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Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Central Texas

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Central Texas? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

A photo of Primrose Path Wine Bar restaurant

Primrose Path Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (697)

$31 to $50

Contemporary European

College Station

About the restaurant

From the executive chef & owner of The Republic Steakhouse, Primrose Path is a Spanish & Italian style restaurant specializing in tapas, wine, & cocktails. Stunning industrial-chic decor and a lively courtyard patio scene with impeccable service is accompanied by some of the finest and most innovative food & cocktails in the region.

Top review

C

ChipVIP

Dined 6 days ago

Always, always a great experience. Staff is exceptionally well trained and considerate. Have become a regular each time we come to town. At least once a month

A photo of Christopher's World Grille restaurant

Christopher's World Grille

4.9

4.9 (3257)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

College Station

About the restaurant

Set in a 115 year old Texas Ranch House, just 2 miles from Kyle Field, Christopher’s World Grille is the most nationally and locally awarded restaurant in Central Texas including Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in the USA, AAA Four Diamond Award, and Open Table Diner’s Choice Awards. In an elegant New Orleans atmosphere, Certified Executive Chef, Christopher Lampo offers a menu of prime steaks, fresh seafoods and pastas. His signature dish is the House Filet with creamed spinach, fried potatoes, béarnaise sauce, crawfish tails, and Port Wine Sauce. Elegant outdoor dining with a wrap-around porch and covered Terrace with cozy fire pits. Highlights include Fresh Seafood, Great Steaks, Charcuterie Boards, Blackened Shrimp Fondue, Almond Crusted Brie, Spicy Shrimp Bisque, French, Italian, Louisiana and Latin American-inspired menu, Craft Cocktails and a Distinctive Wine List. Private Rooms Available.

Top review

D

denise

Dined 4 days ago

It was a wonderful experience. We were celebrating some special events & they made the evening great!

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A photo of Key Lime Tarte of a restaurant

A photo of Bleu Filet of a restaurant

A photo of Blackened Ribeye of a restaurant

Blackened Ribeye

A photo of The Republic Steakhouse restaurant

The Republic Steakhouse

4.9

4.9 (2532)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

College Station

About the restaurant

The only AAA Four Diamond rated restaurant in College Station, The Republic Steakhouse is known as the best fine dining steakhouse in central Texas. The Republic specializes in steak and seafood with a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list, stunning handcrafted cocktails, and one of the largest whiskey selections in Texas. Impeccable service along with timeless steakhouse decor, The Republic is a steakhouse at its finest.

Top review

M

Monti

Dined 6 days ago

The Republic never disappoints! Best steak in town hands down.

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A photo of Creole Shrimp & Grits of a restaurant

Creole Shrimp & Grits

A photo of Chicken Fried Filet Mignon of a restaurant

Chicken Fried Filet Mignon

A photo of Texas Fried Shrimp of a restaurant

Texas Fried Shrimp

A photo of La Riv - Temple restaurant

La Riv - Temple

4.8

4.8 (337)

$30 and under

Steak

Temple

About the restaurant

We offer a seasonal menu to ensure you receive only the freshest ingredients year round.

Our pizza oven was imported from Italy and is a true “wood only” burning pizza oven using oak to provide you an authentic Italian pizza experience.

All pasta is freshly handmade daily for a truly amazing taste and texture profile.

Do not forget to explore the high end; climate controlled wine cellar to find the perfect wine. The onsite wine director and owner, Vira will be more than happy to help you pick the perfect vino to enhance your elegant meal.

Top review

M

Mary

Dined on May 31, 2025

Everything was fabulous. We had a wonderful meal with fabulous service.

A photo of Casa Do Brasil - College Station restaurant

Casa Do Brasil - College Station

4.8

4.8 (2488)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

College Station

About the restaurant

Casa do Brasil is an upscale Brazilian Steakhouse in South College Station serving fire-roasted cuts of USDA Prime Aged Beef, Chicken, Lamb, and Pork served tableside by our Gaucho Chefs. Our Salad Bar features over 50 seasonal dishes, including fresh vegetables, homemade salads, cured meats, imported cheeses, seafood, soup, and more!

Visit our Bar & Patio for Happy Hour specials and a la carte entrée dining. And every Sunday, we offer an unlimited brunch that is family-friendly!

We offer private dining space, catering, and butcher cuts to go through our online ordering system. Visit our website to enquire about private event space or catering.

Top review

S

Stan

Dined 7 days ago

This is an amazing Brazilian restaurant that has been carefully pruned to perfection. Outside the price being a little steep, the food, service, and ambience is five star. I had short interaction with restaurants Manager who was kind and enthusiastic to know ways he could make the experience any better. I told him it’s great just the way it is now, just keep it that way.

