What to order at Theodore Rex

Must order
Tomato toast in summer. Whatever is on the blackboard with stone fruit in late summer.
Editor tip
Bar is walk-in and the best seat. Arrive at opening, 5pm Thursday through Monday.
CuisineNew American
Price$$$$
Tasting menu$70 to $110 a la carte
ChefJustin Yu
Book ahead2 to 3 weeks
Last verified

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Location

Address: 1302 Nance St, Houston, TX 77002

More fine dining in Houston

Uchi Houston ★ 4.6

$$$$ Tasting Omakase $150 to $200JapaneseChef Tyson Cole

Uchi Houston is Tyson Cole's James Beard-winning Japanese room in Montrose since 2012, with hama chili, untraditional sushi and one of the city's strongest.

OrderSit at the sushi bar and order omakase off-menu. If a la carte, hama chili and maguro-and-goat-cheese.

Book2 to 3 weeks ahead

TipSushi happy hour 5 to 6:30pm Sunday to Thursday is the city's best deal. Bar seats only.

Xochi ★ 4.5

$$$$ Tasting Tasting menu $115, a la carte $60 to $90MexicanChef Hugo Ortega

Xochi in Houston is Hugo Ortega's Oaxacan dining room at the Marriott Marquis downtown, a James Beard winner with seven moles, a tasting menu and a masa bar.

OrderMole tasting flight. The chichilo (one of the harder moles). House-made tlayuda.

Book2 to 3 weeks ahead

TipLunch tasting at $48 is the value entry. Sit at the masa bar to watch the corn ground fresh.

Pappas Bros Steakhouse (Downtown) ★ 4.4

$$$$ Tasting $80 to $180 a la carteSteakhouseChef Pappas family

Pappas Bros Steakhouse Downtown is the Houston steakhouse on McKinney Street with a 4,000-bottle James Beard outstanding wine program, dry-aged ribeyes.

Order28-day dry-aged bone-in ribeye. Creamed spinach. Ask the sommelier for a glass of older Bordeaux.

Book2 weeks ahead

TipThe wine list is unrivalled in the city. The Galleria-area location on Westheimer serves the same menu but with a busier room.

Killen's Steakhouse ★ 4.3

$$$$ Tasting $80 to $200 a la carteSteakhouseChef Ronnie Killen

Killen's Steakhouse in Pearland is Ronnie Killen's white-tablecloth steakhouse on West Broadway, with a 1,200-bottle wine tower, 44-Farms wagyu and dry-aged.

OrderThe bone-in ribeye, dry-aged. Le Cordon Bleu mashed potatoes. The wagyu flight when offered.

Book4 to 6 weeks Saturday ahead

TipPearland is south of downtown Houston; 25 minutes drive. The bar serves the full menu and is easier than the dining room.

Brennan's of Houston ★ 4.1

$$$$ Tasting $70 to $120 a la carteCajun & CreoleChef Brennan family

Brennan's of Houston is the 1967 Texas Creole dining room on Smith Street, the New Orleans Brennan family's Houston outpost, with turtle soup.

OrderTurtle soup with sherry. Bananas Foster, flambeed tableside, to close. Pecan-crusted Gulf fish at dinner.

Book1 to 2 weeks ahead

TipSunday jazz brunch is the local routine. Reserve the courtyard if the temperature stays under 30C.

Da Marco ★ 4.2

$$$$ Tasting $65 to $130 a la carteItalianChef Marco Wiles

Da Marco in Houston is Marco Wiles's Italian dining room on Westheimer since 2002, with hand-rolled pastas, a salt-baked branzino and Houston's most serious.

OrderWhichever pasta is on the daily blackboard. Salt-baked branzino if it is on. Order one of the older Barolos.

Book2 weeks ahead

TipThe upstairs room is quieter and smaller. Closed Sunday and Monday.

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