Now on Resy: Gazebo Seafood House, Rosewater, and More Local Favorites

The thriving international Russo’s chain was born in Houston, and there’s no better place to explore its menu of Italian favorites — not just plenty of pie choices (including New York-style, of course) but also antipasti and housemade pastas. One specialty you won’t to miss: Russo’s signature lasagna, served sizzling in a cast-iron dish.

The festivities at this two-level Montrose hotspot start in the intimate velvet-and-crystal cocktail lounge downstairs, then rise to the breezy rooftop bar, with city views framed by abundant greenery. On both levels: artful cocktails plus French-accented food by Uchi veteran Anthony Anderson.

This delightfully offbeat neighborhood bar showcases not just a hot list of revamped classic cocktails, but also a veritable encyclopedia of spirits, some very rare (1992 Blanton’s for $100 an ounce, anyone?), and a savvy selection of wines and beers. To eat? Burgers, sandwiches, fries, and other reliably satisfying fare.

Here’s a good one: Houston-born Lebanese-American chef Rafael Nasr melds both parts of his heritage at this bright, stylishly casual spot. Ingredients are sourced locally for fresh and irresistible sandwiches, flatbreads, spreads, and salads, inspired by childhood visits to Nasr’s grandmother’s olive grove in Lebanon.

You’ve had pita sandwiches, but have you ever had Lebanese tacos? That’s one of the specialties at Houston-born chef Rafael Nasr’s jewel of a restaurant. There’s plenty more, though, including flatbreads, kabobs, sampler plates, and family meal combos that come with salad, rice pilaf, hummus, and of course, pita.

Looking for an interactive dining experience for date night or a family meal, where the fun is as good as the food? This is the place. A fondue pot is the ultimate “share plate,” and the offerings here go far beyond just melted cheese (though there’s plenty of that), to include cook-your-own poultry, meat, or fish, with chocolate fondue for dessert.

If you’re a carnivore who likes a bit of fanfare, you’ll love Brazilian-born chef Vanderlei Bernardi’s all-you-can-eat emporium of grilled meats. A parade of proteins are carved tableside, and the 30+-item salad bar has signatures like brûléed bacon and lobster bisque for a spectacular meal start to finish.

Don’t fill up on pão de queijo, the addictive Brazilian cheese bread, at this branch of chef Vanderlei Bernardi’s South American-style steakhouse — because the salad bar goes on forever, and servers will happily bring you all the grilled beef, lamb, and seafood you can devour. And for dessert, caramelized bananas are a signature.

Because Christie’s holds the distinct honor of being Houston’s oldest restaurant (the original opened in Galveston in 1917, moving to Houston in 1934), serving great steaks and impeccable seafood for over 100 years. Try the brizola, a 12-ounce rib eye with Greek herbs and grilled Gulf shrimp on the side, or Christie’s Pride, a seafood-stuffed fish baked in foil.   

Because Blood Bros. redefines barbecue in the most delicious ways. The menu changes often, and the team — brothers Robin and Terry Wong and pitmaster Quy Hoang — will surprise you with unexpected offerings. Expect things like brisket fried rice, smoked turkey bánh mì, or burnt ends with gochujang.

A suave Italian chophouse from the owners behind Loch Bar and Azumi, Marmo offers a range of antipasti, pastas, dry-aged steaks, and classics like eggplant parmesan and veal chop Milanese. Don’t miss the special of the house: prime beef tartare with Calabrian chiles and pine nuts. 

Because the raw bar here might just be the most amply stocked in all of Texas. An instant River Oaks classic, Loch Bar boasts a seafood-heavy menu that sails stylishly from caviar to calamari, and poke to prawns. Pro tip: Come with a group so you may sample the monumental royal seafood tower, an extravaganza of oysters, clams, shrimp, lobster, king crab legs, and more. 

This chic Chinatown sushi spot is unique in its focus on temaki (hand rolls). Order one of the sets, or build your own combo using quality Japanese fish and ingredients like uni, foie gras, and caviar. But don’t neglect other menu items, either, like scallop crudo, foie gras chawanmushi, and a selection of pristine nigiri.

This River Oaks knockout (from the same group behind Loch Bar) stars sushi and other seafood offerings sourced almost exclusively from Japan. But carnivores need not worry, for Azumi also features A5 Japanese Wagyu, plus a house signature to share: a gochujang-marinated bone-in short rib, inspired by Texas barbecue. 

Following up on the success of its Galleria location, the Jersey Village outpost of this mighty hookah bar chain offers everything you need for an evening of fun and delicious indulgence. Think bright “Crutails,” almost every flavor of shisha you can imagine, and a menu of just-what-you-want small plates, from wings and mac & cheese to tacos.

Because the Third Ward’s popular Café 4212 evolved into this more upscale destination (“Moca” stands for “Men of Color Achieving“), and you can expect innovative cocktails and an eclectic crawfish-toast-to-lamb-meatballs menu curated by “Next Level Chef“ competitor Mariah Scott. 

You’ll want to dress to impress at this elegant-cool 8,000-square-foot showplace, where the cuisine references both France and Japan, the décor is sheer over-the-top fun, the live performances by DJs and dancers will supercharge your evening, and the clientèle is big-night-out stylish. 

If you like Nua Thai, you’ll love Osha. Saranya Danvetnukroh’s Westchase District gem is a tribute to Thailand’s dazzling street food culture. In other words, get ready to make this a regular spot, so you may work your way through the extensive menu of papaya salads, curries, and dishes centered on housemade noodles.

If you like Indian food so much you sometimes wish you could have it three times a day, this one’s for you. Award-winning chef Anita Jaisinghani (of Indika) opens at 9 a.m. for masala eggs and coconut pancakes, then keeps going well into the evening with her perfectly crafted menu of rich curries and thalis, which are largely vegetarian and gluten-free.