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This place was fantastic - everything from the food, to the atmosphere/ambiance, and to the service. I ordered the octopus and it was seasoned so well! It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and I felt it was perfectly cooked. The sauce that came with it was also delicious! I absolutely loved the pistachio dessert. It was so unique and probably one of the best desserts I have ever had. I also loved the homemade pistachio butter. It actually also tastes great with the steak as well! Overall, I am definitely coming back here.
TL;DR: New fav restaurant and in both my Houston's Best and Houston Visitors lists. Get the Frena bread and the kadaif. Park in the garage. HRW's website navigation is utter crap so I asked GPT to check the menus instead. Of the 6 it had chosen, 3 were already favorites, and Okto was one of the two on my radar to visit. We valeted bc I left late. GMaps is outdated as the validations are no longer provided; it's $10. I walked in and noticed the illuminance. I normally hate dark places, but Októ is kinda sexy-dark and lit in the right places. The circular bar glows as a center piece for the restaurant, and every table has one of those skinny lamps. Props to the interior designer. I had reserved a high top, and it had the cushiest stool I've sat on! Funny how a detail like this has an impact on first impressions. Then we met Tristan. He asked whether it was our first time and about food restrictions. I don't eat cilantro, and he mentioned how the green salad and the Denver cut has it but the latter is subtle. Is my bar too low if I say I already liked that he knew the menu inside out? His first-timer recs: the Frena bread, Greek salad, octopus (apparently Houston's best in 2024), and kebabs. I asked where the oysters were from, and he said Murder Point, AL but farm-raised off-bottom, harvested at 2.5", and resemble PEI oysters. Ok, Tristan, name my concern about Gulf oysters AND one of my fav sources in one go, unprompted. Whatever low bar I had, he cleared it like a pole vaulter. We ended up not ordering from the HRW menu at all: - Frena bread with olives and pickled pepper. We were thinking it over based on the fact that the burger was going to have buns, and Tristan said, "Do you want me to put in an order while you decide on the rest of the menu?" Smooth like the whipped pistachio pesto butter that comes with it. Plus, Enrique came by and cut it for us so we got to meet him, too. A lovely manager with an impeccable sillage who said the frena goes well with Nutella. We're skeptical but will try next time. 5/5 - Half-shells. Surprisingly reminiscent of Kushi (so more Pacific NW than Atlantic) and increased my appreciation of Gulf oysters. I liked the beet horseradish mignonette. 4/5 bc it was slightly fishy but I'd try it again. - Octopus. Perfect texture, really liked the bish bash of fennel, but it was too salty for me, and on a spread of romesco, which is not my favorite. 4/5 but executed well. - Burger. Okay. This burger is the embodiment of decadence: half-pound ground steak, foie gras, Gorgonzola (I normally avoid blue cheese, but you don't taste the "blue" - just added richness), caramelized onion and molten Comté oozing on top, cooked a perfect medium-rare-plus. This is frankly the best burger I've had. Not just in Houston. Ever. A categorical champion. It disappeared off Hubbby's plate so fast that Tristan came by to check on us and said, "I see they didn't bring you the burger." How is this burger not spotlighted more? What are you doing, Chronicles and Eater? And why am I opening my big mouth and writing about it? Enrique, Chef, owners, please don't bump the price a lot and make me regret singing like a canary about this. At $26, this burger put Okto on my Houston Visitors list. 6/5 We were full, but dessert tummy's a thing at a place you like. The dessert menu had four items: Basque Cheesecake, a Chocolate Mousse ensemble of some kind, Pistachio Four Ways, and Kadaif with rose gelato. Hubby and I conspired that we'd ask Tristan for a rec; if it's not kadaif, we'd go to the Dessert Gallery. He said, "The kadaif is special," we fessed up, and DG lost us for the night. And he was right. The rose sherbet foam surrounds the densely-packed kadaif that sits on top of the rose gelato, and candied petals float above. It's what pretty tastes like. The ice cream reminds me of Turkish ice creams - thick and chewy, which I adore. Another 6/5. We also had the dairy-free pistachio gelato with GF crumbles, and loved its sticky creaminess. All good things come to an end, and so did this visit. More things I appreciated: - We weren't rushed afterward. - We learned Tristan's the captain, which tracks. He was simultaneously covering the bar and our high-top because another server had called out. Our win. - Everyone's nice. One offered me a bag holder. Our glasses were full 90% of the night. That's a feat when Hubby drinks like a hippo. - The restaurant is loud but others' convos remain indistinct, and you lean in to talk. Again, sexy. I rarely write as lengthy reviews anymore, but was happy writing this. Ambiance, alluring; food, decadent AND detailed; and warm banter and exchanges with the team: standout. The trifecta makes Októ an immediate favorite in my book and an addition to my Houston's Best list. Thanks for a lovely night, Tristan, Enrique, and team. See you soon.
