Three Stars for Stock & Barrel, and More Reviews

Leslie Brenner reviewed Stock & Barrel: Chef Jon Stevens' Bishop Arts restaurant has "oodles of appeal," and "the cooking matches the vibe, easy and relaxed." Brenner says the food "was hitting plenty of high notes" on a first visit, but later visits suffered from some unevenness, and she wonders if "Stock and Barrel has become too popular too quickly." She offers plenty of praise for the food though, including pork schnitzel "rested on buttery spaetzle" and "grilled, saucy rounds of rich Wagyu meatloaf." Harissa roasted chicken is "nice enough," but "timid," and the critic takes issue with the lack of summer fruit desserts, though "a tender toffee bread pudding" satisfies. Three stars. [DMN]

Scott Reitz checked out Pera Wine & Tapas: Pera Turkish Kitchen owner Habip Kargin has transformed a former Taco Bueno into a "predominantly Mediterranean" small plates spot. It's not perfect and suffers from some "execution slipups," but "the low price point makes some of this forgivable." Menu highlights include "an heirloom tomato salad with burrata that's as good as you would expect at the height of Texas' summer," a white asparagus dish topped with a runny-yolked poached egg, and sardines "served on little crostini with a tomato sauce." [Observer]

ELSEWHERE: Fort Worth Weekly visited a Jesus Garcia-less Little Lilly Sushi and feasted at Rafain; City of Ate hit up the new LYFE Kitchen; DFW.com went to West 7th's Landmark Bar & Kitchen; Daniel Vaughn checked out Mad Jack's BBQ Shack in Lockhart; The Taco Trail road tripped to Veracruz All Natural in Austin.