Delightful Fine Dining Experience ~ Sorrento Ristorante Italiano in Houston, Texas

Casual dining in an upscale setting...

If you are searching for a delightful fine dining experience in Houston, Texas you might just wish to make reservations at Sorrento Ristorante Italiano.

My husband and I wanted to do something special for our 40th wedding anniversary and we decided to go to Sunday Brunch at this upscale dining establishment. While the atmosphere and dining experience was definitely upscale, the dress code is relaxed and comfortable.

On the day of our wedding four decades ago we dined at another gourmet restaurant before beginning our honeymoon trip but decided to try something different for this particular day.

While my husband was familiar with Sorrento, it was my first dining experience there.

I am happy to report that Sorrento not only met but exceeded my expectations!

Sorrento Ristorante Italiano

The location of this Houston fine dining establishment is on lower Westheimer in the Montrose area of town. The address is 415 Westheimer at Whitney.

Utilizing the downstairs end cap of a strip center with a day spa located above, a room which could be described as a sun-room or solarium was attached to the building which accommodates more diners in casual elegance.

Whomever was employed to do the murals in this restaurant did an exquisite job! 

Take a look at the photos below to get an idea of what this room has to offer by way of ambiance.

What I am calling the sun-room or solarium at Sorrento overlooks a tree lined street and is a cheery room in which to dine.

Unlike the southern city of Sorrento, Italy of the same name which overlooks the Bay of Naples, Mount Vesuvius and the Isle of Capri and where many citrus trees are grown, visitors and patrons to Sorrento Ristorante Italiano in Houston can gaze upon the waters, buildings and trees expertly painted upon the walls to take them to that beautiful place whether or not they have ever experienced traveling there in person.

One can almost imagine being transported to that place in Italy because of the warm enveloping ambiance.

Speaking of citrus trees...Sorrento, Italy is well known for the production of a drink called limoncello. It is made from lemon rinds, water, sugar and alcohol.

Again, one need not travel to Italy to be able to taste and enjoy this drink.

If desired, Sorrento Ristorante Italiano can undoubtedly satisfy your quest for that particular libation.

 Murals and fine art...

In the main dining room is another wonderful mural which is shown here to the right.  The artwork does not end there. 

Faux-finishing techniques on the walls and columns range in pattern and color and mimic old world finishes and even marbleizing techniques were utilized to give this environment a rich and cozy old world charm.

Framed limited edition prints of artists such as Chagall and Matisse adorn the walls. 

By now you probably realize that the interior design and decorating were well done.

But how about the food?

Sunday Brunch

While Sorrento is open all day on Sundays from 11AM to 10PM, they serve special brunch items ranging in price from $11 to $18 in the hours from opening time to 3 PM.  During brunch one can also enjoy Mimosa's, Bellini's, Champagne and Sorrento for $2.50 per glass.

While we were studying the brunch menu my husband and I decided to enjoy a Bellini which is made typically from white peach juice nectar, a hint of raspberry puree and Prosecco, a sparkling white wine.  We did not inquire as to what constitutes the latter drink offering.  Perhaps another time!

Roasted garlic is presented on a plate drizzled with different colored oils and herbs and a large selection of various types of bread is brought to the table for one's choice.

In addition to the regular Brunch menu offerings, many of which sounded delicious, we noticed a Sunday only special during the brunch hours costing $35 per person.  One gets to have one's choice of soup or salad, entree and dessert off of the dinner menu.  That is quite a bargain and that is exactly what my husband and I decided to do to celebrate our special day.

Wonderful live piano music is being played during the brunch hours and afterwards mellow Italian music wafted through space from the intercom.

Our menu choices that day...

We both started our three course meal with a bowl of fresh Maine lobster bisque. It was served in a round lidded bowl on top of a square serving liner plate. When the lid was removed simultaneously by Sergio, our attentive captain, the generous large lumps of succulent fresh lobster were evident amidst the creamy pink tinged soup topped with lobster foam...some molecular gastronomy at its best. To say that the lobster bisque was delicious is an understatement!

My husband chose as his entree a Porcini Crusted Gulf Red Snapper with Lobster Risotto and Caviar Butter. I selected the Chilean Sea Bass with wilted spinach, baby artichoke and a citrus-caper sauce. Both entrees were not only artfully presented in a large warmed serving bowl that kept the fish courses at the right temperature during our dining experience, but were as pleasing to our eyes as to our palates. We sampled each others entrees and agreed that both of them were delicious!

For dessert we once again both chose the same dish. The Grand Marnier and Chocolate Souffle with Dark Chocolate Sauce was presented on a rectangular plate dusted with powdered sugar. At one end was the magnificent puffed and rounded dark brown souffle with a small round bowl of melted dark chocolate at the other end. Anchoring it in the middle was a mouth watering chocolate truffle. While neither of us tasted much Grand Marnier, obviously its use was subtle or simply masked by the dark chocolate.

Neither my husband nor I are much in the way of eating dessert and probably would never have ordered one except that it came as a part of this $35 special package price...but that artfully presented souffle and the coffee that we ordered to accompany it became the grand finale to our gourmet meal which also included a bottle of crisp white wine.

Had we ordered these same menu items after 3 PM when the regular dinner pricing begins, our bill would have been $32 higher. So for patrons who wish to enjoy a large mid-day meal and explore more of the Sorrento Ristorante Italiano menu, one might want to consider going there for their Sunday Brunch hours as we did.

My husband and I will definitely return to also sample some of the regular brunch offerings. We saw some delectable looking dishes being taken to other tables as we were enjoying our multi-course meal. Needless-to-say, we did not have to concern ourselves with eating dinner that evening!

Sorrento's is an epicurian delight!

In addition to the already discussed Sunday hours, lunch is served Monday to Friday from 11 AM to 5 PM with dinner from 5 to 11 PM Monday to Saturday at Sorrento.

Beautifully decorated private dining rooms can be reserved for special occasions. Regular specially arranged wine dinners are offered with pairings of food and wine to tantalize the most discriminating of tastes.

Reservations can be made by calling 713-527-0609.

If you are visiting Houston, Texas and wish to experience a delightful fine dining experience, consider putting Sorrento Ristorante Italiano on your list. For local inhabitants, we just might be meeting you there!  Buon Appetito!