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Houston, TX — the fourth largest city in America — is billed as the Culinary and Cultural Capital of the South. Its diverse population and multicultural food scene offer a wide array of offerings from around the world. Whether you’re a seasoned local or a first-time visitor, these 10 new Houston restaurants should be on your must-try list!
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Chardon
More Info: chardonhouston.com
Houston foodies have been waiting for this tres chic French restaurant by Table One Hospitality to debut since the Thompson Houston Hotel opened. With its own dedicated entrance, guests are immersed in a dreamy space that combines Art Deco architecture with European neoclassical — think marble floors, walnut entrance arches, brass accents, re-imagined classical artwork, and banquette seating.
PinThe Texas-sized Grande Macaron is just one of the decadent dishes at French bistro Chardon. Image: Michael Anthony
Veteran Houston Chef E.J. Miller presents French classics with a modern spin. Start with the charming Bisous Tower of sweet and savory bites and the crab and endive “Caesar” — all shareable. Move on to Gnocchi Pistou Parisienne, Steak Frites, or Honey-Glazed Duck.
Dessert is a must, and no surprise, there’s a Texas-sized le Grande Macaron au Chocolate with raspberries and gianduja mousse, as well as a trolley cart showcasing luxe cheeses with various accoutrements. Celebrating a birthday? Don’t forget to ask about the secret menu item. Oui!
Credence
More Info: credencehtx.com
Restaurateur Levi Goode of famed Goode Co. Restaurants has culled the best Texas dishes — and most are cooked over live fire — at his classy South Texas ranch-inspired restaurant in Memorial. Salads and entrées get table-side service treatment, and an extensive raw bar showcases fresh ocean gems.
Other luscious starters include hot fried quail with tomato bacon jam and the signature pan de campo Texas-style flatbread with toppings like roasted mushrooms or fennel sausage.
PinCredence is sizzling with robust South Texas flavors and steaks galore. Image: Jody Horton
Grilled over Texas mesquite and post oak wood, expect a myriad of steaks and sauces for embellishing, as well as rich entrées of wild Gulf snapper with smoky lemon butter, barbecue Gulf shrimp, and black truffle linguine with kale. At brunch, look for Southern classics like shrimp and grits. Start or end your evening at Goode’s swanky adjacent lounge, Sidebar. The retro-styled cocktail bar offers caviar and classic American fare.
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Doko
More Info: sushidoko.com
From the team behind Handies Douzo, Aiko, and others comes this intimate Japanese-fusion sushi spot in Autry Park. Plush two-seater sushi bar banquette seating and dining room tables with flickering candles give the dining room a date-night vibe. Menus range from lunch sushi sets to a six-course tasting menu and yakitori.
PinDoko is an intimate sushi bar offering Japanese fusion. Image: Studio Rivera
From the à la carte menu, nigiri and sashimi bites, including bluefin akami and hamachi Japanese yellowtail, are supremely fresh, as are the crudo selections. Try the masu crudo of ocean trout, celery, leche de tigre, and sundried tomatoes.
From the yakitori menu, the smoky-flavored torched king trumpet mushroom with pork belly is terrific, and if you love garlic, order the Japanese chicken meatball with jidori egg. Makimono rolls are large and ideal for sharing. The unique all-natural wine list provides perfect pairings, and for more sake and cocktails, you can also visit the new Bar Doko right across the breezeway.
Kira
More Info: Instagram
Comma Hospitality, the group behind the omakase experience Neo, opened this handsome hand-roll restaurant this summer. It quickly became a hotspot—so hot that reservations are usually necessary for a place at the intimate 15-seat sushi bar.
PinJam on music and inventive Japanese handrolls at Kira in Upper Kirby. Image: Kira
Along with various hand roll combos and à la carte items, you can enjoy music from a vinyl collection inspired by the Japanese listening bars that emerged in the 1950s. Of the nine hand rolls offered, the warm lobster roll =with Hollandaise sauce is a crowd favorite. But don’t overlook the delicious maitake hand roll with grilled hen-of-the-woods mushrooms slathered in brown butter emulsion.
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Milton’s
More Info: miltonandlees.com
On the second floor of a vintage redbrick Rice Village building, you’ll find this cozy-chic Italian newcomer from Local Foods Group. Milton’s draws a buzzy crowd, filling its velveteen banquettes, tight tables, and fun 11-seat bar. Prepare to be wooed by the aromas of garlic, red sauce, and freshly baked bread, and the service remains sharp even on a packed weekend night.
PinRich Italian classics boasting a modern spin await at Milton’s. Image: Julie Soefer
Although the menu is rooted in classic Italian cuisine, it pushes the envelope with sophisticated surprises like freshly shaved hearts of palm salad, chopped tuna crudo with spicy nduja (spreadable salume) and grilled sourdough, and arancini with truffle-studded cheese and charred lemon aioli.
Infallible entrées include crispy-skin roasted chicken with escarole, a meaty 100-layer (!) lasagna, and grilled hangar steak sliced over lemony potato pavé with anchovy garnish.
