Date night--do it. Girls night--do it. Happy hour on the patio, solo drinks at the bar, biz dinner--do it, do it, do it. My first time at Okto was during HRW. It was for a spontaneous date night and we were able to get a seat at the bar (with no rezzies). First off, the interior is dark and sexy. Sitting at the bar, we had a really fun time--the bartender had some impressive magic tricks up his sleeve. The excellent (and unique) service paired with a caviar mini-tini, some of the best salads (greek salad and green salad), eggplant carpaccio, grilled halloumi... seriously, we had a memorable dining experience. I went back recently for patio happy hour... didn't fully love the wine options, but the $10 cocktails (espresso martini, spicy marg, not so old fashioned, and GNT) were great. AND, I LOVE caviar, I LOVE sweet potato, and I LOVE that they have a "bruleed sweet potato" with orange glaze, whipped labneh, caviar, chives, lemon zest... it's a rather tiny sweet potato ($24). Happy hour is daily 5-7pm. read more

Okto - Espresso martini - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Okay Okto (finger clap) You served fine dining. Overall, a great experience for me and a friend for a girls night. Three course meal for $68. Service was very professional and consistent. One thing is our servers would come up to the table very frequently, which was a bit frustrating at times when friends are trying to catch up. If it wasn't our servers, it was someone else in their staff and it was just overwhelming. Everyone was so nice, so it was manageable. For our appetizer, my friend and I both ordered Tuna Crudo. Super light and fresh with the main course of their steak (filet mignon medium rare), their Basque cheesecake and chocoholic desert. Amazingly fantastic food. Well rounded meal with a hardy balance that I needed. Romantically dark lighting. Great date night restaurant for sure! read more

Okto was such a solid option. We went for their happy hour and enjoyed some great Houston spring weather on the patio. FOOD: really every bite was great (the bread, steak frites, yellowtail tartare, salad). The happy hour was smaller portions but this is to be expected for discounted items though of course I had been hoping for more. All the more reason to order more though! DRINKS: fun cocktails and their happy hour options were limited but delivered (plus $10 cocktails are hard to beat!). SERVICE: above and beyond. Truly next level service with constant water refills, perfect amount of check-ins, professional waitstaff. If you want an experience that will make you feel like royalty, consider Okto! AMBIANCE: upscale/fancy. Probably no attire required but the atmosphere was rather formal even during the happy hour. If coming for dinner, I'd dress up. read more

See all

This place is so good!! All the dishes we got were 10/10, especially the butternut squash and oysters. We also got the hamachi crudo, crab squid ink linguini, and lamp chops. None of them disappointed!!! The place is also very cute and dim, perfect for a special occasion or a nice Friday dinner. And, the service is so good here - servers are so nice and attentive. read more

See all

Fantastic service, and the octopus was divine! So flavorful and perfect, a must. Can't go wrong the fries, and the drinks were great. read more

See all

Came with friends on a Saturday night at 7:30. After checking in they took us to a table directly in front of the restroom. I asked if we could sit literally anywhere else and they did move us to the booth on the opposite side of the restroom entrance. I appreciate that, but the rest of the dining room was virtually empty and we made the reservation 2 months prior so the fact that they tried to dump us in the bathroom was still kind of annoying especially because we had this exact same experience the first time we came. The restaurant was pretty loud to begin with but when the DJ started playing at 8 we were basically yelling at each other across the table and still having trouble carrying on a conversation. I understand they are going for a vibe, but it was truly pretty unpleasant. The food here is good, but the menu hasn't changed almost at all since we first came 6 months ago so we have basically already tried everything and were just ordering repeats. Overall I think Okto is absolutely worth trying but it's not somewhere I want to come back to over and over again. read more

See all

It was nice flavors but It didn't sit right with my stomach. And almost instantly. I didn't even make it out of the restaurant before my stomach started giving me problems. And yet we all left hungry and it was a $300 dinner for four of us read more

Great ambiance, and the food is excellent. I highly suggest their burger, though every dish I have tried exceeds expectations.

