5 Best Lunch Restaurants in Galleria, Houston

Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen offers a wide selection of salted meat sandwiches if you’re craving something to eat while working.

The newly-relocated restaurant has all the lovely elements of a classic diner. With its red leather chairs, walls filled with framed photographs and posters, and glass cases filled with preserved meat, you’ll feel like you’re eating in New York.

As per the waitstaff’s suggestion, we ordered their Fiddler on the Roof of Your Mouth, which was a triple-decker sandwich filled with layers of corned beef and pastrami and served with a side of coleslaw, pickles, and Russian dressing.

Although, be warned that the menu item is a bit expensive like their other meat sandwiches. Also, the wait staff were a little sluggish and weren’t refilling our water glasses unless we called them.

After 45 minutes, our meal arrived. Despite the long wait, our eyes widened when we saw how big the portions were.

The plate had enough servings to satisfy 2 people. The generous amounts of corned beef and pastrami were complemented by big heapings of coleslaw and pickles for a touch of acidity.

In terms of taste, the salty and smoky combination of the meat went well with the firmness of the bread. The creamy dressing helped in adding depth to the dish, neutralizing the excess saltiness so it wouldn’t be too overpowering.

Casa Do Brasil is a place that brings the traditional churrascaria experience to its patrons. Here, the waiters bring large chunks of meat to the table, carving out the pieces to the customer’s liking.

The establishment has a clean and polished feel, with a wine corner filled with vintage bottles you could order. They also have a nice dive bar if you’re up for a daytime drinking session.

During our stay, we availed of The Casa Do Brazil Experience which includes unlimited servings of 16 types of meat and access to their salad bar. We also added some shrimp cocktails so we could prepare our palates for the meaty feast.

To start our meal, we grabbed some leafy greens from the salad bar. While this buffet offers great meal alternatives for vegans, it doesn’t have that many options when it comes to vegetables.

Despite that, the servers made us feel important, attending to our concerns and needs to the best of their abilities. They’re also quick in serving us the meat dishes and in our opinion, all of the 16 meat options were expertly prepared. 

The dishes were flavorful and tender, with subtle changes in the spices that made the taste of the meat shine. We especially loved their beef options, particularly the rib-eye steaks because of their juiciness. 

What we loved when we ate at JOEY Uptown is the chill but elegant atmosphere of the place.

When we were calling for a reservation though, it took us at least 30 minutes before someone answered our call. While we understand that lunch times are peak hours, the wait time was still a bit excessive for us.

As soon as we got there, the concierge hurriedly took our keys for valet parking. Then, we were greeted with a complimentary champagne flute before we started our meals.

The place itself has a chill aura, with plenty of ornamental plants and beautiful light fixtures contributing to the refined ambiance of the restaurant. 

Although, this place only has a handful of tables that could accommodate groups larger than 5 people. Consider that if you’re coming here with a large party.

After a few moments, we ordered a plate of seared salmon sushi and a helping of steak and ravioli.

We love how the salmon sushi’s freshness was still noticeable even if the meat was already cooked. The jalapeño and lime used to season the dish add a flavorful Mexican twist to this Japanese classic.

On the other hand, the ravioli filling has tasty flecks of crumbly cheese inside. It’s even tastier if you eat the pasta with a piece of filet mignon steak.

Piatto Ristorante is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant serving Italian dishes with a dash of Houston-styled cooking.

Customers who want to dine here should know that this place has shorter hours than other restaurants in the area. They’re also closed on Sunday and Monday because it’s the rest schedule of the owners, the Carrabba family.

When you step inside, you can see the personal touch of the Carrabba family in the decor. With a handful of handmade, intricate mosaic pieces and family photos scattered around the place, one would feel like they’re inside a family dining room.

Here, we picked their specialty fried asparagus starters and the linguine and clam pasta. We also added an order of Papa Joe’s Speciali pizza.

As soon as the waiters started setting up our food, we could already smell the buttery goodness of the asparagus. The main course servings are quite small, but we’re still blown away by the flavor of the meals.

The lemon butter flavor plus the chinks of crab meat turned the plain fried asparagus into a heavenly appetizer. The briny seafood and the butter provided the creamy, salty base of the meal, with the citrus providing a sharp tang to the vegetable.

We also adored how the pasta was served al dente, with the white wine sauce sticking well with the starch strands of linguine.

Lastly, their Italian sausage is so juicy that its flavor seeps deeply into the cheesy dough. Even if it’s loaded, the pizza is light to the stomach.

51fifteen Cuisine & Cocktail is an upscale restaurant located inside Houston Galleria’s Saks Fifth Avenue. 

This place offers a serene resting place after a morning of power walking and shopping around the area. The blue-white decor paired with the sound of the pianist serenading the place is an effective stress reliever for many of its patrons.

Note that this place is a reservations-only restaurant, so make sure you book a table first before dining here. Although, you don’t need a booking if you’re only staying at their dive bar.

Going back, we ordered the restaurant’s lobster bisque and lamb chops.

Even if our order was small, it’s disappointing that we still waited for at least 45 minutes before we received it. Luckily there’s enough complementary bread available at the table to whet our appetites while waiting.

In terms of taste, the lobster bisque has a smooth, creamy feel when eaten. It has an adequate amount of small lobster chunks enough to provide texture to the meal.

In addition, the lamb chops have a soft, velvety feel in the mouth. The buttered rosemary flavor of the meat mixed with the sweet balsamic sauce is a divine meal, especially when you pair it with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon.