Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Houston

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Houston? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Masraff's

4.9

4.9 (3929)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Westside

About the restaurant

Masraffs, long recognized as a premier restaurant in Houston, offers affordable elegance, attentive service, impeccably prepared and exquisitely fresh American cuisine created with the best ingredients from around the world.

Top review

nouhad

Dined 2 days ago

Lovely ambience Excellent food Great service Most attentive owner And above all Very comprehensive and well priced collection of wines What more does a diner want??

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Popular dish

Chilean Seabass

Popular dish

Garlic Seared Calamari

Popular dish

14 oz Bone-In Filet Mignon

Rosie Cannonball

4.7

4.7 (36)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Montrose

About the restaurant

At Rosie Cannonball, we’re serving European comfort food in a lively atmosphere. The restaurant celebrates the origins of cooking through open, live fire and is centered around a wood-burning oven and grill.

The menu draws inspiration from individual ingredients: local vegetables, pastas and pizzas, simple seafood and locally-sourced meat cooked over live fire.

Master Sommelier June Rodil curated an expansive list of delicious wines with a strong Italian, Spanish and French focus from their favorite producers new and old, along with options from progressive New World producers.

The cocktail menu has strong Italian influences, mirroring the focus of the food.

Chef de Cuisine: Matt Hamilton
Sous Chef: Karla Moreno
Executive Pastry Chef: Samantha Mendoza
General Manager: Brandi Kinney
Front of House Managers: Lauren Allen
Goodnight Hospitality Partners: Bailey & Peter McCarthy, Felipe Riccio, June Rodil

Top review

hannah

Dined 1 day ago

everything was sooo yum and candy was sooooo sweet

Roost Houston

4.8

4.8 (528)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Montrose

About the restaurant

Nominated by Food and Wine Magazine as best chef southwest and 4 time winner of the Houston Iron Fork competition, Roost is slowly standing in a class of its own. With accolades like winner of the Food Networks Beat Bobby Flay and competing on Guy's Grocery Games, local Chef Kevin Naderi loves developing global flavors and serving his hometown.
Roost’s 50-seat space is cozy and unpretentious, amid walls paneled with old shutters and Edison-like light fixtures. Roost’s rustic and diverse menu is revised every five weeks, inspired by local availability of farm-fresh seasonal ingredients and flavors of the world, including the American South, Asia, and from the Middle East, taking advantage of Chef Naderi’s Persian heritage.
With over 13 years of serving Houston, we are proud to be a delicious option for our incredible city, and we truly looking forward to giving you a casual- fine dining experience.

Top review

Stephanie

Dined 3 days ago

Delicious food, great service. Ever changing menu but thankfully their crispy cauliflower is always there!

Relish Restaurant & Bar - River Oaks

4.8

4.8 (1031)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

River Oaks

About the restaurant

Relish Restaurant & Bar is a neighborhood eatery serving up classic American food with Mediterranean influences. At Relish, we aim to create an environment where absolute guest satisfaction is our highest priority. Through a shared commitment to excellence, we are dedicated to the uncompromising quality of our food, service, and people, while taking exceptional care of our guests and staff. We simply believe food should be uncomplicated, delicious and something to be relished!

Top review

Mary AnneVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Great lunch menu reasonably priced for quality. Must is the Cajun Hot Crab Dip and crispy chicken salad. Attentive, friendly service.

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The Union Kitchen (Memorial Dr)

4.8

4.8 (2016)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Westside

About the restaurant

The Union Kitchen features a unique menu served in a casual atmosphere. Our lunch menu focuses on sandwiches, wraps, entree salads and some of the best burgers in Houston. At dinner, steaks, chops, chicken dishes and seafood take center stage. We have a unique hand selected wine list that complements our cuisine perfectly.

Top review

Jessica

Dined 1 day ago

Always a great spot for us! We regularly visit for happy hour as a large group and we are always taken care of. Staff is wonderful and attentive. We just miss the bubbles being on the HH menu 🤣! Highly recommend for large groups and for everyday lunch or dinner!

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George's Bistro & Bar

4.7

4.7 (290)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

W. University / Med Center

About the restaurant

George's Bistro and Bar, located in the heart of West University in Houston, TX, pushes the envelope of elevated continental cuisine. Taking its influences from our team members’ culinary roots, George's Bistro and Bar blends traditional and innovative techniques to create unique offerings using local ingredients in all of its dishes. We are grounded in hospitality with our staff’s commitment to providing you with a memorable experience each time you walk through our door.
We’re excited to bring something new to our community and can’t wait to share our unique recipes. We can't wait to serve you!

