I visited this restaurant for a friend's birthday and honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect as I didn't research the menu prior to dining! Where do I start?! They have an amazing tequila that was incredible. I don't remember the name but our server informed us it was only available in Mexico and Potente! There were other cocktails that our group enjoyed as well. The service was amazing and the food, fresh and delicious. I had fish. I visited in October but I'm writing the review in December so many details escape me! I recommend and plan on returning when I am comfortable dining indoors again. read more

Potente - Fish I ordered - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Potente is a lovely restaurant we visit regularly. When you enter the restaurant, you are greeted warmly and the atmosphere is relaxing with dim lighting and a beautiful decor. You then have to decide which experience you would like, the five star impeccable service of the restaurant where you are catered to your every need or the bar area that has a light and fun atmosphere with amazing foods and great bar service. It's like two experiences in one place. During Astros season you are likely to find many fans here just prior to the game so it is packed and lively. Once they leave for the game, it returns to its regular hustle and bustle. You will find many regulars in the bar area as it is consistently great. Emily is a wonderful bartender and we love getting her table or bar area. Regardless of the choice, definately eat here. The food is amazing. I consistently get the truffle spaghetti. It's incredible..enough said. Visit Potente for a casual, fun experience at the bar or a fine dining experience in the restaurant. You will not be disappointed and will likely find your new go to place read more

This place has amazing espresso martinis. But the customer service is absolutely trash. I have been sitting at the bar for over an hour; but 30 minutes without being offered another drink. My glass is empty and they look and turn away and served the person next to us (only 3 customers seated with 4 employees behind bar). After looking for our bartender to ask for another drink multiple times, I see that he is talking on his phone outside. I am extremely dissatisfied, once I asked a different employee for a drink, they served me with no eye contact and made it seem like an inconvenience to be making another drink (slamming things on the counter and being extremely rude). My original bartender came back and took a shot behind the bar. I understand I look young, but I don't think that should matter. I've been id'ed and I should receive the same service as everyone else. Drinks are inconsistent and other customers around us are being given free samples and testers of cocktails. Just because of age, do not treat your patrons horribly. Ambiance is very nice. read more

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Tried this new Italian restaurant for downtown for happy hour after a longggggg week at work, and thankfully it was a great experience overall. From the atmosphere, to the service, the drinks, and food. Special shout out to Alejandro for his great service and recommendations! read more

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Discovered this place when the man brought me here for dinner. Love the ambiance and food was tasty. Make sure you try the Sea Bass. Yummers. Scallops were delicious as well, perfection! And of course, you have to get the oysters to start. Wine selection was great as well. Service was top notch and the guys at valet were super nice as well. Def one of my fave date night spots for sure! read more

My husband and I are super picky and have been to many high end NYC Italian restaurants and Rome/italy in general and we are super happy we tried this place because the food is excellent and very comparable to the food in Italy. The truffle pasta didn't disappoint, it's not overdressed, but perfectly done. The ribeye with the foie gras and truffle was so good and the branzino also perfect cooked crispy skin. Amazing service from Chris. Highly recommend! read more

Potente - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Pros: Atmosphere beautiful, hygienic, impeccable service, rolls yummy, desserts the best, top-notch presentation, complimentary and unique flavors. Cons: Gourmet, cold staff, pricey, maybe an annual visit but not a top ten experience! Probably will not return. Family of 5, appetizers, salads, wine, meals - steak, pasta- and desserts!! read more

Potente - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Good food but no control over their guests and the wait staff were not very attentive to our table. A couple at the bar were so intoxicated and continued to be served for 30 minutes, that when they got up--they both almost fell over and the man literally fell back into the chair that was at our table. The woman was screaming the whole time at the bar and this restaurant is not a rave. We came for a quite dinner and it was all but that. Our waiter seemed very annoyed with us asking for recommendations of the menu. I had to ask him twice to remove the empty salad and oyster plates from the table. We never got a refill of our waters and had to wait to order for more cocktails. We had specific request for our cocktails to have a single rock (one large ice cube) he didn't listen and still brought us a glass full of ice cubes. Can't believe this type of service. read more

Potente for a lovely fancy pre-Christmas dinner. We got the tuna tartare, foue Gras, crab pastry dish, and Ceasar salads for appetizers. They were all delicious. I personally got the crab dish and I wanted to eat the whole thing. It was a little curry like with a flaky crust that was amazing. The ceasar was a solid Cesar. I haven't had a lot of foie Gras but I enjoyed it when it usually creeps me out. For mains we got the waygu, the truffle pasta, the Branzino, the strip steak, and a seafood ravioli. Everything was delicious and everyone was happy with full plates. I would definitely be back. The truffle pasta was a little under done but solid. The waygu was perfectly cooked with delicious sides. The pre dinner bread was delicious with the hummus. Overall i will be back read more

My husband took me here for my birthday and I enjoyed every minute of it from start to finish. Everyone was very attentive, and the menus were pretty cool since they lit up. For drinks we had the Gold bourbon drink and the vanilla pear margarita. I had the black truffle pasta and my husband had the scallops. We had the oysters for appetizer and the butter cake for dessert. read more

Potente - Butter cake - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Truly amazing - from the decor to the food and the service is exemplary. It's really romantic and I would recommend it to anyone that asks. Parking is sometimes tricky which is part of being in Downtown... You will be so happy with whatever you order. Truly an experience to repeat on a regular basis. read more

We love fresh pasta and a good fish... esp when the skin is still on it! We don't mind paying for food that's worth it! The flavors did not merry well! Like the pasta had a harsh bell pepper flavor... just didn't merry well and wasn't cooked down enough. The flavor of the pasta and the fish was the same because it had the same sauce. Drinks were good. The crab crepe was amazing! Tasted like Maryland lump crab and I prefer that over gulf crab! Decor was nice. Service was excellent. read more

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What a wonderful evening! My husband emailed the restaurant to reserve a quiet evening celebrating our anniversary. The general manager and chef picked the perfect table and we were made to feel like royalty from the moment we walked in the door. Ronaldo our server and his team were very attentive (without being overbearing) and made our night. They truly waited on us with a smile and left no detail missed. The food was also delicious. We had several courses- bisque, salads (Get the first one on the menu!), oysters, pasta, scallops and dessert to go. The cherry on top was when Ronaldo brought out a special anniversary mini dessert and then Chef Danny came out to greet us. We've had so many subpar food and service at other establishments that we really don't expect anything great anymore. Potente really reignited our love for elevated dining experiences and we can't wait to celebrate here for the years to come! Highly recommend! read more

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Potente is a nice upscale Italian restaurant. It was the perfect spot to try happy hour (5-7pm) before going to an Astro's game. My friends and I also took advantage of the valet ($10) and walked to Minute Maid stadium. Sat at the bar and loved the classy ambiance. Some people were dressed business casual, and some were in astros gear. Had 2 of the Socorro top shelf margaritas ($9) and they were delicious. Not overly sweet, and you could definitely taste the tequila. For my meal I had the petite spaghetti al tartufo nero ($23) which is basically cacio pepe pasta with freshly shaved truffles. This was so tasty, but not very filling. I think they gave a decent amount of truffles. The food is pricey here, but would definitely come back for a special occasion to try different items! read more

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Came here for Houston Restaurant week and it was well worth it. Valet parking is best since this place is located in downtown. It's best to make reservation beforehand to get the time that you want without an extra wait. With a very romantic ambience and an intimate feel, it's a great choice for a special occasion. They have a menu that lights up when you open it. Services were very attentive. They explain everything in details and checks up on you regularly. During HRW, they have a three course menu for you to select from. I went with the carved beef tender with veggies. I always get medium rare and they got it just right with texture of the meat. Literally melts in your mouth. Definitely a good spot to hit for HRW. read more

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Upscale, fine dine and definitely worth popping into. Word of advice - drop in around the astros game, the vibe is lively, look out for happy hour. What to order? The cocktails are good and their truffles game is on point! read more

Dined here on a Wednesday at 7:00 pm with 3 homies and we were seated immediately. My favorite dish is the SPAGHETTI AL TARTUFO NERO! I cry every time I eat the last noodle Ambiance is romantic and I love all the gold decor throughout the restaurant. read more

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If I could eat here everyday, I would. The perfect upscale mix of seafood and Italian! We did the Houston Restaurant week menu! The amuse bouche was hummus, I wish they would have brought out more bread because not we didn't get the finish our hummus before they took it. Our group all started with the charred octopus and squid ink linguine, yum!! One couple had the burrata, which is a salad not a ball. The seared branzino was delicious! I didn't eat the skin but my boyfriend did. The cake was good, but swapped with my boyfriends strawberry hill country cheesecake. THAT was more my style! I WILL be back! Not to mention the service was AMAZING! read more

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This is a great high end date night restaurant. The food is amazing and the presentation is top notch. They have a great drink and wine list! The service is what you expect at a higher end restaurant; knowledgeable and attentive!! I only wish the portions were bigger, they're not irregularly small I'm just used to heartier portions! Overall I would highly recommend. read more

Enjoyed a dinner here with friends. Great truffle pasta.....must have if you visit. Patrick, our waiter, was top notch as we wanted for nothing. He was an expert at decanting our Amarone. Quiet and not hurried, we were able to catch up for an enjoyable evening of food and drink. read more

the best italian restaurant in houston, imo. this is a late post but still deserves a post. came here for houston restaurant week and this is the only restaurant worth going to during this time. everything we had was phenomenal. the branzino, truffle pasta (very generous on the truffle, might I add), steak, desserts will come back every year for this!! read more

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We heard Potente has the best truffle pasta & so we had to stop by for my birthday! We were welcomed in by a great hostess & offered us a cozy booth. I loved the bread service & complimentary hummus! The truffle pasta was good, I wouldn't say the best I've had but I'd recommend it to others. We got the server's recommendations & it was good. I think everything was just mediocre for me for the price. Overall a decent meal. read more

Potente - crème brûlée: it was too thin, definitely prefer more custard than burnt sugar - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

The service and food were amazing. My family and I enjoyed the ambiance here. Our waiter was great, they were super attentive, explain the menu thoroughly, and was really nice. All of the dishes we had order were amazing. We all got different appetizers and entrées so we could try a little bit of everything. The baked oysters were my favorite. The truffle pasta was so good! But it was super rich and I got tired of eating it quickly. My family and I were celebrating a wedding so we asked the restaurant to special make a tiramisu cake. The cake actually wasn't good at all but we were happy that the chef was willing to make it for us. read more

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Came here at the busiest we have ever seen it, game day just before Astros playoff game 2. Bar was standing room only and only had like 20 mins. Slim, served us two craft cocktails each and quesadilla (credit chef for speed) all in under 20 mins. Her awareness and speed not just for us but the whole bar was a sight to see. Jon Taffer would be proud. No "Rescue" needed here! Bravo read more

Italian Bellissimo...if you are looking for a really nice, fun delicious Italian joint in downtown by the Ballpark, then come to Potente. Really beautiful place, friendly and highly attentive staff. The food has fresh, great quality and flavorful dishes. One of my favorite risottos I have ever tried so far!! Fresh black truffles and lobster were on point. Desserts were oh so yummy!! Come check them out and Chow Chow time!! read more

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Can I say? "I'm still dreaming about it?" My girlfriend and I went to watch the Astro's game last night and stopped in for a drink before heading to the game. We didn't have much time ordered the spaghetti. It was so good. read more

