What a gorgeous gem of a restaurant tucked away within a boutique hotel in the Heights. Hypsi…read moredelivered on all fronts: ambience (warm, cozy, and stylishly charming,) service (flawlessly anticipatory yet acutely respectful of our conversations) and, of course, the food. THE FOOD. Our parade of dishes was a glorious procession of flavorful, interesting, and unique creations. Highlights were the table side mozzarella service, the black truffle arancini, and the magnificent squid ink radiatori. Excellent spot!

The ambience and décor are beautiful and definitely one of the highlights of the restaurant. The…read morecocktails were also great, and the focaccia was very good. Unfortunately, the food overall fell a little short of expectations. The octopus was pretty good, but there was way too much sauce and it overwhelmed the dish. The squash blossoms were easily the best thing we ordered. The Steak Braciole was good, but nothing particularly memorable, and the Caesar had good flavor but was overdressed. I was especially disappointed because we were originally supposed to come here for my birthday, but the restaurant had to cancel our reservation about an hour beforehand due to an unexpected city water shutdown. We completely understood that the situation was outside of their control, and we were told that when we came back they would take care of us. When we finally returned, we were given a complimentary glass of bubbles to start, which was appreciated, but that was the extent of it. Between the circumstances surrounding the original reservation and how much I had been looking forward to trying the restaurant, I expected the overall experience to feel a little more special. Beautiful space, great drinks and a few standout bites, but ultimately it fell short of expectations.

Lombardi made an already special night unforgettable! We celebrated my girl's mom's birthday, and…read morethe team also helped me coordinate a surprise proposal to my now-fiancée. Everything came together perfectly. A special shoutout to Everett--he was AMAZING! Attentive, personable, and completely in on the surprise. He truly went above and beyond to make the night special. Amazing food, beautiful atmosphere, and exceptional service. Thank you, Everett and Lombardi, for being part of a moment we'll never forget!

I'm torn with my star rating. On one hand, loved my gluten-free pasta dish; and the restaurant is…read moreaesthetically pleasing and there's some good people-watching. I also like the patio vibes--it screams "have an Aperol Spritz, per favore!" So lemme share the good, based on my recent dinner there: :: They were able to make the Fazzoletti Al Pesto & Burrata pasta dish gluten-free. I loved the freshness of the pesto sauce and the addition of toasted pine nuts. Would order again. :: Truffle fries... a must-share for the table :: Caesar caccio e pepe salad (san the housemade focaccia croutons for me) :: The tableside pastas seem to be their main attraction. Fun to watch (and record). :: Segreto--the "speakeasy" accessed through the unisex restroom--is an experiential moment. You can also access it through the outside entrance. ...But I think there are better Italian food options in Houston at a better price point (for example, Coltivare). I didn't like any of the cocktails I tried: the skinny marg was a tiny daiquiri-style marg, very tart, very underwhelming, and gone in a few sips. In the speakeasy, I had a really terrible old fashion-style drink called The Smokeshow. It had a bunch of wooden chips in it that fell into the drink during the smoking/fire process. I scooped out as much as I could, and then didn't finish the drink because it wasn't good. It was bland. The beau didn't finish his either. Not sure I'd go back, maybe for their aperitivo hour (3-6pm daily at the bar or patio) featuring $10 select wines and martinis, $2 oysters, and $8 bites; or their business lunch special ($36).

I was invited to a gatheringl ast night (8/29/2026) with a group of people at this restaurant…read more Everything that was brought to the table was very good. The bread/wine/ravioli/dessert were all excellent on the taste buds and the wait staff were very nice. To round out this review the ambiance was great and judging by the size of the crowd there great also.

Was craving spaghetti and meatballs. Didn't want Sam's Club Repast spaghetti . I wanted authentic…read moreand I asked Chat to point me in the right direction and it guided me to Sorrento. It's a small but engaging Italian restaurant they prides itself in making authentic dishes and it did with the Spaghetti and Veal Meatballs. It was done just like I like it, not too acidic and enough seasoning to leave a lasting impression on the palate. Not only was the spaghetti great , but they came around with a basket of assortment of breads you could pick from. Not a big Fan of bread but the Garlic Toast was very good. The ambiance and service was very complementary with soft piano music being played by the house musician. All in all, it was a very relaxing experience and most of all, it addressed the craving.

