Over the years, Italian food has become synonymous with comfort food and has managed to make its way into the heart of individuals across the globe. A piping hot bowl of pasta, tangy tomato sauce, and herb-crusted Foccacia bread combine to create a meal that touches more than our lips. It directly hits the soul.
Houstonians are undoubtedly lucky when it comes to restaurants serving such homely Italian food. However, the city of Houston is home to some of the finest restaurants started by the locals of Italy, who wished to bring their culture and its flavors to the people living in different parts of the world. The best Italian restaurant in Houston serves delicacies made with recipes that have been passed from one generation to another, thus offering authentic flavors and tastes.
Does this make you want to try Italian food in the city? If yes, we have a list of all the top places that you can check out.
Below is a list of the best Italian restaurants in Houston, Texas, waiting with arms wide open and plates full of aromatic dishes to welcome you.
Address
642 Yale St Ste A Houston, TX 77007
Price Range
$$
Must-Try
Bruschettas, Charcuterie Boards
Those living in Houston already know that Postino Heights is where you go to make memories over Texas-sized plates of paninis and a wide selection of bruschettas. The chef’s special charcuterie boards certainly know how to keep the conversations among friends and family going.
If you plan a day out with a buddy, perhaps Postino’s happy hour will interest you. Get there before five in the evening and enjoy $6 glasses of wine with your aromatic dishes.
Address
2002 W Gray St Houston, TX 77019
Price Range
$$$
Must-Try
Duck Ravioli, Paglia e Fieno
La Griglia is where you get the taste of the food and the entire culinary experience of Italy. The homely vibe of this restaurant compliments the delicacies brought to you from the corners of Tuscany, Sicily, and Rome. If you are unsure what you can order, you should try their duck ravioli and Paglia e Fieno.
The authentic tastes and true Italian atmosphere has helped this restaurant bag the tag of one of the top-rated Italian restaurants in Houston. Make sure you check out their happy hour menu while you are there.
Address
415 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77006
Price Range
$$$
Must-Try
Veal Osso Bucco, Lobster
A romantic date night in Houston is all you need to make your partner fall in love with you all over again. And Sorrento Ristorante Italiano could be a perfect kick-starter for that date. This is among Houston’s top fancy Italian restaurants that know how to set the mood right.
A candlelit setting, soft music, light chatter, and scrumptious dishes are surely worth experiencing. The diners get to choose between a wide selection of popular Italian dishes on their menu, from beef tenderloin to lobster, Caprese salad, and Veal Osso Bucco, among others.
Address
4715 Westheimer Houston, TX 77027
Price Range
$$
Must-Try
Pappardelle with Bolognese, Lobster Bisque
Nestled proudly and beautifully in downtown Houston, Grotto serves classic homemade Italian recipes to its diners. You can find a slew of authentic staple dishes from the different corners of Italy on their menu. Their Pappardelle with bolognese is quite popular among the locals here.
In addition to the lip-smacking food, their ceilings soar up high and are covered in exquisite chandeliers. The entire gourmet experience makes it difficult to leave the place once you enter, and this is where the dessert menu of this restaurant becomes a savior.
Address
5210 Morningside Dr Houston, TX 77005
Price Range
$$$
Must-Try
Neapolitan-Style Pizza, Fritto Misto
Coppa Osteria is sitting in one of the malls in Houston, named Rice Village, and is known for serving perhaps the most delicious Neapolitan-style and authentic wood-oven pizzas in town. Their dough and pasta are made from scratch every day in their house kitchen.
Coppa Osteria is the brainchild of Grant Cooper and Charles Clark, a duo of restauranteurs who wanted to bring the taste of Mediterranean-inspired Italian cuisine to the States. You can also choose from their extensive menu of craft cocktails and wines to enjoy a wholesome experience.
Address
2032 Dunlavy St Houston, TX 77006
Price Range
$$
Must-Try
Roasted Chicken, Seafood Risotto
Ostia is a highly anticipated restaurant opened recently by Chef Travis McShane. You can find staple Mediterranean dishes with subtle Italian flavors in this restaurant. Everything here is inspired by nature.
The rustic dining atmosphere boasts patios that remind you of botanical gardens, and its indoor seating has managed to bring the outdoors inside. Their menu is rotational and seasonal, making change the only constant here.
You must try their roasted chicken, ribeye with anchovy-garlic butter, and seafood risotto when you visit. You’ll get to taste the experience and passion of the chef in every bite you take.