Potente has been on my radar for years but I just never got around to coming here. I also heard it was one of the best HRW options as they offered some of their signature items on the menu. I made reservations well in advance as this place gets busy. Valet is available and highly recommended or you could get lucky and find street parking right outside. We had early reservations and were the first to be seated in the beautifully decorated dining area. This place screams high end dining and the service reflected on this as well. Nicholas was our server and we were taken care of from start to finish! We decided on sticking to the HRW menu so we could try different items. But first...drinks! They are known for their extensive wine offerings, but I decided on a refreshing cocktail. Nicholas nailed it when I said I was in the mood for something refreshing on this hot summer day. I went with the Sprezzatura which was a vodka based drink with a side of Prosecco to pour into the drink. Absolutely tasty and refreshing! They are gracious enough to offer a complimentary order of whipped artichoke hummus with fresh bread as you decide on what to eat. That was the best hummus I've had in awhile. For my starter I went with the Polipetti Arrostiti which was the charred octopus with squid ink pasta. It was a very hearty appetizer and was so very good. For my entree there was no question on what I was going to order. They are known for the Spaghetti Al Tartufo which was named as one of the best pasta dishes in America last year. For the hefty price tag, this was a great value for the HRW week menu. It is high end item specifically because of the fresh shaved truffle they add to the pasta table side. There's no meat which throws people off, but it doesn't need it. This dish was so rich and fulfilling and probably one of the best bites I've had. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the sauce was delicious. If I wasn't in a fancy restaurant, I would've licked the bowl. We ended with a few different desserts and a cappuccino. A perfect ending to the meal. I know now that I probably won't need to wait for HRW to come back here. It was so good that I can see it going into my regular rotation! read more

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If you are in downtown Houston and looking for solid Italian food, then I highly recommend that you make reservations for dinner. It is a fairly stylish restaurant for downtown and is a clockwork of professional and efficient staff. My biggest compliment for the place aside from the cacio e pepe dish would be the service. When you're dining at a restaurant with similar pricing you want everything to go without fail and this is exactly how our experience was at Potente. We had early reservations because all the other times were booked which I imagine was due to HRW. The lighting in there was not too bright and actually not too dark either. I remember some people complaining about the light in there being too dark but for me it was actually quite perfect. Our server was absolutely phenomenal and I cannot stop talking about how he did not make me feel like I was being rushed as I had arrived before my dining companion and had to take a phone call. As I sat there chattering away on the phone he placed the napkin on my lap. I was not expecting this level of service. Normally I don't pay attention to such trivial matters but the way this whole situation was handled sort of reminded me of Commander's Palace in NOLA. I digress. The menus for HRW were really cool. These were two tablets that were conjoined together to form a "folding menu" and so when you opened it up, the menu lit up. It was the coolest start to the ordering process. I had forgotten that we would get artichoke hummus amuse bouche. It was a pleasant surprise, especially the lightly toasted garlic bread. From the HRW menu I ordered, the charred octopus, the cacio e pepe, and the hazelnut torte mousse dessert. For my first course, the polipetti arrostit -charred octopus - was cooked to perfection. You could taste how fresh the octopus was and how it should be while at the same time you could still taste all the well seasoned components of the dish. While I was a huge fan of my dish, the moment I tried my friend's scallop dish I was in love. It was love at first bite. The diver scallop was cooked to a perfect temperature and the "corn risotto" was like something out of left field. I did not order the dish because I am generally not a big fan of risotto but if this was some serious deliciousness in every bite. Imagine your taste buds taking you on a journey out of this dimension - well it practically did that. Second course was the cacio e pepe dish with shaved black truffles. It took me no more than folding the pasta on the spoon while rolling it with my fork that the aroma from the freshly shaved truffles transported me across a truffle farm ~ picture this (Sophia voice from GG) with scenes from strawberry fields forever (across the universe) in a kaleidoscope of sensational magnification. Words fail to describe the exact feeling but I think Haddaway would find the answer to his magnum opus. The pasta was cooked to a perfect bite. The sauce was rich but not to the point where it didn't make sense. Literally salivating while writing this and having flashbacks to that night. We finished this off with the delizia al cioccolato and tropicale. The former being the hazelnut shell encasing the mousse with a pink macaron on the side. I am not sure what the flavor of the macaron was but it could've been rose or raspberries. It was not a good pairing but my friend loved it and I settled for just indulging myself in the hazelnut bliss. The tropicale was a mild dessert in comparison and left me wondering if I was still traversing through the second course ad infinitum. This place was the highlight of HRW for me and I cannot wait to go back to Potente and treat myself. read more

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Time and time again this place delivers! Fantastic service - as in world class. Really good wine list and a somm who is willing to help out without being snooty about price. They had soft shell crab when we were there. It was delectable. Oh, don't forget to order to truffle spaghetti ... crazy richness! read more

