This is my favorite restaurant from HRW. every dish was exceptional from start to finish. We had the grilled octopus, branzino, and the oh so yummy spaghetti with black truffle. It was a very special dish and divine! I tried to get another reservation this weekend and sadly, they are all booked. We will definitely be coming back here for dinner. read more

Awful service. Amazing food. Too bad the chef has to be embarrassed by an inadequate server. Will NEVER return. We were welcomed in with open arms about 9:50 Pm which is upon 10 minutes before closing. If it was so much of a big deal we should have been told upon walking in and we would have had no problem going some place else. Freddy was our server and seemed very demanding. Brought us a hot bottle of Nicolas Feuillatte. Pointed sternly at the menu on table "recommending" appetizers. We were so rushed we felt uncomfortable. We spoke to the lady manager at the end who was apologetic I felt I had to continue with my decision to write this review. We left $10 on $200 tab because we felt singled out and looked down upon. Apparently the waiter deemed it was right to call us out in Spanish about our 10$ tip on a $200 tab amongst the dining room. Soon called a manager but only so much was made up to us. Definitely NO above and beyond service from a suppose to be "High end Restaurant. read more

I'm Italian learned to cook at my Nonna's elbow. I live 90 minutes away from Boston's North End and NYC's Little Italy. I was astounded that the best upscale Italian meal I've ever had was at Potente in of all places Houston TX. Bravo Potente! read more

This place is OUTSTANDING!!! My husband and I dream about this place and just can't get enough. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. All this dishes are top notch. Service is spectacular as well. HIGHLY recommend!! read more

The food here is spectacular. My husband and I went here for their Restaurant Week menu and it did not disappoint. I am vegetarian and each course was so good! I am docking one star because of how slow the service was. I understand they were busy and we waited 20 minutes to get served, 20 minutes to get our appetizer, and then yet another 20 minutes to get our main course. This is a long time but we were mostly ok with it. But then, it took nearly 45 minutes after we were FINISHED with our main course to get our dessert. The wait was just too much, even after we asked our waiter to check on our order. The crazy wait alone might keep me from visiting. read more

Overall I was very pleased with my meal and experience! The food is absolutely to die for but comes with a hefty price tag and the portions are tiny. The tuna appetizer was a little bland but not bad. The truffle spaghetti was definitely the best. My main meal was delicious also, scallops with pumpkin risotto!!! The service overall was good but our waiter was very awkward. He was training but it seemed like he's never been a waiter in his life! The restaurant is super fancy and the ambience is more quite and formal. It was not the right scene for us that night as it was me and another couple. I think this place would be perfect for a romantic dinner, formal family dinner or a work event. You won't be disappointed with the food quality! read more

We were in Houston, visiting the Van Gogh exhibit (worth a trip). Excellent food. Top notch. Oysters very good, truffle pasta wonderful, as others note. Novel prep and presentation of vanilla creme brûlée. Wine list good, prices reasonable for high end dinner. Acoustics are loud, and as one gets older, it matters more. We were making an evening of it, and said we were in no hurry, and put in starters first. Waiter was condescending. After cocktails, he picked up the wine list saying, we have some good wine by the glass, I'll bring you a list, when we had decided on a bottle of white Burgundy. We got our bottle. And, after promise "put your order in now, and I'll make sure and pace your courses" as a command, not a request, he sounded as if he knew what he was doing, and to be polite I complied. Salads and appetizer finished, then in less than 5 minted our main course was on the table, I'm not being picky, our tab was $300, and service should match the excellent food. read more

Amazing service, food and ambiance. Went there for my birthday and they had my name on the menu!

This place is so good. Been 2 times now and have been blown away both times. I had the oyster app followed by the Pasta Nero (black truffle), which is a MUST get, absolutely fantastic!! My second visit I had the Octopus app and it is truly phenomenal!! Then I had the crab pasta which is also a MUST. This has moved up as my favorite Italian restaurant in Houston hands down. Love Love this place!! read more

Amazing service. Amazing atmosphere. Amazing drinks. And amazing food. My new favorite restaurant in Houston

