Oporto's Midtown location opened without a lot of fanfare, content to sit quietly until curious diners drifted in and discovered this elegant gem. Owned by husband and wife team Rick Di Virgilio and chef Shiva Patel-Di Virgilio, Oporto takes the best of their earlier endeavors — the original Oporto and Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen — and combines them into a sophisticated whole. Oporto is as much a pleasure for a casual sup at the bar as it is for whiling away the hours over a multicourse meal and bottles of wine with friends. Tapas are seafood-focused and favorites include croquetas de bacalhau (salted cod croquettes), polvo com batatas (charred octopus) and littleneck clams bathed in white wine sauce . There's a wine list spanning the world from Portugal to Chile that makes it almost too easy to find a splendid pairing. With so much here to appreciate, Oporto is sure to serve up many culinary adventures for Houston diners.
READERS' CHOICE: B&B Butchers & Restaurant