These Denton-area spots are on Texas Monthly’s ‘Thousand-ish Best Restaurants in the State’

The Texas Grand is a dining guide released by the Texas Monthly magazine. A guide to the “best restaurants in Texas,” local spots all over the state are visited by anonymous reviewers and recommended for overall excellence. The guide consists of around 1,000 restaurants from all around the state featuring both new additions to the list and recurring entrants. The guide includes three restaurants from the Denton area — Osteria Il Muro , Picone and Ranchman’s Ponder Steakhouse are all currently featured on the list. Since its 1973 creation, the list is constantly updated, with existing restaurants revisited to keep it feeling fresh. Osteria Il Muro chef Scott Girling recently was a finalist for Best Chef: Texas by the James Beard Foundation for 2026. The Italian spot is known for its quality and exclusivity, with reservations filling quickly. Picone opened in 2023, is a “down-to-earth gem that goes big on flavor with daily specials and rotating chicken parms.” The best way to know what they have is to follow them on social media , where owners Mike and Tony Neglia share videos with a very Italian flare about upcoming specials. Ranchman’s Ponder Steakhouse was recently reopened by Denton County restaurateur Marty Bryan, following its closure in 2023. The legendary restaurant has over 100 years of history, and the latest reopening hopes to preserve its tradition. Wake Up with the DR-C: Get today's headlines in your inbox Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Wake Up with the DR-C Please enter a valid email address. Sign up Manage your lists