Had a great dinner here during Houston Restaurant Week! Absolutely beautiful inside, and very kind staff. Each dish we had was delicious. I will definitely be back. We got the beyond green salad, Denver cut + side of fries, crab squid ink linguine, pistachio gelato, and cheesecake. read more

See all

Okto is the sister restaurant to Doris Metropolitan, but with a Mediterranean flare. I do enjoy Doris, but currently I'm a big fan of the food and bar area better at Okto. Okto is a new restaurant that popped up in this new Montrose Collective development close to the corner of Montrose and Westheimer the past year+ or so. I've eaten here enough to give it an honest and thorough review. The obvious pluses are management, both bar and food service. Management does a good job to find and get you in if you don't mind waiting a little bit, otherwise seating at the bar is very good too. Service at the bar is attentive. They also have a good selection of wine and cocktails are well curated too. The menu is pretty simple and straight forward with appetizers, mains and sides. Their dessert menu is also top notch. With regard to the items you can't lose at is the Frena, which is their bread that includes a pistachio butter, olives and pickled peppers. Definitely get this! A great compliment to the Frena is their Octopus that includes a romesco, their bish bash, grilled onions and chives. The two items pair wonderfully. There are a lot of other great choices on the main entree's but I always go with their Denver cut, that is served thinly cut on top of their spread of corn mamalaga. A side dish that I would encourage you to order is their Butternut Squash, sour cream and alepo pepper seasoning. If you have room to spare for sure try out their Pistachio Four Ways gelato from their dessert menu. Every time I come here I'm happy with their service, atmosphere, food and drinks. Never fails and they also validate the valet service, though I also still tip the valet. read more

See all

Gorgeous restaurant with delicious food and great service. We got the frena, hamachi crudo, squid ink pasta, and the Denver cut. Everything hit. No complaints. Denver cut was definitely a must get. Desserts are also a must get, especially the basque cheesecake. The drinks were also on point. Overall no notes. read more

See all

Came back for dinner and was even more impressed with the food the second time around. Their cocktail menu was also stellar and some of the best I've tried. We got the Frena, the hamachi crudo, the octopus, the grilled wild mushrooms, tiger shrimp, the lamb chops, the fries, and the butternut squash to share. We also shared the basque cheese cake, the pistachio four ways, and a seasonal strawberry sorbet for dessert. For drinks we tried the Tea-amo, the paloma brava, the gin and green, the tropical blossom, and the loud and proud (a seasonal drink dedicated to pride month). The frena is a must have! It is like the denser/fluffier version of pita and it came out fresh and steaming hot. Paired with the pistachio butter it is to die for and the sourness from the pickled peppers and saltiness from the olives do a great job of offsetting the richness. It is some of the best bread service I've had. (9.5/10) The hamachi crudo was light and the fish and caviar were super fresh. The blood orange such brought a nice brightness to the dish and I liked how the hamachi was lightly torched adding a subtle smokiness. (7.5/10) The octopus was even tastier this time. I liked how the creaminess of the romesco complemented the sourness of the bish bash and the octopus was perfectly tender and well seasoned as always. (8/10) The grilled wild mushrooms were amazing. The risotto was the perfect consistency and cooked in a similar sauce to the romesco sauce used for the octopus. The grilled oyster mushrooms were absolutely divine and had the perfect amount of char from the grill. (9/10) The tiger shrimp were huge had great flavor. The blanc sauce was rich and garlic forward which I loved and the dish also came with some frena to soak up the sauce. (8/10) The lamb chops were just as tender and juicy as last time. They were perfectly medium rare and the creaminess of the skordalla with the sweetness/ char of the pearl onions really complemented the lamb nicely. (8/10) The fries were perfect crispy and salted and topped with a small hill of parmesan. I also really enjoyed the aioli it came with. (7.5/10) The butternut squash was such a nice surprise. The sweetness from the squash paired with the rich sour cream was delightful. The squash was super tender and well seasoned. (8/10) The basque cheesecake was decadent and the strawberry tomato coulis helped to brighten the dish. The coulis was like a melted strawberry jam and was the perfect mix of sweet and tart. (7/10) The pistachio four ways was amazing once again. No notes. (9/10) The strawberry sorbet was the best sorbet I've ever had. I normally don't enjoy sorbets because they are too sour/tart, but this one tasted like the freshest strawberries with a hint of lemon. The basil was also a great addition. (9/10) The cocktails we had were awesome as well. Some of my favorites of the night were the paloma brava, the tea amo, and the tropical blossom. As a mezcal lover, the paloma was a great choice. It was smokey, fruity, and sweet just how I like it. (8.5/10) The tea amo was also on the sweeter side, and I normally do not gravitate towards gin, but I loved the mix of the Hendricks and tea together. Super refreshing. (8/10) The tropical blossom was super unique and the kota pandan foam paired really well with the gin. (8/10) Overall, all their cocktails were not only innovative, but also super tasty. I would definitely come back for happy hour. I'm glad I got to try this place a second time and try new items that I enjoyed even more than the first time. read more