Okto
More Info: oktorestaurant.com
The stylish patio beckons at this Mediterranean newcomer in the Montrose Collective. Sof Hospitality, the team behind Israeli-inspired Houston hits like Hamsa and Doris Metropolitan Steakhouse, is dishing innovative flavors inspired by Greece, Spain, and the Levant.
Anticipate a moody-lit dining room with an upbeat vibe and a jazzy bar that feels right for a date night. One of the signatures of Sof Hospitality’s restaurants is crave-worthy house-baked bread like the fluffy frena served with pistachio whipped butter, olives, and pickled peppers.
PinDon’t miss the Tiger Shrimp with addictive frena bread at the Mediterranean-inspired Okto. Image: Becca Wright
Greek salad, eggplant carpaccio, and the octopus in spicy romesco sauce are popular starters. For main plates, we recommend the Colorado-raised lamb chops atop silky cauliflower-sunchoke purée and the colossal Tiger Shrimp bathed in creamy beurre blanc with garlic and tarragon. End on a French note with soufflé-like Basque cheesecake in a pool of strawberry-tomato coulis.
Perseid
More Info: bunkhousehotels.com
French cuisine comes and goes in Houston, but right now it is having a moment. Chef Aaron Bludorn and his team, the group behind trendy Bludorn, Navy Blue, and Bar Bludorn, have settled into the sleek new Hotel Saint Augustine.
PinThe St. Augustine Burger with duck liver mousse is a casual option at French newcomer Perseid. Image: Perseid
Nestled in Montrose, the French bistro delivers big flavors for every meal: fluffy stacks of pancakes for breakfast, saucy short ribs for brunch, and duck frites with mango for dinner. Dessert nearly steals the show. Indulge in an artful éclair brightened with raspberry ganache and pistachio cream.
Just want to grab a drink? Head to the Augustine listening lounge and bar area for drinks and bites prepared by Perseid.
The Kennedy
More Info: thekennedyhouston.com
If you want a more unique dining experience, consider heading to this piano bar and clubby restaurant with a two-story patio. At the intersection of River Oaks and Montrose, the lofty space has been transformed into an stylish retreat with rich, moody hues, dark wood paneling and cozy seating vignettes.
PinThe Kennedy has a late-night lounge vibe that’s perfect for date night. Image: Becca Wright
Music is woven into the experience with live performances by pianists, DJs, and vocalists, creating a vibrant late-night lounge ambiance. Chef Adriana Maldonado crafts luxurious fare such as Wagyu Ribeye Tartare and Truffle White Wine Lobster Spaghetti with Vodka Sauce. Start with the giant, playful mozzarella stick coated in potato chips and topped with crème fraîche and caviar, along with the clarified Millionaire Margarita. Cheers to that!
The Marigold Club
More Info: themarigoldclub.com
Channeling an exclusive London supper club, Goodnight Hospitality Group’s newest venture in Montrose has decor just as elaborate as the menu. Guests are enveloped in posh touches throughout the vibrant space, featuring Murano floral bouquet chandeliers, lively wall coverings, plush velveteen gold and green banquettes, and a baby grand piano.
PinLondon-inspired The Marigold Club is an unforgettable experience from start to finish. Image: Zach Horst
Kick back and enjoy ice-cold martinis, grand seafood towers, and a Kaluga caviar toast. Other specialties from chef Austin Waiter include Duck Wellington, Veal Cuscinetto with Vermouth Fig Mostarda, and Halibut a L’oignon with Boquerones. Don’t miss the beautiful afternoon tea with sweets, substantial finger sandwiches, or the delightful table-side sundae cart.
The Pit Room Memorial City
More Info: thepitroombbq.com
While there’s no shortage of barbecue joints in H-town, the West side has been lacking … until now. Sambrooks Hospitality recently expanded to Memorial with this Central Texas-style barbecue destination. Hold on to your cowboy hats: This one is roomy with indoor and outdoor seating areas (the patio has its own bar) and a retail meat market. The rustic, wood-framed space sports two 26-foot-long bars and 27 flat-screen televisions peppered throughout the restaurant.
PinThe Pit Room Memorial City is smokin’ with craveable barbecue. Image: Duc Hoang
Roll up your sleeves for smoky brisket, pork and beef ribs, turkey, chicken, pulled pork, and three kinds of homemade sausage, all cooked in wood-fired, barrel-style offset smokers. Classic sides share menu space with the Pit Room’s signature tacos wrapped in flour tortillas.
A separate grill menu includes burgers, steaks, and chicken fingers for the kids (also note there are breakfast tacos and crawfish when it’s in season). Adults can expect an extensive cocktail menu, as well as wine and buckets of beer. Go ahead and belly up to the bar — the self-serve ice cream sandwich bar — and create your own sweet masterpiece.
Happy dining, Houston!
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About the Author
Robin Barr Sussman
Native Houstonian Robin Barr Sussman is a veteran culinary, wine and travel writer who studied at The Culinary Institute of America, Greystone, Calif. Before her writing career, as a chef for California wineries, her specialty was food and wine pairing. When she’s not checking out the lastest restaurant openings in Texas, she’s scouring a farmers market or planting herbs in her garden.