New American in Houston

13215 Grant #1800 Cypress

281-404-4190

Steakhouse, Peruvian, Burgers, New American

After finding critical acclaim but an insufficient market, Peruvian restaurant Piqueo was closed to make way for 429 American Grille. The idea was to convert it into a steak and burger place. The steak is good, especially the fillet accented with either chimichurri or the house-made steak sauce (think A-1). However, the burgers miss the mark. A buffalo burger emerged woefully overcooked (no one asked how we’d like it prepared), and while a Wagyu burger cooked to a proper medium-rare was juicy, it needed the kind of tang and pop that only pickles or roasted red bell peppers could give. It should probably be no surprise that the dishes that are exemplary here are the ones that rely on the experience and background of 429’s well-traveled owners. Perky fresh shrimp atop creamy grits accented with Spanish sherry sauce was a revelation, like sunshine breaking through clouds: a classic Southern dish viewed through a sophisticated, worldly lens. Why do we think that an “American” grill has to serve burgers and steaks? Why can’t an “American” grill reflect the diversity of Houston? If viewing common dishes through that international lens results in more dishes like the shrimp and grits with sherry sauce, consider us on board for the journey.

Adair Kitchen

5161 San Felipe St. Galleria

713-623-6100

New American, Comfort Foods, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

Siblings Nick Adair and Katie Adair Barnhart opened Adair Kitchen to provide Houstonians with the kind of home cooking they enjoyed growing up. The Adair family owns a number of restaurants in Houston, including a Tex-Mex chain and a burger joint, and that diversity of culinary interests is reflected in the simple menus at Adair Kitchen. The Galleria restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a light, spacious dining room that usually packed with neighborhood people grabbing a bite before work or holding a business meeting at a booth during lunch. There's nothing groundbreaking about Adair Kitchen, which is part of what makes it so comfortable. It's simple, standard American (and Mexican) cooking done right, without any bells and whistles.

18 articles

Ava Kitchen & Whiskey Bar

2800 Kirby Dr. Lower Shepherd-Kirby

713-386-6460

Italian, New American, Bars and Clubs, Recommended, Menu

This little sister restaurant to RDG + Bar Annie is only one part of the Robert Del Grande empire here in West Ave: There's also a related pizzeria upstairs, Alto. As its name would suggest, the whiskey selection here is vast and the Manhattans are solidly constructed. There's a small, snack-based bar menu if you're just there for the whiskey and the view (both of the well-appointed interior and its well-heeled crowd), and you're best sticking to it instead of diving into the sloppy, overpriced main menu.

Backstreet Cafe

1103 S. Shepherd Dr. River Oaks

713-521-2239

New American, Music Venues, Critics' Pick, Best Of

Housed in a charming '30s-era house, Backstreet Cafe lies just off of South Shepherd in River Oaks. Cozy up in one of three intimate dining rooms as you nosh on jazzed-up Southern and Italian classics from renowned chef Hugo Ortega. Standouts include the seafood-stuffed Gulf Coast beignets, pecan-crusted chicken, and eggs Benedict over cheddar-chive biscuits. The restaurant also has a brilliantly curated wine list from sommelier Sean Beck. When the weather is nice, be sure to sit under the tall trees out on Backstreet's stunning New Orleans-esque patio, it's easily one of the best in town.

46 articles

Bazille

1201 Lake Woodlands Dr., The Woodlands Outside Houston

New American, Restaurants

2 articles

Bistro Lancaster

701 Texas Ave. Downtown/ Midtown

713-228-9500

New American, Restaurants, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

With its ever-changing seasonal menus and inspired take on traditional fare, Bistro Lancaster is the best spot to grab a bite before a show or a drink right after. Located inside The Lancaster Hotel in downtown's Theater District, the bistro is the perfect spot to dine and then make it to the show on time. Stop by again to enjoy the bistro's cozy English-style bar, rated one of the top ten in the country by Food & Wine magazine.

2 articles

Black Sheep Bistro

326 Main St, Spring Outside Houston

New American

1 article

Black Walnut Cafe

16535 SW Freeway, Sugar Land Outside Houston

281-565-7800

American, Eclectic, International, Italian, New American, Recommended, Menu

Order at the counter from an extensive menu, then find a spot and read one of the free newspapers while you wait. Breakfasts include outstanding omelets, waffles and pancakes. Sandwiches to try are the rustic grilled cheese with cheddar, mozzarella and a slice of peppered bacon, and the pot roast. Salads are huge and include such favorites as the Asian tuna and the sirloin steak. Be sure to leave room for the desserts: bread pudding, chocolate cannoli and Italian cream cake.

Bramble - CLOSED

2231 S. Voss Outer Loop - SW

832-819-0322

New American, Slideshow

Bramble is chef Randy Rucker’s longawaited return to a permanent restaurant in Houston. It is no Bootsie’s, where Rucker made his name nationally with his highly creative dishes, but Bramble has its own merits. It is very approachable and has plenty of fare anyone will recognize and understand. Bramble excels in “real food”: beautifully roasted chicken; whole, freshly caught fish; and dinerstyle, sixlayer cakes. There’s a faint echo of the foraging aspect that Rucker became widely known for, such as when redstemmed Malabar spinach grown in outdoor containers makes its way into the dishes, but there’s no cloying preciousness about the ingredients here. Occasionally, food comes out underseasoned or in scanty portions, but that’s the exception, and the former can be fixed pretty easily with a dash of salt. The bytheglass wine list is also scanty (only five choices available on our visit) but the bottles are often competively priced. (An Internet search before committing is recommended, as some bottles are more highly marked- up than others.)Price range: $$ - $$$ Attire is Business Casual. Full bar available. Outdoor seating available. Reservations requested for parties of six or more only.

16 articles

Brasserie 1895

607 S. Friendswood Drive, Suite 11, Friendswood Pearland

832-385-2278

New American, French

Brasserie 1895 In 2015 Kris Jakob left his namesake Kris Bistro restaurant to partner with Sky Lyn Gibbons and open a neighborhood spot a few miles from his home in Friendswood. The cuisine is defined as New American and French, but adding a label to Jakob’s creations is not quite that simple. His award-winning beef tartare, Vuelva a la vidal and piri piri lamb pasta are exquisitely fashioned, mingling French with Latin, South African and Indian flavors. Desserts are beautifully paired with craft brews for a unique and imaginative finish.

3 articles

Brooklyn Athletic Club

601 Richmond Ave. Montrose

713-527-4440

New American, Restaurants, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

Restaurateur Shepard Ross and chef Jeff Axline reunite to bring a bit of Brooklyn to Houston with their newest venture. Brooklyn Athletic Club is part outdoor game haven, part gourmet restaurant, and for all its seemingly incongruous attributes, it works — primarily because Axline's menu of upscale Americana offerings has something for everyone. The Montrose restaurant focuses on seasonal ingredients and comfort food for the epicure. With standout dishes like "porkobuco" and sweet potato gnocchi, as well as three bocce ball courts and an outdoor beer bar, Brooklyn Athletic Club can be welcoming to children, gourmands and everyone in between who appreciates an engaging and delicious dining experience.

34 articles

The Burning Pear

16090 City Walk, Sugar Land Outside Houston

281-275-5925

American, Breakfast, Buffet, New American, Steakhouse, Menu

The Burning Pear serves up what could be classified as "cowboy cuisine," also known as Texas regional. Try the porterhouse pork chop, which has a fabulous-tasting combination of smoke and grill flavors, or the rib eye steak, with its fascinating gooey coating of mustard and brown sugar. Salmon, green beans, roasted finger potatoes and chicken fried steak are all found on the menu of this restaurant inside the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square.

Cafe Express

5601 Main St. Kirby-West U

713-639-7370

American, Deli, New American, Sandwiches, Best Of, Menu

2 articles

Canopy

3939 Montrose Montrose

713-528-6848

American, Eclectic, New American, Recommended, Best Of

Canopy is a peaceful haven in Montrose where patrons enjoy a sophisticated dining experience. Menu selections include fresh seafood and steaks with plenty of vegetarian offerings. Come for the inventive cocktails and stay for the amazing desserts. Canopy provides plenty of shade on hot days and an outside patio for enjoying a sandwich at lunch or eggs Benedict at brunch on the weekends.

