The Skinny: Great little tapas oasis in the middle of the ever expanding River Oaks shopping district.
The Fat: I love a good tapas restaurant. You can have all the variety of, say, a buffet with all the quality of a specialty entree.
Tintos is in the old Back Door Sushi building, nestled behind La Madeline, Starbucks and a bevy of boutiques that line West Grey Blvd. It's a pretty unique location because it doesn't have a street front, it actually sits in the middle of a parking lot. That's only a problem if you don't know where it is. Otherwise, the location serves as a welcome retreat from the bustling street.
I originally thought the floor plan was a little odd; you walk in the door and you can either choose the dining room to the right with the cool guitarists and the lively bar or get stuck with the lame-o table on the dark quiet left side.
Well there weren't any tables left on the awesome side so we got shipped to the loser side. Soon I realized I was engrossed in conversation, I had a prime view of everyone that walked in the door (love to people watch) AND I could still hear the guitar in the background. Overall, I think any seat in the house is a good seat.
There was a very nice list of Spanish wines so my dining companion and I decided we would order a bottle. As we browsed over the list the waiter approached and mentioned three selections that he thought we would like. He then told us he'd be right back because he'd like to bring them to us. I thought, "wonderful, he's going to bring samples of three wines for us to try, that's a nice touch."
When he returned he was carrying three uncorked bottles...for us to look at. He caressed each bottle, Vanna White style, as he lovingly but vaguely described the taste and tannin content of each selection. I started laughing, a habit that I cannot seem to control in odd situations. We thanked him for his performance and ordered the middle bottle; the irresistible one with sexy curves and a pretty label. Later we discovered that it didn't taste half bad either.
For dinner we chose to order three hot tapas and a salad. There is a huge variety of selections to chose from, but we stuck to the Salmon Serrano, Caracoles Andaluces,Fritura de Mariscos and the Ensalada de Casa. Their staggered arrival over the course of five minutes really allowed each to have center stage for just a moment before the next plate arrived.
First out was the salmon, wrapped with Serrano Ham and drizzled with a creamy wine sauce. I asked for the salmon to be served rare, but when it arrived it was over done. Instead of encasing the small fillet with a thin piece of Serrano, they chose to tie a thick strip over just the midsection; I found it awkward and destructive to try to get a bite with both flavors together. The cream sauce was tasty and the fish fresh, but the dish could have been better executed.
Then came the caracoles or snails dish which was served in a large bowl with roasted artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, lemon butter, and herbed goat cheese. First of all, I LOVE SNAILS. It's already a bonus when they're on the menu. If they are not drenched in garlic and butter, then my next choice would be to eat them like this. What a hit. Each was delicate, tender and swimming in a luscious sauce that even non-snail lovers will enjoy dipping their bread into.
When the Fritura de Mariscos arrived, the pale little pile of lightly breaded and fried shrimp, calamari, and cod disappeared next to the other tapas. The lime habanero aioli was a nice, but predictable dipping sauce. While the dish was kind of boring, the quality was top-notch.
As for the salad, it's always good to get a bowl of greens to go with such rich little dishes. I would normally consider a "house salad" to be an ordinary concoction of bland greens peppered with run of the mill veggies. Far from ordinary the salad included organic grown arugula, figs, roasted almonds, bleu cheese and honey balsamic vinaigrette. For $8, it was a sweet treat.
We had a great time at Tintos. Our server was genuinely kind and attentive, the food was on the high end of the taste spectrum and the atmosphere was a perfect mix of cozy and lively; you gotta love that!
I adore tapas restaurants. They give you the option of trying multiple items while you share each taste with your friends. So fun. Nonetheless, it's still hard to pay $12 for a piece of salmon the size of my cell phone. This place was lovely and the portions sizes are great, but if we could get the price points down a dollar or two on some of these dishes, we'd have a home run on our hands.
Location: 2015 West Gray Street 713.522.1330
Showing posts with label Dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dinner. Show all posts
Sophia - Give it a Try
The Skinny: BYOB can appear on invitations to any number of delights; potlucks, frat parties, tailgating - or in this case - one of the best little restaurants in the Montrose.
The Fat: Do you ever crave a great meal without all the hoopla? I absolutely do. I love to get all dolled up for a night on the town just as much as I enjoy walking down the street in sandals for a casual meal. For those precious moments in between, Sophia reigns supreme.
A sloppy little coffee house where I used to lug my laptop and law books when I wanted to study away from the depressing library or the bustling neighborhood Starbucks, is the reincarnated home of a dining gem mere paces away from the Menil.
While under new ownership, this off-the-main-drive location has maintained the simple vibe that originally drew me there, but instead of free wi-fi and stale muffins, we have twinkling lights and fine food.
On my most recent visit, I teamed up with four of my friends for a casual end of week dinner. Once our party of five was complete, we opened some wine and feasted on the soft bread and luscious olive oil dip that awaited our arrival; simplicity at its finest.
As we all studied the menu, I could see that there were eight starters to choose from, four of which were calling my name. I'd been to Sophia before, but my on my first visit with a group, I arrived late after work and missed the spread of appetizers altogether. Needless to say I was teeming with excitement over this fresh opportunity, so I immediately suggested that we order a few appetizers for all of us to share.
We chose the Mussels, the Spicy Sauteed Calamari and the Spinach and Goat Cheese Dip.
The Mussels are a sure bet; fat and plump. These meaty morsels were steamed and flavored with rough chunks of apple smoked bacon, bits of fresh apple and an apple brandy sauce. There were enough for each of us to have 2-3 a piece and plenty of sauce left over for us to sop up with bread - a hit to say the least.
The "Spicy" Sauteed Calamari, while not remotely spicy, were tender and lovely nonetheless. The delicate pile of calamari was tossed with thin slices of Spanish Chorizo, topped with crispy Leek shavings and bathing in a shallow pool of light Habanero broth.
The Spinach and Goat Cheese dip was our last choice, something I thought would be a crowd pleaser, but surely not take center stage. Was I ever wrong...well, half wrong. It was a crowd pleaser alright, but the traditionally ordinary ingredients held their own against the mussels and calamari.
The tangy goat cheese and delicate spinach were folded together into a creamy mix drizzled with, none other than (my fave) truffle oil! Honestly, I had overlooked that ingredient on the menu and just agreed to order the dish because it sounded like something all five of us would enjoy.
When I took the first bite I actually said, "Oh my gosh, this is awesome. It tastes like...like...like there's a little bit of truffle oil in it" and there was. Fabulous Truffle Oil to the rescue! Once again, it proved to be the perfect addition to elevate an otherwise commonplace combination. It was so good, in fact, that once the crisp bread bowl that it had been served in was scraped clean, it was promptly cut apart and devoured as well.
Another round of the same would have served me well, but we sipped on our wine and eagerly went back to the menu to select our entrees.
Sophia offers a limited, but beautiful selection of entrees. You'll find about six menu items and maybe a couple of nightly specials. You won't feel deprived, however, because the short list includes all the essentials like chicken, pork, fish and beef. Just pick your poison and you'll find something there that fits the bill.
The last time I went, I ordered the Grilled Rib Eye, medium rare...yum. It's served with a heavenly pat of Cold Mushroom Compound butter, an amazing side of Blue Cheese Macaroni and steamed broccoli. Fantastic!
I did have to send my steak back for a quick flash. It was incredibly undercooked, but in my opinion, a "rare" mistake is better because it takes a far shorter time to rectify than a "well done" one!
Sometimes my friends and I will order one entree each and share so that we can try it all. Sadly, most of the group ordered the same thing so my sharing options were limited. One friend did branch out and order the Oven Roasted Half Chicken with Rosemary Pan Sauce. Luckily, I pried his hands away from his plate long enough to steal a bite.
I don't typically order basic chicken at a restaurant that offers things like Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops and Grilled Salmon with Tomato Caper Sauce, but this chicken was moist, tender and so delicious.
A party of five or more can have multiple effects on a small place like this. On my third visit, we were the first large party to arrive after two quiet couples had clearly made their way through wine and apps. We were a jovial bunch (not rowdy by any means, but spirited) and so, it was clear that we were changing the mood from "quiet and intimate" to "lively and energetic".
I'm not ashamed of the shift and we weren't made to feel bad about it, but be prepared for either experience. A restaurant with an open floor plan, concrete floors and bare walls ensures that the vibe and noise level will be determined by its patrons.
The service is friendly and the decor is clean and simple. There are booths for parties of two and four, and tables for four or more. The chairs are a bit stiff and wobbly and the tables sit a little too low, but you'll adjust without any long term discomfort.
A great feature about Sophia is that it's BYOB. That's a hard sell to a number of customers, but I am always shocked by that fact. Why a person wouldn't want to pick out their own wine, at their own price and bring it for dinner is beyond me. Each guest in my party was able to bring a unique selection and share it with the table - an amusing option for any dining experience.
I've been to Sophia several times now and each time I brought a great bottle of wine, partook in an array of appetizers, enjoyed an entree and shared a dessert or two - all for $25 to $40. If you love fine dining and are mindful of your budget, it's the best of both worlds!
Location: 1601 W Main St - 713.942.7970
P.S. Although it seemed that reservations were unnecessary on all of my visits, I cannot advise you on whether or not to make them. I always do on the weekends, just to be safe. But if you forget to make them, don't count this place out for a great weekend dinner. Even if it's a last minute idea...swing by and give it a try.
The Fat: Do you ever crave a great meal without all the hoopla? I absolutely do. I love to get all dolled up for a night on the town just as much as I enjoy walking down the street in sandals for a casual meal. For those precious moments in between, Sophia reigns supreme.
A sloppy little coffee house where I used to lug my laptop and law books when I wanted to study away from the depressing library or the bustling neighborhood Starbucks, is the reincarnated home of a dining gem mere paces away from the Menil.
While under new ownership, this off-the-main-drive location has maintained the simple vibe that originally drew me there, but instead of free wi-fi and stale muffins, we have twinkling lights and fine food.
On my most recent visit, I teamed up with four of my friends for a casual end of week dinner. Once our party of five was complete, we opened some wine and feasted on the soft bread and luscious olive oil dip that awaited our arrival; simplicity at its finest.
As we all studied the menu, I could see that there were eight starters to choose from, four of which were calling my name. I'd been to Sophia before, but my on my first visit with a group, I arrived late after work and missed the spread of appetizers altogether. Needless to say I was teeming with excitement over this fresh opportunity, so I immediately suggested that we order a few appetizers for all of us to share.
We chose the Mussels, the Spicy Sauteed Calamari and the Spinach and Goat Cheese Dip.
The Mussels are a sure bet; fat and plump. These meaty morsels were steamed and flavored with rough chunks of apple smoked bacon, bits of fresh apple and an apple brandy sauce. There were enough for each of us to have 2-3 a piece and plenty of sauce left over for us to sop up with bread - a hit to say the least.
The "Spicy" Sauteed Calamari, while not remotely spicy, were tender and lovely nonetheless. The delicate pile of calamari was tossed with thin slices of Spanish Chorizo, topped with crispy Leek shavings and bathing in a shallow pool of light Habanero broth.
The Spinach and Goat Cheese dip was our last choice, something I thought would be a crowd pleaser, but surely not take center stage. Was I ever wrong...well, half wrong. It was a crowd pleaser alright, but the traditionally ordinary ingredients held their own against the mussels and calamari.
The tangy goat cheese and delicate spinach were folded together into a creamy mix drizzled with, none other than (my fave) truffle oil! Honestly, I had overlooked that ingredient on the menu and just agreed to order the dish because it sounded like something all five of us would enjoy.
When I took the first bite I actually said, "Oh my gosh, this is awesome. It tastes like...like...like there's a little bit of truffle oil in it" and there was. Fabulous Truffle Oil to the rescue! Once again, it proved to be the perfect addition to elevate an otherwise commonplace combination. It was so good, in fact, that once the crisp bread bowl that it had been served in was scraped clean, it was promptly cut apart and devoured as well.
Another round of the same would have served me well, but we sipped on our wine and eagerly went back to the menu to select our entrees.
Sophia offers a limited, but beautiful selection of entrees. You'll find about six menu items and maybe a couple of nightly specials. You won't feel deprived, however, because the short list includes all the essentials like chicken, pork, fish and beef. Just pick your poison and you'll find something there that fits the bill.
The last time I went, I ordered the Grilled Rib Eye, medium rare...yum. It's served with a heavenly pat of Cold Mushroom Compound butter, an amazing side of Blue Cheese Macaroni and steamed broccoli. Fantastic!
