2005 XL Dining Guide: The Top 10

Little Texas Bistro
214 N. Main St., Buda; 312-5828

The sign tells the story.

The old one, replaced last summer when the restaurant received a face-lift, referred to the small spot on Main Street in Buda as Little Texas Bistro & Deli — implying a place with a casual approach to food.

The new one says Little Texas Bistro, with a slogan on the bottom of the menu that expands on the theme: "Fine Dining ... Lone Star Style."

What a transformation for this 2-year-old restaurant that showcases the work of chef-owner Paul Petersen, who abandoned a promising career in Manhattan for an even more auspicious one in the Austin area.

Petersen is a talented, creative cook who has steadily added to and refined the menu.

One of the appealing aspects of his approach is the unexpected combination of ingredients. In the peach and sausage risotto, for example, he combines spicy, crumbled sausage and firm, diced Texas peaches, with yellow raisins, parsley and Parmesan cheese. The sweet and spicy elements were part of every bite, forming an appetizing union of classic Texas items, a distinguishing aspect of Petersen's cuisine.