8 articles

The Capitol At St. Germain

705 Main Downtown/ Midtown

713-269-3211

New American, Music Venues, Slideshow

It's evident from the moment that you walk into The Capitol at St. Germain that it's no mere restaurant. Its dual bars, private lounge and main stage replete with red velvet curtains signal a modern supper club, the type that hosts intimate jazz bands during the week and full shows on the weekends. But there's nothing stuffy about this swanky downtown supper club, which offers playful and well-constructed dishes on its full menu, such as a foie gras trio called Menage à Foie and cheap but wickedly strong gin martinis during happy hours.

23 articles

Chili's

1110 Lake Woodlands Dr., Spring Outside Houston

281-362-9191

American, Barbecue, Mexican, New American, Southwestern, Tex-Mex, Traditional, Best Of, Menu

Originating in Dallas in 1975 as a casual sit-down restaurant stuffed to the brim with Southwestern tchotchkes, Chili's has since grown into a behemoth chain owned by culinary conglomerate Brinker, with more than 1,400 locations in more than thirty countries. Sadly, the Awesome Blossom is no more, but menu staples like Chicken Crispers, Southwestern Egg Rolls and those infamous baby back ribs — which may or may not cause you to spontaneously burst into song — are still going strong. Every location including Houston features a fully stocked bar, and, as would seem fitting for a Southwestern-themed chain, Chili's specializes in margaritas, from top-shelf to sparkly fruit-flavored incarnations. In recent years the chain has continued its worldwide domination with more minimalist, modern decor and promos like the "$20 Dinner for Two." Voice Places is the place to find a Chili's near you.

1 article

Commonwealth - CLOSED

4601 Washington, #130 Heights

281--501--9516

New American

At its best, Commonwealth is inventive and fun. Dishes have French, Cajun and Asian touches, in no small part influenced by the backgrounds of chef Michael Lee Sanguinetti and pastry chef Kelly Alsobrook. Speaking of pastry, the desserts are not to be missed, including snowy white pavlova adorned with half of a pear poached with brandy and brittleen-crusted hazelnuts. There are two issues plaguing Commonwealth, though. The first is that the creativity doesn’t always result in a good end product, as is the case with a chicken fried steak battered in polenta. The second is a real problem in sending meats out of the kitchen that aren’t dry and overdone or half-raw. Still, the good points are tantalizing enough to be memorable and worth visiting for, including impeccably crispy with head-on prawns and a generous charcuterie platter replete with squares of a toasty foie gras sandwich. Price range: $$$$$$ Parking: Garage Attire: Casual or Business Casual Payment Types: All Alcohol: Full bar Outdoor seating: Yes Reservations: Yes Cuisine Type: New American

3 articles

Cova Hand Selected Wines (Washington)

5555 Washington Ave. Heights

713-868-3366

American, New American, Wine Bar, Breweries and Wineries, Recommended, Menu

You'll find rare wines by the glass at the wine bar and hard-to-find bottles in the retail store. The food is sensational, but be forewarned: These are dainty delicacies for those who like to graze while they tipple -- not big plates of grub for hungry cowboys.

2 articles

Daily Grill

5085 Westheimer Galleria

713-960-5997

American, New American, Recommended

In the Galleria and looking to eat some real food? Then this is the place to go for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Don't let the white tablecloths or clubby atmosphere put you off. This California-based chain serves reasonably priced American classics such as chicken potpie, meat loaf and Cobb salad, along with a wide, varied menu covering almost everything imaginable. Don't miss the incredibly crispy calamari.

Daily Review Cafe

3412 W. Lamar River Oaks

713-581-8229

New American, Restaurants, Critics' Pick

This friendly neighborhood bistro-style cafe in River Oaks has warmth and charm that seem to relax everyone. Daily Review Cafe's food is eclectic, as is the wine and beer list. The menu is large and fascinating, and it's hard to order just one thing. The tortilla-crusted shrimp appetizer is a standout, but then again, a simple dish of baked brie served with grilled apples may be just the thing. Thai fish tacos and famous chicken potpie also give comfort. There's also Southern-fried chicken and jumbo lump crab cakes. Since this is a small place, there's often a wait, but it will be worth it.