I did have to send my steak back for a quick flash. It was incredibly undercooked, but in my opinion, a "rare" mistake is better because it takes a far shorter time to rectify than a "well done" one!
Sometimes my friends and I will order one entree each and share so that we can try it all. Sadly, most of the group ordered the same thing so my sharing options were limited. One friend did branch out and order the Oven Roasted Half Chicken with Rosemary Pan Sauce. Luckily, I pried his hands away from his plate long enough to steal a bite.
I don't typically order basic chicken at a restaurant that offers things like Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops and Grilled Salmon with Tomato Caper Sauce, but this chicken was moist, tender and so delicious.
A party of five or more can have multiple effects on a small place like this. On my third visit, we were the first large party to arrive after two quiet couples had clearly made their way through wine and apps. We were a jovial bunch (not rowdy by any means, but spirited) and so, it was clear that we were changing the mood from "quiet and intimate" to "lively and energetic".
I'm not ashamed of the shift and we weren't made to feel bad about it, but be prepared for either experience. A restaurant with an open floor plan, concrete floors and bare walls ensures that the vibe and noise level will be determined by its patrons.
The service is friendly and the decor is clean and simple. There are booths for parties of two and four, and tables for four or more. The chairs are a bit stiff and wobbly and the tables sit a little too low, but you'll adjust without any long term discomfort.
A great feature about Sophia is that it's BYOB. That's a hard sell to a number of customers, but I am always shocked by that fact. Why a person wouldn't want to pick out their own wine, at their own price and bring it for dinner is beyond me. Each guest in my party was able to bring a unique selection and share it with the table - an amusing option for any dining experience.
I've been to Sophia several times now and each time I brought a great bottle of wine, partook in an array of appetizers, enjoyed an entree and shared a dessert or two - all for $25 to $40. If you love fine dining and are mindful of your budget, it's the best of both worlds!
Location: 1601 W Main St - 713.942.7970
P.S. Although it seemed that reservations were unnecessary on all of my visits, I cannot advise you on whether or not to make them. I always do on the weekends, just to be safe. But if you forget to make them, don't count this place out for a great weekend dinner. Even if it's a last minute idea...swing by and give it a try.
Montrose Chinese Restaurant - Give it a Try
The Skinny: Skip a trip to Houston's Chinatown for the same meal, same deal...but with better bathrooms.
The Fat: Overall, I'm not a huge fan of Chinese food. Like the common pizza, if Chinese food is not made extraordinarily well, it becomes a diluted, US influenced version of its original form.
While we are one of the largest cities in the country, let's face it, our Chinatown (tucked between 59 and Beltway 8)is vastly different from those of our bustling counterparts partly because it can't be reached with the same fluidity. That being said, if you're up for an outer loop adventure it's not half bad. There are some pretty neat shops, bakeries and restaurants.
On the other hand, if you're an inner loop homebody looking for some inexpensive Chinese with FREE delivery, then Montrose Chinese Restaurant will satisfy your urge.
They offer what you might expect from a Chinese joint - anything from a simple Wonton soup to flavorful Crispy Orange Flavored Beef to a Club Seafood Delight which includes all the seafood gems like prawns to lobster.
Vegetarians and meat lovers alike can choose from a considerable number of entrees, appetizers, and soup selections which is one of the things that makes Chinese food such a great option. Their entrees - all with tender meat and/or crisp veggies and rich sauces in the $8 to $13 range - make this place an anchor of the fast food variety.
Forget the Pork and Vegetable Dumplings. The first time we went my friend and I had just finished a lazy day of bike riding. I had seen some dumplings at the local grocery the day before and simply couldn't get them out of my head. This hole-in-the-wall place right by my house came to mind, so we made our way there and ordered the Vegetable Dumplings.
The sweet lady working the counter became very anxious when I ordered them, telling me it would take at least 10 minutes. I assured her that I could wait.
The loveliness of a well steamed dumpling is how translucent, slippery and delicate it becomes when it's had enough time to cook. When these dumplings arrived, however, the dough was - for lack of a better description - al dente. The filling was ideal, but each bite exposed bits of the tough, white dough that had remained untouched by the essential steam.
I've been three times now and each time since, I've asked them to steam the dumplings thoroughly. I politely express to them that time is not an issue and that I like my dumplings "well done". Nonetheless, I get the same outcome.
They're so concerned with getting your order to you in a flash that they sacrifice the necessary steaming time. While a "fast food" mentality is invaluable for a place with only four tables, it takes vital a toll on this one dish.
Everything else is hot, well cooked and bursting with flavor. They serve up everything you love about Chinese; tender meat, fluffy rice, rich sauces and spicy accents.
The dining area is adequate, bathrooms are clean, service is great and restaurant is tidy - but the small space looks not unlike the inside of a hospital waiting room, so if you love going out to eat this is not an ideal destination.
I give this place a thumbs up mostly because they're fast, they deliver for free and the food's not half bad for the price. Take out and delivery is when Montrose Chinese Restaurant really shines. Your to-go bag will be filled with chopsticks, all the necessary sauces and fortune cookies, without question.
Location: 1952 Montrose Blvd. - 713.529.5288
P.S. If you want extraordinary dumplings, but don't mind the drive to Chinatown, try Lai Lai Dumpling House. They serve yummy, yummy dumplings in an yucky, yucky place. There are dusty silk flowers everywhere and it looks like an ideal spot for making drug deals, but I'm not a scaredy cat. I live for good food...so why not die for it?
Rainbow Lodge - Toss Up
The Skinny: Dine in a pseudo scenic mountain lodge in the middle of the Houston Heights.
The Fat: So, if you’re anything like me, you look up a restaurant on Google maps and try to find the coordinates in hopes of getting to your dining destination without a hitch, but even Google “street view” can’t prepare you for how beautiful the Rainbow Lodge is when you finally arrive. We turned the corner, noticed the valet sign and turned toward it, into the sweetest little driveway ever.
I felt like I was pulling into a cozy lodge in the mountains. There were wooden accents and darling hanging lamps to light our path to the front door. A gracious hostess, seeming to be awaiting our particular arrival, came to open the front door. We all thanked her as she held the door open for us to walk in toward the hostess stand. Then I felt the first ping; all that glitters isn’t gold.
Now, you’re probably thinking I’m about to slam this place, but I’m not...not entirely. I have a lot of nice things to tell you about Rainbow Lodge, but before I do, I just want to express that I hold fine dining establishments to a higher standard than I would of their more casual contemporaries…and rightfully so. So if you’re ready to hear the truth, the good and the bad, you’ll get that right here.
Come “rich” or come “people like me who can afford a great night out, now and again”, when you spend close to $100 per person (yummy wine included) to dine anywhere, near flawlessness is the goal. Remember when you had those instructors in college who, on the first day of class, told you that you started with an A+ at the beginning of the semester and it was up to you to keep it? Well, that’s my policy, so I walk in with the best in mind and I just expect a place to keep their grades up!
So the head hostess, I’m guessing, was chatting away on the phone. Maybe she was helping a potential customer; nonetheless, if there are two hostesses on duty, I would expect that either should be prepared to deal with new arrivals. That was not the case, so we stood patiently. It wasn’t a long wait, but it was an unnecessary one. After she finished her call, we were escorted through the lovely lodge-like labyrinth.
I called ahead to request a nice table. When I go out of my way to request a special table, I do so because I want to avoid the possibility of being placed next to kitchen doors and in odd corners, especially on a first visit. Oddly enough, we were lead to the smallest, coldest and most remote table of all.
At Rainbow Lodge, they assumed that my request meant that we wanted to avoid the adorable room with the fireplace, steer clear of the other spacious dining areas and be placed in the corner of the most narrow room ever. We had to endure the chill of a dripping AC unit and the traffic of patrons repeatedly walking by us to get to the patio door – both a mere six inches from our table - not what I would have selected if a customer made a point to ask for a great table. It almost seemed intentional. Even our neighbors asked to move to another table. To top it all off, there was a fire alarm right behind me and a faint, but unmistakable smell of…I hate to say it, ok, I won't say it...it just smelled funny.
Getting past the immediate distaste for our table, my friends and I thought we'd just begin with a bottle of wine while we perused the menu. We were one menu short for about five minutes, another annoyance.
As a courtesy to the people dining with me, I typically look over the menu ahead of time because it tends to take me AGES to decide what I want to eat. This problem occurs everywhere from taco stands to steak houses. This day happened to be my birthday, however, so I said “to hell with it, we’ll drink wine until I figure out what to order.” A great idea! They had a wonderful selection of wines and there were some fine ones that hovered in the $30-$50 range. We chose a nice South African red and waited for our water and bread.
So we talked and waited, laughed and waited, drank and waited and still no bread and water. We had been there for over thirty minutes without bread and water. Jesus could have performed a miracle in less time. We felt deprived and a little irked….but we continued to enjoy ourselves.
We decided on a couple of appetizers to share while we enjoyed our wine. We chose the spicy Hawaiian tuna tartare with the BBQ sauce consommé, English cucumber and heirloom radish and then the marinated lobster with ruby red grapefruit, avocado and orange blossom vinegar. Both sounded so fantastic, we were all thrilled with our selections.
When the appetizers arrived we started in immediately. Considering we were still waiting for bread and water, we dove in - without hesitation - for a taste. Even though I was a bit put off by the look of the tuna dish we'd been served, I stretched my fork toward it. What we assumed to be the tartare consisted of six small slices of albacore slathered in white foam. For the record, I hate foam. While the culinary garnish has made confident strides into mainstream preparation, I hate it. It looks like spit. I just don’t get it.
I realized, a moment later, that this simply could not have been what we ordered. Visions of chopped red tuna covered in deep maroon barbecue consommé kept haunting me. Had this tuna appetizer not been salty and tough, I may have graciously overlooked the mistake, but since it was, I felt fine pointing out the fact that we had been served the wrong dish.
When the waiter finally came by to check on us, far too long a wait in my opinion, he then proceeded to try and figure out -table side- how the mistake might have happened and then, after an exceedingly long dialogue, decided that the kitchen must have been at fault. I’m not a snob, I’m not a horrible customer, but if the plate is wrong…take the damn thing back. It was your fault or someone else’s fault, it wasn’t our fault so spare me the play by play.
The lobster appetizer was true to form. Pieces of the shellfish had been tossed about in chunks of fresh red grapefruit and avocado, just as described. Before we were finished our waiter brought out the tartare we’d actually ordered and another complimentary dish for the mistake. We hadn’t made a scene, we were all quite good-humored about the error and so his extra effort seemed genuine and unforced. Both were delicious.
Our waiter then offered to take us on a little tour of the lodge. I think he may have originally suggested the tour as peace offering for the appetizer blunder, but when we accepted, he realized how little time he was actually able to spend with us. Step by -rapid- step he conducted the tour at warp speed. My stilettos became liabilities, mere millimeters away from gapes in the old wooden floors during our fast paced walk-about. Again, we tried to enjoy it and forgave our waiter’s speed as he quickly and clumsily spilled us onto the patio, next to our table.
For the entrée, I was stumped. Hoping for inspiration, I asked the waiter to describe the specials a second time. The second time, however, major ingredients had seemingly changed. My friends and I agreed that they had initially been described differently. As if my own ordering issues weren't enough, this was tragic. I had no idea what I was going to choose. Nothing was jumping out at me on the menu, but I had to make a decision.
I let the boys order first. “I’ll have the Bryan Farm chicken wrapped in pancetta with the house made chicken sausage, baby vegetable fricassee, tender greens, and natural jus” I heard from one side. That sounded wonderful. Then I heard from the other side, “I’ll have the grilled rib eye of beef with the heirloom potatoes, cauliflower-brown butter puree and bordelaise sauce”. Gosh, that sounded fantastic too.
My turn...Ok, um, ok! “I’ll have that fish special you mentioned.” It sounded alright…I think. It was fish with some other stuff. Yep, pretty forgettable. When it arrived, the fish was delicate and flaky, but altogether flavorless, not special at all. Oh, so maybe you’re thinking I have GRASS IS GREENER syndrome? No, I just have a tongue…and it was bored with the fish “special”.
Oh, but the rib eye. Each bite (and I had a few) was delicious, perfectly cooked to the - ever illusive- medium rare that my dining companion had requested. It was bursting with flavor and I hardly remember the side dishes, for none were needed.
