Dante Vini e Cucina Italiana

REVIEW UPDATE: I am writing to the owner/commenter - I have had many carbonaras in my lifetime as I am Italian and I can tell you that when I ordered my first carbonara it was cold and congealed which is unacceptable in an empty restaurant. The other individual at my table didn’t want to make a complaint and tolerated it, but I had to bring it to the counter as our waitress never came back to check in or I would’ve given my feedback in person! You prepared a quick remake for which was warm but it was obvious it was rushed hence the guanciale grease and scrambled eggs. It appears there are quite a few bad reviews as of recently, and instead of understanding that you are one of manyyy Italian restaurants in Houston and listening and improving from customer complaints, you have done the worst thing you can - blame the customer who paid hard earned money for this bad experience. You will be out of business with this attitude so you may want to change your tune. INITIAL REVIEW: Truly this was not it…from the absolutely deplorable service on a Tuesday when there’s no one in the restaurant to the scrambled eggs in my greasy, cold carbonara, all I can say was this restaurant is disappointing. Do better.

This restaurant offers an intimate and inviting ambiance, perfect for a relaxed yet refined dining experience. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with warm, friendly service that makes you feel right at home. The food? Absolutely exceptional—each dish is crafted with precision, passion, and creativity. What’s even more impressive is that the executive chef Antonio is only 19 years old, yet he delivers dishes with the skill and artistry of a seasoned professional. Every bite reflects a deep understanding of flavor, technique, and presentation. A true highlight of the evening was the Memories of Sorrento dessert—easily one of the best I have ever tasted. Its rich flavors and delicate textures made for an unforgettable finale to an already outstanding meal.

Food- got their highly recommended risotto with veal and bone marrow and carbonara with guanciale- overall dishes were too salty. I love the open kitchen concept where you can watch how they put the dish together. However, unfortunately as there's only one chef, after he made the carbonara it was set aside so he could work on the risotto, thus when it was served the carbonara was served cold. Memories of sorrento is white chocolate shell with frozen lemon mousse interior that was delicious Service- great, attentive Ambiance- artistic, European, slight modern decor with industrial ceilings, great ambiance for date nights; amazing music

Great atmosphere - intimate, not too loud, perfectly lit and great music. Food - small/medium sized menu with solid items and special featured items. Drinks - Espresso Martini, Paperplane, and Old Fashioned all hit the spot

Dante Restaurant is undoubtedly a hidden gem in River Oaks. An exceptional spot where authentic Italian cuisine meets incredible service and an unmatched atmosphere. From the moment you arrive, it feels like you’re experiencing a true taste of Italy. The Cacio e Pepe pasta is simply outstanding—one of the best in Houston. Don’t miss the spicy margarita and the classic Caprese salad, which shines with its freshness and quality. This place is amazing in every way. We’ll definitely be coming back again and again. Highly recommended! (the playlist is perfect).

The most beautiful aesthetic. The most comfortable environment and the most delicious cuisine! From authentic Italian food to a 10/10 cocktail- Dante is a MUST. Elena makes everything even more enjoyable as the hospitality is top tier. Definitely my favorite taste of Italy in the US!!!

Good food and a great atmosphere. When we first arrived (6pm) it felt like the restaurant wasn’t yet open. But once we were seated it was a very nice evening with great service. I’d recommend the ossobuco with risotto and tiramisu. The tiramisu is a unique twist on a classic and a presentation we’ve never seen.

Throughly enjoyed this dining experience! Service: Our waiter was great, on top of everything and didn’t forget anything! We sat at the chefs pass table and the chefs presentation was fantastic in every detail. Food: From the fresh homemade Focaccia bread to the creamy Cacio e Pepe. Everything was delicious! The Bolognese pasta is my new favorite! Location: The atmosphere was amazing! Very intimate and gives modern authentic Italian vibes. Also, there is free parking and a beautiful patio outside. Definitely a 5 star evening!!!

It's too bad that their truffle pasta wasn't on their special when we went again for my early birthday dinner, but on the upside Piero asked the Chef if we could partake in their chefs special menu at the counter. We were their guinea pigs for the night as they hadn't launched this special pre fixe special course menu to the public yet! It was such a treat! We got to see all of our food made fresh in the kitchen and taste test each item from the pre fixe menu. As always the customer service was exceptional and we enjoyed another bottle of the Gavi and had fun trying their house Pinot Noir! I'm Not usually a huge fan of reds, but this was so smooth and did not burn your throat after a sip! As for the menu items, I will post photos, but let you experience it for yourself instead of dropping spoilers!

We placed a to go order since we have a newborn and it was overall an ok experience. The employees were very nice when we placed the order. So the plus is they offer some pretty fantastic pastas. We got the bolognese and the gnocchi with shrimp. The bolognese was very good. The ragu was flavorful with lots of meat. We were very pleasantly surprised by the gnocchi! The saffron flavor was very nice and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. The bad is we ordered the osso buco and I was so excited to try this, but it was the worst osso buco I've ever had. The meat was very tough and not tender like I'm used to. It definitely did not fall off the phone and you had to use a knife to cut off any of the meat. Was a very unappetizing dish, esp since it's on the more pricey side! I would be back for pasta but def not for the entrees, esp the osso buco.

I was treated to Dante, such a new hidden gem in HTX, by my friend for an early birthday dinner. The service was awesome. We were lucky to get the Chef's table, and everyone from the chef, server, to owner/manager were attentive and inquisitive of our dining experience. The cocktails were refreshing, you MUST get the Watermelon Sangria - so good for the summer heat! Foodwise, we shared the Peaches & Mozzarella salad, which was just perfect for the Summer heat again! My conment would be a little more drizzle of honey would have made it out of this world. For entrees, I had the Tagliatelli, which was made just right. The pasta was cooked al dente, and the meat sauce was not thin/watery. My friend had the risotto, a special item for the day, and we loved the flavor so much! The rice was cooked very well and not mushy at all. Watching the chef, I could see he put his passion in serving each dish! I would love to go back and try other items on the menu! Thanks for hosting an awesome birthday dinner!

Great lunch spot. Has lots of natural light inside. We had a courteous waitress during our visit. I truly enjoyed the IL TAGLIERE - CHARCUTERIE BOARD & bolognese pasta. Oh the Meatballs were delicious !

Fantastic meal in a beautiful setting! Service was also great, with the manager checking in on us throughout. Started with a great selection of their appetizers! The stand out was the eggplant fritters! Turned me into an eggplant lover! The charcuterie was also not only beautiful but tasty as well. Everyone in our group ordered a variety of the pastas. The one miss was the seafood lasagna. The tagliatelle bolognese and meat lasagna were wonderful. Amazing wine selection! Came home with a couple of bottles to go! Beautiful desserts with a clever presentation for their Tiramisu!

My wife and I came here for the first time tonight to enjoy a night out. We noticed this place last time we were at the White Oak Plaza but had other plans that day. I'm glad we circled back and came in for Italian today! This restaurant is cozy and comfortable, with a touch of upscale vibes. The restaurant offers a great selection of wines and dishes that match any pallet. If you're a bit uncertain of the wine or taste you're after, they have a Sommelier to guide you through their available selections. In addition to the wines, they have rotating specials and homemade pasta. My wife and I ordered a bottle of the Gavi, La Fortunata, Piemonte as our Sommelier, Piero suggested. This paired nicely with our Peach and Mozzarella Salad, which is super refreshing on every bite, and the Carpaccio di Dentice, which was also very lovely and enjoyable. We also ordered the Truffle Tagliolini from the daily special, an amazing buttery smooth and lightly al dente pasta to keep things light. Our Chef this evening was Angelo, who was super cool, funny and skilled! He came by to check on us and gather any feedback, which is great to see from the kitchen; it shows attention to detail and customer satisfaction. I appreciated the care he has for his art. Since the first pasta was terrific and my wife and I wanted to try another dish, we also ordered the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, which was just as good as the Tagliolini, but it was a bit more on the heavier side, though it was still great! Satisfied, we were about to call it, but it was our first time here, so we decided to try a dessert and choose the Memories of Sorrento. This is fantastically sweet and fluffy and had a bit of lemon tart. Our Sommelier got us a glass of Laraia Piemonte Doc Bianco Passito to complement the dessert! This place is 10/10, and I have been recommending it since our visit. I hope they continue to provide Amazing Service and food so they can continue to grow.

