Restaurants

Américas

1800 Post Oak Blvd, The Pavilion, Houston, TX 77056 713-961-1492

Description: GALLERIA/UPTOWN. With its Jetsons-meets-the-Flintstones interior, only more chic and elegant, Américas has an otherworldly ambience that's as much theater as it is dining. The cuisine follows suit, effortlessly melding substance with spectacle. Dishes incorporate ingredients from a multitude of global destinations, and the resultant offerings include pan-roasted Gulf snapper, grilled venison, paella, and buffalo tenderloin. Excellent service is a treat, as is a decadent tres leches cake. Great cocktails too.
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Arcodoro

5000 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056 713-621-6888

Description: GALLERIA. Whether you dine in Arcodoro's casual grill area or in its white-tablecloth dining room, you can be certain of spectacular Sardinian cuisine. An offshoot of Italian fare, it's the rustic, simple cooking of farmers and shepherds, but it's delicious enough for folks of all classes and inclinations. Homemade pastas enlivened with wild boar, roasted vegetables, and black truffles are wonderful, as are veal medallions, broiled lamb chops, roasted chicken, and a host of gourmet, wood-fired pizzas. Italian wines allow the restaurant's culinary heritage a chance to shine.
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Bar Annie

1728 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056 713-840-1111

Description: GALLERIA. Cafe Annie serves innovative regional cuisine amid polished woods, white tablecloths, and exquisite floral arrangements. The elegant, perennially popular restaurant has won many culinary awards, including ones from James Beard, the Fine Dining Hall of Fame, DiRoNA, and Gourmet magazine. Specializing in what has come to be known as Southwestern Cuisine, the establishment serves tempting fare like wood-grilled shellfish, cinnamon-roasted pheasant, and coffee-roasted filet of beef. Bar Annie is the restaurant's less formal, less pricey venue.
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Becks Prime

2902 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098 713-524-7085

Description: MIDTOWN. The original location of this local chain promises an imaginative array of mesquite-grilled hamburgers and a spacious patio for outdoor dining. Choices are practically endless, whether you choose one of the specialty burgers or opt for a salad, baked potato, bowl of chili, hot dog, or chicken filet sandwich. Wash your lunch down with a wonderful milkshake, or choose from a variety of beers and wines. Other locations in the Houston area.
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Fountain View Cafe

1842 Fountain View Dr, Houston, TX 77057 713-785-9060

Description: TANGLEWOOD. Need something hearty and filling when the sun rises? Fountain View stands poised to help out, thanks to breakfast plates that are available from open till close. If you crave fruit pancakes, cheese grits, omelets, or even a classic ham and eggs dish, you'll find it here. The parking lot reveals folks from all walks of life inside, and as mid-day rolls around, you can sample deli-style sandwiches and juicy, old-fashioned burgers, with a milkshake, of course!
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Grille 5115

5115 Westheimer Rd, Saks Fifth Avenue, Houston, TX 77056-5501 713-963-8067

Description: GALLERIA. Tucked inside Saks, this desirable eatery offers a unique cuisine that blends New American, French, and even Southwestern influences, making executive chef Pedro Silva one of the city's most talked about culinary artists. The elegant atmosphere, befitting a restaurant set in a world-class department store, makes Ruggles a favorite with discriminating crowds and with diners interested in a romantic dinner for two. Featured entrees include angel hair with grilled Angus tenderloin, seared Gulf snapper with shrimp and avocado, and chipotle-rubbed Australian lamb chops.
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La Vista

1936 Fountainview Rd, Houston, TX 77057 713-787-9899

Description: GALLERIA/UPTOWN. At this friendly Italian restaurant, a festive, casual atmosphere abounds, and everybody from style-conscious young professionals to families posture to claim one of the snug café-style tables. An open-plan kitchen and checkered tile floors add to the authentic feel. Heaping pasta dishes and homemade pizzas are menu stalwarts, although a few American-influenced options like braised pork chops, rack of lamb, and beef tenderloin are available. While the restaurant's BYOB policy is a hassle to some, a wine shop is conveniently located nearby. Lines tend to get long, especially on weekends, so expect a wait.
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Luling City Market

