Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Houston

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Houston? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Scott Gertner's Rhythm Room

4.9

4.9 (515)

$31 to $50

American

River Oaks

About the restaurant

SCOTT GERTNER "Houston's First Name in Entertainment" This venue highlights the best live entertainment from the local, regional and national scene. Enjoy a delicious full menu including our Happy Hours, Steak Nights and Live Music Showcases.. Our SGRR has a full bar including delicious signature cocktails, wine and champagne. Our award winning Scottie Hottie Chicken Wings won 1st Place in Houston! Plan ahead for your next visit. Join us inside or on our outdoor patio....and be a part of the ultimate Scott Gertner experience.

DRESS CODE : DRESSY CASUAL
NO BALL CAPS , ATHLETIC APPAREL, FLIP FLOPS, BACKLESS SANDALS, BAGGY CLOTHING, TALL TEE SHIRTS OR SHORTS.

Top review

Denise

Dined on Aug 30, 2024

The food and drinks are amazing. Would love to see a wider wine selection of Cabernet.

Emilia's Havana

4.9

4.9 (58)

$50 and over

Cuban

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

Discreetly located next to The Annie Café & Bar, Emilia’s Havana is an intimate, 50-seat lounge reminiscent of a vibrant 1950s Cuban club with a luxe Latin vibe. The latest from Berg Hospitality Group, guests will enjoy inventive interpretations of classic and contemporary Cuban-inspired cocktails by the James Beard award winning mixologist, Alba Huerta, along with an elevated wine list and bottle service. Perfect for a post-dinner snack, the light, Latin-inspired small plates by Executive Chef Brian Sutton are not to be missed.* The highlight of the evening? The live “bossa nova style” music performed at every seating by our house band along with tunes by local DJs on Friday and Saturday nights.

*PLEASE NOTE: Emilia’s Havana has lounge-style seating with Cuban-inspired small plates but does not have a full dinner menu.

Top review

Claudia

Dined on Aug 4, 2024

I love Emilia’s! This is my third time there and every time I’ve had so much fun! Highly recommend for a birthday or a girls night out.

Maggiano's - Baybrook

4.8

4.8 (1463)

$30 and under

Italian

Friendswood

About the restaurant

Welcome to Maggiano's Little Italy at Baybrook Mall. Our dining room is ideal for family-style dining with our Italian–American cuisine, reminiscent of a Sunday night visit to your grandmother’s house -- or as they say in Italy, nonna’s casa! These delicious dishes paired with great service, generous portions and a warm atmosphere keep our guests and their families coming back for more.

Join us soon! We look forward to hosting your next business or family gathering.

Top review

Wadevip

Dined 6 days ago

The ambiance, music, and service were all excellent. The Chicken Marsala was good, but the sauce does not taste like Marsala wine at all, to me. But I loved the mushrooms that accompanied this dish. My Sister really enjoyed the Lobster Carbonara. I just wish the dishes tasted more homemade, and less like a chain restaurant.

The Union Kitchen (Katy)

4.7

4.7 (299)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Katy

About the restaurant

The Union Kitchen serves Global Cuisine with Southern Hospitality.
The Union Kitchen features a unique menu served in a casual atmosphere. Our lunch menu focuses on sandwiches, wraps, entree salads and some of the best burgers in Houston. At dinner, steaks, chops, chicken dishes and seafood take center stage. We have a unique hand selected wine list that complements our cuisine perfectly.

Top review

Lawrencevip

Dined on Aug 26, 2024

Love union kitchen, great food and even better service- thank you!

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Experience

2 for $25 Lunch

Moxies - Houston

4.6

4.6 (1001)

$31 to $50

American

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

Moxies is one of the best restaurants in Uptown Houston, located near Galleria Houston. Offering a trendy and lively atmosphere, our two-level modern restaurant boasts a globally inspired menu featuring freshly made, in-house dishes suitable for any dining occasion: lunch, dinner, Happy Hour, late night eats, or weekend brunch. With a large patio, as well as plenty of TVs, Moxies is the place to catch sporting events or enjoy Happy Hour in Houston. Indulge in our beautiful array of handcrafted cocktails and our extensive wine list, which features half-priced bottles every Wednesday. Our restaurant is also tailored to host large group dining events, making it perfect for bachelorettes, birthdays, corporate events, and all other celebrations.

