50 Best Italian Restaurants in Houston

“I am speechless. The food was INCREDIBLE. I was floored at how delicious and tasty everything was.The Caesar salad was delicious-the dressing had a spice to it but balanced well with the slight sweetness from the croutons.I would eat this salad everyday.The chicken Vincent was also delicious. The flavors from the Balsamic and the sun-dried tomatoes--wow.The seafood lasagna is a MUST. That sauce is what dreams are made of. It was phenomenal!For dessert we had the puddin 4 layer and it was divine. So rich and creamy. We also ordered coffee which was legit... not some watered down coffee. Quality 10/10.The chef himself came out to introduce himself and check on our food. He also gave his recommendations based on what we liked.The ambience could be better--it's a small place and everyone's close to each other.However, the food is definitely the best Italian in Houston--the other instagrammable places don't even come close. I am so glad this place isn't all over social media yet. It's definitely a hidden gem and the quality is far superior to any other Italian restaurant in Houston. I cannot wait to come back!!“

“Mimo has easily become our favorite Italian dining experience. From the moment we walked in to our reservation we were greeted with a smile, true professionals. Our server went above and beyond, offered recommendations and really took care of us. The food was impeccable you can taste the quality of the made from scratch dishes, and the portions were perfect. We sat in the patio on a beautiful Sunday evening we shared a few appetizers including Fritters, the crochette, my daughter had the gnocchi, and my wife and I shared the costasa (ribeye). Everything was delicious, thank you to the kind staff at Mimo.“

“Food was amazing, service was impeccable and the atmosphere was perfect. Went here on a first date and thoroughly enjoyed it.We had the whipped ricotta, and tartare, I had the spinach ravioli. The ravioli was just ok but their espresso martini and regular espresso was heaven“

“Some friends have come from Spain on a trip and we wanted to take advantage of the day to have a picnic in a nearby park. We ordered two family pizzas, very good and we also tried the cannoli (very very delicious!!!). Close service and very good recommendations. 100% recommended!!!“

“Rachel at the wilcrest location was so amazing and I’ll be requesting to be seated in her section everytime I come back. She was prompt and knowledgeable about all of my questions. She serviced us at all the perfect times and was very nice and friendly“

“Amalfi is still the place that friends recommend to friends because there just is seldom any type of problem. Food is outstanding. Service is very good. You see your friends there and everyone is smiling. The owners work hard, are great people and do not take your patronage for granted. True neighborhood gem.“

“we just moved here from north jersey and we were craving a taste of home. We figured we wouldn’t be able get a real new york style $1 slice but just wanted something to hit the spot. i’m so glad we found mony’s! the pizza was amazing, perfect cheese to sauce ratio and a delicious thin crust. we ordered pick up but the inside of the restaurant is so cute we plan on eating in next time. staff was so nice, and this was an all around great experience. we will definitely be coming back!!!“

“So pleasantly surprised by this place! They have a nice patio that I brought my dog to. The brussel sprouts are so good, would come just for this. The bread is also delicious, I think it's focaccia. I tried the pesto gnocchi, which was really tasty and came with a giant dollop of ricotta, which I always love. I'm interested in trying all the other menu options!“

“Speaking of someone was visited the majority of the food cities in Italy very recently I was very surprised and satisfied by the authenticity that Impero Italiano had even the stuff was originally Italian or Italian American replace, had excellent gelato tiramisu, and a wonderful Baba au rum I highly recommend it to anybody looking to have a real feel of what Italian food will taste like it is not an oversauced or overhyped place it is legitimateI wish i had taken pictures but i was so excited that i forgot“

“The food was top notch and priced fairly. The manager and bar staff were warm and welcoming. The chef was happy to accommodate allergies. Our server, Ahmad, was friendly and attentive without being intrusive. Even the valet exactly as it should be. We will definitely return.“