Tried this out during restaurant week and it was pretty good! It was pretty packed for a weekday evening so our food came out a little bit slower than expected, but it was good nonetheless. The restaurant has a nice cozy vibe to it and I love the interiors. The octopus carpaccio was yummy and had a nice smokey flavor to it. I got the grilled wild mushroom risotto which was good however the mushrooms were a bit on the tough side. The risotto however was nice and creamy, very delicious. The basque cheesecake came out chilled, which I did not expect. The cheesecake was alright to me, a tad on the spongey side. We also ordered the octopus a la carte and it was delicious. It had a nice texture and was very flavorful.
Down the hill, I'd say. Popped over to Októ on a Wednesday night. Here's how it went. Host walked us over to our table but then we requested a booth, and she said that's fine. We sat down, and there were crickets. No server to be found, no water filled our cups, no one even noticed we were there, until maybe about ten minutes after we got comfortable and decided what we wanted. The server rushed over and either he was inexperienced or ready to go home. I could tell either he was done for the day and had the attitude of let's hurry up and get this table out or just lacked experience. 1. Please update your Google business page or any place online that lists your hours. It still shows that the restaurant closes at 11pm. Unfortunately, we were not aware of the updated hours and thought we would have plenty of time to enjoy the frena, some pulpo, and wine...we were mistaken! The server said the kitchen closes at 9pm and we looked down at our watch it was 8:47pm.........and then said we could stay until 10 but last call on food. When I decided between my sparkling rose over the prosecco I tried, instead of grabbing me a brand new glass, he poured it into my sample glass, no dig to Postino's, but that's not what you'd accept an upscale restaurant such as Okto. It's good etiquette to grab a new glass. The octopus was overly salty, and the bread from the Frena was not the same as I had remembered. They made a very unclassy move and increased the volume of the music playing over the restaurant as a tactic to feel the urgency to wrap up and leave. 2. I asked if there was a sommelier available that evening, and the server looked at me like he didn't even know what a sommelier was, or if it was some type of dish! lol...train your staff better. Even if the sommelier was not available that evening or they no longer have one, they should be able to provide an appropriate response. (Insert facepalm) Overall, the service and the food were sub par. I'm glad I was able to see Okto at its best from my previous dining experiences, but I will not be returning after the experience I just had last night.
I went here for Houston Restaurant Week with my friends and the food was pretty good! There were definitely stars of the meal for sure. The octopus is A MUST! There was no weird texture and it was delicious! The couscous was just alright unfortunately and could've used some salt. Additionally, the ice cream came out hard as a rock. However, the service was great and the ambiance was nice dark, classy vibe.
True rating is a 4.5. This place is amazing! * Beautiful ambiance, easy parking in the garage (although it's paid), and excellent service. * Food was so good! We got the lamb chops, octopus, the eggplant dip (my fave), and oysters. * Everything was a 10/10 except for the oysters, my husband didn't like the sauce it came with, he thought it was too heavy but I liked it, and the octopus - the sauce was a tad bit too salty but the flavor was delicious. We were highly impressed by the eggplant dip they had. That was probably the highlight of the meal. I mean everything was really good but you must get the eggplant dip. My husband and I don't normally go back to fancy restaurants, especially him, but he really wanted to go back to try other dishes which says a lot! We'd 100% come back to try other food and honestly, I was highly impressed.
5/5 flavors on the food!!! Group of 4 of us got a reservation for the patio for a Wednesday night. Inside is such a vibe and upscale, perfect for birthday dinners. Definitely dress up a bit if you're dining inside. We sat outside as it wasn't too bad, hot for sure. They gave us a fan and that was it. Service was great, different people checked in on us. Drinks were quick. But the FOOD!! It looked delicious and it was equally better. The appetizers are where they shined for me, but we ate it so fast I forgot to take a picture. Recommend coming for sure! Spent around $275 for the 4 of us with apps, drinks, and entrees.
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.
Wow! A super fun little solo time at the bar and it did not disappoint. All the food was great(hamachi crudo was the best)! The bartender was extremely helpful with drink selections and offered to even make a special espresso martini! The atmosphere was nice and I felt very welcomed from the moment I stepped in. Would love to come back with a group!
Instant favorite! We were in the area and were lucky enough to find a spot at the bar. We went for the restaurant weeks menu and everything was soooooo good. Our appetizers were the octopus Carpaccio and the Hamachi Crudo, those two were just perfect, specially the crudo. Then we got the Branzino and the steak Frites (we actually ordered the Denver cut but someone made a mistake, but we didn't mind and also did not tell them). This round went to the Branzino, cooked to perfection with crispy skin and a delicious sauce. The steak was also excellent. We got the basque cheesecake (and something else I can't remember), and, the creme brulee style caramel crust on the cheesecake was an exquisite touch. They have plenty of wines to choose from and so I did, but the cocktails looked good too. The staff was friendly and helpful and the place was somehow loud with a vibrant energetic atmosphere. Definitely going back.
If you're choosing this place based on the vibe alone... you're already winning. Don't get me wrong the food was delicious. But what really stood out to me was the atmosphere. My daughter and I stopped in for a lunch date, and if there's a patio available, you can bet your bottom dollar that's exactly where we're sitting. From the moment we walked in, the restaurant felt effortlessly inviting. The lighting was dim without being too dark, the music was at just the right volume, and the bar was beautifully positioned. I also appreciated that the seating didn't feel crammed together, which made the space feel comfortable and relaxed. Once we were led out to the patio, the sunshine and umbrella were perfectly in sync. It was one of those patios that makes you want to linger a little longer. After a quick look at the menu, I ordered a spicy margarita along with the Green Salad and the Schnitzel Caesar Salad. Everything arrived looking beautiful, tasted fresh, and was full of flavor. The menu isn't overly large, but what's offered is thoughtfully put together. I would say this restaurant caters a bit more toward an adult crowd, so if you're dining with younger children, the options may feel somewhat limited. Thankfully, my daughter is just as happy with a good salad as I am, so it worked out perfectly for us. For me, this is less of a "come for the huge menu" destination and more of a "come for the experience" kind of place. If you're planning a cute date night, meeting up with friends, or just looking for a beautiful patio to enjoy a drink and catch up, I would absolutely recommend giving this spot a try.
My first fine dining experience in htx! Okto is a Mediterranean restaurant with a beautiful interior! The lighting is really ambient and makes a good restaurant for either a date or big group. I went during Houston's restaurant week and ordered off the HRW menu. I tried the octopus carpaccio and hamachi tartare for my starters & they were both really unique and delicious! My friend got the octopus tentacle which was surprisingly so tender and good! For entree I got the squid ink linguini and also tried the mushroom risotto. Out of the two I preferred the mushroom risotto which had an intense savory mushroom flavor. For dessert I got the rose gelato with crumble, which was absolutely delicious and I 100% would come back for again. The rose flavor was really intense and had a nice texture with the sugar crumble. Our waiter was very kind and gave us great recommendations.
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.
28 days ago
This restaurant is located in a building full of great restaurants! They have shared valet or a parking garage. Valet takes a long time as it's multiple restaurants sharing service. We had reservations for 8:30pm on à Saturday night and we were seated right away. Our table was tiny, and it was so close to the bar, people kept hitting my chair every time they walked by. They were súper short staffed and you could tell as we only saw our waiter every once in a while. The place is so small it gets very loud inside. We ordered the kabobs and eggplant as our appetizers. The kabobs were absolutely delicious. I wasn't crazy about the eggplant. It was too salty for me. We ordered the Denver cut and Pearl couscous. The cut of meat was flavorful and delicious. The shrimp couscous was the best I've ever had, it was bursting with flavor and was cooked to absolute perfection! I finished my plate and was instantly wanting more. We finished our meal with the cheesecake and pistachio dessert. They were both good. Overall à great place. read more
We went to Okto on a date night, having been to Hamsa previously. It is located opposite of Marmo in the Montrose area. Parking is a bit spotty on the streets but this parking garage is subpar and the spots are very narrow so I wouldn't recommend it. The interior is very dimly lit and fairly loud; the music was very clubby / house songs played at a fairly high volume. The vibes were an upscale chic and the restaurant had a very large bar area. The service was a bit subpar for us. Our server, Dinara, firstly used a bit of a deceptive tactic even to start. We told her it was our first time at Okto and she asked for sparking water or still. We said no to sparkling water and said normal water was fine so she brought a bottle of water which I assumed was their normal service container of choice. Later on, on the bill, it was a fairly interesting $9 bottle of still water that we didn't ask for. We thought this was a bit of a low handed sales tactic for first timers and didn't appreciate this. She also really didn't check in except for us to place the order for apps and the mains; this brought down the high end, classy, vibe of the restaurant. The food; we got quite a few apps and mains to try family style. There were a few heavy hitters and a few misses. Double cooked eggplant dip- 4/5, well seasoned Grilled wild mushroom- 4.5/5, tasty Hamachi crudo- 2/5, very bland Octopus- 4.5/5, very well seasoned and cooked well Okto burger- 4/5, a bit too much sweetness and onions Denver cut- 2.5/5, well seasoned and cooked but the actual quality of the cut of meat was subpar We really enjoyed the wild mushroom risotto and the octopus out of everything we tried. We did not really get a great explanation of the menu until the front of house / manager walked around and chatted with us while we chomped down on the burger. He gave a fairly detailed overview of their in house preparations of the items on the menu, which was appreciated. Some hits, some misses, but overall the food was solid. The service didn't match the quality or execution of the dishes for me! read more
One of my dear friends treated me to dinner for my birthday here at Okto! Service - everyone was amazing. Our server gave us recommendations for our entrées which we ended up enjoying. Food - I had the MERGUEZ SAUSAGE PAPPERDELLE and my friend had the PEARL COUSCOUS along with truffle fries ! Everything tasted delicious and I definitely recommend for anybody else who comes to this restaurant Drinks - I can't remember what I had but I'm pretty sure it was the old fashioned ? (Show your server the pic and I'm sure they will be able to figure it out. Definitely check this place out! read more
6 days ago
This place was fantastic - everything from the food, to the atmosphere/ambiance, and to the service. I ordered the octopus and it was seasoned so well! It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and I felt it was perfectly cooked. The sauce that came with it was also delicious! I absolutely loved the pistachio dessert. It was so unique and probably one of the best desserts I have ever had. I also loved the homemade pistachio butter. It actually also tastes great with the steak as well! Overall, I am definitely coming back here. read more
30 days ago
TL;DR: New fav restaurant and in both my Houston's Best and Houston Visitors lists. Get the Frena bread and the kadaif. Park in the garage. HRW's website navigation is utter crap so I asked GPT to check the menus instead. Of the 6 it had chosen, 3 were already favorites, and Okto was one of the two on my radar to visit. We valeted bc I left late. GMaps is outdated as the validations are no longer provided; it's $10. I walked in and noticed the illuminance. I normally hate dark places, but Októ is kinda sexy-dark and lit in the right places. The circular bar glows as a center piece for the restaurant, and every table has one of those skinny lamps. Props to the interior designer. I had reserved a high top, and it had the cushiest stool I've sat on! Funny how a detail like this has an impact on first impressions. Then we met Tristan. He asked whether it was our first time and about food restrictions. I don't eat cilantro, and he mentioned how the green salad and the Denver cut has it but the latter is subtle. Is my bar too low if I say I already liked that he knew the menu inside out? His first-timer recs: the Frena bread, Greek salad, octopus (apparently Houston's best in 2024), and kebabs. I asked where the oysters were from, and he said Murder Point, AL but farm-raised off-bottom, harvested at 2.5", and resemble PEI oysters. Ok, Tristan, name my concern about Gulf oysters AND one of my fav sources in one go, unprompted. Whatever low bar I had, he cleared it like a pole vaulter. We ended up not ordering from the HRW menu at all: - Frena bread with olives and pickled pepper. We were thinking it over based on the fact that the burger was going to have buns, and Tristan said, "Do you want me to put in an order while you decide on the rest of the menu?" Smooth like the whipped pistachio pesto butter that comes with it. Plus, Enrique came by and cut it for us so we got to meet him, too. A lovely manager with an impeccable sillage who said the frena goes well with Nutella. We're skeptical but will try next time. 5/5 - Half-shells. Surprisingly reminiscent of Kushi (so more Pacific NW than Atlantic) and increased my appreciation of Gulf oysters. I liked the beet horseradish mignonette. 4/5 bc it was slightly fishy but I'd try it again. - Octopus. Perfect texture, really liked the bish bash of fennel, but it was too salty for me, and on a spread of romesco, which is not my favorite. 4/5 but executed well. - Burger. Okay. This burger is the embodiment of decadence: half-pound ground steak, foie gras, Gorgonzola (I normally avoid blue cheese, but you don't taste the "blue" - just added richness), caramelized onion and molten Comté oozing on top, cooked a perfect medium-rare-plus. This is frankly the best burger I've had. Not just in Houston. Ever. A categorical champion. It disappeared off Hubbby's plate so fast that Tristan came by to check on us and said, "I see they didn't bring you the burger." How is this burger not spotlighted more? What are you doing, Chronicles and Eater? And why am I opening my big mouth and writing about it? Enrique, Chef, owners, please don't bump the price a lot and make me regret singing like a canary about this. At $26, this burger put Okto on my Houston Visitors list. 6/5 We were full, but dessert tummy's a thing at a place you like. The dessert menu had four items: Basque Cheesecake, a Chocolate Mousse ensemble of some kind, Pistachio Four Ways, and Kadaif with rose gelato. Hubby and I conspired that we'd ask Tristan for a rec; if it's not kadaif, we'd go to the Dessert Gallery. He said, "The kadaif is special," we fessed up, and DG lost us for the night. And he was right. The rose sherbet foam surrounds the densely-packed kadaif that sits on top of the rose gelato, and candied petals float above. It's what pretty tastes like. The ice cream reminds me of Turkish ice creams - thick and chewy, which I adore. Another 6/5. We also had the dairy-free pistachio gelato with GF crumbles, and loved its sticky creaminess. All good things come to an end, and so did this visit. More things I appreciated: - We weren't rushed afterward. - We learned Tristan's the captain, which tracks. He was simultaneously covering the bar and our high-top because another server had called out. Our win. - Everyone's nice. One offered me a bag holder. Our glasses were full 90% of the night. That's a feat when Hubby drinks like a hippo. - The restaurant is loud but others' convos remain indistinct, and you lean in to talk. Again, sexy. I rarely write as lengthy reviews anymore, but was happy writing this. Ambiance, alluring; food, decadent AND detailed; and warm banter and exchanges with the team: standout. The trifecta makes Októ an immediate favorite in my book and an addition to my Houston's Best list. Thanks for a lovely night, Tristan, Enrique, and team. See you soon. read more
12 days ago
Tried this out during restaurant week and it was pretty good! It was pretty packed for a weekday evening so our food came out a little bit slower than expected, but it was good nonetheless. The restaurant has a nice cozy vibe to it and I love the interiors. The octopus carpaccio was yummy and had a nice smokey flavor to it. I got the grilled wild mushroom risotto which was good however the mushrooms were a bit on the tough side. The risotto however was nice and creamy, very delicious. The basque cheesecake came out chilled, which I did not expect. The cheesecake was alright to me, a tad on the spongey side. We also ordered the octopus a la carte and it was delicious. It had a nice texture and was very flavorful. read more
2 months ago
Down the hill, I'd say. Popped over to Októ on a Wednesday night. Here's how it went. Host walked us over to our table but then we requested a booth, and she said that's fine. We sat down, and there were crickets. No server to be found, no water filled our cups, no one even noticed we were there, until maybe about ten minutes after we got comfortable and decided what we wanted. The server rushed over and either he was inexperienced or ready to go home. I could tell either he was done for the day and had the attitude of let's hurry up and get this table out or just lacked experience. 1. Please update your Google business page or any place online that lists your hours. It still shows that the restaurant closes at 11pm. Unfortunately, we were not aware of the updated hours and thought we would have plenty of time to enjoy the frena, some pulpo, and wine...we were mistaken! The server said the kitchen closes at 9pm and we looked down at our watch it was 8:47pm.........and then said we could stay until 10 but last call on food. When I decided between my sparkling rose over the prosecco I tried, instead of grabbing me a brand new glass, he poured it into my sample glass, no dig to Postino's, but that's not what you'd accept an upscale restaurant such as Okto. It's good etiquette to grab a new glass. The octopus was overly salty, and the bread from the Frena was not the same as I had remembered. They made a very unclassy move and increased the volume of the music playing over the restaurant as a tactic to feel the urgency to wrap up and leave. 2. I asked if there was a sommelier available that evening, and the server looked at me like he didn't even know what a sommelier was, or if it was some type of dish! lol...train your staff better. Even if the sommelier was not available that evening or they no longer have one, they should be able to provide an appropriate response. (Insert facepalm) Overall, the service and the food were sub par. I'm glad I was able to see Okto at its best from my previous dining experiences, but I will not be returning after the experience I just had last night. read more
23 days ago
I went here for Houston Restaurant Week with my friends and the food was pretty good! There were definitely stars of the meal for sure. The octopus is A MUST! There was no weird texture and it was delicious! The couscous was just alright unfortunately and could've used some salt. Additionally, the ice cream came out hard as a rock. However, the service was great and the ambiance was nice dark, classy vibe. read more
3 months ago
True rating is a 4.5. This place is amazing! * Beautiful ambiance, easy parking in the garage (although it's paid), and excellent service. * Food was so good! We got the lamb chops, octopus, the eggplant dip (my fave), and oysters. * Everything was a 10/10 except for the oysters, my husband didn't like the sauce it came with, he thought it was too heavy but I liked it, and the octopus - the sauce was a tad bit too salty but the flavor was delicious. We were highly impressed by the eggplant dip they had. That was probably the highlight of the meal. I mean everything was really good but you must get the eggplant dip. My husband and I don't normally go back to fancy restaurants, especially him, but he really wanted to go back to try other dishes which says a lot! We'd 100% come back to try other food and honestly, I was highly impressed. read more
3 months ago
5/5 flavors on the food!!! Group of 4 of us got a reservation for the patio for a Wednesday night. Inside is such a vibe and upscale, perfect for birthday dinners. Definitely dress up a bit if you're dining inside. We sat outside as it wasn't too bad, hot for sure. They gave us a fan and that was it. Service was great, different people checked in on us. Drinks were quick. But the FOOD!! It looked delicious and it was equally better. The appetizers are where they shined for me, but we ate it so fast I forgot to take a picture. Recommend coming for sure! Spent around $275 for the 4 of us with apps, drinks, and entrees. read more
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
Wow! A super fun little solo time at the bar and it did not disappoint. All the food was great(hamachi crudo was the best)! The bartender was extremely helpful with drink selections and offered to even make a special espresso martini! The atmosphere was nice and I felt very welcomed from the moment I stepped in. Would love to come back with a group! read more
1 month ago
Instant favorite! We were in the area and were lucky enough to find a spot at the bar. We went for the restaurant weeks menu and everything was soooooo good. Our appetizers were the octopus Carpaccio and the Hamachi Crudo, those two were just perfect, specially the crudo. Then we got the Branzino and the steak Frites (we actually ordered the Denver cut but someone made a mistake, but we didn't mind and also did not tell them). This round went to the Branzino, cooked to perfection with crispy skin and a delicious sauce. The steak was also excellent. We got the basque cheesecake (and something else I can't remember), and, the creme brulee style caramel crust on the cheesecake was an exquisite touch. They have plenty of wines to choose from and so I did, but the cocktails looked good too. The staff was friendly and helpful and the place was somehow loud with a vibrant energetic atmosphere. Definitely going back. read more
