A Taste of Texas: Exploring The Best Restaurants in Houston

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Houston has been awarded the 2nd best foodie city in the United States due to its wide variety of restaurants and cuisines. The city is home to various culinary options, including Vietnamese, Tex-Mex, and Louisiana Creole.

Some excellent dining options may be found in this city. People from all over the country go here since it is widely considered to have some of the finest restaurants anywhere. Houston is known for its unique cuisine, which includes dishes like Viet-Cajun crawfish, barbecue, breakfast tacos, chicken and waffles, tamales, pho, and kolaches.

Whatever your preferred style of dining, you’ll find it in Houston. Let us walk you through some of the best restaurants in Texas Houston to help you plan your next food journey in the city!

Fancy Restaurants in Houston, TX

Photo by Athena

Fancy restaurants in Houston, TX offer customers a high-end dining experience, often involving multiple courses. Low lighting and elegant decor make every meal a romantic experience. Linen tablecloths and napkins, flower arrangements, candles, classical music, and exquisite artwork are all to be expected.

There is an air of sophistication, refinement, and class in fine dining establishments. Alternatively, they can function as a franchise to reach more customers or retain a single location to project an atmosphere of grandeur.

The following are some of the finest fine dining establishments in Houston, Texas, should you need a fancy meal while in town.

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse

The Pappas Bros. Steakhouse is a sophisticated restaurant that has won many awards and is known for its dry-aged prime beef, seafood, and great wine selections.

Treat yourself to one of the best steak restaurants in Houston, Texas and browse their menu!

Reviews:

“I am giving Pappas Steakhouse a five mainly for service. You certainly may feel like they are taking care of you at this restaurant. The steak is pretty good, too. Mine went down like butter. Add a few nice cocktails and this can make for a very nice meal.” – Gay Vagabond

“Great steakhouse with top notch service. Well prepared food that you’d normally expect from a steakhouse with great service from the waitstaff and all other supporting staff. There are multiple different sized rooms with slightly different dining ambiance or to accommodate larger sized parties. Parking options include $10 valet, street parking, or nearby structures much like other downtown restaurants.” – Gregston Chu

Uchi

If you’re looking for a perfect place to satisfy your cravings for excellent Japanese cuisine, go no further than Uchi. Chef Tyson Cole, a winner of a James Beard Award, started the restaurant where customers can experience his signature blend of high-end cuisine and attentive service.

Guests at Uchi can enjoy seasonal omakase, special tasting menus, and Japanese dishes that stray from the norm, such as sushi and Japanese fusion dishes.

Check out their menu and indulge in some of the city’s finest dishes.

Reviews:

“We got a reservation to celebrate our anniversary, and our server Virginia made sure it was a memorable experience! The Chef’s Tasting is a must for those looking to have an adventure without stressing what to order, and the variability of what was included across presentation, ingredients, abd textures will keep you engaged for the entire meal. We spent around two hours at Uchi between 13 courses (three were desserts) and a bottle of sparkling wine. Plan for about the same amount of time so you can enjoy the experience fully. Thank you again to Virginia and the entire Uchi staff and chefs! Highly recommend.” – Chris Aikens

“Great place and we’ve gone here for years. Great place for any special occasion or even date night. Well worth trying the Omakase Chef Tasting. It will allow you to try things especially when you can’t decide. Brussels sprouts are my favorite, try them to start off.” – Andrew J. Sosa

Eddie V's Prime Seafood

Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, originally from Austin, established its first Houston branch in the thriving CityCentre development in Memorial. It serves its award-winning seafood and premium, dry-aged steaks.

This upscale restaurant serves up fresh, right-off-the-docks meals in addition to USDA-grade, center-cut steaks in an atmosphere reminiscent of the great seafood restaurants of New Orleans, San Francisco, and Boston.

The most ordered dishes include the delicate, bacon-wrapped scallops and the Maryland-style all-lump crab cakes sautéed in spicy remoulade sauce. Have a look at their menu and taste some of the best food in town.

