Announcing the 2011 Eater Award Winners For Dallas

It is time now to announce the winners of the 2011 Eater Awards, presented by Patrón Tequila. In over 50 categories spanning thirteen cities, the winners comprise a diverse bunch of the finest and most interesting chefs, operators, and characters in the country. We applaud them. You are hereby instructed to applaud them. So, without further ado—actually, a few quick pre-ambling thoughts....

To recap, Eater's local editors in NYC, LA, SF, Chicago, Portland, Seattle, Austin, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Miami nominated candidates for five major local categories: Restaurant of the Year, So Hot Right Now Restaurant, Chef of the Year, Bartender of the Year, and Best Bathroom. Eater readers then voted to narrow the field to a final three in each category. From that final three, the Eater editorial team chose the winner. Winners were then moved up to a national round to select the best of all the land. In very rare cases, we exercised Rule 17, Sub. 19, which allows for veto of the popular vote. (This rule was used just once in 2010.) In addition to these main stage winners, said Eater editorial team has named worthy winners in more specialized categories, for myriad notable achievements.

Nominees and winners alike will be feted at a party tonight in Manhattan. Those winners that couldn't make it should watch their mail for packages containing cans of Italian peeled tomatoes. And now, without further ado, the winners in Dallas. Click through for the full rundown of winners across the country on Eater National.

=== DALLAS ===

Restaurant of the Year, Dallas
Nominees: Lucia, Neighborhood Services Bar and Grill, Smoke, Cafe Momentum Pop-Up Dinners, Cane Rosso, The Grape, Fearing's
Winner: Cane Rosso

So Hot Right Now, Dallas
Nominees: Komali, Oddfellows, Private Social, Terilli's, Mesa Veracruz Coastal Cuisine, Dough Pizzeria
Winner: Komali

Chef of the Year, Dallas
Nominees: Jon Bonnell (Bonnell's Fine Texas Cuisine), Chef Jonathon Erdeljac (Jonathon's), Tim Byres (Smoke), Sharon Hage (York Street, Cafe Momentum), Nicole Van Camp (Nana, Bolsa, pop-ups), Brady Williams (Oddfellows), David Anthony Temple (ChefDAT dinners, Twenty-Seven), Jeff Harris (Craft, RedFork, Bolsa), David Uygur (Lucia)
Winner: Brian Luscher (The Grape)

Bartender of the Year, Dallas
Nominees: Eddie "Lucky" Campbell (Bailey's Prime Plus), Michael Martensen (Cedars Social), Gabe Sanchez (Black Swan Saloon), Rocco Milano (Private Social, The Mansion), Sean Conner (Whiskey Cake), Dub Davis (Marquee Bar and Grill), David "Tiki Dave" Mayer (The Usual), Leann Berry (Komali)
Winner: Gabe Sanchez (Black Swan Saloon)

Best Bathroom, Dallas
Nominees: Tei-An, Neighborhood Services Tavern, Stephan Pyles
Winner: Neighborhood Services Tavern

Empire Builders of the Year, Dallas
Winners: Christopher Jeffers and Chris Zielke (Bolsa, Bolsa Mercado, Bar Belmont, Smoke, TBD restaurant opening in West Dallas in 2012)

The Eater Awards 2011 would not be possible not only without presenting sponsor Patrón Tequila but also the event's product sponsors—Seamless, Organic Valley, USA Pears, Sixpoint Craft Ales, Whole Foods, Pat LaFrieda, Forever Cheese, and Sokol Blosser—and participating restaurants—Mission Chinese, Cookshop, Franklin BBQ, Baohaus, flour + water, Beast, Pok Pok, Red Farm, and Marble Lane. We salute them all.