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Where to Splurge on a Seriously Decadent Meal in Houston

Fancy steaks, sophisticated sushi, and more dinners worth the price tag

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Houston has no shortage of excellent cheap eats, but sometimes the occasion calls for a meal that touts an eatery’s culinary prowess while fetching a pretty penny. This map offers a guide to admittedly pricey, always excellent dining options in Space City, from chic steakhouses to fine sushi bars.

Those embarking on a splurge meal should prepare their stomachs and wallets for dazzling dinners that could include lobster, ribeye, or a black truffle-flecked pasta served tableside.

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B&B Butchers & Restaurant

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Steaks, filets, and lobster, oh my. Serving up the finest cuts of meat in town, B&B Butchers on Washington can certainly run up the check, but the quality is always worth it. Try the Gearhart Ranch Wagyu ribeye for $78 or the A5 Wagyu Katsu Sando for $120. Need to go really luxe? Let executive chef Tommy Elbashary guide a twelve-course meat tasting that will set you back $225, or $295 with wine pairings.

Daniel Ortiz

Potente

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It’s no surprise that the posh interior of Jim Crane’s Downtown eatery Potente is matched by an equally heart-stopping price tag. Indulge in menu offerings like braised veal cheeks with lima bean risotto or fire-roasted sea bass with jumbo lump crab. Definitely order the restaurant’s crown jewel — a rich, hearty mound of cacio e pepe pasta topped with slivers of Italian black truffle, shaved tableside.

Enjoy truffle-topped pasta at Potente
Enjoy truffle-topped pasta at Potente
Potente/Facebook

Mastro's Steakhouse

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Tilman Fertitta has spared no expense at his swanky steakhouse inside the chic Post Oak Hotel, which often plays host to Houston bigwigs. The menu reflects the luxe ambiance with dishes like a 12-ounce Japanese A5 cut of Wagyu beef, which is a whopping $200, while more reasonably priced items include Hawaiian swordfish ($40), and Australian rack of lamb ($49). Add a side of lobster mashed potatoes ($38) or Alaskan king crab black truffle gnocchi ($34) for a truly indulgent dinner.

Courtesy Mastro’s Steakhouse

La Table Houston

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The gorgeous, posh interiors of La Table complement the high-class fare and high-dollar price point. La Table has designated each area of the four-tiered dining space with its own signature name and style. The upstairs fine-dining area Château offers a seasonally changing menu featuring food fit for even the most refined French palate. Signature dishes for two include the dover sole meuniere with grilled asparagus in a brown butter sauce for $60 per person, and cognac flamed Texas long-bone Akaushi ribeye for $190. Add a half-ounce pour of luxury cognac Louis XII for a meager $85.

La Table/Facebook

Combining featured menu items from Uchi and Uchiko in Austin, the Houston outpost of this critically acclaimed restaurant has steadily maintained its rank as one of Montrose’s most innovative Japanese dining hotspots. Make a reservation and shell out for the signature Omakase ten-course tasting menu, priced around $150 per person, and let these top-notch sushi chefs guide dinner.

Da Marco Cucina E Vino

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Chef Marco Wiles consistently pulls out all the stops at this luxurious eatery that showcases Tuscany’s finest flavors. Start dinner with grilled octopus, peperoncini, and potatoes ($24), followed by spaghetti with wild Santa Barbara sea urchin and crab ($52), and end with veal chops and thyme roasted tomatoes ($55).

Da Marco interior dining room (resized for map)

One Fifth Gulf Coast

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Chef Chris Shepherd’s ever-changing restaurant is currently focusing on a Gulf Coast theme, which means that the Houston-obsessed chef is seriously in his element. Start dinner with Texas stone crab claws and a muffaletta salad, then dig into duck that’s lacquered with cane syrup, wood-roasted flounder amandine, or fresh Gulf catch served with jalapeno corn chowder.

State of Grace

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Top-notch seafood and beef are worth the splurge at this fancy River Oaks eatery. Expect to spend anywhere from $32-$70 on main courses like the prime ribeye with a demi glace and punched potatoes; smoky beef ribs; duck carnitas with warm bacon fat tortillas; or squid ink pasta. Complete the meal with a sweet slice of lemon pie made with saltine crust, chantilly cream, and candied lemon for the perfect end to a pricey but so-worth-it meal.

Doris Metropolitan Houston

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This ritzy steakhouse is a New Orleans export, bringing with it that classic Crescent City luxe vibe. Here, feast on chateubriand tartare topped with quail egg yolk, red wine braised veal cheek, and beautiful slabs of USDA Prime or Japanese wagyu beef.

Nobu Houston

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Trendy restaurants in Houston open and shutter with the blink of an eye, but Nobu has glided through its first nine months after opening in Clutch City to much fanfare last summer. The service is bar none, and the menu offers a truly fresh and creative experience each visit. Go for the dover sole with yuzu caper sauce, Mishima reserve wagyu tenderloin, and red snapper sashimi with dry miso. For those who prefer a multi-course tasting experience, the Nobu signature tasting menu costs $125 and the Chef’s Choice Omakase menu is $175.

A plate of nigiri and sashimi. Nobu/Facebook

Kiran's Restaurant

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Chef Kiran Verma’s Indian-inspired plates are flanked by excellent service and a beautiful interior. Dig into the extensive menu with dishes like the Chilean sea bass with a poblano mango chutney ($42) or a rack of venison with a fried duck egg and grilled asparagus ($46). After adding traditional vegetarian sides like paneer makhni (house-made cheese in a tomato cream sauce) and malai kofta (vegetarian dumplings in a cashew sauce) plus dessert, meals here easily cost a pretty penny — around $150, not including wine and cocktails.

