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Restaurants We have selected 25 restaurants, which we have divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments. In general, there is a sales tax of 8.25% added to food and drink bills. However, in reality, this tax varies and some restaurants only add the tax to either food or drink. Tipping of around 15% is expected and in some restaurants this may be added to the bill. The prices quoted below are for a three-course meal and for a bottle of house wine or equivalent, including sales tax but excluding tips, unless otherwise stated. Gastronomic Bistro Lancaster Located in the sumptuous Lancaster Hotel in the Theatre District, the Bistro is decorated in a European style but serves contemporary American cuisine. As its location makes it very popular with theatre-goers, it starts serving dinner from 1600 and dress is formal. Ingredients for meals come from the Gulf Coast region, such as crawfish tails or snapper fillet. Specialities include Black Angus ribeye in Cabernet sauce, served with haricots verts and herb butter. 701 Texas Avenue Tel: (713) 228 9502. E-mail: info@lancaster.com Website: www.lancaster.com Price: US$50. Wine: US$35. The Capital Grille The portions served in The Capital Grille, located west of the Galleria, are hearty. The speciality of the house is dry-aged steak and the menu consists mainly of beef dishes, with some seafood. Specials are available every day, but the pan-fried calamari with hot cherry peppers and scallions is a must. The plush, dark furnishings in this restaurant give the impression of a distinguished gentleman’s club. Closed lunchtimes. 5365 Westheimer Road Tel: (713) 623 4600. Fax: (713) 623 4606. Website: www.thecapitalgrillehouston.citysearch.com Price: US$50. Wine: US$28. La Colombe d’Or La Colombe d’Or, close to the downtown area, has a rare ambience with its elegant and intimate dining room, low lighting, walnut-panelled bar and padded leather chairs in the library. The mainly French food is superb, with surprisingly good portions for a gourmet experience, and the sautéed red snapper with minestrone garnish is highly recommended. Closed Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes. 3410 Montrose Boulevard Tel: (713) 524 7999. Fax: (713) 524 8923. Website: www.lacolombedor.com Price: US$60. Wine: US$32. La Tour d’Argent This stylish, award-winning French restaurant, near the Heights area, is located in Houston’s oldest log cabin. Small, intimate dining rooms contain tables with the finest silver and crystal settings and decorated with fresh roses. Several fireplaces make it very cosy in winter and the lobster bisque is a great favourite with diners. Closed Sunday. 2011 Ella Boulevard Tel: (713) 864 9864. Fax: (713) 864 9754. Website: www.latourdargent.citysearch.com Price: US$55. Wine: US$27. Scott’s Cellar Definitely a place to come for a special occasion or to impress someone by dining in the wine cellar, with floor to ceiling wine racks on all four walls. The choice of food (Chinese and international) and wines is outstanding and the crispy shrimp with honey-coated walnuts is one of Scott Chen’s signature dishes (US$20). Located close to the Galleria area, there are luncheon specials starting at US$9.50. 6540 San Felipe Tel: (713) 785 8889. Fax: (713) 789 9766. Website: www.scottscellar.com Price: US$40. Wine: US$30. Business Bombay Palace The Bombay Palace is a popular choice for both lunch and dinner, particularly known for its choice of vegetarian dishes and generous lunchtime buffets. The maribari snapper with coconut and yoghurt sauce is not to be missed. Warmly decorated in sari-pink and burgundy with a spacious bar area, this Galleria restaurant has a lively atmosphere. 4100 Westheimer Road Tel (713) 960 8472. Fax: (713) 993 0739. Price: US$35. Wine: US$30. Churrascos This restaurant, located a few minutes from the trendy Galleria area, relies heavily on its South American heritage, reflected in the earthy colours of the decor, as well as the texture, flavour and colour of the food served. The menu is extensive, with Churrascos speciality dishes including corn-smoked crab fingers in a chilli lime butter sauce. Lunch specials served Monday-Friday. Closed Sunday. 