4726 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77027 713-871-1903

Description: GALLERIA. Designed to look like a building in a 19th-century Western town, Luling City Market cultivates an air of past days. It even smokes its meats over wood for an authentic taste. Inside the place, the rustic theme continues, letting diners feel as if they've stumbled into an age-old dining room. Just like famished cowboys, patrons dive into hearty servings of beef sausages, ribs, brisket, turkey, and chicken, all accompanied by homemade sides and desserts. If you become enamored of the spicy sauce, they bottle it for shipping across the country.
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McCormick & Schmick's

1151 Uptown Park Blvd, Uptown Park Shopping Center, Houston, TX 77056 713-840-7900

Description: GALLERIA/UPTOWN. Within this cozy, upscale restaurant, with its printed-daily menu, it's evident that M&S places a premium on fresh seafood, and diners' faces indicate the satisfaction such attention brings. Menu selections point out where items originated, so you can get tilapia from Costa Rica, halibut from Alaska, or scallops from Massachusetts. Grilled and fried options are available, and steaks and chicken take care of unrepentant carnivores. A variety of oysters changes seasonally and makes a wonderful first course. Great bar too.
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Nit Noi Thai

4703 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77002 713-621-6088

Description: GALLERIA. Along with highly rated noodles, this Eastern-inspired eatery offers traditional Thai dishes that have been Houston standards since the early '70s. The restaurant treats folks to a friendly, professional waitstaff who work hard to make everybody feel like part of the family. House specialties include sautéed shrimp with peanut sauce, stir-fried mussels with chili sauce, and quick-cooked squid in a hot, spicy sauce. Multiple locations in the Houston metro area.
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Otto's

5502 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77007-8095 713-864-2573

Description: RIVER OAKS. Since 1951, this local treasure has been catering to Houston appetites with what may just be "Texas's best BBQ." Outside, Otto's sports the sort of rusticity you'd expect from an eatery that specializes in barbecued beef, ribs, links, pork, and ham ­ an aluminum roof, weathered wood siding, and plenty of picnic tables on the "front porch." People who don't care for barbecue can opt for a special double-meat burger and an order of crisp French fries. Keep your eyes peeled too ­ Otto's bills itself as the place where "the President eats beef."
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Ouisie's Table

3939 San Felipe St, Houston, TX 77027 713-528-2264

Description: RIVER OAKS. Boasting upscale country decor and a Gulf Coast-inspired menu, Elouise Adams Jones's establishment promises comforts galore and has turned the heads of local and national critics alike. The skilled chef regularly wows patrons with fried crab cakes or seasoned quail with cheesy polenta and port glaze ­ and those are just appetizers. Entrees include crab-stuffed Atlantic salmon, three-cheese macaroni and cheese, fried oysters with blue cheese slaw, and chicken-fried steak. An international wine list provides apt accompaniments, and the dessert menu features decadent bourbon-pecan pie.
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P.F. Chang's China Bistro

4094 Westheimer Rd, Highland Village Center, Houston, TX 77027 713-627-7220

Description: MIDTOWN. This fashionable Chinese bistro gets high marks from trendy Houston diners, who adore the contemporary interior and eclectic menu. Start with do-it-yourself lettuce wraps ­ these alone are worth the trip. Afterwards, take any route you like, from Szechwan or Hunan to Cantonese or Shanghai. Chang's daily specials are always worth considering as well ­ keep your fingers crossed that Szechwan shrimp or pan-fried noodles are available when you drop by. Leave room for the luscious Great Wall of Chocolate.
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Shanghai River

2407 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77098 713-528-5528

Description: UPPER KIRBY DISTRICT. For quite a few years now, this dining gem has been wowing patrons with superb Chinese favorites. The interior features green carpeting, wooden paneling, hand-carved Asian screens, and original prints; it's ideal for either a business meeting or an intimate dinner. Menu highlights include spicy General Tso's chicken, Peking duck, and Hunan lobster, as well as a few regionally-inspired surprises like jalapeño shrimp.
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The Cheesecake Factory

