Houston is a vibrant city with many great attractions…and a whole lot of food! Houstonians love to eat, and one of their favorite cuisines is Italian. If you’re in the mood for great Italian food, check out one of these excellent Italian restaurants in Houston:
Da Marco: Located on Westheimer inside 610, Da Marco’s is in the heart of Houston’s restaurant mecca. Da Marco is one of the best Italian restaurants in Houston because of their great menu selection of authentic Italian items like sweet corn ravioli with lobster and black norcia truffle risotto as first courses, and veal chops with cipolline and whole roasted fish for entrees. Entrée prices range from $18-$35 at dinner, with lunch menu items about $5-$10 less. Da Marco’s is closed on Sunday and Monday and reservations are encouraged. In the October 2006 issue of Gourmet Magazine, Da Marco’s was described as “as close to Italy as you can possibly get without leaving Texas.”
Babbo Bruno: Out in one of Houston’s many suburbs, Italian food is alive and well at Friendwood’s Babbo Bruno. Chef Bertolotti is from Genoa and prepares a fabulous menu including specialty pizzas from their wood-burning oven, fresh fish dishes like shrimp in a champagne cream sauce, meat items like veal medallions in a mushroom cream sauce, and filled pastas like ravioli in walnut cream. Entrée items are pretty reasonable with dinner entrees rarely exceeding $20. Their cozy dining area is very inviting, the service is great, and it’s nice to find such a great Italian restaurant outside the hustle and bustle of downtown.
Via Emilia: Located in northwest Houston on FM 1960 in the Champions area, Via Emilia continues earning rave reviews as one of the best Italian restaurants in Houston. This family-run trattoria specializes in delicious handmade pastas like tortellini alla panna and cappelletti with ricotta and spinach in a meat sauce and seafood like grilled fillet of red snapper and sautéed clams. The atmosphere is nice and homey – this place is not trying to be the next trendy “Italian” spot. Entrée prices are modest, ranging from $8-$23.
Railroad Café: Despite the questionable exterior of a former jailhouse, Railroad Café in Houston’s northeast suburb of Humble is considered one of the best Italian restaurants in Houston. The restaurant is small, cozy, and very romantic, and chef/owner Wayne Falgiano will prepare any dish you ask for. The service is super-friendly, but not in any way suffocating, and customer favorites include stuffed artichoke, red fish, and raviolis. Prepare to spend between $20-$30 per person, but it will be worth it!
Nino’s Restaurant: Conveniently located in downtown Houston, Nino’s is the flagship restaurant of Vincent Mandola’s dining empire. Their extensive menu of seafood, pasta, pizza, and meat entrees includes the Crab Claws Lamonte (in lemon butter) antipasti, veal picatta with fettuccine alfredo, and a filet mignon with a red wine gorgonzola mushroom sauce. Most entrees range from $20-$30 at Nino’s. They are open every day for lunch and dinner, and the interior of the restaurant is a gorgeous recreation of a Tuscan dining experience. Service is great and the food is fabulous.
Amici Ristorante: Located on Sugar Land’s Town Square in one of Houston’s fastest-growing and most-loved suburbs, Amici is the perfect spot for a casual, fine Italian dining experience (yes, it’s possible). Renowned chef Bruce McMillian uses the freshest ingredients to create his menu of pizzas, pastas like gigli (pasta flowers tossed with prosciutto, peas, and parmesan), seafood and meat entrees, and family favorites like cannelloni and veal piccata. Prices range from $11-$30 for most menu items. Amici is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
La Parmigiana: Slightly off the beaten path on Grant Road in Cypress, La Parmigiana thrives as one of the best Italian restaurants in Houston. This place is BYOB, so feel free to bring your favorite wine. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual, and the wait staff is friendly and attentive. Known for their pizzas and calzones, La Parmigiana uses a wood-burning stove to create favorites like the traditional margherita, verduna, and mezzaluna pizzas and their seafood calzone. Most menu items are between $10-$15, so you don’t have to spend a ton to get great Italian food.
Simposio Restaurant: Located on trendy Westheimer, Simposio is in the heart of the city’s huge fine dining district. An upscale dining spot with an earthy-hued dining room and delicious Northern Italian fare like rustic meats, pasta, and seafood, Simposio is a real crowd pleaser. Favorite dishes include risotto in an Osso Bucco sauce, veal-stuffed ravioli, and the peppercorn venison chop special. Entrée prices are between $20-$30. Simposio offers a great wine list, with a concentration on Italian wines. They are open for lunch and dinner Monday thru Friday, and are open for dinner on Saturday.
These 8 hotspots are some of the best Italian restaurants in Houston, and for a reason – they all offer delicious, unique Italian food in great settings. So if you are looking for an excellent Italian restaurant in Houston, try out one (or all) of these restaurants.
