Came here with some coworkers on a Thursday night and it was a full house. Made a reservation and did have to wait 15 extra minutes but they let you wait in their patio and it's super cute! Plenty of street parking available! Really loud inside so would recommend for a fun night out not a romantic dinner for sure. I tried the tomato basil and mozzarella pizza and it was great, would definitely come back again for it. Simple but delicious. I also tried the black pepper spaghetti (it came out in like 3 minutes which was incredible) but thought it was average tasting. Maybe add some toppings/proteins as they let you add those! read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Houston. Beautiful ambiance, service is great, and they take reservations! I come for the meatballs, they're the best. Pasta is good too! Focaccia is good but need to order with the burrata otherwise it's dry and needs a dipping aside. It's excellent with the burrata though! Pizza isn't my fav, too much arugula on the pepperoni pizza but still I give 5 stars for the ambiance (perf for date night) and as I stated, the meatballs!!! Cocktails are yummy too. Parking is limited, but I have no problem if I'm grabbing dinner right at 5 when they open! read more

Great service, food, and ambiance. We got lambrusca, broccoli pizza, and strawberry crostada for dessert! read more

Coltivare - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The vibes are first off really nice here. It's got the right amount of farm to table feel with its outdoor patio seating (although I don't think it's fully farm to table). The pizza here is really good and I've tried a couple of ones off the menu. The menu changes a bit as the ingredients provided to them change, so it adds a flair that makes you want to come back. Lastly, the service was top notch. The waiters definitely knew what appetizers to pair with our main meal and I definitely think you should give this place a try if you haven't before. read more

Really cute ambiance with the herbs and veggies garden but the food was underwhelming. I want their food to have more oomph, though I do like the pizzas. Pastas that night was on the dry side. The gelatos were creamy and yummy. read more

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A solid restaurant with a revolving seasonal menu. Fresh veggies, beautiful cheeses. Clean food .

Best in Houston! My husband and I love this place! Everything is good! Pizza is amazing! My fave is spaghetti with sausage! You will not be disappointed! read more

Coltivare - The best spaghetti you will ever have! - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Nice atmosphere, attentive servers. The tagliatelle was the best pasta dish I've had in a while. I have been dreaming of this dish ever since. 10/10 recommend read more

Yes yes and yes!!! I cannot believe it has taken this long for me to be introduced to this hidden gem. We sat outside where they have both a covered area and an open area. String lights and a garden throughout the space. The service was amazing and I cannot wait to try their beef bourguignon they promised to have. I will return here for sure. Great for a casual dinner. read more

Coltivare - Pizza and meatballs - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Never a miss with the restaurant. From the pasta to pizzas with the freshest ingredients. The only thing I wish is they would put the pate back on the menu. read more

I absolutely adore this neighborhood spot. The food is outstanding and the vibes can't be beat! My favorite dish is the black pepper spaghetti, hands down. We also had the pepperoni pizza last night, which was very good. The crust was perfectly crispy. Other tasty dishes from the night include the arancini and the chocolate rum cake. Truly everything was good. Only few downsides of this spot are the noise level, parking situation, and need to make a reservation days in advance. Definitely plan ahead! read more

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I enjoyed the Roasted Cauliflower, figs and prosciutto, and the Pepperoni Pizza. The cocktails were strong, and the bartenders were willing to make an off-menu cocktail--definitely a hip spot for a date or just a girls' or guys' night. read more

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Coltivare is the perfect solution to your carb or pasta fix! And now is the perfect time to try their food without the crazy wait :) We ordered takeout, paid over the phone, and our order was ready well within the 20 min quote for curbside pickup. Easy. If you prefer a pasta shape over another, they allow pasta substitutions! We asked for the spaghetti, black pepper, Parmesan, and oil (aka cacio de pepe) with fettuccine instead. It is super creamy and rich, studded with black pepper, and the noodles have that homemade texture with al dente + chewiness that is just super delightful ^o^ No meat, but with how rich this one is, you won't miss it! The bucatini (think spaghetti with a hole in the middle, like sourpunch straw shapes!), pancetta, and amatriciana sauce is savory and tomato-y. The sauce piles at the bottom so be sure to mix it up or else you'll end up with some very salty and lonely sauce after you inhale the noods. The cauliflower is roasted to tender perfection that almost melts in your mouth, salted nicely and with bites of sweetness from golden raisins (it works!) and crunchy pine nuts. The portions come in nicely sized aluminum rounds and plastic tops, which are easy to reheat if you need to. The cacio de Pepe came in a massive round, but we still demolished it along with everything else. Worth the price. They offer pizza, appetizers (like salads, wings, figs), as well as entrees (meatballs, chicken, lamb kabobs) on their changing menu, but we came for the pasta and conquered. Highly recommend giving Coltivare a try next time for pasta night-- your tummy and taste buds will thank you! I'll definitely be calling for more pasta :D read more

