Potente

Great service wonderful food

This is one of the best restaurants we have been to in Houston, and we have been to many of the top ones. The service was impeccable, the courses were exquisite and the recommendations were spot on. The wine list is extensive and reasonably priced. We will go again!

Not many vegetarian options for my colleague and the food came out incorrectly. The food is really good but not hot.

Birthday and our waiter was very attentive.

Extremely noisy! No carpeting. Food was mediocre. Tono and foie gras starter had tiny little cubes of tuna with some sort of tasteless brown dust that I guess was made of foie gras. Branzino was overcooked. My wife's soft shell crab was deep-fried (a sacrilege), overcooked and tasteless. Good wine list.

As always spectacularly and fabulosity superb presentation of food and service is consistent and reliable. My food was good!
The wine list is true Italian with charm in various levels in price points. Personally, I’d love to see by the glass levels improve; I do realize the average party is larger - and have been in some of the larger parties celebrating the prime Italian bottles of wine.
The management here is superior who seek to see guest get what they would like; for example, I like vegetables and typically anywhere I go can’t easily provide extra vegetables with a slight up-charge. Potente easily can fit customers needs like it is something on the menu every day in a snap seamlessly.
True Italian Service here - you really feel that here - it is like service in Italian restaurants in small and large towns.

Food and service was amazing! We told our waiter we were short on time so he had all 3 dishes out within 15 minutes and then went above and beyond to have valet get our cars while we paid. Then there is the backlight menu...best thing for those of us over 40!

Very disappointed by the service. Our table was not ready although there were tables empty when we got in. The wine menu was provided but no menus so they asked us what we wanted to have as wine but no clue on what we were going to eat...they arrived with the menus after asking but did not not provide Houston restaurant week menu as I had to ask for it. As I hesitated to take the Restaurant week menu (am not a dessert person!) I was told I could change the suggestions for dessert with sorbet. After we had our diner which was good but not extraordinary we asked if we could change the dessert to another that my husband wanted as I was not up to eating sorbet. We were told not possible as the “computer system” would not allow ...hence we took the sorbet but still got charged 10$ for it!!! When we pointed this out he said yes as you took a sorbet it is not part of restaurant week while the portions were set that way...I do not care about the 10$ but I do not like dishonesty - you do not lie to people’s face. I will for sure not recommend this restaurant to my friends!

It was so loud that one could not hold a conversation with the person next to you. A big part of that reason were drunks, who obvious were at the bar since the end of the Astros afternoon game, occupied the table next to us (why weren't they served their meal in the bar instead of being seated in the dining area?). Other parties had to shout over these fools in order to converse and soon it was like being at a rock concert. Paying $400 for a meal for four was not worth the frustrating experience. And yes, did ask for another table, but was told others were booked. Actually, the hostess really didn't care.

Wow. This place is really special. Would give more stars if possible.

Food, wine and service were outstanding. My client was impressed as was my team.
Stuart did a fantastic job orchestrating the meal and their sommelier did a great job selecting some wonderful Italian reds.

Went for Restaurant Weeks. Restaurant Weeks is how we try new restaurants around town. Based on our experience, we will return for their regular menu items. Only irritation: we had to ask for the Restaurant Weeks menu. It should be offered upon being seated. Don't make me ask.

We ordered off the Restaurant Week Menu and everything was delicious!

Great food and fantastic service.

As always, never disappointed with the food and service.

Beautifully presented and delicious food in a beautiful space, contemporary and yet warm and comfortable. Service was flawless--engaging and personable, while still professional. This was my first time here and I can't wait to return.

Went here before the Lyle Lovett concert at Hobby Center. Sat a the bar for dinner. Our food and drink were excellent. Bar service was good. Would go back again.

We went to Potente for a Houston Restaurant Weeks dinner. The Branzino was delicious!

Excellent. We went there for the Restaurant Week option but they didn’t even offer it. Why do they participate if they aren’t going to openly offer it?

We enjoyed our Anniversary at Potente. The service was attentive but not intrusive. The dishes were elegant and flavorful.

Fantastic meal and great service. Best meal we had while visiting Houston.

Best restaurant week meal of the month. Patrick gives great service, too.

The restaurant is beautiful and the food was outstanding. The Spaghetti al Tartufo Nero (the house specialty) was especially delicious. We felt well taken care of by our server, who recommended several dishes for us to try. We hope to return soon, thanks so much for such a great experience for my husband's birthday!

