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    Ray's Italian Kitchen

    4.1 (223 reviews)
    ModeratePizza, Italian
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Ray's Italian Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

    Ray's Italian Kitchen Photos

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    RAY'S ITALIAN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Ray's Italian Kitchen

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    Fantastic Chicken Cannelloni !!!
    Michael C.

    Hungry and hoping to watch the SF 49ers win the Super Bowl, which they unfortunately lost in for the third time going to since the 2012-2013 year, I came to this cafe ordering the Chicken Cannelloni. It was very rich, aromatic, comforting and very delicious all the way through. The pasta itself was very soft and cooked properly. The creamy gravy was very tasty, tomatoey, peppery, dense and just made very well with numerous ingredients. The chicken and creamy spinach filling were very tasty as well pairing with the rest in a highly positive contrast. The complimentary salad and garlic bread were very good with the meal and made with care like the main course. The food was very fresh, good quality and full of flavor. I will return when in the area again in the future. The service on this first-time visit was good as well.

    Vicey R.

    Staff was friendly but honestly the wasn't anything to be excited about. Pre-frozen cheese sticks and warm pizza sauce Lasagna was room temperature with a cold inside that they covered with hot pizza sauce. The pizza was ok. Nothing special or great about it.

    Chicken Marsala , substituted with angel hair pasta. Home run
    Bryan A.

    All tables clean and food area. Super nice staff taking order and busing food. Asked me twice how was food while giving eye contact for honest answer. Noodles, mushrooms and flavor were yum. Salad was cut up well and tasty. Will be back again.

    A REAL SUPREME Pizza experience Crust 10* Mozzarella 10* so very fresh! Veggies 10* cooked yet crunchy! The meat 10* some one makes this stuff HOMEMADE I swear - it's that fresh! 10* Incredibly fresh ! Really- Don't Walk -RUN! Ray's is our new Pizza place. Oh we had a Greek salad prior. The dressing genuinely delightful with lemon and basil. Had to go home with desert cannoli's!

    Entrance
    Rachel C.

    I received a coupon in the mail for Ray's and was eager to try something new. I went to Ray's on a chilly Wednesday night, so I figured why not indulge in some pizza. Let's just say Rays Italian Pizza is my new favorite pizza place. What makes Ray's so great? 1. The CRUST: Fluffy served warm and even better dipped in the delicate ranch dressing. 2. Build your own pizza: Pepperoni, sausage, jalapeño, and pineapple absolutely hits the spot! 3. The staff: Made my experience even better. The employees at Ray's were extremely attentive, kind, and had smiles on there faces. 4. Soft drinks: The Diet Coke is electric in the best way possible. I had 3 refills.

    Garden Salad (side)
    Adam H.

    After a single visit, I know why this place gets such positive feedback. The atmosphere here is clean and comfortable; Service is excellent -- despite that patrons have to order at the counter; The food is quintessential 'made for the masses,' a la Olive Garden. As is usually the case on my first visit to an Italian joint, I ordered eggplant parmigiana. The eggplant was nicely sourced, with nary a tough bite. But it went downhill from there, with a sauce that tasted like tomatoes and salt, with not even a hint of basil. My side of spaghetti was obviously cooked in advance (in unsalted water), as it was bland and almost gummy. My wife had the stuffed cannelloni, which she gave high marks. That's a pretty big deal, considering she's a New York/New Jersey girl with a thing for Italian food. Our son ordered spaghetti with a couple of meatballs. He pushed them aside a couple of bites in. I, on the other hand, thought Pomodoro's did a decent job. Sure, they weren't braised in sauce. Neither did they look overly appetizing when brought to the table (see the photo and judge for yourself), but they were tender and melting. Not bad at all. Side salads here were fine. Fried calamari was on the tough side, and that's probably because they don't dip them in egg to hasten the browning process (again, see photo). Perhaps I'm too much of a food snob to give this place a better review. For sure, I'm in the minority. If you're looking for Olive Garden in a smaller more quaint atmosphere, this is it. If you are in the mood for Italian food such as you would be served in Little Italy, keep looking.

    Thai Chili wings, AMAZING!

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    5 months ago

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    2 years ago

    As a New Yorker, this is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the area! Amazing pizza & fresh pasta all with great prices!!

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    Our family visited while in Houston on New Year's Day and everything was delicious. Service was excellent!

