Restaurateur Brian Doke of patio bar Heights & Co. (formerly of Savoir) is debuting a new Italian restaurant in what was recently Concura at 4340 Westheimer, a sedate, garden-like space just off of Mid Lane. Dante’s River Oaks is opening on Tuesday, May 16 with chef Ilias Gugole guiding the menu.

Update, 5/4/22, 2:20 p.m.: Heights & Co. is hosting a preview of Gugole’s menu on May 10 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $70 per person and can be reserved online. 

“The combination of a charming and quaint interior coupled with an airy patio for dining al fresco makes for a wonderful dining experience,” said Doke via a press release. “I am so excited to launch this endeavor and really look forward to showcasing our Italian dishes.”

Gugole is an Italian native who attended culinary school in Verona, and his résumé includes working at restaurants that included Caffè Vittorio Emanuele before emigrating to the United States. He just moved to Houston last year to take the role at Dante’s. 

Dante’s dishes include appetizers such as charcuterie and cheese boards, tartare (in both beef and tuna varieties), Olives Ascolana (breaded and deep-fried, meat-stuffed olives) and Mediterranean-Style Octopus with arugula, celery, olives, cherry tomatoes and lemon dressing. There are three salads each named after a region of Italy, such as the Rome with lettuce, walnuts, mushrooms, Parmesan dressing and artichokes.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an Italian restaurant without pasta, and some of the selections are Rigatoni Caico e Pepe, Tagliatelle Truffle & Mushrooms and Pappardelle Bolognese. There are four meaty entrées: ribeye with mustard vinaigrette and seasonal veggies, duck breast with carrot cream, cherry tomatoes, arugula and cherry wine sauce, roasted salmon filet with arugula, fennel and dill dressing and the catch of the day with “Mediterranean sauce” — tomato sauce, capers, olives and dried oregano — and green beans.

Doke will guide the wine list based in part on his years of experience as a fan and collector of Italian wines. For cocktails, beverage director Evin Haines is offering classics such as the Aperol spritz — one of which comes complimentary with lunch — and a variety of gin and tonics, and signature, warm-weather drinks like Bergamot Margarita and Italian Paloma. Haines also is developing cocktail pairing recommendations for 

The former Concura space has had some remodeling to give it a brighter feel, including additional greenery on the 30-seat patio and white walls with dark accents. It already sported an open kitchen, and starting on June 1, a monthly chef’s tasting menu will be offered at the bar. 

Dante’s is serving lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. On Fridays and Saturdays, dinner is extended to 10:30 p.m. Reservations can be made via Resy. 

Phaedra Cook

Phaedra Cook has written about Houston’s restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She was a regular contributor to My Table magazine (now closed) and was the lead restaurant critic for the Houston Press for two years, eventually being promoted to food editor. Cook founded Houston Food Finder in November 2016 and has been its editor and publisher ever since.