Address
911 W 11th St Houston, TX 77008
Price Range
$$
Must-Try
Cacio e Pepe, Pan-Roasted Monkfish
Another one of the rustic Italian restaurant in Houston, Trattoria Sofia, attracts crowds, both local and foreigners, with its impressive list of authentic meals, intriguing cocktails, and juiciest meats. The casual atmosphere and finely plated dishes ensure that you enjoy a blend of homely and gourmet restaurant experiences.
Their extensive menu has plenty of eye-popping delicacies to offer. Italian staples like Cacio e Pepe and innovative treats like Pan-roasted Monkfish topped with a refreshing concoction of herbs including basil, mint, and parsley are every local’s favorite.
Address
1520 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77006
Price Range
$$$$
Must-Try
Panini, Ravioli
Bringing the taste of Venice and the greater Friulian region to the States, Da Marco is a fine dining restaurant known for serving the best Italian food in Houston, Tx. Everything you taste here is made from the products imported from Italy itself or cooked from scratch in the restaurant’s home kitchen.
When visiting, you must dress to impress. This is a fine dining restaurant that prefers jackets; perhaps this is what makes it an excellent option for a date night. As for their food, you must try their buttery and soft Paninos stuffed with smokey prosciutto and fig jam or Raviolo topped with ricotta and seasonal truffle. The flavors that burst into your mouth will make your tongues tickle.
Address
1700 Post Oak Blvd Ste 190 Houston, TX 77056
Price Range
$$
Must-Try
Bruchettas, Pizzas
An upscale yet casual Italian cafe sitting on the streets of Houston, North Italia is an excellent choice for you if you are out and about with your friends or family. The restaurant serves uniquely large, shareable plates of authentic Italian delicacies, including bruschettas and black Mediterranean mussels.
In addition to these appetizers, they also have several delicious mains, ranging from pizzas to bowls of your favorite pasta. Thanks to their glass-walled kitchen, you can see the chefs in action as they prepare your plates of scrumptious recipes.
Address
2347 University Blvd Houston, TX 77005
Price Range
$$
Must-Try
Gnocchi, Bolognese
Started as a fine-dining restaurant under the name Sud Italia, Roma is a casual, more welcoming, and one of the top Italian restaurants in Houston in today’s time. By keeping the flavors inspired by the classic and modern Roman cuisine, the restaurant offers an authentic Italian delight to its diners without making it too heavy on the pockets.
Gnocchi served by Roma is exceptionally tender and is topped with a deliciously flavored smoky saffron sauce. Bolognese will be a great second option if you have already tried their gnocchi.
Address
3115 Kirby Dr Houston, TX 77098
Price Range
$$
Must-Try
Bryan Texas, Butter Cake
Carrabba’s is an Italian restaurant where locals visit to relish a complete meal. From appetizers to mains and desserts, every dish on their menu is worth trying. Carrabba’s is a family-run restaurant that serves fresh and flavor-packed recipes inspired by different corners of Italy.
Their grilled meats are hearty and have a hint of oak in their flavor. They also serve dishes that showcase a blend of Italian culture and American flavors, like Bryan Texas, a grilled chicken dish generously garnished with basil butter, sun-dried tomatoes, and goat cheese and is served with fettuccine Alfredo on the side.
Eat small portions as you would need room in your tummy for their perfectly-sweet butter cake served with whipped cream, fruits, and pastry cream.
Address
6100 Westheimer Rd Ste 140 Houston, TX 77057
Price Range
$$$
Must-Try
Pan-roasted White Gulf Shrimps
An award-winning restaurant serving the best Italian food in Houston, Amalfi Ristorante Italiano & Bar offers an exquisite fine-dining experience, making it a perfect spot for special occasions. Their ever-smiling and attentive waitstaff make the experience even more memorable.
As in their name, this restaurant’s menu is greatly inspired by the recipes from the Southern region of Italy and the Amalfi coast. So, you are bound to find plenty of seafood dishes being served here along with their wide variety of pizzas and pasta. Their house favorite is their pan-roasted white Gulf shrimps with a hint of rosemary and capers.
Address
1515 Texas Ave Houston, TX 77002
Price Range
$$
Must-Try
Salmon Portofino, Lasagna Bolognese
Whoever has visited this newly opened restaurant once has nothing but only good words to say about their dishes. Osso & Kristalla is an upbeat and trendy Italian restaurant in Houston, offering all the local’s favorites under one roof.
You can find their menu serving the good old grilled salmon Portofino and lasagne bolognese that is cooked to perfection. Their wine list also interests many of their diners. Ask the waitstaff about any of the wines on their bar menu, and you will be left impressed with the amount of knowledge they have about the same.