“Tiny Champions should be in everyone's rotation of go to restaurants. Not too fancy and stuffy while still being inventive and putting out food that is nuanced. We always pick two familiar dishes and get two new ones whenever we go out there. This time it was the Greens Pizza (the fanciest Cici's spinach pizza) and the braised butter beans for the familiar dishes. One note is reading braised butter beans on a menu may not sound the most appealing but it is consistently the most flavorful dish you will have there. The beans are really savory/creamy and there are crunchy croutons for a textural contrast. They also get some acid in there for a really good balanced bite. The new dishes this go around were the fried quail and the baked feta. The fried quail tasted like some of the best Korean fried chicken you could have. My only issue with that dish is that I need way more of it, like a whole bucket of it with a gallon of their fancy ranch. The baked feta was good, but not something I'd order again. Just not as flavorful as everything else.“

“I thought this place was wonderful, the food was fabulous. It reminded me of Europe with it's high-quality tasting dishes and ingredients. A new favorite in Houston! We ate on the patio on a nice spring day, and I believe it may have been an owner or manager serving us, he was very knowledgeable, friendly & seemed invested in the restaurant. The menu is extensive, so there will be plenty of new dishes to try next time I'm in Houston and able to eat here. We were here @ 4pm so had no trouble getting a table without a reservation, but I think it can get very busy so I recommend advance reservations. However, it's well worth it for the delicious food!!“

“Great little neighborhood spot. Brandon our server was fantastic, giving great recommendations and service. The scallops and risotto were delicious. The scallops cooked and seasoned perfectly. My wife raved about the gnocchi too. Great wine to go with the great food.“

“My husband and I are in Houston TX for the first time. We walked past Potente and the building was eye catching so we made a reservation for that evening. We prefer the atmosphere of the lounge, so we dined at a table for 2. There was live music, which added to the environment but you could still hold a conversation. Our service was excellent, from the hostess, to the servers, the wine expert, and the chef (who came out to great us). We would definitely go back! The food was a creole Italian mix and excellent. We had a happy hour beverage the Potente 75, light and refreshing martini. We started with bread service (house made hummus was good, but I would have preferred butter or EVOO). We had the GAMBERETTO for the beginnings, which was an amazing meaty shrimp appetizer. For our mains I had the pasta and added the blue crab for protein source. I do not typically order pasta, but it was light and delicious. The pasta is made in house daily and I didn't suffer from any GI discomfort afterwards (I do not have celiacs but do try to minimize gluten). My husband had the veal chop with morrell mushroom risotto, it was tender and delicious. For dessert we had the TORTA DI MARSALA and a dessert beverage (my hubby's preferred way to enjoy his dessert). We would certainly go back! Excellent date night spot!“

“5 stars for me. This was a GREAT recommendation from our friends.All their dough is made with sourdough, I believe in house. Excellent! Had the Spicy cucumber, the baguette, which has an amazing whipped ricotta on it, perfect! And the Mushroom pizza!! Loved Loved loved every bit of it. Highly recommend. A very adorable unique place. Inside and out. Awesome service, I’m only sad I can’t remember our waitresses name. Maybe Ang.? So bad. :-(. But she was absolutely adorable. Accent and all. Anyway, Elro, is a must. Great job guys!“

“Food was great, service was great, atmosphere is a little lackluster but I hardly noticed because the lamb T-Bone was so delicious! Even the starter salads had us wanting more.Vegetarian options: Only vegetarian option I noticed was the salad and a grilled vegetable ravioli.“

“Friends invited me to join them for brunch, and I was amazed. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was so cozy. I can only imagine having a cozy dinner there with a special someone. The pianist could play almost any request ever composed. I definitely recommend this getaway.Parking: I chose to valet and the cost was tip only.“

“First time dining here! Absolutely beautiful. Cozy environment, perfect setting for a date night or gathering with family. The owner Piero greeted me at the door with a welcoming smile. I sat at the chef bar admiring his work and delicious food coming out! Staff was all very pleasant, the manager Boris was attentive and friendly. Overall experience was excellent.Let’s discuss food! I had a lovely pasta with white wine sauce and muscles. Topped with Fresh parsley. Soooo delicious! Very light for a pasta exactly what I wanted. Piero was kind to pair the dish with white wine.I would definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for a beautiful atmosphere music and delicious food!“

