Restaurants

Churrascos

9705 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77042 713-527-8300

Description: HOUSTON. Add a dose of spice to standard steakhouse dining at this gem, whose South American-influenced decor features lush greenery and tropical flowers. Try something out-of-the-ordinary, like South American-style ceviche with hearts of palm, black bean-stuffed empanadas, sliced roasted duck breast with green peppercorn sauce, and churrasco beef marinated in chimichurri sauce (olive oil, garlic, spices). Pork, chicken, and seafood can also be had.
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Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

2405 W Alabama St, River Oaks Center, Houston, TX 77098 713-520-5959

Description: RIVER OAKS. Houston's version of this well-received chain is as popular with couples out for the evening as it is with business folks. Both sets display an obvious admiration for Fleming's aged USDA Prime beef, which is hand-cut daily and broiled at 1600° for maximum juiciness. Standard cuts are available, or you can opt for veal, pork ribs, or lamb chops. Prime rib is a Sunday tradition, and the seafood selection includes crab legs, lobster, fish, shrimp, and scallops. A fabulous wine list includes more than 100 by-the-glass options.
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Fogo de Chão

8250 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77063 713-978-6500

Description: GALLERIA. Carnivores thrill to this fantastic restaurant, which serves skewer after skewer of roasted meat in an all-you-can-eat bonanza. Brazilian gauchos present steak, pork, chicken, lamb and sausages, all cuts expertly seasoned and exquisitely cooked. They're only the main feature, though, of a meal that includes a magnificent salad bar and side dishes that range from fried bananas to rice and beans. A rustic, upscale interior sets the scene for this decadent binge. Fixed price meals run approximately $32.50 for lunch and $48.50 for dinner. What a feast!
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Lynn's Steakhouse

955 Dairy Ashford Rd, Houston, TX 77079 281-870-0807

Description: WEST HOUSTON. Female-founded Lynn's Steakhouse purports to have some of the area's tastiest New York strip ­ seared, seasoned, and prepared to taste. Upscale, cozy surroundings set the scene for diners seeking privacy and for parties celebrating a special event. Add to the mix an impressive international wine list and a friendly, attentive waitstaff, and all the ingredients are there for unparalleled dining. Several seafood options are available for people not wanting red meat, but passing up one of Lynn Foreman's delicious steaks is not advisable.
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Morton's, The Steakhouse

5000 Westheimer, Centre at Post Oak, Houston, TX 77056-5613 713-629-1946

Description: GALLERIA. Upscale Morton's is a chain steakhouse that serves a lot more than just American Angus. The decor is masculine; the atmosphere, classy. Expect to be treated well by the friendly waitstaff, who present dinner selections by bringing out a cart of options and telling you stories about each dish. Favorite entrees include blackened swordfish, fresh Maine lobster, and, of course, the 24-ounce porterhouse. Great martinis are an added plus. A classic.
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Pappas Bros. Steakhouse

5839 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77057-5616 713-780-7352

Description: GALLERIA. An Art Deco interior sets this intimate steakhouse apart from the pretenders, and brass accents, dark woods, and cozy leather chairs give the place a men's-club ambience. Featured entrees include an 18-oz. NY strip, fresh lobster, marinated veal chop, prime rib, and 6-oz. filet mignon, all cooked to order and served with fresh seasonal vegetables. After dinner, it's not uncommon for business folks to make their way to the smoker's lounge for a scotch and a premium cigar.
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Ruth's Chris Steak House

6213 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX 77057 713-789-2333

Description: WEST HOUSTON. This beloved chain of steakhouses bills itself as the "Home of Serious Steaks," and one visit will tell you that's more than a marketing slogan. Steaks are known for their sizzle, achieved by a dollop of butter dropped on hot-from-the-oven cuts; your choice will still be sputtering when it's placed in front of you. Ruth's Chris isn't intended for calorie-counters, but it is a true steak lover's haven. The establishment also takes pride in its great service, extensive wine list, and atmosphere of comfortable elegance.
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Smith & Wollensky

