Fabio's Italian Bar & Grill

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212 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77006

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(713) 528-4212
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Reviews
( 13 )
( 10 )
( 2 )
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( 2 )

Best

You won't find a better $10-15 meal in Houston (and that's not factoring in the central location, intimate setting, never having to wait for a table, and the friendliness of guy-w...

Worst

Upon the recommendation of friends, we dined at Fabio's on a Friday evening. The restaurant was packed, which we took as a good sign. Unfortunately, there appeared to be only on...

Great place to bring clients/customers 6/10/2010

I often entertain customers in small groups of 10 or so and when I do, I like an atmosphere that's intimate and accessible with good food and service. If you make arrangements ahead of time, you can reserve the entire place for your party. The service and atmosphere is terrific as they make you feel at home. Fresh pasta, fresh cheese, fish and bread. it's a well kept secret. Pros: Great small dining experience more
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Great! 3/4/2010

You won't find a better $10-15 meal in Houston (and that's not factoring in the central location, intimate setting, never having to wait for a table, and the friendliness of guy-who-I-assume-is-Fabio). Pros: Food, Restaurant Cons: Limited Parking? more
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PLEASANTLY SURPRISED!!!! 3/27/2007

I was a little hesitant to try because of the couple unhappy reviews... But i'll tell you, this isn't the fanciest place, but it is very cozy and nice! It is small, but I like that because it's not so packed where you can't hear the other person talking. Anyway, we started out with a nice glass of wine. Bread, calamari, then we both had the salmon. It was all very tasty, not too salty which I like. I will be back again, and for the price it was excellent. Pros: FOOD, WINE, PRICES more
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Friendly service, okay food, nice atmosphere. 3/27/2007

We went on a Monday night so they were almost empty. The garlic bread was cold and seemed like leftovers so we didn't eat it. Service was very friendly. My husband ordered the seafood pasta special with the white sauce. He thought it was extremely bland and if he had it to do over he would've tried the red sauce hoping for more flavor. I had the veal limone. It was way too rich and buttery for me but I think most would be happy with that. There were no vegetables, just veal and a side of homemade pasta, all covered with the buttery lemon sauce. I ate it all. My daughter had grilled salmon with artichoke hearts. She thought we were getting the food left over from the weekend but she's hard to please so who knows. Restrooms were clean - very important to me. We'll probably try other places before we go back. Pros: Clean, friendly, nice atmosphere. Cons: Where do people park? more
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VERY PLEASED!!!! 3/26/2007

I was looking for a place to go to lunch, and stopped in to this little italian spot. It was great! I was greated by the owner which was very nice. Also, my waiter was great! He was always asking if there was anything I needed. It is quaint and great for a date. My food was very good, and my service was great! The review below sounds like a fake... Mad employee maybe?? All I know is that I'll be back! ;) Pros: FOOD, SERVICE, VALUE more
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Great service, great food 2/21/2007

Very intimate dining room - great for dates/anniversaries. Wait staff was very efficient and personable. We had a party of six. Everyone's food was excellent from appetizers to desserts. I started recommending the restaurant as soon as we left. more
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WELL, WELL, SO GLAD I LISTENED TO MY FRIEND ABOUT THIS LOCAL FAVORITE!!!!!! 1/29/2007

I am not easy to please, but I have to say that the food was fantastic! I had the Chicken Marsala and fried Calamari, and it was so very tasty... My husband was also very pleased with the wine and Lasagna! It is quite romantic in there. Dimly lit, friendly service, and great prices...... It is a small little italian place with a really nice environment. Granted, the waiters there don't speak that great of English, but are more than happy to find anyone who can help you. It was fun, and they were so nice. Fabio, the owner, makes and sells his own pasta. He sells it to many of the very nice and trendy restaurants in Houston! I know that for a fact! I actually bought some for a party I'm having. I'm actually thinking about having Fabio cater it. My friend had her party catered, and she was very happy..... I'll be back. Pros: Food, wine, prices more
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May as well go to a chain italian restaurant 1/27/2007

