Potente Reviews

Solo visit, sat at the bar and had dinner. Emily was great, food was too. Some unique menu items present a tough choice. Just my personal review you can’t go wrong with the beets starter and the branzino entree. Delicious.

Being able to sit and have a conversation while having dinner without a lot of ambient noise is one of the things I would give this restaurant five stars for. Bread is first served with house made Humis with roasted artichoke and garlic. We started with Russian Caviar and a shaken Grey Goose Martini , followed by a stuffed lobster. Service was impeccable. Everything we ate was well worth the price.

We have been here a few times before an Astros game. Great addition to the area. The food is above average.

We were visiting Huston,Tx and live in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Were hoping to enjoy a high class good Italian meal but were very disappointed. The pasta was very poorly cooked, the grand brulee was all sugar. Do not waste your money going to this restaurant. Will never go again

Had anniversary dinner here. Jose our waiter was outstanding. He realized we were seated next to a table of 10 that were very noisy and choose to relocate us without prompting. Very intuitive. Restaurant was at capacity. My food was very good. Octopus appetizer and sea scallops was perfect. My wife’s salad- Caesar was disappointing and salmon was lacking flavor but risotto was good. Entrees were $59. A little expensive. Once again Jose very attentive but not to excess. Great job. Joel the manager visited our table a couple of times and was very engaging and compted us with a desert for our anniversary. Thanks Joel.

‘ Potente’ had always been a restaurant I wanted to try. I definitely do not regret. The service was amazing. The lady that attended us was very friendly and grasped a great understanding of the menu. Their pasta is the best I’ve had. I definitely want to come back again. I do think it’s a little pricey, but overall I enjoyed it.

Recommended to come here by a colleague from Italy. She loved this restaurant. Beautiful bar with big windows allowing wonderful sunlight. The dining room is very intimate. Great for special occasions, dates, and business meetings. The menus are fantastic. The dining room is slightly dark so the menus that have lighted panels is modern and accommodating. With the assistance of Vinny, we chose a lovely chablis which paired very well with our meal. We started with an amazing amuse bouche: Grilled paneer in a lovely champagne glass. It was amazing. The bread was fantastic and originates from a 150 y/o yeast. It was served with 3 different types of olive oil. We then moved onto the grilled octopus which was well seasoned and great consistency. I would have preferred larger size culpo but it was quite nice. We then split a lobster risotto which was flavorful and a perfect portion to share. My main course was the grilled branzino special. It was very nice. Though I would have preferred something else other than baby potatoes as an accompaniment. Though we deferred dessert since we were stuffed, they still brought us a small assortment. It was fantastic! In short, I would like to return. I was informed by my friend that the beet salad and the Osso Buco were excellent as well. FYI: Across the way is a more casual italian restaurant that is owned by the same owner if you want some more informal dining. Location is perfect for an Astros game if you have another sporting event downtown. Enjoy!!!

Potente is an upscale Italian restaurant located in downtown Houston owned by Houston Astros owner Jim Crane with a kitchen powered by executive chef Danny Trace (previously of Brennan's - Houston and Commander's Palace - New Orleans). Expect an upscale and elegant dining experience in a sleek restaurant with white linen napkins, back lit menus, modern takes on Italian classics, a good wine list, and generally attentive staff. While upscale will translate to somewhat pricey costs, it will not translate into a stuffy attitude at Potente. You will be welcomed by staff and will receive attentive service. Then you can sit back and enjoy the Italian classics from Chef Danny and his staff. In past visits dinners received an apertivo of creamy and delicious roasted garlic humus to snack on as you consider your dining options. Notable starters are polipetti arrostiti and ostriche gratinate. Three delicious main courses include spaghetti al tartufo nero, capesante (diver scallops), and filetto di manzo. For desert delight in the delizia al cioccolato in which you and your desert will melt into chocolate heaven. Tips - This is a good place for a memorable dinner with that someone special. When you make your reservation request a booth which will give yourselves some extra privacy. Also consider to arrive early or stay late and visit the sexy & sleek modern bar for a tasty libation.