5015 Westheimer Rd, The Galleria, Houston, TX 77056 713-840-0600

Description: GALLERIA. The extensive menu at this much-loved chain tempts diners with its incredible variety of foods, but the dessert fare really breaks down wills. The cheesecake menu alone offers three dozen options, and that doesn't even include such devilish delights as black-out cake, tiramisu, and warm apple dumplings. If you're trying to be good, opt for a goblet of fresh strawberries, or convince yourself that carrot cake is a vegetable. Any way you spin it, don't leave without trying one of their specialties. They offer a terrific Sunday brunch too.
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The Palm

6100 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77057-4559 713-977-2544

Description: GALLERIA. This national chain opened its Houston restaurant in 1978, and its fine reputation for delicious steaks and seafood hasn't flagged at all in the interim ­ and neither has its unmistakable Southern charm. Featured dishes include a mammoth, 36-ounce New York strip for two, jumbo Maine lobster, veal Française, broiled crab cakes, swordfish, and clams and shrimp Posillipo. Providing complements are the wine list's many Californian and European labels. N.B. After work, the five o'clock crowd tends to gather in the cool bar area, which showcases caricatures by "Jolly" Bill Steinke.
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The Remington

1919 Briar Oaks Ln, St. Regis Hotel, Houston, TX 77027 713-403-2631

Description: GALLERIA. Elegantly appointed with French doors, richly patterned carpets, and potted plants, this hotel dining room gets a visual punch from vibrant red walls. Such meshing of tradition and the unexpected is also reflected in the menu, which seeks to capitalize on Texas culinary heritage. For proof, look to pistachio-dusted duck breast, mesquite-baked salmon with fennel citrus slaw, or lamb osso bucco. Texas steaks are also featured. Outdoor dining, Californian wines, an upscale bar, and scrumptious desserts ­ anyone for warm chocolate lava cake? ­ provide further reason for delight.
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The Remington Restaurant

1919 Briar Oaks Ln, St. Regis Hotel, Houston, TX 77027 713-403-2631

Description: GALLERIA/UPTOWN. The Remington offers upscale dining for folks in the market for fabulous Regional American seafood. The interior, highlighted by an impressive collection of contemporary art, prefaces a classy experience, making it ideal for either an important business meeting or an intimate dinner. Select a bottle from the international wine list, and as the caviar trolley makes its way about, peruse the menu's vaunted main courses ­ smoked carpaccio, baked shellfish, fresh Maine lobster, and even fine dry-aged beef and duck. Save room for dessert ­ it's rumored that The Remington's pastry chef is unparalleled.
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Tony's

3755 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77046 713-622-6778

Description: MIDTOWN. Sleek, airy, and punctuated with top-quality contemporary artwork, Tony's has been a premiere dining destination for many years. All dishes are made fresh daily using the best ingredients, and the kitchen's care is evident in everything from steaks to desserts. Among the options you'll discover are a stuffed, truffled filet of beef, lacquered salmon, roasted boar chop, and osso buco. Offerings listed as 1801s are classics from the restaurant's previous incarnation. The stunning wine cellar focuses on vintages from Italy, France, and California.
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Truluck's

5350 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056 713-783-7270

Description: GALLERIA. A favorite with trendy Houstonites, Truluck's enjoys an upscale aesthetic. Professional servers make each diner feel special, and a superb international wine list helps set a refined tone. Contemporary interpretations of American seafood dominate the menu, and stone crabs are the specialty. However, you can also find seared sesame-crusted tuna with parmesan mashed potatoes, fiery Pacific Rim red fish with stir-fried vegetables, and grilled mahi mahi with Truluck's signature Ponchartrain seafood sauce. Save room for dessert, because you don't want to miss out on pecan praline cheesecake, carrot cake, or mocha almond fudge pie.
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