Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Houston

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Houston? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Scott Gertner's Rhythm Room

4.9

4.9 (516)

$31 to $50

American

River Oaks

About the restaurant

SCOTT GERTNER "Houston's First Name in Entertainment" This venue highlights the best live entertainment from the local, regional and national scene. Enjoy a delicious full menu including our Happy Hours, Steak Nights and Live Music Showcases.. Our SGRR has a full bar including delicious signature cocktails, wine and champagne. Our award winning Scottie Hottie Chicken Wings won 1st Place in Houston! Plan ahead for your next visit. Join us inside or on our outdoor patio....and be a part of the ultimate Scott Gertner experience.

DRESS CODE : DRESSY CASUAL
NO BALL CAPS , ATHLETIC APPAREL, FLIP FLOPS, BACKLESS SANDALS, BAGGY CLOTHING, TALL TEE SHIRTS OR SHORTS.

Top review

Kiara

Dined 3 days ago

I had an amazing time. This was my first time and I’ll definitely be going again very soon

Emilia's Havana

4.9

4.9 (58)

$50 and over

Cuban

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

Discreetly located next to The Annie Café & Bar, Emilia’s Havana is an intimate, 50-seat lounge reminiscent of a vibrant 1950s Cuban club with a luxe Latin vibe. The latest from Berg Hospitality Group, guests will enjoy inventive interpretations of classic and contemporary Cuban-inspired cocktails by the James Beard award winning mixologist, Alba Huerta, along with an elevated wine list and bottle service. Perfect for a post-dinner snack, the light, Latin-inspired small plates by Executive Chef Brian Sutton are not to be missed.* The highlight of the evening? The live “bossa nova style” music performed at every seating by our house band along with tunes by local DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.

*PLEASE NOTE: Emilia’s Havana has lounge-style seating with Cuban-inspired small plates but does not have a full dinner menu.

Top review

OpenTable Dinervip

Dined on Aug 4, 2024

One of our favorite spots for date night! They seem to be going through some changes in management but for the better. We always have a great time regardless.

Maggiano's - Baybrook

4.8

4.8 (1463)

$30 and under

Italian

Friendswood

About the restaurant

Welcome to Maggiano's Little Italy at Baybrook Mall. Our dining room is ideal for family-style dining with our Italian–American cuisine, reminiscent of a Sunday night visit to your grandmother’s house -- or as they say in Italy, nonna’s casa! These delicious dishes paired with great service, generous portions and a warm atmosphere keep our guests and their families coming back for more.

Join us soon! We look forward to hosting your next business or family gathering.

Top review

Wadevip

Dined on Sep 1, 2024

The ambiance, music, and service were all excellent. The Chicken Marsala was good, but the sauce does not taste like Marsala wine at all, to me. But I loved the mushrooms that accompanied this dish. My Sister really enjoyed the Lobster Carbonara. I just wish the dishes tasted more homemade, and less like a chain restaurant.

Waters Edge Winery & Bistro

4.7

4.7 (303)

$31 to $50

Winery

Richmond

About the restaurant

Waters Edge Winery & Bistro – Richmond is a family-owned winery in the center of the booming suburbs of Richmond, TX near Aliana, Harvest Green and Waterview Estates. We specialize in making eco-friendly, international wines – Locally! Our tasting room is open six days a week to provide a warm, inviting environment to enjoy spending time with friends and neighbors. We offer wine tastings from our large selection of varietals, charcuterie and cheese boards, bistro entrees and gift items. Join our wine club and reap the benefits of being a member. Two of our guest favorite wines are Mississippi Blues Man and Social Distance.

Join us for wine tastings, bottling parties, live music Fridays and Saturdays, Sunday Brunch and more! We look forward to raising a glass with you soon! Come check us out!

Top review

Ole

Dined on Aug 31, 2024

Great Friday night dinner and wine with family. The service was great and the Joe Carmouche band was grooving too! A little loud but my sangria flights were excellent along with my shrimp cocktail and catfish. We will visit again really soon!

CAPS Supper Club & Bar

4.7

4.7 (127)

$31 to $50

American

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of the Uptown/Galleria, Caps Supper Club offers an elevated dining experience unlike any other. With a fusion of exquisite cuisine, live music, and entertainment, it's the perfect destination for a romantic date night, weeknight dinners, or special celebrations. Indulge in a delectable array of dishes ranging from succulent steaks & chops to fresh seafood, along with tantalizing pizzas and Creole pasta. Enjoy live music every day of the week and unleash your inner star on karaoke nights. For more intimate gatherings or corporate events, private dining options are available. Let loose and dance the night away on the dance floor, especially during themed nights. Keep the festivities going into the early hours at the late-night bar. Whether it's a birthday, anniversary, Office Christmas party, or corporate buyout, Caps Supper Club is the ideal venue for large gatherings and special occasions.

