Houston’s culinary prowess is no secret. The country’s largest newspapers and magazines regularly shine the spotlight on the Bayou City’s celebrated cuisine. And we frequently do the same on this blog as well. Today, we zoom in on award-winning restaurants within a short drive of AMLI Uptown, our luxury apartments in Houston’s uptown neighborhood.
Adair Kitchen
Adair Kitchen is known for its healthy recreations of classic American dishes. But its menu also features fusion delights influenced by Asian, Latin American, and Mediterranean culinary traditions. The brainchild of sibling team Nick Adair and Kate Adair Barnhart, Adair Kitchen was conceived of long before serving its first meal in September 2012. Cofounders Kate and Nick are cut from a prominent Houston restaurant family, and they long dreamed of opening a restaurant like Adair together. Their hard work paid off. Adair Kitchen was named one of 50 hot summer restaurants by Nation’s Restaurant News in 2013. Make a reservation to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Ciao Bello
Father-son duo Tony and Jeff Vallone teamed up to open Ciao Bello in 2009. The restaurant doles out authentic Italian cuisine in an elegant, airy space that encourages diners to enjoy every last bite of their meal. Ciao Bello’s menu changes constantly, but always features pizza, handmade pasta, and seafood dishes. In 2010, Ciao Bello was open it was honored as one of Esquire‘s “11 Restaurants You Don’t Want to Miss.”
Kenny & Ziggy’s
Named the best Jewish deli in Houston by Houston Press, Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen is a five-minute walk from AMLI Uptown’s apartments in the Galleria. This slice of New York in Houston is known for its mammoth sandwiches and kosher classics like matzo ball soup. If you watch The Food Network, you may have seen Kenny & Ziggy’s on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
NOE Grill
Houstonians often celebrate milestone birthdays, anniversaries, work promotions, and other monumental occasions at The Omni Hotel’s NOE Grill restaurant. An impeccably elegant interior sets the scene for blissful enjoyment of supreme steak, seafood, and epicurean fusion creations. It was named one of the 10 best hotel restaurants by Zagat in 2014.
Cafe Annie
A three-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Chef and one-time winner, Robert del Grande is one of Houston’s most distinguished chefs. Grande relaunched his signature restaurant Cafe Annie this spring, after spending a few years as a concept eatery made up of two restaurants, RDG + Bar Annie. The menu has remained mostly in tact with a few changes here and there. Dinner is split down the middle between sit-down-style steakhouse entrees boasting a wide array of meats (rabbit and pheasant come to mind), and upscale bar grub like beef enchiladas, skewered quail, and steak tartar. Lunch offers a lighter array of meals that run the gamut as far as cuisine goes, but at a slimmer price point. To this day, del Grande’s concept remains one of the hottest award-winning restaurants in Houston. Cafe Annie is a must if you live in Houston, not to mention nearby at AMLI Uptown.
Houston has dozens of award-winning restaurants. Do you have a favorite? Sing its praises with a comment below.
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View All Posts by Jason Ernst