We all ordered several things and shared them which turned out to be amazing. Potente has so many fabulous dishes to choose from it’s nearly impossible to pick one. We were not disappointed in any of our selections. We had carpaccio, Oysters, spaghetti al Tartufu, Branzino, and the lamb chops . The food , the cocktails, and the service were all outstanding . The wine list included some well know selections as well as a variety that were new to us . We also found the wine prices to be very fair. Sam at the bar was a great start to the evening as he had a smile on his face and made us some fabulous cocktails . Freddy took care of us in the dining room ( a friend suggested we ask for him ) and I recommend requesting him . He was excellent and very helpful with suggestions. Our plates came out perfectly staggered and he made sure we enjoyed our evening . We will definitely go back :)

Went to the new place Downtown. The decor is a classic modern. The room was quiet so you could carry on a conversation without shouting. The service was extremely professional, polite, and well informed. The food was beyond good it was spectacular. I had the soft shell crab and the wife the beef filet. The filet was as good it not better than Vic and Anthoney's. highly recommend for a great meal

On Saturday August 18th we went to Potente for Houston Restaurant week, the reservation was for 4 people. We should have realized that it was not going to go well when we originally booked the reservation we noticed that they had been taken off of the HRW list for 2018 and put back on and it was over a menu issue. When we were seated and advised that we wanted the HRW menu the service went down hill. Half of the main course items on the menu had an up-charge. We were rushed and in the end they overcharged our credit card by $ 54.00. If you want to feel second class and get poor service visit them and ask for the HRW menu. HRW is designed to raise donations for people in need they really forget this.

The restaurant is located right next to the baseball park and easy to walk to from down town locations. The decor is beautiful. The waitstaff was very professional and pleasant. Ask for Nate. The food was great we started out with the caesar salad. I really liked the friend anchovies on top. The octopus appetizer was delicious. For our main entree we had the halibut and the truffle pasta. Both were amazing. The noise level is very low we could easily carry on a conversation. The menus have lights in them so there is no problem reading the list. This was a very good dining experience. I would recommend this restaurant to impress. The prices are comparable to other nice restaurants, but the experience is superb.

My wife and I had a nice evening. The dining room is beautiful. I personally felt the menu could have been a little broader. Service was fine and the food was good, for the most part, but it all just fell short of expectations. An appetizer of egg salad and caviar was very ordinary and a little bit stodgy. My octopus was very tasty, although tough, even though I was told it was boiled 3 times to achieve its tenderness. My wild boar was nicely presented, but had an off putting smell, not of a game meat but something that was past its serve date. It was quickly removed and replaced with a delicious pork cheek option. Nothing was extraordinary, though. My wife had the duck breast. Again, nice but not special. The baked oysters were delicious. The plate presentations were just ok. We enjoyed a very nice bottle of red wine. The wine director was very personable and engaging. Our dessert was beautiful, a sphere of chocolate concealing a tasty tiramisu. Warm chocolate sauce was poured over the sphere causing it to open like a flower and reveal the tiramisu. At the end of the evening, our experience just fell short. Perhaps our expectations were just too high.

Service was top notch. Food was excellent. Smoked Squid, Pasta with fresh shaved truffles, All diners dishes were outstanding

Sought a special place for our 30th wedding anniversary dinner and boy this didn't disappoint. I adore good food and this is among the best meals I've eaten in Houston since moving here in 1991. Valentin took great care of us, made sound recommendations for both my husband and me, and the cacio pepe with shaved truffles is a dish I will never forget. Candidly, my husband chose Potente because its owner, Jim Crane, also owns the Astros and "finally brought us a World Series." The entire wait staff wore some kind of Astros accessory. LOVED IT!

Really very good indeed. A couple of Private dining rooms combined with general dining areas that create intimacy and comfort. Illuminated menus are clever and help to maintain subtle lighting. Wine list is excellent and has the usual A-listers that a high-end establishment would be expected to offer. A starter of mi-cuit foie gras was fabulous with a sublimely delicate flavour and matched well with a glass of Californian Dulce. Caesar Salad was not overpowered with over-strong cheese as is often the case and the anchovy was first grade quality. To follow, the seafood pasta parcels were delicious. The Pinot Grigio washed them down effectively. As for the hunters ravioli, that was really good, with large over-stuffed circular pieces accompanied by tasty assorted fungi. I regretted my choice of Chianti to accompany this because it was chilled and in winter I avoid chilled reds (it was good nonetheless), The desert of café ciocoltao was very well done indeed and being a big slice was actually more than enough for two or three to share. This went well with glasses of limoncello

We went to an afternoon play at the Alley and if the weather had been better we would have walked to Potente (about .5 miles). We arrived about 30 minutes early and they graciously sat us in the bar until we could be seated. My husband tried one of their special cocktails-- a variation on a negroni and I had a glass of wine and were actually seated prior to the scheduled time. The menu is not extensive but well thought out-- it tries to stay true to modern Italian cuisine-- light sauces & fresh ingredients. We ordered the scallops, truffle risotto, whole Branzino and capellini. My friend and I split the scallops and risotto and were delighted with the flavors. My husband enjoyed his Branzino-- however our other guest did not say if he was happy with his pasta...he ate it all. The service was excellent and a nice little touch is that the wine list and menus have backlights so they are easily read in the reduced lighting. It is a lovely interior and will soon have a terrace. I think it would be great for just drinks or for a full meal. They have only been open for 3 weeks and I think they will only get better. We will return.