While this place has only been open for a few months you would never know it. Growing up in the Northeast provides a window into Italian foodstuff. Boston, New York, even New Haven has their absolute gems that could not be duplicated ... until now. Potente hits the mark on all cylinders. The atmosphere is 'new Houston' while providing a menu of serious favorites. We went with the pasta and trufffles as well the seafood stew. Phenomenal. Absolutely perfect. The wine selection is earnest. Let them choose. This place is your BEST CHOICE in Italian ... no, scratch that, in restaurants in Houston! Have a drink at the bar and ask for Tunde and have a dirty Martini on me !!!! read more

I didn't have time earlier to write this review, but I thought it was necessary to share our experience. My boyfriend and I went to Potente for Houston Restaurant Week. I must mention the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous and the quality, quantity, presentation and taste of the food is outstanding. The best Italian food we have ever tasted. Best tasting scallop and octopus we have ever had. The Spaghetti Al Tartufo Nero is to die for. Why I'm giving them 1*? The service was atrocious! We dine out regularly, and I must say this was the worse service we have ever experienced. Our server was overwhelmed. She looked at us in distaste when we asked for the HRW menu, was even more disappointed that my boyfriend didn't drink. I asked for one of the specialty drinks which she never brought to me. She acted even more irritated every time l asked about my drink, as if why am l bothering her. Her main focus was on a large table next us, where she poured wine and fussed over them. A male server with dark hair and clear frame glasses was assisting her. They were not aware that I spoke Spanish fluently as they spoke to each other. He told her to ignore tables that aren't spending money and get them out of here as fast as possible. We don't need these people here! We had just started our deserts when she placed the check on the table, and within a minute the male server was at our table asking us if we were ready to pay. By that time we were so irritated that my boyfriend just handed his credit card to him so we could get out of there. He had the nerve to tell us that gratuity was not included when he gave us the check presenter. I was planning to treat my parents for their anniversary at Potente, but that will never happen. I don't know if the restaurant had instructed their servers to treat HRW guests in this manner or the servers took it upon themselves to do this. read more

went for our anniversary dinner. empañadas truffle pasta lamb sliders cocktails = all great. waitress was attentive without hovering which i like. read more

Potente is a beautiful setting for a special dinner. The restaurant design is inviting and elegant. Our waiter was knowledgeable and made our evening more enjoyable by assisting with wine selection (and not insisting on one of the more expensive bottles). The food was delicious and beautifully presented. There were special extras like a tasting of lobster bisque that was perfection and added to the experience. The chocolate tiramisu dessert is an experience in itself, save room if you can! read more

Far and away one of the best dinners and experiences I've had. The truffle pasta is well worth it!!

I took my significant other here for our anniversary and we were absolutely blown away by the food and the service. Potente instantly became our favorite dining experience in Houston! Food: We started with an order of the black truffle pasta which is a must try! For our entrees we ordered chilean seabass and and the filet steak which were also both amazing. Service: The staff went above an beyond to make our dining experience special. As I mentioned, it was our anniversary and every staff member that walked by wished us a happy anniversary. In addition they printed "Happy Anniversary" on our menus and even gave my significant other an envelope containing a copy for her memories. Overall, delicious food and incredible service. The staff at Potente went above and beyond to make our dining experience special and have become my number one recommendation to people in Houston looking for suggestions on high-end dining restaurants. read more

Truffle pasta. Don't think words can describe how good it is. Great wine selection form all over the world. Steak is as soft as it gets . Didn't have to reserve on a Saturday night which was nice. They have a dress code which is kind of a turn of yet It's not a big deal . Great job read more

Had a wonderful meal. The Shrimp bisque is not to be missed ! And the pasta - delicious. The decor is very hip and classic! The artichoke and white bean hummus scrumptious. Harris Ranch Beef as good as ever. Service was top notch as well. read more

Food was great. Resteraunt was cool and swanky! The only thing was, there was an extremely creepy man stalking us so I called 911. Other than that, it was awesome!! read more

At these prices i expect the food to be great and it was just ok. Service was very clunky- drinks and entrees took forever and we had to ask extra times for things like cream for coffee and extra plates. read more

