Caracol
Photo by Julie Soefer
Hugo Ortega's Mexican seafood restaurant in the Galleria area serves consistently well-executed, flavorful dishes. Wood-grilled gulf oysters with chipotle butter, all of the ceviches, and the banana leaf-wrapped bass with mole are just some of the highlights. As with Hugo's, the Sunday brunch buffet is among the best in town, with a never-ending array of dishes from which to choose.
Desserts by Ortega's brother Ruben include the El Coco, a chocolate sphere that diners crack with a wooden mallet before scooping out multiple layers of coconut. Beverage director Sean Beck has a full menu of cocktails and wines by the glass, with twists on classic margaritas, palomas, and more.