Top review

Evelyn

Dined 4 days ago

No explanation in advance that pasta will cost extra

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Experience

CAPS Halloween Party

Experience

Myra Washington - The Tina Turn Up Xperience

Experience

Latin Night with CTS Trio

Moxies - Houston

4.6

4.6 (1002)

$31 to $50

American

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

Moxies is one of the best restaurants in Uptown Houston, located near Galleria Houston. Offering a trendy and lively atmosphere, our two-level modern restaurant boasts a globally inspired menu featuring freshly made, in-house dishes suitable for any dining occasion: lunch, dinner, Happy Hour, late night eats, or weekend brunch. With a large patio, as well as plenty of TVs, Moxies is the place to catch sporting events or enjoy Happy Hour in Houston. Indulge in our beautiful array of handcrafted cocktails and our extensive wine list, which features half-priced bottles every Wednesday. Our restaurant is also tailored to host large group dining events, making it perfect for bachelorettes, birthdays, corporate events, and all other celebrations.

Top review

Charletha

Dined 3 days ago

Celebrating birthday during brunch hours. Everything was superb from start to finish.

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Popular dish

CHIPOTLE MANGO CHICKEN (gc)

4.6

4.6 (361)

$30 and under

American

Willowbrook

About the restaurant

WALK-INS ARE ENCOURAGED AND ALWAYS WELCOME,
(We keep 70% of our seating capacity available for WALK-INS on the weekend, starting Friday night!)

Now, for the good stuff... we pride ourselves in bringing you the best "VIBE DINING" experience in North Houston! Our menu offers an array of southern comfort foods, with a creole twist... providing an assortment of deliciousness, pleasing to even the pickiest of foodies!

Allow QUOTES to host to your next celebratory event, or intimate private gathering. Our private event lounge and outdoor patios are sure to dazzle your guests. With a sophisticated VIBE, impeccable service and delicious signature cocktails... QUOTES is sure to provide you with the unique dining experience that you are looking for.

Reservations / Cancellations:
We offer a 15-minute grace period for late arrivals. Your table will be reserved for a time period of 2.5 hours. $25 cancellation fee per person if canceled within 48 hours of your reservation.

Top review

MaTasha

Dined on Sep 1, 2024

Over such a great first experience for my birthday celebration. The crowd was cool, the food tasted good and portions are a lot and the service was excellent we had Chrissy she was kind and catering with such wonderful energy.

Gyu-Kaku - Houston, TX | Midtown

4.5

4.5 (411)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Downtown

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 3 days ago

great food, experience, atmosphere, and prices. fun and delicious for any occasion

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Experience

Prix-Fixe Yakiniku Courses for Everyone!

The Rustic Houston Downtown

4.3

4.3 (16)

$30 and under

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

At The Rustic, we proudly serve American food with a culinary flair. Every dish is crafted from fresh ingredients right in the heart of Houston. Enjoy a diverse selection of authentic Texas beers, wines, and spirits, or handcrafted mocktails. Come by for great food and live music, and soak in the vibrant ambiance from our award-winning patio. For larger group dining of more than ten, just give our team a call—we're here to help make your gathering a memorable one!

Top review

Cody

Dined 5 days ago

Quail was really good. Salmon portion was a little large. Live music was a hit. Overall a great value

Phil & Derek's

4.0

4 (68)

$31 to $50

Creole / Cajun / Southern

Midtown

About the restaurant

Phil & Derek’s has been serving Houston great music and great food since 2008. Inconspicuously located in bustling Midtown Houston, sits Phil & Derek’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar. Phil & Derek’s is a laid-back atmosphere where the ambiance is reminiscent of the comfort of your own living room, coupled with the flare and glitz from our nightly Cabaret style entertainment.

Our guests can sit back and enjoy popular Jazz and R&B music, as we deliver piping hot, delicious entrees to the table. We offer weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Our Sunday Brunch was voted, Best Morning after Brunch, for three consecutive years. Our brunches offer a variety of southern comfort favorites along with our mimosa buckets and a live DJ that plays music from 12pm-4pm.

Top review

Aiesha

Dined on Sep 1, 2024

The food and live music was really good. I ordered lamb chops, they were sooo good. My waitress was so attentive. The crowd is a little older but a e still had fun!!

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