9705 Westheimer Tel: (713) 952 1988. Fax: (713) 952 2005. E-mail: fred@cordua.com Website: www.cordua.com Price: US$25. Wine: US$20 (white), US$40 (red). La Strada This extremely popular Italian restaurant, decorated in warm terracotta tones, is close to downtown and serves an excellent selection of pastas and brick-oven pizzas. Its location makes it very busy at lunchtimes and it is essential to book Sunday brunch, when there is live jazz with a distinctly Mardi Gras atmosphere. House speciality is crab cakes with chipotle beurre blanc, and specials are offered daily, with light lunches available. 322 Westheimer Road Tel: (713) 523 1014. Fax: (713) 850 0202. E-mail: lastrada@hypercon.com Website: www.lastrada.org Price: US$32. Wine: US$22. Nino’s Restaurant Run by the same family as Vincent’s, the emphasis in this downtown restaurant is on good home cooking from all regions of Italy, including excellent seafood, such as grilled red snapper with sun-dried tomato and pinenuts. Nino’s is a cosy place, filled with Italian pottery and hanging herbs and furnished with a huge old table always covered in an array of marinated and baked vegetables. Closed Saturday lunchtime and all day Sunday. 2817 W Dallas Street Tel: (713) 522 5120. Website: www.ninos-vincents.com Price: US$35. Wine: US$24. Truluck’s Steak & Stone Crab This smart, exclusive Galleria diner is made cosy by burgundy leather booths, mahogany interiors and marble floors. Stone crabs are shipped in from the Caribbean and also worth a try are the crabcakes and key lime pie. Truluck’s have ‘all you can eat’ nights on Mondays from 1700-2200. 5919 Westheimer Road Tel: (713) 783 7270. Fax: (713) 783 7559. Price: US$35. Wine: US$20. Trendy Mi Luna Mi Luna is a Spanish tapas bar, located in a restaurant decorated with tiles giving it an authentic Spanish feel. It serves main meals, as well as tapas, including delicious seafood, such as marinated octopus in sherry vinaigrette. This very loud yet fun restaurant is in The Village and is at its busiest Thursday nights at around 2300 when there is often dance music or a live band. 2441 University Boulevard Tel: (713) 520 5025. Website: www.miluna.citysearch.com Price: US$20. Wine: US$17. Pesce This is one of the trendiest places to be seen, attracting power diners to try its fresh seafood, such as red snapper, trout and mussels, served in a variety of styles, including Mediterranean, Asian and Creole. Diners can also enjoy a drink at the bar with oysters as an accompaniment. Very cosmopolitan, reservations are definitely required. Closed lunchtimes and all day Sunday. 3029 Kirby Drive Tel: (713) 522 4858. Fax: (713) 522 9660. Price: US$30. Wine: US$25. PF Changs China Bistro This trendy, upbeat Chinese restaurant, located in the Highland Village Shopping Center, attracts a young crowd. It serves great food with fine wine in a typical Chinese setting, with hand-painted murals on the wall reflecting the various old dynasties. A recommended dish is the lemon pepper shrimp served on sautéed chives and beansprouts. Closed Sunday. 4094 Westheimer Road Tel: (713) 627 7220. Fax: (713) 627 9367. Website: www.pfchangs.com Price: US$25. Wine: US$23. Saba Blue Water Café This trendy place to eat, located close to midtown, is made more attractive by its excellent seafood and steak menu – a great favourite is the scallops served on a buttermilk squash purée. Saba is stylish but casual with warehouse-style architecture (exposed brick walls) and a huge double-sided aquarium. Closed Saturday lunchtime and all day Sunday. 416 Main Street Tel: (713) 228 7222. Fax: (713) 228 7224. E-mail: chuck@sabacafe.com Website: www.sabacafe.com Price: US$27.50. Wine: US$20. Vallone’s Located in the River Oaks neighbourhood, this high-profile, pricey restaurant serves a selection of steaks, seafood and chops. The restaurant is in a retro, tin-roofed mock roadhouse with brick fireplace and comfy red leather banquettes. Smart, but definitely not formal, the sesame-crusted snapper is a must. 2811 Kirby Drive Tel: (713) 526 2811. Price: US$5. Wine: US$30. Budget Barry’s Pizza This good-value pizzeria is a firm favourite, serving good, hearty deep-pan pizzas, as well as pasta, such as pasta tubes stuffed with ricotta cheese. Barry’s is in a log cabin, located close to the Galleria, with a covered area for alfresco dining. It is an ideal place in which to unwind and even watch a ball game as the walls are covered with baseball and sports memorabilia, and there is even a TV room for watching the game. 6003 Richmond Avenue Tel: (713) 266 8692. E-mail: info@barryspizza.com Website: www.barryspizza.com Price: US$21.50. Wine: US$17. Blackeyed Pea Part of a chain across the city, this branch of Blackeyed Pea is well located close to downtown. It is popular with families (so very noisy) that are attracted by the home cooking, such as meatloaf, burgers and pot roast. Panelled walls give a warming home-style feel with pictures of old farming scenes and the countryside. 