I came here on a Saturday with a group of 6, and there was an hour wait - I wish this place took reservations! We decided to stick it out though, and the food was definitely worth it. We got the Veggie pizza with brussels sprouts, autumn squash, red onion, Gouda, and Parmesan, and the Shredded Pork pizza with chiles and peppers, smoked cheese, and fennel pollen. (Warning: the pizza menu changes from time to time.) We also got the Tomato, Basil, and Mozzerella pizza with a fried egg on top, as well as the Focaccia with Burrata. Everything was incredibly tasty - my favorite was surprisingly the veggie pizza for its unique flavor and texture combo! I'd come with a smaller group next time, but I'll definitely be back! read more

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BEWARE sitting outside we had no choice restaurant was fully committed , 2-3 fans mounted outside blowing hot air 100 degrees already. we spent our dinner swatting flies, and sweating.*** Please invest in a giant AC fans for outdoors and or a hydrobreeze misting system***. PS the little fan you have on the table does NOT work for the flies . We had a party of 6 did NOT complain we tried to make the best of it . The food and service was amazing! read more

This was my first time being here and the food was good and we had pizza, pasta, shrimp, and chicken. It was great and the whole vibe of the place was great. Love the music. The service was fast and the overall of the place was great. read more

TLDR: A cozy spot serving up American-Italian dishes at a moderate to high price point; produce grown in house and good flavors make this a pretty good spot, but not something I'd say is worth the 90 minute wait you'll encounter most weekend evenings. Try the non traditional albeit tasty pizzas made from foccacia and definitely the braised pork collar. Coltivare boasts a waiting time that is consistently well over an hour on any given Friday or weekend night, and it absolutely baffles me as to why that is the case. Don't get me wrong, though, the food here is definitely pretty good and the pricing is more than reasonable. Our party tried something from almost every part of their main menu when we visited. Don't expect the most traditional Italian cuisine, but rather some dishes inspired by Italian flavors with some new American flair. The appetizer, the stuffed calamari, set Coltivare up for a horrible experience initially. Though I first thought the portion was a little small, I was almost glad that there wasn't too much after trying one bite. The initial layer of well cooked squid is a pleasing texture at first, but quickly gives way to a ground meat like stuffing packed so full of salt, I nearly spit it out. The tomato based sauce that accompanied the dish, was almost equally over salted. Overall, one of the worst renditions of calamari I've ever had in my life. Luckily, the "pizzas" that came out next were far better. While it eats more like a flatbread, its a damn good one, and the focaccia base and toppings were all excellent on both the prosciutto, roasted tomato, and chicken pizza, as well as the four cheese one. The pastas came out next, and our party tried the spaghetti (cacio e pepe) and the tagliatelle. While both were cooked pretty well, the tagliatelle was the clear favorite, with an incredible mouth feel, texture, and delicious bolognese to accompany it. The pork collar was by far the highlight of the night. Sous vide and then seared, it had a great crust and was extremely tender. The ratio of meat to fat was perfect; the sauce also had a great punch of acid to offset the richness. The only criticism I have is that the mix of beans and black eyed peas that the pork collar sits on top of don't seem to pair that well with the dish, but it was still pretty great nonetheless. The other entree we ordered, the grilled chicken, came at the recommendation of our waiter, and seemed to be well liked by others at the table, but seemed like another forgettable grilled chicken dish that almost any american restaurant could have done just as well. All in all, Coltivare seems to serve food that is consistently well seasoned and well cooked, and has pretty nice ambiance and service. Personally, I don't think its worth the wait, but it might be worth coming if you can get a reservation. Just stay away from the calamari, and you'll probably have a good time. read more

We came here for my Mom's birthday dinner. We had made a reservation for a party of 6 well in advance and last minute needed to push the reservation back an hour due to some of our parties work delays. The host staff were very accommodating and helpful and we were able to change our reservation with no problem at all. We got a wonderful bottle of wine for the table and I got the designated dragon non-alcoholic drink. The designated dragon was delicious and I was so happy to see that they had options for the designated driver! To start our dinner off we ordered the Focaccio with Burrata, the Arnacini, and the Stuffed Calamari. The Arnacini was the table favorite and the walnut sauce on the side was absolutely delicious! For our main dishes, my boyfriend and I split the the bolognese and meatballs! It was the perfect combo of protein and carbs and the perfect amount of food! Others at the table got the ricotta gnocchi, Berkshire pork collar, and pizza! Everything was delicious and can't wait to go back and try more! read more

