Tavola delivers the kind of experience that reminds you why dining out is worth it. The star of the night was the Milanese -- perfectly crisp on the outside, tender inside, and seasoned with the kind of confidence that only comes from a kitchen that knows exactly what it's doing. It wasn't just good; it was the kind of dish you think about the next day. And the desserts? Honestly, dangerously delicious. Each one felt crafted, not just plated -- rich without being heavy, sweet without being cloying, and the perfect finish to an already memorable meal. The atmosphere strikes that sweet spot between warm and elevated, making it ideal whether you're out with friends, on a date, or just treating yourself. Service was attentive without hovering, which always makes the whole experience feel smoother. If you're anywhere nearby, Tavola deserves a spot on your must‑try list. It's the kind of place you recommend to someone when you want to look like you really know your restaurants. read more

My friend and I had a really pleasant dining experience due to amazing service. However, we were disappointed with the food. The presentation of everything was beautiful but the flavors were lacking, especially with the gnocchi and the bolognese. The gnocchi itself was soft and the perfect texture, but the shrimp was very rubbery and had no flavor at all. The tagliatelle pasta was great but the bolognese sauce was flat. The texture of the meat was really unpleasant, almost like canned meat. The calamari breading was more like tempura, really good. It could have used a little seasoning but the red pepper sauce was great. The bread service was really good. Both the tiramisu and olive oil gelato were amazing. The prosciutto and burrata had great potential, especially for it being the top server recommendation but it needed a little more love as well. Maybe a whole poached pear instead of diced. I'd go back for wine and dessert. Beautiful restaurant. read more

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The waitstaff was really friendly and had good suggestions. They were very attentive to the tables and ready to make conversation. The restaurant had dimmer lighting and was a great date spot. There was free parking around the back of the restaurant. The ravioli tasted great, but I don't think it was worth the price, especially with the portion given. I also wish there was more sauce in the dish and it had a little bit of spice as well. I think there are better places for Italian food! read more

Tavola - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

It felt very romantic coming in. The decor and ambiance wasn't convoluted, it was simple and clean. The reason that I'm giving them 5 stars is because of the heightened focus they have on guest experience. They gave us a rack for our handbags and gave us a numbered tag for our to go bags so we could pick them up on our way out. These are things that most restaurants don't care about, but matter. The food was also very economical, delicious and plated beautifully. They had a 3 course for $50 that we took advantage of. The highlights for me were the bread with ricotta and the branzino. My friend also had the afogato for dessert and to her it was delicious. Overall the experience was amazing and I would definitely go back. read more

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Sigh. I had high hopes for this restaurant, as I'd heard great things, but my experience ended up being a bit underwhelming. I visited during Restaurant Week and didn't experience the best level of service at the bar. The staff seemed unfamiliar with the menu changes and unkind, and the manager kindly had to step in--which he was super welcoming and apologized. The food was decent. I ordered the chicken Parm and a Caesar salad. I found it a bit odd that the chicken Parm didn't come with pasta--it was literally just a piece of chicken with cheese. The chicken could have been better if it were freshly cooked and crispier, as it felt like it might have been pre-cooked and kept warm under a lamp. The Caesar salad was good and came with anchovies, which was a nice touch. I also tried the tiramisu, which was okay--not outstanding, but decent. read more

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Tavola restaurant is elegant and upscale! I had a such an amazing night with friends and family! The Service was very friendly and pleasant. I will definitely come back again soon. Almost forget to mention! The desserts were delicious too. read more

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Visited on a Wednesday evening and were surprisingly the only people there for probably the first half of our meal. Service was patient and friendly all around, answering our questions and giving us extra time multiple times haha. We started with the whipped ricotta that is accompanied by house-made focaccia and oh my goshhh this was so good. I was legitimately sad when I took my final bite. I ordered the bolognese for my main and was a big fan! We ended our meal with the prettiest tiramisu I've ever seen and the staff very kindly brought out a congratulatory dessert because we told them we were celebrating. They even remembered I said I could only do dairy-free ice cream and brought me some of their lemon sorbet! Decor and energy of the space are beautiful, it felt elegant but not stuffy. We had a nice meal and I hope the quiet dinner hour was just due to being the middle of the week. read more

