15 Best Italian Restaurants in Houston
From family-owned restaurants to small chains you can find across the state, this list includes every version of the best Italian restaurants in Houston. Our top three: Coppa Osteria, Ostia, and Roma, all have the classics of Italian cuisine, but each has its own special twists. Coppa Osteria and Ostia are on the pricey side, and Roma has more mid-ranged pricing.
Best 15 Italian Restaurants in Houston
- Coppa Osteria
- Ostia
- Roma
- Cavatore
- Coltivare
- North Italia
- La Griglia
- Potente
- Trattoria Sofia
- Rosalie Italian Soul
- Tiny Champions
- Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino
- Lulu’s
- Paulie’s
- Carrabba’s
1. Coppa Osteria
Location: 5210 Morningside Dr, Houston, TX 77005
Coppa Osteria pairs food and lifestyle. They have an extensive wine and cocktail menu to find the perfect pairing to their classic Italian cuisine. Crowd favorites are their Neapolitan-style pizzas. They are on the pricier side of some of the options on this list, but their ambiance and food are worth it for a nice dinner out.
Hours
- Monday – Thursday, 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Friday & Saturday, 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Sunday, 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
2. Ostia
Location: 2032 Dunlavy, Houston, TX 77006
Ostia is a farm-to-table restaurant that serves lighter Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on Italian. They have a more unique menu than the others on this list and are on the more expensive side, but their meals are worth it. They have a natural-light-filled dining room and an air-conditioned patio to enjoy their food in a comfortable and chic setting.
Hours
- Monday, Closed
- Tuesday – Saturday, 11 am – 3 pm, 5 pm – 10 pm
- Sunday, 11:30 am – 3 pm, 5 pm – 9 pm
3. Roma
Location: 2347 University Blvd, Houston, TX 77005
Roma provides all the traditional Italian dishes. They source ingredients locally when possible and pair their dishes with regional wines. They are a great place for all your favorite pasta and pizzas.
Hours
- Monday – Wednesday, 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM
- Thursday – Saturday, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Sunday, Closed
4. Cavatore
Location: 2120 Ella Blvd, Houston, TX 77008
Cavatore is owned by an Italian family that moved to the US. They wanted to commemorate their country and bring together the US, Italy, and Texas, hence why their flag is a blend of the three. They have all the traditional dishes made how they would be in Italy and a wide variety of wines.
Hours
- Monday – Friday, 11 am to 1:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
- Saturday, 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
- Sunday, Closed
5. Coltivare
Location: 3320 WHITE OAK DRIVE, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77007
With ingredients from their own backyard garden and sourced locally from Houston, COltivare has a rustic Italian Menu with a gulf coast influence. With dishes like Gulf swordfish and wild shrimp fettuccine, they put a coastal twist on classic Italian dishes.
Hours
- Sunday, 5 PM – 9 PM
- Tuesday, Closed
- Monday – Thursday, 5 PM – 10 PM
- Friday & Saturday, 5 PM – 11 PM
6. North Italia
Location: 1700 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 190, Houston, TX 77056
North Italia provides a vibrant setting for delicious Italian cuisine. They have all the classics and are great for a meal any time of the day. As a chain, they have perfected their dishes and even have a chef’s choice pizza each day. They are one of the cheaper options on this list but don’t mistake a lower price for a lack of quality food and flavors.
Hours
- Brunch: Saturday – Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm
- Lunch: Monday – Friday, 11 am – 4 pm
- Dinner: Sunday – Tuesday, 4 pm – 10 pm
- Wednesday – Saturday, 4 pm – 11 pm
7. La Griglia
Location: 2002 West Gray St, Houston, TX 77019
La Griglia has been in Houston for 30 years and has been a top spot for Italian food ever since. With a casual environment and delicious Italian classics, they’re a great spot for lunch or dinner.
Hours
- Sunday, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Monday – Thursday, 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Friday, 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Saturday, 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
8. Potente
Location: 1515 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002
Potente is an upscale, modern Italian restaurant in downtown Houston. With locally sourced ingredients and an upscale twist on Italian classics, Potente is a great place for a high-end Italian dinner in Houston.
Hours
- Monday – Thursday, 5-10 PM
- Friday & Saturday, 5-11 PM
- Sunday, Closed
9. Trattoria Sofia
Location: 911 W 11th St, Houston, TX 77008
Trattoria Sofia offers high-end, locally-sourced Italian classics with a twist. With a charming dining room and an air-conditioned patio, get transported straight to Italy itself and enjoy traditional, rustic Italian cuisine.
Hours
- Sunday – Tuesday, 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
- Wednesday – Saturday, 11:00 am – 11:00 pm (Kitchen closes at 10 pm)
10. Rosalie Italian Soul
Location: C. Baldwin Hotel 400 Dallas St, Houston, TX 77002
Rosalie Italian Soul is named after Chef Chris Cosentio’s grandmother and channels her classic Italian cooking into modern dishes with local Houston ingredients. Find all your favorite classics with a twist and stop by for a delicious and cozy meal.
Hours
- Brunch: Saturday & Sunday, 10 AM – 3 PM
- Lunch: Daily, 11 AM – 2 PM
- Dinner: Sunday – Thursday, 5 PM – 9 PM
- Friday & Saturday, 5 PM – 10 PM
11. Tiny Champions
Location: 2617 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77003
Tiny Champions is a casual Italian restaurant with all the classics. Along with the entrees, their desserts are unique and delicious.
Hours
- Monday, Closed
- Tuesday – Thursday, 5 pm – 10 pm
- Friday & Saturday, 5 pm – 11 pm
- Sunday, 4 pm – 9 pm
12. Giacomo’s Cibo e Vino
Location: 3215 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77098
Giacomo’s is a casual Italian restaurant with all the classics. They have a cafe and a wine bar for the perfect pairings with their signature hot and cold small plates and antipasti.
Hours
- Sunday & Monday, Closed
- Tuesday – Saturday, 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
13. Lulu’s
Location: 2518 KIRBY DRIVE, HOUSTON, TX 77019
Lulu’s is a rustic Italian restaurant in Houston. They serve all the classics in a warm and rustic dining room.
Hours
- Sunday, 11 AM – 9 PM
- Monday & Tuesday, 11:30 AM – 9 PM
- Wednesday – Friday, 11:30 AM – 10 PM
- Saturday, 11 AM – 10 PM
14. Paulie’s
Location: 1834 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas
Paulie’s is a family-owned restaurant with all the best Italian classics from paninis, pasta, and pizzas. They also have their own wine bar at the restaurant.
Hours
- Monday – Saturday, 11 am – 9 pm
- Sunday, Closed
15. Carrabba’s
Location: 11339 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079
Carrabba’s is a chain across the country, and it succeeds everywhere for good reason. With all your favorite Italian classics and delicious cocktails and wine pairings for each meal, it’s a great place for your next lunch or dinner.
Hours
- Monday – Thursday, 11 am – 10 pm
- Friday & Saturday, 11 am – 11 pm
- Sunday, 11 am – 9 pm
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for traditional Italian pasta or fettuccine with a twist, this list has every option you could want for Italian cuisine in Houston. Stop by these top 15 places for Italian in Houston, and let us know what you think!
