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    Meet the Tastemakers

    Houston's 9 best neighborhood restaurants deliver diverse dishes for everyday cravings

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 7, 2023 | 3:40 pm

    The Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year category in the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards recognizes restaurants that are almost always there for their customers — meaning that they serve both lunch and dinner and are open at least six days a week.

    Those minimum requirements allow us to recognize a diverse group of establishments. From a vegetarian-friendly barbecue restaurant to a staple of Houston’s South Asian community, our nominees serve cuisines from around the world. Their histories range dramatically, too. While most have opened in the past few years, another celebrates its 25th anniversary in April.

    They’re united by their casual atmospheres, relative affordability, and flexible menus that serve many cravings, including vegan and vegetarian. They’re also friendly and welcoming, which is why they’re staples of their respective neighborhoods.

    Who will win? Find out April 13 at our Tastemaker Awards ceremony. Dine on bites from this year’s nominees, sip cocktails from our sponsors, and witness as we reveal the winners. Buy your tickets before they sell out.

    Aga's Restaurant & Catering
    If the only criteria for this award were customers served, Aga’s would dominate almost every other restaurant in Houston. Not only is its massive dining room almost constantly full, the endless parade of to-go orders serves as another demonstration of its popularity. Picking favorite dishes from the massive menu is tricky. Building a meal around its goat chops and other Pakistani barbecue platters is always a good idea. Don’t overlook the goat curries, particularly the Peshawari karahi and the white karahi. Ease the burn with a mango lassi.

    Craft Pita
    Give credit to Raffi Nasr and his Peruvian mother Claudia for some impressive accomplishments. Not only did they establish Craft Pita as a staple for Lebanese cuisine in the midst of the pandemic, the restaurant earned a sufficient following to open a second location in West U. Credit for the success starts with family recipes that utilized quality local ingredients, and the savvy use of products from high quality local purveyors like Phoenicia and Michael’s Cookie Jar. Olive oil from the family's own groves ties the restaurant to its Lebanese roots.

    Cuchara
    For more than 10 years, Ana Beaven and her team of female cooks have given Montrose a taste of Mexico City. From the range of corn-based dishes — everything from pork belly gorditas to a huiitlacoche tamal — to menu staples like ceviche and mole verde, diners count on Cuchara for flavorful, well-executed fare. A potent lineup of agave-based cocktails offers plenty of pairing options, and the lively patio fills up in nice weather. No wonder the restaurant expanded into the adjacent Max’s Wine Dive space and spun off a breakfast-oriented sister concept (more on that in the our Best New Restaurant tournament).

    d'Alba Craft Kitchen
    This restaurant with locations in Garden Oaks and Midtown has the flexibility to feed the whole family for a weeknight dinner and a date night destination on the weekends. At Garden Oaks, kids play while their parents sip craft cocktails or a glass of wine. In Midtown, friends share spinach artichoke dip, prosciutto pizza, or the signature balloon bread. Both locations are united by their expansive patios, warm service, and a flexible menu that caters to a wide range of cravings.

    Da Gama
    Chefs Shiva and Rick Di Virgilio, the couple behind Midtown’s Oporto Fooding House, have created another compelling dining destination with this Portuguese-Indian restaurant in the M-K-T development. The bright, open dining room and a patio that looks out onto the Heights Hike and Bike Trail provide a comfortable setting. With a range of vegetarian and meaty dishes, diners will find enough options to suit almost any craving. Highlights include the crab pani puri, three chili paneer, and masala lamb chops. House made breads, including the bullet naan and sweet potato kulcha, enhance any meal. Pair them with selections from the wine list or a range of creative cocktails.

    Dumpling Haus
    A business that began as a pop-up at bars like Grand Prize and Johnny’s Gold Brick has evolved into a staple of the Urban Harvest farmers market and a brick and mortar restaurant in Sawyer Yards. Chef Elaine Won and her daughters, Ashley Lai and Amiley Lai, sell more than just dumplings — not that the well-seasoned morsels of pork, chicken, or vegetables aren’t among the best in Houston (they are) — but the menu also includes credible wonton soup, Chinese barbecue pork, chili garlic noodles, and more. Regardless of the dish, the use of family recipes and classic techniques ensures people will want to chow down again and again.

    Feges BBQ
    This barbecue restaurant has been a key contributor to Spring Branch’s status as one of the city’s hottest neighborhoods for new restaurants. Not only did its smoked meats earn it a place in Texas Monthly’s list of the state’s 50 best barbecue joints, but the vegetable sides — everything from loaded mashed potatoes and dirty rice to Moroccan-spiced carrots and the signature Korean braised greens — offer compelling choices for all but the most hardcore carnivores. Even non-barbecue eaters will find a smash burger, fried chicken, and salads. A children’s play area keeps youngsters entertained while parents sample selections from the well-chosen wine list.

