For those needing to carbo-load in preparation of either of the marathons – the annual Houston marathon on Sunday the 15th and the Olympic Trials here on Saturday – below is a fairly comprehensive list of pasta purveyors in the Houston area. The ones with an asterisk (*) are recommended. The others might be good, bad, indifferent or worse. What they all have in common is that you can get pasta and their complex carbohydrates in familiar Italian-American fashion or a more truly Italian way.
Achille Express – 1127 Eldridge Parkway, 77077, (281) 558-0615
Aldo's – 18450 Interstate 45 S., Shenandoah, 77384, (936) 447-9623
Amadeus – 700 Kipp, Kemah, 77565, (281) 334-3311
Amedeo's – 22704 Loop 494, Kingwood, 77339, (281) 359-4451
Amerigo's – 25250 Grogans Park, The Woodlands, 77380, (281) 362-0808
Angelo's – 400 W Bay Area Boulevard, Webster, 77598, (281) 332-2404
* Antica Osteria – 2311 Bissonnet, 77005, (713) 521-1155
Antonia's – 4849 Sweetwater, Sugar Land, 77479, (281) 265-4000; 2001 Katy Mills Boulevard, Katy, 77494, (281) 644-6000; and 26281 Highway 290, Cypress, 77429, (281) 256-2796
* Antonio's Flying Pizza – 2920 Hillcroft, 77057, (713) 783-6080 – The owner might have emigrated from Sicily, but they serve old school red sauced Italian-American fare here.
* Arcodoro – 5000 Westheimer, 77056, (713) 621-6888 – Has a strong claim for being the best Sardinian restaurant in the country, and feature several and flavorful unique pasta dishes from that island.
Arturo Boada Cuisine – 6510 Del Monte, 77057, (713) 782-3011 – Many of the Italian preparations have a South American influence that are well-received here.
Arturo's – 1180 Uptown Park, 77056, (713) 621-1180
Auntie Pasto's – 5101 Bellaire, 77401, (713) 669-8658
Baretti's – 17020 Beaver Springs, 77090, (281) 533-3000
Bayou City Seafood & Pasta – 4730 Richmond, 77027, (713) 621-6602 – Hearty pastas with a local and southern Louisiana flavor.
Best of Italy – 2945 Walnut Bend, 77042, (713) 780-8485
Big Humphrey's – 6401 W. Broadway, Pearland, 77581, (281) 485-0392
Birraporetti's – 500 Louisiana, 77002, (713) 224-9494
Brio – 12808 Queensbury, 77024, (713) 973-9610; and 1201 Lake Woodlands, The Woodlands, 77380, (281) 465-8993
Buca di Beppo – 5192 Buffalo Speedway, 77005, (713) 665-2822; and 19075 North Freeway, Conroe, 77385, 936-321-6262
Buon Appetito – 2231 W. Holcombe, 77030, (713) 665-4601
Campioni – 5419 FM 1960 W., 77069, (281) 893-2267
Capellini's – 4721 N. Main, 77009, (713) 869-3233
Capri – 25602 I-45 N., Spring, 77386, (281) 298-0055
* Carmelo's – 14795 Memorial, 77079, (281) 531-0696
* Carrabba's – 3115 Kirby, 77098, (713) 522-3131; and 1399 Voss, 77057, (713) 468-0868 – Still owned and operated by the family these are a far cry from the chain Carrabba’s and remain very popular with Houstonians.
Carrabba's Italian Grill – 502 W. Bay Area Boulevard, 77058, (281) 338-0574; 5440 FM 1960 W., 77066, (281) 397-8255; 11339 Katy Freeway, 77079, (713) 464-6595; 7540 Hwy 6 N., 77095, (281) 859-9700; 750 Kingwood, Kingwood, 77339, (281) 358-5580; 25665 North Freeway, The Woodlands, 77380, (281) 367-9423; and 2335 Highway, Sugar Land, 77478, (281) 980-4433
Cavatore – 2120 Ella, 77008, (713) 869-6622
Christopher's – 5324 Atascocita, Humble, 77346, (281) 359-9949
* Ciao Bello – 5161 San Felipe, 77056, (713) 960-0333 – From famed longtime restaurateur Tony Vallone who has provided Houstonians with Italian food they love for decades.
