Houston’s highly-regarded food scene offers something for all tastes and all occasions. The next time you’re making reservations for a romantic evening with your special someone in Montrose, River Oaks or Uptown Houston, here are a dozen date restaurants to consider.
Boheme
Dim lighting and love-is-all-we-need vibes give this Bohemian-inspired restaurant a positively romantic atmosphere. A twinkle-light illuminated outdoor seating area and strong craft cocktails, both of which lend contribute to Boheme’s status as one of Houston’s great date restaurants.
307 Fairview Street; 713-529-1099
Brenner’s on the Bayou
A full meal at this upscale steakhouse costs a pretty penny, but nearly everyone leaves happy. Mood lighting and Bayou views work with the first-rate cuisine and stellar service to make Brenner’s a date restaurant to reckon with. If you’re not up for the splurge, enjoy happy hour cocktails and small plates on Blue Bar’s high-energy patio. The expansive views of the Bayou and city skyline are hard to beat.
1 Birdsall Street; 713-868-4444
Camerata at Paulie’s
Camerata is proof that no-frills drinking and dining can be romantic. The drinks and charcuterie at this unpretentious Montrose wine bar are a bargain. For quality, authentic Italian fare, pop into Paulie’s adjoining restaurant before or after a Camerata cocktail.
1834 Westheimer Road, 713-522-8466
Caracol
Clever cocktails, mouthwatering seafood, and outstanding service make Chef Hugo Ortega’s third restaurant a top choice for coastal Mexican cuisine in Houston. Ortega’s Oaxacan-inspired kitchen and dining room is also one of the hottest Galleria date restaurants.
2200 Post Oak Blvd., #160, 713-622-9996
Da Marco Cucina e Vino
You can taste the love with which Chef Marco Wiles and his team prepare inventive takes on classic Tuscan dishes at Da Marco Cucina e Vino. Elegant decor and an impeccably well-curated wine list add to the romance of the experience.
1520 Westheimer Road, 713-807-8857
Etoile Cuisine et Bar
Set foot in Chef Philippe Verpiand’s Uptown brasserie, and you’ll quickly forget you’re in Houston. Equal parts sophisticated and rustic, Etoile’s welcoming interior feels distinctly European. Add stellar service and some of the finest French fare in town, and it’s no wonder why Etoile Cuisine is one of the hottest date restaurants in town. It is also a popular Sunday brunch spot.
1101-11 Uptown Park Blvd., 832-668-5808
La Table
Quaint bakery vibes rein strong on La Table’s first floor, which transitions from a bakery and cafe in the morning to a happy hour haunt in the afternoon. The first floor is romantic enough, but it’s the second floor that make La Table one of the Galleria’s best date restaurants. The china and crystal tableware feel right at home among elegant decor. And the French-American menu’s appetizers, entrees, desserts and cocktails all hit the spot.
1800 Post Oak Blvd. #6110, 713-439-1000
The Pass & Provisions
For a luxurious farm-to-table feast you and your date are bound to remember, reserve a table at The Pass. James Beard semifinalists Terrence Gallivan and Seth Siegel-Gardner offer a completely new menu every three or four months, which means the must-eats are always changing. But thanks to their generous tasting menus, you can sample several inventive culinary creations in one visit. The Pass offers five-course menus for both omnivores and vegetarians. Wine pairings are optional.
807 Taft Street, 713-628-9020
State of Grace
This River Oaks restaurant’s diverse menu features steak, seafood pasta and other fine dining meal options. If you’re celebrating a special anniversary or are prepared to splurge, consider the seven-course tasting menu with wine pairings. State of Grace’s dining room is peak romantic. But if you can’t score a table for two in there, the oyster bar’s intimate atmosphere is conducive to dates as well.
3258 Westheimer R0ad #1002, 832-942-5080
Willie G’s
This Uptown Park institution has been one of Houston’s most romantic dining destinations for more than 30 years. If you’re having trouble narrowing down your options, order the Signature Mixed Grill to sample a number of the restaurants specialty items.
1640 West Loop S, 713-840-7190
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