    Paulie's
    With the Montrose staple on the cusp of its 25th anniversary, this re-nomination for our 2018 Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year winner serves as recognition of its consistent excellence. The housemade pastas range from the pure comfort of spaghetti and meatballs to the unapologetically spicy bucatini amatriciana. Paulie’s shrimp BLT serves as a simple retort to anyone who thinks Houston restaurants don’t make good sandwiches, and the salads keep health-conscious diners happy. A smart, well-chosen wine list — no surprise coming from the owner of Camerata — and those signature iced shortbread cookies further enhance the experience.

    Rosie Cannonball
    Goodnight Hospitality’s European comfort food restaurant works hard to charm its customers. From the stylish design (those terrazzo floors!) to the glass of sparking lambrusco that’s served to every adult, the restaurant does a lot to put people at ease. Anything made with dough, particularly the Focaccia de Recco and wood-fired pizzas, are always a good place to start. The massive wood-burning grill gets puts to use in other compelling ways, adding a little char to blistered green beans, a proper sear to the pork chop, and a crunchy crust to the Basque cheesecake. Not only does the wine list offer plenty of pairing possibilities, but a few zero proof cocktails allow even non-drinkers to find a favorite sip.

    d'Alba patio
      
    Photo by Becca Wright

    d'Alba Craft Kitchen.

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    Where to Eat Brunch Now

    10 Houston restaurants spicing up brunch with fresh new flavors

    Brianna Griff
    May 16, 2025 | 10:14 am
    Smoked Salmon Latke Kirsten Gilliam Okto Brunch
    Photo by Kirsten Gilliam
    Okto's newly launched brunch features fresh dishes like this smoked salmon latke.

    Houston’s weekend routine just got a jolt of new flavors. From a Peruvian-Vietnamese mash-up to a Mediterranean feast in Montrose and a seafood-driven spread in Autry Park, a wave of both new and established Houston restaurants are rolling out fresh takes on everyone's favorite weekend indulgence. Whether it’s four riffs on eggs Benedict or savoring a foie-gras macaron while being serenaded by a violin, these 10 new options are delivering bold brunches with global influences and tipsy tinctures.

    Alora Restaurant and Bar
    Located in the former Kau Ba space in Montrose, this restaurant touts itself as Houston's only Peruvian-Vietnamese restaurant. For brunch, chefs and married couple Diego Ponce and Makala Ponce have created a menu that fuses the two cuisines — think Lima Hot Chicken and Pandan French Toast ($19) with aji limo pepper balanced by the sweetness of pandan. The Bò Né ($28) is a Vietnamese twist on steak and eggs alongside Comté cheese, pate, and tomatoes, while the salmon on crispy toast ($22) is crowned with guacamole, pickled vegetables, and a passion fruit vinaigrette. Beverages include the Alora Bloody Mary ($15) with pickled quail eggs and green mango. Alora serves brunch 11 am-3 pm on weekends.

    Smoked Salmon Latke Kirsten Gilliam Okto Brunch
      

    Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

    Okto's newly launched brunch features fresh dishes like this smoked salmon latke.

    Chardon
    The Thompson Hotel's fine dining restaurant launched in February, transporting both guests and diners to France with its fare. Chardon has become a destination in its own right, and the addition of weekend brunch makes it even more appealing. Classics like Quiche Lorraine ($18) and Croque Monsieur ($32) sit on the menu alongside creations of delicate Lox et Crêpe with dill crème fraîche ($26) and the Avocado and Haricot Vert Tartine topped with a jammy soft-boiled egg ($17). The Bisous Tower ($23/person) proffers a selection of savory pastries and small bites like foie gras macarons and Texas cornbread madeleines. A violinist sets a soft soundtrack while patrons dine. Brunch is 11 am–3 pm on weekends.

    il Bracco
    The Galleria-area Italian spot just upgraded its weekend offerings with several new bites. Housemade pastries include zeppole with orange marmalade ($10), blueberry focaccia ($9), and an artichoke and arugula scone ($12). The weekend-only bucatini carbonara is now joined by shakshuka alla verde, the restaurant's riffs on eggs in purgatory ($19); frittata with with asparagus, goat cheese, tomatoes, and arugula ($17); and a mortadela sandwich on focaccia ($16). Pair them with a mimosa, espresso martini, or a breakfast martini with a little orange marmalade. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 11 am-3 pm.

