The Austin culinary arts scene seems to be constantly generating buzz and critical acclaim in the media. Still, some awards stand out more than others, and that seems to be the case with one recent, high-profile list. Gentleman’s Quarterly recently released its list of the 25 Most Outstanding Restaurants of 2015, and Austin was fortunate enough to have two establishments make the cut. Both Dai Due and St. Philip Pizza Parlor were included in the list this year, an award that will no doubt bolster business for the already popular restaurants.
The list
Each year, GQ releases a collection of restaurants from around the U.S. that it believe have reached the pinnacle of performance, culinary taste and style. In former years, the list has included a smaller grouping of establishments, but was expanded to hold 25 slots for 2015. The list does not favor nor discriminate against any specific type of food, but instead looks for exceptional customer reviews, innovative concepts and, most importantly, delicious food in the establishments that it honors.
Dai Due
According to the Austin Business Journal, Dai Due is the brainchild of Jesse Griffith, who operated the restaurant as a farmers market stand before opening his sedentary location. The restaurant is aimed towards diners with a more carnivorous palate, as the menu features predominantly meat-intensive dishes. According to the GQ list, one of the biggest highlights at Dai Due is the pork rib chop, which has come to be the signature dish of the restaurant. Dai Due also features a ladies’ night each Tuesday, in which its sirloin tip steak is available to female customers for roughly $10, making it an absolute steal. Located on Manor Road in Austin, the restaurant has also been honored this year by such culinary experts as Zagat and OpenTable, a site that crowdsources reviews of restaurants and offers an online reservation service.
St. Philip Pizza Parlor
This restaurant has taken a wholly new approach to the traditional concept of a pizza parlor, adding a bakery as an additional treat for its customers. In fact, in its review, GQ focused more on the pastries available at St. Philip than the actual pizza. The restaurant is located off of highway 290, and GQ points out that it is relatively hard to find without the assistance of a map or a local. Barring its somewhat odd location, St. Philip received considerable praise from the magazine, whose editors made extremely positive comments about the pastries’ design, flavor and price point. According to its website, St. Philip is open for both lunch and dinner on weekdays and serves brunch on the weekends. The menu of pizza and freshly baked pastries is bolstered by a large selection of craft beer and wine, making it the perfect place to kick back for a relaxing meal with friends or family.
