I was a skeptic when I walked in the door. I was certain that it was just another Cheesecake Factory-- attractive to non-Houstonians who were looking for ""haute"" cuisine. Not that I am lauding Cheesecake Factory as being 'haute,' but to some, CF seems exciting and innovative. I feel as though I have sampled Houston's best Italian food-- Prego, La Trattoria, Osteria d'Also, to name a few-- so I feel like I come to the table (no pun intended) ready to criticize and appreciate as well as the average Houston-based epicurean. The food was terrific. The mild-cheese stuffed pasta with veal and tomato sauce was delicious, as was the carpaccio al tartuffo-- wonderful rare beef with a hint of truffle oil and lightly sauteed mixed greens. My housemade linguine with clams left a little to be desired in the sauce category, but the pasta was fantastic.
Pros: Great service, Hip ambience, Good wine list
Cons: Pricey for Italian
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