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Came here on a Friday night with 2 friends right after it opened around 530pm. Thankfully we were able to get seated right away - honestly we were surprised! But definitely if we arrived any later, we would've had a long wait. Would be nice if this restaurant took reservations, even if just for parties of 4 or more. Ambience: Lovely herb garden in the back that has more seating now than it used to! A waitress takes drink orders outside while waiting. I will say when the inside (small) of the restaurant is full, the noise level is *loud* and it became really hard to hear each other. Maybe some curtains or something would help lessen the noise intensity. Service: Friendly server, very accommodating (see below). Drinks: We all three got the Bam'Booz'Ld cocktail (violette, gin, bergamot, blueberry, basil, topo chico, brut) - absolutely delicious, refreshing, & pretty to look at! Food: -Appetizer: we ordered the grilled figs with prosciutto, balsamic drizzle, and goat cheese (subbed out the point reyes blue cheese) - we absolutely loved this especially with the cheese substitution. Wish it could be a permanent menu item! -Entrees: two of us ordered the black pepper spaghetti staple menu item - always a good choice! My other friend ordered a new ricotta cheese filled ravioli menu item (first one under the pasta section) and had to send it back for something else. We all tried it, and there was just something "off" and "below average" about it - the capers, cherry tomatoes, cheese, and sauce just didn't make sense together. It also didn't have an appetizing smell either. Would not recommend. Thankfully the waiter was able to sub out that dish for a pizza: the chicken, prosciutto, tomato, sage, saba (added fresh mozzarella - was an extra $4 - kinda steep). Super delicious. The crust was just right - not too thin, not too thick. Would recommend a visit here! Just try to come right when it opens / on a random weeknight or else be prepared for a long wait! And some menu items are better / more flavorful than others. read more

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Always exceptional! Great ambience & outdoor dining. Our go to neighborhood restaurant.

All hail Coltivare! Didn't know why I was lining up at 4:45pm on a Sunday, along with quite a few others, but once I saw the craft and care that went into my first cocktail, it became very apparent why the queue had formed before doors opened for service. We sat at the bar and Adrian and Adam were gems! Engaging, professional, and slinging gorgeous G&Ts left and right. We started with the focaccia and burrata and that focaccia is addictive. It's more pizza crust than traditional dense focaccia (in fact, thinking their pizza is probably amazing because of that). The burrata was presented beautifully, but the bread stole the show. We then did the $35 Houston Restaurant Week menu with the butter lettuces, Cacio e Pepe, and dessert. The salad was the perfect starter. Spritzed with a light, citrus dressing. The cacio e pepe was dynamite. And they didn't skimp on the portion just because of the prix fixe. Pasta cooked al dente with the right amount of pepper to cheese ratio. Rich without being heavy. I didn't try the dessert, but dining companions left the dish bone dry. I had one of the booze-free concoctions with tequila, which was refreshing and a great opening act. I then had a glass of red wine with my pasta and ended the evening with one of the afore mentioned G&Ts, which were gorgeous goblets of adult liquid. When in Houston, I will 1000000% be returning to Coltivare... I don't care that there are a trillion other restaurants in H-town. read more

This place has a beautiful outdoor seating area! The wood grilled chicken may have been one of the best chicken dishes I have ever had! Desserts and starters were not bad either, decadent and flavorful ! I would have given this place a higher rating but the main entrees we got to share - the broccoli pizza and the mushroom pizza - were incredibly flavorless. If only they had more sauce or seasoning! read more

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I loved the look of this place and how they have a cute garden in the back. It was really busy when we went so definitely make a reservation before going. I got the seasonal zucchini pizza. The crust was delicious but there wasn't enough sauce or cheese on the pizza which was disappointing. I would love to go back and try the cacio e pepe pasta which I've heard great things about! read more

Coltivare - Seasonal pizza - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Wow what a place. I was going to a concert with a friend and came here for an nice dinner. A coworker recommended it and we were not disappointed. The server was knowledgeable about the drinks and menu which is fresh and seasonal. We went down the menu and order one thing from every section to split. Each item was a delight to try. The restaurant is limited in space so make sure you book a table online first. That or perhaps try to avoid the peak hours. This was a real treat. read more

