McRae’s American Bistro & Cocktails is proud to announce that Executive Chef Alejandro Quintana has been named Best Chef at Dining Out in Dallas: Battle of the Chefs for both 2025 and 2026, becoming the first to earn back-to-back wins in the event’s 30+ year history.
Dining Out in Dallas is one of the city’s premier culinary charity events, bringing together chefs from many of Dallas’s most recognized restaurants for a one-night tasting experience built around creativity, competition, and community impact.
The event benefits the Texas Neurofibromatosis Foundation. Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and can lead to a range of serious health complications. Proceeds from the event help fund research, education, and support services for individuals and families across Texas living with the condition.
This year’s event was held on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, with Scott Murray, a longtime Dallas television personality and sports anchor, serving as Master of Ceremonies. During the evening’s “Battle of the Chefs,” participating chefs presented signature dishes in a walk-around tasting experience, while guests sampled offerings, enjoyed wine, beer, and spirits, and voted for their favorite dish of the night.
Against a field that included some of Dallas’s most established culinary names—including III Forks, Al Biernat’s, Dee Lincoln Prime, Lavendou Bistro, and The Finch—Chef Alejandro’s dish rose to the top. His Low Country Pork Tenderloin, featuring a sweet tea marinade, sweet potato purée, and tomato jam, drew a clear response from the crowd and ultimately secured the win.
The back-to-back recognition places Chef Alejandro among an elite group of Dallas culinary leaders and reflects both his creativity and consistency. It also speaks to the experience McRae’s continues to build: distinctive, personal, and rooted in a strong sense of place.
Walk into McRae’s and it starts to make sense. It’s immediately clear this isn’t a place built around a formula. The room is layered with exposed brick, vintage artwork, and deep red banquettes that run the length of the space. Chandeliers cast a soft, warm light, while mirrors and collected objects pull your attention in different directions: An upside-down lamp on the ceiling. A cocktail finished with a small mermaid pick. A receipt delivered tucked into the pages of a secondhand book. All pieces that don’t match, but somehow go together.
The menu lives in that same space: eclectic, bold, familiar, and just unexpected enough. You see it in dishes like the Whiskey Glazed Pork Chop, three days in the making and finished with candied bacon and peppers. Shrimp & Grits built with smoked gouda and citrus-garlic cream instead of playing it straight. A Hot Honey Pizza that leans into contrast with its habanero honey, chorizo, and fresh mozzarella.
That sense of fit is shaped in close collaboration with General Manager Frank Horak. Together, Chef Alejandro and Frank develop seasonal features, curate wine dinners, and create dining experiences that feel aligned from the first cocktail to the final course.
McRae’s American Bistro & Cocktails remains dedicated to supporting the Dallas culinary community and meaningful causes like the Texas Neurofibromatosis Foundation through continued participation in events like Dining Out in Dallas. Beyond this event, McRae’s has hosted giveback nights supporting families affected by the Central Texas floods in 2025, a “Families for a Cure” evening benefiting the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), and participates annually in DFW Restaurant Week, with proceeds benefiting the North Texas Food Bank.
Located near White Rock Lake at 9913 Garland Road, McRae’s offers an intimate, eclectic atmosphere complemented by a thoughtfully curated menu and cocktail program. With a loyal following, McRae’s has earned widespread recognition across Dallas, including four Gold awards in the Dallas Morning News “Best in DFW,” along with accolades from the Dallas Observer, Advocate, and Dining Out in Dallas. Known for its standout cocktails, chef-driven cuisine, and inviting atmosphere, McRae’s continues to be recognized as one of the city’s favorite neighborhood dining destinations.
Guests can follow @mcraesamericanbistro or visit mcraesamericanbistro.com to stay up to date on events, menus, and upcoming experiences.