Houston restaurateurs know that fine dining is not just about good food. It is about an unforgettable experience that includes a feast for all your senses with exquisite dishes, a unique ambiance, and outstanding service. Add a myriad of flavors from around the world H-City offers, and you´ll understand why Houston has become a new culinary capital and a paradise for all local and visiting gourmets and sybarites.
Ready for your fine dining adventures in Houston? Let’s explore some restaurants in Houston that not only cater to your taste buds but also deliver a dining experience that is as luxurious as it is memorable. Each restaurant on this list offers a unique journey into culinary excellence and refined taste. Special events, happenings, and live music are also on the menu for all nightlife lovers.
Turner’s
1800 Post Oak Blvd.
Turner's is an exclusive dining and social establishment with old-world charm and first-class service. It offers a blend of timeless American and continental dishes by award-winning Executive Chef Robert Del Grande. The concept came from Houston-based Berg Hospitality Group and restaurateur Benjamin Berg. A bygone era of society dining and entertainment inspires the refined space.
This restaurant is famous for its caviar service, including its branded Turner's Reserve Caviar. Try Chilled King Crab Legs from raw bar. For entrée, order Whole Roasted Branzino or Wagyu Filet Rossini with foie gras & spinach truffle jus. Heritage Chicken ‘Coq au Vin’ is also delicious. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with Coconut Cake or Tarte Tatin.
Enjoy live entertainment every night, and if you prefer al fresco dining, reserve one of their luxurious outdoor dining bungalows. Each bungalow is covered and includes seating for up to 5 guests, along with a fan, heater, and Bluetooth speaker to control the temperature and music during your meal. It is the perfect spot to have a fun lunch or dinner with a few friends or an intimate romantic date night.
Ciel
4411 San Felipe Street
Inspired by the festive, elegant restaurants of the French Riviera and Western Europe, Ciel offers an exquisite fusion menu and a lively ambiance that delights all the senses. Ciel, meaning ‘sky’ or ‘heaven’ in French, made itself at home in the Galleria in late 2022. It is a fine dining restaurant and lounge offering Japanese cuisine with a French twist in a festive atmosphere. Their sushi selection features both classic and contemporary delicacies that emphasize fresh, bold ingredients. Main dishes are fired with traditionally aged Japanese charcoal on their Josper to produce a robust, umami-rich flavor.
Enhance your dining experience with live music and performances while sipping a craft cocktail or any selection from their curated wine and champagne list. At Ciel, they welcome all forms of glamorous expression because they believe that good food, good drinks, and joyous experiences have the power to unite us all under one big ‘ciel’. Dining at Ciel begins as a meal and ends as a party. Champagne, sparklers, dancers, and various performers delight you as you dine - all centered around a DJ who keeps an up-tempo rhythm to the evening.
Brenner’s Steakhouse on the Bayou
1 Birdsall Street
Occupying a picturesque location along Buffalo Bayou near Memorial Park, Brenner's Steakhouse on the Bayou offers an incredible setting for an unforgettable dining experience. Tilman Fertitta's intimate and upscale steakhouse settles into a rustic two-story hideaway. A cozy cocktail lounge, dark wood accents, wine cellar, outdoor terrace, and romantic ambiance add additional allure to a menu featuring steakhouse classics like beefsteak tomato salad with homemade Roquefort, French onion soup, expertly prepared filets and ribeyes, plus Brenner's favorites like crunchy German potatoes and apple strudel.
A pre- or post-meal stroll through the grounds is a must, including lush landscaping, a waterfall, and a gazebo. Make a spring visit to view the azaleas in their prime. Four private dining rooms are available for intimate functions and dinner parties. The largest one features expansive views, a fireplace, a cigar lounge, and a wine room.
Brennan’s of Houston
3300 Smith Street
Brennan’s of Houston, called by many “the crown jewel of Texas Creole cuisine and Southern hospitality”, has been Bayou City’s eminent Creole dining destination since 1967, when it opened as a sister restaurant to the world-famous Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. Incorporating the freshest local ingredients, they offer exceptional dining, including many original creations of their award-winning cuisine.
Start with Crabmeat Cheesecake, a savory New Orleans warm quiche (Gulf Crabmeat, Pecan Crust, Wild Mushrooms, Bordelaise Sauce). Then, try their iconic Snapping Turtle Soup, or delicious Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes crowned with Chayote and Petite Herb Salad over melted Leek & Roasted Corn Sauce. Order Bananas Foster, and enjoy not only a delightful dessert but a tableside show!
