Appetizer here, entrée there

One good option for an appetizer in the Rice Village is Coppa Osteria's thinly sliced prosciutto with ciabatta bread. (Photo: Debora Smail)

Progressive dining is like window shopping, except you get to have your cake and eat it, too. This fun, round-robin approach is perfect for April when the weather is pleasant. Aside from downtown, Washington Avenue and Upper Kirby, the Heights, Rice Village and City Centre are ideal for progressive dining, with eateries in close proximity. 

Rice Village

Shoppers rejoice. There are more places than ever to fuel up after your retail therapy.

On the menu

Appetizer at Coppa Osteria (5210 Morningside): Savor a glass of effervescent La Marca prosecco with such charcuterie options as homemade pâte, coppa and prosciutto.

Entrée at Local Foods (2424 Dunstan): Bite into the crunchy chicken burger with ranch dressing or a sandwich stuffed with duck confit, brie cheese, arugula and cranberry preserve.

Dessert at Cloud 10 Creamery (5216 Morningside): You can’t go wrong with the lush cafe sua da (Vietnamese for iced coffee with condensed milk) at this gourmet ice-cream shop.

Digestif at Fellini Caffè (5211 Kelvin): This Italian shop brews espresso and other coffee drinks.

City Centre

Some predict this will be the center of Houston one day. Judging by the downpour of shoppers and diners every weekend, it might just happen. 

On the menu

Appetizer at Sal y Pimienta Kitchen (818 Town and Country Blvd., No.105): Bite into empanadas at this South American restaurant or fork into veal tongue with Uruguayan vinaigrette.

Entrée at Radio Milano (800 Sorella Court): Explore modern, innovative Italian at this well-appointed space with veal cheeks, creamy polenta and tagliatelle pasta with uni and lobster. 

Dessert at Ruggles Green (801 Town And Country Blvd., No. 1B): Few versions can compete with this moist cinnamon-kissed carrot cake with pecans and cream-cheese icing.

Digestif at Monnalisa (800 Sorella Court): Cap off with a Brandy Alexander or Baileys Irish Cream Coffee beneath draped cabanas lined along a courtyard that overlooks City Centre plaza.

Try the moist cinnamon-kissed carrot cake with cream-cheese icing at Ruggles Green. (Photo: Larry Fagala)

The Heights

Always rich with antique shops and darling bungalows, the Heights now boasts some of the most amazing food outlets, including Revival Market, Liberty Kitchen & Oyster Bar and our personal favorite for upscale, yet reasonable American-Italian, Coltivare Pizza and Garden.

On the menu

Appetizer at Torchy’s Tacos (350 W. 19^th Street): Why not start with a taco? Especially one from this smart Austin import. Try the fried avocado topped with poblano sauce.

Entree at Shade (250 W. 19^th Street): During weekend brunch, chef-owner Claire Smith makes a mean shrimp and grits topped with smoked mushroom, tomato confit and fried eggs.

Dessert at Down House (1801 Yale Street): Enjoy warm chocolate-chip cookies, bread pudding with bourbon caramel sauce or the coffee-cardamon pot de crème with butter cookies.

Digestif at Boomtown Coffee (242 W. 19^th Street): This funky neighborhood hangout carefully sources its specialty beans and roasts small batches of coffee daily for the freshest brew.

Dai Huynh is a James Beard food-journalism award winner and longtime restaurant writer. Her visits to restaurants in our Buzz Dining Guide were anonymous, and she paid for her meals to maintain objectivity. We’d love your thoughts too. Write to [email protected] with your own dining opinions and suggestions. Also, you can contribute in the Comments section under the online version of this story.