AUSTIN, Texas — Austin restaurants are on the map again with a new ranking of the 100 best restaurants of the 21st century.
Franklin Barbecue, Uchi and Birdie’s all made Robb Report’s list, released this week — the only Texas restaurants to do so.
Franklin ranked the highest among the three at No. 17. The legendary Austin joint is known for its award-winning barbecue that consistently draws long lines from locals and visitors from around the world.
“Aaron Franklin changed the barbecue game for a lot of people. He opened up the door for the modern interpretation of barbecue,” said Sara Mardanbigi, owner of Michelin award-winning Austin restaurant Nixta Taqueria.
Uchi made the No. 60 spot on the list. The Japanese-inspired restaurant had its start in a South Austin bungalow in 2003 and has since expanded to major cities across the U.S., including Dallas, Denver, Houston, Philadelphia, West Hollywood and Washington D.C. Robb Report notes how the restaurant brought never-before-seen national attention to the capital city.
At No. 99, Birdie’s in East Austin offers an ever-changing menu of chef Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel’s American fare with French and Italian influences. The restaurant also won a James Beard award this year for its standout beverage service, run by co-owner Arjav Ezekiel.