Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Central Texas

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems 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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Luigi's Patio Ristorante

4.7

4.7 (1502)

$30 and under

Italian

College Station

About the restaurant

A family legacy brings you the most authentic Italian dining experience in the BCS. With nightly live music, a select Wine and Cocktail list, friendly yet polished service, and your favorite made-from-scratch recipes, you'll be sure to come savor the moment with us time and time again.

Top review

FTWdinerKLJones

Dined on Feb 28, 2025

Always a delight to go to Luigi’s! The food is consistently delicious and the service is great! The wine list is decidedly one of the best in the BCS area. We keep coming back and we’re never disappointed! Thank you for a wonderful dinner experience!

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Popular dish

Calamari

Magnolia Table

4.7

4.7 (5088)

$30 and under

American

Waco

About the restaurant

Magnolia Table offers seasonal, nostalgic dishes made to nourish. Our menu includes both new recipes and family favorites for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Whether you come to savor a meal, or shop around the Take Away + Market, remember you’re always welcome at our table.

Magnolia Table is an 8-minute drive from the Silos property.

Top review

Jodeen

Dined 1 day ago

The food was delicious! Must try the cinnamon roll. I would recommend making a reservation.

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A photo of Jo's Buttermilk Biscuits with Strawberry Butter of a restaurant

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

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!

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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

Elia Cafe Tapas Bar

4.6

4.6 (138)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

Bryan

About the restaurant

Join us for a culinary journey through Spain at Elia Cafe Tapas Bar. Our delectable tapas, paella, sangria, and mouthwatering dishes will transport you to the heart of Spain. Enjoy a glass of wine from our distinctive wine selection to bring out the flavors in every bite. Located in the beautiful Old Bryan Marketplace, Downtown Bryan's historic building dating back to 1910, the warm ambiance and relaxed elegance of our restaurant will have you feeling right at home. And, to make your experience even more special, we offer live music every weekend. Come for the food, stay for the music, and leave with unforgettable memories.

Top review

DebbieVIP

Dined on Feb 22, 2025

Great menu items! First time trying this restaurant while traveling. So many great choices.

Campfire at The Stella

4.5

4.5 (342)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Bryan

About the restaurant

Embracing the best seasonal ingredients of Central Texas in a warm and inviting dining atmosphere. All paired with crafted cocktails, local brews and a thoughtful wine list. As we embrace the seasonal ingredients, our menus will change with best produce available.

Reservations are strongly recommended.

Top review

Avery

Dined on Mar 1, 2025

Food was fantastic as always! Bar service was a little slow and maybe would have enjoyed if there were a few outdoor heaters scattered around the patio. However Brittany, our server, was AMAZING!! She made for a memorable evening!!

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.

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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