North Italia — Restaurant in Houston

This is a decent spot for a casual dinner that's not too casual. The "I tried just enough but didn't sweat" vibe - nonchalant, if you will. It's good for both second dates and hangouts between friends of 25+ years.

I was somewhat disappointed by the drinks list. No cocktails jumped out (other than the one that sounded promising but I still forwent because it was based on a coconut-infused rum... not my idea of an Italian cocktail), and while the menu had all the parts of a Negroni, it wasn't on it. Wines by the glass started at $17 for bigger reds (Nebbiolo is Pinot Noir's Italian cousin so I don't count that) and made me think, "Maybe I am now outdated in thinking a glass of wine can be available for $15 and under in Houston"; while $2 is not a meaningful amount, I was surprised to see the dearth of options.

As for food: It had been years since I last visited so we decided to hit all three main areas (pizza, pasta, entree).

Lumache allla Norciana: Great pasta al dente - are all their pastas made in house? bc I didn't think this could be a fresh pasta (and I mean well when I say that - I like chewier pastas with more bite). Delicious ground sausage smeared all over. 5/5

Pork Milanese: I imagine this was a pork loin or shoulder cut. Deep fried and balanced out with pickled veggies and fresh arugula, but this felt like a chicken katsu. What I mean is that it could've used some pounding and not be as chunky. 3/5

Funghi pizza: Mushrooms on a white pizza with what tasted like lavender or herbs de Provence, which was a twist. The dough was hard and there wasn't much sauce or cheese though. Surprisingly tasted better after dinner so probably best for takeout. 3.5/5

Overall, I enjoyed the dinner. Friendly hostess and strong service with ample parking in the garage.

One note for the restaurant: If patrons with reservations walk in during happy hour into a nearly-empty restaurant, it would be nice to at least offer the happy hour seating (which is limited to the bar seating or high tops), even if...

Review for North Italia – 4.5/5

I’ve been to North Italia twice now, and both visits gave me totally different vibes—but overall, I’d say it’s a solid spot, especially for their pizza and wine.

First Visit (Weekday Afternoon – Happy Hour): I went with a small group of coworkers after work. The interior is one big, open space with a bar, high-top tables, and a cozy dining area all blended together. It wasn’t too busy, so it felt calm and relaxing. I sat at one of the higher tables near the bar and really enjoyed the laid-back vibe. I had a glass of Pinot Grigio that was crisp and refreshing, and we shared a Margherita pizza—which was simple but excellent. The crust, the sauce, the cheese—everything worked. It left a great first impression, even though I didn’t get to try much else.

Second Visit (Friday Night): Completely different experience. We went around 9 p.m., and it was packed. Even with a reservation, we ended up waiting at the bar (not ideal, but understandable given the crowd). The energy was buzzing, so if you like that lively atmosphere, it’s perfect. I got more Pinot Grigio—same as before, still great—and we ordered two dishes: • Hot Honey & Smoked Prosciutto Pizza – Easily the star of the night. Perfect balance of salty, sweet, and spicy. I couldn’t stop eating it. If I go back, it’s 100% for the pizza. • Spicy Rigatoni Vodka – This was a letdown. The pasta texture was off (slightly overcooked for me), and the Italian sausage and pancetta were so finely chopped I could barely taste them. The sauce was decent, but overall it felt underwhelming. I wouldn’t order it again.

Honestly, I wish we had just gotten two pizzas instead. Their pizzas are amazing!

Final Thoughts: North Italia is a great spot for wine and pizza, whether you’re doing a chill happy hour or a lively night out. It can get very crowded on weekend nights, so plan accordingly. I’d skip the pasta next time and stick to their pizzas—they really shine there. I’m definitely down to return, especially when a pizza...

04/30/22 - Food was amazing. Took my mother to North Italia for an early Mother’s Day dinner since I’ll be out of town. When we first arrived, we were seated promptly after telling the hostess that we had a reservation.

Our server came over and began to take our drink order. We attempted to order a pitcher of Sangria, but they were out of some of the ingredients. We opted for individual drinks. Our server, although nice, seemed to be too busy as it took a while for her to return to take our order. We ordered salads and gluten free pizza and the food was delicious.

Our problems were: slow service - had to flagged down the server for our food order, straws for our water, fresh water, and bill after sitting and waiting for about 10 minutes. We also had to send back a drink (husband ordered cider - no gluten, but we were brought a drink (beer) with gluten. When we received the bill, the $36 pitcher of Sangria was still listed on the bill. Because our server took so long to come back, I went to the bar to see if someone there could help.

As we were leaving, my mother was clearing her area and noticed that her wine glass had fresh lipstick stains on it that was not from her. As another poster posted, it's apparent that glasses are not cleaned thoroughly or no one is double checking to make sure patrons are not served dirty glassware or utensils. We summoned the server to tell her. She apologized and went to get the GM. The GM came over, gave us a business card and asked us to email him so we could get something next time we’re there. His approach to us was pretty lackluster and nonchalant.

Based on the owner's response below, I'm simply going to be asked to contact the manager to make him aware of the situation which has already happened. Seems to me it's better to own up to the mistake by admitting the errors and providing us with a solution on how this will get resolved. Hey! But, I'm just a...