Damian's Cucina Italiana

My wife and I dined on a Friday night here for the first time and were very pleased. The wait staff, both inside and out were very helpful and polite. We attended a play down town later and were driven there, free, by a coach from the restaurant. It was waiting at the curb after the play. Our waiter assisted us in our selection, but did not push the most expensive items on the menu as some places do. A PERFECT EVENING! Pros: Waiter, Juan vert helpful more

I will start out by saying that the food was well worth the price. It was expensive, but tasted phenomenal. However, while the service was attentive, the rude attitude and looks from our waiter made it extremely uncomfortable for my boyfriend and I. I think the waiter was a little upset since our reservation was for 8 and I guess it meant he would have to work late. However, I dont feel that is the patrons fault. I interrupted him twice to ask a question during his 7 minute speech on the specials and he really seemed irritated.I wanted to ask a question but was not allowed. I waited tables before and you need to have more patience than that, especially if people are paying a prety penny for the meal. Pros: food was exellent Cons: rude and attitude from waiter made it uncomfortable more

Valet service at the front door so you don't have to worry about parking. Great service right from the start. Excellent food. They helped make for a spectacular date! Definately going back! more

You must try Damian's for a memorable dining experience that includes delectable hot, homemade Foccacia Bread w/ dipping oils served at the table on arrival to start your meal & a menu variety to include such wonderful appetizers as Fried Calamari (lightly battered and very tender) w/marinara, asparagus with proscuitto and one of the best tableside prepared Ceasar salads as well as a good Tradit. Italian Salad (Insalada Mista).We have had many of their delicious entree's, most notable are their nightly fresh fish dishes (Halibut when in season & flounder prepared in light wine/ butter sauces and assorted toppings varying nightly and all quite tasty). The Beef Filet & Lamb Chops are cooked to perfection and one of my favorites is their Chicken Menichino (Balsamic Glazed Grilled Chicken with sundried Tomatoes and Goat Cheese). For Pasta Lovers, the Eggplant Parmasean is good served with Linguini and Marinara. There are truly too many wonderful dishes to mention all here. They serve a pork Ossa Bucco which is good but we prefer Veal. Lest I say we have never been disappointed. Please save room for their great Desserts...Infusione Cioccolate for the Chocolate Lovers and their Tre Latte (Italian version of Tres Leches) excellent and my personal favorite is their Italian Cream cake.. the best I have ever had anywhere!!! Moist and Delicious. Not too much coconut. The friendliness and professional service of the staff is second to none. Ask for Rueben's table and he will make your Dining experience one you will not forget. We have eaten all over the country, great restaurants in New Orleans, Paris& none can compare with the pleasure we have from Dining @ Damians with Rueben as our Server. Valet parking is quite convenient since the entrance is on a busy Mid-Town St. We have sent many friends here and they now send their family & friends.Well worth the $$ for the great Food/Service and overall Dining experience. You will not be disappointed. Great for private parties also Pros: Service, Food, Ambience and complimentary Shuttle to Theatre District more

Word of mouth led me to Damian's, after hearing that it's been serving Houstonians amazing Italian for years. Once I found out it was a Mandola family restaurant, I had no doubt this was the truth. We were promptly seated for our reservation and had a spacious table for our large party. The bread and dipping sauce were a great start - totally scrumptious dipping! We got the mussels with white wine sauce appetizer and it was delicious. Salads and entrees were all so wonderful with great flavoring that was not run-of-the-mill. I particularly loved the spaghetti sauce - so full of flavor! The lasagna was out of this world! The only part of the meal that was a disappointment was dessert...so sad, but nevertheless a great experience overall! Great food, outstanding service, and a nice ambiance. I highly recommend this place for a classic Italian treat. Pros: Italian Food, Flavor, Dipping Sauce, Service Cons: Dessert, Valet Only more

Damian's Cucina Italiana has great service and excellent food. I enjoyed the peaceful setting and when in Houston next time, we'll make a return visit. more

The best Osso Bucco in town. Hands down. It is so flavorful. I want every bite, even the marro. The Sicilian salad is the right combination of parmesan cheese, oil, onions, black olives and tomatoes. The Sea Bass is moist and spiced just right on a bed of white beans. Overall good basic italian. more

This restaurant is my all-time favorite. I began visiting Damian's back in the '80s when it first opened and was operated by Damian Mandola. He sold the restaurant in the '90s and, as we all know, went on to franchise the Carrabba's restaurants in a partnership with Outback restaurants. He and his cousin Johnny Carrabba have also had a cooking show for several years.\r When Damian sold Damian's Cucina Italiana, our greatest concern was that the restaurant's quality would change. Not so. Present owner Joe Butera runs Damian's with the same commitment to quality in service, cuisine and atmosphere. When you visit, be sure and request Armando. He makes you feel like yours is the only table in the restaurant. A real treat, indeed! more

My husband surprised me with a Chef's Table dinner for our 5th anniversary. The head chef asked us if we had any food allergies or anything in particular we didn't like. Then he told us he would fix us an off the menu 5 course dinner. During dinner if we wanted a tour of the restaurant, the manager would be happy to give us one. Also if we'd like one of the Sous Chefs to teach us how to cook a dish, he'd be happy to. Without any hesitation, the food was impeccable and the service was outstanding. The portion sizes were quite large for every course. We had a great experience and are planning to celebrate many more special occasions there. Pros: food, service more

