Italian Food and Cooking

Galveston Restaurant Week

Bartender Chat: Stephen Caronna Of Piola

​The first time I went to Piola, I thought "damn, this place is bright." It had been a crappy, rainy Monday. I was hungry and in a nasty mood, but the place actually cheered me up. It was happy hour, and I ended up getting pretty happy. I ordered a few French 75s for $5 each and the Rio de Jan ... More >>

Casual Coppa

This restaurant impresses with simple, harmonious flavors — and its refusal to over-impress.

Late Night Scene: Max's Wine Dive

At Max's Wine Dive at 10:30 p.m., it is the rare table that doesn't have wine on the table. But having had enough, our group just orders food. Around the table, attractive couples lean toward each other in those annoying, tiny bar tables over glasses of white wine. It's mostly couples except for ... More >>

Stuffed Dates at Be-Wiched

At Max's Wine Dive at 10:30 p.m., it is the rare table that doesn't have wine on the table. But having had enough, our group just orders food. Around the table, attractive couples lean toward each other in those annoying, tiny bar tables over glasses of white wine. It's mostly couples except for ... More >>

Two-Handed Job

Ruggles Cafe Bakery

Squid Kids

Whodathunkit? A kid-friendly Italian-American restaurant with killer red sauce

Osso Buco Me? Osso Buco You!

Our food critic gets tossed out of another restaurant

The Cow Says "Oink"

Which Houston restaurants are swapping pork for veal?

Come Back to Sorrento

The latest addition to the "Restaurant District" on lower Westheimer is a gem

Houston Vice

Vizio can't seem to keep ingredients in stock -- even on slow nights

Sandwich On Demand

The District 7 Grill must have muffulettas

Best Gelato

Nundini Food Store

Ice Cream Sandwich

Nundini Food Store's panini are good, but their gelati are great

Wet Noodle

Spaghetti marinara is pretty hard to mess up, but they've found a way at Palazzo's Italian Café

Insanely Good

Josephine's Italian Ristorante

Nice Gnocchi

Simposio

The Luck of the Gnocchi

Italian-South Americans can take pride in chef Ricardo Giannotti

Best Neighborhood Spot in Bellaire

Auntie Pasto's

The Great White Pizza

At La Barmigiana, the decor may be tacky, but the pizza is divine

Focacciaboutit

Dolce & Freddo

Main Street Refuge

The Osteria d'Aldo Martini

Better By Design

Seven months and $3 million later, the eatery at the Four Seasons emerges even better than before

Pasta Perfect

At Fabio's, the atmosphere and the Alfredo sauce are old clichés. But so is "Mom's apple pie," and it's still good.

Fall For It

La Griglia

Black and White

Arcodoro

Toque Off

Viva la differènza!

For the Love of Sauerkraut

Somehow a restaurant from the Black Forest finds its way to Midtown

Conditional Amore

Best as a neighborhood joint

Don't Mess with the Family

Lunch with Michael May

Nothing Small About It

The expansive Maggiano's Little Italy serves portions to match

Love at First Bite

Da Marco woos one over drinks, seduces with menu

Drowning in Marinara

The last thing downtown needs is another mediocre Italian eatery like Brothers Petronella

Get Sauced

The Italian Cafe's traditional pastas will warm your heart and soul

Tapas Italianate?

Osteria D'Aldo steals a page from the Spanish cookbook and serves its Italian wonders in small portions

Pasta à la Goth

Osteria D'Aldo steals a page from the Spanish cookbook and serves its Italian wonders in small portions

Italian 101

Osteria D'Aldo steals a page from the Spanish cookbook and serves its Italian wonders in small portions

Island Italian

Luigi's lights up the Strand

The Accidental Italian

Gina Koutros is Greek, and she didn't like Italy. But you'd never know it from her restaurant.

Semper Fidelis

Who needs innovation? Pasquale's stays faithful to the Italian classics.

Platonic Love

Simposio establishes itself as a classic

Pasta Point of No Return

So much Italian food. So overcooked.

Conversion Experience

I was a doubter, but Cafe Beignet won me over

Just Desserts

Corelli's Italian Cafe offers something worth finishing

Plus Ca Change

Birraporetti's has a new chef and a new look. But where's the wow?

Too Much Italian?

Baci goes up against Houston's Italian glut -- and wins

The Fruit of Il Dio di Vin'

Good pasta, iffy fish and much garlic make for a mixed menu

Veni, Vidi Veneto

The Heights' new Italian isn't Venice, but it isn't bad

Hot Plate

The Heights' new Italian isn't Venice, but it isn't bad

A Roma Therapy

Collina's pint-size Italian cafe smells like home