Need Special Occasion Rec. for Houston

[foxyhorn]

We are going out Friday night for my husband's birthday. 2 weeks ago this board recommended Catalan and we were so impressed I thought I would try again here. We would like to go some place young and trendy. We were thinking strip house but it is $$$.

 

[bularry]

in Houston, young and trendy = $$$

I love Mark's, but it isn't exactly young and trendy and it ain't cheap.

 

[TXHookem]

Dolce Vita on Westheimer - great food, bustling young atmosphere and good prices. The pizza is very "Italian" and the suppli are like my grandmother would make.

 

[stillaphlopin]

Downtown area: Sambuca - they always have a good live and with good food. Go to the Hotel Icon bar afterwards.

Montrose area: Besso (South American), Dolce Vita, Ricksaw (sushi), Michelangelo's (Italian), and Backstreet Cafe.

The Heights: I have never been but I hear The Glass Wall and Shade are good.

Rice Village: Benjy's

 

[Hank_Kingsley]

stillaphlopin has some great recs. I had some nice meals at The Glass Wall and Shade, but nothing noteworthy.

 

[Hank_Kingsley]

I haven't been there yet, but I've heard good things about Max's Wine Dive...the new young and trendy place in Houston.

 

[Pepper Brooks]

Max's is awesome, but they just changed their menu a bit and it pisses me off. Still lots of good things though. I would go ahead with the Strip House as well. Beso is closed. There is also a new wine bar called 13 Degrees in midtown at Caroline. Pretty cool place to have a few drinks and some appetizers of something before dinner. Still all things considered for a special occasion place it is hard to beat Strip House, Marks or DaMarco. That freaking porterhouse at DaMarco is just flat out special.

 

[TXHookem]

Glass Wall in the Heights is really nice - not necessarily cheap but not extravagant.

 

[Mack Tripper]

For a special occasion like a birthday, I would go for Hugo's, Backstreet or the Glass Wall. Great food and not too old school like Brennan's, Tony's, Mark's etc. (all of which are great, but aren't exactly "younger" type of places).

 

[MizzouSnives]

just went to Backstreet Cafe on easter weekend. it was incredible. I would highly recommend it.

and although i wouldn't call it "young and trendy", Ruggles on westheimer definitely didn't feel old and stuffy to me, and i thought the food was beyond amazing. probably around $120-140 for two with tip.

 

[Mack Tripper]

Also, Ibiza is always a great choice, with an excellent and very reasonable wine list (same people who own Catalan).

 

[smwhorn]

i second Ibiza.

 

[Bernard]

I second Ruggles.

Farrago in midtown is plenty young and trendy, plus there are unlimited after dinner drink options within walking distance.

Max's Wine Dive is about as young and trendy as it gets.

If it was my birthday, I'd be going to the Mockingbird. it's not a young crowd, but it's usually pretty hip. I'm also fond of the original Carrabba's on Kirby which is one of the two not owned by Outback Steakhouse. There's always a lively crowd there.

Bernard

 

[CaptainEd]

Ruggles is great. Is the one in Austin still open?

 

[bularry]

cheap wine or not, I always drop a lot of $$$ at Ibiza.

Ruggles is a good choice, but the volume in that place may rob some desired birthday intimacy.

I've been to Ferrago once, really liked it.

 

[Mack Tripper]

For a birthday I would think that Ruggles and especially Max's Wine Dive are too crowded and noisy. To me, Farrago is solid, but not great. I forgot about Mockingbird, which I highly recommend. You can make a reservation for one of the tables upstairs, which is a nice area. Even downstairs, Mockingbird doesn't get too loud.