The Best Italian Restaurants in Houston

Houston, Texas is a town close to the Gulf of Mexico and is known for its hot, bayou climate and for being the home of NASA's Johnson Space Center. Houstonians take pride in all their town has to offer, and they're known for two things in particular: warm Texas hospitality and delicious food. There are countless restaurants in Houston that make the map for being culinary standouts. Ask a local and you’re bound to get the most accurate read on the pulse of the restaurant scene. So, we looked at our data to find where the most in-the-know locals are going for the best Italian food in H-Town—here’s where they’re dining now.

The OpenTable Team

15 Restaurants

Updated February 26, 2020

Restaurants:	Potente, Sorrento Ristorante Italiano, Crisp - Heights…
Price Range:	$$ - $$$
Cuisines:	Italian, Contemporary Italian…
Neighborhoods:	Downtown, Montrose, Heights / Washington…

Potente

$$$$

Italian

Downtown

4.8

1641 reviews

Dining at Potente feels like dining in a stunning Italian villa. Visitors who choose to eat here will be impressed both with the setting and with their meal. The menu at Potente is innovative, featuring unique dishes like tuna and foie gras, and creole roasted rabbit ravioli. The chef at Potente, Danny Trace, is celebrated like a local hero, so don't skip the opportunity to try his food.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Sorrento Ristorante Italiano

$$$$

Italian

Montrose

4.8

3088 reviews

For a romantic date night, there's no better place than Sorrento Ristorante Italiano. Not only does Sorrento offer a stunning, candlelit, sumptuous atmosphere, it also has some of the best Italian of any restaurant in town. On the menu, diners will find choices like beef tenderloin carpaccio, caprese salad, lobster and arugula tortelloni, and veal osso bucco. Visitors to Sorrento rave about the service, so expect to have a night that is all-around enjoyable.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Crisp - Heights

$$$$

Contemporary Italian

Heights / Washington

4.6

763 reviews

CRISP is one of the most casual places on this list, and is well-known for great Italian dishes, as well as an excellent selection of wine and beers. The Italian food here is innovative. Expect to find dishes like a pizzeria cobb on the menu: cobb salad with salami and pepperoncinis added in. There are some excellent Italian wines served here, and wine drinkers will enjoy tasting options like the 2012 Citra, a Montepulciano D'Abruzzo from Italy.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Damian's Cucina Italiana

$$$$

Italian

Montrose

4.8

2793 reviews

Damian's is undoubtedly a Houston classic. The restaurant has been open for 30 years, and it is highly regarded for its impeccable service and dependably good Italian food. Some of the best Italian dishes on the menu include spaghetti bolognese, veal marsala, and insalata rucola. Don't skip dessert here, since Damian's is celebrated for its sweets. All of the options on the menu are good, but diners rave about the tiramisu and the Tuscan bread pudding.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Grotto - Downtown Houston

$$$$

Italian

Downtown

4.5

1400 reviews

Grotto is a chain that serves authentic homemade Italian classics. Its Downtown Houston location stands out for dishing out exceptional food in an impressive atmosphere with soaring ceilings and beautiful chandeliers. Diners who want to eat classic staple dishes will find a slew on the menu, like linguine pescatore and pappardelle with bolognese. The restaurant also has a dessert and cheese course for people that feel like lingering after the meal.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Mia Bella Trattoria - Vintage Park

$$$$

Italian

North Side

4.6

1110 reviews

Mia Bella Trattoria's Vintage Park location is popular and beloved, so the restaurant is usually filled with buzzing energy and happy diners. On the menu there are items like beef carpaccio, polpette, and a slew of pizzas. Diners can create their own pasta or risotto from a selection of ingredients and sauces. The restaurant has a patio, so it's a good place to go eat on a gorgeous day.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Via Emilia - The Woodlands

$$$$

Italian

The Woodlands

4.8

2184 reviews

Via Emilia serves Northern Italian cuisine that qualifies as some of the best Italian in Houston. Diners can enjoy dishes like burrata e prosciutto, Italian sausage and peppers, and pollo alla marsala. Don't miss dessert — the cannoli is to die for.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Giorgio's Bar & Table at the Hotel Granduca