Ciro's – 9755 Katy Freeway, 77024, (713) 467-9336
Collina's – 502 W. 19th, 77008, (713) 869-0492; 8800 Katy Freeway, 77024, (713) 365-9497; and 3835 Richmond, 77027, (713) 621-8844
Colosseum – 16608 El Camino Real, 77062, (281) 488-0731
* Coppa – 5555 Washington, 77007, (713) 426-4260 – Americanized Italian food in the vein of Batali, Scott Conant and the like in a very lively atmosphere.
Corelli's – 5640 Westheimer, 77056, (713) 629-4424; and 3229 Hwy 6 S., Sugar Land, 77479, (281) 491-8900
Crapitto's – 2400 Midlane, 77027, (713) 961-1161
D'Amico's – 5510 Morningside, 77005, (713) 526-3400; and 2802 White Oak, 77007, (713) 868-3400
* Da Marco – 1520 Westheimer, 77006, (713) 807-8857 – With an emphasis on replicating the cooking of the Veneto Tuscany and the other lands north of north, this has been the most lauded Italian restaurant in the state.
Da Vinci – 6455 S. Fry, Katy, 77494, (281) 392-2115
* Damian's – 3011 Smith, 77006, (713) 522-0439 – Rich Italian-American cooking that has been a Houston favorite in Midtown for a quarter-century.
* divino – 1830 W. Alabama, 77098, (713) 807-1123 – Neat little trattoria in a recognizably Italian sense that features the buttery cuisine of Emilia.
* Dolce Vita – 500 Westheimer, 77006, (713) 520-8222 – Primarily a pizzeria – the best in the city – but, this also serves several top-notch pastas.
Doyle's – 2136 W. 34th, 77018, (713) 686-8271 – Serving mid-century Italian-American food for non-Italian Americans
Fazoli's – 505 S. Fry, Katy, 77450, (281) 398-6614
Fornos of Italy – 6439 W. 43rd, 77092, (713) 688-8757; and 10001 Westheimer, 77042, (713) 789-5552
Franca's – 1101 NASA Parkway, 77058, (281) 488-2207
* Fratelli's – 10989 Northwest Freeway, 77092, (713) 957-1150 – A more affordable option.
Fratelli's – 1330 Wirt, 77055, (713) 263-0022
Fred's Italian Corner – 2278 W. Holcombe, 77030, (713) 665-7506
* Frenchie's – 1041 NASA Parkway, 77058, (281) 486-7144
George's Pastaria – 1722 Dairy Ashford, 77077, (281) 558-1717
George's – 7430 Park Place, 77087, (713) 644-3223
* Giacomo's – 3215 Westheimer, 77098, (713) 522-1934
Gratzi – 6334 FM 2920, Spring, 77379, (281) 376-4800
Grotto – 4715 Westheimer, 77027, (713) 622-3663; and 9595 Six Pines, The Woodlands, 77380, (281) 419-4252
Gugliani's – 2400 Times, 77005, (713) 526-4499; 4990 Beechnut, 77096, (713) 349-9040; and 1206 Spring Cypress, Spring, 77373, (281) 350-5335
Hasta La Pasta – 7681 FM 1960, Humble, 77346, (281) 446-6414; 6915 Cypresswood, Spring, 77379, (832) 717-7676; and 1450 W. Grand Pkwy S., Katy, 77494, (281) 392-0045
Italian Café – 19620 Kuykendahl, Spring, 77379, (281) 528-2919
Italiano's – 217 FM 1960 Bypass E., Humble, 77338, (281) 446-6111; and 8146 FM 1960 E., Atascocita, 77346, (281) 852-7662
J. Christopher's – 2245 Northpark, Kingwood, 77339, (281) 358-6601
La Griglia – 2002 W. Gray, 77019, (713) 526-4700
La Trattoria Tuscano – 4223 Research Forest, The Woodlands, 77381, (281) 419-2252
La Vista – 1936 Fountain View, 77057, (713) 787-9899