Dined at Potente tonight to celebrate my husband's birthday. They had customized our menu with a birthday message which was a very thoughtful touch. We selected 3 appetizers (tuna crudo, octopus and burrata caprese) and they were all wonderful. Before those came out, they brought a little bowl of artichoke hummus and bread, which was a great way to get ready for our dinner. I had been dying to try their spaghetti with black truffle and it did not disappoint. It was the best pasta I've had in years and they shave the black truffle tableside. It's in a small bowl but it's so rich that I thought it was the perfect size portion. Kyle got the veal cheeks which came on mushroom risotto. The veal cheeks were so tender - they fell apart and didn't even need a knife - and he devoured it. We also ordered the Chef's Brûlée and the H Town Dream Cake and both desserts were great. Chef Danny is doing a phenomenal job at Potente and tonight's meal was incredible. I will be thinking about that pasta for quite a while. read more

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There are no words to review this restaurant. EVERYTHING here is perfect. From the experienced service to the food. Be ready for a VIP experience. This is the definitely BEST Italian restaurant I have been to! read more

This was probably the best meal I have had in 4years since I came to Houston. We had the 6 course wine pairing meal and each course was perfectly matched with the appropriate wine. Highlights were the scallops, the Cacio Pepe,the lamb and the fantastic pistachio dessert. Everything was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented with a nice story behind each course. We had a great pair of friends with us which made the evening all the better. Well worth the visit and definitely somewhere that I will go back to. Nice ambience in the restaurant with an Art Deco flair. Service was outstanding. read more

My mother and I tried Potente for the first time yesterday to celebrate her birthday! The service was exceptional up until the food came out: A polished interior, professional staff and light-up menus (genius). This is irrelevant but for my drink, I ordered Hennessy V.S.O.P on the rocks after attending the Hennessy LeVoyage not too long ago. It was a nice pair with the foods. Complimentary bread and hummus came out first - Yummy! One of the best breads I've ever had. We started out with the Polipetti Arrostiti and Ostriche Gratinate. The oysters were pretty filling which I didn't expect prior to ordering them - very rich in flavor; savory! Next, the octopus in the pasta was a bit too salty for our taste, but the squid ink linguine helped balance it when eating them together. Then, of course we had to have the much anticipated truffle spaghetti!! The waiter suggested splitting the dish and another main dish between us two; so we did. However, it was disappointing when no one came by to offer us cheese or cracked pepper for our pasta. Also, a different server that shaved our truffle was extremely stingy with the black truffle (we got 2 each), and surely you get more than 4 shavings for the full size dish... As for the final dish, we went with the Lombato! A superb dish cooked beautifully!! It came out medium rare like we had asked and the melody of vegetables complemented the dish well; it was my mom's favorite. After asking the waiter if he could prepare something special for my mom, he kindly replied that he was thinking about letting her pick the dessert first. To my surprise, I got billed for the dessert, so I guess the "special" part was writing 'Happy Birthday' on the dish, which I don't mind but it was the first time I've been charged for a dessert. Just putting it out there for informative purposes. But importantly, to critique the flavor of the Delizia Al Cioccolato, I honestly have nothing bad to say. The feuilletine crepe crunch paired well with the mousse - decadent and flawless. Overall, it wasn't an entirely bad experience. The food was outstanding but because of the service we won't be coming again. read more

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This is my new favorite Houston dining local! For starters the interior designer did a phenomenal job. It is absolutely stunning. While the ambience is sophisticated and opulent it is also inviting and welcoming. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, especially for being a new restaurant. Our waiter even gave us a recommendation in the area for a nice place to have a drink after it closed. To say the food is top notch, is an understatement. Try the lobster risotto, trust me, it will surpass your expectations. The H-Town Dream cake is actually what dreams are made of. Oh, and something very important to me is that it has valet for less than $10. No driving around looking for a spot. read more

Had a great Saturday night dinner at Potente. Atmosphere was romantic but not stuffy, and fully enhanced by the service coordinated by Amy and supported by a host of others delivering plates and water throughout the evening. Both of our first courses were wonderful. One was scallops and the other was charred octopus. Highly recommend both and thanks to Amy for her recommendations. We both had the branzino which was perfectly prepared. Dessert and coffee capped off a truly memorable evening. read more

Potente restaurant focuses on an upscale and exquisite menu. Some of their specialties are the Lobster Risotto with black truffles and the Branzino with crab. It also offers an elegant bar, perfect to enjoy a delicious drink like the frozen Negroni I had, prepared by one of their expert mixologists. One of the best experiences in Houston. read more