2048 West Grey Tel: (713) 523 0200. Price: US$12.50. Wine: US$15. Branches: 3601 S Sandman Street; 2048 W Gray Street; 551 Town and Country Village; 4211 Bellaire Boulevard. Collinas One of a small chain of pizza parlours, this branch is located in the Museum District and well-patronised by families, so it is particularly noisy. It serves good-value, hearty meals, including a large choice of pastas, as well as pizza. A particular favourite is the Mona Lisa pizza, with feta, tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms. Nightly specials available. Closed Sunday. 2400 Times Boulevard Tel: (713) 526 4499. Fax: (713) 526 3370. Price: US$17.50. Wine: US$20. BYO: US$2 (corkage fee). Branches: 12311 Kingsride Lane; 3835 Richmond Avenue. Pappa’s Bar-B-Q Popular barbecue-style restaurant serving hearty portions of beef, pork, sausages, ribs, turkey and chicken, with ranch-style beans, rice and salad. Located in the downtown area, it is particularly busy at lunchtimes when there are often queues. Casual dining in a country and western setting and particularly good for groups. 1217 Pierce Street Tel: (713) 659 1245. Fax: (713) 659 5315. Price: US$17.50. Bottle of Beer: US$1.95. Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen Pappadeaux serves Cajun-style food in a loud, fun atmosphere – this brightly coloured restaurant, which is part of a chain, is casual dining at its best. As portions are huge, a good-value restaurant can be made even cheaper by sharing a meal with a friend. Fish specials, such as pepper shrimp with herb butter, change daily and are recommended served blackened. 2410 Richmond Avenue Tel: (713) 527 9137. Fax: (713) 523 7839. Price: US$25. Wine: US$21. Branches: 10499 Katy Freeway; 2525 South Loop; 6015 Westheimer Road. Personal Recommendations Café Piquet This friendly, family-run restaurant in Bellaire serves homemade Cuban cuisine in a light, open setting, with memorabilia from Cuba covering the walls. House specialities include roasted pork, mixed black beans with rice or yucca with garlic sauce. Café Piquet is popular with the resident Cuban population, which is always a good recommendation. Closed Monday. 6053 Bissonnet Street, Bellaire Tel: (713) 664 1031. Fax: (713) 664 1125. E-mail: cafepiquet@hotmail.com Website: www.geocities.com/cafepiquet Price: US$18. Wine: US$15. Sambuca Jazz Café Sambuca is a great place to try hearty American food with a Mediterranean twist to it, served in delicious, tangy sauces. The restaurant is great for romantic meals – it is more like a supper club with white linen tablecloths and candles on every table. Live jazz bands perform nightly. 909 Texas Avenue Tel: (713) 224 5299. Fax: (713) 224 5290. E-mail: sambuca@flash.net Website: www.sambucahouston.citysearch.com Price: US$40. Wine: US$20. Sullivan’s Steak House Close to the Galleria, the sleek mahogany walls and Art Deco fixtures create a classy, drawing room elegance in this popular steakhouse. Sullivan’s has a simple menu with a wide choice of steaks, lamb, pork and seafood, as well as vegetarian options on request. The house special is a 20-ounce steak. There is nightly live jazz in the bar. Closed Sunday. 4608 Westheimer Road Tel: (713) 961 0333. Fax: (713) 961 1105. Price: US$30. Wine: US$30. Taste of Texas This traditional, open ranchhouse, on the west side of Houston, is crammed with Texas memorabilia, including guns, cowboy stirrups and animal heads. It celebrates all things Texan and is renowned for its Certified Angus Beef Steaks. The cosy and relaxed atmosphere makes for an ideal place in which to pass many enjoyable hours, especially as there is free cinnamon coffee on offer. Closed Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes. 10505 Katy Freeway Tel: (713) 932 6901. Website: www.tasteoftexas.com Price: US$35. Wine: US$36. Vincent’s Restaurant This popular, family-run Italian restaurant, decorated with warm terracotta tones, is popular with the business community because of its reasonable prices and downtown location. Vincent’s serves much more than just pasta and pizza and is justifiably well known for its signature dish of wood-fired rotisserie chicken with garlic mashed potato. Closed Saturday lunchtime and all day Sunday. 2701 W Dallas Street Tel: (713) 528 4313. Fax: (713) 528 1132. Website: www.ninos-vincents.com Price: US$35. Wine: US$20. |
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