Then I pinched my first bite of my other friend’s dish. I have never in my life had a bit of chicken so fresh and tender. I almost lost my mind uttering its praise. Each chew reinforced its deliciousness. I think I may have even made my friend feel a little uncomfortable with my accolades, leading him to believe he had inappropriately ordered the dish that should have clearly been reserved for a Birthday Girl.
Apparently, Bryan Farm is a local poultry source that raises their chickens “with fresh air, sunshine, green grass, and wholesome feed” and the chicken is completely fresh…if you get my drift. I have never been so impressed by chicken. It was so moist and flavorful that it made me sorry for all the Chick-kin that have lost their lives for anything less.
After I'd happily helped my friends finish their entrees, we completed our meal with the most delectable chocolate crème brulee ever. Its crusty top layer was the perfect introduction to the creamy custard within. Talk about finishing on a high note! I could barely keep myself from licking the ramekin.
We took our time, walked the property with wine, chit-chatted and made the most of our evening at the Rainbow Lodge. I enjoyed the experience because I was with two of my best friends, the restaurant could not make or break that for me. I would hesitate to visit again, however.
The waiter mentioned that the chef was not there that night and I hope that had a lot to do with the sub par experience. Nonetheless, I expect that a responsible chef would either leave his restaurant in suitable hands or not leave at all.
Understandably, every place has a bad day. I’ve worked in enough great restaurants for enough years to know that every place has an “off” day. Sadly, it’s not about their “off” day, it’s about the patron's good experience and I expected a better result.
While I think it’s imperative to maintain a good attitude when things go awry, that doesn’t change my expectation of such a highly regarded establishment. I’ll forgive a thing or two, but not three or more...not all in one visit. I expected the food and the service to be superb. Overall, they dropped the ball.
The Fat: So, if you’re anything like me, you look up a restaurant on Google maps and try to find the coordinates in hopes of getting to your dining destination without a hitch, but even Google “street view” can’t prepare you for how beautiful the Rainbow Lodge is when you finally arrive. We turned the corner, noticed the valet sign and turned toward it, into the sweetest little driveway ever.
I felt like I was pulling into a cozy lodge in the mountains. There were wooden accents and darling hanging lamps to light our path to the front door. A gracious hostess, seeming to be awaiting our particular arrival, came to open the front door. We all thanked her as she held the door open for us to walk in toward the hostess stand. Then I felt the first ping; all that glitters isn’t gold.
Now, you’re probably thinking I’m about to slam this place, but I’m not...not entirely. I have a lot of nice things to tell you about Rainbow Lodge, but before I do, I just want to express that I hold fine dining establishments to a higher standard than I would of their more casual contemporaries…and rightfully so. So if you’re ready to hear the truth, the good and the bad, you’ll get that right here.
Come “rich” or come “people like me who can afford a great night out, now and again”, when you spend close to $100 per person (yummy wine included) to dine anywhere, near flawlessness is the goal. Remember when you had those instructors in college who, on the first day of class, told you that you started with an A+ at the beginning of the semester and it was up to you to keep it? Well, that’s my policy, so I walk in with the best in mind and I just expect a place to keep their grades up!
So the head hostess, I’m guessing, was chatting away on the phone. Maybe she was helping a potential customer; nonetheless, if there are two hostesses on duty, I would expect that either should be prepared to deal with new arrivals. That was not the case, so we stood patiently. It wasn’t a long wait, but it was an unnecessary one. After she finished her call, we were escorted through the lovely lodge-like labyrinth.
I called ahead to request a nice table. When I go out of my way to request a special table, I do so because I want to avoid the possibility of being placed next to kitchen doors and in odd corners, especially on a first visit. Oddly enough, we were lead to the smallest, coldest and most remote table of all.
At Rainbow Lodge, they assumed that my request meant that we wanted to avoid the adorable room with the fireplace, steer clear of the other spacious dining areas and be placed in the corner of the most narrow room ever. We had to endure the chill of a dripping AC unit and the traffic of patrons repeatedly walking by us to get to the patio door – both a mere six inches from our table - not what I would have selected if a customer made a point to ask for a great table. It almost seemed intentional. Even our neighbors asked to move to another table. To top it all off, there was a fire alarm right behind me and a faint, but unmistakable smell of…I hate to say it, ok, I won't say it...it just smelled funny.
Getting past the immediate distaste for our table, my friends and I thought we'd just begin with a bottle of wine while we perused the menu. We were one menu short for about five minutes, another annoyance.
As a courtesy to the people dining with me, I typically look over the menu ahead of time because it tends to take me AGES to decide what I want to eat. This problem occurs everywhere from taco stands to steak houses. This day happened to be my birthday, however, so I said “to hell with it, we’ll drink wine until I figure out what to order.” A great idea! They had a wonderful selection of wines and there were some fine ones that hovered in the $30-$50 range. We chose a nice South African red and waited for our water and bread.
So we talked and waited, laughed and waited, drank and waited and still no bread and water. We had been there for over thirty minutes without bread and water. Jesus could have performed a miracle in less time. We felt deprived and a little irked….but we continued to enjoy ourselves.
We decided on a couple of appetizers to share while we enjoyed our wine. We chose the spicy Hawaiian tuna tartare with the BBQ sauce consommé, English cucumber and heirloom radish and then the marinated lobster with ruby red grapefruit, avocado and orange blossom vinegar. Both sounded so fantastic, we were all thrilled with our selections.
When the appetizers arrived we started in immediately. Considering we were still waiting for bread and water, we dove in - without hesitation - for a taste. Even though I was a bit put off by the look of the tuna dish we'd been served, I stretched my fork toward it. What we assumed to be the tartare consisted of six small slices of albacore slathered in white foam. For the record, I hate foam. While the culinary garnish has made confident strides into mainstream preparation, I hate it. It looks like spit. I just don’t get it.
I realized, a moment later, that this simply could not have been what we ordered. Visions of chopped red tuna covered in deep maroon barbecue consommé kept haunting me. Had this tuna appetizer not been salty and tough, I may have graciously overlooked the mistake, but since it was, I felt fine pointing out the fact that we had been served the wrong dish.
When the waiter finally came by to check on us, far too long a wait in my opinion, he then proceeded to try and figure out -table side- how the mistake might have happened and then, after an exceedingly long dialogue, decided that the kitchen must have been at fault. I’m not a snob, I’m not a horrible customer, but if the plate is wrong…take the damn thing back. It was your fault or someone else’s fault, it wasn’t our fault so spare me the play by play.
The lobster appetizer was true to form. Pieces of the shellfish had been tossed about in chunks of fresh red grapefruit and avocado, just as described. Before we were finished our waiter brought out the tartare we’d actually ordered and another complimentary dish for the mistake. We hadn’t made a scene, we were all quite good-humored about the error and so his extra effort seemed genuine and unforced. Both were delicious.
Our waiter then offered to take us on a little tour of the lodge. I think he may have originally suggested the tour as peace offering for the appetizer blunder, but when we accepted, he realized how little time he was actually able to spend with us. Step by -rapid- step he conducted the tour at warp speed. My stilettos became liabilities, mere millimeters away from gapes in the old wooden floors during our fast paced walk-about. Again, we tried to enjoy it and forgave our waiter’s speed as he quickly and clumsily spilled us onto the patio, next to our table.
For the entrée, I was stumped. Hoping for inspiration, I asked the waiter to describe the specials a second time. The second time, however, major ingredients had seemingly changed. My friends and I agreed that they had initially been described differently. As if my own ordering issues weren't enough, this was tragic. I had no idea what I was going to choose. Nothing was jumping out at me on the menu, but I had to make a decision.
I let the boys order first. “I’ll have the Bryan Farm chicken wrapped in pancetta with the house made chicken sausage, baby vegetable fricassee, tender greens, and natural jus” I heard from one side. That sounded wonderful. Then I heard from the other side, “I’ll have the grilled rib eye of beef with the heirloom potatoes, cauliflower-brown butter puree and bordelaise sauce”. Gosh, that sounded fantastic too.
My turn...Ok, um, ok! “I’ll have that fish special you mentioned.” It sounded alright…I think. It was fish with some other stuff. Yep, pretty forgettable. When it arrived, the fish was delicate and flaky, but altogether flavorless, not special at all. Oh, so maybe you’re thinking I have GRASS IS GREENER syndrome? No, I just have a tongue…and it was bored with the fish “special”.
Oh, but the rib eye. Each bite (and I had a few) was delicious, perfectly cooked to the - ever illusive- medium rare that my dining companion had requested. It was bursting with flavor and I hardly remember the side dishes, for none were needed.
Then I pinched my first bite of my other friend’s dish. I have never in my life had a bit of chicken so fresh and tender. I almost lost my mind uttering its praise. Each chew reinforced its deliciousness. I think I may have even made my friend feel a little uncomfortable with my accolades, leading him to believe he had inappropriately ordered the dish that should have clearly been reserved for a Birthday Girl.
Apparently, Bryan Farm is a local poultry source that raises their chickens “with fresh air, sunshine, green grass, and wholesome feed” and the chicken is completely fresh…if you get my drift. I have never been so impressed by chicken. It was so moist and flavorful that it made me sorry for all the Chick-kin that have lost their lives for anything less.
After I'd happily helped my friends finish their entrees, we completed our meal with the most delectable chocolate crème brulee ever. Its crusty top layer was the perfect introduction to the creamy custard within. Talk about finishing on a high note! I could barely keep myself from licking the ramekin.
We took our time, walked the property with wine, chit-chatted and made the most of our evening at the Rainbow Lodge. I enjoyed the experience because I was with two of my best friends, the restaurant could not make or break that for me. I would hesitate to visit again, however.
The waiter mentioned that the chef was not there that night and I hope that had a lot to do with the sub par experience. Nonetheless, I expect that a responsible chef would either leave his restaurant in suitable hands or not leave at all.
Understandably, every place has a bad day. I’ve worked in enough great restaurants for enough years to know that every place has an “off” day. Sadly, it’s not about their “off” day, it’s about the patron's good experience and I expected a better result.
While I think it’s imperative to maintain a good attitude when things go awry, that doesn’t change my expectation of such a highly regarded establishment. I’ll forgive a thing or two, but not three or more...not all in one visit. I expected the food and the service to be superb. Overall, they dropped the ball.
BB's Cajun Cafe - Give it a Try
The Skinny: There's just something about the bread that I love. It's light and crusty for the Po-Boys and surprisingly delicious as dessert.
The Fat: It’s game time from the moment a new restaurant opens their doors if it’s located anywhere near Montrose’s restaurant row. Diners are hard to attract when local favorites like Niko Niko’s, Katz’s deli and a host of nearby spots are slinging “no frills” fare from sunrise to sunset without skipping a beat. So when I finally noticed BB’s was even there, it took a while to drag myself away from my chicken gyro and give it a try.
I have to say that I’m not all that fond of BB's set up. When you first walk in there are tables to the left, tables to the right and what looks like a self serve condiment area pretty much straight ahead. When I see a self serve area I think: “order at the counter,” but there is no counter. There’s only a window between the dining area and the kitchen.
While the place is cute, we weren’t sure if we were supposed to order at the window or just sit down. We sort of stood there for a few seconds, and looked over at a guy talking to a table. After a moderate amount of uneasiness had accumulated within our group, the guy let us know we could have a seat where ever we’d like.
It’s a small place, so there’s usually only one person running the front of the house and while it may seem rude for a person to greet guests when he’s already talking to another table, the restaurant is small enough and casual enough that a brief break in his conversation shouldn’t cause much of a stir. Alternatively, this would be a great opportunity to employ a helpful sign near the entrance. “Please seat yourselves and we’ll be right with you” has a nice ring to it.
Once in, the service is prompt and adequate. I wouldn’t call it friendly because “friendly” reminds me of a 17year old waitress with an apron and a striped shirt serving mozzarella sticks at a chain restaurant. Both of the times I’ve visited BB’s the servers were pretty nice and that’s all I need from a little sandwich shop.
The menu consists of all of your Louisiana favorites like Po-Boys, Boudin, fried pickles, and gumbo. I love the Bedtime in the Bayou; it’s a shrimp Po-Boy with all the fixings. Their delicious crusty bread reminds me of the Cuban bread I grew up with in Tampa. It’s a perfectly flaky and subtle addition to a sandwich when the insides deserve center stage.
They make Po-boys with all the faves like catfish, fried oysters, soft shell crab and sausage. They even serve two egg sandwiches, fried and scrambled, with a bevy of meats, cheeses and savory sauces. All their Po-boys come with a mound of, my personal favorite, shoe string French fries.