See all

We came here for dinner with a reservation on a Thursday evening; place was not full but had a good sized crowd. The space is really nice, chic modern decor and large glass sliding doors that they had open to the patio since it was a mild night. I feel they may still be working out the kinks here (although its been open a while at this point) as service was spotty at best; we often waited a long time for our server to come by, waters stopped being filled midway through the meal...overall sporadic. When we did have interactions, they were very friendly. Menu is concise and everything we ordered was good - some standouts were the bread service (if you know this restaurant group, you know they know what's up when it comes to bread), the Denver Cut steak, and the butternut squash. Parking - valet (validated by restaurant), street, or garage read more

Nothing here stood out but it wasn't a bad time either. There are better Mediterranean places in Houston. The Eggplant carpaccio was the best dish. Very refreshing and perfect for a hot day. Fries were fries and the lamb was ok - I enjoyed the cauliflower skordalia that came with the lamb. It was disappointing that it took our friends escalating for the staff to seat us outside - the restaurant stayed mostly empty during our visit so there was no need to be so unaccommodating. read more

See all

The ambience was dark and vibey. The patio is well furnished and a nice place to people watch. The food was not bad, but hit or miss. Bread service: the bread was good, but too doughy Eggplant caponata: this was good. It was refreshing Shrimp: this was the best dish. The buttery sauce was excellent, though salty Squid ink pasta: this was the worst. It tasted like mac and cheese, but overly cheesy and with spaghetti noodles read more

See all

Imagine a dimly lit low ceiling restaurant giving New York vibes with Mediterranean flair! You've just walked into OKTO - it doesn't have good acoustics so the restaurant was very noisy and loud - harder to carry on and hear your crowd at the dinner table! But beautiful and the food presentation and flavors were all five stars! The one star deduction was because the hostess was on her phone when we walked in and didn't even acknowledge us walking in! The food was sooooo amazing and delicious! Every bite was SO good! We ordered the frena which the bread was flavorful, just the right amount of crispiness, and adding the sun dried tomatoes and olives with the pistachio butter was gastronomical in each bite, so much that we ordered two. The octopus was superb, grilled to perfection! The filet mignon was prob one of the best I've ever had cooked medium rare and even the crab squid ink pasta was divine! I mostly am not a huge fan of seafood or olives, but tonight EVERYTHING was delicious and I actually enjoyed the olives! Our server Tristan was amazing and attentive! They have an in-house sommelier who made great recommendations! Note: they currently do not have any rieslings on their menu yet, but the closest one is the white wine from the region of Gavi! It's amazing!!!! And paired really well with our meal! Save this spot for a special occasion or perfect for a girls night because it's a bit on the pricier side! But totally worth it! read more

See all

Such a lively venue! There was a live DJ (hence, it was quite loud and seemed more like a lounge ). Small and Beautiful place. Food was delish. Staffs were sweet. Our waiter was very enthusiastic and oh soo friendly! read more

See all

Feom beginning to end my walk in experience at Okto was superb. I have been dying to try tgis place for a while but for some reason I was around when they were closed only. I dared make my triumphant tirade after a most fabulous facial at HiSkin next door. I walked in and felt immediately welcomed by the hostess. I sat at the bar cuz what better way to people watch right... the sweetest attendant helped me and she had the best suggestions on what I should try. She provided me with the prefixe menu which was perfect for a solo night dinner! Let me tell you the Frena was very much worth it! I was sad that I forgot my left overs running out into the cold. The linguine with the squid or octopus ink was delectable. The beet juice drink hot the absolute spot with my meal. And dessert was perfectly portioned. I couldn't have asked for a better impromptu solo dinner than this. The location is so convenient and is such a great vibe tight inside montrose collective. Now I need to bring my friends next time customer... the more the merrier!! Definitely worst the price and time! Perk Valet is on them, just be nice and tip ok! read more