Ambiance was elegant and cozy. Service was amazing. Staff was very attentive. Food was excellent. Especially enjoyed the fresh baked focaccia bread, amazing pastas, veal and lemon dessert!

I'm over in this neck of the woods often, because I live near by, and appreciate the food options in the area. So, I thought Id give this place a try on a Tuesday. Ambiance - nice. It's a smaller restaurant, but beautifully decorated and perfect for a date night. Service - 10/10 Food - 5/10. Pasta was undercooked and cold. Flavor was decent, but I couldn't get past the undercooked noodles. I may give it another shot, but unlikely.

Excellent food and service. A cut above overall. Friendly chef with a passion for great food. Go to Dante to savor modern Italian cuisine

This is a new restaurant I took my fiancé on a date night. It has great decor and style on the inside. Had a cosmopolitan decor, rich like wolf on Wall Street. Service was good bc we sat at the bar since we were walk-ins. Our bartender helped us choose the right drinks for us. My fiancé got a G&T and I got an old fashion. To start we shared tuna tartare which had a good dollop of goat cheese on top with a caper berry. The caper berry was a first and it added a level of saltiness that was well rounded. The tuna was perfection. Then we shared the tagliatelle truffle and mushroom pasta and roasted salmon filet. Truffle can be overpowering but the tagliatelle was well made and truffle was delicately utilized. Salmon was roasted to perfection, maintained its moisture, and added a healthy balance to the meal. It was the perfect meal.

Honey and I visited Dante's for date night. Had to call to push our reservation back a bit and hostess obliged without issue. We were to be sat at a small table near the window but requested to sit at the bar: dinner and a show ;) we watched chef and sous chef prepare the restaurants items with ease which was a nice treat. The food, tbh, was ok. We felt it lacked salt and citrus, leaving the pasta one-note. The vegetables were the best part of the meal. The dessert was disappointing; we were warned it was small but not that it was tasteless. The owner did come by and offer of wine tastings which was nice, if not a bit intrusive. We decided on buying a bottle and asked twice to have it put on our tab, but no one added it or brought it, so we left that alone. I'd come back once more bc I love Cacio e Pepe. Two word review: white wine.

This is a great place to catch a nice glass of wine and a great meal. The bartender is always a pleasure with awesome service. Love this place

Most amazing desserts. Warm and inviting staff. Chic atmosphere. Perfect spot for a date night, girls night out, or a glass of wine after work.

Place feels cozy and nice , like the food there , service was ok , we went on a weeknight but still it was busy , loved the Mediterranean Octopus and kale salad ( I chose these as my favorites) other food we got was fine too . The pastas were a little bland but edible enough .

amazing food, great service especially by Joel the bartender. We sat at the bar and he was attentive the whole night. The ambiance was great. Their espresso martini was amazing, tried carajillo as well, and tried the charcuterie board and gnocchi pasta w shrimp and it was great.

I seriously love the new vibe at Dante's! The whole place just feels so much better now, like way more chill and welcoming. And Elena, the new manager, she's awesome--super friendly and really knows how to make you feel at home. The food's still amazing, of course, but now the service is just on a whole other level. If you haven't been in a while, you gotta go back and check it out!

I had the pleasure of dining at Dantes last night, and it was indeed a fabulous experience. The food was delicious, and the wine was exceptionally well-poured and enjoyable. What added to the charm of the evening was the owner's impromptu wine tasting, and we purchased a case of wine (to go) from his family's vineyard in Piedemonte, Italy. My wife and I have a special love for Italy, and we thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to taste his wines. The ambiance of the restaurant was perfect for a great night out with close friends. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience, and I cannot wait to return and support the folks at Dantes.

