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John Tesar Leaves Fishtail by David Burke; Will Open New Restaurant in the Woodlands

Posted on May 17th, 2009 6:01pm by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Chefs, Food On TV, Openings, Restaurant News, Wine & Spirits, youthful spontaneous restaurants

John Tesar is on fire.

Chef John Tesar resigned from the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek on February 23, 2009. He moved to New York and became executive chef at David Burke’s Fishtail. Today, Tesar announced he has resigned from Fishtail and will headline his own restaurant, Tesar’s Modern Steak and Sustainable Seafood. The restaurant will open in late August in The Woodlands, Texas.

His move from Fishtail had nothing to do with New York Times critic Frank Bruni’s recent one-star review. “I wasn’t even employed at the restaurant when Bruni ate there,” says Tesar. He’s happy to have a place of his own. “I’m excited to come back to Texas,” said Tesar. “I just learned that you can’t always go home [New York]. Kent [Rathbun] is doing a great job down there and I’m looking forward to doing this 100 percent sustainable concept.”

Tesar, originally from New York, is in Dallas today. He is one of the celebrity chefs at tonight’s Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation at FIG. The only details he gave me were his backers are from Houston and he is going to feature side-by-side tastings of grass-fed and corn-fed steaks. “Texas is my home forever now,” said Tesar. “I hope to open a Tesar’s in Dallas someday.”

24 Comments to “John Tesar Leaves Fishtail by David Burke; Will Open New Restaurant in the Woodlands”

KC @ May 17th, 2009 at 7:04 pm

Karma, meet Tesar. Tesar, meet Karma.
Joe @ May 17th, 2009 at 7:19 pm

The man is in need of therapy. He’s living in the state of denial.
Brent D. @ May 17th, 2009 at 9:28 pm

100% sustainable = impossible.

But hats off to anyone trying.
matt @ May 17th, 2009 at 10:02 pm

That will be a great location. The Woodlands Market is already home to Jasper’s, Tommy Bahama’s restaurant, and a few mid-level chains (PF Chang, Brio, Cheesecake). Tesar will be a nice upscale addition to the very strong area demographic. Best of luck!
Susan @ May 17th, 2009 at 10:48 pm

His ego is the size of Texas and I agree with Joe he is in denial. No one wants him or his ego back in Texas.
grady @ May 18th, 2009 at 9:11 am

The Brad does. The Brad wants him back in Texas.
jane @ May 18th, 2009 at 9:12 am

To the Negatroids:

1) Have you ever met and had a conversation with him?
2) Have you ever eaten his food?
3) Did you observe his philanthropic contributions to the fundraising events in Dallas? And the fact that he NEVER said no to any requests?

And no, I’m not his mother..just a lowly chef’s wife who wouldn’t know anything about food, or foodies, or chefs.
Mermaid @ May 18th, 2009 at 9:48 am

i thought tesar’s specialty was seafood, NOT steak? houston = a weird choice imo, unless dallas no longer wants him, his home of nyc no longer needs him, vegas kicked him out, next up la and chicago, i guess. on another note, who cares? this guy gets more press than any other chef who does nothing. he has to be at the top of the list of most overrated, egocentric chefs ever to blow through the big d. let’s all move on. just what houston needs, another steak house, how creative. and i’m sure tesar wasn’t there for the 1 star review at fishtail, how convenient.
luniz @ May 18th, 2009 at 9:52 am

that name is quite the mouthful.
MAP @ May 18th, 2009 at 10:14 am

So is Tesar’s Modern Steak and Sustainable Seafood going to be a “youthful and spontaneous” restaurant? I bet so since you never know which Tesar shows up – the charming chef or the diabolic tyrant. Figuring out mood swings always calls for spontaneity.
hilda @ May 18th, 2009 at 10:31 am

This is what saddens me about Dallas though we’ve lived here for two decades now. Many people here, as evidenced by the above look for failure from others who were not born and raised here. Tesar is a rocket chef and the Dallas foodies love him. And to those who keep talking about his resume and tenure please have the guts to post yours on this blog so we can scrutinize it. Obviously the guy is a talented chef and let’s leave it at that.
csyd @ May 18th, 2009 at 11:33 am

time to make up you mind… mansion? restaurant outside of dallas, fishtale, woodlands?
TheBrad @ May 18th, 2009 at 12:12 pm

Ha! Whateva, grady… talk to the hand…
DTD @ May 18th, 2009 at 12:53 pm

Try to say “Steak and Sustainable Seafood” three times, fast. It’s fun!
Bluebird @ May 18th, 2009 at 12:55 pm

good work, Nancy
BOB @ May 18th, 2009 at 3:46 pm

Bruni wrote, “But under the first executive chef, Eric Hara, and under his successor, John Tesar, the kitchen turned out plenty of clunkers…,” indicating that Bruni ate there under both chefs.
DGirl @ May 18th, 2009 at 5:16 pm

Negatroids?
hilda @ May 18th, 2009 at 8:06 pm

Nancy-
Isn’t it time you turned off the comments on SideDish? You are the food critic here and a great one at that…not the general public. What do you think of Tesar’s food?
HC @ May 18th, 2009 at 8:17 pm

Hilda, the “general public” are entitled to form and share opinions about Tesar. You’ve shared yours and no one has tried to silence you or have the discussion cut off. Why can’t you allow others similar courtesy?
Nancy Nichols @ May 19th, 2009 at 8:20 am

MAP–funny, I’m adding the tag. Good call. Hilda–I don’t turn off the comments or delete them unless folks get way off topic. Tesar was a controversial story around Dallas so we have an emotional discussion going.
Where has Snooty Foodie Been? @ May 19th, 2009 at 1:11 pm

I never see it/him/her comment anymore. By the looks of these comments, Tesar should be glad he’s not opening Tesar’s Modern Steak and Sustainable Seafood in Dallas. If he does come to Dallas, he should name his restaurant “Hilda’s” – it rolls off the tongue a little better.
snootyfoodie @ May 20th, 2009 at 4:59 pm

Yo Where has Snooty Foodie Been – we’re still here…it/he/me…just back from a lengthy and calorie filled foodie voyage.

No real comment on Tesar except to say he was amazing while he was here but H-town, rather the Woodlands – which is basically West Plano – is a real head scratcher.
b4myhart @ July 27th, 2009 at 3:40 pm

Yo snootyfoodie…..”real head scratcher” means? Not sure what works there?
heath lagrone @ August 2nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm

I worked with Chef Tesar at “rm” and will tell you many comments good and bad are right on. I currently live in the Woodlands and will tell you all that a restaurant of great quality is greatly needed and one thing this chef CAN DO is great food!