Hillstone

Hillstone is basically Houston's 2.0 -- a familiar American menu and even some familiar employees from the old spot at the Esplanade, now in a stunning new space that feels like a modern tribute to Frank Lloyd Wright. Filled with warm wood, contemporary art, dark red booths, and the dull roar of a hundred conversations over soft jazz and the clattering of dishes, the dining room gives way to an elbow-to-elbow packed bar, which spills onto a gorgeous patio with trees and a fireplace. Unlike Houston's, they serve sushi, but everything else, from the prime rib to the tortilla soup, is known territory. Read our review.