Service was outstanding! David our server was very informative and did an awesome job of helping with our wine selection! We had the truffle spaghetti and it was one of the best dishes I have ever had. We also had the Frutti di Mare,Tuna Crudo,Soft shell crab bisque - all were amazing. For dessert Apple Galette was very good and the Delizia Al Cioccolato-very rich was very good but a little to rich for my taste. Was hoping they had the chefs creame brulee.... but they didnt. We will surely be going back! read more

Went for birthday dinner and was above and beyond my expectations. Service was perfect. They worked with me to get a quiet table. Food so delicious. I loved the Cesar salad, burrata, seafood pasta and truffle pasta of course. Didn't care for the crudo (tasty but didn't like the bulky presentation of the tuna). Would go back here ten more times! read more

The Capellini and Branzino were awesome. Great service at the bar and the table. Waited for 40 minutes when we had a reservation and the food came out a little slow (servers made up for it by bringing out more of their awesome bread), but that's to be expected with new opens. read more

I've eaten at Potente twice; once with a group of 8 and once with my wife. Both times were exceptional. The service, especially, has been superb. Our waiter was attentive but low key, knowledgeable, and spot on with his recommendations. I will call particular attention to Vincent, the Somm, who has great flair and knows his Italian wines. He's from a town north of Napoli, near to Gaeta. As the Grand Opening has only just occurred (March 28th, I believe), the comments up until that date are to be taken in context. In my opinion, and I eat out quite a bit, this will give DaMarco's a run for his money. My only suggestion: Engage the staff. Ask for suggestions. Do a little research ahead of time on the wine list and menu. You'll be spending money so enter into it a little more prepared. You'll benefit from it. read more

Amazing! Highly recommend. We got the scallops, lamb, and grilled octopus and everything was delicious.

Every dish we ordered was amazing. Excellent balance of flavors and textures. We ordered the carpaccio, ravioli, and lamb. And the desserts were great! Ambiance was very upscale yet an extremely friendly staff. Will definitely return to try the rest of the menu. read more

Nice place next to Minute Maid Park. Didn't get to eat much but what we did was delicious. Beef carpaccio and fried chick peas were tasty. Not giving 5 stars since I didn't have opportunity for full dining experience. read more

I couldn't point out anything wrong with this restaurant. The food, the service, the ambiance... everything was exquisite and comforting. I HIGHLY recommend the truffle pasta. Out of this world. read more

Such an excellent experience. Service and staff are at the top of their practice. They are accommodating, and have excellent recommendations. Between 6 of us, we tried 8 dishes, all were delicious. I highly recommend Potente. read more

We had a perfect evening! Food was amazing. Service awesome! Wine pairing was over the top!! Vinnie KNOWS his wines!!!!!! Can't wait to go back. ( Look at Astros schedule as a getting there before or getting out after can be a little slow). Just have to sit in the beautiful bar and relax til the crowds get out... read more

Our first visit to Potente and it won't be our last! I had read and heard wonderful reviews of this restaurant so was looking forward to our visit. We were not disappointed. The restaurant is one of the best I've been to in a long time. The food was interesting and delicious - with lovely presentation. The lighted menus were a delightful surprise! Highly recommend... do know that all this wonderfulness does not come cheap - so save your pennies for a special treat - you'll be glad you did! read more

Among my top 5 in Houston. Nice decor, very good service, wine menu oriented to Italian wines with very good choices from a value for money perspective. Try the rissoto with white truffle or the spaghetti with black truffle. Carpaccio and octopus are also very good, so is the sea bass read more

This place looked elegant. The server I had should be working at Burger King. He was rude and English was horrible. After rushing us to order, he seem to forget everything we asked for. He would roll his eyes if we asked for something we needed and made it seem like an inconvenience. On top of that our food took forever to come to the table, after he rushed us to order. The server was more interested in sitting down watching the astros baseball game instead of refilling my wife's champagne. O yeah it gets worse. The server insulted US in Spanish to a co worker after he gave us horrible service. So we asked to speak to a manager. Christina I believe is her name came to talk to us. She was no help also. We told her our problem. She asked to comp something after I already paid. If she felt so bad she should have insisted instead of asking me. If you do come here do not sit with the server with big black glasses on. Unless you want to pay 220 and be disrespected and treated like a child. After a long day of running a tax company I wanted to unwind with a bottle of champagne and a great dinner with my wife. Totally the opposite here.. Just awful!! read more