Top review

Mike

Dined 6 days ago

I initially avoided this place based on older reviews I had seen online, regarding aggressive rude police moonlighting as security, as well as subjective exclusion practices. I’m happy that I saw none of that. I had been in earlier in the week with coworkers so I brought my girlfriend back. The everything was great, I did not care for gratuity being automatically added to my bill. I would expect that practice at lower class establishments with no class clientele. My gf and I agreed to add Moxies to our list of places to spend time at together.

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Popular dish

CHIPOTLE MANGO CHICKEN (gc)

Waters Edge Winery & Bistro

4.6

4.6 (303)

$31 to $50

Winery

Richmond

About the restaurant

Waters Edge Winery & Bistro – Richmond is a family-owned winery in the center of the booming suburbs of Richmond, TX near Aliana, Harvest Green and Waterview Estates. We specialize in making eco-friendly, international wines – Locally! Our tasting room is open six days a week to provide a warm, inviting environment to enjoy spending time with friends and neighbors. We offer wine tastings from our large selection of varietals, charcuterie and cheese boards, bistro entrees and gift items. Join our wine club and reap the benefits of being a member. Two of our guest favorite wines are Mississippi Blues Man and Social Distance.

Join us for wine tastings, bottling parties, live music Fridays and Saturdays, Sunday Brunch and more! We look forward to raising a glass with you soon! Come check us out!

Top review

Ole

Dined 7 days ago

Great Friday night dinner and wine with family. The service was great and the Joe Carmouche band was grooving too! A little loud but my sangria flights were excellent along with my shrimp cocktail and catfish. We will visit again really soon!

Quotes Willowbrook

4.6

4.6 (361)

$30 and under

American

Willowbrook

About the restaurant

WALK-INS ARE ENCOURAGED AND ALWAYS WELCOME,
(We keep 70% of our seating capacity available for WALK-INS on the weekend, starting Friday night!)

Now, for the good stuff... we pride ourselves in bringing you the best "VIBE DINING" experience in North Houston! Our menu offers an array of southern comfort foods, with a creole twist... providing an assortment of deliciousness, pleasing to even the pickiest of foodies!

Allow QUOTES to host to your next celebratory event, or intimate private gathering. Our private event lounge and outdoor patios are sure to dazzle your guests. With a sophisticated VIBE, impeccable service and delicious signature cocktails... QUOTES is sure to provide you with the unique dining experience that you are looking for.

Reservations / Cancellations:
We offer a 15-minute grace period for late arrivals. Your table will be reserved for a time period of 2.5 hours. $25 cancellation fee per person if canceled within 48 hours of your reservation.

Top review

MaTasha

Dined 6 days ago

Over such a great first experience for my birthday celebration. The crowd was cool, the food tasted good and portions are a lot and the service was excellent we had Chrissy she was kind and catering with such wonderful energy.

Gyu-Kaku - Houston, TX | Midtown

4.4

4.4 (410)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Downtown

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

Jadymarie

Dined on Aug 23, 2024

Imani and Mundo were outstanding. They created a wonderful experience for our party of 5.

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Experience

Prix-Fixe Yakiniku Courses for Everyone!

The Rustic Houston Downtown

4.2

4.2 (14)

$30 and under

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

At The Rustic, we proudly serve American food with a culinary flair. Every dish is crafted from fresh ingredients right in the heart of Houston. Enjoy a diverse selection of authentic Texas beers, wines, and spirits, or handcrafted mocktails. Come by for great food and live music, and soak in the vibrant ambiance from our award-winning patio. For larger group dining of more than ten, just give our team a call—we're here to help make your gathering a memorable one!

Top review

Natevip

Dined 6 days ago

Great brunch experience. Would definitely recommend especially before an Astros game.

Phil & Derek's

3.9

3.9 (68)

$31 to $50

Creole / Cajun / Southern

Midtown

About the restaurant

Phil & Derek’s has been serving Houston great music and great food since 2008. Inconspicuously located in bustling Midtown Houston, sits Phil & Derek’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar. Phil & Derek’s is a laid-back atmosphere where the ambiance is reminiscent of the comfort of your own living room, coupled with the flare and glitz from our nightly Cabaret style entertainment.

Our guests can sit back and enjoy popular Jazz and R&B music, as we deliver piping hot, delicious entrees to the table. We offer weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Our Sunday Brunch was voted, Best Morning after Brunch, for three consecutive years. Our brunches offer a variety of southern comfort favorites along with our mimosa buckets and a live DJ that plays music from 12pm-4pm.

Top review

Aiesha

Dined 6 days ago

The food and live music was really good. I ordered lamb chops, they were sooo good. My waitress was so attentive. The crowd is a little older but a e still had fun!!

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