1 article

Davis Street At Hermann Park

5925 Almeda Third Ward

844--328--4778

New American, Menu

Davis Street At Hermann Park has great service and that is one of its most redeeming characteristics. The menu has occasional bright spots, like a dense donut bread pudding with a buttery, silken bourbon sauce, and thick, perfectly cooked, double-cut pork chops. However, there’s too much reliance on sweet elements in the savory dishes, like maple syrup and sweet chile and curry sauces, and not enough heat or spice to pull them back into balance. The disjointed menu concept pulls from many different international influences but too tentatively for dishes to be considered noteworthy reinventions. They’re often too cool or too hot. The space reflects the menu as it seesaws between a casual lounge — tabletop game system and all — and a high-priced fine dining establishment. Price range: $$$$$$ Parking: Valet Attire: Business Casual Alcohol: Full bar Outdoor seating: Yes Reservations: Recommended Cuisine Type: New American

5 articles

Eleven:Eleven Restaurant & Bar

607 W. Gray St. River Oaks

713-529-5881

New American, Seafood, Southern, Critics' Pick

Situated on the northern border between Montrose and Midtown, Eleven: Eleven seems out of place. It's an upscale dining restaurant with playful interpretations of classic dishes frequented by people who look like they belong in River Oaks. And yet it works. The seafood/Southern/wild game restaurant manages to produce something to please anyone and everyone - from the perfectly braised short ribs to the raw oysters to the decadent brunch offerings. Chef Kevin Bryant and house manager Joe Welborn developed some of the menu items together, and though the decor is muted and reserved, the food and cocktail lists reflect the duo's mischievous approach to cooking. Why not serve an open-faced foie gras sandwich for lunch? Who wouldn't like fried candy bars for dessert? More than 30 different types of raw oysters on the menu? We can do that! It's this attitude about dining that makes Eleven: Eleven not only fun and delicious, but also a place you'll want to return to again and again.

6 articles

Empire Cafe

1732 Westheimer Lower Shepherd-Kirby

713-528-5282

Breakfast, Cafe, New American, Recommended

This place is the overnight epicenter of Inner Loop chic. In a swell, saffron-hued room right out of L.A., Houston's hipsters congregate for cafe latte, killer handmade layer cakes, verdant focaccia sandwiches and baby pizzas (try the lush mushroom-and-pesto). Baked egg frittatas may sing the dry-texture blues, but hunter's-style eggs make a breakfast worth getting up for.

4 articles

Farrago

318 Gray St. Downtown/ Midtown

713-523-6404

Fusion, New American, Recommended, Menu

This trendy Midtown bar and grill has a sign that reads "World cuisine" over the entrance. But Farrago does better with the simple stuff. There's a great crunchy pizza, an excellent Caesar salad, a list of innovative and inexpensive wines and one of the best burgers in the city - everything you could ask for in a neighborhood restaurant.

2 articles

Felix 55

5510 Morningside Dr. Kirby-West U

713-590-0610

New American, Bars and Clubs, Recommended, Menu

Don't let the casual location in Rice Village fool you: Felix 55 is an upscale eatery at its heart, with price points to match. The cocktail bar, with its "from scratch" cocktails, is the most casual thing about Felix 55, which transitions into a very adult, very elegant dining room in muted tones of taupe and gray. Dishes are similarly restrained, but with a punch of cheekiness: mesquite-smoked duck with couscous and fig mostarda or a chicken-and-waffles dish with pan gravy and harvest beans. Brunch is remarkably well-priced, however, and includes an excellent cocktail selection.

Field & Tides Restaurant & Bar (FTRB)

705 E. 11th St. Heights

713-861-6143

Southern, New American, Seafood, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

Field & Tides or FTRB as it appears in bold blue lettered signage opened on February 13, 2017. The bright, little blue and white house with a huge presence in the Heights is chef/co-owner Travis Lenig’s first restaurant after leaving F.E.E.D.Tx. and the Liberty Kitchen. Lenig, along with partner Christopher “Chico” Ramirez as director of operations presents a Southern-inspired menu of land and sea dishes. Throughout the menu, there are hints of Italian, French and Asian flavor and the cocktail list created by Monique Hernandez (formerly of Liberty Kitchen River Oaks) reads like a dream. The pimento cheese fritters and oysters on the half-shell make for a great start. Seafood entrees are fresh and executed beautifully. Sit outside on the spacious patio to enjoy a meal; it can get uncomfortably loud inside at dinnertime.