See all

Nice double date experience at Okto on a Friday night. The space is small but nice. We sat in a booth next to the kitchen. Everyone seemed to be chatting happily. The booth seating is a little firm and high so if you're tall you may want to sit in a regular chair. We had the Winter Blossom (Gin), Flight of Icarus (bourbon), Smokey Sleigh (mezcal/gin) and The Cat's Pajamas (bourbon) for cocktails. The Cat's PJ had a cough syrup taste so that was sent back and the Winter Blossom was a great substitute. We shared a few starters. Hamachi Crudo (10/10), Frena (9/10), Octopus (a table favorite but not my jam). For dinner we had: Robata Grilled Hamach (10/10), Denver Cut (9/10), Chraime (8/10), Lamb Chops. Overall a nice experience, with an attentive waiter. I'm not sure that it ranked among the places I want to try again, but it was a solid meal with friends. read more

See all

This restaurant has a nice upscale vibe, good for special occasions. The cocktails we ordered were very good! We ordered the octopus and bread based on my sisters recommendation and it did not disappoint. In fact, we ordered the bread two additional times and a second octopus dish. Loved the unique presentation on the Greek salad. Would get again. The hamachi was ok as well as the Denver cut. We ordered a chocolate mousse for dessert which was nothing special, but for the octopus and bread, I would definitely go back! read more

See all

Wonderful cocktails and dinner with friends! First of all, the decor is stylishly dim yet fresh, sleek, and clean. Our server was friendly and made excellent recommendations. We started with the bread, served with an amazing pistachio butter and delicious olives. We also had the halloumi and the eggplant carpaccio. All three appetizers were simply outstanding: incredibly flavorful with unique and delicious complexities and varied textures. We each had the 3-course Tasting Table and enjoyed very fresh and exceptional Greek salads. I had the Denver Cut - an outstanding steak - and my friends had the crab and squid ink pasta and mushroom risotto, respectively. Again, all of our dishes were excellent. We took leftovers home and were so full, we packed our desserts to-go. We all agree we will definitely be back! read more

Okto - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

It was girls night so we decided to come to Októ. Correct decision. We surveyed the menu but we already knew what we wanted to start off with -- those giant octopus arms that people seem to rave about. Another correct decision. The chef, and when I say chef I used those words loosely because what he really is... is an 'Octopus Whisperer'. He has truly perfected the preparation of Octopus and I know he respects the octopus as well. The chef made the octopus taste so phenomenal I questioned if I had truly been living prior to this. I pinched myself, maybe I had finally escaped The Matrix and this was my welcome meal in the real world. Had I really eaten food worth eating prior to this delectable marine mollusk?? Needless to say, we ordered more octopus. Another round for the appetizer, and another round during the main course, we had an octopus second course and for desert we got desert and more octopus. Try eating octopus alongside ice cream. It's strange but we weren't complaining at all. Don't get me wrong, the other food was very good as well, but they don't call this restaurant Okto for no reason. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the octopus the chef is in the kitchen singing to. Octopus 20/10 Everything else for the most part 10/10 Broccolini 2/10 (I didn't care for all the cream, cheese and butter piled on it) Service was attentive, it was a cold Tuesday night so we weren't competing with a crowd. Anyways, just go and try it for yourself, and have the octopus! ;) read more

