Local Italian

The owner and chef’s own personal food favorites and how she herself loves to eat inspired the Italian entrees at this Upper Kirby restaurant. As such, you’ll find dishes that are truly made with love at this quaint Italian café and wine bar. What’s more, all of the ingredients are made from scratch and by using natural ingredients and local produce, creating an experiencing that it both authentic and local. So much so that you may even forget you’re in Houston.

An Extensive Menu

Despite the fact that this restaurant isn’t very big, you’ll find a menu that’s as diverse as it is long. Cold dishes, hot dishes, appetizers, soups, salads, vegetables, pastas, main courses, desserts, and beverages are all available at Giacomo’s. The baked gnocchi with tomato sauce, butter, and Parmesan is absolutely amazing; the minestrone soup is some of the best you’ll ever sample, the calamari and poached shrimp appetizer is a must-try; and any and all of the homemade pastas can’t be missed.

Have a Glass

Like any good Italian restaurant, Ciabomo’s Cibo e Vino has gotten it right when it comes to the wine selection. With plenty of Italian wines to choose from, you may have a hard time deciding whether or not you want the Pepe Nero from Puglia, the Trim from Napa, or the Pala i Fiori from Sardena (or something else entirely). If you just can’t decide, try one of the wine cocktails instead, such as the Lambrusco sangria or the Cochi spritz.

Great for Dates

This restaurant is the perfect combination of classy and casual, with a wait staff that is professional, kind, and helpful without being pretentious or snobby. The atmosphere and décor of the restaurant, much like the waiters, is quite similar—cozy, comfortable, a welcoming while also feeling like a polished and elegant place.  All of these factors put together make it a great locale for a date night, casual lunch, or dinner out with an old friend. No reservations are taken, though, so get there early and plan to take some time dining.

Wonderful Outdoor Patio

The outdoor patio is perfectly relaxing on a nice day.  Surrounded by flowering bushes you can easily forget you are still in the heart of Houston as you sip a Cochi spritz over a plate of calamari and poached shrimp appetizer.

La Dolce Vita

If you want to sweeten up your life a bit, nothing will put a smile on your face quicker than one of the scrumptious desserts at Giacomo’s. The lemon tart for $7 is exactly what a lemon tart should be—sweet, savory, fruity, and rich all at once—and the rich hazelnut mousse, also $7, is perhaps the best dessert on the menu. If you prefer a slightly lighter finish to your meal but still want to satisfy your sweet tooth, the espresso over gelato or the cremolata di stagione (frozen crystals of fruit puree with whipped cream) are also great options.