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    3 years ago

    Food was great!!! Friendly service. Best Eggplant Parm I've ever had. My SO had Margarita pizza and loved it. Will definately be back.

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    3 years ago

    Amazing food at a great price! I am new to the area and have been going to Ray's everyday for their lunch specials.

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    3 years ago

    Very good spaghetti and meat sauce, helpful and friendly staff, and delicious gelato!

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    Ask the Community - Ray's Italian Kitchen

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    A friend and I went for a late lunch, and had the most lovely experience!…read more The food was all absolutely wonderful, the service impeccable, the staff very gracious. We sat on the patio and even though we were there for two hours our server never missed a beat! We ordered a bottle of Prosecco to start and he was always there right before our wine glasses were empty to refill them, and then again to get us started on something else when the bottle was gone. Our waters were never empty, as soon as a plate was cleared it was gone, as we finished a slice of pizza he was there to serve our next. The food was all lovely: we had the insalata Bianca and the arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette, we both agreed the arugula salad was our favorite, I'm not usually a fan of a salad with just arugula in it, but this was so good I'm going to go home and try to duplicate the dressing so I can make all the time! We then had the Rabiola and Salsiccia E Friarielli pizzas, both cooked perfectly, our server recommended the rabiola and so glad we got it! Finished off with great coffee and the chef brought us out these amazing little dark chocolate truffles and biscotti to go with it. Honestly, one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had. I wish I lived here so I could go again soon! But I will definitely be back next time I am in Houston!

    Glad to see they have improved. Pluses…read more1. Nice outdoor patio 2. Pizza this time was crispy on the bottom (last time was soft) 3. Carbonara was hot and tasty not soggy and cool like last time 4. Trio gelato great, hazelnut our favorite because the texture was just right 5. Glass of muffatto dessert wine is delicious 6. Owner chef stopped by to say hi Areas to improve 1. Music is too loud for me and the selection is strange - rap, reggae, rave, etc - just turn off the music 2. Carbonara portion was small Great local spot and we will be back. Highly recommended and good value for good Italian.

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    Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria - Every table at Magdalena's is set with care. Warm booths, candlelight, and fresh flowers perfect for date night or a special dinner.

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    Mimo - Risotto at the top and ragu penne at the bottom

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    Went here for a late dinner date and I cannot recommend it enough! The service was quick and easy…read more Our waiter was so helpful in going over the menu for us. We ordered two different pastas to try and fritters to start. The vibes were IT for both a date night or to have a chill night with a big group. I think the menu had a good variety in each course without it being overwhelming, I will be going back to try their large selection of wine and more of their dishes!

    Went here last night for an early Valentine's Day dinner. We use the InKind app and had picked up…read moresome gift cards from Costco, noticed this spot was on InKind, and decided to check it out -- really glad we did! First off, it's located in a cool little pocket on the East End inside Tlaquepaque Market. It looks a bit dark from the outside at night, but once you step in, it's warm and cozy. There's also plenty of parking, which is always a plus. My wife and I shared the pane along with their Valentine's Day prix fixe menu, which included an appetizer, salad, pasta, and dessert. The pane came out warm - perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.The starter was a scallop with pomegranate vinaigrette that was light, bright, and a great way to open up the palate. The salad (I think it was purple kale, but I forgot to ask) was fresh and well-balanced. For the main, we had a pasta dish topped with a ribeye meatball that featured a bold sauce with tons of flavor, and the meatball had a subtle kick to it. Dessert was a cherry gelato that was simple, refreshing, and the perfect way to end the meal. They also have a solid wine selection, which paired nicely with dinner. Service was great - our server Philip was clearly busy but still made sure to check on us regularly. Overall, this is a great East End date-night spot. They also have a spacious outdoor patio that feels like it was pulled straight out of an Italian backyard. We'll definitely be back.

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    Mia Bella Trattoria - Seafood Capellini

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    Once upon a time I visited here for a lunch meeting…read more Last night we were out and about without the small human and decided to check it out. Suffice to say, we have this on our go back and keep trying the dishes list. Everything was excellent. Emilio, our server was great, the restaurant itself is open but cozy, and they dimmed the lighting as the sun went down and it was really nice. Our glasses stayed full, and the food was amazing. We got the mushroom pastry thing from the appetizers - perfection. The pastry itself was a knockout but the "sauce" was *chefs kiss*. It's something I already desperately want to recreate at home but know it won't get there, c'est la vie. Anyways, the specials sounded amazing but we settled for giving the regular menu a whirl. He had the seafood lasagna and I had the chicken piccata. Both were excellent. Their chicken piccata take is better than the standard version - highly recommend. Hubs said the lasagna was great too. All in all, we loved everything, can't wait to go back. I'd also rate Mia Bella extremely high on value - for service, food quality, and portion size they're very reasonable on cost.

