The March Hit List, Lunch Edition: Ostia, Ginger Kale, D’Amico’s, Pondicheri, and More

Closed for lunch since the beginning of the pandemic, Rosie is welcoming afternoon diners again March 4, which means that favorites like the grilled napa cabbage, the unforgettable cacio e pepe pizza, and the Basque cheesecake can now be enjoyed over a leisurely wine-filled lunch. Master sommelier June Rodil does preside over the wine list, after all.

Dining status: Open for dine-in and patio seating, with curbside and delivery via Toast.

Lovers of sushi may not know about the incredible lunch offerings at Kata Robata, but if the bags of takeout lined up for pick up behind the hostess stand are anything to go by, the secret is out. Book ahead to enjoy a midday Japanese repast filled some of Houston’s freshest sushi and sashimi, along with house favorites like the chirashi bowl, Texas waguy beef yakiniku don, and tonkotsu ramen, made with chef Manabu Horiuchi’s special recipe for eight-hour milky bone broth.

Dining status: Open for dine-in and patio seating, with curbside or delivery via Toast.

It’s hard not to love Pondicheri. Not only did the restaurant step up to serve the community during the recent freeze (the team was able to sell hot meals despite the lack of electricity and water), but its all-day menu, which runs from breakfast to dinner, is filled to the brim with memorable dishes. For lunch, try one the beautiful thalis, the ghee burger, or mix and match smaller dishes like the Madras chicken wings and coconut crab for a hearty meal. Don’t leave without taking a peek at the pastry counter at Pondi’s Bake Lab upstairs.

Dining status: Open for dine-in and patio seating, with online ordering for takeout and delivery.

For the better part of the last two decades, Da Marco has been the place to go for a power lunch thanks to its incredible weekday business lunch prix-fixe. Feast on soup, salad, or artichoke alla giudia (Roman fried artichokes) to start, then choose from several housemade pastas and entrees like the roasted quail with cannelini and speck. For dessert, the panna cotta is second to none, as is the Italian wedding cake. Do book ahead of time as spots fill up quickly.

Dining status: Open for dine-in. For takeout, call 713-807-8857, or get delivery via Postmates.

Boasting one of the only waterfront views in the loop, Hermann Park Conservancy’s newly rebranded all-day cafe is just darling. During lunchtime, natural sunlight fills the boho-chic space with a warm glow, highlighting the colorful menu of salads, toasts and fresh-pressed juices. Family-friendly items like the 44 Farms burger, hot dogs and chicken tenders are also available.

Dining status: Open for dine-in and patio seating, with grab-n-go and take-out via Chownow. More info here.

With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the resort-style pool and the most adorable pink decor, this posh restaurant in The Post Oak Hotel is where Sex and the City meets Houston’s ladies who lunch. Start with champagne and caviar, then nibble on lighter, lifestyle-focused fare ranging from sushi to salad and flatbread. And save room for dessert: The Hive, pastry chef Oralia Perez’ baked Alaska-inspired dessert, filled with chamomile ice cream wrapped inside grapefruit tequila mousse, is Instagram gold.

Dining Status: Open for dine-in and patio seating, with takeout delivery via Waitr.

Restauranteur Benjamin Berg never does anything by half measure, so when he introduces a new lunch offering, it’s going to have some bells and whistles. To wit: There’s a wagyu beef hot dog with the fixins, served tableside from a silver cart. Ditto for the wedge salad with French blue cheese and thick-cut bacon; as well as the house-ground burger topped with raclette cheese — so juicy that you’ll need extra napkins. Decadent much? Yes. Do we love it? Also, yes.

Dining status: Open for dine-in. Call 713-804-1212 for reservations.

Is there a lovelier spot for lunch in Montrose than Ostia? Book a table in the sun-dappled Greenhouse room, then delight in chef Travis McShane’s colorful, California-esque fare with dishes like the roasted beets with stracciatella and hazelnuts, or the red snapper with bok choy and sopressata in beurre blanc. Do try the pizza. Charred up in a custom Nobile wood-fired oven, the thin-crust pies are a thing of beauty.

Dining status: Open for dine-in and patio seating; reservations suggested. For takeout, call 713-324-9288.

No matter that it’s only offered on Thursdays and Fridays for the time being. Lunch at Brennan’s is a worthwhile indulgence, whether you go for a classic crawfish étouffée à la carte or choose one of the prix-fix lunch chef’s packages. Wine pairings by resident wine guy Marcus Gausepohl are a pleasure, but so are the martinis — offered at the special lunchtime price of just 25 cents each when you purchase a main course.

Dining status: Dine-in and patio seating, with curbside and delivery via Ubereats. For more info, call 713-522-9711.

Red and white checked tablecloths and classic Italian music contribute to the ambiance at this beloved family-owned restaurant, market and deli in Rice Village. Upgraded in recent years with an expansive outdoor patio, book early to snag a seat on the socially distanced patio, then prepare to feast on classics like meat lasagna, fettuccine Alfredo, and crawfish ravioli — the pasta all housemade, of course.

Dining status: Open for dine-in and patio seating, with takeout and delivery via Ubereats.

Theodore Rex chef de cuisine Kaitlin Steets has temporarily taken over the Theodore Rex space for her first solo debut: a three-month pop-up called Littlefoot. It’s dinner only, but with a five-course tasting menu described as “Classic French, but maybe not so classic,” the menu will feature Texas vegetables, fish and meat, with dishes like roasted quail with braised fennel and chartreuse; and farro verde with smoked vegetable fumet and onion brûlée.