Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo

12 top restaurants for every kind of date in Houston

A photo of Red logo
by OpenTable
Updated August 10, 2024

Houston’s most romantic restaurants are pros at the wine-and-dine game. First dates call for a casual, plant-lined Mexican spot. For something more glamorous, there’s a clubby Japanese-inspired restaurant where sushi comes with a side of sparklers. And if you’re popping the big question, nothing sets the stage like a detail-obsessed French place by a chef with MICHELIN cred.

This guide pairs Houston restaurants with romantic occasions from first dates all the way to milestone anniversaries. These are Houston’s 12 best date-night restaurants.

A photo of Maderas - Kitchen & Cantina restaurant
4.6
4.6 (127)
$30 and under
Contemporary Mexican
Midtown
About the restaurant

Committing to a full-fledged meal can feel like a big ask for a first date, which is why Maderas hits the spot. The menu at this stylish but casual Mexican restaurant is filled with shareable snacks like chile con queso, taco trios, and churros with chocolate sauce. A prime early-in-the-game place also needs some Goldilocks magic—not too loud, not too quiet—which Maderas has in spades thanks to floral murals, plants galore, and an easygoing tropical vibe.


Top review
Dominga
Dined 7 days ago
Loved maderas, the service, food and price is outstanding!!
A photo of Bistro Menil restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1799)
$30 and under
French
Montrose
About the restaurant

If your date features a stroll through the Menil Collection greens, there’s no better pit stop than this bistro. Whether you’re sitting in the sleek dining room or chilling on the patio, Bistro Menil is ideal for getting better acquainted over a chic Mediterranean-accented lineup that includes goat cheese fondue and killer burgers. The restaurant’s weekend brunch menu—hello, Belgian waffles with sugar pearls—is especially popular, so plan ahead if you’re considering a daytime date.


Top review
Janet
Dined 3 days ago
Always a great place to take friends and be able to have a nice conversation. Service and food is always wonderful.
A photo of MaKiin restaurant
4.5
4.5 (349)
$50 and over
Thai
Upper Kirby / Shepherd Corridor
About the restaurant

MaKiin is known for its fit-for-royalty Thai food, but it’s the tableside theatrics that make it an especially entertaining group-date choice: Deboned chicken wings and stuffed chicken lollipops are served with gold dust, and short ribs are presented in a sizzling stone bowl. Going with a crew means you can do justice to all the showstopping dishes, and the jewel-toned dining room makes a luxe backdrop for fun group photos.


Top review
Dreana
Dined 4 days ago
My first experience was overall AMAZING! Can’t remember our servers name, but she was outstanding as well! We came for valentines & had the best night ever. Will be back! 10/10!!!
A photo of BORI - Spring Branch restaurant
4.8
4.8 (821)
$31 to $50
Korean
Spring Branch
About the restaurant

BORI is the kind of place that can rescue a group dinner even when your dynamic isn’t totally on point. It’s because DIY Korean barbecue requires teamwork, and that’s easy to do when the reward is marinated boneless short rib and soy-ginger New York strip. Throw in complimentary banchan, plus other pitch-perfect sides like cheesy corn and soybean stew, and you’ve got one of the best family-style feasts around.


Top review
MarioVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Amazing atmosphere. Great food. Just a tad pricey for what you get (flavors, cuts of meat, portion size, etc.). Service could have been a bit faster for us and we had to ask for water refills more than once before we got them. Will still come back (not super often) for the great ambiance and vibe.
A photo of The Lymbar restaurant
4.7
4.7 (179)
$30 and under
Latin American
Montrose
About the restaurant

Fish-scale tiles and hanging plants are some of the playful touches that fuel the escapist vibes at this Montrose stunner. The Lymbar is a fusion restaurant from legendary local chef David Cordúa, who explores the cuisines he’s dabbled in over the years like contemporary Latin and French. The MVPs here are inventive mashups like beef kofta empanadas and foie gras doughnut holes. It all adds up to one very out-of-the-box date that’s just as great as a full-on dinner as it is for happy hour.


Top review
David
Dined 5 days ago
Very nice restaurant with easy parking. Food interesting and reasonably priced for an inner-city restaurant. Service was good. Only issue was that there were a couple tables with loud people who probably had enough to drink. The background noise was significant.
A photo of CIEL restaurant
4.0
4 (581)
$50 and over
French / Japanese
River Oaks
About the restaurant

When a date calls for a high-energy escape, you book this French Riviera-inspired hotspot. CIEL serves a loungey Japanese-French menu including sushi with a side of sparklers, plus caviar and bottle service. A floor show complete with dancers, musicians, and a live DJ keeps the party vibes strong. And so do the creative cocktails, made with out-there ingredients like chile oil and sour-cherry gin.


