Underbelly
With a little bit Vietnamese influence and a lot of Gulf tradition, Underbelly chef/owner Chris Shepherd attempts to define and distill the unique food culture of Houston into an ever-changing menu that moves from hearty meat-focused dishes, some served in family-style portions and all butchered in-house, to seafood and some masterful lighter dishes. The Korean braised goat and dumplings are an early classic, as are the chef's soba noodles.
Underbelly only serves wine and beer — no cocktails — but they also offer a BYOB options as well as wine for purchase. Shepherd's talent in the kitchen even awarded him a James Beard Award nomination for Best Chef Southwest in 2013. If you want to try this place out, we highly suggest you make reservations!