For breakfast lovers, late sleepers and late-night snackers this place is open late and serves a full menu, including breakfast items, all day long. For dessert, they have beignets, pecan pie and the fail safe brownie sundae. They also serve bread pudding.
Now there are some of us who love bread pudding and some of us who simply don’t. I liken the opposing positions to the ones people hold for fruitcake; you either love it or use it as a doorstop. I don’t even like it enough to use it as a doorstop.
When my friend decided to order the bread pudding I balked at the thought of having to watch him eat it and proudly declared that I was not a fan. I’ll tell you something, when it comes to food, I’m never too proud to admit when I’m wrong.
When this dessert arrived, I was mostly impressed by the size. A 5x5x3 inch cut of warm bread pudding with a moist meringue and a creamy, caramelly sauce had been placed on the table for all to see. THANK GOD the waiter included three spoons or my words would have been the only thing I would’ve eaten for dessert.
I’d never been so happy to share a dessert with anyone in my life. Sure I took my time eating it, respecting the fact that I was just a guest at this bread pudding party, but boy was it hard not to claim it for my own. If you’re like me and you typically can’t stand bread pudding, this would be the place to give it another try.
When I visited BB’s a while back, the new place was still in its honeymoon phase and, therefore, impeccably tidy. This time, however, the bathroom standards had dropped a notch or two. Forgivable? Maybe. While a restaurant that has closing times anywhere from midnight to 3am should be given a little slack, the fact that they don’t open until 11am most days makes that argument less impressive.
Location: 2710 Montrose 713.524.4499
The Fat: It’s game time from the moment a new restaurant opens their doors if it’s located anywhere near Montrose’s restaurant row. Diners are hard to attract when local favorites like Niko Niko’s, Katz’s deli and a host of nearby spots are slinging “no frills” fare from sunrise to sunset without skipping a beat. So when I finally noticed BB’s was even there, it took a while to drag myself away from my chicken gyro and give it a try.
I have to say that I’m not all that fond of BB's set up. When you first walk in there are tables to the left, tables to the right and what looks like a self serve condiment area pretty much straight ahead. When I see a self serve area I think: “order at the counter,” but there is no counter. There’s only a window between the dining area and the kitchen.
While the place is cute, we weren’t sure if we were supposed to order at the window or just sit down. We sort of stood there for a few seconds, and looked over at a guy talking to a table. After a moderate amount of uneasiness had accumulated within our group, the guy let us know we could have a seat where ever we’d like.
It’s a small place, so there’s usually only one person running the front of the house and while it may seem rude for a person to greet guests when he’s already talking to another table, the restaurant is small enough and casual enough that a brief break in his conversation shouldn’t cause much of a stir. Alternatively, this would be a great opportunity to employ a helpful sign near the entrance. “Please seat yourselves and we’ll be right with you” has a nice ring to it.
Once in, the service is prompt and adequate. I wouldn’t call it friendly because “friendly” reminds me of a 17year old waitress with an apron and a striped shirt serving mozzarella sticks at a chain restaurant. Both of the times I’ve visited BB’s the servers were pretty nice and that’s all I need from a little sandwich shop.
The menu consists of all of your Louisiana favorites like Po-Boys, Boudin, fried pickles, and gumbo. I love the Bedtime in the Bayou; it’s a shrimp Po-Boy with all the fixings. Their delicious crusty bread reminds me of the Cuban bread I grew up with in Tampa. It’s a perfectly flaky and subtle addition to a sandwich when the insides deserve center stage.
They make Po-boys with all the faves like catfish, fried oysters, soft shell crab and sausage. They even serve two egg sandwiches, fried and scrambled, with a bevy of meats, cheeses and savory sauces. All their Po-boys come with a mound of, my personal favorite, shoe string French fries.
For breakfast lovers, late sleepers and late-night snackers this place is open late and serves a full menu, including breakfast items, all day long. For dessert, they have beignets, pecan pie and the fail safe brownie sundae. They also serve bread pudding.
Now there are some of us who love bread pudding and some of us who simply don’t. I liken the opposing positions to the ones people hold for fruitcake; you either love it or use it as a doorstop. I don’t even like it enough to use it as a doorstop.
When my friend decided to order the bread pudding I balked at the thought of having to watch him eat it and proudly declared that I was not a fan. I’ll tell you something, when it comes to food, I’m never too proud to admit when I’m wrong.
When this dessert arrived, I was mostly impressed by the size. A 5x5x3 inch cut of warm bread pudding with a moist meringue and a creamy, caramelly sauce had been placed on the table for all to see. THANK GOD the waiter included three spoons or my words would have been the only thing I would’ve eaten for dessert.
I’d never been so happy to share a dessert with anyone in my life. Sure I took my time eating it, respecting the fact that I was just a guest at this bread pudding party, but boy was it hard not to claim it for my own. If you’re like me and you typically can’t stand bread pudding, this would be the place to give it another try.
When I visited BB’s a while back, the new place was still in its honeymoon phase and, therefore, impeccably tidy. This time, however, the bathroom standards had dropped a notch or two. Forgivable? Maybe. While a restaurant that has closing times anywhere from midnight to 3am should be given a little slack, the fact that they don’t open until 11am most days makes that argument less impressive.
Location: 2710 Montrose 713.524.4499
Charivari - Give it a Try
The Skinny: Step into a time machine and experience fine dining, before it was run of the mill.
The Fat: A co-worker, who loves food as much as I do, recommended that I try this little restaurant, nestled in a mid-town plaza. It’s a restaurant that he and his equally food loving wife dine at regularly.
When I checked out the menu on the internet, I was pumped by the great selections. I have to admit that I was also drawn by two other exciting features; the fact that the chef is from Transylvania and (maybe my judgment was a little more superficial on this one, but) the super-sweet picture of the chef, striking a "tough guy" pose in his dining room. Gotta love that.
My dining companion and I made reservations for Friday night. While there were plenty of seats available when we arrived, we made late reservations and so I can only imagine that during peak hours, reservations are quite necessary.
To get to our table, we were ushered through the small, classic dining room. It reminded me of the "fancy" restaurants I went to when I was a little girl; white linens, random paintings, flowers on the table, etc. The decor was fairly basic, but genuine.
With a thick and charming accent our petite waitress came up to the table and asked us if we'd like some water - sparkling or regular. As we waited for our regular water and a bottle of Syrah, I had a great opportunity to check out the room and, of course, the guests.
With the exception of one table of 20-somethings, the place was filled with 60-somethings. That being said, if you're looking to "see and be seen" by the younger crowd, skip this place and try the bar down the strip.
We started with the escargot; I'm a sucker for it. I prefer the luscious snail drenched in a traditional garlic butter mix, but I went for this herb and Burgundy infused variation. It was tasty, but needed a little salt.
Before it arrived, we were given a modest basket of white and multi-grain bread with a side of, what looked like, butter. As it turned out the "butter" was actually a salmon roe mousse made of whipped olive oil, roe, and bread crumbs. The description of the ingredients puzzled me because it tasted like none of those things, but more like an airy and very mild version of hummus. In any case, it was delicious, simple and we liked it. If we'd had more bread, we would have eaten it all.
Now, here's where the "fancy" part fits in. After our appetizer plates were cleared, we were each given a crisp wafer topped with an olive tapenade. We didn't order this item, it was just a treat; larger than the standard amuse bouche, smaller than an appetizer. It was just part of the meticulous and well thought out process.
In between (silver dome covered) courses, we were served a tart sorbet palate cleanser. First of all, who uses silver domes to cover and present food anymore? Nonetheless, you had to give it to this place for promoting the frill of exquisite service. While seemingly gratuitous, it was a lovely flare to the, otherwise typical, routine.
I ordered the Seafood-Choucroute; a steaming hot plate of Red Fish, Lobster and Salmon Filet served on a sultry bed of Riesling Sauerkraut and topped with an amazing reduction of Riesling sauce. My plate was lacking the vibrant color that many restaurants try to add to their dishes with squirts of superfluous sauces and sprigs of unnecessary herbs, but where this dish was lacking in presentation, it made up for in flavor - and isn't flavor what we really want?
Just after my entree was de-domed, my server proudly uncovered a miniature dome with the three parsley speckled potato chunks. I was underwhelmed by the pale side order of steamed potatoes, but mildly amused that my server made an enormous deal out of plating them for me, table side. The gesture was appreciated though. After all, it's rare to be surrounded by a staff that seems more intent on providing top-notch service than getting off of work in time to join their friends at the local watering hole.
Now, I'm not usually wild about sauerkraut, but I could barely keep my fork away from this perfectly prepared and lusciously seasoned mound of sauerkraut. It nearly overshadowed the delicious trio of seafood that encircled it. Finely sliced and seared to perfection, both the red fish and salmon were a delight.
The small lobster tail - while moderately undercooked - was beautiful as well, which is why it was so hard to ask my adorable server to have that portion of the dish re-fired.
While I don’t send back food often, (and after my classic hesitation) I lean toward enjoying my meal versus offending the chef. Furthermore, I’d really like to think that most great chefs would prefer to take a culinary jab than sacrifice perfection for their guests.
The waitress gladly scooped it up and swiftly returned it, cooked to perfection. The chef appeared, shortly thereafter, to apologize. It's always uncomfortable when they come out to apologize, but in a situation like this, I’d almost be upset if he hadn’t.
My dining companion had the Veal "Zurich"; thin strips of Veal sautéed in a decadent reduction of Sherry Wine and smothered with fresh mushrooms and herbs. It was great, but I would not have traded my dish for it.
Charivari serves a ton of other incredible entrees like the famous Wiener Schnitzel, the Saffron Wine Grilled Shrimp and the Filet Mignon with Cognac-Madagascar Green Pepper Sauce. While clearing my plate - from appetizer to entrée - left little room for dessert, I’ve heard they have an outstanding selection of sweets.
Here’s the deal - if you feel like it’s been far too long since you've visited a restaurant where all the I's are dotted, T's are crossed and the prices fit the preparation, you’ll get your fix at Charivari.
Location: 2521 Bagby 713.521.7231
The Fat: A co-worker, who loves food as much as I do, recommended that I try this little restaurant, nestled in a mid-town plaza. It’s a restaurant that he and his equally food loving wife dine at regularly.
When I checked out the menu on the internet, I was pumped by the great selections. I have to admit that I was also drawn by two other exciting features; the fact that the chef is from Transylvania and (maybe my judgment was a little more superficial on this one, but) the super-sweet picture of the chef, striking a "tough guy" pose in his dining room. Gotta love that.
My dining companion and I made reservations for Friday night. While there were plenty of seats available when we arrived, we made late reservations and so I can only imagine that during peak hours, reservations are quite necessary.
To get to our table, we were ushered through the small, classic dining room. It reminded me of the "fancy" restaurants I went to when I was a little girl; white linens, random paintings, flowers on the table, etc. The decor was fairly basic, but genuine.
With a thick and charming accent our petite waitress came up to the table and asked us if we'd like some water - sparkling or regular. As we waited for our regular water and a bottle of Syrah, I had a great opportunity to check out the room and, of course, the guests.
With the exception of one table of 20-somethings, the place was filled with 60-somethings. That being said, if you're looking to "see and be seen" by the younger crowd, skip this place and try the bar down the strip.
We started with the escargot; I'm a sucker for it. I prefer the luscious snail drenched in a traditional garlic butter mix, but I went for this herb and Burgundy infused variation. It was tasty, but needed a little salt.
Before it arrived, we were given a modest basket of white and multi-grain bread with a side of, what looked like, butter. As it turned out the "butter" was actually a salmon roe mousse made of whipped olive oil, roe, and bread crumbs. The description of the ingredients puzzled me because it tasted like none of those things, but more like an airy and very mild version of hummus. In any case, it was delicious, simple and we liked it. If we'd had more bread, we would have eaten it all.
Now, here's where the "fancy" part fits in. After our appetizer plates were cleared, we were each given a crisp wafer topped with an olive tapenade. We didn't order this item, it was just a treat; larger than the standard amuse bouche, smaller than an appetizer. It was just part of the meticulous and well thought out process.
In between (silver dome covered) courses, we were served a tart sorbet palate cleanser. First of all, who uses silver domes to cover and present food anymore? Nonetheless, you had to give it to this place for promoting the frill of exquisite service. While seemingly gratuitous, it was a lovely flare to the, otherwise typical, routine.
I ordered the Seafood-Choucroute; a steaming hot plate of Red Fish, Lobster and Salmon Filet served on a sultry bed of Riesling Sauerkraut and topped with an amazing reduction of Riesling sauce. My plate was lacking the vibrant color that many restaurants try to add to their dishes with squirts of superfluous sauces and sprigs of unnecessary herbs, but where this dish was lacking in presentation, it made up for in flavor - and isn't flavor what we really want?
Just after my entree was de-domed, my server proudly uncovered a miniature dome with the three parsley speckled potato chunks. I was underwhelmed by the pale side order of steamed potatoes, but mildly amused that my server made an enormous deal out of plating them for me, table side. The gesture was appreciated though. After all, it's rare to be surrounded by a staff that seems more intent on providing top-notch service than getting off of work in time to join their friends at the local watering hole.
Now, I'm not usually wild about sauerkraut, but I could barely keep my fork away from this perfectly prepared and lusciously seasoned mound of sauerkraut. It nearly overshadowed the delicious trio of seafood that encircled it. Finely sliced and seared to perfection, both the red fish and salmon were a delight.
The small lobster tail - while moderately undercooked - was beautiful as well, which is why it was so hard to ask my adorable server to have that portion of the dish re-fired.
While I don’t send back food often, (and after my classic hesitation) I lean toward enjoying my meal versus offending the chef. Furthermore, I’d really like to think that most great chefs would prefer to take a culinary jab than sacrifice perfection for their guests.
The waitress gladly scooped it up and swiftly returned it, cooked to perfection. The chef appeared, shortly thereafter, to apologize. It's always uncomfortable when they come out to apologize, but in a situation like this, I’d almost be upset if he hadn’t.
My dining companion had the Veal "Zurich"; thin strips of Veal sautéed in a decadent reduction of Sherry Wine and smothered with fresh mushrooms and herbs. It was great, but I would not have traded my dish for it.
Charivari serves a ton of other incredible entrees like the famous Wiener Schnitzel, the Saffron Wine Grilled Shrimp and the Filet Mignon with Cognac-Madagascar Green Pepper Sauce. While clearing my plate - from appetizer to entrée - left little room for dessert, I’ve heard they have an outstanding selection of sweets.
Here’s the deal - if you feel like it’s been far too long since you've visited a restaurant where all the I's are dotted, T's are crossed and the prices fit the preparation, you’ll get your fix at Charivari.
Location: 2521 Bagby 713.521.7231
Pagoda - Give it a Try
The Skinny: This hidden gem makes private dining feel more commonplace than cool.
The Fat: While opening a new restaurant presents a host of challenges that any entrepreneur should be well prepared for, these guys received a truly unexpected jab. Pagoda opened shortly before Ike toured our great city. In the wake of the hurricane the new business was soured, not only by the lull of a city wrought with disaster, but also by the fact that their own building suffered marked structural damage. Lucky for us, they pulled themselves up by the bootstraps and reopened their - adorable Vietnamese - doors.
That being said, I’m a huge fan of dives, especially when we’re talking Vietnamese. Houston has such an expansive and delicious array of Asian fare that it’s almost painful to pay more than $7.50 for an extraordinary Vietnamese entrée (see my review for Van Loc under “Vietnamese”.) However, there is something to be said for the fine service, soothing setting and super fantastic cocktails that higher-end Asian restaurants have to offer.
Pagoda presents a delectable selection of starters, including the favorites, like Beef Satay and Vietnamese Spring Rolls. Both are served with the standard, yummy peanut sauce; but since you’re paying more than $4.50 for what you could get at a Vietnamese hole-in-the-wall, go out on a limb and try something new.
Try the Crab Stack, a delicately layered tower of crab meat, mango, tomatoes, avocado, cucumber and cilantro all drizzled with a light lime sauce. It’s pretty when it arrives and messy to eat, but the presentation and subtle combination of flavors is well worth it. Also try the Calamari Crunch. The whole strips of calamari are flash fried, plated and served with a traditional lime pepper dipping sauce. Calamari, on a good day, can be mildly rubbery; so if you’ll admit that the texture of this ocean favorite can be unpredictable, you’ll adore the dish.
The first time I ordered a Pagoda entree, I chose the Garlic Ginger Scallops, described on the menu as “seared and served with a garlic cream sauce.” When the plate arrived I was shocked that no more than seven scallops were on the plate. Seven (7) sounds like plenty if you’re expecting the “ideal” silver dollar sized, one inch thick scallops. In that case, five would do it for me. What I got were four (quarter sized) and three (nickel sized) scallops, each no more than 1/3 inch thick. I was astounded. At $16 a plate, I was understandably underwhelmed.
What they failed to mention on the description is that delectable mushrooms were swimming in the creamy garlic sauce. Even though I was disappointed by the scallop to dollar ratio; the abundant serving of mushrooms, with their amazing ability to absorb flavor, saved the dish from being a total disappointment. Nonetheless, any good chef or restaurant owner (as our waiter announced herself to be) should not have let such a serving escape the kitchen.
On my next visit, I got the Shaking Beef, a mound of filet mignon cubes served with a delicate brown sauce and tomato rice. If there was ever an example of pure redemption, it occurred when I put the first morsel of meat in my mouth. They managed to cook each bit of beef to a perfect medium rare. Every bite was like the first bite of the best filet mignon I’d ever had; warm, tender and perfectly seasoned. The tomato rice was like the dish’s step child. I enjoyed that it was there, but my focus was clearly elsewhere.
The selection of cocktails is divine. Their charming little concoctions of fashionable flavors and loveable liquors are the perfect addition to any meal. I like the Pagoda Special (although I don’t think that’s what it’s called) with vodka, cranberry and a skewered lychee garnish.
My dining companion and I went to Pagoda, for the first time, on a Monday night. I’m not usually a fan of reviewing a place on a Monday because it doesn’t give me an accurate feel for the potential vibe. While the décor was divine and the music modern, we were the only patrons there. It wasn’t until we were about to leave that two other customers came in and sat at the bar.
I visited Pagoda again on a Friday night and, sadly, the place was empty again. The adorable hostess led us to exactly the same table and we were the only people in the entire dining room. I guess we could blame it on the fact that Pagoda’s new or that they were trying to relaunch in the midst of the Holidays.
I can only say that, if you want to get good food, at a cute place, without the wait that typically peaks at 7pm on a Friday night - this is the place to try. Let’s just hope the word gets around…before the next hurricane hits.
Location: 4705 Inker Street 832.673.0400
The Fat: While opening a new restaurant presents a host of challenges that any entrepreneur should be well prepared for, these guys received a truly unexpected jab. Pagoda opened shortly before Ike toured our great city. In the wake of the hurricane the new business was soured, not only by the lull of a city wrought with disaster, but also by the fact that their own building suffered marked structural damage. Lucky for us, they pulled themselves up by the bootstraps and reopened their - adorable Vietnamese - doors.
That being said, I’m a huge fan of dives, especially when we’re talking Vietnamese. Houston has such an expansive and delicious array of Asian fare that it’s almost painful to pay more than $7.50 for an extraordinary Vietnamese entrée (see my review for Van Loc under “Vietnamese”.) However, there is something to be said for the fine service, soothing setting and super fantastic cocktails that higher-end Asian restaurants have to offer.
Pagoda presents a delectable selection of starters, including the favorites, like Beef Satay and Vietnamese Spring Rolls. Both are served with the standard, yummy peanut sauce; but since you’re paying more than $4.50 for what you could get at a Vietnamese hole-in-the-wall, go out on a limb and try something new.
Try the Crab Stack, a delicately layered tower of crab meat, mango, tomatoes, avocado, cucumber and cilantro all drizzled with a light lime sauce. It’s pretty when it arrives and messy to eat, but the presentation and subtle combination of flavors is well worth it. Also try the Calamari Crunch. The whole strips of calamari are flash fried, plated and served with a traditional lime pepper dipping sauce. Calamari, on a good day, can be mildly rubbery; so if you’ll admit that the texture of this ocean favorite can be unpredictable, you’ll adore the dish.
The first time I ordered a Pagoda entree, I chose the Garlic Ginger Scallops, described on the menu as “seared and served with a garlic cream sauce.” When the plate arrived I was shocked that no more than seven scallops were on the plate. Seven (7) sounds like plenty if you’re expecting the “ideal” silver dollar sized, one inch thick scallops. In that case, five would do it for me. What I got were four (quarter sized) and three (nickel sized) scallops, each no more than 1/3 inch thick. I was astounded. At $16 a plate, I was understandably underwhelmed.
What they failed to mention on the description is that delectable mushrooms were swimming in the creamy garlic sauce. Even though I was disappointed by the scallop to dollar ratio; the abundant serving of mushrooms, with their amazing ability to absorb flavor, saved the dish from being a total disappointment. Nonetheless, any good chef or restaurant owner (as our waiter announced herself to be) should not have let such a serving escape the kitchen.
On my next visit, I got the Shaking Beef, a mound of filet mignon cubes served with a delicate brown sauce and tomato rice. If there was ever an example of pure redemption, it occurred when I put the first morsel of meat in my mouth. They managed to cook each bit of beef to a perfect medium rare. Every bite was like the first bite of the best filet mignon I’d ever had; warm, tender and perfectly seasoned. The tomato rice was like the dish’s step child. I enjoyed that it was there, but my focus was clearly elsewhere.
The selection of cocktails is divine. Their charming little concoctions of fashionable flavors and loveable liquors are the perfect addition to any meal. I like the Pagoda Special (although I don’t think that’s what it’s called) with vodka, cranberry and a skewered lychee garnish.
My dining companion and I went to Pagoda, for the first time, on a Monday night. I’m not usually a fan of reviewing a place on a Monday because it doesn’t give me an accurate feel for the potential vibe. While the décor was divine and the music modern, we were the only patrons there. It wasn’t until we were about to leave that two other customers came in and sat at the bar.
I visited Pagoda again on a Friday night and, sadly, the place was empty again. The adorable hostess led us to exactly the same table and we were the only people in the entire dining room. I guess we could blame it on the fact that Pagoda’s new or that they were trying to relaunch in the midst of the Holidays.
I can only say that, if you want to get good food, at a cute place, without the wait that typically peaks at 7pm on a Friday night - this is the place to try. Let’s just hope the word gets around…before the next hurricane hits.
Location: 4705 Inker Street 832.673.0400
Red Lion - Give it a Try
The Skinny: Red Lion is a lot like a good woman. They serve you hearty food, good beer and, most importantly, they do the dishes.
The Fat: Alas, my fair feminists; The Fat Baby is, in fact, a female. So let's put our swords away and just enjoy the tag line.
Red Lion is a super-fine, UK inspired restaurant. While notions of English fare typically muster up thoughts of clumped potatoes, over cooked slices of blood sausage and oil drenched fillets of fried fish, Red Lion takes a cue from the best of the homeland and combines it with the things we all love on this side of the pond.
My friend and I decided to go to Red Lion after a long day at work and on, what ended up to be, a super chilly evening. The fact that this place is hidden along a crazy busy street like Shepherd is pretty amazing. While we had to wait for our table, the foliage laden patio shielded us from the hellacious traffic and made us feel like we were acres away from the city.
The temperature was a different story. For such a popular restaurant, you'd hope they would have had their adorable fire pit a-blazing on such a cold night, when the spillover of clientele was so likely. No such luck. The lot of us hungry folk had to wait on the frigid front porch for, what we were quoted was, a 45-50 minute wait. Grand design? Maybe they just wanted us to experience what it felt like, back in the day, to be waiting for rations of porridge on the streets of London? Naaah! The fire pit was just broken.
As it turns out, a table for two is far easier to get at this meeting place than a table for three or more. That was made abundantly clear when our 45 minute wait melted into 10 and we were privileged enough to take what amounted to “the walk of shame” past our hungry predecessors in parties of three or more. The scowls were kept to a minimum though; everyone’s pretty pleasant there.
Beers in hand, we were herded through a maze of tables into the back end of the pub-like restaurant, close to a huge, toasty fireplace. As many people as were seated, were standing around chatting and clinking glasses. I’d visited England before, but this felt more to me like the late night pubs I’d been to in Ireland – everyone just eating, drinking and laughing out loud. There were no bar fights about to break out, but the vibe was definitely playful…especially for a Thursday.
So…the food! Here it is. While their menu is pretty amazing, with everything from Pan Seared Chicken Breast to the Scotch Egg Dinner to all the Indian faves that are so indigenous to the UK culinary scene; Monday through Thursday they spotlight one killer menu item that makes you want to go every night because each is such a damn good deal.