I had a lovely and unique experience here. My friends and I had just finished shopping for wedding dresses upstairs and we wanted to stop for a glass of wine. They weren't open but they were so courteous and told us we could come in and have a drink if we didn't mind them setting up. We met the owner, Pierro (I probably butchered the spelling) and he chatted with us. He told us about the wine (he makes the wine at his family vineyard in Italy!). He even elevated the experience with some focaccia! It's a cute spot and I hope more folks will come support these guys.

Extraordinary food, classy Italian vibe, authentic, Piero and his team are excellent at providing the best experience possible. The chef's table provides an exciting view at the art of crafting the wonderful dishes served. Highly recommend 100/10

Terrible. Poor execution on apps, drinks, & food. Don't even bother..................................................................................................................................................

I did a date night here after seeing all the hype on social media and thought everything was mediocre at best. The pasta was inconsistent. The spaghetti noodles were awful and soggy with super watery sauce. The truffle mushroom pasta dish was a little too hard for my preference but the flavor was there thankfully. Probably the highlight of the night. Bolognese was alright. I would pass on the octopus appetizer. Little to no flavor and it was basically an octopus salad. Snapper carpaccio was very simple, salt and olive oil, but for $15 the fish was sliced paper thin. LOL. Venice salad was fine, super healthy for sure. The ribeye was good, could be sliced thinner. I really enjoyed the vegetables it came with actually. We ordered a side of potatoes as well. Hard pass on those, it had absolutely no flavor. For dessert, we tried the strawberry cheesecake and the chocolate cake. Cheesecake was a hit, but the chocolate cake tasted like an undercooked brownie. For the price, I would expect better. I want to say this has got to be an off day, but for this to be what they serve on a Saturday dinner service is rather disappointing. I am not surprised it was not busy.

We had a very good takeout dinner from Dante's--both the pappardelle bolognese and the tagliatelle truffle and mushrooms pastas were delicious. It was nothing crazy amazing (there are so many good, new Italian restaurants in town, so fun!), but I really enjoyed it. Just note it was a little pricey, but it's in line with the upscale restaurant that Dante's is.

This is my first time attending. Dante's River Oaks, the only reason for the four star, and not five is how small and crammed the restaurant can be. We were a large party, and some of us were stepped in the corner. Overall, the food itself was good, the wine was probably the best part. It's a nice relaxing vibe. It is also a sexy atmosphere if you were going on a date, it can be very intimate and has a great menu selection for both food and wine. Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and had great suggestions for our table.

Do not make a reservation for Dante. They are not busy, you can walk in and secure a table. We made reservations for 5:30. I tested positive for COVID at 5:00, cancelled our reservation at 5:11 and was charged $40 cancelled fee. Management has a no exception policy for cancellation refund. I looked at their availability and every time slot was opened. Our cancellation did not monetarily harm Dante. Beware of unreasonable management if an issue is encountered. We will not go to Dante.

was a cute and fancy italian place with great service! the smaller environment gives it a more intimate setting for a birthday dinner compared to the other popular fine dining options in houston. when reserving, they already had my table of 9 ready for us in the cute corner of the place which i greatly appreciated, as well as gave complimentary drinks for us. the food was truthfully as good as the environment and the portions were surprisingly enough for everyone regardless of how it looked on the plate. overall, i would see myself coming back for another girls night or even a date :)

Must try for brunch, great location with nice atmosphere! Definitely a usual spot for girls tea time

The place is amazing , the food,service and ambiance is the best in town. Very cozy and beautiful.

I enjoyed a romantic dinner at Dante's for my birthday. The food was delicious, the ambiance was chic, and the service was phenomenal! One thing I really liked about this restaurant was that it wasn't too crowded. We could actually enjoy a conversation. I was celebrating my birthday dinner and they gave complementary champagne upon being seated and dessert. I though that was such a nice touch and made me feel that much more special. The house champagne was delicious..we actually ended up ordering more. I have a healthier palate so I had the Naples Salad and Beetroot appetizer for starters. The pest pasta was delicious. For dessert I highly recommend their cheesecake! It's served in a glass which I really liked.