This is a very well run restaurant. The service was superb, always attentive Food was great Presented very nicely Dish size was ok But the quality and taste was fantastic

This restaurant is an amazing find, the ambience, food, service, all incredible. The wine list was really good, our wine served in a gorgeous decanter. The food, where to start!!, exceptional, as always with the Executive Chef Danny, everything and more than we expected, sumptuous and delicious. Potente is now our 'new found favorite', thank you Danny

It is nice to see more elegance in Houston dining. Great wine list; bread is excellent. I had a lobster entree that was very good, but the fettuccine on the side was not a good flavor combination with the lobster. (And the homemade fettuccine was actually slightly undercooked and not quite al dente). Chocolate soufflé was more cake like and not so much a soufflé. Still, an enjoyable evening and good - but not outstanding - meal.

The restaurant is very elegant. Northern Italian cuisine which is slightly unique. We had fettuccine which was good, scallops which were excellent, I had spaghetti with black truffles. This was a rather conservative portion, but good. Deserts were well done. .

This was a disappointing restaurant for us. We chose it because it was convenient to our hotel, and the reviews I read were mostly good. My husband and I have traveled and dined in many places and many countries, including Italy. Admittedly it takes good food and good service to impress us. For the prices at Potente, we should have had both. We had neither. Both food and service were average, although I would have to rate my pasta as actually below average. A big show is made of fancy wine decanters and menus that light up. While I don’t mind having my wine decanted, it doesn’t make up for food that’s not delicious. To be fair, the staff tried hard, and we got a decent bottle of wine at a fair price. The place is pretty. You can have a much better and cheaper dinner, however, in any one of the hundreds of ethnic restaurants around Houston, if you’re willing to drive or Uber out a couple of miles from downtown.

Beef, seafood, pasta and more. Excellent and friendly service. Good wine list which is reasonably priced. Wines at correct temperatures. Interesting and unique flavor combinations on food menu. Great atmosphere. They’re doing everything right.

Great food and wonderful service makes this new restaurant a gem. Everything was perfect - from drinks, bread, salads, mussels, pork, shrimp..... and H Town cake. A perfect evening.. The service helped make everything perfect.

Group of friends prior to a Cirque du soleil show in Houston stopped by for an early reservation. The Restaurant is beautiful with a contemporary transitional flair. Back lit menu was great and extensive. We wanted to try an number of the items and they created a tasting menu for us. Needless to say the food did not disappoint and everyone was more the happy. The wine menu is all encompassing and the pricing allows you to enjoy a number of bottles without taking out a loan. As always people make the experience and everyone was Amazing. We will be back!

We are Astros Season Ticket Holders and stopped in at the bar for a glass of wine before the game. Sat at the half- empty bar for 5 mins while several employees stood around chatting. One of the bar tenders cleaning glasses looking right at me. My husband returned from the restroom and asked if I had ordered. I said so the employees could hear me, “No. no one has acknowledged me.” The bartender who stood there watching comes over and asks if we had been helped. Which of course he knew we had not as he saw us sit down and looked at me for several minutes while I sat at the bar waiting for someone to acknowledge me. We left and I will not return.

Just wow! We have been to Potente a number of times including Restaurant Weeks. This is where you go when you want a really fine dinning experience. We decided to venture out in the New Normal of COVID to celebrate out anniversary. We did make a reservation. Although Valet parking is back open, since most things were still closed we were able to park literally in front of the restaurant. They are clearly following all the recommendations (masks, limited seating, etc). Even with his mask Rinaldo, our waiter, was excellent. All service was great - as usual. My wife got a glass of wine and I got the Potente Gold. Not sure if they were happy to see us but both were vert generous drinks. We started off with the Sedano salad and the Politpetti (squid). Well seasoned and delicious. I had the ravioli and my wife had the branzino. Both were amazing. We are small eaters and my wife never finishes all her food. But we cleaned our plates. The ravioli were light puffy cakes of cheesy goodness. We then closed with some espresso and and the delizia al ciccollato (a decadent like chocolate cake). And to help us celebrate they then gave us some amaretto milkshake shooters on a decorated picture (see picture). As a final gesture they gave us copies of the nights menu (being covid safe!) with the chef signature. It made for a perfect celebration.

