Featured in Gourmet Magazine’s list of top 50 restaurants, and mentioned in a variety of newspapers and online magazines including USA Today, the Houston Chronicle, and Food & Wine, is Da Marco Cucina e Vino. The restaurant, located in Houston, is one of the fancier Italian options a diner can choose from in the city.

High-End Options, Atmosphere, and Prices

While the prices at this restaurant are on the higher end ($65 for a wild dover sole or $45 for the lamb chops), the high-end amounts perfectly match the high-end atmosphere of the restaurant as a whole. For a night out that is dabbled with class and elegance, Da Marco is certainly the restaurant of choice. Ideal for business lunches or special nights out with your sweetheart, this isn’t the restaurant to go if you’re looking for something quick and inexpensive.

Fancy Foods

In addition to the wild dover sole and the lamb chops, the menu at Da Marco’s is filled with a plethora of delicious, hearty, and mouthwatering options. Try the Sicilian scampi with orange honey salad as an appetizer; dare to sample the wild boar; indulge in the chianti braised short ribs; or treat yourself to the 48 oz. prime porterhouse (for two). Sides are also available, including garlic spinach, roasted potatoes, and more. Of course, the wine list is also quite extensive, and it’s recommended to ask for a suggested wine for your entrée. You may also want to sip on one of the restaurant’s blood orange mimosas or Bellini Originale if you prefer.

The restaurant also has a formaggi menu (or cheese, in English) with eight different creamy options to choose from. Of course, if cheese isn’t your thing, you’re welcome to choose from one of the many dessert options instead.

Know Before You Go

Before you head to Da Marco, an important thing to know is that the restaurant does have a dress code that is enforced. While the dress standard is slightly more relaxed for women, jeans are not advised and men must have a jacket in order to be admitted and seated. Additionally, a reservation is recommended.

Praised by the Press

Gourmet Magazine has complimented Da Marco for its cuisine, calling the restaurant “daring” in its creations, headcheese, and food. Additionally, the restaurant has also been lauded as being the closest a person can get to Italy while still in Texas.

If you adore authentic Italian food and are searching for an upscale restaurant that offers you elegance and exquisite options, Da Marco’s is worth visiting. Open for lunch between 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM Tuesday through Friday, and dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10:00 PM, Da Marco’s food rivals that of Italy’s.