Trevisio

 Before Trevisio came along, you had to leave the Texas Medical Center for fine dining. Now doctors, among them some of the brightest, rising young stars and famous surgeons, can be found dining in this bastion of good, solid Italian cooking. But often, diners are too busy looking at the view. Located in the John P. McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons Building, Trevisio sits atop two 64-foot exterior waterfalls. The best tables are Nos. 38 and 40. They’re right by the window, but they also have a view of the entrance so you can see who’s coming and going. The VIP table, only because it’s always reserved at lunchtime, is Table 39. The Italian food here is straightforward, no surprises, just good use of ingredients, such as the linguine with Prince Edward mussels and crispy skin stripe bass with sautéed fingerling potatoes and roasted tomato garlic compote.

Little-known tidbit: Trevisio sells whole-sheet cakes for anniversaries and birthday parties. The chocolate cake version is an old-fashioned gem, lush and delicious. The Italian cream cake is a classic, full of sweetness rounded out by subtle tartness.