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I was pretty excited to try this place out because to be a restaurant in River Oaks, you need to be too notch, and unfortunately this place was just okay. The price tag is up there with all the other restaurants around the area, and the food was yummy. However, I was sorely disappointed when not one, but two dishes I ordered was not available. It wasn't even due to the restaurant being full and they ran out. I wanted to order a seafood pasta but they didn't have that, so I tried to order the red snapper, and they didn't have that either! I was really sad and that just knocked down my experience. I also wish they would have told me that when I first sat down, but didn't know until I ordered. What I did end up ordering turned out pretty well. I got to try the Caesar salad, which had big chunks and overall good. My favorite was the roasted octopus. The pasta I got was good but I honestly can't remember what I ordered because it wasn't outstanding. I do remember adding shrimp to the pasta for protein and they literally gave me 3 shrimp. Overall it was an okay experience. The service was good, there was ample parking, and the space had a nice covered patio, but overall not sure if I would come back. read more

Tavola - Ceasar salad - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The restaurant had romantic dinner lighting. It was very warm and intimate. Service was good. Restrooms were clean. Unfortunately, we were not impressed on the food. The Bread service was dry. The octopus carpaccio was a total let down. Very small portion of octopus and did not seem worth the price. The menu did mention that the Trofie al pesto had pine nuts, but the flavor was overbearing. Truffle fries were okay. The only thing worth talking about is the chicken parmigiana. Chicken was cooked just right and the penne pasta paired well with it. It was a little weird that the chicken was shaped like a pizza. Tiramisu was okay. Overall, I just don't think the food was worth the price. I wish the food matched the ambiance and service. I would not recommend this restaurant or go back. read more

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Definitely a beautiful restaurant, and the food was amazing. The Saturday evening we had reservations it wasn't a full house. But for some strange reason we felt rushed. We ordered a bottle, appetizer, entree and even dessert. I was very thankful for the floor manger who attended to us when ordering. The duck was outstanding. I just wish we didn't feel rushed when there was no need to turn over the table. I wish this restaurant well. Definitely a great menu. read more

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I had driven past this place several times and finally decided to try it. I ordered the Bolognese Pasta and Tiramisu. Both were very delicious, moist in every bite and well-made with their own recipes. The noodles similar to fettuccine were very fresh holding just the right thickness for the bolognese base. The flavor of the bolognese was very well-seasoned, savory, meaty and hearty. The tiramisu was a win in the cocoa powder, cream layers and cake layer with a sharp, but balanced taste overall. Rich, but not overly sweet. The crunchiness on top was a nice way to add more bite. The service was very welcoming, hospitable, friendly and efficient from my server, another employee that greeted me and Josh the manager. I will be back in the future for sure. Excellent establishment. read more

Tavola - Fantastic Tiramisu for dessert !!! - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Ate here for lunch with a client and I was impressed. Greeted warmly and the service was outstanding. The food and presentation was magnificent. I can't wait to try Tavola for on a personal level of with a date! Pricing was right where it needs to be for this type of quality. Great job Tavola. Until next time!!! Nice touch on speaking Italian! Since I was just there I was ready for this move!!!! read more

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I was surprised how empty this place was on a weekend for dinner. But it gave us better service, so no complaint. I really enjoyed the tagliatelle bolognese. The rest of the food was good but nothing really noteworthy or "must have again". Overall, we enjoyed our dinner. Worth visiting. read more

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I had a wonderful time at this establishment. My date was Italian and he was also equally impressed. We started with the tuna tartare and meatballs. We finished with both fish options. Everything was extremely wonderful, the tiramisu was the best part for sure though. The presentation was eliiiiite. My server was Thomas, he did an excellent job and informed us that he was an aboriginal. A manager also dropped by to check on us! The ambiance was nice, extremely nice, I would just say the only thing that needs work would be the table bases needed to be dusted. read more

