | San Angelo
- Brian Kelleher
575 Pizzeria | Amarillo
- Arthur Garcia
Nicha’s Comida Mexicana | San Antonio
- Veronica Segovia Esparza
Absolutely Delicious Catering and Blanco BBQ | San Antonio