Da Marco Italian Restaurant
1520 Westheimer
5 out of 5 faces
Almost every publication from Zagats to The Houston Chronicle says that if Da Marco isn't the best restaurant in town it is way way up there. Most of you know how much I hate agreeing with what everyone says.. But I have to in t his case. Garrett and I with our significant others went the other night and it was nothing short of brilliant. The wine, the food, the ambiance; everything was well thought out and remarkably executed. The waiters were attentive (too attentive at times: we were asked if we want tap or bottled water four times), the food was served with time to talk and digest, dishes were not sent out one on top of another. It was truly a fantastic experience.
My only complaints are the staff was a little unorganized but they compensated by giving us too much attention, which is pretty amazing considering it was a totally packed house. And the amuse bouche was pretty weak. They brought out four pieces of stale bread topped with risotto. They didn’t explain it they didn’t try and make sound better it just was what it was. Really a pretty poor showing, no creativity and very little effort. But since it is such a small part of a meal I am willing to look past it.
They brought out bread and some of the best olive oil I have ever tried. It was so fresh and fruity. The bread wasn’t amazing but the olive oil made up for it. Garrett and I made sure not to leave any in the serving dish, I am actually surprised neither of us lost a finger.
When it was time to order our meals we decided on an Antipasti and a Secondi (entree) each with two pasta dishes to split. It was actually the perfect amount of food. I ordered the shaved celery salad with beets and pecorino as my starter and the Chianti braised short rib with burrata risotto for my main. Meg and Garrett ordered the fish special and tomato and mozzarella salad and a salmon carpaccios for their antipasti (I can’t remember who ordered which I was drinking). Whit ordered the burrata di bufala, roasted cherry tomatoes, which was a salad with an amazing buffalo cheese and perfect cherry tomatoes. We also ordered a braised pork ravioli and the black truffle risotto for our pasta dishes.
All four appetizers were truly outstanding but I think I won... The celery salad was out of this world. In my mind anyone who goes to Da Marco needs to at least try this dish. I actually believe the same thing of the truffle risotto. Please do not leave this restaurant with out trying both of these dishes, you will thank me I promise. My short rib was outstanding as well and everyone else thoroughly enjoyed theirs mains as well.
I really can’t say enough about the cooking at Da Marco. It really is just this side of perfection (The James side). It is a bit pricey but if you love food like I do it is worth it to splurge every now and then on creations like this. Special occasion dining in Houston? Da Marco has no rival, try it and tell me I’m wrong.
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