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Excellent service! Thank you for fitting us in without a reservation and for taking good care of us! Tasty food, nice restaurant weeks menu. A sign of quality in addition to food and service - good filtered water and freshest iced tea. Great patio by the garden. Overall, lovely! Recommended. read more

Hello lover. This place holds a special place in my heart as a top dining experience in Houston. Wine program is impeccable and I always ask Leonora just pick things for me. The dishes are always both satisfying, and delicate. The garden being encompassed for dining during pandemic is brilliant and I love dining amongst all of the gorgeous the aromatic plants. read more

Hostess was very pleasant and accommodating of our request to be seated outside. The server was very nice, just had too many tables so it took a while to get the orders in. Food was extremely salty, my husband sent his pasta back because it was inedible. Mine was salty but not inedible so we kept mine. Coltivare was my favorite restaurant for a very long time, this is my first time returning post Pandemic and I was disappointed in the quality of food. For seating, inside is very loud so would recommend outdoor seating if it's not during the summer months. read more

Coltivare is always a solid option for dinner. I've been eating here for years. The wait staff is very helpful and knowledgeable on the menu. We have enjoyed a variety of dishes here, including the small plates, pizzas and pastas. I have never had a bad meal here. The only downside is that they could probably use some more time between reservations because the last few times we've gone we have had to wait an additional 15 minutes (if not more) after our reservation time to get seated which can get a bit awkward with such a small entry and bar area. They are always kind about this and make sure we are accommodated while we wait but this is a consistent issue we've noted. read more

I visited this restaurant on a last minute dinner option while I'm in town for work; let me express the satisfaction I felt when I left this place. From minute one to the time exiting the premises I was impressed with the service and flavor of each one of the items I ordered. First I'd like to mention that I sat at the bar to experience cocktails and food, while having a great service from my bartender I let her take the lead to provide the first drink, followed by couple of plates to try; she nailed on every single order. I wanna ordered the Artisanal Salad, this exceeded my expectations, followed by a Wood Grilled Chicken that crowned my dinner cravings; after my meal had a couple of wine glass and finishing with an excellent desert recommendation by the same bar tender ( wish I could've asked her name) the hazelnut cake with granola that was something else for someone who is not into too sweet deserts. Overall I wanna thank the bar tender who helped by selecting every item she placed on my table being the first time on this restaurant. Ambiance was loud but is understandable when is a popular place with limited space. Thank you read more

Coltivare - Hazelnut Cake - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I heard this place was SO good and I finally had the chance to experience it! It really lives up to the hype, but it's super popular so you might have to wait a bit to sit down depending on the time you go. We went on a Friday evening around 6, and had to wait 15ish minutes to get seats at the bar. To start, we had the Arancini, which came with two rice balls and a delicious pine nut and oil mix to spread on the Arancini. I'd def recommend this appetizer! We also tried the Tagliatelle with Texas Wild Boar and the Chicken+Prosciutto Pizza. Both were so delicious...you could tell the pasta was really fresh and the flavors of the meat were excellent. The pasta was the favorite of the night, although I went a little crazy with the amazing pizza too! Loved the toppings and freshness of the crust, toppings, and flavors of the prosciutto. The service was amazing! Everyone is so friendly and the food is out quickly despite how busy this place gets! 10/10 I'm coming here again when I have a craving for Italian food. Parking situation: street read more

Fantastic food whether you are eating there or for take out. I love their pasta, and their entrees are to die for. Great pizza also.

The restaurant is small and cozy so make sure to make a reservation! The garden in the back is the perfect place to sip on cocktails while you wait! I ordered the Bucatini and it was spicy and delicious! read more

Coltivare - Bucatini - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Excellent spot in town! Set the Resy app on "notify" for my desired peak dinner time and was able to get a last minute table on the patio! The ambiance is so gorgeous here - you see the garden and it's also covered. We had the Shrimp, fennel, fresnos, tarragon pesto, sauce bianco pizza, which was delightful. The texture was fantastic, and the flavors well-rounded. Also enjoyed the cauliflower app and the octopus app. The cacio e pepe (Spaghetti, black pepper, parmesan, olive oil) was cooked perfectly al dente, and it had just the right balance of creaminess. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal. To make things even better, I had a Lebanese wine that was so unique, and it really added to the experience. Be sure to book a table weeks in advance if you want to guarantee a peak dinner time. Also, note that it is quite loud indoors, so you might want to opt for patio if conversation will be a key component of your meal! read more