Mondays: All Cheeseburgers and Mini Burgers, $5 for burger and fries – beat that Jack in the Box! – usually $11.
Tuesdays: Bowl of mussels, $7 for one pound of mussels doused in garlic, wine & butter sauce and served with crusty garlic bread - usually $12…and rightfully so!
Wednesdays: Curry Night, $14 for Curry and a Pint – usually $20 for both.
Thursdays: Steak Night, $18 for an 8oz filet mignon and two sides – usually $28.
My friend and I ordered a bowl of the mussels to share while we waited for our Filet Mignon, which we also shared. I’ve had mussels more times than I can count, but I’m fairly sure that Red Lion hit all the high points you’d expect from the garlic & white wine drenched dish. With beers, bread, our perfectly cooked stake and our sides of asparagus and super awesome bacon mashed potatoes, it was the perfect meal.
Our waitress, Dawn, was pretty much the coolest gal ever. She was handling a swarming room of people and we never wanted for a thing. She was friendly, sincere, and an all around flawless server. I just love it when a server seems more like an essential cog to the machine than an ornament on the face of an establishment. Dawn was essential and we loved her for it. She made it all work for us. And to be quite honest, great service sometimes just takes the cake, doesn’t it?
P.S.: So I returned to RL on mussel night and as it turned out the $12 bowl was far better than the $7 bowl. We had to return our first bowl because the mussels were shriveled, way overcooked and the sauce was a deep rust color...an indication that these babies had stayed on the stove far too long. I rarely return things, no matter how bad, but I was craving some of those yummy mussels and I knew this batch was a fluke. When the waitress finally checked on us, she swept up the old bowl and promised to return with a new one.
Luckily, I was right and the replacement bowl was much better and more like the mussels we'd had on Steak Night; plump and drenched in a light wine sauce. The only problem was that out of about 20 mussels, nine (yep, you heard me, NINE) shells were sealed shut and inedible. Now, I'm no math wiz, but that was about half of our order. Needless to say, I was a little heartbroken.
Our waitress (she was no Dawn) didn't check on us again until we were sitting there with half a bowl of unopened shells. As she picked up our bowl, she begrudgingly offered us another serving. We politely declined and just asked for the bill. She did take the mussels off the check, but that’s not really the point. While it was a nice gesture, I really don’t dine out expecting free food, I just expect good food.
I will return to RL because I love fun places, good beer and overall their food is quite tasty…plus I just adored those mussels on Steak Night too much to think I could never have them again. Always, hopeful!
Location: 2316 S Shepherd Dr 713.529.8390
The Fat: Alas, my fair feminists; The Fat Baby is, in fact, a female. So let's put our swords away and just enjoy the tag line.
Red Lion is a super-fine, UK inspired restaurant. While notions of English fare typically muster up thoughts of clumped potatoes, over cooked slices of blood sausage and oil drenched fillets of fried fish, Red Lion takes a cue from the best of the homeland and combines it with the things we all love on this side of the pond.
My friend and I decided to go to Red Lion after a long day at work and on, what ended up to be, a super chilly evening. The fact that this place is hidden along a crazy busy street like Shepherd is pretty amazing. While we had to wait for our table, the foliage laden patio shielded us from the hellacious traffic and made us feel like we were acres away from the city.
The temperature was a different story. For such a popular restaurant, you'd hope they would have had their adorable fire pit a-blazing on such a cold night, when the spillover of clientele was so likely. No such luck. The lot of us hungry folk had to wait on the frigid front porch for, what we were quoted was, a 45-50 minute wait. Grand design? Maybe they just wanted us to experience what it felt like, back in the day, to be waiting for rations of porridge on the streets of London? Naaah! The fire pit was just broken.
As it turns out, a table for two is far easier to get at this meeting place than a table for three or more. That was made abundantly clear when our 45 minute wait melted into 10 and we were privileged enough to take what amounted to “the walk of shame” past our hungry predecessors in parties of three or more. The scowls were kept to a minimum though; everyone’s pretty pleasant there.
Beers in hand, we were herded through a maze of tables into the back end of the pub-like restaurant, close to a huge, toasty fireplace. As many people as were seated, were standing around chatting and clinking glasses. I’d visited England before, but this felt more to me like the late night pubs I’d been to in Ireland – everyone just eating, drinking and laughing out loud. There were no bar fights about to break out, but the vibe was definitely playful…especially for a Thursday.
So…the food! Here it is. While their menu is pretty amazing, with everything from Pan Seared Chicken Breast to the Scotch Egg Dinner to all the Indian faves that are so indigenous to the UK culinary scene; Monday through Thursday they spotlight one killer menu item that makes you want to go every night because each is such a damn good deal.
Mondays: All Cheeseburgers and Mini Burgers, $5 for burger and fries – beat that Jack in the Box! – usually $11.
Tuesdays: Bowl of mussels, $7 for one pound of mussels doused in garlic, wine & butter sauce and served with crusty garlic bread - usually $12…and rightfully so!
Wednesdays: Curry Night, $14 for Curry and a Pint – usually $20 for both.
Thursdays: Steak Night, $18 for an 8oz filet mignon and two sides – usually $28.
My friend and I ordered a bowl of the mussels to share while we waited for our Filet Mignon, which we also shared. I’ve had mussels more times than I can count, but I’m fairly sure that Red Lion hit all the high points you’d expect from the garlic & white wine drenched dish. With beers, bread, our perfectly cooked stake and our sides of asparagus and super awesome bacon mashed potatoes, it was the perfect meal.
Our waitress, Dawn, was pretty much the coolest gal ever. She was handling a swarming room of people and we never wanted for a thing. She was friendly, sincere, and an all around flawless server. I just love it when a server seems more like an essential cog to the machine than an ornament on the face of an establishment. Dawn was essential and we loved her for it. She made it all work for us. And to be quite honest, great service sometimes just takes the cake, doesn’t it?
P.S.: So I returned to RL on mussel night and as it turned out the $12 bowl was far better than the $7 bowl. We had to return our first bowl because the mussels were shriveled, way overcooked and the sauce was a deep rust color...an indication that these babies had stayed on the stove far too long. I rarely return things, no matter how bad, but I was craving some of those yummy mussels and I knew this batch was a fluke. When the waitress finally checked on us, she swept up the old bowl and promised to return with a new one.
Luckily, I was right and the replacement bowl was much better and more like the mussels we'd had on Steak Night; plump and drenched in a light wine sauce. The only problem was that out of about 20 mussels, nine (yep, you heard me, NINE) shells were sealed shut and inedible. Now, I'm no math wiz, but that was about half of our order. Needless to say, I was a little heartbroken.
Our waitress (she was no Dawn) didn't check on us again until we were sitting there with half a bowl of unopened shells. As she picked up our bowl, she begrudgingly offered us another serving. We politely declined and just asked for the bill. She did take the mussels off the check, but that’s not really the point. While it was a nice gesture, I really don’t dine out expecting free food, I just expect good food.
I will return to RL because I love fun places, good beer and overall their food is quite tasty…plus I just adored those mussels on Steak Night too much to think I could never have them again. Always, hopeful!
Location: 2316 S Shepherd Dr 713.529.8390
Dolce Vita - Give it a Try
The Skinny: If you love familiarity as much as you love surprises, get a gourmet pizza from Dolce Vita.
The Fat: When I was still in law school, an old family friend from Tampa - who now practices in Houston - used to scoop me up on Wednesday nights and take me out to dinner with all of his lawyer buddies. I was too consumed with the homework, on which I'd always fallen dangerously behind, to really care about what or where I ate dinner any given night of the week. Basically any place that wasn't Jack in the Box was a welcomed treat. Wednesday after Wednesday, we would dine at some of Houston's favorites, but one place stood out from all the rest. Dolce Vita.
The converted old house on Westheimer is fully equipped with a fine staff, a great drink menu and a perfectly adorable selection of inventive pizzas, delectable cheeses, creative vegetable dishes and unique salads.
You know when you fall in love for the first time and everything before that moment becomes a blur, a mere cliffnote of who you used to be? Well that's sort of how I felt the first time I experienced a Taleggio pizza.
I don't even think I'd ordered it, but somehow it appeared on my table or on someones table nearby. Either way, I was hypnotized. The intoxicating aroma permeated everything around me, slowly converting the quaint Montrose restaurant into the mothership of every pizza desire I would have from that moment on.
The Taleggio, named after the fantastic Italian cheese that oozes with a brie like fluidity all over the warm crust, carries a strong aroma balanced by a smooth and mildly fruity flavor. The thin crust is topped with fresh arugula, ripe pear slices and finally - and most importantly - drizzled with an erotically pungent truffle oil.
I often joke that when I order that pizza, everyone around me hates me for one of two reasons; they're upset that they can't smell anything other than my pizza or they're jealous that they don't have my pizza. Believe me, it's the latter. Alright, alright...so there are 12 other pizzas on the menu, but I gotta rave about my fave!
You'll find other fun pizzas like the Vongole (clams, garlic, cherry tomatoes and mozzarella) and the Zucca (butternut squash, panchetta and smoked mozzarella.) And for the creatures of habit, there are creative versions of the classics like the Siciliana (olives and capers) and the Calabrese (spicy salami) which is just a gourmet spin on a pepperoni pizza.
Dolce Vita also serves a limited number of colorful entrees and pastas that will satisfy any non pizza lover. Be sure to try my favorite Verdura; Shaved Brussel Sprouts with Pecorino. This delicious starter is dense, flavorful and will totally change your opinion of the historically blackballed sprout.
While it's not a super casual pizza joint, it does offer a relaxed vibe for a fairly diverse clientele. The prices are fair. You can share an appetizer, a pizza and two glasses of wine for about $50. So if you want to jump up a notch or two from your regular pizza routine and enjoy a bit of Italian authenticity, this is your place.
P.S. Parking is pretty black and white at Dolce Vita. If you want your car parked in a parking lot, go valet all the way. If you don't mind a super short stroll (my personal favorite - heck, sometimes I even walk from home!) find a little parking spot in the neighborhood just behind the restaurant. Be mindful of the "No Parking" signs and you'll be fine. The way this place gets jammed up on a good night, you'll be able to walk to your car long before valet could get it to you!
Location: 500 Westheimer 713.520.8222
The Fat: When I was still in law school, an old family friend from Tampa - who now practices in Houston - used to scoop me up on Wednesday nights and take me out to dinner with all of his lawyer buddies. I was too consumed with the homework, on which I'd always fallen dangerously behind, to really care about what or where I ate dinner any given night of the week. Basically any place that wasn't Jack in the Box was a welcomed treat. Wednesday after Wednesday, we would dine at some of Houston's favorites, but one place stood out from all the rest. Dolce Vita.
The converted old house on Westheimer is fully equipped with a fine staff, a great drink menu and a perfectly adorable selection of inventive pizzas, delectable cheeses, creative vegetable dishes and unique salads.
You know when you fall in love for the first time and everything before that moment becomes a blur, a mere cliffnote of who you used to be? Well that's sort of how I felt the first time I experienced a Taleggio pizza.
I don't even think I'd ordered it, but somehow it appeared on my table or on someones table nearby. Either way, I was hypnotized. The intoxicating aroma permeated everything around me, slowly converting the quaint Montrose restaurant into the mothership of every pizza desire I would have from that moment on.
The Taleggio, named after the fantastic Italian cheese that oozes with a brie like fluidity all over the warm crust, carries a strong aroma balanced by a smooth and mildly fruity flavor. The thin crust is topped with fresh arugula, ripe pear slices and finally - and most importantly - drizzled with an erotically pungent truffle oil.
I often joke that when I order that pizza, everyone around me hates me for one of two reasons; they're upset that they can't smell anything other than my pizza or they're jealous that they don't have my pizza. Believe me, it's the latter. Alright, alright...so there are 12 other pizzas on the menu, but I gotta rave about my fave!
You'll find other fun pizzas like the Vongole (clams, garlic, cherry tomatoes and mozzarella) and the Zucca (butternut squash, panchetta and smoked mozzarella.) And for the creatures of habit, there are creative versions of the classics like the Siciliana (olives and capers) and the Calabrese (spicy salami) which is just a gourmet spin on a pepperoni pizza.
Dolce Vita also serves a limited number of colorful entrees and pastas that will satisfy any non pizza lover. Be sure to try my favorite Verdura; Shaved Brussel Sprouts with Pecorino. This delicious starter is dense, flavorful and will totally change your opinion of the historically blackballed sprout.
