Date Night in Meyerland: 10 Dinners, Drinks and a Bayou Walk

For a date night in Meyerland, book dinner at Exodus Bar & Grill in Braeswood Square, where you can ask for a seat by the open flame, or at Saltgrass Steak House in Meyerland Plaza. For something more casual, order tableside guacamole and margaritas at Escalante's in Meyerland Plaza or a schnitzel and a craft pint at Watershed on West Bellfort. Then walk it off on the Brays Bayou trail between Hillcroft Avenue and Chimney Rock Road.

Here's the story to tell on that walk: in March 1961, Capt. Gary L. Herod, a Texas National Guard pilot, stayed with his failing jet to steer it away from the houses below, according to Harris County Precinct 4. It came down along the bayou near Atwell, and Precinct 4 chose the bayou bank at North Braeswood Boulevard and Mullins Drive for a memorial plaza in his honor.

What counts as Meyerland in this guide?

For this guide, Meyerland is the southwest Houston neighborhood from Loop 610 west to Fondren Road, and from Beechnut Street south to West Bellfort Avenue, counting businesses on both sides of Beechnut and on the north side of West Bellfort. It's the same boundary we use in our Meyerland pizza and Meyerland breakfast guides.

The blocks between Hillcroft Avenue and Fondren Road are technically the Braeburn area. Bellaire and anything east of Loop 610 are left out; a few minutes northeast, try our Rice Village date night guide.

The quick list

• The special-occasion dinner: Exodus Bar & Grill, 80 Braeswood Square.
• The classic steak night: Saltgrass Steak House, 520 Meyerland Plaza.
• Margaritas and fajitas: Escalante's Fine Tex-Mex & Tequila, 590 Meyerland Plaza.
• The pub date: Watershed, 4820 W. Bellfort.
• Pasta and tiramisu: Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen, 4870 Beechnut St.
• The kosher dinner: Saba's Restaurant, 9704 Fondren Rd.
• The easy patio night: Cafe Express, 210 Meyerland Plaza.
• Burgers, a beer and a shake: Beck's Prime, 708 Meyerland Plaza.
• Dinner and a show: the Kaplan Theatre at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, 5601 S Braeswood Blvd.
• The walk: the Brays Bayou trail from Hillcroft Avenue to Chimney Rock Road.

How we chose

We picked places inside the boundary that give a date a reason to happen: atmosphere, a dish worth sharing, a drink, a show or a walk. Every restaurant had to show its current address and hours, menu or both on its own official website, checked in November 2026. The trail and theater facts come from the Houston Parks Board, Harris County Flood Control District, Harris County Precinct 4 and the J's own pages.

Meyerland is shopping centers, not a nightlife district, so most kitchens close by 9 or 10 p.m. Treat every time below as typical and check before you go.

Where should you book a special-occasion dinner in Meyerland?

Exodus Bar & Grill and Saltgrass Steak House are our picks for a celebration in Meyerland: one is a chef-driven room with a fire and a cocktail list, the other a Texas steakhouse with a long-running local story.

Exodus Bar & Grill

Braeswood Square, 80 Braeswood Square, Houston, TX 77096 · typically Wednesday to Friday from 11:30 a.m., Monday and Tuesday from 3 p.m., Saturday from 4 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m.; closes 9 or 10 p.m.

Exodus Bar & Grill took over the Braeswood Square building that housed Genesis Steakhouse & Wine Bar; its About page counts 12 years of kosher fine dining at Genesis before the switch. Exodus is not kosher. The restaurant describes being seated by the open flame or in cozy nooks.

Order: the Pistachio-Crusted Seabass or the 16 oz. Ribeye, with the Very Sexy Martini or a glass of Erath Resplendent Pinot Noir. Share the OMG Cheesecake.

Insider tip: the $8 happy hour menu runs Monday to Friday, 3 to 6 p.m., so an early date gets you calamari and a cocktail for less. Sushi is typically served Tuesday through Saturday evenings. Menus are on the Exodus site.

Saltgrass Steak House

Meyerland Plaza, 520 Meyerland Plaza, Houston, TX 77096 · typically Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 10:30 p.m.

Saltgrass Steak House takes its name from the Salt Grass Trail, the trail ride that four riders revived in 1952 to publicize the opening of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, according to the restaurant's own history page.

Order: Pat's Ribeye or Maudeen's Center Cut Filet, the house Beer Bread, and the Two-Fork Cheese Cake for two forks, literally.

