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Houston’s 7 Hottest Must-Book Restaurants for Fall

A photo of Red logo
by OpenTable
Updated August 25, 2021

At a time in the world when so much feels uncertain, restaurants continue to provide a bright spot for Houstonians. Whether it’s a simple desire to get out of the house and enjoy the hospitality of a hot meal in a cool dining room or the opportunity to celebrate special occasions with friends and family, the city’s restaurants have sustained residents in more ways than one. And, against the odds, some restaurants created hope and excitement with new decor, new menus, new chefs, and a new lease on life. From upscale steakhouses to a 1980s-themed bar, these seven new and updated restaurants are the must-book stops of the season.

Tonight & Tomorrow at La Colombe d’Or
4.7 (456)
$31 to $50
French
Montrose
Housed in the historic La Colombe D’Or boutique hotel, Tonight & Tomorrow made its debut this year following an extensive renovation of the property. The new interiors, with pops of jewel-toned greens and blues, bring a modern stateliness to the fine-dining restaurant, which centers on European-inspired dishes with a touch of Southern influence. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the seasonal menu takes advantage of the region’s specialties in dishes such as the classic crab ravigote with Gulf crab, snapper with a sorghum-lime vinaigrette, or the Texas-sourced heirloom tomato and peach salad. Diners don’t have to be staying at the hotel to enjoy the restaurant’s lively yet sophisticated late-night scene, where a slice of honey cake makes a sweet companion to a nightcap from the bar.
Top review
HaileyVIP
Dined on Jun 14, 2025
Ambiance had some awkward silence. The only sound/noise was carrying from the bar area across the entryway The food was very good but not great. Ceviche was a bit heavy and small. Butter rolls were very good. Caesar salad was good but didn’t have enough dressing for my liking. Steak and burger were cooked to our liking and the portions were good. Duck was delicious, nice savory and sweet contrasting flavors. Good wine and cocktail list. Beautiful atmosphere. Wait staff was great- attentive and kind.
Housed in the historic La Colombe D’Or boutique hotel, Tonight & Tomorrow made its debut this year following an extensive renovation of the property. The new interiors, with pops of jewel-toned greens and blues, bring a modern stateliness to the fine-dining restaurant, which centers on European-inspired dishes with a touch of Southern influence. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the seasonal menu takes advantage of the region’s specialties in dishes such as the classic crab ravigote with Gulf crab, snapper with a sorghum-lime vinaigrette, or the Texas-sourced heirloom tomato and peach salad. Diners don’t have to be staying at the hotel to enjoy the restaurant’s lively yet sophisticated late-night scene, where a slice of honey cake makes a sweet companion to a nightcap from the bar.
Top review
HaileyVIP
Dined on Jun 14, 2025
Ambiance had some awkward silence. The only sound/noise was carrying from the bar area across the entryway The food was very good but not great. Ceviche was a bit heavy and small. Butter rolls were very good. Caesar salad was good but didn’t have enough dressing for my liking. Steak and burger were cooked to our liking and the portions were good. Duck was delicious, nice savory and sweet contrasting flavors. Good wine and cocktail list. Beautiful atmosphere. Wait staff was great- attentive and kind.
Roma
4.8 (1323)
$31 to $50
Italian
Rice Village
Known for its trattoria-style dining and traditional Italian fare, Roma recently welcomed chef Sandro Scarafile to helm the kitchen and spend time tableside interacting with diners. Informed by his southern Italian roots and years spent cooking in restaurants around the globe, Scarafile brings experience along with a fresh sensibility to the popular Rice Village spot. Regulars can rest easy knowing favorites like the osso bucco aren’t going anywhere, but new menu additions include dishes inspired by his Pugliese background and early childhood, such as the orecchiette con cime di rape, or “little ear” pasta with broccoli rabe. Roma’s focus on its excellent wine program and wine pairing dinners will continue under the chef, along with Italian winemakers joining remotely from Italy.
Top review
JAMES
Dined 2 days ago
About as fine as balance of excellent dishes, ambience and value in Italian I've seen in a long, long time. Thankfully, a well arranged, not bloated menu. Excellent choices in pasta, fish, poultry and meat. Amazing frito misto. Great wine selection. Excellent service by waiter Masimo.
Known for its trattoria-style dining and traditional Italian fare, Roma recently welcomed chef Sandro Scarafile to helm the kitchen and spend time tableside interacting with diners. Informed by his southern Italian roots and years spent cooking in restaurants around the globe, Scarafile brings experience along with a fresh sensibility to the popular Rice Village spot. Regulars can rest easy knowing favorites like the osso bucco aren’t going anywhere, but new menu additions include dishes inspired by his Pugliese background and early childhood, such as the orecchiette con cime di rape, or “little ear” pasta with broccoli rabe. Roma’s focus on its excellent wine program and wine pairing dinners will continue under the chef, along with Italian winemakers joining remotely from Italy.
Top review
JAMES
Dined 2 days ago
About as fine as balance of excellent dishes, ambience and value in Italian I've seen in a long, long time. Thankfully, a well arranged, not bloated menu. Excellent choices in pasta, fish, poultry and meat. Amazing frito misto. Great wine selection. Excellent service by waiter Masimo.
Thirteen by James Harden
4 (1052)
$50 and over
Pan-Asian
Midtown
It’s impossible to mention upscale restaurant Thirteen without noting its famous owner, former Rockets player James Harden, who named his dining establishment after his jersey number. Though Harden has moved on from Houston’s basketball team, he left the city with a parting gift: the culinary talents of chef Tobias Dorzon, who runs the kitchen and was given free rein to craft Thirteen’s menu. Though the menu could be described as Southern-comfort-meets-steakhouse, that doesn’t give enough credit to Dorzon’s creativity. Dishes such as seafood fried rice, or a deboned, whole fried chicken with sweet and sour Maryland mambo sauce, plus a very popular deep-fried lasagna draw in crowds looking for something beyond the typical steakhouse experience. That said, the posh banquettes and velvet armchairs create an ambience perfectly suited to a bone-in ribeye or oysters on the half shell, plus a bottle of wine from the globally curated wine list.
Top review
JoyceT
Dined 1 day ago
Ari was our waitress and she was amazing . It was my birthday and I ordered the ribs because I thought they would be traditional and well they weren’t, she took the dish back with no problems. I give her ten stars, she was also friendly and professional!!
It’s impossible to mention upscale restaurant Thirteen without noting its famous owner, former Rockets player James Harden, who named his dining establishment after his jersey number. Though Harden has moved on from Houston’s basketball team, he left the city with a parting gift: the culinary talents of chef Tobias Dorzon, who runs the kitchen and was given free rein to craft Thirteen’s menu. Though the menu could be described as Southern-comfort-meets-steakhouse, that doesn’t give enough credit to Dorzon’s creativity. Dishes such as seafood fried rice, or a deboned, whole fried chicken with sweet and sour Maryland mambo sauce, plus a very popular deep-fried lasagna draw in crowds looking for something beyond the typical steakhouse experience. That said, the posh banquettes and velvet armchairs create an ambience perfectly suited to a bone-in ribeye or oysters on the half shell, plus a bottle of wine from the globally curated wine list.
Top review
JoyceT
Dined 1 day ago
Ari was our waitress and she was amazing . It was my birthday and I ordered the ribs because I thought they would be traditional and well they weren’t, she took the dish back with no problems. I give her ten stars, she was also friendly and professional!!

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