Caracol

Caracol is the latest restaurant from duo Tracy Vaught and Hugo Ortega, who also own and operate Backstreet Cafe and Hugo's. Caracol is a nod to Ortega's Mexican roots and his love of the seemingly endless Mexican coastline, particularly around the Yucatan Peninsula. The lengthy menu of this Galleria-area restaurant is largely seafood, but Ortega does include some Hugo's standbys, like his signature mole and more traditional central Mexican cuisine. It's the seafood that really shines, though — particularly the roasted oysters, octopus salad and whole-roasted fish, all of which are treated with the respect the top-quality ingredients deserve. Sean Beck heads the beverage development, and Ortega's brother, Reuben, makes the desserts, which are unique and wonderful with a glass of carefully curated bubbly or one of Beck's exotic mezcal cocktails. In the evening, the bar becomes a place to see and be seen, but the restaurant half of the space remains a good spot for a lively family meal.