Nosh, San Antonio

Considering the farm-inspired name and the refined dining rooms—white tablecloths, towering wooden wine racks holding bottles filled from carefully polished grapes—you could be forgiven for assuming that Silo Elevated Cuisine is a steakhouse. But a look at the dishes emerging from the kitchen reveals a less-predictable beast. On a menu that stars Silo's signature chicken-fried oysters, sources of gastronomic inspiration range from southern (applewood-smoked bacon, shrimp-and-andouille white-cheddar grits) to European (red-wine and cognac sauces), with more than a dash of Asian influence.

This is especially apparent in seafood dishes—crusted with Sichuan peppercorn or sesame seeds—and duck, served with five-spice seasoning or in spring rolls. Accordingly, Frommer's has hailed the restaurant as "one of the best places for fine dining when you want something other than French food." The original Alamo Heights location was joined by a new outpost in 2007, whose space Texas Monthly called a "minimalist study in black and white illuminated by crystal chandeliers and silvery globes."