Zanti Cucina Italiana - River Oaks

came for a dinner, sat in the outdoor patio overlooking palm trees. food quality is great, taste is amazing, quantity - medium plates. we did pizza, pasta and desserts. margarita and gnocchi was really good. ravioli was okayish. both desserts were spot on. lava cake was exceptional. ambiance, plating, service is very high end, and exquisite. you can do a casual vibe outside or intimate cozy vibe inside. i’d highly recommend for a date night.

excellent service from the second you step in, to when you depart! intimate & comfortable ambiance

for entrees, we ordered some pastas, tomahawk (tough), salt grilled branzino (the amount was not worth the price), & lamb chops. the appetizers were what really stood out, and are what i’d come back for — truffle beef tartare & beet salad are a must!

Came here for brunch and sat in the outdoor patio. Very upscale restaurant! Music is played in the background. It's audible but not too loud.

Service is great. Our waiter gave us recommendations without asking. He was good at taking photos and videos.

FOOD
Potatoes and octopus - 4.5/5
It was better than I thought. I would get this again.

Shrimp ceviche - 4/5
The shrimp was fresh. Not your typical ceviche. It was a green sauce with shrimp and cucumbers served with unsweetened plantain chips. It was a little spicy. I would have liked more ingredients like avocado, onions, and/or tomatoes.

Smoked salmon omelette - 3/5
If not for the smoked salmon, it was very plain. Only diced red bell peppers and onions. Instead of potato chips, I asked for crispy potatoes.

Pistachio gelato - 3/5
Only had a spoon of this and it has a very strong pistachio flavor.

The women's restroom has elegant decor and has a great pick of finishes.

If you come with a group, they will automatically add gratuity to your bill.

Definitely a great spot to come have brunch with your family or friends.

We had the Sunday brunch here. The quality of food and drinks is very good. Medium plates, with a super fast service. The inside decoration is exquisite, with a dj that makes a happy ambiance… but not loud or groove, just a touch of joy. Very good wine list, and you can have a glass of them, instead of the whole bottle. The valet parking is complementary.

Sorry, I won't come back and recommend it.
The truffle pasta was not good; noodles were overcooked, and the flavor was very bland; not worth the price. The pizza could only be cut in a quarter size (1/4); we asked the waiter to cut it into 8 pieces, and he said cutting in 8 pieces would smash the cheese on the top... Also, other main dishes were not too impressed either, there were so many good Italian restaurants in Houston; skip this one.
They did charge $3 per person for cake service when you brought your own cake and cut it by yourself.