“The decor hasn't changed much at all since this was Black's Market a few years ago, which is to say it's very well kept and comfortable if a bit noisy. Staff was friendly and easy to talk to. I shared a pepperoni pizza with a friend, so nothing fancy. Lots of good choices available on the menu though. Pizza was solid. I think it's hard to make a bad pizza... but I had an enjoyable experience and would gladly visit again.“

“We came on a Saturday evening and they were quick to seat us. We started with Caesar salads. I have to say those are some of the best croutons I’ve ever had. Idk if they are made fresh, but they sure taste that way. We love pizza so we had to try more than one. We had the Honolulu and Meat lovers. The Honolulu is delicious! The ham had a great taste I just wish the pineapple was cut in smaller pieces and not slices. The meat lovers was okay maybe because of all the meat (sausage, spicy salami and bacon) it was a bit too salty. We had the tiramisu for dessert it was delicious and creamy I loved it. Our waitress was nice and friendly but she definitely seemed overwhelmed with the amount of tables she was waiting on.“

“Drinks were incredible. Lemon Drop and Hemingway. Concocted with a balance blend to not overwhelm but a smoothness to say "I'll have another".Dinner was Red Fish topped with scallops and a lemon butter sauce. EXCELLENT! The pasta if it had a complimentary sauce would have been great as well but a marinara did not suit well with lemon butter. Tomato is acidity so though not terrible the two contrasting flavors surprised me the chef didn't notice this match missed. Just order lemon butter on your noodles if you have similar cream sauce on the protein. I went twice in 1 week. It's that good.“

“Recently had the pleasure of eating here, at a company function. What an amazing place, atmosphere was wonderful, service across the board was amazing and you were treated like royalty from when you walked up to when you walked out. An exceptional 5 Star establishment. I had tuna appetizer and it was great, followed up with main course of Beef Tenderloin, that was so tender you did not need a knife. And topped that off with a Hazelnut Bavaroise. 5 Star Service, 5 Star food, 5 Star flavor and overall an amzing place.“

“One of our fav places in Houston. Central to Montrose, the service, flavors, and atmosphere are always excellent. We love the flash fried cauliflower and various bruschetta. They have tons of vegetarian options, good drinks including a few non-alcoholic options for adults. The patio has always been comfortable, even when it's Houston-hot - I'm not sure if I've ever eaten inside in 12+ visits.“

“I had an amazing experience at Zanti! It was my first time dining here with my family, and we were impressed by the delicious food and excellent service. Our waiter, Oliver, went above and beyond to ensure we had a memorable dining experience. The food was authentic and flavorful, and the ambiance was lovely. I highly recommend Zanti Cucina Italiana for anyone looking for a delightful Italian dining experience!“

“What a wonderful restaurant! My wife and I have been here multiple times, and each time has been as good as the last leaving us longing to return. I highly recommend the octopus and the beef short rib. But, truly, you can’t go wrong with any dish you choose. The deserts are also exquisite.“

“We tried Postino Uptown Park for the first time today for lunch. The food was amazing..but our server Bri was truly amazing!!!! We will definitely be back … BTW they’re working on their liquor license if beer and wine is not your thing.“

“I've heard about this restaurant for years and we finally tried it. I don't know what took us so long. For the quality of food, the prices are great. We sat at the bar and loved the comfy barstools. The bartender was awesome and super helpful with good recommendations. We got a decent bottle of Prosecco, tried several different bruschettas and one of the salads - and loved everything, I don't think there's a bad thing on the menu, we're eager to come back.“

“I built my own pastas. It was very good except for the sausage which was too dry. I will go back. Service was quick and the staff are very pleasant and helpful.Parking: Small number of parking spots. I was there before the dinner crowd started. I am wondering if there is more parking behind the restaurant.“

