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Best Cajun Restaurant

Danton's

Photo by Troy Fields
Danton Nix isn't Cajun, but you'd never know it from his spot-on Cajun and Creole dishes at his namesake restaurant. Tucked into an unassuming building in the Museum District, Danton's always feels like your own secret discovery. Nights spent gulping down fresh Gulf oysters in the mahogany-paneled bar with an IPA or Sundays spent at its laid-back jazz brunches are some of the best dining experiences to be had in Houston. Try the oyster stew with tasso or the crawfish half-and-half for a taste of the Big Easy in the Bayou City.

Best Restaurant Atmosphere

Moon Tower Inn

You don't just come to Moon Tower for the hot dogs; you come for the sign that says "This ain't fast food. Shut up and wait!" You don't come to grab your dogs and wolf them down in five minutes; you come to share pitchers of Real Ale and throw horseshoes with your friends. You come to watch motorcycle gangs mingle with hipsters arriving on fixies, Second Ward neighbors mixing with downtowners just off work. You come to watch the sun go down over downtown on this otherwise quiet stretch of Canal, then watch the backyard at Moon Tower come to life at night like a beacon in the dark. You come here to come home. Yes, and for the hot dogs, too.

Best Sangria

Ibiza Food & Wine Bar

The sangria at Ibiza Food & Wine Bar, with its light and fruity flavors, is the perfect summer drink. Not overwhelmed by the red wine, Ibiza's version has an aromatic sweetness that tastes mildly of melons; a sip, and you'll be transported to summers in Spain. The only improvement we can think of would be for Ibiza to offer this sangria by the pitcher; for now, it's available only by the glass and costs $6.

Best Gay-Friendly Restaurant

Ziggy's Bar & Grill

Deep in the heart of the Gayborhood, Ziggy's has been taking all comers and serving them delicious, healthy food for years, long before the corner of Fairview and Taft became the hot spot that it is today. Ziggy's proudly proclaims that 70 percent of its customers are regulars, and you'll see why so many of them return again and again to the creaky old dining room or well-manicured patio. The rainbow flags hung outside are repeated in the restaurant's multicolored logo, and its Twitter account isn't only a guide to what they're serving that day, but updates on local queer news like helpful Pride Parade tips and links to articles about the new remembrance garden down the street for gay victims of violence.

Best Beef Noodle Soup

San Dong Noodle House

The beef soup at Chinatown's San Dong Noodle House (formerly Santong Snack) is a rich, full-bodied potion, dark in color and redolent with the aroma of long-simmered meat. If you order the Roast Beef Soup Noodle, you get the broth plus a handful of baby bok choy, a pile of long, medium-thick wheat noodles, and diced, pickled vegetables. If you order the Roast Beef Noodle (and you should), you get all of the above as well as several large chunks of beef. Make no mistake: The richness of the broth comes from the fattiness of the beef. This is no soup for a diet. But boy, does it hit the spot. The staff can be a bit impatient if you dither at the counter about your order, but in part that's because of the line of hungry people behind you.

Best Italian Restaurant

Capri Pasta Pizza & More

This little restaurant with a silly name (there's no pizza served here anymore), located in a neglected strip center, is a drive for most Houstonians. But it's worth every mile. Owner Barbara Coglianese hails from Imola and has imported her Bolognese-style Italian food almost part and parcel to this surprisingly authentic spot. The lasagna here verges on indescribable, with improbably fine layers and soft mascarpone playing against a sweetly tart marinara sauce. Handmade gnocchi are another treat, softly covered with a Gorgonzola-brightened four-cheese sauce. BYOB and show up early; Capri gets quickly packed every night thanks to its fine food and equally fine service (keep your eye out for Coglianese's young son, the best waiter in the house).

Best New Restaurant

Pondicheri Cafe

There's nothing else like Pondicheri in Houston, not even Indika, Anita Jaisinghani's first and extant modern Indian restaurant in Montrose. Here in River Oaks, Pondicheri shakes up everything you thought you knew about Indian street food, offering Jaisinghani's updated interpretations for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even tea. Breakfast and lunch are counter-service affairs, inexpensive and filling, with items like a breakfast thali with a little of everything, or a frankie to-go (that's an Indian breakfast taco; give it a try). At night, the space is truly alive with a buzzing energy from the busy kitchen and the packed dining room, with table service bringing out immense plates of Texas shrimp chaat and clever wine-based cocktails from the small but inviting bar.

Best Hot Dog

BB's Beef & Hot Dog

Everything at this tidy little restaurant run by husband-and-wife team Charles and Brenda Rivers is a Chicago specialty, from the pizza puffs to the hot Italian beef. So you know that the Chicago-style hot dogs they serve — dragged through the garden on a steamed poppyseed bun with a thick Vienna beef dog tucked inside — are the real deal. The dogs here are fresh and lively, with just a bit of heat from the sport peppers that is best cooled off by another Chicago specialty: Italian ice.

Best Brunch Restaurant

Mia Bella

Among the Mia Bella locations around town, it's this captivating space on the corner of Main and Preston that's our favorite: It's easily accessed by light rail, although you'll find ample space to park downtown on a quiet Sunday morning. And although the streets may be calm, Mia Bella always draws a healthy crowd to its festive weekend brunches for a multitude of reasons: "bottomless" mimosas and bellinis; exceptional service that puts you in a good mood even mid-hangover; tall windows that stream sunlight into the dining room; and, of course, delicious food. The Eggs Mia Bella uses sautéed vegetables and potatos in place of ham, under a bright and clean Hollandaise and two poached eggs, while the French toast spread with cinnamon-and-sugar-spiked ricotta and fresh berries is an all-star dish.

Best Restaurant

Da Marco

Photo by Houston Press staff
In a city that lacks truly amazing Italian food, Marco Wiles has been toiling at perfecting his restaurant's cuisine for years. And it's work that has paid off. Gourmet once said of Da Marco that it's "as close to Italy as you can possibly get without leaving Texas." That was exactly Wiles's aim when he opened Da Marco more than a decade ago; he once said, "I wanted to open an Italian restaurant that would succeed in Italy." Italy aside, Da Marco has succeeded and thrived in Houston for its impeccable service, comfortable interior and expertly handled food. From whole-roasted fish cooked in a wood-burning oven to classic pastas like pappardelle with rabbit, the menu here is both Texan and Italian at once, without ever sacrificing the feel and authenticity of the latter.

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