Oxheart may consider itself a Texan restaurant, but it’s a world away from the local barbecue spot. Upscale and stylish yet still comfortable and welcoming, this often-buzzed-about eatery serves some of the most creative takes on Texas cuisine in all of Houston.

The menu is split into two distinct six-course menus: the vegetarian Garden Menu and the omnivorous Tasting Menu. The dishes always change to accommodate which ingredients are currently in season, but past menu items include a stew of preserved alliums and Indica rice, lightly smoked wild boar with pork Thailande, and Japanese roots and a sofrito of dried shellfish. Drink pairings can be added to either of the menus for an additional cost, and each libation is carefully chosen to perfectly complement the rest of your dining experience.

Reservations are recommended at Oxheart, and they can be made via the restaurant’s convenient website.

Oxheart
1302 Nance St
Houston, TX 77002
(832) 830-8592
www.oxhearthouston.com

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Fans of Oxheart love their take on fresh food made with seasonal local ingredients. The chic, open kitchen setting makes you feel like you’re dining at the chef’s home. An expansive wine and beer list means you can start your meal with something special. The tasting menu gives you three options – the Spring Menu, the Garden Menu and the Tasting Menu. The changing chef’s selection might feature culinary delights like Warsaw Grouper with three egg sauce & caviar, Layered Beets with meyer lemon blossom vinegar, Heirloom Carrots with exotic spices, Freedom Ranger Chicken with summer squash, or Baked Heirloom Tomatoes with black garlic. Desserts might include something uber-yummy like Caramelized Chocolate Cake with cane syrup and green tomato jam. Open for dinner Thursday through Monday.

Oxheart
403 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77006
(832) 724-9464
http://www.yelp.com/biz/oxheart-houston