For weekend dinners, Brennan’s Creole Jazz Brunch remains a four-star tradition among Houston’s Sunday brunch enthusiasts. The air is filled with compelling jazz music and the fragrance of fresh flowers; southern mainstays and twists on classic favorites are graciously served in sun-filled dining areas. What a memorable experience!
Musaafer
5115 Westheimer Road
Ready for a unique gastronomic journey to India? The flavors of various parts of India come together beautifully in the dishes served at Musaafer in The Galleria. With an interior inspired by the royal palaces in India, this restaurant offers a truly unique experience, whether inside or on the gorgeous outdoor patio.
The inspiring story behind the menu certifies the authenticity of each dish. For 100 days, two chefs were traveling across 29 states of India to gather stories, experiences and age-old regional recipes, which were translated into the eclectic Musaafer’s menu upon their return to Houston. This is where the name Musaafer is rooted (translated from Hindi, it means ‘traveler'). The dishes are colorful, beautiful and full of flavor. One of the reasons for Musaafer's success is undoubtedly its focus on seasonal menus. It means you will always find new, creative dishes and flavors to explore.
For Valentine’s Day, for example, you can’t miss Namelaka, a decadent dessert with aphrodisiac ingredients that pays homage to the mythical encounter of the Indian sex god Kamdeva and Venus, the goddess of love, in ancient Rome. It’s not just a dessert; it’s a captivating sensory journey! To celebrate the vibrant essence of spring and summer, taste new seasonal cocktails, from the refreshing zest of Ziro, crafted with home-fermented kiwi wine, to the nostalgic charm of Kalam, featuring homemade Blackberry Achar and Tequila. In winter, savor the taste of coastal India with Blue Point Oysters, inspired by the vibrant Konkan region. Infused with the essence of Sol Kadi, a traditional drink crafted from the first extract of coconut and flavored with the unique Kokum fruit, these East Coast oysters are a culinary celebration.
To complement your journey to India, attend Musaafer’s famous Bollywood Burnout parties and other beautifully staged events featuring DJs and exotic performers.
Xochi
1777 Walker Street
For an unforgettable journey to Mexico, visit Xochi, located downtown on the 1st floor of the Marriott Marquis Houston, across from Discovery Green. Xochi (pronounced ‘so-chee’), from Xochitl, ‘Goddess of the Flowers’, is a creative endeavor of award-winning chef Hugo Ortega and the H Town Restaurant Group. Xochi celebrates the culinary and indigenous richness of Oaxaca, Mexico, and its varied geographic regions with an unrivaled menu of Oaxaca-inspired food and drink.
Oaxaca is known for mole, chocolate, mezcal, and insects, which are all highlighted in Xochi’s menu. In keeping with tradition, everything is made from scratch, from cheeses, salsas, exotic moles, handmade tortillas and masa items fresh from the comal, and cacao beans roasted and ground in-house to create authentic Mexican chocolate.
A variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables are prepared in the wood-fired oven. There are even a few types of edible insects – delicacies in Mexico – on the menu! Xochi’s mole menu offers from classic mole negro to mole de chicatana (ant mole). Dessert lovers will rejoice at the unique offerings, including a separate menu dedicated to chocolate. No trip to Oaxaca would be complete without mezcal, and Xochi offers close to 100 varieties of the area’s signature spirit, along with a unique selection of Mexican craft beers, inventive cocktails, and a global wine list.
Toro Toro
1300 Lamar Street, Four Seasons Hotel
This Pan-Latin Steakhouse from chef Richard Sandoval, an exciting destination for elevated dining, is located at Four Seasons Hotel Houston. You’ll love the ambiance! A grand central bar and an elegant lounge create a perfect meeting point for guests as they arrive, who may then gather in the main dining room marked by elegant glass and steel vitrines. An open kitchen creates a fun and lively focal point inspired by the passion, sounds, smells, and energy of Latin America.
