Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Houston

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian 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!

Brossa's Cibo-e-Vino

4.8

4.8 (187)

$30 and under

Italian

Brenham

About the restaurant

Fresh Italian bistro in beautiful Brenham, TX. House-made pastas, sandwiches, soups and salads set in a a quaint converted craftsman home. Pair a bottle from our incredible wine list with our Wild Boar Pappardelle, Eggplant Parm or fresh branzino.

Top review

SamVIP

Dined on Dec 3, 2024

Brossa’s is absolutely one of the best Italian restaurants I have visited anywhere. Easily the best overall food in the area.

Arturo Boada Cuisine

4.9

4.9 (804)

$31 to $50

Italian

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

This neighborhood eatery serves up an eclectic blend of Italian, Spanish and Latin cuisine not to be missed. Try unique tapas like the camarones henesy en hamaca, mussels tomatillo, ceviche and many more. The wood burning-oven puts out authentic thin crust pizzas, with favorites such as the carnitas pizza. We offer a flavorful selection of fresh seafood and steaks. Our home made desserts are a must, from wood oven baked apple pastry to Arturo’s famous crème brulee. The hand picked wine list offers a variety of boutique and exclusive wineries. We are very happy to accommodate any of your special requests.

Top review

Mark

Dined 6 days ago

Very consistent in every aspect of a wonderful evening and meal. Everything we ate was delicious, as always, and the service is always amiable, dependable, and attentive. This has become our go to restaurant recently in Houston.

Discover more

Popular dish

Snapper Al Fresco

Trattoria la Vigna

4.9

4.9 (1509)

$30 and under

Italian

Galveston

About the restaurant

Trattoria La Vigna is your very own little slice of Italy in Downtown Galveston. We offer delicious lunch specials, fresh pasta made daily, homemade desserts, and much more!

Top review

Jennifer

Dined 6 days ago

Just what we were looking for.. a great Italian restaurant nestled in Galveston. Fresh pasta, great service .. what more could this Jersey Italian ask for.. Can’t wait to go again! Mangia!

Discover more

4.9

4.9 (1125)

$30 and under

Italian

Galveston

About the restaurant

Riondo's serves a casual lunch and upscale dinner with unmatched hospitality on the strand in Galveston. Riondo's also provides a private banquet room for rehearsal dinners, small weddings and all your special occasion needs. Chef Rico provides housemade pastas, mozzarella cheese, artisan breads and Gulf Coast Fresh Seafood, Wagyu beef and local farm to market produce from Moon Dog farms. Located in the historical Strand District in Galveston, come enjoy a romantic night at Riondos.

Top review

EllenVIP

Dined 2 days ago

The service was excellent. Ruben our bartender took great care of us. Food was delicious. The best Happy Hour on the island.

Discover more

Popular dish

Tiramisu Crepes

Palinuro Italian Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (326)

$30 and under

Italian

Katy

About the restaurant

Inspired by the warmth and comfort of the seaside town in Palinuro, located in the southern Italian region. Palinuro Italian Cusinie and Chef Paolo bring traditional and authentic Italian cuisine to Katy, Texas. Enjoy fresh house-made pastas, traditional risottos, salads with the highest quality ingredients, imported truffles, and entrees such as veal. An experience at Palinuro is one to remember.

Top review

Juan

Dined on Dec 1, 2024

The food is awesome and the servíce fantastic, perfect for date night

Porta'Vino

4.9

4.9 (1521)

$30 and under

Italian

Heights / Washington

About the restaurant

Houstons newest BYOB Restaurant.
Casual Atmosphere, Incredible wine prices, Amazing Food

Top review

Bill

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent food and service. Moderately priced. A good selection of meats, pastas, fish, etc. We ordered braised short ribs with creamy polenta and veal with risotto. Both were delicious. The wine list is very extensive and the prices are ridiculously low, even below retail in some cases. The waiters are very competent and attentive. They are assisted by other waitstaff who make sure you are satisfied with the service. I recommend getting reservations in advance becasue it's very crowded. The noise level is "energetic" but not so loud that you can't hear others at your own table.

