Guard and Grace - Houston

"The glitzy Downtown steakhouse Guard & Grace offers something rare for Houstonians: a backdrop of high rises and Downtown views to make you exclaim, “Wow, this is fancy” at the table. So when you need oak-charred steaks, a candle-lit dining room, and some dramatic city scenery to match, go to Guard & Grace." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene, julie takahashi

"Like a lot of other steakhouses in town, Guard & Grace is massive, the service is vigilant, and the litany of meat might require a small personal loan to afford. But this glitzy restaurant also offers something rare for Houstonians: a Downtown high-rise backdrop for oak-grilled wagyu and a supporting cast of charred brussels sprouts and creamy mac and cheese. If you ever need to eat at an impressive restaurant for an impressive reason—like a special anniversary or setting up your bluetooth surround sound system all by yourself—do it at Guard & Grace for an extra touch of class." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas, julie takahashi

"With its grandiose, two-story dining room adorned with a chandelier-like assembly of thousands of metallic rods, Guard and Grace is one of the most impressive steakhouses in the city. The bar is a happy hour hot spot, while table tops and booths wrap around the open kitchen and offer views of mouthwatering dishes like bone-in New York strip and Alaskan black cod appearing along the pass." - Marcy de Luna

"Like a lot of other steakhouses in town, Guard & Grace is massive, the service is vigilant, and the litany of meats might require a small personal loan to afford. But this glitzy restaurant also offers something rare for Houstonians: a backdrop of high rises and Downtown views to make you exclaim, “Wow, this is fancy” at the table. If you ever need to eat at an impressive restaurant for an impressive reason—a special anniversary, a major promotion, or securing a reliable dog walker—do it at Guard & Grace in One Allen Center for an extra touch of class. Curtains span multi-story windows and indoor trees tower over glamorous carnivores. While the steaks here, from the cuts of Snake River wagyu to the KC strips, arrive perfectly seared and smelling like oak, extra points go to the menu’s supporting cast. Apart from a tuna crudo that tastes like straight ponzu and a charred octopus with too many extras, everything else we’ve eaten here works well. The beef tartare is especially memorable. It's served with sauteed maitake mushrooms in an earthy morel emulsion worth sipping from the bowl. Throw in an order of the tartare plus sides of white cheddar cavatappi mac and cheese and brussels sprouts punched up with lemon. It shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes of staring out at the skyscrapers to feel like the ‘80s C-suite executive you really are inside. photo credit: Fernanda Varela photo credit: Fernanda Varela photo credit: Fernanda Varela Food Rundown Prime Beef Tartare If we ever find ourselves near the Allen Center with any semblance of an appetite, we duck into the Guard & Grace bar for this tartare and a couple of cocktails. The balance of the prime beef and large, crispy hunks of maitake all swimming in an earthy morel mushroom sauce perks up something primal. Go ahead, lick the bowl. Bluefin Tuna Crudo This mostly tastes of ponzu and garlic. But if you love tuna and can’t have dinner without it, this dish checks that box. Oak Fired Octopus This dish suffers from having too many ideas on a plate. While octopus is tender and charred slightly, the beans, celery, red pepper sauce, and sherry sweetness don't really come together. Steak Every steak here, from the wagyu to the prime dry-aged ribeyes is grilled over a live fire. Any Texas barbecue lover will appreciate the slight oak-smoked flavor. For something deluxe, get the Snake River A5 wagyu. If you're hoping to spend a little less, the bone-in New York strip has all the rich flavor you need for $92. Alaskan Black Cod A buttery filet with large, fall-apart flakes and subtle sweetness. The broccolini and savory sauce on top only help the cause. White Cheddar Mac & Cheese If we were stranded on a desert island with only a volleyball and MRE packets of this macaroni & cheese, we wouldn’t be upset if one or two rescue planes passed by without seeing us. Crispy Brussels Sprouts Sometimes sprouts are too charred or too loaded with sweet sauce. But these taste like how we always wish sprouts would. They have a good crunch, and a hard char that softens the inner layers, plus a generous coating of grana padano. Sticky Toffee Cake If you have a sweet tooth, this toffee cake is for you. But those looking for a savory-sweet balance, opt for an after-dinner cocktail instead." - Chelsea Thomas

"This breathtakingly beautiful Downtown steakhouse is always a go-to for special occasions, and New Year’s Eve is no exception. Guard and Grace will once again pull out all the stops with some of its creative protein-fueled dishes, with chicken-fried quail, braised wagyu short ribs, and whole grilled Texas bass. Be sure to dress to impress — the restaurant will stick to its dress code, which means no printed t-shirts, hats, or athletic or beach wear is permitted." - Marcy de Luna