Best Places to Eat and Enjoy Food in Houston, Texas

I judge restaurants by their drinks first. Weird, I know. But if the cocktails are lazy, the kitchen usually is too, and I've been right about that more often than wrong. A buddy asked where to go for dinner with a bar that isn't an afterthought, so I'm typing it up before I forget half of it.

Why the Bar Comes First

Everybody talks about the entree. Nobody talks about the first twenty minutes, when you're waiting on a table with nothing in your hand. A good cocktail bar in Houston fixes that. You start the night relaxed instead of annoyed, and that carries through the whole dinner.

Look at the Room Before You Order

You can tell a lot in about ten seconds. A big curved bar in the middle of the room feels like a place people actually want to sit, not a counter shoved in a corner for show. It works for a solo drink, a first date, or waiting for the friend who's late every single time. If the bartenders look bored, I leave. Simple as that.

House-Infused Stuff Is Worth the Hype

I used to roll my eyes at "infused." Then I tried a drink made with spirits infused in-house and, okay, fine, it tasted different. Deeper, more layered, less like sugar and booze. It's extra work for a bar team, so when somebody does it, it tells me they care. That's the kind of detail that makes a cocktail bar in Houston stand out from the pack.

The Old Fashioned Test

If I want to size up a bar fast, I order an old fashioned. It's hard to hide behind. The Roasted Pecan Old Fashioned is the one people keep bringing up, nutty and a little sweet and smooth. I'm not even a big whiskey guy and I finished it quicker than I want to admit.

Other Drinks If Whiskey Isn't You

The Modern Aviation is a more polished take on the classic, and the Emerald Margarita is tequila, lime and agave with no weird stuff in it. Beer people get a rotating list of local brews. Wine people get bottles from Napa, Bordeaux and plenty of places between. Nobody's stuck with one boring option, which matters when your group can't agree.

Happy Hour Is Where the Math Works

Okay, here's where my wallet gets involved. Signature cocktails are half price, beer is $2 off, and wine by the glass is $3 off, mostly in the 3 to 6 window. The wider social hour runs to around 7, Tuesday through Sunday. It's the cheapest way to try a place you've never been to. Times shift now and then, so double-check before you drive over.

Small Plates Turn It Into Dinner

You don't have to order a giant entree. Skillet bread with chimichurri and Grana Padano goes first, always, usually before anyone's finished sitting down. Then fried okra with Old Bay, fingerling bravas, cauliflower hummus with pistachios, or a plain tomato pizza. Share four or five between two people and you're full, bill still reasonable.

A Wine Room That's a Little Ridiculous

Behind glass there's a wine room with over 1,400 bottles. I know almost nothing about wine, so I mostly stare at it. If you do know your stuff, you'll have a blast. If you're like me, ask the staff what goes with what you're eating food places in Houston, Texas, because nobody's ever made me feel dumb for asking. They also run wine tastings with the in-house sommelier, so ask when the next one is.

Stay for the Steak If the Night Turns Good

Plenty of times I've planned one drink and stayed three more hours. The steaks are hand-cut, dry aged in-house, and cooked over wood and coal, so you get that smoky crust. Filet is soft and mild, and the dry aged New York strip is bolder, which I always order. If you want something lighter, the roasted branzino with herbs and the yellowtail crudo are both good, and the griddle cheeseburger with fries is better than it has any right to be.

Weekends, Brunch, and the Annoying Details

Weekends bring live music to the lounge, loud enough to feel alive but not so loud you're shouting. Brunch runs 11 to 3 on Saturday and Sunday, with mimosa and bloody mary flights, which is a dangerous idea before noon. Weeknights are calmer and easier to plan, and weekends fill up fast, so reserve if you're bringing a group. It's closed Mondays, and I learned that once at a different restaurant, standing outside at 6 p.m., hungry and embarrassed.

The Short Version

You don't need a perfect plan. Good drinks, food that holds up, a room where you can relax, and a deal if you go early. That's most of what I want from a night out. If you'd like to see it for yourself, Fielding's Steak is at 3750 Westheimer Road in River Oaks. Come by for happy hour, stay for dinner if you feel like it, and book a table online first on weekends, because it fills up quick.

FAQs

What should I order first?
Start with the Roasted Pecan Old Fashioned and a plate of skillet bread. If you want a steak after that, the dry aged New York strip is a safe pick.

When is happy hour?
The main specials run from about 3 to 6, and the social hour goes until around 7, Tuesday through Sunday. Times can change, so check before you go.

Do I need a reservation for the bar?
Walk-ins are usually fine, especially on weeknights. For groups or weekends, booking ahead saves you the wait.

Can I make a meal out of the small plates?
Yeah, easily. Share a few between two people and it works as dinner, or stay for the regular menu if you want a steak.