“Came here this past weekend & our experience was great! I got the create your own pasta with Alfredo sauce-mushrooms-green peppers and onions-broccoli-Parmesan cheese with spaghetti noodles and my husband got the Diavolo pasta the way it comes, with hot fried chicken as the protein. We also got the garlic dough and the Parmesan Piada sticks with ranch and let’s just say, we could eat those all day long! The blackberry hibiscus lemonade was fire! We will definitely be back! They also have hand rolled piadas, salads, and desserts! Go check them out!“

“Everything was excellent. Our waiter was attentive and knowledgeable. I had the Sicilian Cosmopolitan, salmone pistachio, and Italian cream cake. The food and drink were very tasty. I would highly recommend this restaurant for a nice dinner.“

“Frenchie's was recommended by Shawn, our tour guide for the VIP Astronaut Training tour at Space Center Houston. Boy was he spot on with the recommendation, the food at Frenchie's is phenomenal! Why four stars? The vibe was a bit off with the owner barking at the servers, walking around the restaurant visibly upset, grumbling and just being unpleasant. He came to our table to take our check and we complimented the food, only to be grunted at?? It was truly uncomfortable!!Now, the food and the service, that was perfection! I had the lasagna and it was delicious, exactly what I was expecting from a highly recommended Italian restaurant. Hubby had the steak with Dijon sauce and said it was amazing, he wanted to lick the sauce off the plate!! We shared a bottle of Italian red that was recommended by our wonderful server Maria who definitely knew what she was recommending! Maria was wonderfully attentive, friendly and very knowledgeable of the menu. The ambiance is old Italian with history, including NASA history! I highly recommend a visit, it's definitely a great break from BBQ!!“

“Came in for a Togo order. I have been wanting to try this spot and I’m so glad I did! I got a medium Hawaiian and 6 Buffalo wings. The pizza is perfect! Not greasy or too salty. The dough is cooked perfectly. I like that the crust isn’t too big. The Buffalo wings are really good too. It’s the basic Buffalo sauce that I like. They’re not trying to do anything crazy, which I appreciate. They also put extra sauce on the bottom. I could be wrong, but the ranch tasted home made and was really good. Waited about 15 min for my food.Over all this hit the spot and I’ll be back to try more things.“

“We are regular customers. Usually everything is consistently good with food and service but today the young lady greeting guests at the host stand was awful. She was probably new and she was not friendly or smiling at all. I can appreciate a new employee but it does not take training to be friendly and smile with people arriving for dinner. I did not get her name but she was the host greeting people Wednesday evening March 6th around 6:00pm.“

“It's been a while since we've been here and it was just as great as always. Pear truffle salad was outstanding and such a wonderful combination. The lobster bisque is still the best in the world. We tried the cotton candy foie gras which was another fun combination - so delicious! Lamb chops, sea bass, salmon were all outstanding. And of course, we had to have the Souffle! Chocolate soufflé, enough said! Thank you for a great evening.“

“I cannot recommend Trattoria Sofia enough! I had booked my wedding rehearsal dinner here for around 25 guests. To my surprise (and own mistake) I booked it for one day later than I had meant to. When our group showed up a day early, the manager Beau and the rest of the staff was able to organize our party within 10 minutes and had us seated at a beautiful table.The food was DELICIOUS, the restaurant itself was gorgeous, and it was well worth the price. I cannot thank Trattoria Sofia enough for saving our day and for their amazing service.“

“Sarpinos is by far the best value for the quality of the Pizza in the area! Whenever my family wants pizza, we exclusively come here. The pizza is fantastic: not greasy; plenty of toppings and cheese; incredible flavor. The staff is always friendly and welcoming every time we go and appreciate their customers. We will keep coming back!“

