Da Marco

"At this favorite restaurant among Houston love birds, chef Marco Wiles pulls out all the stops to showcase the taste of Tuscany in a refined setting. Couples can enjoy four courses, going from antipasti of grilled octopus, artichokes, or burrata to the primi with dishes like butternut squash cappellacci, wagyu beef agnolotti, or a buttery sweet corn raviolo. Main plates include roasted Texas quail, duck two ways, lamb chops, a 48-oz. porterhouse for two, and more. For dessert, go in on a cheese plate, an after-dinner aperitivo, and sweets like Italian wedding cake, a pistachio torta, or the classic cannoli." - Brittany Britto Garley, Nadia Gire

"At Da Marco, it’s all about Italian finesse. The Montrose restaurant features mainstays like lobster-stuffed corn ravioli, a veal chop with roasted tomatoes, and whole wild branzino. But be prepared: the restaurant enforces a dress code, asking diners to arrive in attire that matches the upscale, sophisticated setting. The extensive wine list completes the luxurious dining experience, making it a must-visit for fans of Italian." - Marcy de Luna, Brittany Britto Garley

"Even though getting into Da Marco in Montrose feels like cracking a Fort Knox vault—the windows are shuddered, the entrance is tented, and the dining room is obscured by a thick curtain—once inside, this place hums like any other old-school Italian restaurant. Along with nightly specials, Da Marco always has a stacked tray of fresh seafood greeting you at the front to select from, and rarer dishes like Venetian-style fried calf’s liver and whole Dover sole. Plus the enthusiastic staff treats you like supporting your dining experience is their one true calling in life. " - chelsea thomas, gianni greene

"Even though getting into Da Marco in Montrose feels like cracking a Fort Knox vault—the windows are shuddered, the entrance is tented, and the main dining room is obscured by a thick curtain—once inside, Da Marco hums like any other old-school Italian restaurant. Out-of-breath servers whisk plates to and fro, urgently offer to split dishes, and know every single ingredient on every single plate, as if pleasing you were their one true calling in life. You are important, and so is the amount of burrata on the menu, fork-tender braised ribs, and the dainty caramelized bananas laced over chocolate cake for dessert. " - chelsea thomas, gianni greene

"This time-honored Tuscan restaurant features inventive dishes that pair well with a well-curated wine list. Pastas like wild boar pappardelle, butternut squash cappellacci, and sea urchin spaghetti with chilies, are sure to cure pasta cravings big and small, and take a peek at one of its greatest hits: chianti-braised short ribs with polenta cacio e pepe." - Megha McSwain, Brittany Britto Garley