We had the filet and truffle pasta and everything was exceptional!!! So so good. The service was great. The atmosphere is nice. I have no complaints at all!! I would definitely recommend.

Met here with friends for a late dinner. The menu was extensive and the service was very attentive. We had great recommendations on both food and wine from our server. This is definitely a restaurant not to miss if your in Houston. Will definitely be going back when next in town.

My husband had read about this restaurant, so it was the first place he made a reservation for our Thanksgiving weekend staycation. The restaurant is very pretty with lots of seating options, however, we elected to sit at the bar as that is where most people were sitting on this evening. The service was excellent and we had a lot of fun conversing with the bartenders and staff. The food and drinks were excellent. I was very thirsty, so I started with a margarita. My husband had an Old Fashioned. They surprised us with a complimentary starter of a sweet potato hummus and bread to spread it on. Yum!! For dinner, we opted to go for happy hour items as we wanted smaller dishes. I had the HH Rabbit Cassoulet. OMG - it was so delicious! The rabbit was a little overcooked, but did not detract from the white bean and sausage stew. They served it piping hot which added to my delight. My husband had the Spaghetti al Tartufo Nero, a pasta dish which had a liberal amount of shaved black truffles. He really enjoyed this dish which is one of their signature items. Two glasses of the Plumpjack Chardonnay for me; two glasses of Recchia Amarone for him. All topped off with a Grasshopper for him. Fat and full, Walked back to our hotel in a light drizzle, but fortunately we brought our umbrella.

Collectively this restaurant was an amazing find from the scrumptious food to the pleasing decor to the much-devoted service. I had their vegetarian choice of Spaghetti al Tartufo Nero and I must admit this was one of the finest Italian meal I've eaten in a long time.Upscale Italian at its best.

Business lunch here couple weeks ago. I like the decor, service was good, and menu very nice. 3 of the 4 of us ordered salads (green, chopped, and Caesar) and after lunch we all commented how salty the salads were. It was so salty I only ate half. I couldn't complain at the time because lunch was being paid by the 4th person.

Where have you been? This restaurant has a super customer service. Since the time your park until you leave. The food is incredible delicious, the wine list exceptional, the ambiance classic and elegant. Decoration incredible sophisticated. This is a great restaurant for business or couples. Again I was so impress with their service!!Exceptional and friendly.

We started our evening with drinks at the bar. The music is pleasantly subtle and sexy, no pounding beats that drown out conversation. The bartenders know what they are doing and the specialty drinks are performed for you, not just prepared. Their lighted menus are perfect in the darker mood lighting. The manager really does over-see the activities of the servers and keeps everything flowing smoothly. The menu has a lot of unique dishes that are packed with interesting flavors. The wine is served in a Riedel decanter that has about a 3 foot spout and really adds to the special feel to this classic restaurant. We split a couple side dishes and the servers were fully accommodating with our request. It's so nice to be in a traditional Italian atmosphere with each worker executing their services with pride. We actually had our picture taken with the chef and manager so as to never forget the experience. Really 5 star on all levels.

Our table was not ready despite our having reserved. It is extremely noisy; no carpet, all hard surfaces. Tono and foie gras appetizer was a few tiny cubes of tuna with some sort of tasteless brown dust that I suppose was supposed to be foie gras. My branzino was overcooked. My wife's soft-shell crab was deep-fried and consequently dried out ans without taste.

We went to have a bite and some drinks at Potente before going to see Lyle Lovett at Hobby Center. This was our first time here, and won't be our last. We requested on OpenTable to sit at the bar. They had kindly reserved one of the tables in the bar for us, but we wanted to sit "at" the bar. (Nice touch to have some tables where you can dine or drink in the bar, too.) I did, however, move one of the "table" bar seats to the bar as the "bar-bar" seats did not have a high back like the table bar seats, which I found to be much more comfortable as I wanted more support on my back. A really good drink to try is there Negroni Vacanza. As a complimentary starter, they served us a delicious humus with very nice bread. For eating, we had the octopus "beginning" dish - Polipetti Arrostiti - and it was delicious!! Then we had one of the housemade pasta dishes - Agnolotti di Granchio - which we split, and it, too, was delicious!! BTW - the menus here, both the drink menu and the food menu are backlit. Literally a light that lights up you menu from the back. Very cool. Emily was our bartender/server, and she did a great job on the libation side and taking our food orders. The servers who brought the food from the kitchen also did a great job. Note that this restaurant is about 10 blocks from Hobby Center, so we took an Uber to Hobby Center instead of walking, as we did not want to be late.