I also chose this restaurant to dine with a group of 14 based on reviews from citysearch. either the people that dine here have VERY poor taste for italian or citysearch guidelines for ratings must be pretty low. Small restaurant-fine, then surprise me with something out of the ordinary. Nothing on the menu stood out to me. You have common mundane dishes that are offered at Olive Garden/Macaroni Grille. Service was SO slow (on a Friday night, there was the mgr and a busboy-who didnt speak any English so any questions had to be waited for the mgr). Entress came out all separately, leaving some of us staring at each other until we could all start eating. Food was nothing exciting. Orders were wrong or missed. I thought I was in for some fresh pasta, guess not. Everyone at my table was highly disappointed. Meals looked like they came out of a TV dinner. Tiramisu was frozen in the middle. There wasnt anything adventurous on the menu to try. BIG disappointment. Definitely will NOT be going back. Pros: price Cons: food, service more
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VERY GOOD!!!!!!!!!! 1/14/2007

I was looking for a place to dine for Italian food. Based on the reviews, I decided to try it. I was pleasantly surprised! It is a small, cozy italian establishment. It's not modern or anything like that, but rather kind of antique italian. I thought it was very nice! I ordered the lemon chicken, and calamari.... Italian is my favorite, and I was not disappointed... Very good food! Especially for the prices!!!!! Very affordable. So, with that said, my experiece was excellent, and I will be back!!!!!!!! Pros: Great food, nice place, prices more
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Great Italian food and service! 1/11/2007

Fabio's has great food and service. Also, the prices are so reasonable. I love everything from their Oso Bucco to their seafood pasta to their salmon. I don't know why the place is never busy, but I love that aspect. It's quiet, cozy, and romantic. Pros: No wait, service, and food more
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Big disappointment! 12/31/2006

We decided to try Fabio's based on internet reviews claiming good prices, good food, and a romantic atmosphere. Upon arrival we were reminded of a cheesy chinese resturant. The atmosphere included mass produced cherrywood chairs and white table cloths, the pungent smell of a nail salon, and were seated at a table with a big pile of siilverware on it. We started with a bottle of wine that they recommended based on us requesting a light red and it was a robust and spicy. They switched it out for us, as promised, but seemed irritated about doing so. We then had the caprese salad which was good and the calamari which had the most bland sauce possible. He ordered the seafood ravioli which arrived cold and was nothing to rave about taste wise regardless of the tempature. I had the shrimp wit crab meat which was less than average and had requested that vegetables be substituted for the pasta. It arrived with pasta and they brought me the vegetables once we were done eating. Needless to say we will not be returning and would discourage others from trying Fabio's. Cons: ambience, service, price for the experience more
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I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AWESOME.... MMMMMMMM.... 12/21/2006

I have to say that this has been my best experience this year at an Italian Restaurant! Very good food, the best service by a waiter that I have received at a restaurant in a loooong time! The decor is so nice, like vintage italian. You feel like you're in a small upscale restaurant in Italy...Very Romantic.....This is a must try! Oh, and the nice thing was, that for that kind of food and service, I was expecting this huge bill.....The prices were excellent, I would have paid more.... Pros: food, service, prices more
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Awesome Food/Service! 3/29/2006

We went on a monday night, and Fabios is by far the best, most authentic Italian food I've come across in Houston. Fabio himself was our waitor, and he catered to every possible thing you could think of. We had the chicken marsala, and the lemon chicken, both were fabulous. The bread was great, and he honored our entertainment book coupon leading to a very cheap, yet very enjoyable evening. Thanx fabio! Pros: Fabio, Food, Ambiance Cons: Small Parking lot more
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Fabios is fabulous. 11/29/2004

The food here is some of the best to be found in Houston. I can't wait to go back. Only wish more folks would try so it will not close. Pros: food, food, service Cons: , small area more
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It's OK at the last minute 7/24/2004

