Must-try Restaurants

Where to eat right now: 10 cool, must-try restaurants for May

Hard to believe it, but May is here. Need a lunch or dinner recommendation? Here’s where you should eat right now in Houston.

Eleven XI
Eleven XI officially opened on May 7 (in the former Bibas space on W. Gray), and the team here puts forth an impressive resume. The “Southern coastal” menu focuses on seafood, but it’s the tea-brined game hen that’s earned top marks so far. Eleven XI has taken the “restaurant within a restaurant” idea and multiplied it; in addition to the standard restaurant and bar, there’s a chef’s table, patio, raw bar, private wine room, and tasting menu.

Federal Grill
Branch Water Tavern has up and left us, and in its place is the new Federal Grill. The menu is an updated version of the previous iteration, full of “New American” classics: steaks, roast chicken, fried oysters, and fish. You’ll recognize some of the old favorites, too — like the duckfat popcorn, wedge salad, and Akaushi burger — and the bar offerings are as nice as ever. The Federal Grill is open for lunch and dinner.

Pizzeria Solario
Houston’s got a new Neapolitan pizza shop in Pizzeria Solario. The small shop on Weslayan (near Richmond) offers 10 or so pizzas, plus a smattering of other items. With an impressive list of coffees and wines, it’s also a great place to relax. While Solario is usually open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, B4-U-EAT recently reported that they’ve temporarily gone to dinner service only due to staffing concerns.

The Goodie Box
The hot season is nigh, so cool off with a gourmet popsicle from The Goodie Box on wheels. Owner Candice Quino is a former mixologist, who now uses her mad flava’ skills on these all-natural frozen treats (sans booze). They’ve got classic popsicles (like lemon and lime) or modern twists (like pineapple-basil and pomegranate-prickly-pear). Follow the Goodie Box on Facebook or Twitter for a location.

Ruggles Green
The latest outpost of Ruggles Green — on 11th at Studewood in the Heights — opened at the end of April. The newly remodeled space (which is completely unrecognizable if you knew it as the old 11th Street Café) and health-conscious menu are already luring in neighborhood diners like a siren song. We were unimpressed with the burger, but the salads and fish dishes have proven top notch.

Miso Yummy
It’s never a bad time for noodle soup, and that’s exactly why it’s a great idea to stop by the Miso Yummy food truck for a big ol’ bowl of their kimchi ramen. It’s a rich and s-s-s-spicy broth, packed with all kinds of goodness: excellent noodles, spinach, egg, breaded chicken, jalapenos, and kimchi. The rest of the menu is small, but quality. If ramen’s not your thing, try the potstickers. Follow Miso Yummy on Twitter for a location.

Pizza L’Vino
Who has the better pizza: New York or Chicago? Pizza lovers can now get both varieties from the same shop at Pizza L’Vino on Waugh. Dine-in seating is available, though limited, and you can also check their delivery zone via the website. Perhaps best of all, Pizza L’Vino delivers wine and beer right alongside your pizza pie (know before you go: permits specify that alcohol options are for delivery only). We give a thumbs-up to the Spinach Pie and the “Most Ordered.”

The Cajun Stop
Have you been to Calliope's (in EaDo) for a po’ boy lately? They changed their name to The Cajun Stop a few months ago — and that’s not all that’s different. Recently they’ve added breakfast service to their repertoire of good eats. There are some tried-and-true’s, but opt for the Cajun-style dishes: crawfish omelets, hot beignets, shrimp-n-grits, and more. (Breakfast is served 5-10 a.m. on weekdays.)

Batanga
A holdover from last month, Batanga is still earning praise from all directions. Why? It’s got all the makings of a perfect meal out with friends: tasty and sharable dishes, live music, and a patio that’s already earned much praise. The menu features plenty of things that “oink, moo, fly, or swim,” but we especially love the long list of veggie items — like the marinated beets, Swiss chard, and eggplant fries.

Goro & Gun
Another holdover from last month, the new Goro & Gun has had a polarizing effect on Houston’s food community. But even if their signature ramen isn’t your thing, the rest of the small menu is fun for a try. Recently they’ve added some new options — some seriously rave-able hot wings — and lunch service. Follow Goro & Gun on Twitter to hear about their happy hour deals and steals.

Need more recs? Try our where to eat right now lists from previous months:

November – December – January – February – March – April

Batanga recently opened near Market Square.

Batanga, bar, April 2013, interior, customers

Photo by Adrienne Raquel

Batanga recently opened near Market Square.

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Coming soon to Fredericksburg

Houston restaurant vet serves up Roman-style eatery in the Hill Country

Photo courtesy of Bottega Salaria

Valerio Lombardozzi is opening Bottega Salaria in the former home of La Bergerie.

Valerio Lombardozzi’s culinary career has taken him to the world’s finest kitchens, including restaurants owned by icons like Alain Ducasse, Giorgio Locatelli, and Joël Robuchon. In Houston, he led La Table and Tavola, where he earned a reputation for being one of the city's most engaging front of the house personalities.

But his latest project might be his biggest accomplishment yet. The hospitality veteran is opening Bottega Salaria, a homey Italian osteria and artisan market, in the former home of La Bergerie at 312 E Austin St in his adopted home of Fredericksburg.

Lombardozzi says the restaurant, expected to arrive in winter 2026, fills a gap in the Hill Country dining scene, but, more importantly, it's a reflection of his personal history and time spent working at his family’s restaurant in Rome.

“[It’s about] where I grew up, how I grew up, and how I eat,” he shares.

The three-concept experience is inspired by Italy’s Via Salaria, the ancient route Italians used to transport salt from the Adriatic Sea to Rome. The menu acts as a sort of travelogue, borrowing from the different cultures along the road, and the way village fishermen and shepherds ate.

Lombardozzi is quick to say he didn’t want to open a chef-driven restaurant. Instead, the osteria will serve traditional Roman staples such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, saltimbocca with sage and prosciutto, and branzino carved tableside.

“I was one of the last to be exposed to the old generation of professionals who knew how to carve elegantly for the guests,” he says.

The adjacent bottega will stay open during restaurant hours, offering fresh pasta made on-site, house-made sauces, imported Italian pantry items, cheeses, salumi, breads, and biscotti. Patrons will be able to shop for individual items or put together custom gift baskets.

Outdoors, La Fraschetteria will debut a new hospitality experience in the U.S. The self-guided experience invites diners to grab wine directly from garden shelves, gather a spread of meats, cheeses, bread, or pasta, and linger around long communal tables lit by string lights.

Keeping the chit-chat going will be a thoughtful beverage program anchored by a primarily Italian wine list and imported beer. Lombardozzi says the cocktail menu might be a surprise, offering only gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis. The latter has been made into a game where diners roll dice to determine the evening's combination of gin, vermouth, and bitters.

After dinner, guests can select an amaro from a rolling cart, sip grappa and limoncello, or sip a neat whiskey.

Lombardozzi shares that he wants Bottega Salaria to be just as comfortable for Fredericksburg locals as it is for destination travelers. Beyond daily service, Bottega Salaria plans community events such as garden wine nights with live music, Sunday movie nights, and hands-on cooking classes.

The space is designed for ease with a warm palette combining olive green and pomegranate reds. The decor blends heritage and modernity, bringing in objects like antique mirrors, plates, custom-made lamps, and even old tablecloths and curtains for an Old World feel.

"We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Lombardozzi says. “We’re creating a gathering place. A home for everyone who loves Italian food, culture, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.”

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