At this time every year our friend John Mariani at Esquire magazine names his picks for the best new restaurants in the United States. The November issue of Esquire is not out yet (but John gave me the list today). Houston restaurant Voice with Executive Chef Michael Kramer is on it.

Criteria: New restaurants that have been open since last September. Voice, located in the Hotel Icon at Congress and Main, opened in April 2008.

John will be a guest on our radio show this Saturday, October 11th, along with Chef Kramer, to discuss.

Kramer is not new to Esquire's Best New Restaurant list. In 1999 he was executive chef at the new McCrady's in Charleston, South Carolina when they made the list.

Kramer calls his cooking style progressive American, staying true to clean flavors, throwing in some hip modern elements and finishing with a stylish presentation.

Other Houston restaurants that have made Mariani's Best New Restaurant list in the past include Bistro Moderne with Chef Philippe Schmit in 2005 and Catalan with Chef Chris Shepherd in 2007. Be sure to tune in this Saturday to hear John and Michael. CNN 650 Radio News - Saturday, Noon.

ESQUIRE'S BEST NEW RESTAURANTS OF 2008*
Bar Boulud, NYC
Bar Blanc, NYC
Kampuchea, NYC
Scampo, Boston
Voice, Houston
Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas
Takashi, Chicago
Mercat, Chicago
L20, Chicago—RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Plumed Horse, Saratoga, CA
Luce, San Francisco—CHEF OF THE YEAR
Palate, Glendale, CA
Convivio, NYC
Corbett’s, Louisville
Pacific Time, Miami
Zahav, Philadelphia
Distrito, Philadelphia
Terra, Tesuque, NM
Spruce, San Francisco
Scarpetta, NY

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