Dallas Man’s Quest to Eat at Every Michelin-Starred Restaurant in Texas Comes to an End
Drew Stephenson, a new dad of a 3-month-old baby girl, is exhausted. But he’s still hungry. He just completed a culinary adventure that took him to 15 Michelin-starred restaurants in Texas, almost exactly three months after Michelin announced its inaugural list of top-rated eateries in the state.
The Dallas native made it his mission to eat at every Michelin-starred restaurant in Texas, and he accomplished it. He documented nearly every bite on Instagram, sharing his experiences with the world. "I need to be the guy to go to these places and help the rest of Texas understand what’s going on at these restaurants," he said.
Stephenson’s obsession with fine dining might seem puzzling to some. It’s an intense hobby that has taken him to 50 Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide. His wife, Alanna, even agreed to honeymoon in Denmark and Italy so they could visit six Michelin-starred restaurants.
How much did it cost? About $3,000 for Drew, who paid for his own meals. Wine enthusiasts who opted for wine tastings would likely spend closer to $5,000 per person. These numbers don’t include gas, hotel rooms, and other travel expenses typical of a road trip between Texas’ major cities. Drew’s total also doesn’t include Alanna’s expenses; she visited nine out of the 15 restaurants. The Stephensons, who work full-time, acknowledge that traveling to Michelin-starred restaurants is one of their biggest expenses.
Other food enthusiasts, like The Hungries, a group of North Texas residents who share their passion for fine dining, agree that the experience is worth the cost. "I don’t care about price when I go to these meals," said Marie Maly, a member of The Hungries. "I save up credit card points and airline miles, which help make a $1,000 dinner for two seem more palatable."
Drew’s knowledge about Texas food is striking. Even before the Michelin list was announced, he predicted there would be 15 1-star restaurants. He was exactly right. "How many stages of grief are there? Is it seven?" he asks rhetorically. "I went through all of those."
What did he learn about Texas food? "It’s striking how knowledgeable I am about Texas’ upper echelon of restaurants," he said. "We open with 15 1-stars. I was exactly right."
One of his favorite restaurants is Lucia in Dallas’ Oak Cliff, which didn’t receive a Michelin star in 2024. Drew is upset it didn’t get recognized, but he’s happy it received a Bib Gourmand, an honor for affordable food. "I had a lot of emotional attachment to restaurants in Austin and in Dallas," he said. "I couldn’t make sense of why one barbecue place got recognized and another didn’t. I didn’t think Michelin delivered on its promise to honor Texas’ Tex-Mex and taco shops."
So, what did he do? He swallowed his pride, saved up some money, and visited the remaining 14 restaurants. And he’d do it all over again.
Lightning Round!
- Favorite restaurants among the 15: Barley Swine in Austin, March in Houston, Hestia in Austin, and Mixtli in San Antonio
- Biggest surprise: BCN Taste & Tradition, a contemporary Spanish restaurant in Houston
- Priciest dinner: March, a Mediterranean restaurant in Houston, at $350 per person before tax and tip
- Least expensive dinner: Tatemó, a Mexican restaurant in Houston
- Best single dish: Scallop served with melted beef tallow, kohlrabi, and a mushroom gelee at Hestia in Austin
- Hardest reservation to snag: Craft Omakase, a 22-course Japanese restaurant in Austin
- Which restaurant will you re-visit first? Barley Swine in Austin
FAQs
Q: How much did it cost to eat at every Michelin-starred restaurant in Texas?
A: About $3,000 for Drew, who paid for his own meals.
Q: How much would wine enthusiasts spend on a wine tasting?
A: Closer to $5,000 per person.
Q: How many Michelin-starred restaurants are in Texas?
A: 15
Q: Where did Drew predict there would be 1-star restaurants?
A: In Texas, with a total of 15 1-star restaurants
Q: Which restaurant did Drew not want to miss out on?
A: Craft Omakase, a 22-course Japanese restaurant in Austin
Q: Which restaurant will you re-visit first?
A: Barley Swine in Austin
