Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Houston

OpenTable

Updated 05 October 2026

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Houston? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Masraff's

4.9

4.9 (4063)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Westside

About the restaurant

Masraffs, long recognized as a premier restaurant in Houston, offers affordable elegance, attentive service, impeccably prepared and exquisitely fresh American cuisine created with the best ingredients from around the world.

Top review

LyndaGold

Dined 2 days ago

TJ did a great job as our server… Attentive without being overly so. Great to see Russell and have a few minutes to chat. Always love the gumbo on Fridays! The sticky toffee pudding as a birthday treat was a delightful surprise❤️

Baso

4.8

4.8 (100)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Heights / Washington

About the restaurant

Since opening our doors in December 2023, Baso has evolved into a space guided by global culinary traditions with an emphasis on Basque-inspired live fire cooking. We source many of our ingredients from Texas, and we work closely with local purveyors to source the best quality components to create our dinner menu.

When Jacques Varon moved back to Houston after cutting his teeth in Austin, Los Angeles, and Tokyo, he knew he wanted to bring the best parts of all those places to his hometown. During his time in L.A., Jacques met Max Lappe, whose commitment to creativity and research Jacques had always admired. Two years later, Jacques convinced Max to leave sunny Los Angeles for swampy Houston, and Baso was born.

Top review

Matthew

Dined on 17 Oct 2026

We've wanted to eat at Baso for a while and managed to get a table on Saturday October 17. It lived up to expectation - fantastic food, drinks and service.

The Union Kitchen (Memorial Dr)

4.7

4.7 (2058)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Westside

About the restaurant

The Union Kitchen features a unique menu served in a casual atmosphere. Our lunch menu focuses on sandwiches, wraps, entree salads and some of the best burgers in Houston. At dinner, steaks, chops, chicken dishes and seafood take center stage. We have a unique hand selected wine list that complements our cuisine perfectly.

Top review

Jane

Dined on 14 Oct 2026

Food and service always good. Thank you for offering meals that are wonderful and great value. Always great service and a lovely setting!

Whiskey Cake - Baybrook

4.7

4.7 (1874)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Friendswood

About the restaurant

Our menus are all about bold, seasonal flavors, using ingredients from the best local farmers, ranchers, and growers—because fresh just hits different. Behind the bar, we’re mixing up garden-to-glass cocktails with house-made syrups and fresh juices, plus a barrel select whiskey program that’s all about the good stuff. Whiskey Cake is where great food and good company always come together.

Top review

Chyenne

Dined 6 days ago

Wonderful country ambience, soft lighting above the table. Excellent service, friendly, knows there stuff.

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4.7

4.7 (494)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Montrose

About the restaurant

*Starting Tuesday, July 7, Rosie Cannonball will be open until 10:30pm. Our Reverse Happy Hour will take place nightly from 9:30-10:30pm, now featuring half-off pizza and wine.*

At Rosie Cannonball, we’re serving European comfort food in a lively atmosphere. The restaurant celebrates the origins of cooking through open, live fire and is centered around a wood-burning oven and grill.

The menu draws inspiration from individual ingredients: local vegetables, pastas and pizzas, simple seafood and locally-sourced meat cooked over live fire.

Master Sommelier June Rodil curated an expansive list of delicious wines with a strong Italian, Spanish and French focus from their favorite producers new and old, along with options from progressive New World producers. The cocktail menu has strong Italian influences, mirroring the focus of the food.

Chef de Cuisine: Melven Batocabe
General Manager: Ricardo Flores
Goodnight Hospitality Partners: Bailey & Peter McCarthy, Felipe Riccio, June Rodil

Top review

ClarkGold

Dined on 17 Oct 2026

Great for. Great setting. Great service. Every bite was delicious.

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Rosie Large Party - 3 Course - Prix Fixe

Hearsay Market Square

4.7

4.7 (2564)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

When you walk through the doors of Hearsay Market Square, you will be transported to a unique era in Houston’s history. Housed in Houston’s second oldest building, Hearsay’s original location celebrates eclectic American cuisine served in a chic antique setting.