Lovely ambiance, courteous and respectful staff, awesome wine list (with quality stemware and decanters), and a solid location. Our first experience here at Potente most certainly will not be our last.

Amazing restaurant with a focus on food. Each dish is a gem. The items are well thought out and special. This is a great resraurant for a foodie. It is easy to recomm nd tbis spot for an excellent dining experience.

We didn't think to consider when booking our date if the Astros we playing at home. Because they were traffic and parking was a challenge. We ended up just valet parking at Potente for $11. As soon as we walked in we were seated and Nicholas, our server, greeted us. We were given a drink menu. Unfortunately mine was outdated and the wine I was looking forward to was no longer available. They did suggest an alternative that ended up being acceptable. We ordered the espresso rubbed pork with polenta and cranberries as an appetizer. It was tender and very flavorful. For our meals we ordered the duck ragu and cheese stuffed rabbit with alfredo. These are the simplified names since I can't remember the full description from the menu. The flavor of the protiens were amazing. They were cooked perfectly and juicy. The pasta they came with were aldente and seemed to be made in house. Since we were celebrating our anniversary they brought us a dessert plate with fig cookies to celebrate. We were concerned this restaurant would be out of our comfort zone judging by the menu, but Nicholas and the entire staff (including parking valets) made this a very welcoming place. We look forward to having another date night here in the future.

An amazing night out. The food is spectacular but the service is what makes this place. You are treated like a VIP and coupled with the food it is a memorable night out.

Dined on a Saturday evening with a friend. Everything was delicious - wonderful crusty bread was served with delicious hummus and artichokes, Spaghetti al Tartufo Nero was heaven! We split this as an appetizer and every morsel was devoured. Main courses were diver scallops and prime strip steak - both absolutely delicious! I sometimes hesitate to order a strip steak as they can be dry and tough. I decided, however, to try Potente's strip steak and it was probably the best I've ever had - really tender, juicy, and with a nice char on the outside. Wine and cocktails were great as were the desserts - chocolate souffle and chocolate dream cake. The bill came to $137.75 including tax and tip per person but we felt this was a very good value considering the quality of the entire experience. Beautiful dining room. Even though the restaurant was almost full, the noise level was moderate so we were able to have a nice conversation with ease. We had a most enjoyable evening here and would highly recommend it . Parking was very easy and free - lots of street parking nearby or you can opt for valet. We did not feel valet was necessary. We're planning a return visit soon!

My husband and I had the wonderful pleasure of dining at Potente recently. Our server Amy was so friendly and down to earth. She truly made our experience delightful as she helped us make choices from the menu. We spilt a Ceasar salad and grilled oysters. Both were delicious and sharing gave us sufficient taste without filling us up. I ordered soft sell crab that was lightly fried and truly beautiful. We are from Florida and have this dish often. What I had in Houston is the best I have ever had. My husband had scallops. They too were delicious! We also shared an amazing dessert called choconut. Don’t be put off by the name. It was delightful.

The food was very good, but not quite in line with the very high prices. It was also surprisingly loud for a fine dining establishment. Appetizers were better than mains, but everything was at least good if not exceptional.

Atmosphere was warm. Service is impeccable. Food was the best I've ever had. Little Pricey but worth it. Very high scale restaurant. The mixed drinks were very smooth and not overly strong. The menu’s light up..

It did give me Vegas vibes, but it was really good. The menus are backlight, which is really nice. We started with the yellowfin tuna and mela salad, and both were very good! I had the truffle pasta, and my husband had a spaghetti, and both again were outstanding. The service was above and beyond. If we're ever in Houston again, we'll be back!

This new downtown Italian has a concise menu (literally lit from within — good for those whose vision isn’t great) and an extensive wine list. The cacio e pepe with black truffle was rich — and not too big. I recommend it. The service was very friendly. I’d criticize the decor — slightly hard black and white throughout the dining room — but nothing else.

Went downtown Houston for a nice non steak house dinner. Did not have reservations but was accommodated quickly with a nice table. The service was superb. The waiter recommended the appetizers Burrata & Barbabietole (roasted beets, soft cheese, pistachio) and Ostriches Gratinate (baked oysters, artichoke and parmigiano reggiano) both were wonderful. I could have made a meal out of the oysters. For entrees we had the braised veal cheeks ( veal cheeks on mushroom risotto and covey rise squash) and seafood stew (contained red snapper, diver scallops, blue crab, gulf shrimp and wild mussels in a light broth) Both were wonderful. Great quite dinner. With good wine selection.