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FOOD: We ordered the shrimp pizza and let me tell you, it was BOMB! I wish we had more time to spend and try other food. DRINKS: The cocktails were very good and we loved the attention to detail. The fresh herbs and flowers were a great touch. SERVICE: No complaints! Great service from hostess to waiters. ATMOSPHERE: Definitely up a notch from a casual place. It fills up super quick, arrived at 5:15 on a Friday and outside seating was already full, ended up sitting at the bar and enjoyed it! read more

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Great Italian food, refreshing cocktails, and did I mentioned that they have a cute garden in the back? Parking is a bit difficult to find, and you can always expect a wait time on the weekends. Overall, this is a great place to have dinner with a date or with your girlfriends. If you do need to wait, you can always walk to the garden and order a drink while you wait. I highly recommend you try any of their pizzas, the crust is so soft and tasty. I ordered the spaghetti with chicken and it was seasoned just right. One of my friends ordered melon fresca salad and she fell in love with it. Prices are pretty reasonable. Their menu is subject to change because many of their ingredients are grown in their own garden. read more

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So I've been to Coltivare a couple times now and both were completely different experiences, mainly due to the service. During the first visit, we had a great waiter with great service and excellent food. It was a five star experience. However, tonight was a different story. First, they quoted the wait time at an hour and fifteen minutes. It only took 30 minutes. I'm glad it was much shorter, but would appreciate a more realistic wait time. And then our waiter wasn't very friendly and was trying to rush us through. He was in such a hurry to toss the plates on the table that he dropped one and broke it. He just wasn't very attentive, was not friendly by any means, and didn't seem to have any interest in helping us, which is the main reason for the four stars. Onto the food... We started with the Focaccia and Burrata, which was delicious and a must order! But the Burrata came out five minutes before the Focaccia, so we were stuck staring at it, just waiting for the bread to come out. The waiter said that's the way they do it... I have no idea why though. It was pretty annoying. For entrees, we had the Shredded Pork Pizza and the Spaghetti with Black Pepper, Parmesan and Olive Oil, of course! The pizza was good, but nothing special. The other time, we had the chicken and prosciutto pizza, which was much better. The Spaghetti was good but the chef went a little heavy with the black pepper this time. He also went heavy with the cheese, so it worked out okay! Definitely order the Spaghetti though. It sounds boring and simple, but it is surprisingly amazing. And of course the drinks... Delicious as always! They have a great beer selection, with a great variety of styles. I also had the Block Party cocktail, which was delicious. However the cocktails take a while so plan ahead. The waiter said its a common issue... Not sure why they don't just hire more bartenders.. read more

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My review of Coltivare covers approximately 3 trips over the last year. 4 stars because I keep wanting to come back, only 4 stars because there have been a few misses over the visits. I'm glad that you can now get a weeknight table without a long wait. The vibe is awesome, and the friendliness of the service has always been great. On one visit, the pacing of the dishes were disjointed. Entrees coming out before apps, and some longer delays between dishes. This happened on only one visit. The pastas are the star's of the menu in my opinion. No better Cacio e Pepe in Houston. On our latest visit we had the oxtail sugo that I thought was excellent, but my wife thought the pasta was too al dente. We had the whole fish dish, and it was underwhelming. Not really flavorful enough to deal with the bones. Overall, Coltivare is an excellent neighborhood Italian restaurant that we will revisit time and time again. read more

The food was delicious! Definitely try the burrata! I had the gnocchi for my entree and it was the best meal I've had at a restaurant in a long time. The service was friendly and great as well! read more

I want to start this review out by shouting out Greg -- he was a great host and was friendly while we we're waiting to get seated, so thank you! My coworkers and I had been wanting to eat Coltivare during our entire stay in Houston, and it did not disappoint! The garden is a beautiful scenic spot to enjoy one of the best dishes we've had in Texas. We ordered the black pepper spaghetti for the table, at it was so simple yet absolutely phenomenal. Our mozzarella and basil pizza, though? Excellent. No need to crowd it with a dozen toppings, as this pizza was a pure delicious as is. Cannot recommend this place enough! read more

This is a newer place in Houston that i LOVE. All the wonderful things to talk about but i'll get the one negative out of the way first. It's no reservation and quite small small especially when the patio is closed. So go on the off days or a little earlier than normal to avoid a wait. On the positively, amazing side of things: - The servers are wonderful -- always very helpful to help you decide between dishes and good about friendliness and being a smiling face - The menu is all very farm to table -- in fact they use some of their own grown produce for their food. This includes many unique flatbread/pizza options and flavorful, seasonal options - The drink menu is glorious - whether you want a good glass of wine or a fancy cocktail. Nothing will be short of pleasing you. read more