4007 Westheimer, Highland Village, Houston, TX 77027 713-621-7555

Description: MIDTOWN. Traditionally appointed with polished woods, brass accents, and the chain's signature green-and-white color scheme, Smith & Wollensky plies diners with USDA Prime beef, offering Texas a taste of the establishment that originated in New York. Refresh your palate with crabmeat and asparagus salad before settling into the main course, be it a NY strip, filet mignon, or something like crackling pork shank, crab cakes, grilled tuna, or lamb chops. Incredible wines, a busy bar, and great views from upstairs further the cause.
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Strip House

1200 McKinney St, Shops at Houston Center, Houston, TX 77010 713-659-6000

Description: DOWNTOWN. Sensory pleasures are the theme at this seductive steakhouse, whose furnishings and decor are as red as bordello velvet and whose artwork consists of 1920s-era photographs of slightly clothed cabaret performers. Even so, the establishment is not tawdry or men-only. It's a classy restaurant that serves impeccable steaks, perfectly aged and broiled. They're exceptionally good with creamed spinach (which gets a note of luxury with black truffles) or decadent goose fat-cooked potatoes. Elegant and upscale.
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Taste of Texas

10505 Katy Frwy, Houston, TX 77024-1001 713-932-6901

Description: HOUSTON. Although not as upscale as some of its competitors, this rustic steakhouse turns heads the old-fashioned way ­ with friendly service, good times, and prime cuts of American Angus. Any meal should kick off with an onion string platter or an order of Gulf seafood ceviche. From there, choices abound and include a buttered 10-oz. lobster tail, expertly trimmed 16-oz. T-bone, and 24-oz. cowboy steak. Brave appetites may even challenge Bill "Klondike" Hedge and other front-runners for a spot on the "Rib-eye Record." Just consume a 120-oz. cut to get into the top five! If you've still got an appetite after that, sample Snickers pie or Texas praline cheesecake.
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The Capital Grille

5365 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77056 713-623-4600

Description: GALLERIA. The Capital Grille has received acclaim from many top culinary publications and offers a quintessential steakhouse experience, complete with soft lighting, African mahogany paneling, mirrors, brass accents, and white linens. The brief but impressive wine list tops out at more than 300 international labels and includes a handful of French and Italian selections. Featured entrees include a dry-aged sirloin, Delmonico steak, veal chop with roquefort butter sauce, and grilled swordfish with lemon herb butter. Top off your experience with always-satisfying fresh strawberries or chocolate hazelnut cake.
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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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Tommy's Steak & Seafood House

2555 Bay Area Blvd, Houston, TX 77058 281-480-2221

Description: CLEAR LAKE. A suburban haunt for Creole steaks and seafood, Tommy's is a perfect alternative to the city's oft-crowded places. Live jazz and an excellent wine list complement the restaurant's upscale atmosphere. Featured entrees include shrimp Louisiana Dijon, St. Charles Street gratinee with shrimp and mushroom sauce, and blackened tuna étouffée. Meat-eaters laud the 24-ounce porterhouse, stuffed pork tenderloin with brandy peppercorn sauce, and Creole rib-eye. A romantic patio, surrounded by lush greenery and flowers, provides a star-freckled setting.
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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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Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse

1510 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002 713-228-1111

Description: DOWNTOWN. A location just across from Minute Maid Park gives this Houston-proud steakhouse extra visibility, and it's often crowded with folks intent on enjoying a terrific cut of red meat. A swanky piano lounge and an elegant, comfortable dining room put folks at ease, allowing them to ease back in their chairs and enjoy filets, rib-eyes, porterhouses, veal chops, chicken, and lobster. An award-winning wine list supplies apt complements, and counter dining is available if you're alone or didn't think to book ahead of time.
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