One word, "Wow"! Not often am I blown away by a restaurant experience, but I was this time. Deduction of one star because our server just seemed to have such an attitude when we asked questions. We went during hrw and were seated at a table in the bar area. Potente is located downtown so parking is either valet or street parking. The menu was a nice touch. When opened, the pages were illuminated which made it easier to read, especially in dark dining areas. This prevents the need to be that person with their phone flashlight reading the menu. Me and my dining companions all ordered from the hrw week menu and everything we had was delicious! The meal started with a complimentary hummus and some bread which was a nice touch. We shared all of the items which I loved since we all ordered different things. Yes, not classy, but hey we're Asian and used to family style dining. We started off with the charred octopus, the scallop, and the pork belly. Everything was so flavorful. However, don't expect large portions. The scallop was literally one scallop. For our main course we had the branzino, truffle pasta and the ny strip. The standout was the truffle pasta with a generous serving of truffles on top. For dessert we had the strawberry tart, the chocolate cake and the cheesecake. Again, the quality in each dish was evident and the perfect balance of flavors. All in all a delicious dining experience. It's definitely a splurge, but the quality and flavor profiles make it well worth it! read more

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PHENOMENAL! Only word to describe! It was a great ambiance paired with great food paired with great customer service. The appetizer portions were a little small (I got the crab cake) for the price but I guess that's what you get in these types of places. For entree I got the cacio e pepe and it was everything i wanted! Rich, flavorful, funky, and delicious! Will be back most definitely! read more

Potente - Cacio e pepe - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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My roommate and I chose Potente as our first restaurant week experience of the season and it did not disappoint. First, the backlit menu is a luxurious opening. No more using your phone to light the menu. You can see everything clearly. Our service during was impeccable. The waiters synchronized placing our plates on the table at the same time so there was no awkward pause where someone had food and someone did not. We opened with the Artichoke Hummus with sourdough bread service. I thought this was a very good start and a little different than typical olive oil.! I tried the: Burrata (9/10- very rich and creamy. Tomatoes were beautiful) Branzino (9/10) cooked perfectly, crispy skin and fresh veggies. Hazelnut Torta- (8/10) A great chocolate dessert, just didn't like the maroon it came with. My roommate had the octopus salad (8.5/10) this was not my favorite way to eat octopus but the flavor was there. She also had the branzino. She had the Lemon pavlova (10/10)- best thing I tried. Light and fresh and perfect for summer. We also picked the $40 red wine special- the wine for me was a 6/10.. didn't expect much but was good to watch down our meal. Overall, I will definitely be back for another try and I recommend the HRW menu! read more

Potente - Artichoke hummus - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

We came during Houston Restaurant and knew that we are going to get seated at the bar but did not know it comes with customer service that threw the menu at us and just really don't give a... For the type of restaurant, we did not expect this. Food : 3/5 Burata is super amazing to say the least ! Appetizers were all great Pasta with the duck is quite okay, the pasta is quite thick. Sea bass is mediocre and feel like nothing special is going on. Dessert is too sweet. nothing memorable. Would not come back. read more

One of my favorite restaurants and the best fine dining experience I have had in Houston where every dime was worth it. You love truffle? They shave the truffle in front of you on top of your pasta. It is so good and fragrant. I love their HH menu too. Just everything is so good so order away but watch your wallet cause it racks up. Dessert is great too. Get the sphere one where they pour hot chocolate to melt the chocolate ball. Its just great and perf for your GRAM~ do it for the gram jk. It tastes great as well. Creme Brulee was okay. Their wine selections are outstanding. Tip: Go during HH to enjoy everything you want in cheaper price Pro Tip: Order the truffle pasta as HH but order two so you don't have to share and might be more portion than ordering one full order IMO. It is the same price if you order as HH half size or the full size from the menu. P.S. Sit at the bar for the HH and hopefully Max (bartender) works there cause he is really awesome. He is very attentive and gives the best food recommendations. Follow me on Instagram @willeatfood read more