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    Aperitivo - The trio dip appetizer.

    Aperitivo

    3.9(61 reviews)
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    We had a nice time at Aperitivo…read more One of the best looking restaurants in Houston. From the decor, the bar, views...everything is a vibe. Came in for my birthday after dinner. Service was great and the manager helped us get a better table even though they were completely booked. We had a random assortment of food. Oysters 4/5 Shrimp cocktail 3/5 Charcuterie board 5/5 I had really solid old fashioned and my wife had mezcal margarita which was also great. We then switched to wine for the rest of the night. It was raining when we first got there so the patio was closed. However, when we were almost done one of the waiters told us which door was unlocked and said make sure to go get some picture and enjoy the view. The view is one of the best around and we had it all to ourselves. Overall, a really nice way to end my Birthday and I would definitely recommend checking them out.

    Aperitivo has been on my last for awhile now with the gorgeous interior and downtown skyline views…read more A group of my friends and I finally got the chance to visit, unplanned, on a Sunday evening while celebrating a birthday. The restaurant and bar is located on the top floor of the new East River complex. They have valet parking as well as free lot parking a couple of blocks away. Since the visit was a last minute decision, we did not have a reservation. The hostess informed us that they would be able to seat us but that drinks may be up to a 30 minute wait since they only had one bartender. We agreed and were seated at a large table inside. While skyline views always make a place special, Aperitivo raises the bar even further with lux design and interior accents that make it feel super elevated. In terms of drinks, they have a number of original cocktails that you won't be able to find anywhere else. My friend got the "caprese" which is prepared with tomato water and a mozzarella brine, which was translucent and had a hearty but balanced finish. An interesting drink for sure. I got the "Aperitivo spritz" which was very light and refreshing. Cocktails are all $18 and there is also an automatic 20% gratuity added to all checks. The drinks and ambience were great but unfortunately the service did not impress us. After being seated, we had some time to review the menu before our waitress approached the table. When she arrived, we did ask whether there would be a 30 minute wait for drinks after the host provided this warning due to the single bartender. She took the question defensively saying that she had a bunch of tables and got to our table when she could. I realize that the question could have been interpreted in the wrong way but will say that her response was not very customer service oriented. This was a little bit of a let down given that you are locked into a 20% gratuity.

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    WOW! Highly, highly recommended!!!…read more When we pulled in we were concerned due to neighborhood and exterior look of the restaurant ... Still gave a chance, and so glad we did! This food is amazing! One of the best Italian food we ever ate! Sauce, spice, time of the meat cook.. all perfection. Even it is 45 mins away from where we leave, we feel like we discovered our new Italian restaurant going forward.

    1 star I don't…read moreusually leave reviews like this, but this one felt necessary. The staff was kind and welcoming, so service wasn't the issue. The problem was the food did not match the high reviews at all. My wife's lasagna came out looking like a giant block of tofu. It didn't resemble lasagna, the pasta felt rubbery, and the meat didn't even look like ground beef. She didn't feel comfortable eating it. Her Greek salad also looked off, like a mix between a Caesar salad and something random with feta on top. I ordered the Chelidra Rossa because I love red snapper. What I got was definitely not red snapper. It tasted and broke apart like old tilapia that had been sitting for days. The dish also only came with one shrimp, which was disappointing. The pasta, vegetables, and mushrooms were bland and had no flavor. The bread was not fresh. When I asked for vinegar, they brought another oil mixture that wasn't what I asked for. The calamari came with a dried-out lemon that had clearly been sitting, and I had to ask for fresh slices. The pizza also didn't taste right, and the cheese had a grainy texture that didn't melt like normal pizza cheese. For what we paid, the quality didn't come close to matching the price. We ate maybe 10 percent of our food and left. I honestly don't understand how people are saying this place has fresh pasta and fresh ingredients. Based on our experience, it clearly did not. Real, honest reviews matter, and this was ours. I really wanted to like this place, but this just wasn't it. I won't be returning.

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    Ray's Italian Kitchen - pizza - Updated May 2026

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