Reviews:

“We went there, my fiance and I, we were celebrating our anniversary and her birthday.
First of all the overall vibe was “SUBLIME”! We were surprised by a nice high table in the V lounge with a romantic light set a two cards wishing us a happy birthday and a happy anniversary! The staff was amazing! The food starting from the drinks to appetizers, salad, entree and dessert, they were all 10/10! Seriously the food can’t be any better!
The band was so nice!!” – Abbas Jaber

“My husband and I had a fabulous time enjoying our New Year’s Eve dinner at Eddie V’s. The food was absolutely delicious and our server, Todd Parker, was OUTSTANDING!!! His knowledge of the menu, his attentiveness to us, our needs and to details, and his overall professionalism was beyond 5 Star service!!! My husband is not the easiest person to please or impress, but Todd changed all that! He sang Mr. Parker’s praises the entire night! We will definitely go back to this particular location because of the food, atmosphere, location and TODD PARKER!!” – Tracey Thomas

The Capital Grille

The Capital Grille, a famous steakhouse in Houston, Texas, boasts an excellent menu and an extensive wine list, and it can be found in the heart of the city in the vibrant and bustling CityCentre.

Steaks at The Capitol Grille are dry-matured for 18 to 24 days and afterward hand-cut by the restaurant’s butcher for maximum flavor and tenderness. More than 350 wines are available by the glass at The Capital Grille, and the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling wine kiosk usually stocks between 3,000 to 5,000 bottles.

Experience the grandeur of having a meal at one of the famous upscale restaurants in Houston, Texas, and check out their menu to plan your visit ahead!

Reviews:

“We visited CG in City Centre for my birthday and everything was excellent! From our server James who accommodated a large party, down to the food /drinks and cleanliness of the restrooms. The Lamb Chops w/ coffee rub and NY strip with the Courvoisier cream was some of the best. The sides are big enough to share with 3 people. It is a bit on the pricey side but was worth it for sure. I highly recommend.” – Annie Frank

“Spot on. Amazing steak with lobster tail. Small oysters (from Maryland) have unique flavor and sweet. Seabass is great, too. Service is excellent. Love this place.” – Yen Nguyen

Taste of Texas

Taste of Texas is a popular family-friendly restaurant known for its outsized steaks, on-site butcher shop, and extensive salad bar.

For nearly 30 years, diners at Taste of Texas have enjoyed steaks made from certified Angus beef. Rib-eye, center cut filet, filet Oscar, New York strip sirloin, porterhouse, tomahawk rib-eye, and T-Bone are just a few of the many steaks available at Taste of Texas.

Be sure to save space for dessert since Taste of Texas serves a variety of tasty treats, such as Texas Pecan pie a la mode and “a slice of paradise,” a layered white and dark chocolate mousse in a raspberry sauce. Check out their menu if you’re in the mood for a true Texas experience!

Reviews:

“Loved the atmosphere at Taste of Texas! Great for any special occasion, and the staff is professional and friendly. The steaks here are some of the best I’ve ever had – definitely make reservations, because the wait could be up to 2 hours otherwise. You get to choose your own steak, and mine (the t-bone) was cooked perfectly. The salad bar is included with any steak order, and it’s got a great fresh and varied selection. Definitely worth trying if you’re in the area!” – Kevin Ao

“The ambiance is amazing, the food is out of this world and the service is unmatched.
This rivals at top 3 steakhouses in Houston in my opinion. From fresh greens at the salad bar to only premium cuts of steak you literally cannot go wrong here. All salad dressings are homemade, rolls are fresh and steaks are of top quality beef.
Drinks are great and most importantly consistent in quality and potency. Could not have asked for a better waiter or better dining experience.
Can’t compliment this place enough on quality and service. Absolutely top notch and guaranteed to impress!” – Derek Deyo

Italian Restaurants in Houston, Texas

Photo by Klaus Nielsen

La Griglia

La Griglia is a vibrant restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine. It’s not hard to understand why La Griglia has become one of the most famous Italian restaurants in Houston, Texas: it serves creative dishes, has a friendly and efficient staff, and has a fun, upbeat vibe. Have a look at their mouthwatering menu if you are on for some Italian delights!