I can't complain about the food or our server. The server was very friendly and attentive I believe her name was Elizabeth or Emily. For an appetizer I ordered the Italian Caesar Salad, it was fresh, tasty and the crisp was amazing. The Tagliatelle Bolognese was perfectly cooked, rich and meaty. Just what I needed. I would definitely order it again. The Tiramisu had the right hint of sweetness, light and creamy. Perfect way to end my night. The hostess however, isn't friendly at all, she left us with a very racist vibe. Which was very confusing because she herself is of colored skin. She was rude, never smiled at us once and looked down on us. They definitely need to hire a friendly face to put upfront of their business. If it wasn't for that experience I would've given this place 5 stars. read more

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Met friends for Houston Restaurant Weeks (HRW) at Tavola on a busy Saturday night. Our main waiter, Brian, was fabulous. Never felt rushed and we were there for three hours eating, drinking and enjoying life. Interestingly Tavola has both a HRW food and a HRW beverage menu. My friend had a spritz for $8. I asked for a "surprise me" mocktail and got a beautiful lavender no mint mocktail that was so refreshing and pretty. The amuse bouche of olives and crispy pasta bites was a nice way to start the evening. For the salads, the baby spinach salad with paper thin pears was so fresh and so delicious. A great recommendation. Our friends had the burrata and tomato salad and the artichoke salad which they enjoyed. For our entrees, we all got a chicken dish. The pollo cacciatore with mushrooms was delicious. The chicken was so moist and tender. The chicken Parmesan was so pretty. Our table ordered each of the HRW menu desserts. The deconstructed cannoli was so interesting. Chocolate cannoli chips with pistachio, orange and chocolate ricotta dipping cream. Sooo good. The tiramisu was so light. The mascarpone was just perfect with a dusting of chocolate and fresh flowers on top. Service was impeccable from start to finish. Brian was our main waiter, but I counted no less than six waiters in our glass enclosed space attending to every wish of the diners in our area. Drink refills. A glass of ice. Amuse bouche to salads, entrees and dessert. Our water glasses were frequently filled and they had the fine balance of when to ask if we needed anything. They even packed our meals to go and gave us a small claim tag ring to pick up our leftovers at the front on our way out so as not to clutter our table. Amazing! Parking is valet or there is a lot behind the Post Oak entry. Would definitely come back for dinner with family or friends. Thanks to Brian and the other staff for a delightful dinner. read more

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First and Foremost the staff was amazing! Everyone was attentive. I love a cute restaurant. This Italian restaurant had inside and outside dining both decorated well. The food was generous in portions and flavorful. I stumbled onto this place because of Houston Restaurant Week and it did not disappoint. That is the amazing thing about HRW, you get an opportunity to see a list of establishments and menus all in one place that you may have never heard of. The $39 Three Course meal was worth every dollar Baby Spinach Salad 5/5 Chicken Parmigiana 4/5 Sicilian Canolli 3/5 Paloma 4/5 Sangria 3.5/5 read more

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The food here is very good. The low light for me was the calamari. It was very greasy but was a large portion mixed with vegetables. I got a pasta entree and traded the meat for crab and it was delicious. We finished with dessert and left stuffed. The service was pretty good as well. They have valet parking and you may be able to use the parking lot behind the building for free. read more

Stopped in on Saturday for a girls dinner. There's valet parking next door for one of the other restaurants and there's also a lot behind the restaurants. We had a reservation so we were sat immediately. They sat us by the windows which was nice because of the natural lighting. The main area of the restaurant is a bit more dark and moody. Our waiter was very nice and super friendly. We started off with ordering cocktails from their Spritz menu and the bread service. The bread was good, soft and buttery. I had the Rosé spritz and it was so good and fresh, the strawberry flavor was delicious. We also ordered the french fries and although they were cooked perfectly they were a little too salty. As an entree I had the bolognese, it was also just too salty I couldn't finish the dish. Finally, we shared the affogato. THAT was delicious, the ice cream was really good and the coffee had a nice bitterness to it. Overall, I'd say it's a cute place for drinks and maybe appetizers and a dessert. Not sure if I'll be back though. read more