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Came here on a double date on a Saturday. We made a reservation and were seated right away. I am not sure if a reservation is needed but I'd recommend it because this place was constantly busy throughout my time there. To start off they brought a complementary hummus to the table paired with some bread. Very tasty and a perfect start to our meal. I wanted to try one of their cocktails so I ended up ordering the dos con zencero. It is mezcal based drink that was cucumber flavored. Soooo so good! I ended up ordering a second but they did not use a strainer so it was super pulpy :( I don't like to be picky so I still drank it. To start off we ordered the polipetti arrostiti. This octopus is soooo freaking good and it comes on top of their squid ink pasta which was also delicious. My date and I weren't too hungry so to start off we ended up splitting the Lattuga salad which is their version of a ceasar salad. It was super good and tasted very fresh. We also split the seabass - branzino. The sea bass was cooked to perfection and overall super flavorful. My friend and I split a plate of the spaghetti al tartufo negro. I mean....WOW. The fall burgundy black truffle was AMAZING. I am still thinking about it days later. The food here was truly impeccable and worth the hype. However, the service was not by any means up to par. For whatever reason our waiter (Valentino???) was not in the greatest mood. After our food arrived, he was no where to be found for a while. We had to flag him down to get refills on our drinks and to get a dessert menu. When he brought the check it was not split. We requested that it be split in two and he acted very annoyed by this. As someone who has previously worked in the service industry for years, I know that this is not a hard task to do. I was really turned off by the service I received here and so was the rest of my group. There are so many dishes I still want to try here but I'd be skeptical to go back in fear of getting the same type of service. read more

We ate here as a group of four after looking through menus and yelp reviews for several restaurants, and I had a feeling that we had definitely made the right decision as we were sitting down to our table. Service was already so attentive, bringing pulling out the women's chairs and putting the napkin in our laps. They also brought a purse rest to our table. Appetizer For an appetizer, I shared a beef dish with pesto and some horseradish cream on the side (can't find the exact name or description on the menu online). It was so flavorful and delicious! Yum! Main Dish I got the truffle pasta that everyone on yelp was raving about (and for good reason). I was worried from the pictures on yelp that the portion would be too small, but was really rich and filling and the portion size was larger than I was expecting. I also tried a bite of the frutti di mare - it was also so flavorful and delicious. Dessert We got the chocolate sphere dessert (sphera dolce) that I had seen about half the tables I could see get because it looked yummy and had a really cool presentation. They pour caramel sauce on it, and the chocolate sphere falls open to reveal a little tiramisu inside. Service The service was absolutely excellent. Our water glasses never even got below two-thirds full, and when one member of our party got up to the restroom, there was already a server coming over to point her in the right direction before she had taken more than two steps. Other Things I also loved the server's ties - they have a subtle Astros pattern in them. (The owners of the restaurant are also the owners of the Astros.) And there were lots of Astros fan in their jerseys the bar area when we arrived, so the bar area is definitely a popular place to go before games. (There was an Astros game that night.) 5 stars all around - very flavorful food, many options on the menu even in these COVID times, and absolutely fantastic service! read more

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Everything about Potente is 5 star. From the staff to the food and the delicious drinks. The ambiance is perfect for a date night, celebration or even just to come by before or after an Astros game. Highly recommend, must try in Downtown Houston. read more

Potente - Truffle Pasta - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Salmone and cacio Pepe was amazing and buttery. The ambiance was like I was eating a home cooked meal read more

Potente - Salmone was buttery, smooth, and delicious - Italian Near Me - Houston, Texas

Update: January 27, 2022 Another fabulous and exquisite evening at Potente. Service was perfect as always and the food was so delicious. Took two of my closets friends and now they are fans too. Until next time Potente!! read more

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I love this place and the truffle pasta is absolutely a must have every time! The tiramisu dessert is amazing but i didn't like it with the chocolate dome and the presentation because i don't like dark chocolate. I am glad they were able to accommodate with me and give us an extra piece of cake. We also tried the steak once and it is absolutely delicious as well. I do recommend you not go on Astros game day as it can be a little rowdy if you are going out for date night. read more

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