Visiting from out of town, and my friend brought me here as her favorite neighborhood restaurant. I had the Octopus Salad, and it was a delicious salad topped with beautifully seasoned tentacles. (It did not look like the photos I now see on Yelp which look a bit sloppy in comparison.) We were a group of 10, and our server was spot on. She made sure all our drinks were full and even split the bill into 4 separate checks. If I ever find my way to this part of the country again, I would be happy to return.

AMAZING food and service! Please stop by. The nicest servers and employees I've ever experienced!

Wow! We were so pleased to see great reviews online last week and decided to feast here for NYE. We just recently came back from our 2 week European trip and this has been the only authentic place in Houston we have really enjoyed! Pierro, the owner, was extremely attentive, informative, and made our night. We were started with a complimentary glass for NYE, fresh bread with olive oil and decided on a bottle of red for the table. Our glasses were constantly kept filled by his wonderful staff and table kept clean of any finished plates. The menu was laid out classically and easy to follow. We each picked different courses in order to try as much as our stomachs could fill. All were absolutely amazing and 0 negatives to note. The desserts were mouth watering and we made sure to leave nothing behind. The ambiance of the restaurant made our night as it was dim lit and peaceful. 10/10 service, wondeful staff & cooks, and great ownership. We will be coming back very soon!

Dante's Italian in River Oaks left much to be desired. While the ambiance was pleasant, the food fell short of expectations. Despite the high prices, the dishes were disappointingly bland, making the overall experience less than satisfying. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend it as a dining destination.

The atmosphere is 5 stars. Food and drinks were really good. Would go back tomorrow. It was such a lovely small atmosphere. I felt like I was in a small high end restaurant in Italy. Was quite surprised. Lovely. And prices were reasonable. I wish Houston had more restaurants that made you feel so relaxed.

My experience was great at Dante's overall. I like the atmosphere- very homey and a friendly waiter who can recommend the menus/ talk about the details. Mediterranean Octopus- GREAT! We ordered an additional plate. Tina tartar- creamy and tasty! Pasta dishes were all good, we shared some of them with 7 people. Steak is good but too much volume, you can think of all plates are shareable at this restaurant. Cocktail - must to order, pretty and yummy. I'll go back to this place again.....

Delicious authentic Italian cuisine. Wine was also excellent, served by the winemaker himself. Staff are all friendly, gracious and attentive. Small, intimate setting. Loved it -- we'll go back!

my friends and I recently celebrated a birthday at Dante's River Oaks and cannot express enough how AMAZING our experience was. from the moment I contacted the restaurant to make a reservation for a party of 15, Christian helped with choosing the menu, stayed in contact with me the week before the event, answered every single question in a quickly manner and was just so wonderful and patient with us. the staff greeted us with such joy, made sure we all had what we needed at all times and made sure every detail was covered. the food was delicious and the portions were very generous. we did family style and we all had more than enough and still had left overs. I am already gathering the next group and cannot wait to experience this beautiful and wonderful restaurant Again. I don't often get impressed with the service from a restaurant but Dante's River Oaks, exceeded all of my expectations. thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Red Snapper Carpaccio: no taste, no nothing. I am not sure what I ate. Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe: worst ever. I guess the chef was not in town.

Dante's is a new Italian restaurant nestled in between the river oaks district and highland village. I was eager to try this new concept and I'm so glad I did. We were greeted by the staff with warm smiles and a complimentary glass of bubbles! The food is amazing and there are really nice wines to choose from to enjoy with your meal. This is pasta-bly the best Italian restaurant in town! Can't wait to return!

