Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Central Texas

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Central Texas? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Christopher's World Grille

4.9

4.9 (3215)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

College Station

About the restaurant

Set in a 115 year old Texas Ranch House, just 2 miles from Kyle Field, Christopher’s World Grille is the most nationally and locally awarded restaurant in Central Texas including Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in the USA, AAA Four Diamond Award, and Open Table Diner’s Choice Awards. In an elegant New Orleans atmosphere, Certified Executive Chef, Christopher Lampo offers a menu of prime steaks, fresh seafoods and pastas. His signature dish is the House Filet with creamed spinach, fried potatoes, béarnaise sauce, crawfish tails, and Port Wine Sauce. Elegant outdoor dining with a wrap-around porch and covered Terrace with cozy fire pits. Highlights include Fresh Seafood, Great Steaks, Charcuterie Boards, Blackened Shrimp Fondue, Almond Crusted Brie, Spicy Shrimp Bisque, French, Italian, Louisiana and Latin American-inspired menu, Craft Cocktails and a Distinctive Wine List. Private Rooms Available.

Top review

Mitch

Dined 2 days ago

Great experience for a group of 7 4 with Birthdays easy conversations and service was excellent.

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Primrose Path Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (666)

$31 to $50

Contemporary European

College Station

About the restaurant

From the executive chef & owner of The Republic Steakhouse, Primrose Path is a Spanish & Italian style restaurant specializing in tapas, wine, & cocktails. Stunning industrial-chic decor and a lively courtyard patio scene with impeccable service is accompanied by some of the finest and most innovative food & cocktails in the region.

Top review

OpenTable DinerVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Love this place!! Chorizo & hot honey pizza is to die for

Casa Do Brasil - College Station

4.8

4.8 (2446)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

College Station

About the restaurant

Casa do Brasil is an upscale Brazilian Steakhouse in South College Station serving fire-roasted cuts of USDA Prime Aged Beef, Chicken, Lamb, and Pork served tableside by our Gaucho Chefs. Our Salad Bar features over 50 seasonal dishes, including fresh vegetables, homemade salads, cured meats, imported cheeses, seafood, soup, and more!

Visit our Bar & Patio for Happy Hour specials and a la carte entrée dining. And every Sunday, we offer an unlimited brunch that is family-friendly!

We offer private dining space, catering, and butcher cuts to go through our online ordering system. Visit our website to enquire about private event space or catering.

Top review

SLYCK

Dined 2 days ago

Another wonderful “CASA experience!” Delicious buffet of delicacies, best calamari in town! And my all time favorite…. the most tender succulent seasoned chicken hearts ever‼️‼️. so thrilled they still serve them🥰

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4.7

4.7 (1235)

$31 to $50

American

College Station

About the restaurant

Gate 12 Bar & Grill is the sister restaurant to J. Cody’s Steaks and BBQ. It is a full service steakhouse with a few pasta dishes, seafood plates and chicken offerings and a full bar to round out the menu. There is a private dining room for events of approximately 50 or less.

Top review

AnnetteB

Dined 5 days ago

Amazing food, atmosphere, waiter and wait staff!!!

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Popular dish

BLT Salad

Alexander's Craft Cocktails & Kitchen

4.6

4.6 (931)

$30 and under

American

Salado

About the restaurant

Alexander's Craft Cocktails and Kitchen was named after the distillery located on the grounds from 1861-1865, which washed away in a flood (historic marker located between the restaurant & The Manor).

The newly renovated main bar is located on 1st floor, and opens onto expansive wrap-around, creekside porches. Just a few steps down from the porches is an open deck situated beneath gracious Live Oak canopies.

The warm aubergine & copper walls of the third floor lounge contrast the amazing art representation from local galleries. The stunning view of Salado Creek as well as the grounds of the neighboring estate provide the perfect spot to enjoy your favorite beverage. Patrons choose from a variety of entree selections, appetizers, and adult beverages.

Top review

Michael

Dined on Mar 1, 2025

Nice experience We enjoyed our meal and the staff was fantastic

Pivovar

4.6

4.6 (526)

$31 to $50

Brewery

Waco

About the restaurant

Pivovar features a brewery, restaurant, beer garden, hotel and beer spa. The main floor showcases a traditional Czech brewery specialized for bottom fermented Czech Pilsner lagers. Pivovar is cutting-edge facility implemented in the historical building “New Katy hotel” located in Downtown Waco, immediately next door to the famous Magnolia Silos. Our fusion of Czech and American food makes Pivovar a new cultural pillar to Waco that you are sure to enjoy. Want more Pivovar sign up today to stay in the know!

https://www.toasttab.com/pivovar-restaurant-brewery-320-s-8th-st/marketing-signup

Top review

AndrewVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Food was great and unique. Service was excellent. And noise level was perfectly low so there was some ambience, and we could also have a conversation easily. Thank you!

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Texas Pocket Schnitzel

Ronin

4.5

4.5 (1417)

$31 to $50

American

College Station

About the restaurant

Ronin features elgant farm cuisine with a constantly evolving menu. Set in the beautiful, newly-renovated historic Ice House on Main in downtown Bryan, our restaurant shares an open-air kitchen with our dining room, floor to ceiling exposed brick, and hand-built, suspension tables made from wood salvaged during renovation.

Our menu is updated daily, based on what we have harvested from our garden during that given week. Our farm is located just seven miles from our restaurant. The climate and changing seasons play a major role in what we serve. It is our intention to always provide a variety of menu options and to accommodate any dietary needs.

Top review

LaurenVIP

Dined 3 days ago

One of the best restaurants in town. Excellent food, service and atmosphere.

Red Board Tavern & Table

4.5

4.5 (208)

$31 to $50

American

College Station

About the restaurant

We're happy to serve the Downtown Navasota Railroad District. Red Board Tavern & Table is led by Executive Chef Craig Schmidt, a Northern Californian who went on to acquire a Culinary Arts Degree from San Joaquin Delta College. Then, Chef Craig added additional degrees in Baking and Pastry at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. Chef's many years of expertise has aided in his selection of food pairings for our guests to enjoy.

Top review

BarrettVIP

Dined on Mar 2, 2025

First experience here was for lunch. Portions were decent size, everything came out of the kitchen hot and service was attentive. We four first timers liked it.

Poché's Seafood Shoppe & Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (119)

$30 and under

Seafood

College Station

About the restaurant

Poche's Seafood Shoppe & Restaurant serves up freshly prepared seafood specialties and retailing fresh seafood in College Station, Texas.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Mar 1, 2025

We absolutely LOVE Poche’s. They are the ONLY good Seafood Restaurant in the B/CS area!

Brazos-Proper Texas Kitchen

3.4

3.4 (250)

$30 and under

Southern

College Station

About the restaurant

Traditional local cooking techniques and flavors are elevated with a modern twist at our property's farmer's table restaurant, Brazos - Proper Texas Kitchen - serving breakfast Saturday and Sunday along with special holiday events. Down-home Texan cooking is on the menu along with comfort food favorites, taking time-honored dishes to new heights. Local foods, wines, beers and spirits are showcased in an atmosphere of gracious Southern hospitality and Texas traditions interpreted in a fashion that fuses past and present.

Top review

MelissaVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Great little gem, right in the heart of Aggieland, located in the Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center. Sourced local from farms and ranches for the best steak and ingredients. Specialty and seasonal cocktails and desserts were a lovely surprise!

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