Traveling solo on a business trips makes me tend to eat in many restaurant bars. Potente did not disappoint. Friendly staff behind the bar. Chatted with the front of the house manager and one of the managing partners. Large selection of happy hour drinks and appetizers at reasonable prices. Opted for an Aperol spritz and two starters: tuna crudo with foie gras and polpetti with squid ink pasta. Cappuccino and mignardises gratis. Will return next time I am in Houston.

Went to Potente for a pre-theater dinner and was underwhelmed by the experience, one I had high hopes for after reading the reviews on TripAdvisor. Overall the space is beautiful and the atmosphere is elegant and sophisticated. Expectations were not met, however, by the surly sommelier who ignored our table the entire time we were there, and the kitchen, which overcooked some of our dishes. The food was still excellent, if overdone, and the wine was too, but the level of service and execution was not on par with the decor or prices. Additionally, despite asking our server to split the check between the two of us, they did not and charged the entire meal on one card, which was then not returned when the paid check was brought to the table necessitating asking for the return of the credit card. Overall a strange experience, especially for a restaurant with such a good reputation.

I honestly don’t know if some of these reviews were paid for because this wasn’t my experience. I went on a date night there last night and almost everything we had was cold or…… not tasteful. I’ll refrain from using the word nasty. Me and my partner don’t drink so we ordered mocktails. I was literally given a Shirley temple that was too sour and too sweet. When I notified the waiter of this he had somewhat of an attitude. While reiterating thats how mocktails taste with no alcohol. The lobster tart wasn’t good at all. The squid dish would’ve tasted better if it was actually warm. My dates cacio e pepe was some of the worst I’ve ever tasted. The noodles were very doughy and barely had any sauce on them. Also the supposedly fresh truffle they shaved on barely had any taste or aroma. My scallop and risotto tasted as if they used the pack of chicken ramen noodle seasoning with broth and poured it over the meal. After being disappointed enough we decided to skip dinner. This place could very much so have great food but they dropped the ball when we went. The service was great other than our waiters attitude. Also the menus were well constructed.

Very Fahncy! Food was amazing. We had the lobster crepe to start which was awesome. Salads are salads. We had scallops and branzino for entree, both of which were cooked perfectly. You know going in this place is expensive so don't be shocked. The only negative I would say is the waiters do hover a bit and check on you often. Sometimes you just want to be left alone. Would go back though!

Our first visit to this beautiful restaurant near Minute Maid Park was absolutely delightful. The staff was very friendly and quite professional. Valentin, our waiter, was just superb, as was the wine steward. The dinner was just incredible in every manner. Houston is known for its fine restaurants, and this place is truly world class across the board! Potente will become our new go to venue for special occasions and/or downtown events. Try it for a romantic evening, one that is sure to be memorable in every manner.

Went with a small group on a work trip. Had a variety of drinks, appetizers, entrees and desserts. Fantastic meal from start to finish. Best may have been the octopus appetizer or the spaghetti al tartufo nero. Excellent service as well.

Food was excellent from the bread through the creme brulee and everything in between. Service was great. Special highlight was Vinnie the wine steward who pointed out 2 excellent Italian wines at very fair prices. Decor is beautiful The asterisk (and missing 5th star) is for a couple of food order snafus. One of the entrees was simply not what was ordered and a dessert order was missing. Very strange considering how professional the staff was. Not sure what happened. Will definitely be going back.

We went to Potente with high expectations but were a bit disappointed. The place is pretty, elegant, service good. Let’s begin with the location..Downtown! unless you go to a game or you live there, is not that comfortable to get there and to park.. sooooo much traffic (at 7:30pm) We sat at the bar and ordered a gin and tonic (I think in this time and age any bar should know how to make it) well.. no, they were clueless.. they didn’t care much either.. The food was ok good, very small portions (but I like that), it is actually too “average” and expensive for what you get. It was ok... I don’t think I will come back.

This was directly across from the hotel and we thought after reading some reviews to give it a chance. Bad choice. Very small portions, over priced and under delivered. Food was luke warm and tasteless. We expressed concerns to staff and they just stated they were sorry we did not enjoy. No other concern from them. Will not go back.