Reviews:

“Awesome service, ambiance, and food! I haven’t been here for several years. But used to come often. La Griglia is a great place for a wide variety of Italian food done right. It was my birthday and my mom asked where do we go. This was on the short list. It was a Friday and we passed up Perry’s Pork Chop Special, and didn’t give it a second thought. From the Appetizers to the Desserts everything was spectacular. I drink quite a but of Ice Tea and it was ALWAYS full. Can’t wait to go back now that I live in the neighborhood again.” – Dylan Rawline

“If you’re looking for delicious, authentic Italian food with an unforgettable atmosphere, La Griglia is the place for you! Our server Carlos was very attentive throughout our experience and provided wonderful service. Great wine selection. The salads were light and refreshing. The rigatoni was amazing! The sweet, fresh sauce complimented the rich Parmesan crusted chicken. And make sure you leave some room for the show stopping Italian Wedding Cake! An all around wonderful experience to share with those you love.” – Isabel Bosch

Grotto Ristorante

Grotto serves mouthwatering beef, chicken, seafood, and house-made pasta, all of which are inspired by the traditional cuisine of Southern Italy. The colorful murals and hand-polished iron scrollwork add a touch of whimsy to the otherwise stunning hand-blown glass chandeliers at Grotto. If you’re in the mood for Italian dishes, you should definitely check out their menu.

Reviews:

“Great ambience and excellent service! Food was delicious. Took the veal and salmon specials. We were all super stuffed afterwards.” – Kai Huang

“Great ambience and excellent service! Food was delicious. Took the veal and salmon specials. We were all super stuffed afterwards.” – Steph Tikki

Maggiano's Little Italy

At Maggiano’s Little Italy, you can get authentic Italian American food in a cozy and welcoming setting. Homemade pasta, trademark salads, top steaks, fresh seafood, regular chef specials, and distinctive desserts are just some of the items on Maggiano’s fantastic food, including a wide variety of wines and other alcoholic beverages. You can choose from an incredible variety of mouthwatering dishes from their menu.

Reviews:

“I actually enjoyed this little spot, normally don’t go here to eat Italy food. But to my surprise the food was delicious. I had the fried Zucchini which was absolutely delicious. I was so impressed with the favor of the food. Even though I had the grilled Salmon it was so delicious I actually enjoyed my dinner.” – Tawanda Polidore

“We came here ever now and then. They have amazing deal. I usually have one of their fish dish which is usually safe for my wheat/lactose intolerance. My husband would get a tasty pasta or a ravioli and some to go $5 dinner. The service is top notch though so I like this place very much.” – Jimmy Vo

Prego

Prego has grown to become one of the most famous Italian restaurants in Texas Houston. This sleek restaurant serves up contemporary takes on Italian classics.

All of the food is prepared with fresh, local products, and the cuisine can adapt to the seasons in this way. Among the specialties are wood-fired pizzas made with hand-tossed dough and house-cured salami. Other fascinating selections can be discovered on their menu!

Reviews:

“Went there for a regular Sunday lunch. They have a light Italian music on the background. the place smells like cheese and wine. Huge wine selection to drink from. Staff were nice too. We ordered their lasagna, meatballs and chicken parmesan; were completely satisfied. Definitely will come back.” – Yasaman Adel

“Ordered the Houston Restaurant Week option of burrata, salmon with brocollini and lemon risotto, and tiramisu. A-mazing! The skin crusting on the fish was perfect. I ate most of the fresh bread and garlic basil infused olive oil. So tasty and nice ambiance!” – Daniella Fremstad

Wrap Up

Despite losing a few long-time restaurants during the pandemic, Houston’s restaurant industry has flourished in recent years, adding depth and variety to the city’s already robust food scene. Many high-end and unique restaurants in Houston will always be there if you’re searching for a culinary adventure.

If you want to know more about Houston, TX and its gorgeous selection of close-knit residential communities, please feel free to contact me anytime at 832.273.9995. You can also browse through my other blogs here.