Dining at Potente is for lack of better words, other worldly... I was privileged enough to meet some friends there before a concert and I was able to experience a flavor extravaganza I've never before had. Chef Danny Trace is by far one of the best chefs ever. His attention to detail and ability to bring out so many layers of flavors in the simplest of dishes is beyond verbal description and only going to Potente and experiencing it for yourself will do. The entire Potente staff is friendly and attentive, fast and a pro at their art. I haven't given any other restaurants this high of praise and I doubt any other will receive it. Get there. Enjoy it. Spoil your taste buds... It is all worth it.

This is probably one of the best Italian places I’ve been to in Houston. The ambiance was really romantic and the service was impeccable. Every dish we ordered was delicious. We brought our picky kids and they enjoyed their food so that’s says a lot. Looking forward to going back.

Ok wait. I can explain the 3 stars. Basically, If you are a foodie or actually hungry. Don’t go here 😂 If you want an expensive snack with fancy bougie vibes. Like fancy without good music and ok cocktails, you’ll love it! Personally I’d chose their wine over the cocktails. BF and I had a $200 tab. Mmm honestly Steak 48 may have been a better option. 🥴

Potente!! Walking into this Houston gem was intimidating initially, but as I sat at the bar, I was warmly welcomed by the great tenders of the bar. I have been solo most of the week on a business trip, but nothing gets in my way of finding the most amazing chefs in any given destination. Executive Chef Danny Trace surgically executes some of the greatest of dishes I have ever experienced. I selected the Terrina Di Coniglio, a rabbit terrine with apricot, pistachio, onion butter, and black garlic, accompanied by a quail egg. The Rossini was a clear choice for my entree, considering I had a loin of lamb earlier in the week. I was blessed with yellow fin tuna on a bed of black Truffle Rissotto. The strawberry cheesecake was a perfect way to end the night. I was gifted a small strawberry milkshake by my wonderful hosts as well. I had the pleasure of meeting Joel, the manager, and we had a great conversation about our similar interests of travel and passionate culinary wizards that work so hard to make our lives so much better. I expressed my appreciation with a significant gratuity and I hope my new friends at Potente feel as appreciated as do I. "I may not be a king (yet), but I definitely eat like one!" - @palatehacker

Post work visit with co-workers for an early dinner that became more light eats and more drinks. Emily took care of our group and did a superb job keeping wine glasses filled and drinks replenished. Manager Nate was hospitable and inviting, checking on us throughout the evening. The tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil were on point. Definitely will be back to try the truffle noodles soon.

Took the wife and two friends for her birthday and had an amazing experience. Service was very professional and attentive from the moment we got there. Food was delicious and very well presented. We all ordered different and tasted each other's choices and all were equally amazing! The atmosphere was excellent with a nice upscale romantic feel. After dinner we headed to the bar were we had more of ther delicious take on the old fashioned, the Potente Gold!! The bar tenders were very cool and friendly except for the one lady who gave of dirty looks and attitude but even that didn't make a dent on the amazing time we had. We will definitely be back.

Just had a wonderful experience at Potente. There were 6 of us and every dish was exceptional. The meat was beautiful, the seafood perfectly cooked and immaculately seasoned. The front of the house was every bit as good: attentive, respectful and fun. This was as good a meal as I have had in years. It's fine dining done very very well. Go there and enjoy every minute.

Went for anniversary dinner, and ended up being one of the best places we’ve ever eaten at. Drinks were very good, filet was good but the spaghetti al tartufo nero w/ lobster was the show stopper!!

First time here - excellent food, atmosphere and service. Went with our neighbors for a wine pairing dinner - excellent all around. Don't be shocked by the bill, though, as it is rather pricey.

one of the best dining experiences we have ever had. We arrived early and had cocktails in the bar, exceptionall drinks, and great bar tenders. Got sat at our table wich was a very nice cozy booth. When we were ready, our server Lenin was excellent he went over the menu and pointed out some recommendations. Food was unbelievable!

Really nice upmarket restaurant for special occasions. Great service. Waiters are knowledgeable about all their dishes and great recommendations. Nice atmosphere. All the dishes were delicious and very well presented. A little on the more expensive end but nice for the experience and a treat.

Fine dining for sure, didn’t really get an Italian feel. Although, the highlight of our five course meal was the squid ink spaghetti with oysters. Bread was served with hummus. Appetizer— had two (octopus and foie gras) Salad course (would pass on any of the three choices) Pasta course—would choose all three next time. Main course, we had beef cheek (which needed salt) l, but really tender, and the branzino (which I wouldn’t get again). Our mates’ meat choice was seasoned really well. Dessert— had the chocolate ball with tiramisu inside, carrot cake with gelato and crème brûlée). Out of these three—the crème brûlée was my fave—that was the only thing really uniquely done here. This was the main event of the night. We spent more than three hours and $434 (not including tip) there. Our waiter turned what could have been a pretentious night into something enjoyable. He timed everything really well and staggered the meals so nothing was piled on top of each other as the table was small for the four of us. However he did forget to put in the order for the branzino. Table was by the door, so felt the wind every time the door was opened— glad I didn’t check my coat. Have definitely had better foie gras in other restaurants.

