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17 Iconic Houston Dining Rooms

Sixteen of Houston's iconic dining rooms
Sixteen of Houston's iconic dining rooms

Unlike iconic food or drinks, defining Houston's iconic dining rooms has proven to be a tricky process. First, so many of Houston's oldest restaurants, like Tony's or RDG + Bar Annie (in Cafe Annie form), have changed locations or design over the years. Brennan's may be an iconic Houston restaurant, but the restaurant remodeled after nearly burning to the ground during Hurricane Ike. Second, design details that seemed like showstoppers when the restaurant opened, like the mural at La Griglia, feel dated and out of touch now. Eating in Chinatown is great, but the dining rooms are so generic-looking that it's hard to tell one from another.

With those problems in mind, consider the restaurants in this gallery to be the new icons. Or maybe the future icons: restaurants with thoughtful designs that are setting a new standard for Houston restaurants. They embody spaces that are warm and welcoming rather than clubby and exclusive. Comfortable rather than cold. Plus, there's a few classics thrown in so angry commenters don't completely excoriate the choices.

Feel free to sound off on what's missing in the comments. We can take it.

La Fisheria Houston

4705 Inker Street, Houston, Texas 77007 713-802-1712

L'Olivier Restaurant & Bar

240 Westheimer Road, , TX 77006 (713) 360-6313 Visit Website

RDG + Bar Annie

1800 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, TX 77056 713 840 1111 Visit Website

Rainbow Lodge

2011 Ella Boulevard, , TX 77008 (713) 861-8666 Visit Website

The Pass & Provisions

807 Taft Street, , TX 77019 (713) 628-9020 Visit Website

Triniti

2815 S Shepherd Drive, Houston, TX 77098 Visit Website

Underbelly

1100 Westheimer Road, , TX 77006 (713) 528-9800 Visit Website

Katsuya

2800 Kirby Drive, Houston, Texas 77098 713 590 2800

Gilhooley's Restaurant

222 9th Street, Dickinson, Tx 77539 (281) 339-3813

Goode Company Seafood

2621 Westpark Drive, , TX 77098 (713) 523-7154 Visit Website

Coppa Ristorante Italiano

5555 Washington Avenue, Houston, TX 77007 713 426 4260

Artisans Restaurant

3201 Louisiana Street, , TX 77006 (713) 529-9111 Visit Website

Philippe Restaurant + Lounge

1800 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77056 713 439 1000 Visit Website

The Grove Restaurant

1611 Lamar, Houston, Texas Visit Website