See all

This is another that was on my hit list to try and recently visited with a few friends. It's located in the Montrose Collective area with several other great establishments nearby worth checking out! The parking situation is whatever choice you want. Valet, self park in a garage, or street parking. Upon entry the one thing that is instantly noticeable is how loud it is. I'm all for a lively restaurant, but this spot certainly louder than the norm. The vibe and decor is a little bit on the "clubby" side. Even the booth we were sat at felt as if we were about to get bottle service. Food & Drink - 5* We started off with Frena, Sea Bass Carpaccio, and Octopus. While all were good, the sea bass absolutely was the star of the show here. Simple delicious! For courses, we had the Chraime, Denver Cut, Crab Squid Ink Linguini, and Lamb Chops. Every dish was great and we'd order them again. The Lamb Chops definitely were a hit of the bunch. For cocktails the Okto G&T was the perfect balance of class and unique - a nice twist that was quite refreshing! The Smokey Sleigh was interesting and a play of flavors through the forward mid and finish while the Ambrosia Proibita was a nice classic booze forward cocktail. Service - 5* Our waiter was very attentive the entire time. We always had what we needed and he made several suggestions at each course. Cost - 4* While we all enjoyed our meals we all agreed the pricing is a bit high for the quantity, but at the end of the day we were happy with the meals. Overall - 4* The largest reason for a slight tick down here is the noise levels. We were here to enjoy time with friends and while we certainly did it took having to talk very loudly and lean in to hear better. It just wasn't the best experience in terms of the vibe and ambiance, but the food was great albeit a bit pricey for what we thought it brought in totality. I'd certainly come back, but I'd likely seek to sit outside where it was certainly far more quiet and bit more relaxed. read more

See all

The parking sitch around montrose collective is hectic around weekends, but for a random weeknight (Mon) it was perfectly quiet. The ambience is very nice inside, and staff was very accommodating for our party's needs (including circling back so we could get our hh special orders in before time). There is a decent sized patio would be lovely with the right weather. Came here to indulge in their happy hour offerings primarily since Monday is until 7pm. Good deals on cocktails and wine. We tried everything on the hh menu except for one thing. The only real subpar dish was the tartare. We loved the Greek salad and even got a second. The lamb chops are served with the best accompaniments and the crab pasta was pretty good too! To close out our evening we went with the basque cheesecake. A solid dessert, but not my favourite basque in town! read more

Okto - Basque cheesecake - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

It was ok. The portion sizes seemed a little small to me. We weren't the greatest fan of our waiter. He added bread without asking us and it was $9. He also told us that we should get a babysitter for our baby. We didn't appreciate that comment. read more

We had a fantastic first time dining experience at Okto. I have been meaning to Okto and finally decided to pull the trigger once Houston Restaurant Week started. Walking in, I was captivated by the stunning interior. Service was outstanding. Our waitress took the time to explain details of the dishes and cocktails, and catered her suggestions to our personal preferences. I forgot her name but she was so kind. For cocktails we highly recommend: Tea-Amo, Tropical Passion, Espresso Martini and Walnut Old Fashioned. These were the best drinks I've had anywhere in a long time. I rarely find places that have both drinks and food that are unforgettable. For food, we highly recommend the Perla bread, the crab linguine, the denver steak, and the butternut squash side. Everything came out so fresh and hot. The food was indulgent, rich, and balanced. We also had some of the cleanest oysters here and recommend those to oyster lovers! The $55 HRW was completely worth it. Okto definitely makes it in my top 10 restaurants of all time. We can't wait to go back. A treat everyone must experience! read more

See all

Amazing food, excellent service! It was a little loud but great experience. There were 6 of us for Christmas Eve and we shared all the plates. Octopus- 5/5 tender and delicious Frena- 5/5 warm focaccia with olives, picked pepper and pistachio butter Greek salad 5/5 Tiger shrimp 5/5 x2 Wild mushroom risotto 3/5 finishing salt made the mushrooms too salty and I love salt! Broccolini 5/5 Eggplant carpaccio 5/5 Denver cut steak x2 10/5 Fries-dip these into the Denver sauce Anytime we aren't across the street at Uchi, we will be here! read more

See all

Already made it back for HH round 2 plus more this time! First of all -- the staff was awesome!! We were originally sat at a table that would have work for the typical diner but not for my crew! We tend to order the whole menu so we needed more space. The sommelier helped us find a more suitable spot for our habits. Much thanks! The food - amazing! We ordered the whole happy hour menu plus lamb chops and pasta. Everything was great but the tartar. Would skip that one. We doubled up on the octopus and salad though and don't skip out on the bread service! Looks like I will be a regular here! read more