Arrived on a Saturday night at 8pm. The restaurant was nearly deserted. We originally ordered Calamari as a starter but they were all out. So we ordered Portabellos and Bruscetta instead. The Portabellas were pretty good. We ordered our entrees, and I got the waiter recomended mahi mahi. The mahi mahi was strictly average. When the waiter put the parmesan on it, he positively dumped it on. One of the entrees was screwed up. No shrimp was ordered, and it arrived with no mushrooms instead. The shrimp tasted funny. The Linguini Fabio left a little to be desired. Pros: Prompt Service, Italian Waiter Cons: , Mediocre food, Parking Across more
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fabiolous! 5/31/2004

Everything about Fabio's is charming - even if the music isn't what some diners might expect. Cliche Italian pasta-making songs don't necessarily make the food taste better! For starters, the service is generally impeccable, and consists of Fabio and his assistant coming and going from the kitchen to your table with news of what's fresh and how the preparation of your meal is progressing. And then there's the food - always fresh, unbelievably delicious, and inventive if not always perfectly authentic. My friends and I would rather have a creatively prepared and fussed-over dish than have someone study an ancient Italian recipe and prepare it by-the-numbers. My guess is that most adventurous gourmet diners would agree. I suppose you could arrive on the wrong night (i.e., Valentine's) and get bad service, but Fabio's is usually largely empty, which allows for personal service of the highest order. Pros: great food, creative cooking, no waiting more
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Horrible service 2/15/2004

My girlfriend and I went to Fabio's Grill on valentines. Price: $150 per couple. We were seated and ordered a bottle of wine. Our first glasses were poured. This would be the last time (water too). Though it was valentines day, the mood for half of the evening was set by the soothing sounds of the 80's??? Our salads and appetizers were brought out at the same time. Our bread was forgotten about, not to mention our waiter was nowhere to be found. Needless to say, we were upset. I did make a discreet complaint, pointing out the lack of attention and poor service we had received. To this, I received an ""I'm sorry"", and a bill for my dinner. If you enjoy evenings of fine dining such as this one, I would highly recommend Fabio's Grill. Otherwise I would avoid this overpriced and under classed restaurant at all costs. more
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Mama Mia! 10/12/2003

There are few words in the English language that could describe our experience at Fabio's. The food was delectable, service impeccable, and the ambience warm and inviting. Fabio's is truly a hidden gem among Houston restaurants. I strongly recommend discovering this precious gem for yourself. Pros: Food, Service, Ambience more
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Mediocre food; slow service 7/22/2003

Upon the recommendation of friends, we dined at Fabio's on a Friday evening. The restaurant was packed, which we took as a good sign. Unfortunately, there appeared to be only one employee, who was functioning as waiter, bartender, and host. Consequently, service was unbearably slow and inaccurate. The food was fine, but nothing to rave about or justify a return visit. Plus, parking was impossible to find, as Fabio's own lot is too small for its restaurant capacity. For the same money, I'd rather eat at Crapitto's or Nino's. Pros: Convenient location Cons: Slow service, No ambience, Limited parking more
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Now that's Italian!!! 7/9/2003

What a discovery!!! I was very impressed with this little restaurant. The nice decor, murals, and lovely paintings combine with the Italian music to set a great mood for a meal. The server was very helpful, and really Italian. My girlfriend and I both had marvelous dishes (she had the Chicken Pepe and I had the Chicken Parmigano). They were both fantastic! For dessert the Tiramisu was perfect. With one glass of wine the total was $50 including tip! With my ENTERTAINMENT CARD it was only $35!!! PS. You can park across Westheimer @ the clinic as there is little to no parking at the restaurant. Pros: EXCELLENT ITALIAN, GREAT SERVICE, INEXPENSIVE PRICES Cons: Small restaurant, little parking more
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Menu for Fabio's Italian Bar & Grill


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Owner Fabio Milano made pasta at Milano's Pasta Factory for years. Now diners at his own restaurant can enjoy the same fresh-made pasta and traditional Italian dishes. Radicchio...

  • 12/8/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Payments: Visa, American Express, Discover, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Central, Neartown/ Montrose
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