Good to know: happy hour in the No Bull Lounge typically runs Monday to Friday, 3 to 7 p.m. Book through the Meyerland Plaza page. For more steak nights, see our best steakhouses in Houston.

Where can you get dinner and a drink without dressing up?

Escalante's, Watershed and Russo's are the relaxed trio: Tex-Mex, a German-leaning pub and an Italian kitchen.

Escalante's Fine Tex-Mex & Tequila

Meyerland Plaza, 590 Meyerland Plaza, Houston, TX 77096 · typically Monday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday until 10 p.m., Friday until 11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–9 p.m.

Escalante's is a Houston family of restaurants that Pat Torres and Kopi Vogiatzis started in 1993, honoring the recipes of Pat's grandmother, Barbara Escalante. The kitchen makes both flour and corn tortillas by hand, fresh to order.

Order: Tableside Guacamole to share, then the Carne Asada Escalante or Fajita Poblano, with Our Perfect Margarita. Finish with Tres Leches or Churros.

Insider tip: Friday and Saturday are the late nights, typically open until 11 p.m. Bar happy hour typically runs Monday to Friday, 3 to 6 p.m. Details are on the Meyerland location page. More: our best margaritas in Houston.

Watershed

West Bellfort, 4820 W. Bellfort, Houston, TX 77035 · kitchen typically Monday to Thursday 3–9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Watershed is a counter-service restaurant and pub with 30 craft and import beers on tap. It smokes its own meats and cooks German, Continental and American food from scratch.

Order: the Schnitzel Dinner or Kohlrouladen (stuffed cabbage rolls), a side of Käsespätzle to share, and a German pint each. The dessert list includes a Fruit Crepe and house-made ice cream.

Insider tip: Monday is happy hour all day, with $2 off Texas pints and signature cocktails; Tuesday to Friday, 3 to 7 p.m., it's typically $1 off everything and $2 off signature cocktails. Menus are on Watershed's site.

Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen

Meyerland, 4870 Beechnut St, Houston, TX 77096 · typically Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.

Russo's on Beechnut Street is the neighborhood's sit-down Italian kitchen, built on Chef Anthony Russo's family recipes, and it takes table reservations by phone.

Order: Shrimp Scampi or Tortellini Alla Vodka, then split the Russo's Tiramisu or a Sicilian Cannoli. The location page mentions happy hour offers exclusive to the Meyerland store. Details are on the Meyerland location page.

Where can you have a kosher date night in Meyerland?

Saba's Restaurant on Fondren Road is the kosher date-night pick: a certified dairy and pareve restaurant with fish, pasta and Israeli plates.

Saba's Restaurant

Braeburn edge of Meyerland, 9704 Fondren Rd, Houston, TX 77096 · typically Sunday 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Monday to Thursday until 8:30 p.m., Friday until 3:30 p.m., closed Saturday

Saba's opened in 2001 as a family-owned kosher restaurant and calls itself the oldest kosher restaurant in Houston. It lists no alcohol, so plan a coffee-and-conversation date.

Order: the Moroccan Style Fish or Salmon Alfredo, and Turkish Coffee to finish.

Good to know: dinner here is a Sunday-to-Thursday plan, because Saba's closes Friday afternoon for Shabbat. See the menu, and for more kosher spots, read our Jewish deli and kosher food guide.

What are the easy, low-key date nights?

Cafe Express and Beck's Prime in Meyerland Plaza are the low-effort, high-comfort options: both are open until 10 p.m. daily, pour beer and wine, and have outdoor seating.

Cafe Express

Meyerland Plaza, 210 Meyerland Plaza, Houston, TX 77096 · typically 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m. daily

Cafe Express serves original recipes created by founder Chef Robert Del Grande, inspired by European cafe cooking. It pours wine and beer, has a daily happy hour and a patio where dogs are welcome.

Order: the Chicken Pesto Alfredo or Chef's Grilled Chicken, plus Hummus & Pita to share and a glass of wine on the patio. See the Meyerland page.

Beck's Prime

Meyerland Plaza, 708 Meyerland Plaza Mall, Houston, TX 77096 · typically 11 a.m.–10 p.m. daily

Beck's Prime has been a Houston classic since 1985 and grills over mesquite wood coals. Our favorite line from its own site, about its never-frozen chicken: "our only freezer is for the beer mugs."