While it's not a super casual pizza joint, it does offer a relaxed vibe for a fairly diverse clientele. The prices are fair. You can share an appetizer, a pizza and two glasses of wine for about $50. So if you want to jump up a notch or two from your regular pizza routine and enjoy a bit of Italian authenticity, this is your place.
P.S. Parking is pretty black and white at Dolce Vita. If you want your car parked in a parking lot, go valet all the way. If you don't mind a super short stroll (my personal favorite - heck, sometimes I even walk from home!) find a little parking spot in the neighborhood just behind the restaurant. Be mindful of the "No Parking" signs and you'll be fine. The way this place gets jammed up on a good night, you'll be able to walk to your car long before valet could get it to you!
Location: 500 Westheimer 713.520.8222
Van Loc - Give it a Try
The Skinny: They make Tofu actually taste good!
The Fat: Carnivores and Vegetarians alike will enjoy this Vietnamese/Chinese wonderland. I've been a fan since my "down-and-out law school days" and for 12 hours a day, seven days a week, they were always there to serve up some low priced, awesome Asian fare.
After you figure out how to get to the restaurant (through the maze of one-way streets and the Main Street Light Rail) you'll feel like your efforts may have been in vain when you pull into the shabby parking lot with potholes and cris-crossed yellow parking lines. Keep going, the prize is yet to come.
First of all, Van Loc isn't going to dote on you. The only time anyone was actually cordial was when I brought one of my dearest friends to dine with me one night. The fact that my friend is neither Vietnamese or Chinese, but a Korean/Cuban hybrid, was seemingly of little importance because my slanted eyed guest and I managed to solicit the rare, but quite sincere smile from the hostess/cashier. This acknowledgment was, aside from the thrill of immediate acceptance, totally invaluable. After all, the hostess wasn't going to be cooking my food, right? Yes, that's right.
Here's the deal, the prize is not the service, not the sleekness of the bathrooms, and certainly not the decor. Ok, maybe I'm making Van Loc seem like little more than a soup kitchen with a Vietnamese menu and a price tag, but it's just a regular place so I want you to be prepared. While the servers are usually on their game, it's certainly not a fine dining establishment. Just put on a pair of flip flops and get ready to eat until you drop...and maybe have some food left over to go.
Their Pho is amazing. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Pho, it’s an enormous bowl of steaming hot broth filled with rice noodles, sliced onions and whatever type of meat you choose-from chicken to raw beef.
By the way, the pronunciation of Pho is a delicate conglomeration of fah (like, “fa”...a long, long way to run) and fuh (like Pho-ck off, jerkface.) You should feel proud to pronounce it correctly, but if you're too nervous just point to it or use the ever reliable "number system" that Asian restaurants have been kind enough to attach to their menu items. But you're more adventurous than that, aren't you?
Anyway you say it, they serve it up just right. Each bowl comes with a plentiful side of bean sprouts, cilantro (I'm not a fan of cilantro) lime, and basil so that each person can add as much or as little of the fresh additions as they choose.
Before you order your entree, be sure to get an order of the shrimp spring rolls to share. Delicate vermicelli, crisp lettuce, fresh basil and sliced shrimp are tightly rolled into thin pieces of rice paper and served with some of the best peanut sauce I’ve ever had at an Asian restaurant - no lie.
People will argue that Mai’s, a similar Vietnamese restaurant down the street, is a fierce competitor, but I say “NO WAY”! Mai’s is just as unfriendly, just as unattractive...but their peanut sauce cannot hold a candle to that of Van Loc’s! Additionally, their rice paper is often over folded and quite rubbery. It’s no contest.
Now, I love meat just as much as the next gal, but once I discovered the glory of their Tofu selections, I was done. Since then, I rarely order anything else. While their chicken and beef dishes are fantastic, smothered in well thought out sauces and served with glorious, crisp veggies, I’m firmly hooked on two of their several vegetarian selections: “Tofu in Clay Pot” and “Garlic Tofu.”
The Tofu in Clay Pot is a heavenly pot of richly doused tofu combined with perfectly adorable cap mushrooms and served with a soft bed of white rice. The Garlic Tofu is, by far, my favorite. Here the semi-soft tofu cubes are gently fried and then tossed in an inexplicably perfect mix of roasted garlic and onions and then laid over a fresh bed of lettuce and tomato slices - all saturated in an anomalous vinaigrette that I’ve yet to recreate to this day.
I could go on and on, but you should just...go. Van Loc Rocks!!!
P.S. The portions are pretty substantial. Since there are so many fantastic items to try, you may want to take a moment to find a couple of things that you and your guests can share. If you're insanely hungry, go for the shrimp spring rolls right off the bat. They come out fast and will keep your growling belly at bay while you take time go through the rather extensive menu. About four people can easily enjoy two or three items - like one full size appetizer, one regular size soup and one entree. Van Loc is a bargain and a delight.
Location: 3010 Milam Street- 713. 528. 6441
Blue Nile - Give it A Try
The Skinny: While it may take you a while to drive to Blue Nile, this Ethiopian Cuisine is well worth the trouble.
The Fat: It is officially located in America, but Blue Nile is -in fact- outside the loop. This may seem like "destination dining" to us spoiled folks living in Monstrose - a mere stone's throw from a bazillion fine restaurants. Just put a few extra bucks in the old gas guzzler, plan for a little trip and consider it an adventure.
I tend to be a tad skittish when I eat unfamiliar fare. It's like wading into an enormous body of water; I'm not sure what's living in the deep end so I'm gonna shuffle my feet through the shallow end until I feel comfortable enough to swim. That's why my first few visits to the Blue Nile were strictly vegetarian. After all, I don't know what sort of meat is running around in the kitchen.
Fortunately they have outstanding vegetarian selections. I always get the #11 Vegetarian Combo. It includes 6 of the 10 vegetarian items and is big enough to share with at least one other person. This perfect platter is an arrangement of large dollops of Kik Alicha (spiced split peas), Gomen (chopped garlic collard greens), Atkilt Wot (mixed veggies with ginger & tumeric), Yesmissir Wot (red lentil stew),Shirro Wot (pea flowers & herbs)and finished with a fresh Blue Nile salad. Most of the items are warm and stewed so the salad is a refreshing addition to the platter.
Oh, did i mention you get to eat with your hands? Each platter comes with several servings of Injera(a spongy, crepe looking bread made of Teff flour). Used as a utensil, you simply rip off a piece of Injera, throw it on the bit of food you eventually want in your tummy and grab. Yes!
While this concept excites me today, the method was sort of odd when I was a mere 17 years old and my mom's friend's 20 year old son wanted to take me out on a date.
There was an Ethiopian restaurant in Tampa, were I grew up, and this is where he decided we'd go for dinner. I didn't want to go out with him to begin with, but my mother insisted that he was "a nice young man" and I should accept the invitation. So I did. He picked me up in his car and took me to dinner. As if I wasn't nervous enough, I had to figure out how to use this floppy bread to pick up veritable piles of soup!
Anyway, I got over it and we had fun. I kindly thanked him for an interesting evening and gladly went back to being single and using a fork. Now that I look back on it he was a pretty cool guy, but I was young and not really interested in dating yet. However one thing stuck with me; eating pizza and wings with my hands paled in comparison to this new hand to mouth practice and I was totally hooked on Ethiopian food.
After a few visits to Houston's Blue Nile, I finally went for a swim and tried a meat dish. Great stuff. The portions are large and the meat is super tender and flavorful; cooked with a harmonious blend of Ethiopian spices like garlic, hot pepper, and seasoned butter. Now if I go with a large enough group we'll get one Vegetarian combo and the #29, Yefisik Beyayinetu. This beef and poultry platter includes three of their best items.
I've been here about 4 or 5 times and I can honestly say that my experiences have been consistent. The food is great, the atmosphere is simple but subtly authentic, and the service (while very friendly) is not so great. You'll have to ask for pretty much everything from refills, to your check, to your change. Nonetheless, the food is exciting and unique.
P.S. If you want to get out of your routine every now and again, slip away to Blue Nile for some truly interesting dining. Make sure to get a glass of the honey wine too. This sweet beverage provides perfect balance to the rich fare.
Location: 9400 Richmond Avenue (713)782-6882
Los Charros II - Give it a Try
The Skinny: Los Charros II is the official birthplace of the "Fat Baby". After my first meal here I was so full, I claimed to be just like a Fat Baby, plump and ready for a long nap. Needless to say, this dive is one of my faves.
The Fat: A few years ago a friend and I started coming here for breakfast. Back then, $2.75 would get you a huge plate of scrambled eggs mixed with anything from chorizo to sausage, a side of refried beans, potatoes, fresh salsa and warm corn or flour tortillas. I always order shredded cheese and avocado with my breakfast, for $.50 each, it's so worth it.
These days, that same plate costs $3.25. The price increase is of little importance to me. When I see price increases at other places, I sometimes get peeved because I know they're just doing it because they can. Here, they do it because the have to and because they should. The food is scrumptious, substantial and still a steal.
If you're an OJ lover, get some. They squeeze it fresh to order and it's amazing! Be sure to specify that you want the small glass. The small is pretty big so unless you want to end up with an enormous glass, reminiscent of a goldfish bowl, you'll do as I say.
The best thing about Los Charros II is that they serve breakfast anytime of day ($1.25 extra if you order it after 11am). It's perfect for those of us who choose to roll out of bed on a Sunday and prefer to avoid the "post religious services" crowd or the "uber popular brunch-a-mania" wave that washes over the city between 9am and 5pm.
I've never once had to wait for a table. On the same note, this place fluctuates from 5 to 50 other diners at any given time of day. Never empty, they know they got the goods.
If you're not an eggs and tortillas gal, go for the Torta. The warm sandwich can be a vegetarian delight or filled with steak, fajita chicken, barbecue beef, etc. and is served on a soft French loaf and stuffed with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado and sour cream.
They make incredible Gorditas, crispy Tostadas and even serve up a mean Mexican Hamburger; all of which are under $4.00. A few other lunch and dinner items hover around the $7.00 range and will fill most grown men up well before they clean their plates.
The decor is...well...interesting. The seating looks like it may have been extracted from the post renovation buy-out of a 1970's McDonald's. The back wall sports an uncomfortable mural of a bear family with a super strong politically incorrect vibe - sort of like those oldschool cartoons with the guys that blew up their lips from smoking dynamite cigars. Thankfully the mural has since been covered up by juice dispensers for their Aguas Naturales - natural fruit drinks of melon, mango, strawberry and the like. The rest of the walls have been (repeatedly) painted in loud hues of yellow and blue and about half of the windows are covered with faded car window tinting.
I wouldn't suggest taking your high-maintenance girlfriend here if you're trying to impress her. Once you know she loves you for your mind, however, Los Charros II is a great place to fuel up for a long day of...whatever.
P.S. The waitstaff are super efficient but most of the ladies barely speak English, which rocks as far as I'm concerned. They're cool and decent and just there to make sure you get fed. So, when you order, go ahead and try out your old Spanish lessons from 6th grade. You suck, they suck; it's all good. You'll still get your food.
Location: 404 N. Shepherd 713.426.6226
The Fat: A few years ago a friend and I started coming here for breakfast. Back then, $2.75 would get you a huge plate of scrambled eggs mixed with anything from chorizo to sausage, a side of refried beans, potatoes, fresh salsa and warm corn or flour tortillas. I always order shredded cheese and avocado with my breakfast, for $.50 each, it's so worth it.
These days, that same plate costs $3.25. The price increase is of little importance to me. When I see price increases at other places, I sometimes get peeved because I know they're just doing it because they can. Here, they do it because the have to and because they should. The food is scrumptious, substantial and still a steal.
If you're an OJ lover, get some. They squeeze it fresh to order and it's amazing! Be sure to specify that you want the small glass. The small is pretty big so unless you want to end up with an enormous glass, reminiscent of a goldfish bowl, you'll do as I say.
The best thing about Los Charros II is that they serve breakfast anytime of day ($1.25 extra if you order it after 11am). It's perfect for those of us who choose to roll out of bed on a Sunday and prefer to avoid the "post religious services" crowd or the "uber popular brunch-a-mania" wave that washes over the city between 9am and 5pm.
I've never once had to wait for a table. On the same note, this place fluctuates from 5 to 50 other diners at any given time of day. Never empty, they know they got the goods.