    Maximo
    The West U. restaurant's weekend brunch offers a range of masa-based dishes. Consider egg Benedict that swaps the traditional English muffin for masa cornbread or cinnamon-sugar coated masa waffles that are topped with cheesecake whipped cream, Japanese peanuts, and agave syrup. Huevos ahogados, drowned in green tomatillo salsa, are served with a side of corn tortillas to soak up every bite of the mushrooms, greens, and Oaxacan cheese. Pair them with cocktails such as the Java-Horchata Flip (sake, coffee liqueur, horchata, whole egg, peanut chili crisp) and the Sangria Tango (tomatillo, cucumber, coriander, green chili, with the guest’s choice of agave or Mexican gin). Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am-3 pm.

    Melrose
    Created by CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Chef of the Year Emmanuel Chavez, the Montrose lounge serves clever riffs on enduring brunch favorites. Options include charred tomatillo chilaquiles with poached eggs, an acai bowl served in a half coconut, hanger steak with eggs and chimichurri, and a breakfast sandwich made with scrambled eggs, cheese, and brown sugar-roasted “billionaire’s bacon” on a brioche bun. The Melrose Tower channels New York's iconic Sadelle's restaurant with its house-cured lox, mini bagels, chive cream cheese, and accoutrements. Drink options include a spritz, Bloody Mary, and a michelada verde made with tomatillo juice. Brunch is served on Sunday from 11 am-3 pm.

    MF Lobster and Seafood
    The weekend spread at this Autry Park destination aims to elevate Houston’s brunch offerings. Think Benedicts made with silky hollandaise cascading over lobster, braised bacon, pork belly, or classic Canadian bacon (yes, that’s four varieties of the dish). The indulgence continues with wagyu steak and eggs, buttery Maine lobster popovers, and bagels and lox featuring Ora King salmon and roe. For the sweet tooth, choose a brioche pain perdu with caramelized apples and whipped maple mascarpone, or end the meal with a dark chocolate pot de crème. MF Lobster and Seafood serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am-2:30 pm.

    Okto
    Sof Hospitality’s Mediterranean restaurant kicks off Sunday with a late-morning feast of fresh flavors such as pan con tomate salad with grilled sourdough and bruleed burrata ($20) and the rich notes of the beet-cured lox atop a potato apple latke ($22). Other highlights include an omelet with blue crab and mascarpone ($24) and a crepe Suzette ($16) accentuated with Grand Marnier, candied orange, and whipped ricotta. Okto’s spot at the trendy Montrose Collective boasts a spacious patio and ample underground parking (or valet). Brunch is served Sunday from 11 am-4 pm at Okto.

    Relish Restaurant and Bar
    The second outpost of this River Oaks staple opened in Memorial’s Town and Country Village at the end of 2024, but only added brunch to its repertoire at the end of April. Flaky herb biscuits ($9), buttermilk pancakes topped with brandied pecans ($15), and a salmon citrus salad with champagne vinaigrette ($24) are just a few of the dishes available. The Italian baked eggs ($18) in a pomodoro sauce with Italian sausage and grilled sourdough is a highlight of the menu. Diners can take advantage of all-day happy hour deals on select cocktails, beer, and wine, with a full espresso bar for those abstaining or still recovering from the previous night’s festivities. Relish serves brunch from 10 am-3 pm on weekends.

    Santé Lounge
    The Upper Kirby lounge’s patio is sure to be a destination for the posh set this summer. Santé's Sunday Funday Brunch features an elevated twist on classics like Dubai chocolate croissants, the grilled-to-order Santé burger with brioche, and a platter laden with five chilled seafood preparations. Patrons can listen as a live DJ spins tunes while relaxing on the patio with its cabanas, chandeliers, and greenery. Order the deviled egg trio (Nashville hot chicken, Tobiko caviar, and ramen egg) and sangria (with white or red wine) for the table. Brunch at Santé is from 12 pm-4 pm on Sunday, with a required dress code.

    Traveler’s Cart
    The Street Market Brunch is an international affair with cinnamon-dusted Morning Churros ($8), Chinese breakfast dumplings ($12) paired with a sambal-oyster-soy sauce, and charming fish-shaped Japanese taiyaki waffles ($9) with yuzu custard filling. Or dig into Turkish cilibir eggs ($15) seasoned with Aleppo pepper, smoked paprika, and za’atar oil. The global tour continues at the bar with "around-the-world" mimosas, a build-your-own Bloody Mary cart, and Don’t Stop the Carnival ($13), a punchy Brazilian coffee cocktail of rum, sweetened condensed milk, and toasted coconut. Traveler’s Cart serves brunch from 10 am-3 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

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