Now Open on Resy: March, Hidden Omakase, Degust, and More

Wine is an inevitable focus here, considering that owner June Rodil is a master sommelier. She’s assembled an expansive list of affordable wines from beloved producers in both New and Old World, all tailored to chef-partner Felipe Riccio’s live-fire cooking, which relies on vegetables from Goodnight Hospitality’s farm located just outside of Houston.

Dining Status: Open for indoor and outdoor dining. Order takeout here.

Because this much-anticipated fine dining concept from Goodnight Hospitality, the same team behind local gems Goodnight Charlie’s, Montrose Cheese & Wine, and Rosie Cannonball, is an elegant 28-seat stunner. Led by chef-partner Felipe Riccio in the kitchen, it offers an ever-evolving tasting menu (diners choose either six courses or nine) that explores the vast and varied regions of the Mediterranean. The wine list draws from an impressive 11,000-bottle cellar, overseen by partner and master sommelier June Rodil, was designed to showcase the breadth of their producers.

Dining Status: Open for indoor dining.

The folks behind perennial EaDo favorite Nancy’s Hustle has another winner on its hands with this chill pizzeria, so named for the small microbes, or “tiny champions,” the very ones that give the world bread and wine. Pastry chef Julia Doran lends her dough-fermenting prowess to the restaurant’s airy, perfectly charred thin-crust pizza while chef Jason Vaughan whips up toothsome pastas and small plates — like the not-to-be-underestimated thinly sliced mushrooms generously layered with parmesan and olive oil. Pro tip: Always save room for ice cream.

Dining Status: Open for indoor and outdoor dining. Order takeout here.

Chef-owner Naoki Yoshida’s family has owned Houston institution Nippon Restaurant since 1986, so it’s no wonder Shun is billed as a “second-generation” Japanese restaurant. Here, however, chef Yoshida creates a delectable legacy all his own with an inventive menu that pairs traditional Japanese techniques with peak seasonal ingredients and local flavors. Expect expertly prepared nigiri and sashimi alongside inspired dishes like Japanese A5 wagyu steak with shiso chimichurri sauce and miso baby back ribs. Head back to Shun on Sundays for pastry chef Renee Yoshida’s fluffy, jiggly Japanese souffle pancakes.

Dining Status: Open for indoor dining.

Diners lucky enough to score a highly sought-after reservation at this speakeasy-inspired, omakase-only restaurant will have to find the place first. The intimate, 14-seat space is tucked away in a strip mall on a side street off West Alabama, the entrance marked only by a display of comic books. Once seated at the U-shaped bar, chef Billy Kin — best known for his previous venture, Blackbird Izakaya — or one of his rotating guest chefs will treat you to a luxurious, Japanese-style 10- to 12-course tasting made with seasonal, specialty ingredients such as Hokkaido scallops, Japanese A5 wagyu beef, and caviar.

Dining Status: Open for indoor dining.

Helmed by chef Brandon Silva of the Kirby Group — whose impressive resume includes stints at Brennan’s and Uchi — this small, intimate 20-seat restaurant offers an exciting tasting menu influenced by Mexican and Spanish flavors, but with a Japanese approach. The chef’s table-style seating is meant to evoke the feeling of big family dinners set around a large table — the way Silva, a native Houstonian, grew up. Guests can choose from an eight-course omnivore’s tasting or a vegetarian tasting, both made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Dining Status: Open for indoor dining.

Sharing the same address as Degust is this bar and lounge, from patio bar veteran Steven Salazar of the Kirby Group (Wooster’s Garden, Holman Draft Hall, and others). The unique menu at this 32-seat spot focuses on immersive cocktails heavily influenced by Salazar’s Spanish heritage, global travels, and his home state of Texas. Each cocktail is developed with precision and care, with offerings evolving on a monthly basis depending on what’s been freshly plucked from their own urban farms.

Dining Status: Open for indoor dining.

Afternoon tea, but make it kawaii. Proper Rose Garden serves up an elegant high-tea experience, but with a fun twist on traditional Japanese desserts. Their ice cream-filled “dragonyaki” is a ridiculously cute take on the popular Japanese street snack taiyaki, a fish-shaped cake typically filled with sweet red bean paste or custard. Fluffy Japanese souffle pancakes and Shibuya honey toast can also be found on the menu, as well as savory snacks like the tamago sandwich and popcorn chicken. Of course, a large selection of teas is also available, ranging from classic Earl Grey to nutty oolong and genmaicha.

Dining Status: Open for indoor dining. Order takeout here.

Here, husband-and-wife duo Martin and Sarah Stayer, of Montrose charmer Nobie’s, have created a tropical retreat in the heart of Houston’s Museum District. Who needs a beachfront resort when you can enjoy Baja mussels swimming in a guajillo broth, whole-fried snapper served with housemade corn tortillas, and fruity cocktails underneath the open-air palapa? Not us.

Dining Status: Open for indoor and outdoor dining. Order takeout here.

Come for the ever-changing cocktail and specialty beer selection, stay for the elegantly designed open-air bar and sprawling adjoining patio. With Wooster’s Garden, Steven Salazar has created an urban oasis in the middle of Midtown that Houstonians can take advantage of year-round. Guests can enjoy seasonal specials alongside the bar’s 40-plus house cocktails, as well as a wide assortment of spirits.

Dining Status: Open for indoor and outdoor dining.

Holman Draft Hall is yet another stunner from Steven Salazar, Brandon Silva, and the Kirby Group. The space has everything you’d want in a bar and restaurant — well over 100 taps of beer and wine, an inventive cocktail menu from the team at Wooster’s Garden, pub grub from Silva, an upstairs terrace for prime people-watching, and two pretty patios complete with communal swings, firepits, and picnic tables.

Dining Status: Open for indoor and outdoor dining.

This family-friendly (and pet-friendly!) patio bar — from, you guessed it, the Kirby Group — takes the typical beer garden concept to stylish new heights, boasting a chic interior lounge, porch swings galore, and cozy firepits for those cooler Houston days. Guests can enjoy 94 taps of beer, cider, mead and wine, not to mention the full offerings of Wooster’s Annex, next door. The food menu, meanwhile, adheres to the beer-garden theme with items like pretzels and burgers, but also includes lighter fare like a golden beet salad and madras curry roasted cauliflower.

Dining Status: Open for indoor and outdoor dining.

Beloved Houston restaurant Bernie’s Burger Bus may have flipped its last burger in 2020, but chef Justin Turner isn’t done serving good food. The “Chopped” champion’s latest venture is Bocca Italian Kitchen, an Italian American restaurant that will continue Turner’s tradition of scratch-made dishes. The expansive menu will include fresh pastas from chef Ben McPherson’s Bravery Chef Hall counter, BOH Pasta, homemade meatballs made from a recipe handed down from Turner’s wife’s family, and ossobuco served with cheese polenta.

Dining Status: Open for indoor dining. Order takeout here.

Chef Tatsu Aikawa’s piping-hot bowls of perfectly porky tonkotsu with impeccably springy noodles have won national accolades since the first location opened in Austin in 2012. So, it’s no surprise that Tatsu-ya’s Houston location is a top destination for ramen enthusiasts, too. The tsukemen, with its tender slices of chashu and meaty, umami-rich dipping broth, is not to be missed either. About halfway through, don’t forget to squeeze the accompanying wedge of lime onto the thick, chewy noodles for a refreshing new experience.

Dining Status: Open for indoor dining. Order takeout here.