$$$$

Italian

Galleria / Uptown

4.8

733 reviews

Five-star Hotel Granduca, in the Uptown part of Houston, houses Ristorante Cavour, a restaurant serving some of the best Italian in Houston. This is an upscale restaurant, so expect attentive service and a fancy atmosphere. Diners will find Italian classics on the menu, like cavatelli with meat sauce, veal with mushrooms, and branzino with lemon dill caper sauce. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so visitors can enjoy their standout fare no matter the time of day.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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North Italia – BLVD

$$$$

Italian

Galleria / Uptown

4.7

3773 reviews

There are multiple locations of North Italia across the U.S., but one of the best and most popular is in Houston. The food at North Italia is created by hand every day, so visitors can expect the very freshest ingredients. North Italia has menu options like spaghetti and meatballs and rosemary chicken, as well as pizza. North Italia has a brightly lit interior decorated with brightly colored furnishings, so the vibe is distinctly happy and upbeat.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

La Griglia - Houston

$$$$

Italian

River Oaks

4.7

2264 reviews

Wine lovers will be in heaven at La Griglia, an Italian restaurant and wine bar in the River Oaks neighborhood in Houston. The wine list has wines from all 20 regions of Italy, so oenophiles can sample all the best the country has to offer. The menu also has influences from all over Italy, with Roman, Tuscan, and Sicilian dishes. La Griglia consistently wins awards for the best Italian in Houston. Its dining room is something to behold, with brightly colored mosaics on the walls and ceiling, and an unforgettable bold-patterned carpet.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Amalfi Ristorante Italiano & Bar

$$$$

Italian

Galleria / Uptown

4.8

1233 reviews

Amalfi Ristorante Italiano & Bar is another award-winning restaurant where diners can find the best Italian in Houston. It offers an upscale dining experience with white tablecloths and impeccable service, and diners rave about the attentive waitstaff. As its name suggests, the menu is influenced by the cuisine of Southern Italy and the Amalfi Coast. It has a lot of seafood dishes, as well as pasta, pizzas, and fish and meat choices. Some of the house favorites include fresh white Gulf shrimps pan-roasted with olive oil, rosemary and capers, and half shell baked eggplant with fresh oregano and garlic, and served with melted buffalo mozzarella.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Piatto Ristorante (Galleria)

$$$$

Italian

Galleria / Uptown

4.8

942 reviews

Piatto's philosophy is that every person who walks through the door should feel like family. The restaurant does that well by creating a warm and inviting interior, having attentive and friendly service, and providing authentic, nourishing Italian fare. The menu at Piatto has Italian favorites on it: linguine and clams, pappardelle alla vodka, and chicken Romano. It also has a more inventive fare, like beefsteak tomato and crab meat salad and baked sea bass with mango.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Enoteca Rossa

$$$$

Italian

Bellaire

4.8

850 reviews

Located in Houston's Bellaire neighborhood, Enoteca Rossa is one of the city's most popular wine bars and Italian restaurants. The restaurant has a straightforward Italian menu, with a large selection of pizzas and pasta. It also has a selection of soups, salads, and sides to pair with your entree. What makes Enoteca Rossa so special is its wine list, with an extensive selection of wines from Italy, and also some wines from Spain, Argentina, and the U.S. The servers are very knowledgeable about which wines pair with which meals, so don't hesitate to ask for guidance. The atmosphere here is upbeat and festive — perfect for a great, lively night out.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Birraporetti's - Theater District

$$$$

Italian

Downtown

4.4

2725 reviews

There's a reason that Birraporettis has been open in for more than 40 years: It serves some of the best Italian in Houston. This local favorite has a huge menu of traditional Italian foods, including pizza, pasta, salads, and more. Birraporettis cooks their pizzas in a stone oven, and they even offer diners the chance to completely customize their pies from a menu of ingredients. Don't skip dessert when dining at Birraporettis, because visitors say the tiramisu is unforgettable. The atmosphere at the restaurant is casual and low-key, and little ones are welcome.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Osso & Kristalla

$$$$

Italian

Downtown

4.6

604 reviews

Osso and Kristalla is one of the newest Italian restaurants in Houston. The atmosphere is upscale and trendy, and diners rave about the food. Visitors will enjoy popular menu items like lasagna bolognese, veal Milanese, and grilled salmon Portofino. Osso and Kristalla has an excellent wine list, and the servers are extremely knowledgeable about the wines included, so oenophiles will be particularly happy with their dining experience.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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The Best Italian Restaurants