Kiran's serves up a full GF menu
Kiran’s serves up a full GF menu
Kiran’s/Facebook

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B&B Butchers & Restaurant

Steaks, filets, and lobster, oh my. Serving up the finest cuts of meat in town, B&B Butchers on Washington can certainly run up the check, but the quality is always worth it. Try the Gearhart Ranch Wagyu ribeye for $78 or the A5 Wagyu Katsu Sando for $120. Need to go really luxe? Let executive chef Tommy Elbashary guide a twelve-course meat tasting that will set you back $225, or $295 with wine pairings.

Daniel Ortiz

Potente

It’s no surprise that the posh interior of Jim Crane’s Downtown eatery Potente is matched by an equally heart-stopping price tag. Indulge in menu offerings like braised veal cheeks with lima bean risotto or fire-roasted sea bass with jumbo lump crab. Definitely order the restaurant’s crown jewel — a rich, hearty mound of cacio e pepe pasta topped with slivers of Italian black truffle, shaved tableside.

Enjoy truffle-topped pasta at Potente
Enjoy truffle-topped pasta at Potente
Potente/Facebook

Mastro's Steakhouse

Tilman Fertitta has spared no expense at his swanky steakhouse inside the chic Post Oak Hotel, which often plays host to Houston bigwigs. The menu reflects the luxe ambiance with dishes like a 12-ounce Japanese A5 cut of Wagyu beef, which is a whopping $200, while more reasonably priced items include Hawaiian swordfish ($40), and Australian rack of lamb ($49). Add a side of lobster mashed potatoes ($38) or Alaskan king crab black truffle gnocchi ($34) for a truly indulgent dinner.

Courtesy Mastro’s Steakhouse

La Table Houston

The gorgeous, posh interiors of La Table complement the high-class fare and high-dollar price point. La Table has designated each area of the four-tiered dining space with its own signature name and style. The upstairs fine-dining area Château offers a seasonally changing menu featuring food fit for even the most refined French palate. Signature dishes for two include the dover sole meuniere with grilled asparagus in a brown butter sauce for $60 per person, and cognac flamed Texas long-bone Akaushi ribeye for $190. Add a half-ounce pour of luxury cognac Louis XII for a meager $85.

La Table/Facebook

Uchi

Combining featured menu items from Uchi and Uchiko in Austin, the Houston outpost of this critically acclaimed restaurant has steadily maintained its rank as one of Montrose’s most innovative Japanese dining hotspots. Make a reservation and shell out for the signature Omakase ten-course tasting menu, priced around $150 per person, and let these top-notch sushi chefs guide dinner.

Da Marco Cucina E Vino

Chef Marco Wiles consistently pulls out all the stops at this luxurious eatery that showcases Tuscany’s finest flavors. Start dinner with grilled octopus, peperoncini, and potatoes ($24), followed by spaghetti with wild Santa Barbara sea urchin and crab ($52), and end with veal chops and thyme roasted tomatoes ($55).

Da Marco interior dining room (resized for map)

One Fifth Gulf Coast

Chef Chris Shepherd’s ever-changing restaurant is currently focusing on a Gulf Coast theme, which means that the Houston-obsessed chef is seriously in his element. Start dinner with Texas stone crab claws and a muffaletta salad, then dig into duck that’s lacquered with cane syrup, wood-roasted flounder amandine, or fresh Gulf catch served with jalapeno corn chowder.

State of Grace

Top-notch seafood and beef are worth the splurge at this fancy River Oaks eatery. Expect to spend anywhere from $32-$70 on main courses like the prime ribeye with a demi glace and punched potatoes; smoky beef ribs; duck carnitas with warm bacon fat tortillas; or squid ink pasta. Complete the meal with a sweet slice of lemon pie made with saltine crust, chantilly cream, and candied lemon for the perfect end to a pricey but so-worth-it meal.

Doris Metropolitan Houston

This ritzy steakhouse is a New Orleans export, bringing with it that classic Crescent City luxe vibe. Here, feast on chateubriand tartare topped with quail egg yolk, red wine braised veal cheek, and beautiful slabs of USDA Prime or Japanese wagyu beef.

Nobu Houston

Trendy restaurants in Houston open and shutter with the blink of an eye, but Nobu has glided through its first nine months after opening in Clutch City to much fanfare last summer. The service is bar none, and the menu offers a truly fresh and creative experience each visit. Go for the dover sole with yuzu caper sauce, Mishima reserve wagyu tenderloin, and red snapper sashimi with dry miso. For those who prefer a multi-course tasting experience, the Nobu signature tasting menu costs $125 and the Chef’s Choice Omakase menu is $175.

A plate of nigiri and sashimi. Nobu/Facebook

Kiran's Restaurant

Chef Kiran Verma’s Indian-inspired plates are flanked by excellent service and a beautiful interior. Dig into the extensive menu with dishes like the Chilean sea bass with a poblano mango chutney ($42) or a rack of venison with a fried duck egg and grilled asparagus ($46). After adding traditional vegetarian sides like paneer makhni (house-made cheese in a tomato cream sauce) and malai kofta (vegetarian dumplings in a cashew sauce) plus dessert, meals here easily cost a pretty penny — around $150, not including wine and cocktails.

Kiran's serves up a full GF menu
Kiran’s serves up a full GF menu
Kiran’s/Facebook

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