This is hands down the best Italian food in Houston. I would go there for my birthday every year. It's like home cooked food from the mother land. Really first rate. It's often over looked, but you should go there. Pros: Food and Service Cons: Location--hard to find more

The eating experience was a pleasant treat from the ho-hum Italian restaurants we have been frequenting since moving to Houston. The pasta was cooked perfect and the veal melted in our mouths. It was as good if not better then some of the NY City eateries we loved when living in the North East. The server was very polite and the food was served as promised by our waiter. The desserts were fresh and delicious, while not being overdone by huge portions. We highly reccomend this eatery and we will be frequent visitors. Pros: great food, great value for the money Cons: can't think of one more

The wife and I moved into an apartment one block from this restaurant, so we decided to try it as we were walking by. We could tell from the cars in the parking lot that the clientele were of means. We figured we might be frowned upon in our jeans and walking shoes, but they treated us no differently than their most eloquently attired customers. Pros: Great midtown Houston location. Excellent overall experience. Cons: ??? Parking may be valet-only...not sure. more

Our New Year's Eve experience was awesome. Friendly wait staff, who's suggestions on dishes were excellent. My sea bass dish was the best I've ever had. Dessert was sinfully delicious. Can't wait to return. more

Judging by my extensive travels through Italy, the food here can be authentic, the wine was great, and the dessert was excellent. I had the Linguini with Smoked Salmon and Fried Eggplant. Different, granted but it left a weird taste in my mouth. Part of it could be from the fact that I ended up throwing it up all night when I got home. Not exactly the best way to end a romantic date. When I called the restaurant they weren?t exactly helpful in rectifying the situation. If you are looking for a good diet solution (palatable food that is easily dispensed of) then this is a great restaurant for you. If instead you are looking for attentive service and enjoyable food that will sit well in your stomach then you may want to try elsewhere. more

This is probably my favorite Italian place in Houston, and I have been to quite a few of them. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is classy, but not uncomfortably formal, making it good for less than formal get-togethers. The prices are not unreasonable, and the portions make it a value. The service has excelled every time Ive been there, with friendly and personal waiters who make an effort to know you and work tirelessly to meet your needs. Complimentary valet parking is convenient and the valets are courteous. Any of the pasta dishes are amazing, and the wine list is impressive. Pros: Great food and service, with a comfortable and relaxed European atmosphere more

a cozy, grotto setting with a posh and expensive feel to it. the food was excellent, though a bit pricey, but it was worth it. go here if you want to know what expensive italian food tastes like. probably not a place to go back consistently, rather, on special occasions such as prom or a wedding. * Pros: food, ambience Cons: pricey, parking more

If you like the ""fine dining"" look and aren't interested in hot food with friendly service then it's the place for you. You can always get a table if you are a regular but if you're not expect a different level of service. Don't let them put you upstairs because you move from the main benefits of this place, i.e., the ""fine dining"" atmosphere of the main dining room to the upstairs which is more like a banquet room. Pros: Impressive decor and waiter appearance Cons: Food not usually served hot and unfriendly service more

My husband and I absolutely LOVE Damian's! We live only a few blocks away and eat there for every special occasion. The food and service never disappoint. If you are a first timer, you HAVE to try the Asparagus Mike Wells appetizer. To die for! Asparagus with a crab meat topping in a lemon-butter sauce...wow!! We also can't resist the table-side prepared Caesar salad. It is hands-down the best Caesar anywhere and you would be hard-pressed to find a presentation more appealing. As for entrees, it's hard to choose a favorite, but everything is wonderful and the portions are large. The atmosphere is romantic yet professional, making it a good choice for a nice business dinner or a special night out with people you love. Even though the prices are very affordable, don't show up in shorts and a T-shirt! This is fine dining in the old sense of the word. more

The reason why I chose this restaurant was because of the high rateness it received. I thorougly enjoyed it because they had complimentary parking, a nice atmosphere, great service. The only thing that sucked was that they charged me with an additional $20 without any warning because I had brought an outside cake in. (It was my birthday) I was not aware of that until I received the bill and that made me mad. Besides that, I enjoyed my time there. I got the Spaghetti Carbolla or something like that. The taste was great but after awhile, it got dull to me. It is a little hard to spot because it looks like a warehouse and inside it's low ceiling and a little crowded, but the designs of the place was very pretty. Prices were relatively high from $13-30 an entree? You can check out their menu online. Anyway, hope you enjoy it. Pros: Complimentary parking, good service Cons: Pricey, a little compact, older crowd more

The prices are high. The cheapest you will find an entree for is $13 and the most is well north of $30. This is a la carte. So if you want salad, you'll pay an additional 7 dollars. I asked for iced tea. They brought out and poured a $4.50 bottle of speciality tea before I had the chance to tell them no. I had no idea that is what I'd be getting. I had lasagna and my dining partner had spaghetti but it took them 25 minutes to bring out our order so don't expect to have a quick lunch. Parking is valet only, unless you can find a spot on the street half a block away. Maybe I'm cheap, but when the price says only one $ I expect to pay approx 10 dollars a person for entree and drink. The flavors of the food were very good. Pros: food Cons: parking, price more