The gist: This casual little sibling to Underbelly Hospitality’s Georgia James opened at the end of July, bringing Old Hollywood vibes and GJ’s beloved cast-iron steaks to the ground floor of Market Square Tower. Chef de cuisine Matthew “Tally” Coburn (an Underbelly alum) runs the kitchen while pastry director Victoria Dearmond crafts crave-worthy desserts.
The food: Gorgeous hunks of perfectly seared beef ride alongside classy everyday fare driven by high-quality ingredients and technique. Expect hearth-roasted oysters dripping in green garlic-chili butter, confit chicken wings with candied peanuts, and a Tavern Burger made with 44 Farms beef, house pickles, and smoked onion fancy sauce. Finish with Dearmond’s wood-fired apple crumble a la mode—topped with bourbon ice cream, obviously.
The cost: Starters and small plates $14 - $25, sandwiches $18 - $25, mains $36 - $85, desserts $6 - $12, beer and wine by the glass $5 - $20, cocktails $10 - $18.
How to book: Reserve via Resy.

The gist: Michelin star chef Alain Verzeroli (who for decades worked under the legendary Jöel Robuchon) masterfully harnesses the power of peak-season ingredients at this artful French restaurant on the Museum of Fine Arts campus, where guests can wine and dine in full view of the majestic sculpture garden.
The food: Verzeroli takes a refined, in-season approach to French cooking (Le Jardinier is French for “the gardener,” afterall), with dishes from King Kampachi with golden pineapple and fresno chili to Australian lamb chop with sumac and glazed fig. Pastry chef—and fellow Michelin Star recipient—Salvatore Martone’s desserts, like the Venezuelen dark chocolate crémeux draped in salty caramel sabayon, are equally as stunning.
The cost: Seasonal tasting menus $130 - $240, a la carte starters $18 - $34, a la carte mains $30 - $48, a la carte desserts $15 - $25, a la carte cocktails and wine by the glass $13 - $34.
How to book: Reserve via Resy.

The gist: Uchi alum Thomas Stacy brings his progressive tasting menu concept to life in a thought-provoking experience in CityCentre. Guests can book a seat at the 20-person communal table and marvel over eight-course presentations against a backdrop of vinyl tunes and a 105-foot-long gallery wall featuring works from local artists.
The food: Highlighting Asian flavors through a European lens, expect Stacy and team—including sous chef Jacob Larimore (MAD, BCN) and pastry chef Carla Briseño (MAD, BCN, Roka Akor)—to switch up the tasting menus every six to eight weeks. Past highlights include plates of char siu heritage pork belly and tart cherry bao, octopus carpaccio with yuzu vinaigrette, and “duck duck goose” dumplings in blueberry hoisin.
The cost: Tasting menus $150 - $246.50.
How to book: Reserve via Resy.

The gist: This highly anticipated two-story food hall hails from the minds behind Houston’s very first food hall, Conservatory, as well as its chef-driven follow up, Bravery Chef Hall (long story short, these folks know their way around a marketplace). Its early August soft opening brings a combination of food and drink vendors, restaurants, and art and retail outposts, while awesome additions like a beer garden, coffee bar, dog park, and farmers market are set to open in phase two.
The food: Some of Houston’s hottest purveyors will set up shop alongside exciting newcomers, with over a dozen spots already open. Current and upcoming standouts include Polish comfort food slinger Pierogi Queen, Japanese sandwich concept Sando, Mykuna, a Latin-Asian spot from chef David Guerrero (of Andes Cafe fame), and BOH Slice, a spinoff of chef Ben McPherson’s BOH Pizza & Pasta.
The cost: Menu prices vary by vendor.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

The gist: After much anticipation, the Goodnight Hospitality team (Rosie Cannonball, Montrose Cheese & Wine) fittingly opened the doors to this stunning Mediterranean tasting menu emporium back in March.
The food: Chef-partner Felipe Riccio whisks diners through a modern, Levant-oriented journey in six or nine courses, which might range from snapper crudo with chermoula to couscous with fennel and urchin. Helmed by an all-star team spanning beverage director Mark Sayre, master sommelier and partner June Rodil, and bar manager Alex Negranza, the wine and cocktail programs are also of note—and make good use of the 11,000-bottle-deep cellar lurking below.
The cost: Tasting menus $145 - $195, wine pairings $65 - $175.
How to book: Reserve via Resy.

The gist: As part of boutique hotel La Colombe d’Or’s grand reopening comes this luxuriously renovated day-to-night restaurant spotlighting Chef Jonathan Wicks’ modern European cuisine with a Houston twist—all in the stately dining room of a 1920s mansion. 
The food: Stop in for varied breakfast options like chilaquiles, bagels and lox, and a sourdough tartine served with avocado, egg yolk, and furikake. Dinner is a similarly international affair from the appetizers (curried carrots with labneh, fresh-caught Gulf crudo) down to the entrees (bucatini with squash and heirloom tomatoes, red snapper served Vietnamese-style with vermicelli, chili, and basil). Houston references abound beyond the food, too—a bourbon-spiked cold brew cocktail, the Rushmore Academy, alludes to hometown hero Wes Anderson’s film set at a local private school. 
The cost: Starters $10 - $30, dinner mains $23 - $68, lunch, breakfast, and brunch mains $13 - $34, cocktails $14 - $15. 
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable.