Houston

(From May 2011) The 48-ounce porterhouse made the guys in our group very happy. The distaff side of the party acquitted itself admirably with a couple of items from the blackboard menu—scallops with a tangerine mostarda, snapper ravioli with herbs and pecorino—plus a hefty veal chop with black truffle risotto. Prices are not modest, but for our money the best Italian food in town—indeed, some of the best food, period—can be found in this cozy cottage. Bar.

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(From May 2011) Even on a rainy day, this airy room, with its warm saffron-hued walls and large windows, brightens our spirits. A kale and blueberry salad with spiced cashews and a pickled lime dressing was equally inspiring. Our chile-head friend relished his entrée of tender jumbo prawns in a spicy curry with slow-cooked savoy cabbage; our vegetarian pal lauded a portobello mushroom lushly layered with spinach, butternut squash, curried garbanzos, and goat cheese. Chocolate bread pudding with coffee caramel made a perfect finish. Bar.

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(From February 2012)

The gold standard for serious restaurants for more years than we can count, Tony’s still holds its own. Spacious and airy, the dramatic dining room provides the backdrop for serious head-turning – and serious food. Faves include mussels steamed with tomatoes, garlic, and pinot grigio; a juicy roasted hen with farrotto; and a great pappardelle Bolognese. Bar.

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(From May 2011) Surprisingly, we found inconsistencies with the usually flawless plates at this deservedly popular pub-like spot. The piquant Asian-style crabcake proved slightly mushy (with some shell mixed in, alas) and was topped with under-cooked shrimp, and our juicy burger, crowned with cheddar and bacon, was bloody rare on one side and medium-well on the other. But our entrée of salmon atop lentils and root vegetables, the fish silky and Bible-thick, was nigh perfect, and we devoured a side of crispy fries and a salad of wintery greens glossed with citrus dressing. Bar.

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(From May 2011) We lazed on the terrace of this old house on a recent evening, sipping Italian wines and feasting on shaved brussels sprouts with pecorino and paper-thin prosciutto; orecchiette spiked with escarole and sweet sausage; and a thin-crusted pizza loaded with tomato, mozzarella, prosciutto, and arugula. We had a minor quibble with tough paccheri pasta in a lackluster tomato sauce, but overall we were a happy bunch. Bar.

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(From June 2011) The narrow side room makes a more intimate, and quieter, setting in which to dine. And though some dishes feel as lofty as the room’s vaulted ceiling (too complicated for their own good), most hit the, ahem, mark. Two of us went with specials—grilled Tasmanian salmon with a crab and shrimp risotto and a seafood trio involving hearth-roasted lobster, diver scallops, and grilled shrimp—while an-other chose the roasted chicken, which came with some chicken sau-sage and grits, plus a ratatouille with portobello and arugula. Bar.

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(From February 2012)

Abuzz with the business crowd, this dashing contemporary space makes quite a feast for the eyes. But our food got mixed reviews. Best bets were from the Bar Annie side of the menu, like the juicy burger and the perfect fried chicken (crisp, plump morsels of white meat), which came with a zippy chipotle–blue cheese dip and an iceberg salad with cherry tomatoes. Less successful was a generous salad piled high with crab and Gulf shrimp but scantily dressed with a boring Thousand Island. Bar.

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(From January 2011)

Landmark Hospitality Group’s takeover of the restaurant in the Galleria Saks store included a welcome redo, and the resulting white-to-beige space, featuring a lighted rose sculpture on one wall, should suit savvy shoppers who crave a break from the chase. For lunch we chose the special, halibut with crab and saffron risotto, along with a salad of greens and cantaloupe, but we found the chicken and wild mushroom crepes in basil-chardonnay sauce even more special. This quiet haven beats nearby fast-food joints, and it’s only a few dollars more. Bar.

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(From July 2011)

Here’s another slick trick from the RDG group, with tile floors, banquettes in sea blue, and a view of the Kirby Drive treetops. Small appetizers include steamed clams, snappy with a flurry of quick-sautéed fennel and parsley; larger dishes feature a rich shrimp-and-shell-pasta number slathered thick with tomato cream sauce, red chile slivers, and butterflied crustaceans. Tasty thin pizzas proved inconsistently crispy, though we got a winner with a speck, onion, and arugula combo, a great mix of savory, smoky, sweet, and bitter tastes. Bar. 

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(From November 2011)

These cozy confines just off Voss seem just the setting for congenial Arturo Boada’s multicultural menu. Guests and staff alike appear in high spirits, no doubt inspired by dishes like Camarones Henesy en Hamaca (large shrimp piled atop an arresting blend of hearts of palm, tomatoes, capers, and plantains in a soy-ginger broth); rich rigatoni with chicken, peas, and mushrooms; and a thin-crusted carnitas pizza with red onions and cilantro. Beer & wine.. 

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