“An excellent Italian restaurant experience. This is a true culinary hidden gem. The food here is exceptional including the pasta and pizza. The sea food appetizers are delicious and salads are well balanced. They have an excellent wine selection and will let you taste some samples before you pick the perfect bottle. For dessert I recommend the tiramisu, classic but with delicious. And the best part? Despite the high quality of food and service, prices here are refreshingly affordable compared to similar places.“

“Went on a Saturday afternoon food was great! Even my very ,very, very, very, picky eater loved it! He will only eat about 4 different things. They had none of those on the menu. We still decided to go and see if we might be able to get him to at least try something. He did, and he loved it.“

“Five Stars...! This place has RUINED me for any other pizza but theirs.. seriously.And it's EVERYTHING...the crust, the amazing cheese, the quality ingredients, It's just very, very different from everybody else and absolutely full of flavor and delicious.I can no longer eat anybody else's pizza, and that's just the way that is.Try it yourself and you'll see why.“

“What can I say? Every time I visit, Bari it’s an amazing experience. The service is second to none, the food is perfectly tied and perfectly cooked. The salmon and the pizza are to die for. I’m looking forward to going back again soon.“

“Best Pizza !!! The food is great the service is excellent the atmosphere is friendly they treat you like family the vibes is like going to your grandparents kitchen in Italy for real I’ll eat they BBQ Chicken pizza 7 days a week with a smile ??? di place 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣? di ting ?“

“Carrabba's Italian Grill is a prestigious Italian residence hotel and restaurant in the United States of America. Carrabba's Italian Grill is a well-known hotel and restaurant that attracts visitors and tourists from all over the world for its entertainment and dining facilities. You will visit as a family.“

“Comfort place to hang and drink. This place might look small and hidden but has so much to offer. Starts with a great atmosphere, great drinks, great food options and overall great bartenders. Parking: it's limited, but also has street parking. Price: low-average Seating: indoor and outdoor Has great music playing and a cool dancing spot.“

“What a wonderful dinner! The salmon special was spectacular, the asparagus and crab app was fantastic, and the staff is extremely attentive. (The wine and cocktail were also excellent.) Five star evening!Before I submitted the review, Google suggested dishes to include, which prompted us to order the lemon cheesecake! GET IT!!! YUM!“

“Indulged in a delicious feast at Maggiano's Little Italy! Their rigatoni, bursting with flavor, and pillowy ravioli were delightful. We started with the savory stuffed mushrooms, a must-try for any appetizer lover. To top it all off, we shared their decadent dessert sampler, offering a perfect portion of various treats. The service was exceptional, with friendly and attentive staff who made our dining experience enjoyable. Highly recommend Maggiano's for a delightful Italian meal!Please like this review and follow me if you want more honest and unbiased reviews.“

“I have been here many times for many occasions- casual dinner with friends, work dinners, birthday celebrations- and it’s always a good time. They are very receptive to my gluten intolerance and can make adjustments when needed.Dietary restrictions: Gluten free“

“Went to Roma for my birthday last night. So delicious and quickly becoming my favorite date night spot. Giorgio took excellent care of us and was attentive to our needs. I will continue to recommend this place if you've never been! Branzino is the best menu item hands down we also had the pleasure of trying the bread pudding so light and airy. We always leave full and satisfied but not stuffed, perfection!“

“Incredible high-end, yet neighborhood vibe here- food makes me want to cry because I don't want it to end. Service is impeccable. Seriously feels like the Godfather could walk in at any moment. Luis (both of them) are great bartenders. Love love love this place“

“Great food at a nice local restaurant. We've had pretty much everything on the menu and its all good. The only problem we've ever had is the temperature. I'm guessing the windows make it hard to keep the temperature even. Sometimes its warm, other times its freezing.As far as the food goes, you can't go wrong, all of it is great.Parking: Small lot, so when everything in the center is open it can be a little tight.Kid-friendliness: Lots of options for kids.“

“We enjoyed the meal however the chef came around to the tables and was quite rude and wouldn't let the women talk and bullied us into getting three desserts. The key lime pie had nuts in the crust which my son had an allergic reaction too.“