Top review

Carrie

Dined on Dec 10, 2024

I’ve eaten here for lunch several times. It’s always delicious! It’s a wonderful menu, but I keep returning to some of the same things. The salmon salad, the salmon club, and the brie and pear panini. All delicious. A nice cocktail menu is a plus for celebrating. I also love the quiet atmosphere, outdoor dining option, small size, and very easy parking.

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4.6

4.6 (408)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Midtown

About the restaurant

All of our dishes are crafted from scratch, including our handmade pastas and pizzas. We offer a selection of wood fired pizzas, including our famous Roasted Carrot Pizza (so good that it was feature in the Food Network). Our Lunch is great for Business Lunches and our Dinner is the best place to enjoy a relaxed & fair experience. Don’t miss Brunch, as some consider it the best in Houston.

We have also partner up with Love Croissants, to offer the best croissants in H-Town. You can smell the baking of the croissants before opening our doors. Don't miss the almond one! They are available, starting daily at 7am, along with locally roasted coffee and fresh juices in our bake shop.

Our bar stands ready to bring you the most delicious libations in the city. We offer a full array of spirits, beers and wines selected from the US and abroad.

Our ultimate goal is to create a comfortable, sincere and welcoming place for everyone to dine, relax, socialize and share great experiences.

Top review

Karen

Dined 2 days ago

Made a reservation for 5p for 6 people because of holiday season. We were the only ones in the restaurant for 1 1/2 hours! I have no idea why, the food was really good! Everything tasted very fresh, the bread is made onsite so that makes a difference. Friends raved about the ceviche and the Texqueno was amazing. I would happily recommend and go back.

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4.6

4.6 (1356)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Hearsay’s tradition continues with our On The Green location, serving distinctive American cuisine in an elegant antique setting. Located near Downtown Houston and Discovery Green Park, our venue offers a unique dining experience close to a 12-acre park, lake, and interactive fountain, with a variety of free activities for everyone.

Top review

Stephen

Dined 7 days ago

Great food and very nice place! We enjoyed every course that we ordered

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Popular dish

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp & Grits

Mariposa at Neiman Marcus - Houston

4.9

4.9 (291)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

THE MARIPOSA located in Neiman Marcus HOUSTON is open to socially distanced seating, in accordance with local jurisdiction guidelines.

Laid-back luxe. Experience delightful dishes in a casual, contemporary atmosphere at the Mariposa® HOUSTON. Muted lighting and understated, modern decor create the perfect environment for a midday retreat. Whether dining with a group or simply ordering upscale take-out, expect delectable food and exceptional service that is synonymous with Neiman Marcus.

Let the Mariposa® host your next Baby or Bridal Shower . We have the perfect menu and atmosphere for you and your guests.

Top review

Raymond

Dined 4 days ago

Been going to Mariposa for the last 35 years and has always been a wonderful experience. Our waitress Beca is the best

Warehouse 72

4.7

4.7 (808)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Spring Branch

About the restaurant

Warehouse 72 marries industrial aesthetics, commissioned artwork and outstanding hospitality with a Modern American menu inspired by Mediterranean flavors.

Diners may choose from a selection of starters, including seafood offerings such as PEI Mussels and Mediterranean Grilled Octopus. Salazar and his team are making mozzarella in-house, which is being showcased in starters such as the flash-fried mozzarella and bruschetta.

Warehouse 72’s signature dish is Angel Hair Pasta with truffle cream sauce, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, grated fresh black truffles, chives and a touch of truffle oil. There are plenty of hearty main courses to choose from as well, such as Australian Lamb Chop “lollipops” and a hefty 18-ounce, Bone-in Ribeye.

Book your next event at Warehouse 72 in one of our private dining spaces! Email us at tanzinia.reid@warehouse72.com

Top review

Agha

Dined 3 days ago

Love the atmosphere, food, and the service. Our server was very quick and full of life. He made my clients feel very welcomed.

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Popular dish

Ribeye Steak

Popular dish

Chicken Fried NY Strip Steak

Popular dish

Steak Frites

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