Eric LeGros and Dominique Bocquier, classically trained French chefs, bring a touch of Paris to Texas with their restaurant, located in the Upper River Oaks area of Houston. The restaurant was named one of the top 10 restaurants in the state by Texas Monthly in 2009 and one of the top 10 romantic restaurants by America's Top 10 Club in 2010. Au Petit Paris is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday and for dinner Monday through Saturday. The menu features everything from duck confit to chocolate cake with mango filling.
Au Petit Paris
2048 Colquitt St.
Houston, TX 77098
713-524-7070
aupetitparisrestaurant.com
This Spanish-influence restaurant opened in 2006 and two years later was named as one of the top 100 restaurants in the world in the Robb Report. Catalan's wine list also has been recognized. Although its owners have shifted their focus to include locally based global cuisine, Catalan continues to set trends. Menu items include cockles with chorizo, ribeye and lamb chops. One popular attraction is Catalan's ethnic "street food," which ranges from lamb sweetbread tacos to oxtail spring rolls and housemade kimchi. It is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday and for dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
Catalan Food & Wine
5555 Washington Ave.
Houston, TX 77007
713-426-4260
catalanfoodandwine.com
This Italian restaurant features a romantic atmosphere complete with candlelight. In 2006, Gourmet magazine ranked it 26th among the nation's Top 50 restaurants. Da Marco is open for lunch Tuesday through Friday and for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. The restaurant is known for its fried artichoke hearts, as well as its rabbit and desserts such as handmade cannoli.
Da Marco Cucino E Vino
1520 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77006
713-807-8857
damarcohouston.com
The chefs of this rustic European restaurant were named semifinalists for the James Beard Award for Best Chef in 2010 and one of the top 10 best new restaurants in 2009 by Bon Appetit. Feast does not use factory-farmed meats. The restaurant offers two menus--Feast Favorites and a daily offering of more seasonal and adventurous items. Feast Favorites includes braised chicken with plums and cassoulet with rabbit shoulder, pork and beans. The restaurant also offers a tasting menu Sunday through Thursday nights. As of 2010, the restaurant was not wheelchair accessible.
Feast
219 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77006
713-529-7788
sites.google.com/site/feasthouston
Executive chef Hugo Ortega serves regional Mexican cuisine at Hugo's, housed in a 1925 structure. It is open daily for lunch and dinner, and brunch is served on Sundays. In 2004, Hugo's was named one of the eight greatest Mexican restaurants in the U.S. by Delta Sky magazine. Hugo's menu ranges from lobster tacos to Mariscos al Ajillo--shrimp, scallops, mussels, lobster, clams, octopus and oysters sautéed in olive oil with garlic, lime and chile.
Hugo's
1600 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77006
713-524-7744
hugosrestaurant.net
Reef is a seafood restaurant that draws on Gulf Coast, Mediterranean and Asian themes. Chef Bryan Caswell , a semifinalist for the James Beard Best Chef award for the Southwest in 2010, offers a market-style fish room with a view of the kitchen as well as a cocktail bar, 3rd Bar. Reef is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Friday and for dinner only on Saturday. Reservations are recommended. Entrees range from slow-baked salmon served over lemon risotto to grilled wahoo with broccolini.
Reef
2600 Travis at McCowen
Houston, TX 77005
713-526-8282
reefhouston.com