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WOWZA! This place was amazing!!! I didn't expect to be blown away when coming here but it happened. The service here was absolutely impeccable. Nayla was fantastic and we never had to ask for anything. For appetizers we ordered the "Culatta" Proscuitto, Carpaccio alla Tavola, and Grilled Octopus. The burrata didn't come with any bread so we ordered the Focaccia of the Day. The bread was so warm and delicious. The burrata and proscuitto was creamy and so good. The carpaccio was so flavorful as well. For dinner we ordered the Pappardelle al Cinghiale, Scallops Risotto, Lasagna Bolognese, and another custom pappardelle pasta. The wild boar pappardelle was really yummy. The risotto with the scallops had a hint of lime and was fabulous with the scallops. The lasagna wasn't my favorite dish but it wasn't bad. For dessert, we ordered the Torta Sette Veli, Tartufo Nero, and Tiramisu. The hazelnut chocolate cake was my favorite. The tiramisu was my least favorite because it was really heavy on the coffee at the bottom. They have valet and self parking is also available behind the building. I can't wait to come back here to try some more dishes. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

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Went here to celebrate my birthday and was left extremely disappointed. I love Italian food and I was excited to come here and celebrate. My friend was not greeted or given a menu upon entry, Service was subpar, and food was mediocre. I will applaud the gentlemen servicing the water and drinks, they were very attentive. We noticed how other tables were being attended to and definitely felt the difference. I'm not sure if any of us will be back read more

Tavola - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

The ambiance and style of this Italian restaurant are really cute and inviting. We started with the octopus appetizer, which was excellent and full of flavor. For my main course, I ordered the sirloin. It was average overall and unfortunately overwhelmed by too much sauce, which took away from the dish. That said, the potatoes and okra on the side were really good and nicely prepared. Overall, a nice spot for the atmosphere and appetizers, but the main dish didn't quite stand out for me. The service was really great as well. My favorite was the dessert. House made olive oil drizzled on top of ice cream. My new favorite dessert! read more

What a disappointment. The restaurant is small inside and kind of plain, but the restrooms are nice. We were seated and were the only diners for lunch inside. We were given water and the menus. The waiter left us to browse the menus, and he disappeared. It took him a while to reappear. We ordered, and it took a very long time for us to get our meals. That was odd because we ordered from the lunch menu, and the restaurant was essentially empty. We were finally given our salads, and then we had more time to get the entrees, which were cold. We returned them, and they were remade. We were given complimentary dessert, but for me, the damage was done. Rumi's across the street is gorgeous, has professional and efficient service, and the food is beyond fabulous. Go there and skip Tavola. read more

Service was impeccable as they were attentive and very accommodating. The even the suggest dessert when I was in search of a crème brûlée which was the favorite for both my girlfriend and I. Meatballs $20 3 in total; nice but not $7 nice. Parmesan seems to over power the meat. Though can be fixed with the bread they give you if but a little. Ravioli $28 (best dish) The ravioli was a decent size for these types of establishments. Was almost a lukewarm; still enjoyable with a delicious "Parmesan chip" topper. 6/11 special Agnolotti $28 A lukewarm mess could have been help by the slightest bit of heat. Personally the dish feels slightly undercooked with the artichoke not pairing well enough as it tended to over power. Leans towards a more bitter palette. Torta Della Nonna $12 Was good read more

Everything about this place was disappointing. We went here on recommendation from the staff at Le Jardiniere (incredible French restaurant in Houston) whose restaurant group owns this restaurant. We were very excited to go but wow - what a disappointment. The staff was friendly but it very much felt we were being rushed to put in our orders. The salad tasted like any side market salad - nothing of note. The calamari and vegetables were almost entirely breading and vegetables with little flavor due to the overwhelming breading - the accompanying sauces were nice. The brussel spouts were a 'house specialty' but certainly undercooked and tough. The pastas were pleasant and the best items at the restaurant. My friend loved her limoncello spritz as well! We didn't stay for dessert due to the disappointment in many other items - may be great or may also be mediocre. I wish La Table was back. Tavola does not hold a candle to the predecessor even with the change in cuisine type. Also of note - when we went the menu had been significantly changed from months prior when the more positive reviews had been written. We had especially been looking forward to the focaccia - not on the menu any longer :( read more

