Impero Italiano
Briar Forest, Houston
Restaurant in Houston, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Impero Italiano is a practical Memorial-area choice when ease matters more than rarity. Treat it as a neighborhood dinner option with simple planning, not a drinks-led destination or a major-occasion splurge; cross-shop Bistro 555 for a more composed sit-down meal and Pizaro's Pizza for a faster, more casual group plan.
About Impero Italiano
Impero Italiano is a Houston venue with a casual dress code and published hours from Tuesday through Sunday. It is closed Monday, opens at 11 AM Tuesday through Sunday, stays open later on Friday and Saturday.
Use it for a casual Houston plan with published hours
The most reliable planning detail is the schedule. Impero Italiano is listed as closed on Monday; open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday from 11 AM to 9 PM; and open Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM. The dress code is casual.
If any details about the cocktail list, wine program, bar seating, booking difficulty, menu format, pricing, takeout, delivery, or dietary accommodations matter to the plan, check the venue's official channels before you go. For comparison, Maggie's Coffee and Bistro 555 are other options to cross-check with current venue details.
Where it fits among Houston choices
For Houston planning, compare Impero Italiano with other named options only at a general level unless you have current details from the venues. Pizaro's Pizza, Lynn's Steakhouse, Hungry's, Bistro 555, Maggie's Coffee are reasonable names to cross-check depending on the kind of outing your group wants.
For broader planning, use our full Houston restaurants guide, plus the city guides for Houston hotels, Houston bars, Houston wineries, Houston experiences. Other Houston dining rooms can also help you compare the area.
Planning details
- Location
- 14028 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- imperoitaliano.com
- Phone
- +12818539022
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Impero Italiano reads as a quieter, residential Italian restaurant on the western edge of Houston. It positions itself against the city’s louder destination strips, favoring a considered approach to cooking that emphasizes sourcing discipline and pasta technique. The room skewers toward rustic, cozy, warm, and classic touches while maintaining a sophisticated undercurrent through a serious wine program and thoughtful plates. The overall effect is neighborhood-focused rather than theatrical: a place that feels comfortably familiar but takes its ingredients and preparations seriously, appealing to diners who want polished Italian cooking without the downtown fanfare.
Best For
This is a neighborhood spot that suits family meals, casual hangouts, group dining and quieter date nights. Its location on Memorial Drive makes it convenient for suburban professionals and energy-sector families seeking an easy weeknight dinner, and the menu’s focus on pasta technique and a regional-minded wine list supports both relaxed group dinners and more intimate two-top evenings. The service style leans upscale-casual, so the restaurant fits celebratory but low-key occasions where solid cooking and a comfortable room matter more than being a formal destination.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the pastas and classic Italian staples to sample the kitchen’s strengths: Margherita Pizza, Gnocchi Sorrentina, Fettuccine Alfredo, Carbonara, and the house Impero 2 Pasta are the signatures to consider. The description highlights a wine list that treats Italian regions with care, so plan to pair a bottle by region to complement the pastas. Given the restaurant’s position as a considered neighborhood dining room, prioritize dishes that showcase technique and sourcing rather than novelty — the simpler plates often reveal the kitchen’s discipline.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm and inviting trattoria-style atmosphere with rustic Italian decor, creating a charming dining experience reminiscent of Italy.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Margherita Pizza
- Gnocchi Sorrentina
- Fettuccine Alfredo
- Carbonara
- Impero 2 Pasta
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to go if this does not fit
Pick Bistro 555 if the meal needs to feel more deliberate and less like a neighborhood fallback. Pick Pizaro's Pizza if the group wants something faster, more casual, easier to share.
Restaurant context
How it compares in Houston
Impero Italiano is the easy-planning option in this set. Choose it when the group wants a sit-down Memorial-area meal without turning the reservation into the main project. Bistro 555 is the stronger pick for a more polished dinner, while Pizaro's Pizza is better when value, speed, a casual group mood matter more.
For occasion energy, Lynn's Steakhouse is the clearer splurge direction. For daytime beverages and pastries, Maggie's Coffee is more purpose-built than trying to force Impero Italiano into a bar-program role. Hungry's is the safer fallback for mixed-preference groups that need breadth over a narrower dinner call.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Impero Italiano guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Impero Italiano
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impero Italiano | Houston | ; | No published awards |
| Bistro 555 | Houston | ; | No published awards |
| Maggie's Coffee | Houston | Coffee / café (beverages and pastries) | No published awards |
| Pizaro’s Pizza | Houston | Pizzeria | No published awards |
| Lynn's Steakhouse | Houston | ; | No published awards |
| Hungry's | Houston | ; | No published awards |
How Impero Italiano Houston compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Impero Italiano handle dietary restrictions?
If a dietary request is important, contact Impero Italiano in Houston directly before you go and confirm the latest information through the venue's official channels.
Can I eat at the bar at Impero Italiano?
If bar seating matters, contact the Houston venue first, then plan around the published hours: Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 11 AM to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM.
Is lunch or dinner better at Impero Italiano?
Impero Italiano opens at 11 AM Tuesday through Sunday, closes at 9 PM Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, closes at 10 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Is Impero Italiano good for a special occasion?
Use the venue's hours, dress code, your own plans to judge whether it fits a special occasion. If you want to compare options, Lynn's Steakhouse, Pizaro's Pizza, Hungry's, Bistro 555, Maggie's Coffee are other named venues to check based on your plans.