Great service and nice environment. The music played in the background is just the right volume so you can still hold a conversation and enjoy the ambiance. The cocktails were unique and really impressive wine and liquor selection. Loved the attention to detail on the ice cubes. The cacio e pepe is definitely worth it- unfortunately we only ordered the "taster" which is a half portion. The fresh truffle and fresh pasta make this dish truly exquisite. We also ordered the scallops and the pappardelle bolognese. These dishes were nice, but expected a better sear on the scallops. And the pork in the bolognese was a bit tough and overcooked, a little too busy of a dish with the pork belly and pork rinds on the side. For dessert, the chocolate hazelnut cake was delicious. Overall, a good meal and would definitely come back.

We arrived for our 6PM reservation and greeted by super friendly valet which was awesome. When we walked in we were instantly greeted and walked down to our table which was near the bar. My fiancé and I were trying to sit down relax and enjoy a nice quiet romantic dinner but it was one opposite. For a fine dining restaurant I’d imagine people would have class and establishment would have rules set. There was a lady at the bar just talking on speaker phone loudly to where I heard the whole conversation from the moment we sat down until we left. On top of the lady at the bar there was a group of young ladies next to us literally yelling over each other even though they were at the same table right next to each other. We only made it bread service before we decided we couldn’t handle it anymore, it was absolutely loud in there and ruined our date night and probably one of the worse we ever had while on top of that the bread we received was hard as rock and hurt your teeth when you bit into it. Definitely will not be returning or recommending to anyone. Only reason for a two star instead of a one was because our waiter was extremely nice and he helped with the menu for the short bit we were there, also gave a great recommendation for a champagne that was very good. If it wasn’t for the valet and waiter definitely would’ve been a one star. If you are looking for a nice date night I do not recommend

Amazing service and food. Everything came out hot and flavorful. Also loved that everything came out in tiers so we could enjoy every course accordingly. The waiter even offered a second course! He split 1 of the top selling entrees 5 ways for me and party to try. I would definitely come back again for the Cacio Pepe Truffle Spaghetti. It's a classic dish but potente has done it justice! Grateful to spend my birthday there! I'd recommend making reservations, it's really busy and parking vallet will cost you an additional $11. Worth every penny!

A+ service! And a cool menu 🤩 Spaghetti al tartufo nero: wowwww...enough said. Unless you absolutely hate truffle, this is a must-try. Frutti di mare: generous amount of fresh seafood - 🌟 for the crustaceans...halibut passable. Standard fare for this restaurant class. Torta di marsala: 😞 doesn't taste as described and texture is akin to a day's old muffin...opt for the sfera dolce!

A friend treated me to dinner at this AMAZING restaurant for my birthday! All I can say is WOW! The food was so fresh and good! The servers were so attentive and sweet. It was a delicious meal! A very quiet and intimate dining room! I can't wait to go back!

Hands down the best Italian restaurant in Houston maybe even Texas. First time having white truffle shaved in table side. Amazing! The Polipetti Arrostiti (charred octopus) was one of the best dishes i ever had. Service has always been good here.

Our server William was fantastic. My special order drink was perfect. And the scallops! Colossal is how the menu describes them and they were!

Definitely $$$$ but worth it. Dress code is enforced, unless you sit in the bar area. The Cacio de Pepe was delicious. Apparently award winning. The filet mignon and the lamb were tasty and cooked to perfection.

If you enjoy fantastic service and attention to detail, this is your place. The drinks were crafted to perfection. The dining experience from start to finish was exceptional. The chef literally kissed our plates and then greeted us. I appreciated the anticipatory service for each serving. Romantic setting, but welcoming for a solo diner as well.

I loved the experience. The staff made me feel very special on my special day. The food was delicious. Can’t wait to return!

Fancy Italian restaurant. There are plenty of free parking nearby. Service was good. Restaurant was very clean and I liked how the menus lit up when you open them. Food was pretty good. Portions were sufficient. It’s worth checking out once, there are so many other restaurants in Houston. -charred octopus 5/5 -branzino 5/5 -spaghetti al tartufo nero ⅘ - it’s good but they were very frugal with the truffle. -cafe cioccolato 5/5

This was delectable Italian cuisine. The charred octopus, halibut and truffle spaghetti were divine.

Potente was an excellent choice for my birthday dinner. Kelly, the coordinator who assisted me, was great with communication and made the planning process very smooth. On the day of the dinner, our group had a spacious, private room. The servers were extremely attentive and professional. The food and drinks were AMAZING. We had a great time and I plan to visit again and again!