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A photo of Salad Bar of a restaurant

A photo of Filet Mignon of a restaurant

A photo of Flaming Cheesecake of a restaurant

Flaming Cheesecake

A photo of One Thirty Five Prime restaurant

One Thirty Five Prime

4.8

4.8 (728)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Waco

About the restaurant

For over a decade One Thirty Five Prime has been a place for fine dining in a casual atmosphere. Our commitment is to serve the finest beef, seafood, and farm-to-table produce.

Top review

A

AnnVIP

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Excellent venue for a team dinner. We had a great time. Table was perfect, food was excellent t.

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A photo of Pecan Crusted Chilean Sea Bass of a restaurant

Pecan Crusted Chilean Sea Bass

A photo of Key Lime Pie of a restaurant

A photo of Steak & Seafood of a restaurant

Steak & Seafood

A photo of Casa Mangiare restaurant

4.8

4.8 (653)

$31 to $50

Italian

College Station

About the restaurant

We pride ourselves on our commitment to authentic Italian cuisine. Our team brings together the freshest and finest ingredients to craft a menu showcasing Italy's rich and diverse flavors. From handmade pasta dishes to succulent seafood and mouthwatering grilled meats, each plate is a masterpiece that tantalizes the senses and satisfies even the most discerning palate.

Our extensive wine list features a carefully curated selection of Italian wines, ranging from well-known classics to hidden gems from small, family-owned vineyards. Our sommeliers are on hand to guide you through the choices, ensuring a perfect pairing that enhances your dining experience.

Top review

S

ShonaVIP

Dined on Jun 28, 2025

Was a lovely dinner and the staff and food were excellent

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A photo of Tiramisu of a restaurant

A photo of Tiramisu Martini of a restaurant

Tiramisu Martini

A photo of 8oz Prime Filet Mignon of a restaurant

8oz Prime Filet Mignon

A photo of BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Waco restaurant

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse - Waco

4.8

4.8 (62)

$30 and under

American

Waco

About the restaurant

Time counts at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse. Since our humble beginnings back in 1978, we've continued to refine our brewhouse experience to make BJ's a place where you can make the most of any meal. We want BJ's to be a place where the moment you leave is the moment you plan on coming back. We pride ourselves in our craft and attention to detail. Our guests come here for our award-winning handcrafted beer. They come here for the Southern California twist we've put on the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. And they come here for our Pizookies®, our world-renowned dessert. But above all we know people come here to make their good times better. So in many ways we haven't just crafted a brand, but a mindset. And our guests are the reason for this. And it's because of them we're continually striving to make sure every moment they choose to spend with us counts. Welcome to BJ's, a restaurant with a Brewhouse soul.

Top review

D

Dee

Dined on Jun 14, 2025

The food was excellent the service was great at the beginning until the end and we could never get her to come back and give us our check. It’s like she disappeared we could not find her anywhere we waited 15 minutes she was not in the restaurant at all

A photo of Elia Cafe Tapas Bar restaurant

Elia Cafe Tapas Bar

4.8

4.8 (169)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

Bryan

About the restaurant

Join us for a culinary journey through Spain at Elia Cafe Tapas Bar. Our delectable tapas, paella, sangria, and mouthwatering dishes will transport you to the heart of Spain. Enjoy a glass of wine from our distinctive wine selection to bring out the flavors in every bite. Located in the beautiful Old Bryan Marketplace, Downtown Bryan's historic building dating back to 1910, the warm ambiance and relaxed elegance of our restaurant will have you feeling right at home. And, to make your experience even more special, we offer live music every weekend. Come for the food, stay for the music, and leave with unforgettable memories.

Top review

S

SueVIP

Dined 4 days ago

McKinley our server was fantastic as well as everything else! Now our favorite restaurant too as this was our first time there!!

A photo of Gate 12 Bar & Grill restaurant

Gate 12 Bar & Grill

4.7

4.7 (1286)

$31 to $50

American

College Station

About the restaurant

Gate 12 Bar & Grill is the sister restaurant to J. Cody’s Steaks and BBQ. It is a full service steakhouse with a few pasta dishes, seafood plates and chicken offerings and a full bar to round out the menu. There is a private dining room for events of approximately 50 or less.

Top review

A

Amy

Dined 1 day ago

Staff very attentive and knowledgeable on ingredients of everything we asked about including what was in the dipping oil for the bread down to the thyme. Best food I've had in this area.

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A photo of Cobb Salad of a restaurant

A photo of BLT Salad of a restaurant

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