I really enjoyed my dinner! I got beef tartare and my friend got the salad (special for the day). The Beef tartare was amazing! Generous portion and meat was seasoned perfectly. I would definitely order it again. The salad was simple yet so flavorful! They should think about adding it to their menu! For the main course, I had bucatini all'amatriciana (10/10), really good flavor! And my friend had Cacio e Pepe (8/10), it was good but wasn't the best. For desert, we shared tiramisu, amazing! It was kind of like reconstructive version and wasn't overly sweet! Now, let's talk about their service!! 100/10! Our server, Dominique, was literally the sweetest! she was the main reason why we had a wonderful dining experience and enjoyed our girls night! She was very knowledgeable, attentive, and patient (took us a min to decide on what we want to order and we also asked multiple questions). I also noticed all servers were helping each other, which was really impressive!

I walk in an Im comforted by a dark, intimate environment. As it is a new restaurant, I'm complimented with a complimentary glass of Prosecco. However despite all of these pleasant introductions I would ultimately be disappointed shortly thereafter. Nevertheless, my waiter was great, he was: kind, respectful, and attentive. However, I feel as if his attention when it came to culinary expertise was elsewhere. Recommending what may have been the worst things on the menu. To put it plainly and bluntly; the food was shit. Considering the price and location, you can get better food for the price within walking distance, additionally, in a less posh and intimate setting requiring a level of date night apparel. To put it simply, it was ok. And just ok. I will tell you why: 1. The appetizer was mediocre. I struggled to eat it and I have eaten at many restaurants over the world exploring my tastebuds. This failed to satisfy the very first tastebud on my tongue, keep in mind, I've tried exquisite and quite curious food throughout the culinary adventures. I was simply uninterested. 2. The "complimentary" Prosecco was nice in gesture, but, considering it is an upscale Italian restaurant the should focus on the wine menu a little more. There are plenty of budget friendly bottles more palatable. 3. They may have tried to rename "concura" to "Dante's" but they haven't fooled anyone. It is still the same restaurant purchased by another individual. The first one failed to pick up traction in a location where restaurants can thrive with food that is mediocre, and I believe it is a matter of time till the same is true with 'Dante's.' 4. The wait on a simple pasta is extremely long. Assuming the pasta is fresh, it should cook in 4ish min to Al Dente. Assuming it is not, 8-9 min at most as required by most boxed pastas. However, my cacio y pepe took a ridiculous 38 min with 8 tables (I counted). Pasta does not take that long no matter the dish, and arguably, no matter how packed the restaurant. In fact, sitting at the bar I can swear after 30 min of sitting with my Olive all'Ascolana I saw my dish be prepared, and sadly thereafter become swampy with a long wait on the warming table. 5. The cacio e pepe: writing as I speak, I have low expectations. As it's brought to me, I must admit the smell of the melted cheese went straight to my nose. However, I was so sadly disappointed. I have never felt the need to put salt on food. I think that says enough as to the dish I purchased, sadly at full price. I will admit, if there is a restaurant that knows how to cook pasta al dente, they know how--if only they knew how to season. 6. I mentioned I'm writing a food and service review, and that I was very underwhelmed with the cacio e pepe. I asked for the bolognese, after, I asked for a dog bag. So next is my review of the bolognese. 7. The bolognese, nothing special. A common theme arrived at this establishment, overpriced food because of the area. Sad. Some things are hard to mess up. 8. After tasting items solely from the "pasta" menu, I could not justify spending the price on a main course. You could sincerely acquire a better meal for less at most restaurants. However, here it was the opposite. But then again, I must admit, the waiter I did have David was amazing, he was attentive, fast, and kind. I hope the same is true for other staff at this establishment. 9. The restaurant stays very clean, and I must admit, that when I went to the bathroom my napkin was folded upon my return. However, the cleanliness, and organization of this restaurant is not replicated in its food and quality. 10. The glasses were chilled and sparkling clean for my beer. Nothing is better than a cold beer in a cold glass. 11. The restaurant is a very open design, that being said, I can confidently say the kitchen is extremely well kept and clean.

Exellent Food and Service! The Pasta was exceptional. The cocktai unlike most places gave you a full glass. Enjoyed the Octopus Salad too. Great new addition to our Midlane area. Will go again