The Houston Galleria always had retail bragging rights but not necessarily restaurant ones. That began to change when Yauatcha, the Chinese dim sum teahouse with a Michelin-star résumé, brought some London polish to the shopping mecca last year.

Now the Galleria is in the midst of a full-fledged foodie makeover ­- all taking place in the former Saks Fifth Avenue space with its dramatic, theatrical façade courtesy of Philip Johnson. That's where Fig & Olive set up shop in March as the first of four stylish concepts in this new culinary luxury collection.

The second, Nobu, ushered in international-realm dining and Hollywood panache - Robert De Niro is a partner with chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and together they have 40 locations around the world. With its signature dishes of black cod in miso and yellowtail with jalapeño, Nobu has been crushing it since opening last month.

Which is exactly what the Galleria hoped for when it assembled the collection that also will include regional Indian restaurant Musaafer by the United Arab Emirates-based Spice Route Company and Blanco Tacos & Tequila, both slated for winter 2018 openings.

The four-restaurant cluster reflects the diversity of Houston, according to Greg Vlahos, senior vice president of leasing for Simon Property Group. "We were interested in attracting unique, first-to-the-market operators" whose appeal would be readily apparent to Houston's upmarket shoppers and international visitors, he said.

Indeed, there's a welcome global spin to the new tenants of what's now called Galleria VI.

Fig & Olive is a honeyed dip into the foods and flavors of the Cote d'Azur; Nobu flashes with its Nikkei fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines; Musaafer will mine the Indian spice route; Blanco, from the restaurant group behind nearby North Italia, will cut right to the Texas soul with tacos and tequila.

When the final two restaurants open, the Galleria's dining cred could give its fashion retailers a run for their money.