Dining Guide

Central Standard

This South Congress Hotel eatery scores big for atmosphere, with tall ceilings, hypnotic teal-colored tiles, and gilded accents. Crisp uni-butter toast whetted our appetites for a lively wedge salad with candied kumquats and blue cheese and heavenly grilled lamb kebabs in a creamy dill sauce with garlicky braised garbanzo beans. Desserts from James Beard–nominated pastry chef Amanda Rockman, like a carrot pavlova with olive oil ice cream, almost stole the show.