Cova Wine Bar

Located in the Rice Village. Very nice restaurnt with a classy atmosphere. Prices are expensive but worth it. The staff is very helpful and nice. Definately recommend for a date.

Finally a wine bar in Houston that's worth the high prices. The selection is truly unbeatable and the prices reasonable for the quality and variety you are given. While other wine bars sell you average, generic wines at comical prices, this place backs up their prices with wines that are worth it. I have heard the food here is also great, and I can't wait to try it

PROS: selection
CONS:

This is a great new wine bar on Kirby, just before you start to get in to the actual village. Houston wine drinkers have wanted a place like this for a VERY LONG TIME. It's a wine bar/store (think Christopher's) with an actual kitchen. They serve tapas, which run from $6 to $12 or you can order the same item in a full entree for a little less than double the price of the tapa. We had 2 great bottles of wine BUT the prices seemed closer to restaurant than retail.

The service was lacking the night we were there and they kept the house lights up pretty high. Most of the food was good, although one member of our party indulged in a lobster tail that was tough, rubbery and NOT worth $34 (for the full entree portion). The smaller items we had were really good though- crab cakes, cheese plate, a panini quartered and split with the table.

I recommend going (especially if you're sick of the Wine Bucket) but stick to the smaller, basic items on the menu. the things you'd normally eat at a traditional restaurant still belong at one.

PROS: wine AND food. who knew?!?
CONS: price (but to be expected in that neighborhood).