Top review
Kenneth
Dined 3 days ago
Really good food with a great vibe. Will definitely be back again.
A photo of Rainbow Lodge restaurant
4.7
4.7 (5376)
$50 and over
American
Heights / Washington
About the restaurant

Dining in a century-old log cabin is a quintessential Houston experience, and just one of the reasons Rainbow Lodge is a go-to for big nights out. Go for some of the most attentive service in the city, plus a one-of-a-kind wild game and seafood menu—not to mention an extensive wine list ideal for any special occasion. Pro-tip: Ask for a table on the patio for some of the most striking city views, and the rest of the world melts away.


Top review
Stephanie
Dined 7 days ago
We had a wonderful dining experience at Tainbow Lodge! The food was deliciously prepared and all of the staff were friendly and accommodating! Such a special treat while visiting Houston!
A photo of Brennan's of Houston restaurant
4.8
4.8 (3882)
$50 and over
Creole / Cajun / Southern
Montrose
About the restaurant

This special-occasion staple sets the stage for romance with crisp tablecloths, impeccable service, and Creole classics. Plus, the layout offers many backdrops for popping the question including a stately main dining space, a serene courtyard, or a private dining room upstairs. No matter where the magic happens, you can’t end your blockbuster night without bananas Foster, a flaming bowl of bananas, butter, and rum invented by the restaurant’s founder Owen Brennan in the early 1950s.


Top review
ElaineVIP
Dined 4 days ago
We went for the jazz brunch and everything from the food, our waiter, Love, to the ambiance was perfect!
A photo of Le Jardinier - Houston restaurant
4.7
4.7 (210)
$50 and over
French
Heights / Washington
About the restaurant

It’s hard to say what’s prettier at this Museum of Fine Arts restaurant, the gorgeous French food or the surrounding masterpieces. The sophisticated seasonal dishes come from chef Alain Verzeroli (who once worked at three MICHELIN-starred Arpège in Paris) and include caviar service and a foie gras parfait. For an especially epic night, consider the tasting menu, which makes it easier to focus on each other—and maybe even a brand-new ring.


Top review
Abita
Dined on Feb 9, 2025
This tops the best steak bite I’ve had in Houston, everything was perfect.
A photo of Roma restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1294)
$31 to $50
Italian
Rice Village
About the restaurant

A heaping bowl of pasta, a crisp glass of Chianti, and the soft glow of string lights—that’s amore. And what you’ll always score at Roma, an Italian faithful in a cozy corner of Rice Village. Whether you and your date are here to graze on antipasti or go all out with heartier lasagna and carbonara, this rustic hideaway is the kind of place you can easily adopt as your trusted just-because spot.


Top review
Edward
Dined 5 days ago
One of my favorite restaurants, food is excellent as well as service
A photo of Roost Houston restaurant
4.8
4.8 (541)
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Montrose
About the restaurant

If a date at Roost feels especially homey, it’s because the restaurant lives in a former bungalow. The inventive New American menu is driven by local farm-fresh ingredients and includes a frequently updated selection of dishes like blackberry salad and black truffle gnocchi, meaning no two meals here will be exactly the same. Translation: Roost is the kind of reliable neighborhood gem that you and your SO can happily become regulars at.


Top review
Luke
Dined 6 days ago
The food was really tasty without being overly complicated. The bread service (a giant pretzel) and cauliflower were our favorite. Our server was also super attentive and made us feel immediately welcome!
A photo of Scott Gertner's Rhythm Room restaurant
4.9
4.9 (558)
$31 to $50
American
River Oaks
About the restaurant

This Creole-accented supper club aces the dinner-and-a-show test thanks to a revolving door of local musicians who play everything from R&B to zydeco (a blend of blues, R&B, and music indigenous to Louisiana) every Wednesday through Sunday. Dig into Southern-inspired dishes like crawfish étouffée and hot shrimp and grits before making a beeline for the dance floor together—or linger over classic cocktails and take in the smooth tunes.


Top review
Tammy
Dined 3 days ago
Love love love”EVERYTHING “ about this place! I will be returning very soon 🥰
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Businesses
  • Restaurant reservation software
  • Industry insights
  • Hospitality resources
  • Marketing resources
  • Operation resources
  • How to open a restaurant
  • For restaurants
  • For restaurant groups
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo