Potente has been in our list to try and HRW was the perfect time. We had a late reservation at a high top table near the bar. It's a beautiful restaurant. Definitely worth bring your date here. Once seated and ordered our drinks, our server brought us bread and artichoke hummus with cranberries. It was good and great start to the meal. We started with the carpaccio and shrimp bisque. Carpaccio consisted for 3 slices of wagyu with ricotta and mushroom. They are so good! I would not have LIM's having a few more. The shrimp bisque came with a Texas wild shrimp. The bisque was full of shrimp flavor.... Guessing it was extracted from the shrimp head. I got try it a an it was delicious (unless you don't like shrimp). For our mains, we had the branzino and spaghetti al tartufo nero (that's what they are known for). The branzino was fresh and the skin was crispy. The sweet corn kernels that came with the vegetable confetti and lemon sauce complements the fish very well. I was savoring every bite. Next was the Cacio Pepe with black truffles. The truffles were shaved tableside. Nice touch. It was creamy and tasty. It is a bit on the heavy side so can easily be shared (and that's how I got try it... hehehe). Highly recommended but definitely share so you can have the other dishes. For HRW, there is an option to add to your main with an additional charge. For dessert, we had the Torta Di Marsala and Limone Pavlova. The Siciilian Marsala cake was so good, had to finish it even when I was stuffed. For the Pavlove, the meringues came as what looked like an ice cream scoop. Was trying to figure out when I cracked and it fell apart. LOL. The lemony taste works well with the sweet fruit medley. Great way to end our meal. Our server seems to be a bit distracted. She also works at the bar, we think. She didn't really do much explaining except to recommend the spaghetti with black truffles. The rest of the team made up for it. They made sure our glass is filled. When I asked for a refill for my ice tea, it took a while and one of the managers noticed it and went and grab the refill. He even took our pictures to commemorate the night. Overall, wonderful evening and great food and restaurant. We look forward to visiting again and make sure to get seated on a regular table as they look much more comfier :-) read more

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I I celebrated my 65th birthday at this restaurant, and I can honestly say it was one of the best birthdays I've ever had. From the moment we arrived, the staff was warm, professional, and exceptionally kind. Marco and our waiter went above and beyond to make my celebration feel truly special and memorable. The ambiance was beautiful, the service was outstanding, and the food was absolutely exceptional. Every detail contributed to a wonderful experience that I will never forget. I am so grateful for the hospitality and care that were shown to me and my guests. I will definitely be returning and highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an outstanding dining experience. read more

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Potente offers a sophisticated decor and a sleek, luxury vibe that sets the romantic tone for a couple night out. The absolute star of the evening was the truffle pasta. It was executed perfectly, striking the exact right balance of rich creaminess and aromatic truffle without being overwhelming. For my entrée, the scallops were fantastic--impressively huge in size, incredibly fresh, and packed with flavor. However, the rest of the meal was a bit hit-or-miss. The slow cooked short rib was good, but I've definitely had better elsewhere. The biggest disappointment was the fish/seafood (Fruitti di Mare) entrée; it tasted surprisingly fishy and lacked any real depth of flavor. I would definitely not recommend that specific dish. Creme brulee was normal but pistachio cheesecake is a must get!!! read more

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Best Italian I've had in Houston! Went for anniversary and it was the perfect spot! Our server was extremely helpful and kind. It was beautiful inside and every dish was packed with flavor and delicious. I want to come back to try everything on the menu lol. They had the best truffle pasta u have ever tried! They even shave the truffle on fresh right in front of you. Highly recommend!!! read more

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I came on a Friday during happy hour to celebrate my sister's birthday and it was very packed in the bar area because it was game day for the Astros. Because of its close proximity to one of the entry gates, it's a go to spot for pre gamers! Potente had a secret spring 3-course menu that most of our group opted to try. I paid extra for an added course- their famous spaghetti al tartufo Nero (Cacio Pepe with truffles). It was worth the extra +$20, very creamy and balanced. It was even a hit with my 1 year old daughter! Every course was delicious except for the dessert which was a sad ending. The double chocolate cake was on the drier side even with the chambord splash. Service was on the slower side because it was really busy and crowded in the bar area. I felt like we waited as long as 30 mins for our food in between courses. Maybe it would have been better if we sat in the main dining room? This is a go to spot for my sisters who live in Houston and I'm glad I was able to dine here! Check out their happy hour, they have a good list of delicious items. read more

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Potente is a GEM! Every time I'm downtown I make it my duty to stop by! The bar manager Emily and the ENTIRE staff make me feel welcome and I enjoy the experience. The ambiance is great for a date night or if you want to chill after work for HH. The food is amazing! If you are in the area, I highly suggest!! read more

Potente - Spaghetti w/truffle - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

If you are in Houston this place must be added to your list of things to do. Was there for a corporate event and it was exquisite. The staff is amazing, the ambiance is excellent and the food is next level. Don't skip the SPAGHETTI AL TARTUFO NERO that they are known for. Best pasta dish I have ever had. read more

5 stars! Ambience, bar seating, service, talking with the chef, chatting with other diners, the food - chef's kiss! HRW is a great way to try this place...and I guarantee you'll be back. Chef - please don't ever take the truffle pasta or branzino off of the menu. The fish was so light and perfect. I'm not usually a pasta person either...but I could eat it every week! Can't wait to tell others about this restaurant and already looking forward to returning. read more

Enjoyed a lovely dinner for one at the bar before an Astros game. Service was excellent. Bar is a cool space separated from the main dining room. They're known for the truffle pasta for a reason. Checks all of the flavor boxes! Love that they had a smaller portion on the happy hour menu. read more

Potente - Spaghetti al tartufo - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

This was my second time returning. My first time was a regular day and my second time was for Houston restaurant weeks. Very beautiful ambience, I think it's great for date night. The drinks were delicious. I ordered an alcoholic beverage that was on the menu and I felt like it wasn't as strong as when I ordered something that was off the menu. My first time going, I ordered a espresso martini and I did not like it. I'm not a big fan of espresso martinis that are milky or made with Bailey's. The food was good, but not exactly what I expected. I did have a higher expectation on the food due to how nice the restaurant is. I wouldn't do Houston restaurant week there again but if you're wanting to do a nice date night, I think it's a good spot. The only complaint that I had was, I felt like our table along with a lot of other tables were a revolving door of people coming and checking in on us. Yes they were attentive, but it was a little overwhelming, and almost gave the impression that they were trying to get rid of this. I even asked the table next to us when we left how they felt about that because they experienced the same thing and they agreed. We had someone come to our table at least every 10 minutes, asking us how the food was, our drinks were, and as I was trying to hold a conversation with my friend, it was interrupted so many times it just became a bit overwhelming. I'm all for customer service and attentiveness, but this felt a little much. read more

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I'll admit it: because I have lived my life near NYC and Philly I am a snob when it comes to Italian food. But fuhgedaboudit - Potente is about as good as Italian food gets. The food here is really special! We had the Spaghetti al Tartufo (truffle pasta) and it was truly amazing - a perfect blend of tastes. The bronzino (a personal fav) was spectacular, but I wish I had tried the lamb - it looked soooo good. The service at Potente was impeccable - attentive without being overbearing. Our server, Valentin, was an absolute master at his craft. The vibe was perfect. HIghly recommended! read more

Enjoyed Valentine's Day dinner here with my husband. Unfortunately, I failed to take pictures! We were seated promptly. Our server, Napoleon, was on point! We ordered from the special menu. Everything was delicious, but the pasta with truffles was the most spectacular pasta I have ever had in my life--literally. It was just heavenly! We loved the champagne and romatic ambiance as well. Overall, our dinner was outstanding. Service was world class. The only slight issue was the hectic mess after dinner with getting our car from valet due to large crowds on the street. It wasn't their fault...but it was crazy! We ended up having to walk a few blocks through the traffic and crowds to get our car. Get the past! Seriously! read more

I've passed by this place numerous times when walking to an Astros game, never did I expect when walking inside to see and experience something so high end when looking from the outside. Visited during Houston Restaurant Week. Excellent three course menu option, and had to get the truffle pasta (which they hand slice the truffles onto your place from their special box) Really enjoyed the food, service, and ambiance read more

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What can I say... I think im in love with this fine dining restaurant. Originally I got to savor the delicacies of Potente because of my friends mini wedding reception. We came back for more the week after for my other friends birthday since it was just that darned fabulous. The Caccio a pepe with shaved white truffles just made me wanna empty out my pocket book. Honestly the simple things like the warm bread rolls and hummus dip just made me want to status there ALL night. Will and the manager made my bday girl friend feel extra special and the recently married bride feel like a queen. The restaurant is modern Lux cozy and well let's just say that I work for food. . And Potente will be taking a lot of my money!!! Im glad its a Stones throw into downtown. Definitely a gem that needs to be shown out!!! Im titilated by the thought of going back and trying more dishes!!! read more

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Wow! This place blew us away from service to food to ambiance, even the restrooms. We were served by Raoul with excellent service and thorough knowledge of the menu. The sourdough roll with spread - I have no words. Just 10/10. Burrata salad was also wonderful and a medley of flavors and textures that worked so well together- 10/10. We also ordered the Alaskan halibut 8/10, Texas wagyu steak 9/10, and the Cacio e Pepe 10/10. My favorite was actually the Cacio e pepe pasta! The fragrance of the truffle mushroom before the bite? Heaven! And the pasta was cooked to the perfect tension. Not too al dente, not too soft. We also had a yellowfin tuna appetizer 7/10 that had a nice citrus flavor to it. If you like Pinot Noirs, you'll love the Amici - 10/10. So good that we ordered an extra bottle to go! Lastly, the butter cake was fantastic - 9/10. Buttery, flavorful, balanced well with the cream on top. We will definitely be going back! read more

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My hubby planned this dinner to celebrate my milestone birthday. Food: Salad absolutely delicious, the filet tender, the butter cake tasty! Service: Our server was very attentive. Ambiance: great music, low light and beautiful granite table top (really uncommon) All together a great birthday celebration. I recommend Potente as a great spot for your special occasion. read more

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Came here for HRW and really loved it! The ambiance is beautiful and upscale! The menus light up nicely which is nice for easy reading. The standout dishes are for sure the truffle pasta and the pork chop. The steak is also great! The food is phenomenal and I love the fresh truffle being shaved onto the pasta. The service is on point and very good too!!! read more

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One of the best restaurants I have been to in a while. Everyone was so welcoming from the hostess, to the waitstaff, and the busboys. The restaurant is decorated so lovely and it's a great place for a romantic dinner date or a girls night out. I ordered off the HRW menu starting with polipetti arrostiti which was so flavorful, the octopus was a bit chewy but still loved the dish. For my entree the cacio Pepe with chicken 10/10. The dessert was the highlight of my night, the torta al formaggio was amazing. I had no idea pistachio cheesecake existed now I'm hooked!! I will definitely be returning to try other items read more

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This is the only place I'm trying for HRW this year so had high hopes for it to be really good. It didn't disappoint. My husband and I usually order different things so we can try a variety of items. Here's everything we ordered: (1) Burrata - It seemed like a simple dish but the freshness of everything maked it so tasty. If you don't want to feel super full with everything else, this was a good starter dish. The burrata was AMAZING. (2) Polipetti Arrostiti - This was their Charred Octopus dish. It tasted good but not great. I think it's bc it was cut into small pieces. When we order this dish in other places, it's usually a chunk of octopus that's plated vs thinly sliced pieces. The octopus flavor was a bit lost for us. (3) Branzino - This is their European Sea Bass. It has a tomato flavor to it so fyi bc some folks like the tomato-y taste, some don't. The skin was clean and has a nice crisp to it. Good light main dish. (4) Spaghetti Al Tartufo Nero - This was THE STAR of the night. After our server told us all the awards and recognition it had, we both had to try it. WOW. We're not typically pasta folks and d*mn this was good. Pasta is definitely fresh and al dente. Sauce was perfect. They shaved the truffles onto the dish at the table. It didn't feel heavy either. (5) Torta di Marsala - The butter cake was delicious. Not rich and heavy. Good flavor. (6) Limone Pavlova - A burst of surprise! The sorbet was a good end to clean the palette. This was really light and refreshing too! Presentation was beautiful. We also had our toddler with us so was able to have him try our dishes too. This is typically not a restaurant where you see little ones running around so was appreciative of them going next door to grab a high chair for our little one and serving him water in a closed plastic container. There's also a place in the RR that we were able to use as a changing area. Overall, everything went great and we had a lovely dinner experience. For anyone wondering about parking, there is paid valet service and street parking available. read more

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DRESS UP!!! NO T-Shirts. Almost got sat in the bar/cocktail area because of dress code and was about get seated on a high boy, when we made reservations for the dining room area. They have a few different sections you could be seated in (bar/cocktail area & 2 diff dining rooms). Rodney was our server and was knowledgeable about the restaurant and menu. Checked on us in a timely manner. We also got served an Amuse bouche which was a small delish pastry item. Potente has a regular menu & a Secret Menu (3 set course for $75 - includes a bread/hummus, starter, main and dessert). I opted for the Secret Menu and ordered The Tonno (Yellowfin Tuna, dressed nicely and seared nicely on the outside and beautifully raw on the inside), Spaghetti Al Tartufo Nero (essentially truffle pasta, cooked al-dente, table side truffle shaving-kinda skimped on the amount of shaved truffles/Maybe got 6 shaved slices. and added shrimp (only gave 3 medium sized shrimps) and the Amaretto Creme Brûlée (best dessert here, big size and more bruleee than creme which i kinda liked, even had 2 macarons and fruit which was refreshing). For an additional starter, must get the POLIPETTI ARROSTITI (charred octopus). Another Main we ordered was the Pappardelle Al Coniglio (rabbit bolognese + wild boar meatballs, pappardelle was also cooked al-dente and seasoned nicely). Restrooms - Clean and had the fancy thick napkins Parking - Street Parking is free after 6pm at the meters. Meters is $1.40/hour or Valet $13 Just remember to dress up a bit. read more

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My husband and I came here for our anniversary. We enjoyed it so much, the staff was great, Maria did an amazing job explaining the dishes to us and so did Ronaldo. The food was great and had a distinct favorable taste! After our dinner we went to the bar section. I had the mango margarita and it was good as well. The restrooms are super clean and impecable. read more

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I've been to this place a few times I like it a lot. The ambience is very date night. Usually it's very dark, romantic quiet. For the appetizer I had a Caesar salad and the Carpaccio Di Carne which is MARBLE RANCH WAGYU, WILD BOAR LONZA, FRENCH JAMBON, 1836 OLIVE OIL, BRAZOS VALLEY CHEESE, AGED BALSAMIC. This was delicious phenomenal. All of the flavors come together well add a little crushed black pepper. This Caesar salad was very fresh lots of Parmesan, which I love just enough dressing and also know that there will be an actual anchovy on top so if you are not a fish person take note. For dinner I had the Agnolotti Di Grancio JUMBO LUMP CRAB, INDIAN CREEK MUSHROOM, ENGLISH PEA, LIMONCELLO. Which initially came out completely cold before sending it back I asked the waiter what temperature was it supposed to be because I know sometimes certain dishes have certain temperatures; he said hot so I sent it back. He did not have any issues replacing it they made it fresh. It was good. I enjoyed the crab meat. The butter limoncello , yellow sauce , peas all very flavorful. I wasn't fond of the texture of the. Pasta seemed little tough over cooked maybe . I probably wouldn't get it again as opposed to other dishes I've had. But overall, I enjoyed my night. read more

Late Post HRW: We dined at this restaurant during Houston Restaurant Week and it was an amazing experience. We order off the HRW menu as it has a good variety of items for every palate. This restaurant is really FANCY and the service matches the price. In fact a young couple got engaged the night were there and everyone congratulated them. They are very accommodating for vegan and gluten fee options as well. The decor is very upscale including the bathroom very clean. Very good wine selection as well and they have a wine room for private dinner parties. Everything we order was prepared well and flavors were good; not over spiced. We were a party of 6 and all food items arrived in timely manner. I'm glad we came during HRW because pricing is up there as you're paying for the overall experience but the food overall was good. I wouldn't make this a regular place to dine as it's too far from home but if you're trying to impress a date or have a special celebration, private occasion this is a nice place for it. They do however have a happy hour special in the bar area and outdoor patio specials I may come back to try. Just plan to bring your AMEX as this is a pricy but very nice venue. I'll probably come back during the next HRW to try other items. Wait staff was excellent as well which says a lot about this place. It's a nice place to try if you're into the area. The Best Food review! read more

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The service was good, I was a little taken back when I was just offered tap and still water and had to asked if they sold sprinkling. Of course I wanted sprinkling. Ordered the octopus appetizer and the waiter asked how was it and I stated it was a little bacon heavy; I had tasted more burned bacon than octopus, he responded there wasn't bacon in it. I was shocked. The upgraded my pasta black truffle dish to the white truffle and it was good but nothing I would recommend or order again. Didn't really care for their take on oyster Rockefeller; they used artichoke but it wasn't a good substitute. But it all it was just ok; not in a rush to head back definitely won't recommend just because the price didn't live up to the food or the atmosphere. read more

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The presentation and taste of all food is excellent. I tried their infamous black truffle pasta dish. Who knew pasta could be that good ! Love the atmosphere. Best restaurant manager I've ever met. I'll be back. Loved the staff. read more

This Italian restaurant is super baller, very spacious and fancy inside, and serves exquisite cuisine (I got the pappardelle and a salad, they also serve perfect bread rolls that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with this insane butter/hummus sauce or dip). Their desserts were also exceptional, the berries + ice cream were very good. Excellent beverages (sparkling water) and the menus were pretty cool in that when you would open them they light up. As can be seen, awesome interior ambience with very cool bars. Got dinner here with UH Law Associate Dean Greg Vetter and his wife Irene Kosturakis, a top local IP & Patent Attorney. Greg graciously invited me to speak at UH Law for an IP & Information Law Institute event and I was honored to come and present. Awesome restaurant! read more

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Just an incredible multi-course menu for Valentine's Day dinner - the pasta is unreal good. Wagyu prosciutto and other dishes made for a great romantic upscale dining experience. read more

We came to celebrate my birthday with my husband. We stayed too long with friends so I didn't have time to change out of the jeans and came in wearing jeans, which was a little off for the environment. Usually we dress up but since it's Texas, we were told everyone is low key and not to dress up but we should have changed clothes. Service was excellent, very professional and attentive. Ambience is definitely romantic, modern. They have valet parking at the entrance. Gorgeous entrance, very cool and unique. Food was exceptional, we had some octopus to start with and some hummus. Very unique dishes. My husband has branzino and I had ravioli. We enjoyed our food very much. They also have a great selection of wines and also they can make non alcoholic cocktails that were amazing. The only issue is that they kept saying that it was my husbands birthday for some reason but it was mine, so I was confused why they assumed instead of just asking whose birthday it is, read more

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One of the best dining experiences I have had in the past few years! Chef Danielle made every dish special, and our servers paired every dish perfectly. The service and ambiance made every one of the 4 dollar signs worth it, which is very, very rare in fine dining anymore. But the food here is the real star of the show. We had waygu, soft shell crab, waygu appetizer and some the the best grilled octopus I've ever had. We still had enough room for dessert and I'm glad we did. Don't let the dollar signs keep you away. You will savor every second that you spend at Potente. read more

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We came to Houston to visit friends and it happened to be the last weekend of Restaurant week. We were able to secure reservations 2 days before which was surprising as I thought a place this good would be booked out. The service here is impeccable. Our server and all the wait staff were so efficient and attentive, and food came out of the kitchen like a well orchestrated symphony. We started with the amuse bouche which was an elevated version of bread and butter but with artichoke hummus. All the food was delicious but some of the stand outs were the whipped burrata which was a savory and creamy delight, the black truffle spaghetti cooked to the textbook definition of al dente and the petit filet which was more tender than a brisket. We each ranked out desserts differently except for the pistachio cheesecake which was the clear favorite. The boys found the S'mores Old Fashion a tad too sweet. Portion wise, the dishes were on the smaller side but we had so many portions it ended up being adequately filling. My husband was still hungry but he usually orders a large pizza for himself so I wouldn't trust his judgement for portion size. There was a large tv in the dining room which was unexpected for a fine dining establishment until you realize the restaurant owner also owns the Astros. To be honest, I not mad at it! Potente did not disappoint. If you're feeling fancy but also want to watch the game, Potente is the place to be. read more

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Went for HRW. I loved the pavlova and the truffle pasta. Very good portion size. Parking can be an issue depending if there's a game read more

Potente has always been one of my favourite restaurants over all the Italian places I've tried. They're known for their truffles! One of my favourite dishes here is the truffle spaghetti and the octopus. Usually restaurants over salt octopus but at Potente you'll find the perfectly textured and season octopus dish in Houston. We also got the risotto, scallop and Pappardelle. The menu also lights up!! Service is great as always too. Overall a great place for dinner read more

Potente - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Stopped by for dinner before the Nutcracker ballet. We had a reservation and I would definitely recommend making one prior to dining here. They have valet for $13 right next to the restaurant. The restaurant is dimly lit, very romantic if you're going for date night. Our waiter was very nice and attentive the entire night. We started off with drinks and bread service. I had a vanilla pear margarita, it was good. My friend had a Negroni and she enjoyed it. The hummus spread for the bread was also good. For appetizers I had the Granchino, it was very good, the crab was delicious. My friend had the Polipetti Arrostiti, it was very good the squid ink spaghetti was fantastic. As an entree I had the Pappardelle, I didn't enjoy the texture of the meatballs but the sauce was the rest of the dish was perfection. My friend had the Branzino, aside from it being a little too salty it was good. The star of night was definitely the Crostata with apples. It was as cute as it was delicious. We loved it! Overall, I would definitely recommend stopping by. I know we'll definitely be back for our annual Nutcracker girls night. read more

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Came here for Houston restaurant weeks. It was amazing the service was impeccable Abraham was top-notch. He definitely made the night memorable. He was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the food. Everything we had was amazing! And you can't beat 35$ bottle of wine. If you haven't been here i highly recommend. I can't wait to try the regular menu next time. read more

This is our second time coming here, our first time was for our wedding reception in 2022 and that was amazing. When we saw them taking part of Restaurant Weeks we knew we had to go back! Everything was amazing, service was great and the food was delicious! We were able to get the wine we got at our reception so we were happy to be able to drink it again. It's definitely a restaurant that will always have a special place in my heart. read more

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What a gem! It did give me Vegas vibes, but it was really good. The menus are backlight, which is really nice. We started with the yellowfin tuna and mela salad, and both were very good! I had the truffle pasta, and my husband had a spaghetti, and both again were outstanding. The service was above and beyond. If we're ever in Houston again, we'll be back! read more

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Great restaurant in downtown Houston has to bee one of the best restaurants service to executives cheif Dave the place is the best

Great place to go before an Astros game! Food available in their bar area along with some yummy well made drinks! The servers are always on point here!!! read more

Potente - Bar food menu - pre-game - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I've been here plenty of times before after the Astros game for a night cap. So I knew their drinks are delicious, so the food had to be as well, right? I was right! We sat at a table in the bar area, waitress was on point recommending drinks and food items. The food was cooked to perfection and it was all scrumptious. I can't wait to go back and try other food items. read more

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Fancy Italian restaurant. There are plenty of free parking nearby. Service was good. Restaurant was very clean and I liked how the menus lit up when you open them. Food was pretty good. Portions were sufficient. It's worth checking out once, there are so many other restaurants in Houston. -charred octopus 5/5 -branzino 5/5 -spaghetti al tartufo nero - it's good but they were very frugal with the truffle. -cafe cioccolato 5/5 read more

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