Address
3320 White Oak Dr Houston, TX 77007
Price Range
$$
Must-Try
Meatballs, Pasta
An Italian trattoria operating from the 3000 square foot backyard of Ryan Pera and Morgan Weber, Coltivare was opened to bring a slice (or, in fact, the whole pie) of Italy to the bustling streets of Houston. The moment you enter this trattoria, you will be transferred to a magical corner of somewhere in Italy.
Pasta, meatballs, and pizza are a must-try here. Every dish served in the restaurant is made from only the freshest ingredients, making them high-quality.
Address
1515 Texas Ave Houston, TX 77002
Price Range
$$$
Must-Try
Spaghetti al Tartufo Nero, Bremolata
Potente is where you will find the locals unwinding after a long day or post an exciting baseball match. The owner of the Houston Astros (the city’s very own baseball team), Jim Crane, had always wanted to open a refined, upscale restaurant serving innovative Italian delicacies. But, Potente, has managed to achieve much more than that.
Their Mezzelune with braised Texas duck, Spaghetti al Tartufo Nero, and pistachio-brimmed Bremolata are the top favorites. Calming atmosphere and a world-class collection of wine compliments the food served here.
Address
500 Louisiana St Houston, TX 77002
Price Range
$$
Must-Try
Pizza, Pasta
Serving downtown Houston for more than four decades, Birraporetti’s Italian food is popular among the Houstanions and those who travel to the city from far lands. Birraporetti’s is a no-frills restaurant where you get Italian soul food in its truest sense.
In addition to a wide variety of pasta, stone-oven pizza, and salad bowls, they also have a mouth-watering dessert menu. Do not leave the eatery without trying their Tiramisu if you don’t want any regrets.
Address
1080 Uptown Park Blvd Hotel Granduca Houston, TX 77056
Price Range
$$$
Must-Try
Vealm Cavatelli
Nestled in Hotel Granduca, a five-star hotel in uptown Houston, Giorgio’s Bar & Table is recognized for serving some of the best Italian dishes that you have ever tasted. In addition, this restaurant will blow your mind away with its welcoming and attentive service.
When you sit and skim through their menu, you will be torn between classic Italian mains. Veal with mushrooms and cavatelli with meat sauce are the top contenders for many of their loyal diners. While they are open for service for every meal, it is best to visit them for lunch.
Address
3773 Richmond Ave Ste 1A Houston, TX 77046
Price Range
$$
Must-Try
Seafood Lasagne, Mushroom Risotto
Offering a lively and bustling atmosphere, regardless of when you visit, Mia Belle is an Italian trattoria loved by one and all. The crowds visiting this restaurant are often high on energy and thus let you experience Houston’s true essence, even in an Italian restaurant.
While they have a fixed menu offering scrumptious choices of pizzas and other mains, their make-your-own risotto or pasta makes them stand out. You choose your ingredients and sauces and invent a whole new dish for yourself. As a result, you’ll see plenty of locals visiting this restaurant when the weather is favorable, thanks to its patio.
Address
1834 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77098
Price Range
$$
Must-Try
Shortbread Cookies, Italian Hoagie
Paulie’s is where the comfort is, which everyone craves. Perhaps this homely vibe of the restaurant makes it one of the best Italian restaurants in Houston. Paulie’s made its name with its uniquely shaped homemade pasta, such as Creste Di Gallo or Frills, and these shapes are still going strong.
Their pasta dishes are completed with flavors of chili, marinara-picked onions, garlic, and shiitake mushroom sauce, among other ingredients, which makes them flavorful. Today, they are also known for their authentic Italian hoagie layered with ham and genoa salami and topped with vinegar and oil. Their shortbread cookies will ensure your meal is completed if that’s not enough.
Address
3215 Westheimer Rd Houston, TX 77098
Price Range
$$
Must-Try
Spaghetti Carbonara
A cozy Italian cafe serving high-quality dishes in a casual, comfortable environment, Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino first came into operation back in 2009. The chef of this restaurant, Lynette Hawkins, serves small plates of inventive Italian delicacies at small prices, which encourages you to try different flavors and recipes.
Their spaghetti carbonara with guanciale and egg is a favorite among her diners. To help you enjoy a complete experience, their menu boasts a list of the finest wines sourced from the Italian female winemakers.
There is no dearth of Italian restaurants in Houston. Every restaurant on the streets of this city has its heartwarming history and story of what inspired its menu and the ambiance. So if you are out on a date with a loved one, be it your partner, friends, or family, a trip to any of the above-mentioned Italian restaurants is all you need to experience nothing short of delightful.
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