See all

The food was absolutely amazing and so was the service. We were celebrating my friends birthday and sat at the bar. The restaurant is so cute and looked just like the pictures I saw online. For appetizers since we were there for Happy Hour we ordered the Hamachi Tartare and Octopus Carpaccio which was so yum! Then we ordered the Frena, Crab Squid Ink Linguini, Octopus and fries which were also so delicious. Everything was 10/10 and we would totally go back! The drinks were so good too we had the Spicy Margarita and the Okto G&T read more

Okto - Okto G&T - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came to Okto for a girl's night and it didn't disappoint! The restaurant is gorgeous. Our servers were so nice and checked on us often. We started off with the frena. The bread was delicious with the pistachio butter. Our second appetizer was the octopus which I think is one of the best I've ever had. It was tender but had a nice crisp on the outside. We couldn't get enough of the romesco and kept dipping our bread in it. For the entrees, we got the tiger shrimp and grilled wild mushroom. Again, with the sauces here, we asked to keep our bread so we could dip it in the beurre blanc sauce of the shrimp. It was so savory and delicious! The mushroom risotto was a 10/10. Smoky, buttery goodness For dessert, we got the kadaif. The rose gelato good but I personally was not a fan of the rose sauce. It was a little overpowering. Otherwise, if you need a place for girls night, date night, give Okto a try. read more

See all

I made a reservation for a Tuesday night and it wasn't too busy. The bar is very pretty and they have outdoor seating with heat lamps. We started with the frena which was bread with pistachio butter, olives and red peppers and it was so good! The bread was crispy, and the butter was so salty and creamy. The seafood carpaccio was pretty good. I loved the squid ink pasta, the noodles were thick and the sauce was very flavorful. Loved the crab on top too. Overall great food and good service. It took a while to pay our check but I think they may have been a bit understaffed that night. Would definitely come again! read more

See all

I really wanted to like this place. But the service was a complete turn off. I had seen good reviews on the place and a friend had also been and said the food was really good. I had the crab squid ink linguine, which was pretty nice but not outstanding. My friend had the branzino; he liked the fish but not the sauce that came with it. The dishes on the menu didn't seem particularly Mediterranean and the ambiance seemed more clubby (they had a DJ). On to the service: our waiter was quite loud and very intrusive. Wasn't able to really make recommendations and seemed in a hurry to get us out. But the worst part was when the bill came, it was $100 more than it should have been! I'm glad we checked it, and when we pointed out something was wrong, the waiter said he'd check and fix it. Then someone else comes to the table (not sure if he was the manager or not) but he started talking about how our card is only charged when we sign it and so we weren't over charged. I told him that was not the point; there was no apology or nothing and his response was "mistakes happen". An extremely poor response! One other small thing on the bill annoyed me as well. When my linguine arrived, I asked for some crushed peppers as I wanted more spice. They didn't have any and the waiter offered me some "sambal". I then find out that they charged me for that when the bill arrived. It wasn't a big amount but to charge me for some additional spice at a place like that and not tell me is just not great. I mentioned that to the second guy who came with the correct bill and he said oh it's a house made sambal so they charge for it. I told him it tasted like sriracha and he started mansplaining to me that sriracha and Sambal are essentially the same thing! I'm from Southeast Asia where Sambal originates from and I told him it's not the same thing. Just really poor service and responses! read more

I came to OKTO on a weekday evening with some coworkers, and the first thing that stood out was the ambiance--this place is beautiful. The vibe is perfect for a relaxed evening out, and I could easily see it being a great date night spot, especially once the lights dim in the evening. The bar area, in particular, looks stunning. I started off with the Okto G&T. It was light and refreshing--great for a hot day--but probably not something I'd order again. When it came to food, though, I was really impressed. We ordered a few appetizers to share: * The butternut squash with sour cream was absolutely delicious--surprisingly one of my favorite bites of the night. * The frena (a warm, fluffy pita-style bread) came with olives, pickled peppers, and pistachio butter. It's a small portion for a group, but the bread was fresh and the butter was amazing. * The octopus wasn't really my thing--just a personal preference--but if you're a fan, you might enjoy it more than I did. The highlight of the night was definitely the crab squid ink linguini in a butter sauce. That sauce was insanely good--rich, slightly spicy, and completely addictive. I ended up ordering extra bread just to soak it up. That dish alone makes me want to come back. Overall, I'd give OKTO a strong 4.5 out of 5. The drinks were okay, but the food and ambiance more than made up for it. I probably wouldn't travel across town just to eat here, but if I'm in the area again, I'd definitely return--especially to try sitting at the bar next time. read more

