Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Houston

Vintage photographs of family members provide a charming ambiance. Due in part to the location, this restaurant enjoys a great deal of popularity with artists and business people alike. Outdoor seating is tempting in fair weather. Traditional Tex-Mex dominates the menu, but an unusual alternative is available in the form of Mollejitas, or sweetbreads. Of course, they are not for the faint of heart, so order with caution and enjoy. Finish off your meal with some sopapillas or flan.

Barbecue lovers and chicken fried steak aficionados have been flocking to this popular Heights area family restaurant since 1986. There is no table service, but you are welcome to grab an icy soda or beer from the old fashioned drink case while you wait to order. The rustic wood walls, vintage signs and formica tables spell out casual dining. There is plenty of seating indoors, or you can stake out a table on the small covered patio. On the weekends, there is dinner and a show when bluegrass bands take to the stage in the back dining area. The generous barbecue brisket plate, served with tangy house sauce and two sides, is dependably delicious and bargain-priced. Other popular dishes include the crispy, chicken fried steak. A kid's menu is available, and there are plenty of desserts for everyone to choose from. If you want something stronger than the iced tea served in mason jars, beer and Texas wines are both available.

A family run restaurant, Masraff's is a favorite among the Houston locals. The menu includes seafood, homemade pastas, lamb, beef and lots more. You can choose from their impressive selection of wines to go with your delicious meal. The broiled Chilean sea bass with lemon grass and ginger glaze is a must try! You're sure to get a fine dining experience at this restaurant which has Italian interiors and traditional furnishings.

From nicely priced happy hour sushi delights to incredible Horiuchi Manubu-crafted Japanese creations, Kata Robata’s exquisite offerings are meant to exceed expectations. The serene, modern atmosphere of this restaurant is the perfect setting to enjoy a freshly-brewed Japanese beer or smooth sake accompanied by scrumptious delights. The grilled snapper collar, Russian Osetra Caviar, and the richly-flavored layered Horse Mackerel makes up the restaurant's specialities.

The only South African restaurant in Houston, Peli Peli is situated at Vintage Park Shopping Village's Piazza Fontana. Everything on the menu has a delicious flavor to it, courtesy spices like the one after which the restaurant is named. The decor is just as exotic as the food served, and you can dine under a 30 foot (9.144 meter) Acacia tree! Homemade South African sausages, peli-peli prawns, Madagascar peppercorn steak and Drakensberg ribs are some of the delicacies on the menu. Signature drinks like the Peli Peli Bellini and Pomecrantini, coupled with an extensive wine selection ensure that this restaurant has all the makings of a fantastic meal.

Pappas Brothers Steakhouse is just one of the many Pappas restaurants that prevail in Houston. The cuisine this family seems to have spells success. Soft lighting and 1920s brass-rimmed decor give this Galleria-area favorite a sense of class and style. The old-fashioned phones located in every booth are real and never fail to stimulate conversation. Live entertainment further ensures a memorable evening. The menu is steak-heavy, but alternate seafood selections are available. Menu prices are a steal for very high quality food. Wines to quench your thirst are available too.