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I give the place really a 3.5 star review I popped in here for a Timeleft dinner on a Wednesday at 7pm with 6 strangers (quite the experience) so we didn't know what to expect . They seated our table outside without asking but we rolled with it . Thankfully the weather wasn't too hot. The service here is immaculate. I felt seen and heard by almost all of the staff. They were really friendly and attentive & I appreciate that ! I'm a wine lover and the wine was great (Cabernet) ! For food option I ordered the Bolognese. Everyone at the table ordered something different. The collective response to the food was "it's ok" about a 6/10 stars . The reason everyone provided was lack of spices or general flavor. However when asked for pepper, they provided without issue and it did elevate some of the food. I recommend you ask for spice when placing your order if you prefer a spicier meal. Parking is valet or you can find guest parking in the back of the building for free. read more

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We came here for Restaurant Weeks with a group of friends. Our food and waitress were great. Don't have complaints about that, she was polite and attentive. The food came out in a timely manner and hot and the drinks were great. While I have no complaints about the waitress and food, we all felt a weird vibe from the hostess. As soon as we walked in it was instant off putting vibe. They didn't want to sit us even thought majority of our party was present and the restaurant was mostly empty. We all would have understood not being seated if it was full, but that was not the case. We all felt as one of the hostess was looking at us as if we didn't belong. They really need to consider hiring a person that does not make visitors to your restaurant feel this way. The hostess is the one that sets the whole vibe since they are the first person you greet, I know it because I have been a hostess before, many years ago. She left all of us with a bad taste in our mouths and unsure if we would return. read more

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Amazing food and service! We came here for a birthday and so happy we did. The food was phenomenal, the service was excellent. They have wines from Italy and the food tasted so fresh and delicious. Felt truly authentic. We look forward to dining here again! read more

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Service is alright. Really not the best. Ambience is nice. The place is cute and aesthetically pleasing. Food is less than mid. Got the short rib plate, and it just was not it. Portion is crazy small. Meat was hella dry and lacked flavor and salt. Personally I'm not sure if I'd come back and give it a 2nd chance. read more

Tavola - Margarita - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The octopus A Focaccia B- needed another 10 minutes in the oven and was lacking in other ways too. Culatta burrata A- Wild boar Papardelle B+ Cacio Pepe artichoke something or other B+ (the pasta and sauce were really good but the fried artichoke stringy topping gave me eating twig vibes) Tiramisu A- (not too much coffee taste at all) Seven layer hazelnut chocolate cake A- (dense but tasty, only had 2 bites) Negroni's were delicious. Tried 3 of them. Vibe - hard to tell, place wasn't very full so hard to get a read on it Service A+ Octopus was my favorite thing. There were other things I wanted to try but one of our party is a picky eater and restricted the menu a bit. Well done. Fix the focaccia and artichoke topping. read more

Service was actually really bad and so was the food. Went for Houston restaurant week, and were seated an hour after our reservation. read more

Came here for a date night with my husband this weekend. The interior is totally different from the previous restaurant in this space. It's a chic and romantic atmosphere with a beautiful white marble bar placed in the middle of the dining room. I'm pregnant so for a drink I got the paLOWma mocktail & the zero proof mezcal in it was delicious, didn't make me miss the alcohol at all! For starters we had the focaccia bread, baby spinach salad & the carpaccio. My husband liked his carpaccio okay (the slicing was a little thicker than usual) but I absolutely LOVED the spinach salad with the thinly sliced pears surrounding it, a stunning and delicious salad. For dinner, my husband had the veal Milanese & I had the branzino. My husband thought the veal was cooked perfectly. My branzino dish was very flavorful but a pretty small portion that was more like a "light bite" size than an entree. Our waiter was as kind as can be & really knew the menu well for it being such a new spot. I'd recommend absolutely putting Tavola on your must try list for Houston's latest modern Italian gems. Would happily return again! read more

