Another year, another tumultuous time in the Austin dining scene. For every exciting new opening, it seems another restaurant closed in its place. Yet from the ashes of revered institutions (R.I.P. Frisco) and new favorites we thought sure to hold (Bonhomie, we barely knew you), a new, more Austin-y crop emerged. Whether upscale or come as you are, the best new eateries of the year embodied the kind of laid-back, convivial ease we Austinites pride ourselves on. After all, it’s the folks at home who sustain the scene between visitors.

To assemble our list, we look at restaurants that have opened between last October and this September. And, as always, we judge on taste, technique, atmosphere, service, value, and contribution to Austin’s dining ecosphere. We hope you enjoy our picks as much as we do.