Toro Toro offers guests a twist on the contemporary steakhouse experience with Pan-Latin influences and Asian dishes. Rooted in the celebration of the vibrant flavors and convivial dining culture of Central and South America, the menu features rodízio-style churrasco steaks, exotic game, and seafood in concert with creative, small, shareable plates of empanadas, specialty tacos, sushi, and ceviche crafted from the open bar. Exceptional beverage options will complement the bold flavors of each dish. An expansive wine list highlights Latin wines and classic Latin cocktails, such as mojitos and margaritas, all hand-muddled with the freshest ingredients and artful garnishes.
Choose the Toro Toro Tomahawk tableside experience for dinner and a show. Placed on a Himalayan pink salt block and brought to your table, the 52-oz. premium tomahawk steak is topped with a fragrant bundle of fresh herbs, doused with tequila, and set aflame. The steak is then carved to order and served with shishito peppers, charred lemon, and house-made chimichurri and barbeque sauces.
End your dining experience on a sweet note with La Bomba, a delicious and interactive dessert. A chocolate half-sphere filled with seasonal ice creams, brownie pieces, fresh berries, and a sweet crumble is presented at your table. On the count of three, the half-sphere is dropped on your table for a colorful and sweet explosion, then topped with vanilla and berry sauce, creating a true masterpiece.
MARCH
1624 Westheimer Road
A must-visit restaurant in Houston for all gourmets is MARCH, recognized as one of Food & Wine magazine's Top 20 Restaurants in the United States in their prestigious annual Global Tastemakers edition for 2024. This fine dining restaurant in Montrose is exploring the evolution of the Mediterranean through food. Its name comes from the meaning of 'march' in medieval Europe, when 'march' or 'mark' were used, in broad terms, to name any borderland, a territory in the boundary lands, an area of land on the border between two territories. During your culinary experience, you can discover flavors reflecting Mediterranean cultures' evolution and their interaction. It is a unique journey. The experiences rotate, with each new one dedicated to a particular region. Guests can choose between a six- or nine-course sample menu. Wine pairings for each selection are also available with wines from their award-wining list. Reservations are required.
For instance, the Catalan Countries experience allows you to delve into a region whose richness and diversity reflect a blend of Mediterranean, Pyrenean, and French influences. MARCH's chefs are exploring the cultural and gastronomic bonds and the essential differences among various communities, focusing on Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, the Valencian Community, the Principality of Andorra, and Roussillon. If you are already familiar with paella, you should try fideuá (photo above), a seafood dish originally from the coast of Valencia that is similar to paella and even more so to arros a banda, but with pasta noodles instead of rice.
Both the prelude to your dining experience in MARCH and a destination of its own, The Lounge is ideal for cocktails, caviar, a mezze plate, and sweets, besides small bites from the current thematic experience. Reservations are required.
Katami
2701 W Dallas Street
Katami, a new Japanese restaurant opened in November 2023 by four-time James Beard Award-nominated chef Manabu Horiuchi and partners Yun Cheng and Ryan Snyder, wants to take you to the future of Japanese cuisine in America. This is a unique experience in Texas, and many fall in love with Katami on their first visit. Building on the success of the classics of the sister establishment Kata Robata, opened in 2009 and adored by Houstonians, chef Manabu Horiuchi, best known as Chef Hori, offers his newer takes on sushi and special preparations of wagyu. Here, you’ll find plenty of sakes too, many of them rare, available by the bottle and glass.
Try Katami’s Texas Wagyu Okonomiyaki, which includes Akaushi beef (from Japanese brown cattle), blue crab, cabbage, and egg, drizzled with mayonnaise and an okonomiyaki sauce, and topped with a generous layer of bonito flakes. It showcases traditional techniques and preparations, as well as Chef Hori’s creativity, on full display.
The cocktail list, with ingredients such as yuzu sherbet, passionfruit, and shochu, a Japanese liquor, is equally worth exploring. The eight-page menu includes a full caviar service, a corn mushroom okonomiyaki, and kakigori, traditional shaved Japanese ice in creative flavors like strawberry Nutella and green tea, among many other delights. ‘Katami’, which means ‘gift’ or ‘keepsake’ in Japanese, is a real gift to all local and visiting lovers of Japanese cuisine.
Houston's fine dining and nightlife scene is constantly evolving, adding more flavors, styles, and experiences for gourmets and sybarites to enjoy. Houston restaurateurs always deliver!
Bon appétit! And let the good times roll!
Photos: Courtesy of restaurants mentioned in this post. Header photo: Xochi, opening photo: Brennan's of Houston.