8 articles

Frank's Americana Revival & White Star Bar

3736 Westheimer Greenway Plaza

713-572-8600

American, Cajun, Creole, New American, Southern, Steakhouse, Recommended, Menu

Located near the corner of Weslayan on Westheimer Frank's Americana Revival offers classic American food food with a strong dose of Texas hospitality. Owned by Michael Shine and his son and partner Chris Shine, this upscale restaurant operates much like a mom-and-pop restaurant, making you feel welcome and cared for. Executive chef Albert Estrada does a fine job delivering gourmet versions of dishes that we all know and love: chicken-fried steak, buttermilk fried chicken, USDA prime rib eye steak and Lyonnaise potatoes, and Gouda mac 'n cheese, to name a few. Frank's also offers a good happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at its White Star Bar.

5 articles

Glass Wall, The Restaurant

933A Studewood Heights

713-868-7930

American, Bistro, New American

This is one of the best new restaurants that's opened in Houston in years. Call it a "New American Surfer Bistro" if you're looking for a category. But don't get too fixated on anything in particular, because the menu changes monthly. You can only hope they have some slow-cooked short ribs and hand-cut French fries when you show up.

2 articles

Good Dog Houston

903 Studewood St. Heights

832-800-3647

Fast Casual, Hot Dogs, New American, Vegetarian, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow, Readers' Choice

Though some might balk at paying more than $6 for a hot dog, take note: These are worth every penny. Good Dog Houston's signature hot dogs were such a hit on the food truck that its owners, Amalia Pferd and Daniel Caballero, were able to open a restaurant and serve their hot dogs six days a week. Every ingredient -- from the condiments to the buns to the dogs themselves -- is made in Texas, and most are produced right here in Houston. Try the Ol' Zapata for a spicy, overstuffed frank, or the New Yorker, which is topped with sauerkraut, a more traditional approach. The restaurant also allows Good Dog to branch out into salads, sandwiches and soups, all of which give the dogs a run for their money.

24 articles

The Grove

1611 Lamar St. Downtown/ Midtown

713-337-7314

New American, Restaurants, Best Of

This restaurant was once a main attraction for downtown diners, but it's now more of a large-scale version of Café Express - the Schiller Del Grande group's chain of fast-casual restaurants - for the upscale set. Prices are still high, but the quality of the food - tough, greasy chicken tacos and over-marinated, gloppy ceviche, for example - is not worth the outlay of cash.

29 articles

Guard and Grace

Allen Center, 500 Dallas St. Downtown/ Midtown

346-326-0789

New American

1 event

Home Plate Bar & Grill

1800 Texas East End

713-222-1993

American, New American, Recommended

You'd think that a bar and grill located across the street from Minute Maid Park would serve up only bar food. While the wings and burgers are the Home Plate's most requested fares, they're not stand-outs here. Instead, try the mouthwatering chicken pesto pasta, which arrives swimming in a cream sauce, along with warm bread sticks. The warm spinach salad - "flash sautéed" baby spinach, red peppers and roasted onions, topped with blue cheese crumbles - is a hands-down winner.

Hubbell & Hudson Bistro

24 Waterway Ave., The Woodlands Outside Houston

281-203-5641

New American, Restaurants, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Gone are the days of the market, bistro and Viking cooking school at Hubbell & Hudson. The market closed and the culinary classes were eliminated in April 2014, but the bistro remains. This Woodlands restaurant showcases the talent of executive chef Austin Simmons through his seasonal menu offerings. Hubbell & Hudson originally began serving steaks, burgers, sandwiches and plates made from ingredients sold in the market, but now Simmons gathers ingredients from local purveyors, and sources various meat and seafood from around the world. Dishes like the delicate sea bass topped with luscious lump crab meat smothered in a beautiful, creamy choron sauce (a twist on the classic bearnaise sauce that features tomato paste instead of tarragon) sitting atop a creamy puree of lemon and goat cheese yukon potatoes illustrate Simmons's culinary expertise. Diners should also check out Simmons’s ambitious tasting menu restaurant Cureight, nestled in the depths of the restaurant near the kitchen. The earthy yet ambitious dishes with equally ambitious and savvy wine pairings, is an hours-long dining experience well worth driving for. Houstonians who live far from The Woodlands might even consider a “staycation” in the Market Square area so they don’t have to drive home afterward.

19 articles

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New American in Houston