HO2007 - Dining - Daring and Delicious

Houston's cultural diversity and uninhibited attitude combine to boost the local culinary scene. Dozens of standout, chef-owned restaurants and local institutions dot the landscape, and the dining public embraces them.

Ibiza Food and Wine Bar serves up a smart combination of incredible fare paired with a wine list that reads like a wine lover’s dream — pages of great wines at great prices. Located just one block from Houston’s retail wine authority, Spec's, Ibiza rebels against the custom of tripling retail prices and dares to price its wines at just a fraction above retail.

Restaurateurs Grant Cooper and Charles Clark have a knack for keeping the cuisine and the experience at Ibiza fresh and contemporary. The standout blend of Spanish, French, and Mediterranean cuisine is delivered by staff that understands that patrons come to savor the dining experience. The stunning 14-foot wine wall serves as a testament to the restaurant's commitment to its wine service.

Encased in a lovely 1925 tile-roofed brick building, Hugo's festive and friendly dining room is decked in an inviting mix of desert tones and cheerful colors. Tex-Mex restaurants in Houston are commonplace, but Hugo's serves authentic Mexican cuisine representing several regions in the homeland of star chef Hugo Ortega. Take your tastebuds on a tour for lunch, dinner, or the bountiful Sunday brunch.

Don't miss the duck tostadas and squash quesadillas. House-made cheeses and tortillas assure the ingredients are utterly fresh and authentic. They even grind their own cacao beans for chocolates and mole sauces. Chef Hugo's brother Ruben Ortega's spectacular desserts include doughnut-like churros coated in cinnamon and sugar and served with house-made chocolate sauce and ice cream.

Houston has long maintained a special kinship with New Orleans, and since the 1967 opening of Brennan's of Houston that kinship has grown stronger and tastier. Capturing the charm of its Louisiana origins, the Houston institution has evolved into the ultimate Texas Creole eatery. The brick building and its iron railings disarm upon arrival. Old school, but never old hat, Brennan's hospitality, service, and genuine staff make you feel like a star.

Chef Randy Evans, a farm-raised Texan who champions local produce, crafts his menu to feature inventive modern combinations alongside the classic Creole fare. Crab cakes, turtle soup, and gumbo continue to shine in the presence of honey-lacquered duck confit, Hawaiian yellowfin tuna with tomatoes, and Texas strawberry salad. From the polished dining room to the heavenly courtyard seating, the experience exudes class and sophistication with a delightful lack of stuffiness.