Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Houston

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American 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!

Mariposa at Neiman Marcus - Houston

4.9

4.9 (300)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

THE MARIPOSA located in Neiman Marcus HOUSTON is open to socially distanced seating, in accordance with local jurisdiction guidelines.

Laid-back luxe. Experience delightful dishes in a casual, contemporary atmosphere at the Mariposa® HOUSTON. Muted lighting and understated, modern decor create the perfect environment for a midday retreat. Whether dining with a group or simply ordering upscale take-out, expect delectable food and exceptional service that is synonymous with Neiman Marcus.

Let the Mariposa® host your next Baby or Bridal Shower . We have the perfect menu and atmosphere for you and your guests.

Top review

CathleenVIP

Dined on Feb 22, 2025

I love Elizabeth (Betta)! Such a great waitress here!

Rosie Cannonball

4.8

4.8 (84)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Montrose

About the restaurant

At Rosie Cannonball, we’re serving European comfort food in a lively atmosphere. The restaurant celebrates the origins of cooking through open, live fire and is centered around a wood-burning oven and grill.

The menu draws inspiration from individual ingredients: local vegetables, pastas and pizzas, simple seafood and locally-sourced meat cooked over live fire.

Master Sommelier June Rodil curated an expansive list of delicious wines with a strong Italian, Spanish and French focus from their favorite producers new and old, along with options from progressive New World producers.

The cocktail menu has strong Italian influences, mirroring the focus of the food.

Chef de Cuisine: Matt Hamilton
Sous Chef: Karla Moreno
Executive Pastry Chef: Samantha Mendoza
General Manager: Brandi Kinney
Front of House Managers: Lauren Allen
Goodnight Hospitality Partners: Bailey & Peter McCarthy, Felipe Riccio, June Rodil

Top review

medicinewomanVIP

Dined 7 days ago

I love this restaurant, it’s cozy and always buzzing. The staff are attentive and helpful. The food is delicious and there’s a good selection of drinks. It tends to be cold in there so I always bring a jacket or shawl.

Relish Restaurant & Bar - Town and Country

4.8

4.8 (125)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Westside

About the restaurant

Relish Restaurant & Bar Town & Country is a neighborhood eatery serving up classic American food with Mediterranean influences. At Relish, we aim to create an environment where absolute guest satisfaction is our highest priority. Through a shared commitment to excellence, we are dedicated to the uncompromising quality of our food, service, and people, while taking exceptional care of our guests and staff. We simply believe food should be uncomplicated, delicious and something to be relished!

Lunch is available Monday - Friday 11am - 3pm
Happy Hour is available Monday - Friday 3pm - 5:30pm, and Saturday & Sunday 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Dinner is available Sunday - Monday 5:30pm - 9pm, and Friday & Saturday 5:30pm - 10pm
Brunch coming soon!

Top review

Suzanne

Dined 3 days ago

My friends and I were very impressed with the decor, service and food at the new Town & Country location. We will certainly spread the word and return often!

Masraff's

4.8

4.8 (3971)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Westside

About the restaurant

Masraffs, long recognized as a premier restaurant in Houston, offers affordable elegance, attentive service, impeccably prepared and exquisitely fresh American cuisine created with the best ingredients from around the world.

Top review

Jeff

Dined on Mar 12, 2025

Great lunch spot for business. Food was very good and service was on point. Very easy to hear and talk.

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Popular dish

Chilean Seabass

Popular dish

Garlic Seared Calamari

Popular dish

14 oz Bone-In Filet Mignon

Relish Restaurant & Bar - River Oaks

4.8

4.8 (1065)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

River Oaks

About the restaurant

Relish Restaurant & Bar is a neighborhood eatery serving up classic American food with Mediterranean influences. At Relish, we aim to create an environment where absolute guest satisfaction is our highest priority. Through a shared commitment to excellence, we are dedicated to the uncompromising quality of our food, service, and people, while taking exceptional care of our guests and staff. We simply believe food should be uncomplicated, delicious and something to be relished!

Top review

MonicaVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Wow! Such friendly and attentive staff. Greeted promptly and spoken to about the rodeo and weather. Just a great welcome. Wait staff was attentive and prompt. Food came out quickly for lunch and was delicious. I ordered the beet appetizer, yummy! Definitely going back!

