Clarkwood Wine Bar & Cocktails

3201 Allen Parkway (Next to Ellio Fine Art) Houston 77019 Email clarkwoodhtx.com

This elegant and packed little spot caught my eye on leaving an opening at Ellio Fine Art, so I popped in for a nightcap and to ogle the beautiful people. The menu is comprised of Wines By the Glass; Cocktails; House-curate shots; and Beer. An elegant little spot, patronized by what appeared to be 20- and 30-something stylish residents of Montrose and The Heights. A cool little place to put on your list.

Stella’s Wine Bar

1600 W Loop S (In the Post Oak Hotel-Uptown Park) Houston 77027 346.227.5174 thepostoakhotel.com

In the corner of the lobby of the grand ballroom, Stella’s is a new addition to one of Houston’s most highly rated hotels: The Post Oak. Watched over by highly trained sommeliers is one of Houston’s most elegant places for a pre- or post-dinner glass of wine, and if you just want to graze lightly on a wide choice of cheeses, charcuturie, flatbreads, and sliders, Stella’s is the place for you. Tip: the beautiful people, ranging from hot young singles to elegant mature couples, are here and they are dressed to the nines, so don’t show up in your blue jeans with frayed knees and a sweatshirt. Stella’s is an intimate space with patio seating and an indoor seating area, which is surrounded with impressive wine coolers reaching up to the ceiling. Within walking distance of Stella’s are other dining and drinking options within the fabulous hotel itself, and across the way are Willie G’s Seafood and Mastro’s Steakhouse, the latter of which is reviewed today as well. Wines: a complete selection of especially curated fine wines from around the world-by the glass or by the bottle -is available, and the unique wines will be explained and served by knowledgeable servers. Cheese * Redneck cheddar * Green Hill * Lamb Chopper * Drunken Goat * Truffle Gouda Artikaas * Roquefort * Manchego Meat * Bressola, beef salted and cured (Italy) * Prosciutto San Daniele, pig (Italy) * Spanish chorizo, pig (Italy) * Rosette de Lyon, pig (France) * House made duck rillette, duck confit, cornichons * Zesti salami, pig (Canada) * Pata Negra, black pig (Spain) * Little Bites * Marcona almonds * Marinated Mediterranean olives * Hummus & pita * Italian meatballs * Truffle parmesan fries * Sliders * Beef & bacon jam * Fried chicken * Crab cake * Trio of sliders * Flatbreads * Prosciutto, fig, and Gorgonzola * White Margherita * Funghi * Sweets * Tiramisu * Macarons flight * Ice cream or sorbet

Postino Uptown Park

1151 Uptown Park Blvd. Houston 77056 713.965.7929 postinowinecafe.com

If you were like me, you wondered why Starbucks left this location and what business could possibly generate equal or better traffic into this prime corner of the trendy Uptown Park development? Well, now we know, and it is Postino, which unless I miss my guess, will fill the gap left by disappearance of the once boomingly successful Tasting Room-also a wine café. Postino Uptown Park is a large space- divided into different sections-including an inviting patio, a bar, and spacious indoor seating. If the location in The Heights is any indication, this Postino will soon be a hopping ‘meet-and-greet’ Mecca. Appetizers * Olives snack, blend of five different varieties * Meatballs & goat cheese * OMG Grilled cheese, layered gruyere, brie, goat, white cheddar, smoked bacon, and creamy tomato soup dip * Skewers snack, grilled petit filet & chicken skewer, Sicilian garlic yogurt, olive oil * Bruschetta & boards * The Bounty, roasted carrot, cauliflower, broccolini, sweet pepper, blistered Brussels sprouts, roasted artichokes, watermelon radish, spicy marcona almonds, green goddess dressing * Chef’s charcuterie, prosciutto di Parma, Spanish chorizo, salami, truffle burrata, chef’s cheese pick, olive, heart of palm, charred artichoke, blistered sweet pepper, crostini, lavash bread *Paninis * Chicken mozzarella * Nine iron, smoked bacon, roasted chicken, fresh stracciatella, mixed greens, tomato * Roasted turkey * Tuscan tuna * Vegetarian * Half panini, half salad * Salads * Caesar * Hannah’s field salad, kale, quinoa, Fuji apple, apricot, toasted almonds, pecorino stagionato, picked red onion with apple cider mustard vinaigrette * Raspberry chicken salad, pecans, gorgonzola, mayo * Desserts * Chocolate bouchon, vanilla bean ice cream * Crème brulee * Salted caramel sundae * A large assortment of wines and beers are waiting for you at Postino to accompany the light food items, and…it’s about the wine and fellowship at Postino