Order: the 16 oz. Texas Ribeye if you want a steak night in jeans, or burgers and Parmesan Truffle Fries, then one shake with two straws. The Meyerland store offers beer, wine and outdoor dining, per the location page.

Where can you see a show in Meyerland?

The Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston (the J) at 5601 S Braeswood Blvd is Meyerland's stage, with public tickets sold online.

The Kaplan Theatre at the J

Meyerland, 5601 S Braeswood Blvd, Houston, TX 77096 · show nights vary; check the J's calendar

The J's IW Marks Theatre Center holds the 296-seat Kaplan Theatre and the Joe Frank Theatre of the Arts, a black-box space. The J also hosts the annual Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival, typically in November, with ticketed evening events. Find shows on the J's theatre page, then drive a few minutes to dinner at Exodus or Saba's.

Where can you walk on a date in Meyerland?

The Brays Bayou trail through Meyerland is the neighborhood's best evening stroll, and the stretch from Hillcroft Avenue to Chimney Rock Road is the one to pick.

Brays Bayou trail: Hillcroft to Chimney Rock

North bank of Brays Bayou, starting at Hillcroft Avenue and North Braeswood Boulevard · free

The Brays Bayou Greenway is planned as more than 30 miles of public greenspace and trails along the bayou, according to the Houston Parks Board. In Meyerland, start at Hillcroft and North Braeswood and head east: about half a mile in is Mullins Drive, the spot Precinct 4 chose for the Herod memorial plaza, and the path continues past Atwell Drive to Chimney Rock.

The "I didn't know that" moment: the bayou you're walking beside was widened between Loop 610 and Fondren Road as part of Project Brays, a $480 million flood-control effort by the Harris County Flood Control District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that also rebuilt the trails here. For more ideas, see things to do in Meyerland.

Save this: a Meyerland date-night route

1. 5 p.m.: happy hour at the bar at Exodus (weekdays until 6 p.m.) or Escalante's (weekdays until 6 p.m.).
2. 6:30 p.m.: dinner by the fire at Exodus, steaks at Saltgrass, or schnitzel at Watershed.
3. 8 p.m.: park near Hillcroft and North Braeswood and walk east along Brays Bayou to Mullins Drive and Atwell Drive.
4. 9 p.m.: dessert and a shake at Beck's Prime or a glass of wine on the Cafe Express patio, both typically open until 10 p.m.

Day planner: Monday is all-day happy hour at Watershed. Kosher dinner at Saba's is Sunday to Thursday only. Friday and Saturday, Escalante's typically stays open until 11 p.m.

More date-night ideas

Our citywide date night restaurants and date night ideas in Houston guides cover the big-occasion rooms and activities, and romantic things to do in Houston has more walks and views. For everyday dining, start with the best restaurants in Meyerland.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best date night restaurant in Meyerland, Houston?

For a special occasion, Exodus Bar & Grill at 80 Braeswood Square has a fireside room, a cocktail list and dishes like Pistachio-Crusted Seabass. Saltgrass Steak House at 520 Meyerland Plaza is the classic steak-night alternative.

Where can you get a drink in Meyerland?

Watershed at 4820 W Bellfort Ave pours 30 craft and import beers on tap and runs happy hour all day Monday. Exodus Bar & Grill, Escalante's and Saltgrass in Meyerland all have bars with weekday happy hours starting at 3 p.m.

Is there a kosher date night restaurant in Meyerland?

Yes. Saba's Restaurant at 9704 Fondren Rd is a certified-kosher dairy and pareve restaurant that serves dinner Sunday through Thursday. It closes Friday afternoon and Saturday for Shabbat.

Where can you walk on a date in Meyerland?

Walk the Brays Bayou trail east from Hillcroft Avenue and North Braeswood Boulevard toward Chimney Rock Road. The path passes Mullins Drive, where Harris County Precinct 4 chose a site for a memorial plaza honoring 1961 pilot Capt. Gary L. Herod, and continues past Atwell Drive.

Which Meyerland restaurants are open late?

Escalante's in Meyerland Plaza is typically open until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Beck's Prime and Cafe Express in Meyerland Plaza are typically open until 10 p.m. every day.

What area does this Meyerland date night guide cover?

This guide covers Meyerland from Loop 610 west to Fondren Road and from Beechnut Street south to West Bellfort Avenue in southwest Houston. It includes the Braeburn blocks near Fondren Road but leaves out the City of Bellaire.