 According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 MSA Business Patterns, the 10-county Houston metropolitan area has more than 8,000 restaurants and eating establishments and nearly 600 bars and nightclubs.
Houstonians eat out more than residents of any other city—4.2 times per week. The average cost of a meal in Houston is $29.10, less than the national average of $33.67. ForbesTraveler.com named Houston one of the best restaurant cities in America (2007). National Accolades for Houston Restaurants 17 Restaurant in the Alden-Houston Hotel - Named one of Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurants In America (2004).
Américas - Named Restaurant of the Year by Esquire (1993).
Avalon Diner - Included on Gourmet magazine's list of 20 Burgers to Eat Before It's Too Late (2009).
Backstreet Cafe - Chef Hugo Ortega was two-time guest chef at prestigious James Beard House
- Received Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (2001-2007).
Beaver's - Named a Hot 10 Summer Blockbuster by bon appetit—considered the restaurant openings for Summer 2008 with marquee chefs and lots of buzz (2008).
Brasil - Spicy Chicken Salad sandwich featured in Metropolitan Home's feature on The Great American Sandwich (2009).
The Breakfast Klub - Included on Esquire magazine's list of the 59 Best Breakfast Places in America (2009).
Catalan Food and Wine - Named one of the top 100 restaurants in the world in Robb Report, based on recommendations from vintners around the country (2008).
- Included in Esquire's 2007 list of the Best New Restaurants in America.
- Included on Food and Wine's 2007 List of Best New Wine Lists.
Churrascos - Churrasco steak was included in Esquire's feature on the 20 Best Steaks in America (2008).
- Chef Michael Cordua was inducted into Food & Wine's Hall of Fame (2008).
Da Marco - Rated No. 26 in Gourmet's list of America's Top 50 restaurants (2006).
Danton's Gulf Coast Seafood Kitchen - Listed on Gourmet's list of "Places We're Talking About" (2008).
Feast - James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant (2009).
- Featured as one of the "Big Three" best meals in the USA by GQ magazine (2009).
- Included on Travel + Leisure's list of the 50 Best New U.S. Restaurants (2009).
- Included on Bon Appetit's list of the Top 10 Best New U.S. Restaurants (2009).
Fung's Kitchen - Listed in USA Today as one of 10 great places to welcome prosperity for the Chinese New Year (2009).
Goode Co. Barbecue - James Beard Award Semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur (2009.
- Listed in USA Today as one of "10 Great Places to Chow Down on Barbecue" (2006).
Goode Co. Seafood - Campechana Extra was featured in Garden & Gun's list of 100 Things You Simply Must Eat Before You Die (2008).
Hugo's - Recipient of Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence (2003-2008).
- Anjou pear mojito featured in Food & Wine Cocktails (2007).
- Recipient of the Wine & Spirits Hospitality & Cooking Award by Sante magazine (2002, 2006, 2007).
- Named Best Drinks by Playboy (2005).
- Featured on Gourmet's list of Where to Eat Now in 30 American Cities (2004).
- Named one of the 8 Great Mexican Restaurants in America by Delta's SKY magazine (2004).
- Named a Top Table by bon appetit (2003).
- Featured by Gourmet as a Restaurant We Love (2003).
Ibiza - Competed against Mario Batali on Food Network's Iron Chef (2007).
- Included on Food & Wine's The Go List for Best Wine Experience, featuring the 376 hottest restaurants around the world (2006).
- Included on Travel + Leisure's list of the Best New American Restaurants (2004).
- Charles Clark featured as an "engaging young chef" in Wine Spectator (2004).
Irma's - Winner of the James Beard Foundation's America's Classics Award, as a "small, regional restaurant that has carved out a special place on the American culinary landscape" (2008).
Killen's Steakhouse - Creme Brulee Bread Pudding made Food & Wine's list of the Best Restaurant Dishes of 2008.
Kiran's - Recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (2005-2008).
- Named Best New Restaurant of 2005 by Zagat.
Lankford Grocery - Included on Gourmet magazine's list of 20 Burgers to Eat Before It's Too Late (2009).
Mark's American Cuisine - Listed among the top 10 restaurants in the U.S by the Zagat Survey. The list is based on meals surveyed at 1,389 eateries in 42 major cities (2007).
- Named one of America's Top Tables by Gourmet (1999).
- Named one of the "brightest and most exciting new restaurants in America" by Wine Spectator (1998).
- Included in Esquire's 1997 list of the Best New Restaurants in America.
Max's Wine Dive - Named one of the "Hot 10" wine bars in the country by bon appetit (2008).
- Named one of Texas Monthly's Top 10 Places to Eat Now (2008).
Mockingbird Bistro - Included in Esquire's 2002 list of the Best New Restaurants in America.
Noé at the Omni Houston Hotel - Recipient of AAA Four Diamond Award (2005-2009).
- Rated as one of Robb Report's Best of the Best restaurants (2005).
Pappas Steakhouse - Named one of the top 10 steakhouses in the U.S. by MSN.com (2008).
Prego - Listed in Zagat's book of 200 Best Italian Restaurants in America (2008).
- Received Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence for wine list (1998-2008).
- Chef John Watt was two-time guest chef at prestigious James Beard House.
- Called "Houston's best kept secret" by Money magazine (1993).
Quattro - Recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award (2002-2009).
- Rated a four-star restaurant by the Mobil Travel Guide (2009).
RA Sushi - Named one of America's top 10 new restaurants by MSN.com (2006).
Reef - James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Southwest (2009).
- Chef Bryan Caswell named one of six Texas Tastemakers in Saveur magazine (2009).
- Included on Travel + Leisure's list of the 50 Best New U.S. Restaurants (2009).
- Chef Bryan Caswell named one of Food & Wine's best new chefs of 2009.
- Named the No. 1 seafood restaurant in American by bon appetit (2008).
- Sriracha Remoulade was featured in Garden & Gun's list of 100 Things You Simply Must Eat Before You Die (2008).
- Included in Continental Magazine's list of Five to Try (2007).
The Remington at the St. Regis Hotel - Recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award (2002-2009).
- Ranked in a Zagat Survey as one of the top 100 hotel restaurants in America, based on food quality, decor and service (2006).
Shade - Listed among Travel + Leisure's Best New American Restaurants (2004).
T'afia - Chef Monica Pope named one of six Texas Tastemakers by Saveur magazine (2009).
- James Beard Award nominee, Best Chef/Southwest (2007).
- Chef Monica Pope named by O, the Oprah Magazine the most creative chef in Houston (2006).
- Listed among Travel + Leisure's Best New American Restaurants (2004).
- Chef Monica Pope is the only Texas woman chef to be named a Food & Wine Best New Chef (1996).
Textile - Included on Travel + Leisure's list of the 50 Best New U.S. Restaurants (2009).
Tony's - Recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award (2002-2009).
- Named one of Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurants in America (2005).
Vic & Anthony's - Received an Award of Ultimate Distinction from Wine Spectator magazine for "impeccable service, outstanding food, alluring decor and imaginative and energetic wine programs" (2006).
- Recognized by Food and Wine as one of ten new restaurants with a stellar wine list—the first time for a Houston restaurant to be included.
VOICE at Hotel ICON - Included on Travel + Leisure's list of the 50 Best New U.S. Restaurants (2009).
- Named one of Esquire magazine's Best New Restaurants in America (2008).
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Green Houston 