Fine dining at it best

Soup was great. The orange sauce on the quail overpowered everything on the plate.

My wife and I love this restaurant, always a must when we are in Houston. Thank you again for your amazing hospitality and impeccable service.

OMG. The vibe, the cocktails, the design, the service, the wine, the Love! It’s a YeS!!!

The entire experience made for a magical evening! Thank you David and Nate!

Beautiful restaurant, food was very good. What started out as strong service quickly turned south when it became apparent to our server that we were ordering from the Houston Restaurant Week menu. We were there to enjoy a rare date night out sans kids and felt very rushed, with our entrees brought out while we were still enjoying our first course. The complimentary bread/hummus service I’d heard about was not offered, and we had to nab down a busboy to bring us some prior to receiving our entrees. Service aside, we both very much enjoyed our pinzimonio, branzino, and pistachio and buttermilk custard desserts.

You HAVE to try the charred octopus - they best thing I've EVER eaten!!

Went for our anniversary, and selected that option on Open Table when making the reservation. When we opened our menus, they had printed “Happy Anniversary” on the top and even gave us the menu as a memento after our meal. That was a nice touch.

The only thing I would recommend to suggest, is to not be seated by the kitchen. We unfortunately were, and the traffic of waiters and opening and closing of the door with bright fluorescent lights inside, was quite distracting and took away from the experience.

The food was good, the wine decanters were beautiful and used a center piece on most tables. Would definitely dine here again.

Celebrated our sons 25th birthday! This was an excellent choice. The food was some of the best we've had and the Service even better. The birthday dessert was perfect... not a big slice of cake that normally does not get eaten. The thing that REALLY made it stand out and was super simple was at the end if dinner they presented my son with an envelope which contained the Menu which did say Happy Birthday at the top. I HIGHLY recommend!!! Excited to try their other restaurant. .
Osso- Kristele which is the more casual version!

Tried the Houston Restaurant Weeks Menu. The octopus and the scallop appetizers were both among the best dishes I have tasted. Really loved the char on the octopus along with the butter and spice. Scallop paired nicely with the corn and couscous and was very buttery. The black truffle pasta was a perfect al dente but I have had better elsewhere. The branzino was just ok. The desserts were excellent though. The vanilla custard with passion fruit was outstanding as was the chocolate dessert. Service was excellent and the atmosphere was upscale and classy. It did get a bit noisy due to acoustics.

Awesome
Best ever! Pure class

My wife & I brought some family members (my brother-in-law and sister-in-law) here for dinner and, upon checking in at the hostess stand, we were told our table was ready in the near-empty dining room. However, after stalling for a moment, fumbling with the menus, and mumbling amongst themselves, the main hostess showed us, to my surprise, to a table in the bar area. I immediately knew why, and so did my brother-in-law: he was in designer shorts, a button down, and shoes. Three of us were in business attire, but he was in unacceptable attire, apparently. Between being treated second-rate by the host staff, being served by an awkward and disingenuous bartender who expressed her displeasure at how I ordered my martini, to her getting my brother-in-law’s order wrong because she attempted to remember everyone’s order (vs. writing it down), I was pretty frustrated throughout the whole dinner - especially since my wife & I are not new to Potente. The food was delicious, as always, and the ambiance was lovely per usual. If a restaurant has patrons, however, who don’t meet the dress code, I believe it would be reasonable to give said people an explanation as to why you’re placing them in the significantly more casual un-requested bar area like we’re off-the-street walk-ins. My wife & I are likely to return solely for the food, but I’m not pleased with being treated second-rate, not because I think I’m someone special but because what was meant to be a nice dinner with family ended up being soured by awkward and unwelcoming service. When it comes to operating a restaurant you never know who you’re serving; you may think you do, but you don’t. I’m hoping we have a more pleasant experience next time.

The finest fine dining experience. Our server Valentin was knowledgeable and friendly. He made excellent menu suggestions. The chefs are outstanding, we thoroughly enjoyed every bite of their creative creations.

Came here for the first time to celebrate a special occasion and were not disappointed. Both food and service were outstanding. Extremely inviting and not at all pretentious (but the food was incredible). Loved the whole experience and will be back again!

Exceptional experience for the second time. The staff is very kind and always professional. The food is always fresh and exquisite

Me and my boyfriend had a great meal! The food was fresh and amazing. Would return for another special date night!

Our waiter, Valentin, was the best! I had the truffle spaghetti and my husband had the filet. Both were wonderful. I highly recommend the pistachio cake for dessert!