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The Audrey Restaurant & Bar - The Woodlands

4.8

4.8 (794)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

The Woodlands

About the restaurant

The Audrey Restaurant & Bar is a stylish modern restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine. The restaurant will be located on the second floor of Market Street, overlooking the beautiful greenery of the center through our large elegant windows. Featuring elevated American favorites with an elaborate menu including our Seafood Tower, Tuna & Avocado Martini, a selection of fresh pasta dishes, butcher cut steaks, sandwiches, and salads. A Breakfast at Tiffany’s style brunch will also be offered. Additionally, The Audrey will feature a curated bar program offering craft cocktails and a fabulous wine selection.

Top review

Lindsay

Dined 1 day ago

This is my fourth visit. It’s probably my favorite restaurant in the Woodlands. The food is always really good. So is the service.

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Experience

Easter Brunch at The Audrey

Roost Houston

4.7

4.7 (546)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Montrose

About the restaurant

Nominated by Food and Wine Magazine as best chef southwest and 4 time winner of the Houston Iron Fork competition, Roost is slowly standing in a class of its own. With accolades like winner of the Food Networks Beat Bobby Flay and competing on Guy's Grocery Games, local Chef Kevin Naderi loves developing global flavors and serving his hometown.
Roost’s 50-seat space is cozy and unpretentious, amid walls paneled with old shutters and Edison-like light fixtures. Roost’s rustic and diverse menu is revised every five weeks, inspired by local availability of farm-fresh seasonal ingredients and flavors of the world, including the American South, Asia, and from the Middle East, taking advantage of Chef Naderi’s Persian heritage.
With over 13 years of serving Houston, we are proud to be a delicious option for our incredible city, and we truly looking forward to giving you a casual- fine dining experience.

Top review

Christine

Dined 1 day ago

Roost was an amazing dining experience. It's a small place, but it didn't get loud. The service was exceptional as was the food. We loved everything we ordered. We can't wait to come back and bring all of our friends and family.

The Fancy at Hotel Lucine

4.8

4.8 (132)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Galveston

About the restaurant

An American Fine-ish Dining establishment inspired by local ingredients with a dash of artistic liberty and a lot of personality.

Our menu highlights locally sourced ingredients, celebrating our Galveston roots and coastal ties while supporting the Texas farms and Gulf waters that make it all possible. From the daily catch to fresh, house-made pastas, every dish is thoughtfully crafted to reflect the vibrant community around us. Enjoy our local cuisine with wall-to-wall Gulf views - no dress code required.

The Fancy at Hotel Lucine sits neatly at the intersection of 10th & Seawall Blvd - we're about as close to the water as a hotel can get without high tide lapping at your bedside.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Mar 12, 2025

What a special place and a special meal! It was the perfect way to wrap up our spring break trip. Next time we will book a room as well! The food, view, service, all of it...were just right.

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Experience

Brunch in The Fancy at Hotel Lucine

Experience

Oyster & Martinis

Whiskey Cake - The Woodlands

4.8

4.8 (1986)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

The Woodlands

About the restaurant

We’re serving up tasty farm-to-kitchen dishes & cocktails out of our from-scratch-only kitchen and bar. Microwave? Never heard of it. We use slow-cooking methods on our live-wood grill, smoker, and spit because food just tastes better that way.
We believe that local is a place as much as it is a way of eating. Everything on our menu is infused with and inspired by the local ingredients available each season. All of this goodness is served to you as you kick your feet up in our rocking chairs, dine at a fancy table, or relax out on our porch.

Top review

Becky

Dined 2 days ago

Our server was fantastic! He kept our beverages filled and checked on us several times!

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Popular dish

Whiskey Cake

51fifteen Cuisine & Cocktails

4.8

4.8 (1319)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

51fifteen Cuisine and Cocktails, located in Houston's Galleria area is a top-notch dining destination with an upscale atmosphere. The menu features a diverse range of global cuisine made with fresh ingredients, including seafood, steaks, salads, and vegetarian options. The bar offers an impressive selection of classic and modern cocktails, wines, and beers. With its prime location, 51fifteen is an ideal place to take a break from shopping or enjoy a night out with friends. Overall, it's the perfect spot for a special occasion or a romantic dinner.

Top review

LindaVIP

Dined 7 days ago

The food was presented beautifully and it was delicious. The staff members were courteous and helpful. A gentleman played the piano and it was wonderful! He encouraged us to make suggestions. The Saks Restaurant is gorgeous. Thanks.

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