Houston is home to one of the country's best theater districts. There are few places where you can choose between seeing a hit Broadway play, an acclaimed ballet, or watch the symphony play the score to a beloved film without having to leave your city. And, what makes a better date night, mother-daughter outing, or girls' night out than dinner and a show? Whether you are hitting up a play at the Hobby Center, Theater Under the Stars, or the Alley or seeing a classic ballet or the symphony here are the top five dining options around!

Photo courtesy of Perbacco Ravioli, Image Courtesy of Yelp

• Perbacco @ 700 Milam St.: Perbacco is an unassuming little Italian restaurant serving classic Italian dishes with a great wine list. The lasagna is fantastic and the complimentary bread is a nice touch. Service can be a bit on the slower side and it is quite small so plan accordingly and make a reservation that gives you time to walk the few blocks to your theater after your meal.

• Prohibition @ 1008 Prairie St.: Known for its own dinner theater shows of acrobatics and burlesque, Prohibition is also a great stand alone dining option. Their oyster bar has a great happy hour during the week until 7PM - perfect before a show, with 50c oysters and $5 old fashions. The bar and staff have an old fashioned speak easy feel and you definitely won't feel out of place if you dressed up a bit for the theater here.

Photo courtesy of El Big Bad bar, Image Courtesy of Houstonian Magazine

• El Big Bad @ 419 Travis St.: The most casual on the list, El Big Bad is a Mexican restaurant with a plethora of tacos and a variety of flavored margaritas. The restaurant has a lovely second story patio overlooking downtown and also a brunch option for earlier weekend shows.

• Hearsay @ 218 Travis St.: This American gastro lounge is located in an old building downtown with lots of character. They serve great upscale American fare and have delicious craft cocktails. If you're going to an earlier show they also offer a wonderful weekend brunch. Bonus - check out one of Houston's oldest, and supposedly haunted, buildings for a glass of wine at La Carafe around the corner.

• Artista @ 800 Babgy St. Ste. 400: One thing to note about Artista - it is more about the skyline view, upscale atmosphere, and convenient location than blow-your-mind-food, but the food is never disappointing. Located right inside of the Hobby Center, Artista offers Latin inspired cuisine from the same group that owns America's and Churrasco's.