Dining Out in Houston
By Jim Sanders

Keep a few basic facts in mind when considering eating out in Houston. America's fourth-largest city has a bustling economy, highly diverse population and a moderate climate that encourages year-round activities. For these and other reasons, Houstonians dine out more frequently than the residents of any other major U.S. city, supporting some 5,000 restaurants. Menus offer virtually unlimited ethnic options, Creole favorites, fresh-from-the-Gulf seafood and, of course, chicken-fried this and that.

The attitude here blends Southern gentility with Texas hospitality, so you'll find service to be both gracious and friendly. Best of all, you can eat very well at prices that never cease to amaze visitors from New York, San Francisco and Chicago.

Haute Spots
What are you in the mood for? If it's inspired fare in elegant settings, choose Tony's, Mark's American Cuisine or Cafe Annie. For a peaceful, upscale dining experience, try Chef Robert del Grande's new restaurant, The Grove, located inside Discovery Green park. For Italian, sample Marco Wiles' Da Marco or his superb pizzeria, Dolce Vita. Regional Mexican flavors can be enjoyed at Hugo's, while South American specialties take center stage at Churrascos. For Southern/Southwestern comfort food in a country club atmosphere, head for The State Grille.  Ouisie’s Table draws elegant inspiration from the regional cuisines of Texas, Louisiana and the South.  

Artista in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts features a spectacular view of the downtown skyline. Sleek Shade launched a restaurant boom in the Houston Heights, an old neighborhood of Victorian mansions and quaint bungalows. Visitors to the mammoth Texas Medical Center will be grateful for a quiet and quite good meal at Trevisio. Brennan's, at home in a lovely old building, has been serving up New Orleans-inspired specialties for some 40 years. 

World of Flavors
It would be virtually impossible not to find a restaurant somewhere in the Bayou City offering your international cuisine of choice. Here are only some of the nations represented: Argentina, China, Colombia, Cuba, England, Greece, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, Portugal, Salvador, Spain, Thailand and Vietnam.

Sushi has a large local fan base. Aficionados favor Uptown Sushi in the Uptown Park shopping complex and Kubo's near Rice University, while Ra Sushi in Highland Village earns raves from the young and fashionable. Soma Sushi is the new project of Chef Robert Gadsby, featuring progressive Japanese cuisine.

Room and Board
Houston hotels have become serious about their restaurants lately. That's a perk for guests, plus it gives the natives even more upscale dining destinations to consider.

Downtown, choose from VOICE at the Hotel ICON, 17 in the Alden-Houston, Quattro at the Four Seasons or Hilton Americas' Spencer's, whose forte is steaks and chops. All are within a short drive or walk to the Astros' and Rockets' stadiums. 

Near the Galleria retail complex find Ristorante Cavour at Hotel Granduca, the Omni's Noé, The Remington at the St. Regis and Olivette at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa.

In The Museum District, Chef Bradley Manchester presents steaks, seafood and light Mediterranean fare to hotel guests and those that would like to be at Hotel ZaZa's signature restaurant Monarch.

Road Trips
With some time on your hands, pick one of these unique food adventures "outside the Loop," as locals refer to Highway 610. Kemah Boardwalk packs restaurants and family attractions into its waterfront location. Forty-five minutes away is Galveston, one of the oldest cities in the country, with multiple dining choices. Barbecued crabs draw fans to Sartin's near NASA and Space Center Houston, while grilled oysters keep people coming back to funky Gilhooley's in San Leon. If you are visiting The Woodlands, located a few miles north of Bush Intercontinental Airport, sample Jasper's or Grotto.

From Ice Houses to Wine Bars
Folks here do appreciate a good drink. Most major hotels and restaurants feature handsome bars that pour a proper martini, but just around the corner you'll find places with more local color. Stand-alone bars range from posh (Downing Street Ltd.) to Bohemian (Absinthe) to British (Red Lion Pub). 

Ice houses, best described as open-air beer stands with tables, are very casual and very Texas. The patrons can be colorful, to say the least. Three of the best known are the West Alabama Ice House, Jimmie's in the Heights, and Little Woodrow's.

Wine bars have become especially popular in recent years. Downtown has its historic La Carafe, while a bit away are the Wine Bucket and Tasting Room. You might enjoy sampling a bottle from one of a growing number of Texas wineries.

Go Texan!
Just because Houston's foodies know the difference between an amuse-bouche and an escargot, don't think they've abandoned their Lone Star roots. Crowds still fill the tables at Goode's Armadillo Palace for BBQ, Magnolia Bar and Grill for Cajun fish dishes, Pico's for a Tex-Mex "combo platter," and This Is It for a soul food fix. A new steakhouse seems to open its doors every other day, either a nationally known brand (Fleming's) or Houston original (Pappas Bros.).  
          

Awards and Distinctions

• Pappas Steakhouse was named one of the top 10 steakhouses in the U.S. by MSN.com (2008).
• Catalan Food and Wine was included in Esquire's 2007 list of the Best New Restaurants in America.
• Catalan Food and Wine was included on Food and Wine's 2007 list of Best New Wine Lists
• ForbesTraveler.com ranked Houston as the 6th best restaurant city in America, behind New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New Orleans.