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The Top 5 Fun Places to Eat in Houston for Adults

The Top 5 Fun Places to Eat in Houston for Adults

How We Picked 

Prices: Not everyone can afford to spend past their budget when eating out, therefore, we looked for restaurants that have reasonable prices. 
Service: Good service is just as essential as good food. Hence, we examined the level of service at the selected restaurants. 
Ambiance: The ambiance of a restaurant can help determine whether you have a good time or not. Thus, we considered restaurants that make dining exciting for those looking for a little dinner thrill-seeking. 
Overall Experience: Overall, diners should be satisfied by their meal and happy with their decision to dine out. So we took into consideration how we felt after eating at these selected restaurants. 

1. Bosscat Kitchen & Libations

Website: Bosscat Kitchen & Libations

Address: 4310 Westheimer Rd #150, Houston, TX 77027, United States

Contact Info: +1 281-501-1187

Hours: Monday to Friday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM 

 Saturday 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM & 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM 

 Sunday: 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM  & 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM 

Google Reviews Score4.4/5
Yelp Reviews Score4.5/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.3/5
Total Reviews4/5
Score Consistency4/5
Prices4/5
Services4.6/5
Ambiance4.5/5
Overall Experience4/5

Pros

  • Accommodating staff
  • Tender beef short ribs
  • Tasty sweet potato mac & cheese
  • Whiskey chamber collection

Cons

  • Limited parking
  • Flavorless meatloaf

Bosscat Kitchen & Libations is a fun place to go with friends or even solo from what we observed on our last visit. Do note that there is a lack of parking, therefore if you make use of their valet service it will cost extra. 

We recommend making a reservation in advance since tables fill up fast at Bosscat Kitchen & Libations. 

First of all, we liked how accommodating the staff was during our last visit to Bosscat kitchen and libations. Upon entering, the staff kindly held the door open for us, and it didn’t end there. 

Throughout the night our waiter made regular inquiries about how we were doing, and offered helpful recommendations for our meals. 

Their menu included a variety of southern inspired dishes such as whiskey okra and their twelve hour beef short rib. Although, they also have vegetarian options such as kale salad and a vegetarian quinoa burger. 

We started off with an appetizer of their parmesan crusted meatloaf. Even though the meatloaf pieces were crispy on the outside, they lacked flavor and were paired with a cold tomato bourbon jam. 

We also tried their twelve hour beef short rib. It was so tender it practically melted in our mouths. 

To go with the beef short ribs, we ordered their sweet potato mac & cheese which came out to us in a cast iron pan. It was a thicker and somewhat sweeter take on the American classic. 

Elbow macaroni swims in a cheese sauce made with pureed sweet potato. The icing on the cake was the addition of crisp ham chips. 

What stood out the most though was Bosscat’s enclosed whiskey chamber, which houses more than 260 bottles of the finest whiskeys worldwide. If you are a whiskey lover, then you will surely enjoy sampling the different drinks their bartender makes—we know we did. 

2. Present Company

Website: Present Company 

Address: 1318 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006, United States

Contact Info: 281-974-4752

Hours: Monday- Thursday: 3 PM to 12 AM

Friday: 3 PM to 2 AM

             Saturday: 11 AM to 2 AM

             Sunday: 11 AM to 12 AM

Google Reviews Score4.1/5
Yelp Reviews Score4/5
Facebook Reviews Score3.7/5
Total Reviews4/5
Score Consistency4/5
Prices4/5
Services4/5
Ambiance4.5/5
Overall Experience4.5/5

Pros

  • Colorful cocktails
  • Juicy char-grilled burgers
  • Popping 80s retro atmosphere

Cons

  • Clumpy queso
  • Undercooked fries

Besides being a colorful bar in the Houston area, Present Company serves a variety of culinary delights. Many people raved to us about their unique burgers and their fun cocktails. 

Parking was difficult to find, so we ended up using their valet parking which is available for ten dollars. They also have VIP parking, but that is priced at twenty dollars. 

Regardless of parking, the bespoke furnishings and colorful decor of Present Company and the birdcage chandeliers that swing from the ceiling is what entranced us the moment we walked onto the property. We liked the view from the upstairs bar of the popping colored walls on the patio that we thought were perfect for posting on social media. 

So we opted for a seat at the bar. Being surrounded by the colorful aesthetic that Present Company replicates, the sports games playing on the TVs all around and their billiards table transported us to a retro bar in the highlight of the 80s. 

As we browsed through the menu, we noted that the price was reasonable for the food and cocktails. We also liked how attentive their staff was. 

Additionally, it didn’t take long for our food to come out of the kitchen. We ordered “The Company” burger and a couple of different cocktails from their menu. 

The juicy beef patty of “The Company” meshed well with the sharp melted cheddar and their flavorful special sauce they use on the bun. The bun was crisp and tasted as if it were char-grilled. 

However, we didn’t like the queso fries that came with our burger. Not only were the fries undercooked, but the queso was clumpy and too bland for our tastes. 

As for their cocktails, we tried “The Whispering Eye,” which had tequila, ginger liqueur, lavender syrup, and a blue butterfly pea elixir, producing a purple colorful drink. It was refreshing but be careful because their drinks are strong. 

3. Artisan Restaurant

Website: Artisan Restaurant

Address: 3201 Louisiana St, Houston, TX 77006, United States

Contact Info: 713-529-9111

Hours: Monday to Friday: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM & 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM 

 Saturday: 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM

 Sunday: Closed

Google Reviews Score4.6/5
Yelp Reviews Score4/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.4/5
Total Reviews4.5/5
Score Consistency4.5/5
Prices4/5
Services4.5/5
Ambiance4.4/5
Overall Experience4.3/5

Pros

  • Delicious Chilean sea bass
  • Creamy cauliflower and potato soups
  • Delicate chocolate mousse

Cons

  • Not authentic French cuisine
  • Salty gumbo
  • Expensive prices

Artisan restaurant claims to serve authentic French cuisine. At least, that’s what we were told.

