We tried all the pasta places in Houston, and here are our 10 favorites!

After a month of surviving on a diet dealing with microwaved leftovers and instant meals on repeat, I finally craved something saucy and truly satisfying.
One day led to another as I tried the best pasta places in Houston, and I’ve never felt more alive! Finally, I could rescue my taste buds from all the bland food I’d been getting at home.
So if you’re also in search of saucy and hearty pasta dishes in the city just like me, join me in this quest, and let’s turn your month around!
1. Tiny Champions
Media credit: @giantlosers
Website: https://www.tinychampionshouston.com/
Address: 2617 McKinney St, Houston, TX 77003
Contact Details: +1 713-485-5329
Operating Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Friday – Saturday: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Upon entering the restaurant, you’ll be greeted by their warm staff. You can wish to stay inside the restaurant and be amazed at their wonderful interiors or sit outside to enjoy a cooler breeze.
When you’re here, don’t miss out on the crowd-favorite ricotta agnalotti and classic rigatoni. Aside from their pasta, Tiny Champions is also famous for its pizza and butter beans.
What’s great about Tiny Champions is that their ingredients are always fresh, ensuring that they elevate your dining experience. In fact, you won’t feel bloated after eating lots of carbohydrates which means they use quality ingredients in their menu.
You can also order in drinks and desserts at Tiny Champions to enjoy before leaving the restaurant.
Pro tip:Don’t miss out on their sherry cookies and cream ice cream–it’s a booze in a dessert great to cap off the night. |
2. Potente
Website: https://www.potentehouston.com/
Address: 1515 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002
Contact Details: +1 713-237-1515
Operating Hours: Monday – Thursday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Friday – Saturday: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
If you want to eat some great pasta with a romantic vibe then Potente should be on your list. Potente’s truffle pasta has been awarded as one f the best pastas in the country by the Food Network.
Aside from their award-winning pasta dish, their renowned chef, Danny Trace, offers crowd-favorite pasta dishes such as blue crab-stuffed flounder spaghetti and an pappardelle rabbit bolognese.
You’ll aso love their extensive wine list from Italy and California, elevating your whole dining experience. You can also choose from their selection of tequilas, scotches, and whiskeys.
Pro tip:If you want to try Potente’s truffle pasta at a discounted price, consider visiting the restaurant during their happy hour. From 5 in the afternoon until 7 in the evening, you can get it for half of its original price. |
3. Marmo
Media credit: @marmoitalian
Website: https://marmoitalian.com/
Address: 888 Westheimer Rd Suite 109, Houston, TX 77006
Contact Details: +1 832-626-3400
Operating Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
While Marmo is a known steakhouse in Houston, it is also home to the best pastas in town. You’ll love that they only serve hand-rolled pasta, ensuring fresh and great taste.
Upon entering, you’ll already feel the romantic and classy vibe. Their interiors are stylish and welcoming, making it a great night out option for intimate celebrations or casual date nights.
You’ll also love that you can just walk-in without reservations, making Marmo a great choice for sudden pasta cravings.
What’s great about Marmo is that you can order pasta in half and full sizes, which means you can just order the smaller portion if you’re just satisfying your cravings!
You can order pasta dishes such as squid ink campanelle and ricotta gnocchi.
You’ll also love the great selection of wine and spirits at Marmo, perfectly pairing with your pasta and steak dishes.
Meanwhile, if you want to host a private dining, you can also tap Marmo to ensure you only serve the best pastas and steaks for your beloved guests.
Pro tip:Maximize Marmo’s complimentary valet service so you can go straight to your dinner reservation. |
4. Coltivare
Media credit: @coltivarehtx
Website: https://www.agricolehospitality.com/coltivare/
Address: 3320 White Oak Dr, Houston, TX 77007
Contact Details: +1 832-626-3400
Operating Hours: Wednesday – Thursday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Friday – Saturday: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM; Sunday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Coltivare has been known for its incredibly tasting pasta, pizza, and salads.
Some of the crowd-favorites that you can try are their rigatoni and black pepper spaghetti. These pasta dishes may sound simple—but trust us when we say, you’d probably skip the other entrees just to order another bowl of pasta!
You’ll love that they utilize the fresh herbs and lettuce that they have from their garden, making your dishes extra fresh and yummy!
Once you enter Coltivare, you’ll already feel the high and lively energy that the restaurant exudes, making it a great spot for celebrations—big or small!
With that, make sure to reserve those seats early as they fill up easily.
Pro tip:Cultivare can serve off-menu cocktails. So be ready with your invented recipe and hand it to the bartender and let him do his magic! |
5. Better Luck Tomorrow
Media credit: @bltomorrow
Website: http://betterlucktomorrowhou.com/
Address: 544 Yale St, Houston, TX 77007
Contact Details: +1 713-802-0845
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 2:00 PM – 11:00 AM; Saturday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM
Better Luck Tomorrow offers some of the best pasta offerings in Houston once a week, so make sure to grab the opportunity to taste them!
Every Tuesday, Better Luck Tomorrow offers your pasta favorites on rotation, ensuring they get you to return on a weekly basis. Some of the pastas you can get every Tuesday are their cacio e pepe and their peppery bucatini.
If you’re a fan of garlic bread, you just need to add $5 to make your pasta meal complete!
Meanwhile, if you happen to drop by during brunch, Better Luck Tomorrow offers breakfast cocktails that will compliment your meals.
And for those who can’t leave their furry friends at home, Better Luck Tomorrow is a dog-friendly brunch spot in Houston!
Pro tip:If you’re down for some carbo-loading, make sure to try their spaghetti sandwich. It’s a heavy meal so it’s perfect to be ordered during brunch! |
6. Ostia
Media credit: @ostiahou
Website: https://www.ostiahou.com/
Address: 2032 Dunlavy St, Houston, TX 77006
Contact Details: +1 713-324-9288
Operating Hours: Tuesday – Thursday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Friday – Saturday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
If you want to satisfy your pasta dreams in a lush and calm setting then Ostia is a great spot for you! There’s natural light coming in, creating a very welcoming ambiance, great for a casual date, business lunch, or a girls’ day out!
Here, you can even enjoy being seated in the outdoors—you can even take your furry pals with you!
Some of the best pasta bowls you can try at Ostia are their gnocchi and their creamy spaghetti carbonara. Ostia is also known for its pizza and roasted chicken so you can satisfy your pasta cravings along with these two mains.
What’s great about Ostia is that they offer value-for-money deals, ensuring you get a full-course meal without breaking the bank. They also change their menu daily, which makes you come back for more!
Pro tip:Ostia crafts their own sauces and condiments such as olive oil blends and chili oils. If you need more, don’t hesitate to ask the waiters for some refill to elevate your meal! |
7. Paulie’s
Media credit: @pauliepetro
Website: http://www.pauliesrestaurant.com/
Address: 1834 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77098
Contact Details: +1 713-807-7271
Operating Hours: Monday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Since 199, Paulie’s has been serving authentic Italian food, including some of the best pasta dishes in Houston. In fact, they create their homemade pasta, ensuring you high-quality and fresh meals at an affordable price.
Here, you can order your pasta dishes in half and full portions, so Paulie’s is really a great restaurant to celebrate with friends and family—big or small!
Some of the pasta dishes you can get here are the fusilli pasta with pesto, and their bucatini amatriciana.
If you want to enjoy your pasta with some wine, Paulie’s sister wine bar is just located next door so you can always request for their wine selection.
They also have a great selection of desserts such as their cream cheese brownies, key lime tarts, lemon ginger mousse, and gelato!
Pro tip:If you’re looking for more parking spots, head to the huge parking lot behind the Paulie’s. |
8. Zanti Cucina Italiana
Media credit: @zanticucina
Website: https://zanticucina.com/
Address: 1958 W Gray St Suite 101, Houston, TX 77019
Contact Details: +1 281-378-4890
Operating Hours: Monday – Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Thursday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
For those of you who love traditional Italian dishes with a modern touch, then Zanti Cucina Italiana should be on your list. Zanti Cucina Italiana offers homemade pastas and wood-fire oven pizzas, creating an authentic Italian dining experience.
You’ll love their cannelloni stuffed with spinach and ricotta, as well as their papperdelle al ragu di ossobuco with saffron and pomodoro.
When it comes to ambiance, you’ll love the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing you to enjoy your meals with natural light coming in.
You’ll love how attentive and accommodating their staff is, making you feel a true Italian hospitality in the heart of the city.
Meanwhile, for dessert options, you can order Zanti Cucina Italiana’s molten lava cake and dulce de leche. Just remember to order them early as they sell out easily.
Pro tip:If you prefer a creamy pasta, Zanti Cucina Italiana’s best-seller is the cheese and truffle ravioli. |
9. Nobie’s
Media credit: @nobiehtx
Website: http://nobieshtx.com/
Address: 2048 Colquitt St, Houston, TX 77098
Contact Details: +1 346-319-5919
Operating Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM; Friday – Saturday: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM
While Nobie’s is an American restaurant, they still serve some of the best pasta dishes in town. One of the most raved pasta dishes from their valued customers is the Nonno’s pasta, a homemade pasta covered in a meaty bolognese cooked for 36 hours!
Aside from their pasta dishes, you can also try their homemade salt and vinegar chips, and clam chowder croquettes that are both crowd-favorites too.
Meanwhile, Nobie’s also got some impressive cocktail mixes. You can enjoy watching the bartenders with mix those freshly-squeezed juices with their line up of vodkas and tequilas.
You’ll also love the intimate ambiance at Nobie’s. You can even relax at their patio area while listening to a classic soundtrack on the vinyl player.
Pro tip:For lovers of hiphop, consider visiting Nobie’s on Saturday nights. |
10. Navy Blue
Media credit: @navybluehtx
Website: https://www.navybluerestaurant.com/
Address: 2445 Times Blvd, Houston, TX 77005
Contact Details: +1 713-347-7727
Operating Hours: Monday: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM; Tuesday – Saturday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM; Sunday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
If you’re a fan of seafood pasta, then you shouldn’t miss a trip to Navy Blue. Here, you can indulge in their squid ink linguine with rock shrimp, and even try their crawfish étouffée.
If you want to indulge in more seafood dishes, you can pair your pasta with their clam fritters, lobster roll, and some chilled shrimp.
When it comes to their service, you’ll love how attentive their staff is. And if the kitchen isn’t quite busy, the chef will take his time to go around the restaurant and approach each table just to check if their customers are happy and satisfied.
Pro tip:The best spot inside Navy Blue is the seats by the bar. And while you’re waiting for your mains, make sure to avail their caviar service first! |