As you stroll through the doors of Hearsay Market Square…

Top review

melissa

Dined on 16 Oct 2026

Happy Hour food & bevs were yummy & very well priced.

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Relish Restaurant & Bar - Town and Country

4.7

4.7 (550)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Westside

About the restaurant

Relish Restaurant & Bar Town & Country is a neighborhood eatery serving up classic American food with Mediterranean influences. At Relish, we aim to create an environment where absolute guest satisfaction is our highest priority. Through a shared commitment to excellence, we are dedicated to the uncompromising quality of our food, service, and people, while taking exceptional care of our guests and staff. We simply believe food should be uncomplicated, delicious and something to be relished!

Lunch: Monday - Friday 11am - 3pm
Happy Hour Bites: Monday - Friday 3pm - 5:30pm
Dinner: Sunday - Thursday 5:30pm - 9pm, and Friday & Saturday 5:30pm - 10pm
Brunch: Saturday & Sunday 10am - 3pm

Top review

Kristi

Dined 6 days ago

Wonderful food and service. I was overjoyed to have Alexi as our server! He was our server many years ago at the Relish River Oaks location. So happy he’s back with Dustin at Relish!! He provides attentive service. And super happy you brought the big salted caramel brownie over from River Oaks location!! Memorial needed it, too! So tasty! 😋 Lovely meal as always! Dustin and his teams are always great!

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51fifteen Cuisine & Cocktails

4.8

4.8 (1380)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Galleria / Uptown

About the restaurant

51fifteen Cuisine and Cocktails, located in Houston's Galleria area is a top-notch dining destination with an upscale atmosphere. The menu features a diverse range of global cuisine made with fresh ingredients, including seafood, steaks, salads, and vegetarian options. The bar offers an impressive selection of classic and modern cocktails, wines, and beers. With its prime location, 51fifteen is an ideal place to take a break from shopping or enjoy a night out with friends. Overall, it's the perfect spot for a special occasion or a romantic dinner.

Top review

ChristopherGold

Dined on 10 Oct 2026

Epic dining experience with excellent care and service. Unmatched and 10-10!

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Popular dish

Lobster Bisque

Roost Houston

4.7

4.7 (662)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Montrose

About the restaurant

Nominated by Food and Wine Magazine as best chef southwest and 4 time winner of the Houston Iron Fork competition, Roost is slowly standing in a class of its own. With accolades like winner of the Food Networks Beat Bobby Flay and competing on Guy's Grocery Games, local Chef Kevin Naderi loves developing global flavors and serving his hometown.
Roost’s 50-seat space is cozy and unpretentious, amid walls paneled with old shutters and Edison-like light fixtures. Roost’s rustic and diverse menu is revised every five weeks, inspired by local availability of farm-fresh seasonal ingredients and flavors of the world, including the American South, Asia, and from the Middle East, taking advantage of Chef Naderi’s Persian heritage.
With over 13 years of serving Houston, we are proud to be a delicious option for our incredible city, and we truly looking forward to giving you a casual- fine dining experience.

Top review

JeremyGold

Dined 1 day ago

Great food! Terrific and varied selection and executed wonderfully. Limited drink menu, but options were great.

Camaraderie

4.5

4.5 (102)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Heights / Washington

About the restaurant

Welcome

Envisioned by award-winning Chef Shawn Gawle, Camaraderie is a convivial fine-casual neighborhood restaurant in Houston. Inspired by the friendship, trust, and loyalty often experienced by the family that is a restaurant team, Camaraderie aims to extend this warm sense of hospitality and connection to guests.

Top review

LaceyGold

Dined 2 days ago

Fabulous experience can’t wait to return! Tasting menu was perfect

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Experience

Roast Chicken Sunday Supper

Experience

Parisian Sunday Brunch

Experience

Friendsgiving Sunday Supper

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