HOUSTON ICONS
These classic restaurants serve beloved Houston dishes.
Brennan’s of Houston: Lunch and dinner options at this temple of Texas creole includes turtle soup, chicken and andouille gumbo, shrimp remoulade, grilled Gulf shrimp, New Orleans barbecue shrimp and Bananas Foster. 3500 Smith, 713-522-9711.
Tony’s: Dinner at Tony Vallone’s posh Italian restaurant will include a choice of Shrimp Livornese with lemon and garlic, beef short ribs over saffron risotto, and veal scaloppini with artichokes and mushrooms. Go ahead and splurge on the $5 supplement that will get you fettuccine with lump crab and sausage in vodka sauce or $12 supplement for center-cut Prime beef filet with truffle jus. 3755 Richmond, 713-6226778.
Damian’s Cucina Italiana: Sup on Caprese salad, lobster bisque, eggplant Parmesan, filet mignon with spaghetti carbonara, goat-cheese stuffed chicken breast or Parmesan-crusted trout with citrus beurre blanc at this classic Italian restaurant in Midtown. 3011 Smith, 713-522-0439.
Hugo’s: Hugo Ortega’s iconic Mexican
restaurant is offering brunch and dinner. Dinner menus include Spirits of Mexico (three courses with slow-cooked short ribs in mole as the main), Street Foods with ceviche tostada and braised suckling pig, and Menu Vegetariano offering squash blossom soup and toasted masa cakes with beans, squash and green mole. 1600 Westheimer, 713-5247744.
Rainbow Lodge: Often referred to as one of Houston’s most romantic restaurants, the lodge is offering dinner with options of smoked duck gumbo, goat cheese soufflé, cornmeal-crusted Gulf redfish, slow-cooked duck leg, tri-tip steak with foie gras creamed spinach, and roasted mushroom and ricotta cannelloni. 2011 Ella, 713-8618666.