See all

Simply put, Perfection! Best restaurant I've tried all year, and I've been to a few really good ones! Upon walking in, the atmosphere is vibrant, borderline a bit louder than ideal, but quite a small compromise as the food and the drinks more than make up for that. Starting with the food, I decided to try the octopus, the lamb chops, and the mushroom risotto, and Oh! My! My!!! I could have a 2nd round of each of the dishes all over again!! Starting with the super tender grilled octopus, served over a bed of deliciously creamy romesco, and topped with a 'bish bash' which was completely new to me, and I even had to look up what it was (Salad made of shaved fennel with a bright acidity, and mild herbaciousness). This was the best way to open our appetite and it was something I could smell the moment I walked into the restaurant, so I was glad I ordered it. The risotto was the next dish (and my absolute favorite of the three incredibly delicious dishes). The creaminess of it, with the perfect texture and flavor, and topped with oyster mushrooms that were the definition of umami they almost made me feel I was having a tender piece of steak, mind blowing my flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and a generous serving as well. Finally, the lamb chops, these were incredibly tender, paired with a deliciously creamy cauliflower purée and marinated pearl onions that provided a nice texture and bite to the dish. I expected this to be a great dish, and it certainly was and delivered on all my expectations. Overall, truly an incredible experience through and through, the food delivered so strongly that I overlooked the level of noise of the music, the people around us, and even the service which could have been more diligent, but nothing that was terrible enough to mention here. A definitely must try, and must repeat!!! read more

See all

I have been eyeing Októ for a long time and finally got a chance to try it during Houston Restaurant Week. It's a Mediterranean restaurant located in the heart of Montrose nearby other renowned Houston establishments such as Marmo and Uchi. It's attached to a paid parking garage with plenty of parking. The restaurant apparently also offers complimentary valet but I didn't know at the time. They have a very nice bar in the middle of the restaurant and the tables all have ambient lighting. My friends ordered off the 3 course HRW menu but I decided to venture off into the main menu. I ordered the octopus as my starter. It comes with romesco, bish bash, bruleed onion, and chives. The octopus was big and SOO SOO tender. My knife cut through it like butter. It paired soo well with the romesco sauce which was so addicting. It's a sauce made of roasted red peppers, tomatoes, and toasted nuts, providing a rich, smoky, and nutty sauce that makes you crave more. It also came with pickled onions?? And some chimichurri like sauce. For my main, I got the crab squid ink linguini, which is made with a sambal butter sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly, topped with lump pieces of crab and cheese. The sauce had a little spice to it and was soaked up easily by the pasta. I got to try the octopus carpaccio, hamachi tartare, and grilled wild mushroom risotto as well. The risotto was good, the mushrooms especially tasted really good. The hamachi tartare had Persian lime powder, calabrian chile, and blood orange. The octopus carpaccio had smoke paprika aioli, fried capers, and came with mini crostinis. Both were really refreshing and great starters. The crostinis really elevated them, and even tasted amazing themselves. Everyone finally ended with dessert. We tried the pistachio halveh, pistachio and rose gelato, and basque cheesecake. The rose gelato was by far my favorite. It was floral, smooth, and paired really well with the crumble. I rarely do fine dining but this meal was so good read more

