Introduction to Houston’s Italian Scene
Houston is home to an endless variety of exciting global cuisines, from West African fare to standout Indian food. While Italian cuisine may not seem that exciting in comparison, our city offers a stellar crop of red sauce–slinging hot spots that so perfectly epitomize la bella vita that they’ll make a true Italian out of you by dessert. Whether you’re on the hunt for a romantic spot fit for the perfect date night or an easy way to carb yourself up ahead of a night out on the town, Houston’s best Italian restaurants have you covered.
Top Italian Restaurants in Houston
Here are some of the top Italian restaurants in Houston that you should definitely check out:
Amore
Located in Montrose, Amore Italian Restaurant is a classic American Dream story. Alfredo Mojica left his 20-year tenured position as executive chef at Da Marco to open his own place. The menu plays like his own greatest hits album, from the decadently delicious Spaghetti Harry’s Bar to the red wine slow-braised short ribs with burrata to the simply grilled whole branzino.
Capone’s Oven & Bar
This hidden spot located just off Richmond Avenue in Montrose is inspired by the 1920s, giving off an old-school speakeasy vibe. The restaurant also offers live music and karaoke nights, so if you’re wanting to enjoy those offerings, be sure to check either Instagram or Facebook ahead of time. Although Capone’s is known for its pizza, don’t leave without trying the lobster ravioli.
Coltivare
Agricole Hospitality owner Morgan Weber and chef Ryan Pera’s handsome Heights restaurant is perfect for both dates and groups. Outdoor tables sit practically in picking distance from the raised-bed gardens, where the restaurant grows most of its herbs and some of its salad ingredients. Start your meal with the cauliflower with pine nuts and raisins appetizer and some arancini, order a pizza, and don’t sleep on the bolognese tagliatelle.
Coppa Osteria
Coppa Osteria is the place to go for anyone in Rice Village craving great Italian food after a day of shopping. Standouts include the tre burri, the tuna tartare broken arancini, the Coppa caesar, and the spaghetti carbonara made with salumi Toscano and an egg that’s broken tableside by your server.
Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino
Owner and chef Lynette Hawkins has succeeded in keeping her cozy Italian restaurant both casual and high-quality since opening in 2009. Her small plates and accompanying small prices encourage you to order, experiment, and share, though Giacomo’s is perhaps best known for its exemplary spaghetti carbonara with guanciale, a farm-fresh egg, and Tellicherry pepper.
Il Bracco
This Italian-inspired spot originated in Dallas, but since landing in Houston, it has become one of our favorite go-tos for pasta. Il Bracco’s dimly lit dining room with leather banquettes makes for the perfect setting for a quick lunch or an intimate dinner date. Its menu has plenty to offer, too, from the Sicilian crudo and housemade focaccia starters to the bolognese and cacio e pepe.
Lulu’s
Palacios Murphy Hospitality may have a stronghold out in Round Top, but it’s also a force to be reckoned with here in Houston. When the hospitality group opened a second location of fine-dining Italian restaurant Lulu’s in River Oaks in 2021, we were immediately charmed. This spot’s classic Italian fare includes must-tries like the pappardelle bolognese and the radiatore cacio e pepe.
Milton’s
Benjy Levit of Local Foods Group brought this restaurant to life in the former Eau Tour in September 2024. The menu features delicious bites of arancini, chargrilled oysters, and sourdough garlic knots, alongside pastas like the bolognese, ricotta gnocchi, and lasagna.
Mimo
Mimo is excellent in its simplicity. Opened in 2023 in the colorful Tlaquepaque Market strip, the restaurant serves fresh food and handmade pastas that overdeliver, like the crudo with ahi tuna tartare and the pappardelle with braised lamb and mushrooms.
Paulie’s
One of Montrose’s most adored spots for comfort food, Paulie’s is still going strong with housemade pasta dishes focused on unique varieties. Paulie’s also makes one of the finer Italian hoagies in Houston, using Genoa salami and ham with provolone in oil and vinegar.
Roma
In 2019, owner Shanon Scott rebranded the eatery Sud Italia, which opened as Roma Ristorante in 2015 serving Southern Italian cuisine. The restaurant now focuses more broadly on multiple regions of Italy, serving traditional pastas like spaghetti alla carbonara, and recipes unique to each region.
Rosalie Italian Soul
Top Chef Masters winner Chris Cosentino’s Houston restaurant, named after his great-grandmother Rosalie, is the chef’s most personal endeavor to date. The modern Italian spot serves Italian-American comfort food with an upscale twist. Standouts on the menu include the bucatini carbonara and the black spaghetti made with squid ink and scampi shrimp.
Tiny Champions
Opened in 2020 by the folks behind the acclaimed Nancy’s Hustle, Tiny Champions is small in name but big in charm. The relaxed hipster haunt features great pasta dishes and small plates that rotate based on seasonal availability, as well as some of the best pizzas in Houston.
Trattoria Sofia
Trattoria Sofia is a Berg Hospitality Group concept that serves Italian fare in a setting so convincingly Italian you’ll want to serenade your bowl of cacio e pepe with a spontaneous “Nessun dorma.” Spring for dishes like veal Milanese with castelfranco salad, clarified butter, and lemon; a campanelle lamb ragù with tomato, sage, rosemary, and Parmigiano-Reggiano; and one of the best prosciutto pizzas in the city.
Conclusion
Houston’s Italian scene is a culinary treasure trove, offering a diverse range of delicious dishes and exceptional dining experiences. From classic Italian restaurants to modern Italian-American eateries, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant city. Whether you’re in the mood for pasta, pizza, or other Italian favorites, Houston’s top Italian restaurants are sure to satisfy your cravings and leave you wanting more.
