Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Houston

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Houston? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Masraff's

4.9

4.9 (3989)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Westside

About the restaurant

Masraffs, long recognized as a premier restaurant in Houston, offers affordable elegance, attentive service, impeccably prepared and exquisitely fresh American cuisine created with the best ingredients from around the world.

Top review

Amber

Dined 4 days ago

Staff was friendly and attentive. Great food and wine.

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Popular dish

Chilean Seabass

Popular dish

14 oz Bone-In Filet Mignon

Rosie Cannonball

4.8

4.8 (134)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Montrose

About the restaurant

At Rosie Cannonball, we’re serving European comfort food in a lively atmosphere. The restaurant celebrates the origins of cooking through open, live fire and is centered around a wood-burning oven and grill.

The menu draws inspiration from individual ingredients: local vegetables, pastas and pizzas, simple seafood and locally-sourced meat cooked over live fire.

Master Sommelier June Rodil curated an expansive list of delicious wines with a strong Italian, Spanish and French focus from their favorite producers new and old, along with options from progressive New World producers.

The cocktail menu has strong Italian influences, mirroring the focus of the food.

Chef de Cuisine: Melven Batocabe
Sous Chef: Calvin Miller
Executive Pastry Chef: Micaela Victoria
General Manager: Lauren Allen
Sommelier: Jordan Raabe
Goodnight Hospitality Partners: Bailey & Peter McCarthy, Felipe Riccio, June Rodil

Top review

Amritansh

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent pizzas and cocktails! Would definitely go again.

Relish Restaurant & Bar - Town and Country

4.8

4.8 (227)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Westside

About the restaurant

Relish Restaurant & Bar Town & Country is a neighborhood eatery serving up classic American food with Mediterranean influences. At Relish, we aim to create an environment where absolute guest satisfaction is our highest priority. Through a shared commitment to excellence, we are dedicated to the uncompromising quality of our food, service, and people, while taking exceptional care of our guests and staff. We simply believe food should be uncomplicated, delicious and something to be relished!

Lunch is available Monday - Friday 11am - 3pm
Happy Hour is available Monday - Friday 3pm - 5:30pm, and Saturday & Sunday 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Dinner is available Sunday - Monday 5:30pm - 9pm, and Friday & Saturday 5:30pm - 10pm
Brunch coming soon!

Top review

Joey

Dined 4 days ago

Had a lunch meeting. Great service and great food. Will be back.

Relish Restaurant & Bar - River Oaks

4.8

4.8 (1093)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

River Oaks

About the restaurant

Relish Restaurant & Bar is a neighborhood eatery serving up classic American food with Mediterranean influences. At Relish, we aim to create an environment where absolute guest satisfaction is our highest priority. Through a shared commitment to excellence, we are dedicated to the uncompromising quality of our food, service, and people, while taking exceptional care of our guests and staff. We simply believe food should be uncomplicated, delicious and something to be relished!

Top review

StevenVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Excellent food, service and ambience; as always the staff is very nice and welcoming! A favorite Houston restaurant!

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Mariposa at Neiman Marcus - Houston

4.6

4.6 (306)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

THE MARIPOSA located in Neiman Marcus HOUSTON is open to socially distanced seating, in accordance with local jurisdiction guidelines.

Laid-back luxe. Experience delightful dishes in a casual, contemporary atmosphere at the Mariposa® HOUSTON. Muted lighting and understated, modern decor create the perfect environment for a midday retreat. Whether dining with a group or simply ordering upscale take-out, expect delectable food and exceptional service that is synonymous with Neiman Marcus.

Let the Mariposa® host your next Baby or Bridal Shower . We have the perfect menu and atmosphere for you and your guests.

Top review

Margaret

Dined on Apr 28, 2025

Love love love it. Perfect for ladies who lunch! Reminds me of the good ole days and I will go anytime I can.