Lasagna House III – 13306 Westheimer, 77077, (281) 496-9114; 217 FM 1960 W., 77090, (281) 580-7797; and 16089 City Walk, Sugar Land, 77479, (281) 277-3400
Little Napoli – 1001 Texas, 77002 (713) 225-3900; and 6445 Westheimer, 77057, (713) 266-9999
Lomonte's – 14510 Grisby, 77079, (281) 496-0030
Luca & Leonardo – 20 Waterway, The Woodlands, 77380, (832) 510-2110
Luigi's – 9415 Broadway, 77584, (281) 902-1010
Maggiano's – 2019 Post Oak Boulevard, 77056, (713) 961-2700
Mancuso's – 2231 Voss, 77057, (713) 953-9090
Mandola's Deli – 4105 Leeland, 77023, (713) 223-5186
Mangola's – 11786 Wilcrest, 77099, (281) 498-7950
Mezzanotte – 13215 Grant, Cypress, 77429, (832) 717-7870
Mia Bella – 1201 San Jacinto, 77002, (832) 319-6675; 320 Main, 77002, (713) 237-0505; 110 Vintage Park, 77070, (281) 251-8930; and 16535 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, 77479, (281) 240-5000
Michelangelo's – 307 Westheimer, 77006, (713) 524-7836
Molto Bene – 8817 Highway 6, Missouri City, 77459, (281) 778-1474
Napoli – 5551 Richmond, 77056, (713) 977-2010; 9650 Westheimer, 77063, (713) 972-1997; 14743 Memorial, 77079, (281) 531-4600; 5035 Highway 6 N., 77084, (281) 550-1996; 5266 Beechnut, 77096, (713) 726-1166; 4450 E. Sam Houston Parkway, Pasadena, 77505, (281) 998-2223; and 13323 Jones, 77070, (281) 955-5443
Nardino – 14800 Westheimer, 77082, (281) 496-1022
* Nino's – 2817 W. Dallas, 77019, (713) 522-5120 – Long popular upscale Italian-American
Nundini – 500 Shepherd, 77007, (713) 861-6331
Palazzo's – 10455 Briar Forest, 77042, (713) 785-8800; 2620 Briar Ridge, 77057, (713) 784-8110; and 2300 Westheimer, 77098, (713) 522-6777
Pallotta's – 27606 Interstate 45 N., The Woodlands, 77385, (281) 364-9555
Patrenella's – 813 Jackson Hill, 77007, (713) 863-8223
Paulie's – 1834 Westheimer, 77098, (713) 807-7271 – Their sandwiches are excellent.
Pavarotti – 4660 Louetta, Spring, 77388, (281) 350-9749
Pepino's – 1421 Richmond, 77006, (713) 522-9044
* Perbacco – 700 Milam, 77002, (713) 224-2422 – With an owner from Capri, you can be answered the straightforward and delicious Neapolitan-style pastas are done very well and true to their home, including a pitch perfect linguine with clam sauce.
Perry's Italian Grille – 1100 Pineloch, 77062, (281) 488-2626
Piatto di Santi – 5711 Bissonnet, 77401, (713) 664-2500
* Piatto – 4925 W. Alabama, 77056, (713) 871-9722; and 11693 Westheimer, 77077, (281) 759-7500 – Exuberant Italian-American cooking well-suited to this area.
Piccolo – 13505 Westheimer, 77077, (281) 679-8720
Pizzini's – 927 Mercury, 77029, (713) 673-9161
* Poscol – 1609 Westheimer, 77006, (713) 529-2797 – Small plates including a rich version of the pasta dish created at the famed Harry’s Bar in Venice.
* Prego – 2520 Amherst, 77005, (713) 529-2420
Prima Pasta – 6811 Kirby, 77030, (713) 666-4047
Pronto – 1401 Montrose, 77019, (713) 528-8646; 791 Town and Country, 77024, (713) 467-8646; and 3191 W. Holcombe, 77025, 713) 592-8646
* Quattro – 1300 Lamar (Four Seasons Hotel), 77010, (713) 650-1300 – Executive chef Maurizio Ferrarese might be from Vercelli, the rice capital of Italy, but he does well with pastas, too.
Raia's – 4500 Washington, 77007, (713) 861-1042
Railroad Café – 105 N. Railroad, Humble, 77338, (281) 319-6244
Raoul's – 16823 Theiss Mail Route, Spring, 77379, (281) 257-1991
* Ristorante Cavour – 1080 Uptown Park (Granduca), 77056, (713) 418-1000 – One of the best and most refined Italians in the city.
Ristorante Tuscany – 1601 Lake Robbins (Marriott), The Woodlands, 77380, (281) 367-9797
Riva's – 1117 Missouri, 77006, (713) 529-3450
Rocco's – 966 S. Fry, Katy, 77450, (281) 828-1191
Roma's – 20669 W. Lake Houston, Kingwood, 77346, (281) 359-7662
Romano's Macaroni Grill – 5802 Westheimer, 77057, (713) 789-5515; 7607 FM 1960 W., 77070, (281) 955-1388; and 1155 Lake Woodlands, The Woodlands, 77380, (281) 367-3773
Romano's – 1528 W. Gray, 77019, (713) 526-1182 – Best known for its New York-style pizza, they also serve hearty and familiar Italian-American pastas.
Ruggles Grill – 903 Westheimer, 77006, (713) 527-9400 – Not an Italian restaurant, but it serves all of your favorite Southwestern-flavored pasta dishes from the 1980s, the restaurant’s heyday.
* Saldivia’s – 10234 Westheimer, 77042, (713) 782-9494 – Though primarily a steakhouse, run by a family from Uruguay, they do a good job with several pasta dishes, too.
Santa Barbara – 607 S. Friendswood, Friendswood, 77546, (281) 648-2023; and 5012 Broadway, Pearland, 77581, (281) 485-5676
Spaghetti Warehouse – 901 Commerce, 77002, (713) 229-9715
Spaghetti Western – 1608 Shepherd, 77007, (713) 861-1313
* Stella Sola – 1001 Studewood, 77008, (713) 880-1001 – From noted chef Bryan Caswell, this serves up contemporary, well-executed Americanized Italian cooking.
Sweet Bella – 202 Sawdust, The Woodlands, 77380, (832) 585-0066
3 Olives – 22764 Westheimer Parkway, Katy, 77450, (832) 437-4062
Tombolini's – 11910 Louetta, 77070, (281) 257-3900
Tonino's – 13203 Jones, 77070, (281) 807-1333
* Tony’s – 3755 Richmond, 77046, (713) 622-6778 – Not officially Italian, but can serve up some decadent Italian fare.
* Tony Mandola's – 1212 Waugh, 77019, (713) 528-3474 – Primarily a seafood restaurant, there are a few popular pastas here, too.
* Trattoria Il Mulino – 945 Gessner, 77024, (832) 358-0600 – An outpost of the Greenwich Village Italian-American stalwart that has topped – or nearly topped – the list of most highly rated Italians in New York each year since the first Zagat Survey thirty years ago.
Trevisio – 6550 Bertner, 77030, (713) 749-0400
Two Brothers Pasta – 12123 Sabo, 77089, (281) 922-1044
* Valentino – 2525 W. Loop S. (Hotel Derek), 77056, (713) 850-9200 – Piero Selvaggio’s third location of Valentino serves the best Italian food in the city and state.
Veneto – 8500 Highway 6 N., 77095, (281) 550-2333
Via Emilia – 3731 FM 1960 W., 77068, (281) 587-9137; and 10700 Kuykendahl, The Woodlands, 77381, (281) 465-9555
* Vincent's – 2701 W. Dallas, 77019, (713) 528-4313 – An often crowded, yet comfortable more affordable sibling to the adjacent Nino’s.
Vincenzo's – 12600 North Freeway, 77060, (281) 877-7778
Zammitti's – 1660 W. Lake Houston Parkway, Kingwood, 77339, (281) 361-7499
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