"Houston native Christian Hernandez, who previously worked at Michelin-starred restaurant March, breaks out with his own tasting menu restaurant. Opened in the Downtown Bayou Lofts in December, Barbacana is an amalgamation of international flavors and Hernandez’s chef experiences. Expect a menu that changes monthly, with hints of African, Middle Eastern, and Japanese cuisines. Most recently, the menu featured Texas Wagyu Denver steak, Vermillion snapper crudo, dry-aged duck, and a chocolate and pecan coulant with black tea ice cream. The tasting menu itself is $125 per person, with optional wine pairings for $65 per person, and cocktails created by Kristine Nguyen of Captain Foxheart’s Bad News Bar are also available." - Brittany Britto Garley