At 3:30pm in the afternoon, not many restaurants are still open and serving lunch menus, but Amore…read morewelcomed me into their space and provided exceptional service for the entire meal. This was the Houston Restaurant Week experience that I didn't have planned and ended up being one of the most memorable! The restaurant exterior is very unassuming, but the interior details are fit for royalty! Shortly after being seated, they poured a small cup of olive oil and brought a plate of freshly toasted bread to the table. To start out, we ordered the Lamb Meatballs and Lobster & Shrimp Arancini. Both were served in good portions with sides of lightly salted arugula salad. For second course, we ordered the Rigatoni Al Gambero, at the recommendation of our server, and Sautéed Baby Snapper, which was another specialty here. Both were incredible, and the natural black risotto paired with the baby snapper was chef's kiss! I tried to search for the same HRW menu options in their regular menu, and I was not able to confirm its availability, but that won't be stopping me from returning. To wrap up the meal, I added a dessert order outside of the HRW menu. Typically, I always go for tiramisu when visiting an Italian restaurant, but I decided to switch up with the Millefoglie, again at the recommendation of our amazing server. And wow, just wow, the crispy layers of the puff pastry and the rich custard filling was just what I needed. Some other small details that truly impressed me: - The servers here are some of the most professional and dedicated in the restaurant industry. Although there were not many customers present in the late afternoon, the restaurant team kept busy every second prepping the tables and making something better. And they exhibited a collaborative and lighthearted working dynamic and was all smiles to everyone in the restaurant. It made for an enjoyable dining experience. - After every course, the server would bring new set of plates and eating utensils. Likely the most upscale dining experience I've had for the HRW price! - This is one of the rare restaurants that did not have a "suggested tip" in their payment receipt, so truly giving the power back to the customer to decide on the tip amount that feels appropriate. Honestly, I was truly impressed with every aspect of my dining experience at Amore and would highly recommend the restaurant to others, particularly for special occasions and celebrations. Pro tip: Parking is limited to valet or surrounding streets. I recommend Branard St as it appears to have less parking restrictions if you choose to skip valet.

We were here for lunch few weeks ago Service was very nice…read moreby Lucy (our server) Food was in between. Some was good, some not so. We saw they made pasta in house and were eager to taste the fresh pasta but it it turned out the pasta dish was not to our liking. The lamb chops and the fish was much better. Overall it was Ok And as everyone already know. There is no parking spaces except for valet park. Street parking won't be easy since it locates right by the residential areas

My wife and I had an absolutely wonderful dinner at Giacomo's Cibo e Vino. We arrived right at 4:00…read morePM when they opened the doors, hoping to get ahead of the crowds since we had heard the restaurant can get packed. It turned out to be a great decision and gave us the opportunity to really settle in and enjoy the entire experience. We started with the Hawks Garlic Bread and Insalata Tritata, followed by the Polpette Puccini. For our entrées, we had the Tortelli di Bietola--half-moon ravioli filled with Swiss chard, ricotta and goat cheese in sage butter--and the Bolognese with house-made tagliatelle. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, and knowing the pasta had been made in-house earlier that day made it even better. We enjoyed a Negroni and blood orange mimosa with dinner, then finished with their seasonal pumpkin and ricotta cheesecake with chocolate ganache and blood orange caramel, followed by delicious cappuccinos. The perfect way to cap off the evening. As excellent as the food was, Luis made the experience even more memorable. He was delightful, attentive and genuinely passionate about hospitality and the food he was serving. His enthusiasm added so much to the experience without ever feeling intrusive. Between the intimate atmosphere, fresh house-made pasta, wonderful food and drinks, exceptional service, dessert and cappuccinos to finish the evening, we genuinely felt like we had escaped to Italy for a few hours. Such a delightful experience from the moment the doors opened until our last sip of cappuccino. We can't wait to return--and judging by how popular this place is, getting there early may become our strategy!

Stopped by with some friends, haven't been here in years and totally forgot how good it was. Gonna…read moretry and not let it drop off my radar again. Loved almost everything we had except the ratatouille...a bit too watery and most likely the flavor washed off. 1/5 Favs The Garlic Bread 5/5 Gamberi Al Diavolo 5/5 Tortelli di Bietola - 5/5 Rigatoni Puccini - 5/5 The Grouper Special 5/5 Just ok Orecchiette Giorgione 3/5