The Union Kitchen (Memorial Dr)

4.6

4.6 (2030)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Westside

About the restaurant

The Union Kitchen features a unique menu served in a casual atmosphere. Our lunch menu focuses on sandwiches, wraps, entree salads and some of the best burgers in Houston. At dinner, steaks, chops, chicken dishes and seafood take center stage. We have a unique hand selected wine list that complements our cuisine perfectly.

Top review

garyVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Union Kitchen is consistently a fine neighborhood restaurant, always top notch!

Walker Street Kitchen-Houston Marriott Marquis

4.8

4.8 (78)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

At our restaurant we celebrate the deep connection between Houston and the Gulf Coast. Our chefs are inspired by all that the Gulf Coast and the adjacent lands have to offer; fusing a multitude of cultural and geographical influences in to a culinary feast. By applying contemporary yet time-honored techniques, we ensure the food is always on trend. The menu is understated in its simplicity and provides even the most discerning diner with a plethora of choices. The restaurant is ideal for a light and vigorous business breakfast with colleagues or for a more unhurried affair with family and friends. Our breakfast buffet offers unique options for a healthy start to your day. We want you to experience exploding flavors combined with amazing service.

Every Saturday and Sunday indulge in our famous weekend Brunch from 11:00am till 2:00pm. Reservations highly recommended.

Top review

Vicki

Dined on May 18, 2025

Breakfast buffet was well stocked and staff was pleasant!

Hearsay Market Square

4.8

4.8 (2541)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

When you walk through the doors of Hearsay Market Square, you will be transported to a unique era in Houston’s history. Housed in Houston’s second oldest building, Hearsay’s original location celebrates eclectic American cuisine served in a chic antique setting.

As you stroll through the doors of Hearsay Market Square…

Top review

Ray

Dined on Jun 21, 2025

Solid food. Waiter only checked on us once. We would have had second drinks but never had the oportunity.

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Popular dish

Ahi Tuna Nachos (6)

Popular dish

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp & Grits

Experience

HAPPY HOUR

The Union Kitchen (Ella Blvd)

4.7

4.7 (626)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Heights / Washington

About the restaurant

The Union Kitchen serves Global Cuisine with Southern Hospitality.
The Union Kitchen features a unique menu served in a casual atmosphere. Our lunch menu focuses on sandwiches, wraps, entree salads and some of the best burgers in Houston. At dinner, steaks, chops, chicken dishes and seafood take center stage. We have a unique hand selected wine list that complements our cuisine perfectly.

Top review

Pacquitta

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

The Ella Blvd location offers fresh meal options in a family-friendly setting. The pace of the service on Father's Day was good for a leisurely Sunday afternoon brunch. The BBQ brisket offerings were scrumptious. Brunch menu selections covered a wide variety of flavor options and serving sizes. So much so, that we'll be back to try more.

The Audrey Restaurant & Bar - The Woodlands

4.6

4.6 (855)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

The Woodlands

About the restaurant

The Audrey Restaurant & Bar is a stylish modern restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine. The restaurant will be located on the second floor of Market Street, overlooking the beautiful greenery of the center through our large elegant windows. Featuring elevated American favorites with an elaborate menu including our Seafood Tower, Tuna & Avocado Martini, a selection of fresh pasta dishes, butcher cut steaks, sandwiches, and salads. A Breakfast at Tiffany’s style brunch will also be offered. Additionally, The Audrey will feature a curated bar program offering craft cocktails and a fabulous wine selection.

Top review

Candace

Dined 1 day ago

The setting is lovely, excellent decor and nice views. It feels special and unique in the bar and dining area. The menu offers good variety. We enjoyed a cocktail in the theater first, Sicilian Greyhound was very good. Dinner choice was an Audrey Burger with truffle fries and a wedge salad. Both were tasty & pretty presentation. I’d order these again. Excellent service by our server, Sky.

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Experience

4th of July Brunch & Dinner

Experience

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