If you're choosing this place based on the vibe alone... you're already winning. Don't get me wrong the food was delicious. But what really stood out to me was the atmosphere. My daughter and I stopped in for a lunch date, and if there's a patio available, you can bet your bottom dollar that's exactly where we're sitting. From the moment we walked in, the restaurant felt effortlessly inviting. The lighting was dim without being too dark, the music was at just the right volume, and the bar was beautifully positioned. I also appreciated that the seating didn't feel crammed together, which made the space feel comfortable and relaxed. Once we were led out to the patio, the sunshine and umbrella were perfectly in sync. It was one of those patios that makes you want to linger a little longer. After a quick look at the menu, I ordered a spicy margarita along with the Green Salad and the Schnitzel Caesar Salad. Everything arrived looking beautiful, tasted fresh, and was full of flavor. The menu isn't overly large, but what's offered is thoughtfully put together. I would say this restaurant caters a bit more toward an adult crowd, so if you're dining with younger children, the options may feel somewhat limited. Thankfully, my daughter is just as happy with a good salad as I am, so it worked out perfectly for us. For me, this is less of a "come for the huge menu" destination and more of a "come for the experience" kind of place. If you're planning a cute date night, meeting up with friends, or just looking for a beautiful patio to enjoy a drink and catch up, I would absolutely recommend giving this spot a try. read more
My first fine dining experience in htx! Okto is a Mediterranean restaurant with a beautiful interior! The lighting is really ambient and makes a good restaurant for either a date or big group. I went during Houston's restaurant week and ordered off the HRW menu. I tried the octopus carpaccio and hamachi tartare for my starters & they were both really unique and delicious! My friend got the octopus tentacle which was surprisingly so tender and good! For entree I got the squid ink linguini and also tried the mushroom risotto. Out of the two I preferred the mushroom risotto which had an intense savory mushroom flavor. For dessert I got the rose gelato with crumble, which was absolutely delicious and I 100% would come back for again. The rose flavor was really intense and had a nice texture with the sugar crumble. Our waiter was very kind and gave us great recommendations. read more
6 months ago
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
I've been to Okto twice now and had very different experiences between the two visits. Overall, the menu options are good, the food and beverages are high quality, and the ambience is modern but comfortable. My first visit was for dinner. We made the reservation several days in advance for 8:45pm through OpenTable. As soon as we were seated, on time, we were surprised to immediately be greeted with last call for the kitchen, as the restaurant closes at 9pm, just 15 minutes later. The waitress offered to put everything at once but this felt rushed and a bit overwhelming given the number of options on their menu. We got a few dishes to share and enjoyed everything but did feel like we were keeping them open. For a closing time of 9pm, I would strongly recommend that they consider offering their last reservation at 8pm to allow guests to enjoy their visit. In the meantime, I would take note and try to get an earlier seating. My second visit was for happy hour at the bar with a friend, also made with a reservation, and this was a great experience. We got the frena bread to split which was warm and pillowy soft. So good. We also got the octopus which is one of their most popular dishes. Their espresso martini is sadly no longer on the happy hour menu but is definitely a must, served in a beautiful thin steamed glass and made with fresh espresso. A classic done exceptionally well. Happy hour runs from 5 to 7pm daily (including the weekends!) and features several $10 cocktails and wine and select food specials. I haven't had the chance to try their beautiful outdoor patio but maybe the third time is the charm! read more
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
2 months ago
The ambiance was cool but the food and drinks were banging. We came based on a review from TikTok. She was right, the drinks were good and the food: octopus carpaccio, eggplant dip, lamb chops, and the cheesecake all were flavor bombs. We sat at the bar so our service wasn't as personable as sitting at a table. But our bartender was kind and seem to service an entire busy bar by himself. We didn't want for anything so that made our dinner service run really smoothly. We can't wait to return. read more
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
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
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
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
3 months ago
Great food, beautiful restaurant and Camila was awesome we will be back again when we are in Houston read more
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
1 year ago
1 year ago
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
1 year ago
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
10 months ago
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
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
2 years ago
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
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
1 year ago
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
5 months ago
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
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
2 years ago
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
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More info about Okto
888 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77006
Montrose, Fourth Ward
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https://www.oktorestaurant.com
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