Finally got a moment to go on a date and visited Da Marco for the second time. Vibe is very old…read moreschool fancy. Black and white uniforms, dim lighting, attentive staff that check on you and lots of fluffy bread. I remember the food being better the first time around. The burrata salad was an 8/10. The burrata itself was a bit bland but the dressing, arugula, and tomatoes carried this dish hard. The dressing seemed olive oil based - wasn't the lightest but also not too heavy. I throughly enjoyed the roasted tomatoes. It really made the salad well rounded with sweet but acidic notes that complimented the arugula. The cacio e Pepe ravioli was great. Quite creamy and buttery maybe slightly over salted . 8.5/10 wish it was bigger The pappardelle was addicting. The wide noodles held the meat and sauce together well. It was hearty but not overwhelming. 9/10 The short rib was my favorite meat dish. I loved the sauce but the meat was not very tender. The risotto was cheesy and paired well with the sauce on the short rib but was a little under cooked. The components all together made for a nice dish. 7/10 Did not love the quail but my husband did. I gave my piece to him. I personally found it tough and dry (was well seasoned) but the broccoli rabe it came with was delicious. 5/10 The chocolate cake is a must. The banana ice cream was not as banana or as creamy as I would have liked but the cake was heavenly. Smooth, rich, but light. 10/10 would order again. I did not share the Caramelized banana because it was too good. I honestly didn't notice I ate it all. My bad. Da Marco is one of the very few restaurants left that have that old timey refinement. Men and women actually get dressed up to come here and, as stated before, they do try to provide great service. A bit pricy for what you get but I still had a good time.

My foodie friend and I returned for our annual birthday fill of White Truffle Tagliolini, and this…read moretime, we brought family! As usual, the staff was so warm and welcoming. Seriously, entering Da Marco always feels like returning to the home of an old friend, which never gets old. On the topic of service, our server was spot-on, expertly attentive without being intrusive, and he paced or courses perfectly. We started with the burrata salad and the always surprising shaved celery salad, which sings with freshness and vibrant flavors. The second course included our pastas: lobster ravioli, pappardelle, and the coveted white truffle Tagliolini which never disappoints. Our third course was the impressive off-menu porterhouse, and it was perfectly seasoned, served with beautifully delicious cannellini beans and sautéed spinach, and we added puréed potatoes, which were buttery and fluffy. Desserts were a triumph: Italian wedding cake, chocolate cake, a stunning pistachio dessert, bread pudding, and Panna cotta. All were delightful. While we do appreciate the cozy atmosphere, perfected by the flickering fire in the fireplace, my one major complaint of this restaurant is that there is just one toilet per restroom. This restaurant gets packed, and one toilet per gender is quite insufficient, as noted by my mom and sister. Still, we look forward to our next visit!

had never heard of LULU's until I had a business luncheon held there this past week. I was…read moreimpressed with the menu and the service. they even offered a 2-course Fixed price business menu for $30.00 for soup or salad with 3 choices for the main course. Service was excellent - parking is FREE -- located on the Northwest corner of Westheimer and Kirby Drive -- would go back ago

Lamb chops were well seasoned, tender and juicy. The ambiance was gorgeous with fresh flowers in a…read moresmall vase on each table. I enjoyed my pasta dish. The caviar service was fabulous with a tin worth 100$ alone so worth it with the bottle of prosecco addition. (Not pictured because we decided to take it Togo)

Came here on a weekday for dinner. Located on Studewood in the Heights. There's plenty of parking…read moreright next to the restaurant. The interior is pretty casual with a full bar in the middle. Our server was friendly and made couple solid recommendations on appetizers. Two dishes stood out for me: Watermelon and tomato salad - this is my favorite thing from the dinner, the sweetness from the watermelon worked surprisingly well with the balsamic glaze and pesto, very refreshing. TexQueno - nice cheese stick made with Venezuelan cheese, paired well with the cilantro sauce. We also tried the shrimp ceviche, which was solid, but nothing too special. For the main, we went with pastas, which were let downs. For the Cioppino Linguini, the seafood was overcooked, the pasta texture wasn't great, and the dish tasted pretty bland and lack the garlicky tomato flavor you'd expect from a traditional Cioppino Linguini. The wild mushroom pasta had a bit heavy sauce, also not the best pastas, but the mushrooms were cooked well.

Casual Italian spot in the Heights located on Studewood. There is parking right next to the…read morebuilding, which is nice to have. The interior is a fairly casual bistro vibe. We got a few apps and mains to share and to try out their menu. Watermelon and tomato salad - 4/5. Surprisingly refreshing and the flavors worked well together TexQueno - 4/5. Solid cheese stick wrapped in dough Shrimp ceviche- 3/5 it tastes as you expected. It's seasoned well Mushroom pasta - 3.5/5. It's alright but lacks the higher level pasta texture and cook. The sauce was a bit thick and heavy but the mushrooms are nicely cooked Seafood pasta - 2.5/5. Not a big a fan of this one. The pasta was close to the off the shelf pasta in terms of texture and taste