The food was absolutely delicious, giving me a rare sensation of happily parting with my money. The environment was romantic and intimate (but we were in well before 7 and lots of tables were still open). The service, mostly by Juan B., was perfectly timed, and the interaction with all of the staff left us feeling as though we all had just finished a delightful dance together. Consider: Do make reservations. Terrific dirty martini. Lobster bisque is possibly my new favorite flavor. Spring Branzino appetizer with caviar is beautifully displayed, delightfully light and simply delicious. And, I don't generally like to eat fish. Osso Buco Di Vitello is worth every penny. Don't go in with expectations this high but you are likely to have them exceeded anyway. This, I believe, bodes well for the Astros!

My husband and I were blown away by the service and food while dining at Potente, a fine dining Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown Houston. Every dish we tried from the Charred Octopus appetizer, Spaghetti with black truffles shaved tableside, Ravioli, Stuffed Sea Bass and finally the flourless Chocolate Soufflé was absolutely delicious. The restaurant sommelier was on vacation when we dined but our server made great suggestions for wine with dinner. Must go!

Outstanding food, service, decor, down to the music. This dining experience is amazing. Massimo was our server and assured everything was perfect. His suggestion were excellent. Chef Danny also greeted guest and made sure everything was to perfection.

Wow! This is where you talk your best client or your girlfriend to seal the deal. This is very fined elegance and spectacular food. You will feel fussed over with elegant, efficient charm with some of the best service in Houston I have seen. The bread with the bean spread was excellent (and I make my own bread so a bit of a snob). We split a beet salad which was very good (though small - but we like little courses). We had two different pastas - mine was the ravioli with rabbit and pheasant, my wife's was the lobster agnoloti. Now some people will prefer multi course but for us this was enough. Well it still allowed me to get the chocolate soufflé that was small but decadently chocolate. A nice touch is we each ordered a glass of wine (not big drinkers and don't like the same). They brought out (fresh!) bottles rather than just brought us a glass so we could see the bottle and taste first, as if we ordered a bottle. They have valet parking (it is right next to Minute Maid parking) but if you can find street parking it is free in the evenings (at least on weekends). Now, you will pay for all this elegance but if you want a splurge this is a good one.

I specifically picked this restaurant because it was close to the house of blues and it listed vegetarian friendly on its website. The restaurant it’s self is absolutely beautiful. The people working there are awesome. So I met my date there and had a drink at the bar. We were seated quickly. I was very much engrossed with my date and our conversation. It took us awhile to finally look at the menu. Nothing looked vegetarian friendly so we asked. The waiter appeared to be at a loss for words. Apparently they are NOT vegetarian friendly. Bummer. So we settled on pasta for him and fish for me. I’m sorry but neither dish was worth the attached high price tag. I was so disappointed. I rarely give bad reviews but the food just wasn’t good. The servers were so attentive that it was too much. Each time we would start talking, they would come up and ask if we needed anything. There has to be a happy medium. I’m not one to complain about anything but this was over the top obnoxious and they took the food too soon. I was nibbling on veggies and they kept asking if I was done. So I finally said yes. I don’t think I’ll ever recommend or go back. If your restaurant says vegetarian friendly, then it should be. Thanks Karen

Our first time here was fantastic (to celebrate our anniversary) but our second visit, for Houston Restaurant Weeks (HRW), was not quite as good. The point of HRW is to have a nice sample price fix menu that raises money for a food bank but we felt like Potente kind of missed the point a bit. We talked another couple into trying them because this is a very pricey place and their $45 HRW menu on the HRW web site was quite a deal so we thought it would be a good way to introduce them to such a nice place. We were disappointed to see that a number of the dishes required additional fees - scallops $5, spaghetti $12, filet $7... in fact half of the entrees required additional fees. Then it is not a price fixed menu! Now the food was very good - can't complain there. Service however had issues. For example, I had to ask for coffee with my dessert. And while some people might find being escorted to the bathroom and having the door opened when you ask "where is the restroom", to me that just comes off as a little pretentious. While this place is good, since there are places (like La Table) that hit 104% on every measure I don't know that we would go back.

This was a very classy dining experience, from beginning to end. Our appetizers were superb — octopus for me, carpaccio for my companion. Superb wine list, with excellent assistance from the sommelier, Vincente. Our mains, sea bass and steak, were perfectly cooked and served, both wonderful dishes. the wine suggestions were perfect. Our server, Stephanie, was friendly and very helpful. This was a great evening in a restaurant that I would go back to in a heart beat!

My husband and often frequent their sister restaurant next door Osso and Kristalla and love it. We finally tried Potente when we were more dressed up. It's a higher end restaurant where it's sister restaurant is more casual. The service is top notch and the food was excellent. I had the sea scallops and my husband had the veal cheeks. Both were very tender and flavorful. We also tried the lobster bisque which was very good. Not too much to fill you up so made a great starter.

