For wine and food fans, there’s nothing quite as exciting as an ambitious new restaurant opening. At their best, new restaurants promote discovery, camaraderie, aspiration and romance, while supporting their communities in meaningful ways.
Several trends have been gaining traction among wine-minded restaurants: luxe steakhouse; French bistro; nostalgic dishes; Korean, Japanese and Filipino influences; and the ongoing popularity of the wine-bar-as-restaurant. Tasting menus are becoming even more intimate and relaxed, speaking to chefs’ personal histories and relying on ingredients grown in restaurants’ backyards. Minimal-intervention wines, which are transparent about their farming and production practices, are increasingly becoming the rule, rather than the exception. The best spots show that restaurants can provide a pampering escape while remaining environmentally and communally responsible.
These 50 wine-focused restaurants are our favorites among those that have opened in the U.S. since January 1, 2024.
Houston, Texas
Perseid comes from the team behind Bludorn and Navy Blue, with a menu that highlights Gulf Coast ingredients with French (crawfish sausage in sauce Creole) and Italian (snapper with fregola and pine nut gremolata) influences. Eighteen wines by the glass are available in generous six- or nine-ounce pours.