At Artisan Restaurant, there was an ample parking garage on the premises, but valet parking was available for a fee of $10. Additionally, Artisan Restaurant was bustling on the weekend when we went, so booking ahead is essential if you want a guaranteed table.

The dining room interiors of Artisan Restaurant were elegant and comfortable. We liked the quick and prompt service from the moment we sat down at a table until we received the bill for the food. We liked the fast and prompt service from the moment we sat down at a table until we received the bill for the food.

Price-wise, the food wasn’t budget-friendly, but they had a vast diversity of classic and fusion French cuisine meals with a twist. 

Artisan Restaurant has multi-course meals starting from $100 per person, but don’t underestimate the portion size. To get things started, their amuse-bouche set the tone as an excellent introduction to French cuisine.

Moreover, we had their cauliflower and potato soups which were creamy and delicious. We liked how the chef even gave us the recipe for cauliflower soup when we requested it. 

Furthermore, as one of our main entrees, the Chilean sea bass was delicious and expertly prepared. The fish was exquisite, and the plating and presentation were top-notch. 

However, we were served Texas-style gumbo instead of receiving authentic French gumbo. The sauce was salty, and the shellfish looked like chicken fried steak. 

At least for dessert, the chocolate mousse was delicate in texture and not overly sweet. 

4. Mezzanotte Ristorante

Website: Mezzanotte Ristorante

Address: 13215 Grant Rd Ste. 1200, Cypress, TX 77429, United States

Contact Info: 832-717-7870

Hours: Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM TO 9:00 PM

 Friday: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM &  5:00 PM to 10:00 PM

 Saturday: 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM

 Sunday: Closed

Google Reviews Score4.6/5
Yelp Reviews Score4/5
Facebook Reviews Score4.7/5
Total Reviews4.3/5
Score Consistency4.3/5
Prices4.5/5
Services4/5
Ambiance4.5/5
Overall Experience4.3/5

Pros

  • Moist and delicious tiramisu
  • Well-seasoned calamari
  • Bright and passionate ambiance
  • Live music performances

Cons

  • Rough fish filet
  • Bland sautéed veggies
  • Flavorless pasta sauce

Many have told us Mezzanotte is where you can indulge in luxurious Italian cuisine without feeling guilty about the price. Others raved to us about Mezzanotte’s dishes, like their filet mignon doused in a buttery brandy sauce. 

From our observations of Mezzanotte, everything is geared toward the comfort and enjoyment of its diners, from the brightly colored decor and comfy seating to the live music performances. Mezzanotte has a fiery and passionate ambiance. 

Our first impression of the menu was that it appeared to have been translated poorly. Furthermore, while the appetizers were nothing short of delicious, the rest of our meal was not authentic Italian.

We ordered lamb, seafood pasta, flank steak, and fish filet. The lamb and steak were cooked to perfection, and the calamari in the seafood was crisp and well-seasoned.

However, the seafood pasta sauce tasted as if it had come out of a jar. Additionally, the fish filet was rough and bland, and there was little flavor in the sauteed veggies on the side.  

The tiramisu we had to close our dining experience sent our taste buds to the moon. Not only was the tiramisu a good portion size, but it was drizzled in sweet chocolate and raspberry sauces, blending in with the moist and delicious coffee notes in the tiramisu. 

5. Phil & Derek’s Restaurant

Website: Phil & Derek’s Restaurant

Address: 1701 Webster St, Houston, TX 77003, United States

Contact Info: +1 281-501-3261

Hours: Monday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM 

Tuesday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Wednesday to Friday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Saturday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM

Sunday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Google Reviews Score4.2/5
Yelp Reviews Score3.5/5
Facebook Reviews Score3.7/5
Total Reviews4/5
Score Consistency4/5
Prices4/5
Services3.5/5
Ambiance4.3/5
Overall Experience4.3/5

Pros

  • Buttery and crispy fried lobster
  • Live DJ
  • Cheesy shrimp and grits

Cons

  • Automatic 18% gratuity on bill
  • Rock-like gumbo
  • Slow wait-staff  

Phil & Derek’s Restaurant is known among the community for its pleasant ambiance, live DJ, and delicious fried lobster. At least, that’s what we’ve heard.

After our experience at Phil & Derek’s Restaurant, we can verify that these statements are true. 

Inside, the walls are covered with artwork from local Houstonians and international artists. The DJ played the latest hits making us feel like we had stepped into a club when really we were at a family-friendly restaurant.

What we didn’t like though was how slow the service was or how the waitress we had was not accommodating. Once we received our menus, it took a while for the waitress to return, and she hardly checked in on us throughout the evening. 

Although it was not crowded at the restaurant the night we went, we noted that other tables with different waiters were attended to more often and received higher quality service. 

On the contrary, our food came out of the kitchen piping hot within the hour. We started off with the gumbo as an appetizer.

The gumbo and the rice that came along with it were rock-like in flavor—bland. Additionally, the shrimps in the gumbo were tiny and hard to find.

We liked the fried lobster; when paired well with the melted butter, we almost jumped up and danced along to the grooves the DJ was playing. Moreover, their shrimp and grits were cheesy and not too salty, and the shrimps were bigger than the ones in the gumbo. 

However, be aware that an 18% gratuity is added to the bill automatically—which we didn’t like. Besides this, each bill also has a $4 entertainment fee to fund the DJ’s salary.

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