Tony's

4.9

4.9 (917)

$31 to $50

Italian

Upper Kirby / Shepherd Corridor

About the restaurant

For over 50 years, Tony’s has been Houston’s pinnacle of fine dining. Under Donna Vallone's leadership, Chef Kate McLean brings a vibrant twist, blending live-action presentations with meticulous attention to detail. The menu features house-made pasta, seasonal ingredients, and signature dishes like Flaming Salt Crust Snapper and the indulgent Battle Axe Course. Alongside caviar and tasting menus, Kate’s creations merge her free spirit with the formal tradition instilled by her mentor, Tony Vallone. A Houston native, Kate became Tony’s first female Executive Chef in 2013. After a brief hiatus exploring writing and co-hosting a podcast, she returned in 2022 as Executive Chef and Partner, continuing Tony’s legacy. Located near Greenway Plaza and The Galleria, Tony’s remains the destination for upscale dining, offering a curated spirits list, extensive wine selection, and unforgettable experiences.

Top review

Anyoleth

Dined 4 days ago

We had a lovely time, and the food was both inventive and delicious. The cotton candy foie gras was a real treat!

Discover more

Experience

New Year's Eve 1st Seating

Experience

New Year's Eve 2nd Seating

Mia Bella Trattoria - Greenway Plaza

4.9

4.9 (1007)

$30 and under

Italian

Upper Kirby / Shepherd Corridor

About the restaurant

Mia Bella Trattoria – which translates as “My Beautiful” Trattoria, is a delightful combination of Italian tradition and regional American twists. With multiple locations, the dining destinations are fun, intimate and moderately priced just like the traditional Trattorias where Italian families gathered for wine and delicious food. In a tradition of his own making, Owner/Chef Youssef Nafaa has created an exciting menu of familiar foods pushed to a new level with daring preparations and imaginative ingredients. Wine lovers will find a pleasingly extensive list of evenly priced wines while those seeking cocktails will find the same combination of classic recipes and creative mixings which set the menus apart.

Top review

Shannon

Dined 2 days ago

Wonderful food. Exceptional service. Server, Jose, was very professional and attentive.

Discover more

Mia Bella Ceasar Salad

Sorrento Ristorante Italiano

4.8

4.8 (3364)

$31 to $50

Italian

Montrose

About the restaurant

Nestled in the heart of the Montrose area, this quaint, award-winning restaurant serves up modern, creative, and classic Italian cuisine. As you enter the front door, you are warmly greeted by a rounded bar with a beautiful piano. The dark, romantic ambiance continues into a spacious main dining area where you are seated at a candlelit table in view of an exquisite Sorrento mural as well as Picasso and Chagall paintings. Sorrento Ristorante has become a favorite Houston Italian restaurant of locals and out-of-towners looking for the perfect Italian dining experience in Houston. Additionally, our private dining options are outstanding both for dinner parties and luncheons. Sorrento is here to provide you with the finest cuisine with the best service in Houston. Sorrento has been voted as one of Houston’s finest Italian Restaurants and also Top 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in America.

Top review

JamieVIP

Dined on Dec 11, 2024

Truly enjoyed the service and atmosphere. Great restaurant for any occasion.

Discover more

Popular dish

Caprese Salad

Potente

4.8

4.8 (1939)

$50 and over

Italian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Potente is a sophisticated and upscale Italian restaurant located in downtown Houston led by Executive Chef Danny Trace. Every dish is locally sourced and uses only the highest quality ingredients. Try our chef favorite homemade pasta with black truffles shaved table side, petite filet with pistachio gremolata and homemade desserts sure to delight!

Our attire is relaxed formal. Shorts, hats, sneakers, torn clothing and sweat pants not permitted.

Top review

kellyVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Always fantastic. Took a friend here for her first visit and she loved it.

Discover more

Experience

New Year’s Eve at Potente!

Explore Diners' Choice best of Houston