See all

Lots to like about the new Mediterranean restaurant from the folks behind Doris Metropolitan. My wife and I had an early dinner on a Saturday. The bar and patio were bustling, but at 5:15 the dining room was mostly empty. It did fill up during our meal and the atmosphere livened up. The space is beautiful The two tops are comfortable which is always a plus. Service was friendly and attentive. Now on to the food. We started with the Bread Service, and it was excellent. Different from Doris, but very good in its own right. The bread, called Frena was like the most awesome Pita. Steaming hot, and cut into pieces by the server. The pistachio butter was the perfect complement, and we particularly liked the pickled red peppers that came on the side. For appetizers we had the Greek Salad and the Sea Bass Carpaccio. Both appetizers could easily feed a 4 top, especially the Greek Salad. It was a huge portion. Probably our only small complaint food wise was the Greek Salad was pretty one note. We did add some of the pickled peppers from the bread service and the acid brightened up the salad quite a bit. The Carpaccio was excellent. Fresh Sea Bass pounded out with some lemon for acid and pistachio for crunch. A very unique take on a seafood carpaccio. For our entrees we ordered the Branzino en Papillote and the Crab Squid Ink Linguine. The Branzino was definitely in the top 5 fish dishes I've had all time. Ranks up there with the Moroccan Fish at Doris. Perfectly cooked, excellent butter, lemon, caper sauce and the artichokes that accompanied it were great. Didn't care for the Asparagus, but the portion was large enough that they were easy to skip. The Crab Linguine was very good. Beware, the Sambal butter sauce does add a pretty good level of heat. Just up my alley. For dessert we had the Basque Cheesecake and a dish called Pistachio 4 ways (Gelato, whole pistachios, pistachio wafers, and pistachio cream). Both were good and the Basque Cheesecake is probably the best one of this trendy dessert we have had. As should be expected from this restaurant group, we had a very nice experience, and will be back to try other menu items. We will get the Branzino again if it remains on the menu. read more

See all

We went as a group here so pretty much ordered almost every off the menu, and all the dishes are true to their Mediterranean roots with complex flavoring profiles. The one of the winners for the appetizers is the tuna tartare, with the shiro shoyu sauce was light and refreshing. I absolutely had to order a separate order to go. The sea bass carpaccio and octopus were delicious as well. For the mains, hands down the crab squid ink linguini (a touch spicy) and filet mignon were the show stoppers. Ambiance is great, meant for full conversations and for time to slow down. Service is steady and knowledgeable. I didn't have room for dessert so ordered the chocholic to go. Overall, great option of in the Westheimer area. The one downside is the parking. If you're familiar with the area, enough said. The trick is to just go at an off hour or weekday to avoid parking issues. read more

Okto - Tuna Tartare and Chocholic (dessert) - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've visited Októ a few times now -- both for dinner with friends and happy hour -- and the ambiance never misses. The space is beautifully curated with moody lighting, good music, and an upscale-yet-inviting energy that makes it feel like a go-to spot for a stylish evening out. Happy hour is enjoyable, and the visual presentation of the dishes is consistently impressive. However, the flavor doesn't always live up to the plating. The pasta, while beautifully done in appearance, lacked depth and seasoning, leaving me wishing for more substance behind the style. Service has been hit or miss. I've experienced a bartender forgetting our drink orders, and on one occasion during happy hour, our outdoor server completely overlooked us. We eventually moved inside where our new server was more attentive, but unfortunately, there were hygiene concerns that affected the overall dining experience. Not shared in judgment, just as part of the reality of our visit. Októ is great if you're going for drinks, aesthetic plates, and a chill atmosphere. Just go in knowing the service and flavors might not always land. read more

See all

Enjoyable dinner, but probably not one I'd repeat. We shared quite a few dishes, and the standouts were the starters - the hamachi crudo and the eggplant carpaccio. read more

We stopped in for some drinks before a dinner reservation across the street. We opted for bar seating and since it was a couple hours before their dinner service, they weren't busy and the bar was open. Our bartender was friendly, she gave us her recommendations and chatted with us for a little bit. The restaurant itself is beautiful, the patio area is nice, the bar has ample seating, and the bathrooms are clean. We ordered the Frena bread board, the bread was light and airy, the pistachio butter and roasted peppers complimented it very well. I had the Que Freda cocktail and it was good but a little too strong for me. I also tried their Aperol Spritz and it was bubbly and fresh, perfect for the weather. I'll definitely be back for dinner and I'll update my review then! read more

Okto - Aperol Spritz - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all