Where to Eat in Houston Right Now: 10 Beautiful Restaurants for May — When the Setting Matches the Food

Editor’s note: The Houston restaurant scene is constantly changing, with new hotspots, must-try places and major foodie events coming along on a daily basis. Even the most dedicated eater can have trouble keeping up. Don’t worry, PaperCity has you covered.

Here are May’s must-eat Houston restaurants:

Victor

4321 Montrose

This luxe French bar may be known for rich velvety decor and its custom DJ booth crafted of Louis Vuitton luggage, but it’s more than just adventurous visuals and plush digs. The late night lounge has mastered classic cocktails such as the Negroni and martini.

Then there are the cocktails of its own creations, like the Shishi with Frangelico and prosecco, or Epicee with grey Goose, jalapeno ginger paste and ginger beer. They’re best enjoyed with serious shareables. You can start with something traditional with the solid Deauville cheese board, or live it up with the Saint-Tropez board, where it’s all eyes on caviar and fresh cream. 

Bloom & Bee

1600 West Loop South

This new Post Oak Hotel restaurant is a highlight as much for its decor as it is for its food. The ambience is soft and delicate, all pastels, blown glass flowers and natural light. It’s an impressive look — and likely to draw birthday parties and bridal and baby showers. The setting makes crisp cocktails like the Grapefruit Collins and Hibiscus Margarita all the better.

The menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner are each extensive with some light options along with more decadent ones. Grilled flatbreads like Nueske’s bacon and gruyere cheese are indulgent enough to share. You’ll want the Maine lobster roll all for yourself.

Postino Wine Cafe

642 Yale

Postino? No problem. This all-day wine cafe in Heights Mercantile offers up the happiest of hours from 11 am to 5 pm, with $5 wines by the glass. The carefully curated wine list features 40 selections by the bottle and 30 by the glass. You’ll find vintages from Spain to Germany to the West Coast and beyond.

Too early to take on a glass? Go for food with the bruschetta. You can choose four options from a list of 11 or so, including prosciutto with figs and mascarpone and almond hummus with chopped tomato. Heights locals are keen on Postino’s brunch, especially with an expertly crafted Bellini.

Cureight by Hubbel & Hudson

24 Waterway, #125

This one is out in The Woodlands, but it’s definitely worth the drive. Curelight offers a weekly rotating eight-course tasting menu at an always-crowded 25-seat chef’s table. Past menus include Hamachi, chargrilled octopus, Wagyu dishes and more. There’s even a pre-dessert course to prime your palate before you get to the real sweets.

For a complete experience, you can choose wine pairings or “exotic pairings,” which include some wines, some cocktails and some beers. Cureight is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 5 to 9 pm.

Rodeo Goat Ice House

2105 Dallas

The Dallas fast casual foodie scene’s invaded EaDo with Rodeo Goat, a joint known for its crazy good burgers with even crazier names. The rodeo flair is everywhere, from a vintage sign to the oversized patio. It’s fit for the laid-back diner as well as one who shows up after work in a suit.

Some of the burger monikers are straight out of a Houston handbook. You’ve got the veggie patty named for ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons, a burger with a heaping helping of apple-wood smoked bacon, and one even named for rapper Mike Jones.

La Fisheria

213 Milam

After a harrowing hit from Harvey Hurricane, La Fisheria is finally back in business. The Mexican seafood restaurant is off of Market Square Park and it’s already a hotspot for downtown denizens and anyone after they grab drinks down the street.

La Fisheria is known for its fresh ceviches, such as the Ceviche Verde with Sevilla orange juice, tomatillo sauce and radish. Of course, you can’t turn to that before Chips de puplo, octopus served over homemade potato chips with avocado and lime juice. There’s also a kids menu for the little ones in your life.

The Hay Merchant

1100 Westheimer

This one’s an oldie but a goodie — with a twist. Hay Merchant started lunch service for the first time in April. You read that right. That means no waiting till evening to get fried calamari, silver platter nachos or even Chris Shepherd’s special Korean braised goat and dumplings.

You’d be remiss if you didn’t sample from Hay Merchant’s superior beer selection. You’ll find everything from your familiar Imperial IPAs to Russian Imperial Stouts, Wild Ales, Saisons and German-style Pilsners.

Italian American Grocery Co.

3605 White Oak

This place is both grocery store and a restaurant. It’s brimming with imported goods for you to take home if you want to whip up an authentic international meal on your own. Or if you’re looking for take-out, nab imported frozen or in-house, hand-crafted pizzas and lasagnas so you can enjoy something authentic without the work.

If you’re going for a cooking night, choose from the boutique grocery store’s dried pasta, olive oils, cheeses and 60 kinds of pasta sauce. For the take-out folks, you can call in your orders for now, but an online ordering system is on the way.

Helen Greek Food & Wine

2429 Rice

Helen in The Heights

1111 Studewood

This piece of Greece will have you tasting the Mediterranean whether you’re tucked away in Rice Village or looking out from the patio on Studewood in The Heights. Many places purport to serve authentic Greek food, but few come close to Helen.

The avgolemono soup alone is proof of that — a warming combination of tangy egg lemon sauce, orzo, winter squash and dill, which you can enjoy either vegetarian or with chicken. The feta-brined chicken is a favorite, served with traditional Greek lemon-roasted potatoes.

Les Noo’dle

1717 Montrose

This one’s a winner, pho sure. The newly opened Vietnamese restaurant is a big boon for those who love Asian food but don’t really want to venture outside the Loop. Just because it’s not in Chinatown doesn’t mean Les Noo’dle doesn’t get it right.

The Houston restaurant’s already racking up the positive reviews for its vegan, chicken and beef pho. Dry chicken is a classic. There are many add-ons to choose from, like fatty brisket and filet mignon for the beef pho.