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We had a good dinner at Tavola. The restaurant was hoppin' when we arrived on a Friday night, and we were quickly seated with our reservation. Our table enjoyed a few appetizers, including the octopus (good, but literally just three bites of octopus), focaccia bread (really liked the tomatoes and caramelized onions topping it), and baby spinach salad (fine, pretty basic salad). I ordered the pappardelle pasta as my entree, and it was just OK. While the sauce itself was pretty good, I got multiple bites of pure meat fat, which I didn't love. With all of the great Italian restaurants popping up in Houston, I liked Tavola, but it perhaps isn't my favorite. It's a pretty spot though and a good location for people watching in uptown. read more

Came to Tavola tonight with my fam and we absolutely loved it. We were hesitant at first because they were "new" and we've been disappointed with a few of the restos that have be hyped up recently. From the welcome by our host to the swift service from our server, the overall service was spot on. The staff was working cohesively and empty plates didn't linger long and we felt well taken care of without being overwhelmed. Sommelier was on point as well with the wine by the glass selections we made. The decor was gorgeous. Love the leopard upholstered bench seating and light wood chairs to compliment. The lighting was soft and sexy. For antipasti we ordered: grilled octopus, meatballs, frito misto, and carpaccio. Each was delicious. The frito misto was more tempura style, but the flavor was crazy. For mains and pasta: we had the tagliatelle tartufo, veal chop, and Cinghale pappardelle. Would absolutely look forward to coming back here again. This actually feels like real Italian food. Not overly cheesed or sauced. read more

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This restaurant was such a treat & I'm glad we got to be a part of the soft launch. The service was superb and I couldn't thank the staff enough. Ambiance: very dimly lit so intimate indeed & perfect for a date. The place is small, but don't let that deter you, simply make a proper reservation Food: the avocado and cucumber salad was fresh and flavorful; the focaccia of the day was very nice and came with all of the classic condiments which many forget & the scallops risotto with caviar...AMAZING! Give this place a try and be to tell them...Nickie Nick Global sent you! read more

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Absolutely loved Tavola! The food was divine, the ambiance was great, and the service was flawless. Everything came out perfectly and everything we ordered was delicious -- highly recommend! read more

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This is our favorite Italian restaurant in town now! The food is absolutely delicious. We went there for restaurant week and tried different plates, it was all delicious and very tasty. The burrata and the tiramisu are to die for! Very good wine list. The service was excellent, all personnel were very polite and friendly. They have valet service and it was great. The ambiance is chic casual, with beautiful details. The manager was very nice and friendly and made sure all was good. We are definitely going back to try the other plates. We all had a really good time! read more

Tavola - Tiramisu - absolutely the best one in town - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The meal was under seasoned and awful. Server was nice but absent. Now we're reading about all the racist problems and remarks of its management read more

Great meal with a glass of vermentino! Beautiful atmosphere. Very kind service. Exactly what I was looking for on a Sunday afternoon. read more

Tavola - Sparkling water - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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If I could give this zero stars I would. I felt rushed as the waiter constantly asked what I wanted for the main course within 2 minutes of arriving and sitting down!!! Like, I just picked an appetizer, can you give me a second to think? I chose the lobster linguine which is supposed to be their most popular dish. I took a bite and to my dismay, the lobster was COLD.....STONE COLD. I'm pretty sure it was undercooked so I politely spit out the rest of it. I alerted the waiter, and the manager said to me "I was told your dish wasn't warm enough for you?" As if the restaurant typically served cold lobster pasta. They gave me the option to choose another dish, and I opted for the Osso Bucco risotto and was very disappointed to say the least. Osso Bucco dishes(the ones I've eaten) are typically served with a decent sized portion of meat. Tavola's "idea" of Osso Bucco consisted of a very minuscule/negligible amount of SHREDDED meat surrounded by pool of risotto. I know my review seems spirited but I feel as if this establishment entices you with the ambience only to serve you below average food with a high price tag to make up the profit margin. I don't mind paying premium price for great food (I frequent Steak48 and highly recommend it), but in this instance, I feel like this restaurant hustled me. read more