Napoli’s Wine Café

4601 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007 (713) 434-6305 napoliswinecafe.com

The night we stopped in for a family birthday party, there was a tango class in progress with two tango singers and professional and amateur dancers-quite a night…and the food was amazing as well. Large and varied menu, with reasonable prices. Antipasti * Scampi w sundried tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, topped w crab meat * Fried calamari * Chicken marsala meatballs * Spinach & artichoke dip * Crab cakes * Tuna tartare * Lobster risotto * Fried mozzarella * Brochette board-choose 4 out of large selection * Boards * Vegetarian * Meats, imported & domestic * Cheeses * Zuppa * Del mare * Di Zucchini * Lobster bisque * Insalata * Organic quinoa * Grilled vegetable * Grilled chicken Caesar * Grilled calamari, shrimp, salmon, or tuna * Signature steaks * Grilled veal chop * New Zealand lamb chop * Filet mignon-8 oz. * Premium Rib-eye-12 oz. * Seafood Grill * Shrimp scampi * Salmon piccata * Red snapper * Carbonara d’Mar * Shrimp fettucini Alfredo * Linguini pescatori * Entrees * Boneless short rib * Eggplant pomodoro * Chicken rollantini a la vodka * Veal marsala * Eggplant, chicken, or veal parmigiana * Veal piccata * Chicken fettucine Alfredo * Chicken pasta Napoli * Lasagna * Spaghetti * Tortellini * Ravioli * Panini & pizza: various * Desserts * Cannoli * Italian cream cake * Carrot cake * Chocolate mousse cake * Convenient parking in the garage behind the restaurant

Plonk! Beer & Wine Bistro

1214 W. 43rd at Ella Blvd (Garden Oaks) (713) 290-1070 plonkbistro.com

Well-established for around eight years, this delightfully friendly little neighborhood table-service restaurant serves delicious menu items at affordable prices. The same can be said of the wines, which have been personally selected by owner/”Wine Sheriff” Scott Miller, whose background includes many years at Pappas Steakhouse, where he once served a $10,000 bottle. At Plonk the wines are affordable and good, and the list is surprisingly broad. A spacious patio provides a relaxed setting in which you can dine – and imbibe- at leisure. Plonk! Curbside and dine-in menu * Fried cauliflower, curried aioli, golden raisins, cilantro * Green salad w apples & walnuts, butter lettuce, bleu cheese crumbles * Wild mushroom chicken, parmesan gnocchi, king trumpet mushroom cream sauce, spring peas * Berkshire pork chop, double bone chop, fire roasted vegetables * Patatas bravas, Yukon gold potatoes, sirloin skirt, garlic aioli, chimichurri, manchego tomato paprika sauce, blistered peppers * Steak salsa verde, Angus filet, fire-roasted baby carrots, smashed potatoes * Chicken pot pie, cippolini onions, English peas, carrots, flaky pastry * 72-hour short rib, cheddar grits, rainbow chard, red wine reduction * Fire-roasted Gulf redfish, tomato tarragon sauce, lemon pilar Stone hearth pizzas * Firecracker * Calabrese * Sausage & radicchio * Chef’s garden

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