Stopped in for drinks just before the World Series and was not disappointed . Drinks are fast and replenished quickly. Bar food selections are unique. Plenty of space with comfy stools and beautiful decor.

One of the best restaurants I’ve visited. Wine list was small but quality with by the glass options for all selections. Pasta was amazing. The filet was the best steak I’ve had, better than the best Texas steakhouses. Dessert and coffee was perfect. I’d rate six stars if I could.

We stumbled across the gen after the Astros game. The staff could not be more accommodating and friendly. The bar tenders mix incredible drinks and the food is to die for. We started with the homemade burrata salad and the grilled octopus as an appetizer. Both had fantastic flavor and highly recommended. We then shared the truffled pasta with homemade al dente spaghetti "caciopepe", pepper and truffle. OMG!! Unbelievable!! You must have this dish. We can't wait to come back here. Spectacular! The waitstaff, sommelier, bar tenders, etc are all extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. Come visit this gem on the middle of downtown!

The service was amazing. The food was as good as it gets. The food is presented well, served graciously, and tastes amazing. The service makes you feel very special. Side note: The bar gives you the feeling you are an honored guest and cater to you. Very special place.

Potente is such a great addition to the Houston food scene. Under the direction of talented Chef Danny Trace, the food presentation is incredible and more importantly the flavors are delicious. The service from the moment you walk in the door till you leave is superb. We have so many favorites from the scallops to the sea bass and the pastas. There are also selections for the meat eaters. This was such a lovely way to share dinner with friends.

My spouse and I met friends for dinner and found everything exceptional from the cosmopolitan drink at the tastefully decorated bar to the menu and wine offerings. The highlight was the tiramisu presentation. Shared by the four of us, the dessert was an encased dome. The waiter then poured hot fudge back and forth over the dome and it opened up with four separate chocolate flower petals to reveal the tiramisu. It was like a magic trick. Had I'd known I would have videoed to post!

We had a mostly pleasant experience here. The food was good without a doubt. The service was friendly but inattentive. It took us 20 minutes to get menus after we were sat. We were never made to feel like we were sort of any priority even after the restaurant started to empty out. We may or may not return.

My wife and I found ourselves in downtown Houston without any reservations looking for a good very early dinner in the area of Minute-Maid Park. We got into Potente, just after 5 PM when they opened. My wife chose the Quaglia (Duck Confit and stuffed Hill Country Quail which came with petite mustard greens and a quail egg on top). I opted for the Cappucino (Diver Scallops with a Butternut Squash Risotto). Both were excellent - we shared bites! She enjoyed a glass of Barbera Reva red with her entree and I had a class of Gavi white wine. We finished by sharing an Amaretto Btulee washed down with glasses of desert wine (her) and port (me). A great meal and different menu.

Located a couple blocks north of the George R Brown on the corner of Texas and Crawford. It looks modern and classic with white table cloths. The bar is in a separate room from the dining room and has it own vibe. Where as the dining room was bright and well lit, the bar was dark and cozy. I will list the highs first. Everyone (my wife and another couple) loved the entrees. The wine list was large and I found a wine I loved at a decent price (Reynolds Family Persistence is a great Bordeaux style blend from Napa). The wine list has a lot of Italian bottles. Each wine bottle was decanted in its own unique decanter. I had the NY strip and it was cooked perfectly. My wife said her pasta was the best she has had since we were in Italy 8 years ago. As great as this all was there were a couple of things that gave me pause. I started my meal with the Charred Broiled Oysters. The waiter brought them to the table with a warning about how hot they might be, but when I tasted mine they were luke warm at best and the biggest one was cold in the middle. When I mentioned this to the waiter both my friend and I got the distinct impression he could have cared less and said something to the effect that is the way the come out sometimes without any hint of apology. Personally if I order something char-broiled I expect them to be hot and if I mention something to a waiter I expect at least a half-hearted apology. Other than that the table service was pretty good. I would also say that while my steak was delicious and it was also pretty big, but the accompanying marble potatoes and vegetables were a fairly small portion. The steak was huge though (maybe 16 ozs although the waiter told us it was 12oz so maybe I just got luck with a larger than normal cut). We also had the Carpaccio di Carne and it was very good. Everyone especially liked the wild boar on that dish. Overall my wife loved it and I loved my entree, the atmosphere was nice, and the bar had a cool vibe. If it wasn't for the oyster thing and the waiter's indifference I would definitely give this place 5 stars.