If you're not an eggs and tortillas gal, go for the Torta. The warm sandwich can be a vegetarian delight or filled with steak, fajita chicken, barbecue beef, etc. and is served on a soft French loaf and stuffed with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado and sour cream.
They make incredible Gorditas, crispy Tostadas and even serve up a mean Mexican Hamburger; all of which are under $4.00. A few other lunch and dinner items hover around the $7.00 range and will fill most grown men up well before they clean their plates.
The decor is...well...interesting. The seating looks like it may have been extracted from the post renovation buy-out of a 1970's McDonald's. The back wall sports an uncomfortable mural of a bear family with a super strong politically incorrect vibe - sort of like those oldschool cartoons with the guys that blew up their lips from smoking dynamite cigars. Thankfully the mural has since been covered up by juice dispensers for their Aguas Naturales - natural fruit drinks of melon, mango, strawberry and the like. The rest of the walls have been (repeatedly) painted in loud hues of yellow and blue and about half of the windows are covered with faded car window tinting.
I wouldn't suggest taking your high-maintenance girlfriend here if you're trying to impress her. Once you know she loves you for your mind, however, Los Charros II is a great place to fuel up for a long day of...whatever.
P.S. The waitstaff are super efficient but most of the ladies barely speak English, which rocks as far as I'm concerned. They're cool and decent and just there to make sure you get fed. So, when you order, go ahead and try out your old Spanish lessons from 6th grade. You suck, they suck; it's all good. You'll still get your food.
Location: 404 N. Shepherd 713.426.6226
1308 Cantina - Give it a Try
The Skinny: The killer Margaritas are kin to the ones from their mother ship, El Tiempo. After two, you won't know who's who.
The Fat: Mexican food is Mexican food, some will say. This place is no better than the best, but better than most and that means a lot in a sea of Mexican restaurants.
While I'm a huge lover of the cultural fare that infiltrates the Houston area, back in my hometown of Tampa, Florida, I always despised the sorry attempts the local restaurants made to serve Mexican food. But after a few years of H-town living and after reconfiguring my taste buds' likes and dislikes, Tex Mex has moved near the top of my list of culinary cravings. What can I say? I'm a fan!
First of all, I love to take my time when I dine. If I want to eat something on the fly, I'll whip up a grilled cheese and a side salad in the comfort of my own home. So - Mexican restaurant or not - if I'm out, I'm in it for the long haul; the drinks, the apps, and the conversation between courses. And so we started, ever so slowly, with their Margaritas. Yowza!
Well, one drink later, I was fully prepared to skip my sentimental yearning for leisurely dining and head out to the bars. Still, with my dining companion as the sole voice of reason, we managed to get ourselves together and order some food. We were going to see a friend's band play later that night and wanted to be "vertical" for the event.
The chips are crisp and the salsas (green and red) are tasty and fresh. We decided on a few apps to share. The Seared Tuna appetizer was a bit of a let down; a little overpriced for the portion size, but perfectly cooked and delicious nonetheless. If you want seared tuna, I'd save my fresh fish craving for another spot.
We also ordered the 7 Cheese, Crab, Artichoke & Spinach Dip. This masterful pot-o-heart attack was out of this world. A side of warm tortillas is served with a bowl of a gazillion cheeses (seven, to be exact) melted together with bits of crab and -you guessed it- Spinach and Artichoke. It was hard to distinguish the flavors from one another, but yummy just the same. It's a dip. That's how they work.
The shrimp cocktail is fantastic; a huge sundae glass filled with shrimp & fresh avocado drenched in a perfectly spiced red sauce and served with toast points. Then get ready for the Cannonball. This thing could kill a village. It's a full avocado stuffed with cheese and chicken and then (get this) deep fried. Sure it's a heart attack waiting to happen, but you'll be done eating it long before that becomes an issue.
I'd take a pass on the Jicama and Mango Salad. While it sounds exotic and delectable (don't worry , we were fooled too), the careless cuts of jicama and mango were little more than an unflattering duo plopped on a plate and drenched in a flavorless lime dressing. The whole dish proved to be messy and quite unappetizing.
I love their classics, like quesadillas, with any filling of chicken, beef or shrimp. Their enchiladas are pretty great too.
If you're looking to be floored by ingenious preparations, have another drink. This place is major Mexican and good at...the basics. But that's what we all love about Mexican food anyway, isn't it? The basics. At 1308 Cantina, you really can't go wrong. Just stick to the things you love about Tex Mex and you'll be happy.
P.S. The service is fantastic! Your chip bowl never runneth dry. Many of the servers won't be able to describe the menu items to you, I think it's because there are about 1000 items on the menu, so stick with what you know.
Oh, and my favorite waiter goes by the name of Larry. He's Mexican, but says that his hippy parents just loved the name "Larry." It's a funny story, ask for him and ask him about it. Then ask him what his middle name is. Then, after your second Margarita, ask him what a "Jose Conseco" is. Good times!
Location: 1308 Montrose Blvd. 713.807.8996
The Fat: Mexican food is Mexican food, some will say. This place is no better than the best, but better than most and that means a lot in a sea of Mexican restaurants.
While I'm a huge lover of the cultural fare that infiltrates the Houston area, back in my hometown of Tampa, Florida, I always despised the sorry attempts the local restaurants made to serve Mexican food. But after a few years of H-town living and after reconfiguring my taste buds' likes and dislikes, Tex Mex has moved near the top of my list of culinary cravings. What can I say? I'm a fan!
First of all, I love to take my time when I dine. If I want to eat something on the fly, I'll whip up a grilled cheese and a side salad in the comfort of my own home. So - Mexican restaurant or not - if I'm out, I'm in it for the long haul; the drinks, the apps, and the conversation between courses. And so we started, ever so slowly, with their Margaritas. Yowza!
Well, one drink later, I was fully prepared to skip my sentimental yearning for leisurely dining and head out to the bars. Still, with my dining companion as the sole voice of reason, we managed to get ourselves together and order some food. We were going to see a friend's band play later that night and wanted to be "vertical" for the event.
The chips are crisp and the salsas (green and red) are tasty and fresh. We decided on a few apps to share. The Seared Tuna appetizer was a bit of a let down; a little overpriced for the portion size, but perfectly cooked and delicious nonetheless. If you want seared tuna, I'd save my fresh fish craving for another spot.
We also ordered the 7 Cheese, Crab, Artichoke & Spinach Dip. This masterful pot-o-heart attack was out of this world. A side of warm tortillas is served with a bowl of a gazillion cheeses (seven, to be exact) melted together with bits of crab and -you guessed it- Spinach and Artichoke. It was hard to distinguish the flavors from one another, but yummy just the same. It's a dip. That's how they work.
The shrimp cocktail is fantastic; a huge sundae glass filled with shrimp & fresh avocado drenched in a perfectly spiced red sauce and served with toast points. Then get ready for the Cannonball. This thing could kill a village. It's a full avocado stuffed with cheese and chicken and then (get this) deep fried. Sure it's a heart attack waiting to happen, but you'll be done eating it long before that becomes an issue.
I'd take a pass on the Jicama and Mango Salad. While it sounds exotic and delectable (don't worry , we were fooled too), the careless cuts of jicama and mango were little more than an unflattering duo plopped on a plate and drenched in a flavorless lime dressing. The whole dish proved to be messy and quite unappetizing.
I love their classics, like quesadillas, with any filling of chicken, beef or shrimp. Their enchiladas are pretty great too.
If you're looking to be floored by ingenious preparations, have another drink. This place is major Mexican and good at...the basics. But that's what we all love about Mexican food anyway, isn't it? The basics. At 1308 Cantina, you really can't go wrong. Just stick to the things you love about Tex Mex and you'll be happy.
P.S. The service is fantastic! Your chip bowl never runneth dry. Many of the servers won't be able to describe the menu items to you, I think it's because there are about 1000 items on the menu, so stick with what you know.
Oh, and my favorite waiter goes by the name of Larry. He's Mexican, but says that his hippy parents just loved the name "Larry." It's a funny story, ask for him and ask him about it. Then ask him what his middle name is. Then, after your second Margarita, ask him what a "Jose Conseco" is. Good times!
Location: 1308 Montrose Blvd. 713.807.8996
La Fendee - Toss Up
The Skinny: Not bad if you dig fugitive fare.
The Fat: I live in Montrose. That little fact affords me the luxury of riding my bike or walking to many of my favorite spots. So many restaurants, shops, coffee houses and bars are mere paces away from my humble abode.
After a long day at work, a much needed jog and a good long shower, my friend called and asked me if I wanted to grab a bite to eat. "Heck yeah," I said. I was hungry. Being the blossoming food critic (and unavoidable control freak) that I am, he "allowed" me to pick the place. I suggested that we walk to a destination. The only time Houston is good for a stroll in the summer is after the sun goes down and I was in the mood for a stroll.
I recently put up a poll on my blog asking readers to "vote" on which Mediterranean restaurant they'd like to read about next. However, we were dining well before the poll had expired. Nonetheless, Mediterranean food was on my mind. My friend suggested we go to the place that had accumulated the least number of votes so that when the election was over I could still go to the place that "won." That brings us to La Fendee; a low score and a slow walk from my house.
Before we left, I looked the restaurant up on-line to see what time they closed. You never want to walk to a place on an empty stomach only to find out that you have to walk somewhere else! We arrived at 9:10. They closed at 10pm, perfect!
As usual I had a hard time trying to figure out what to order. It was my first time and I wanted to peruse the menu a bit. While I'm tossing around the standard Mediterranean selections, I noticed that two of the three tables next to us had hookahs. They were sipping and puffing away, laughing and having a ball... I was hungry, but mostly I was jealous. I ordered a hookah. My friend wanted to order it after the meal, but we just figured if we ordered it first we could smoke it before and after. Good idea, right?
La Fendee fills their hookahs with flavored tobacco - you can choose from strawberry, cherry, apple or mint. While I wasn't fond of any but the mint (but too afraid to get a menthol hookah), I asked for a mix of strawberry and mint. I figured that would somehow make it alright.
Now, I've never smoked from a hookah before, but I know that there is some superb tobacco to be had in this world. I don't think La Fendee knew that though. The fruit smell (and taste) was vaguely reminiscent of a car deodorizer, the kind one would proudly hang from the review mirror of their Trans-Am, circa 1987. Eek! The mint was the only saving grace. Whatever, I chalked it up to an experience...and it gave me more time to look at the menu.
After a few relaxing puffs, a few laughs about how cool we were to be smoking hookahs on a week night and few more glances at the menu, we decided to start with the Chef's Special Mediterranean Plate; an appetizer combo of all the faves - hummus, tabbouleh, babaganush, Greek salad, falafel, stuffed grape leaves, chicken and beef shawarma with a side of pita bread. Wow! We also ordered the fried eggplant with pomegranate sauce, it sounded too good to pass up. We told the waitress we'd start with that and order more if we were still hungry.
When the food arrived I was pretty impressed with most of it. It looked appealing and the portions were nice. The flavor and consistency of the hummus and babaganush were exquisite; thick, creamy and perfectly seasoned. The falafel were tasty too. They had been fried to a healthy, crunchy brown.
The pitas were crunchy too, but not in a good way. It was as if they had been exposed to air all night. The pomegranate eggplant, which I was totally excited about, was super saturated in oil and barely edible. Even my hungry companion couldn't stomach the greasy dish. The chicken and beef shawarma was overcooked and crusty, like it was from the bottom of the barrel, scraped off for the last order of the evening. It all tasted like the stuff that would have gone into the garbage if we hadn't ordered it. Sure, they were nearing closing time, but If I'm gonna get half-assed food, I would expect to pay half price!
My dining companion was still hungry after our apps had arrived, but we sort of lost track of time. Promptly at 9:59pm the waitress came over with our check. Although I'm a stickler for allowing paying customers to live out their welcome when they appropriately arrive during posted business hours, I can understand if a waiter needs to round up the troops by asking, "The kitchen is about to close, would you like to order anything else?" This did not happen.
I actually liked our waitress. She was sweet and attentive. However, she dropped that check like a hot cake and told us that, while we were welcome to take our time, they needed to run the reports. A few minutes after giving her our credit cards (upon request) and then filling out the tip (upon another immediate request) the lights in the restaurant were suddenly turned off. Hookahed, hungry and half a minute past closing, we felt alienated and unwelcome. Aside from the obvious, this also meant we couldn't refill our drinks or even use the bathrooms.
At 10:15pm the owner (or manager, either way it was bad business) escorted the staff out the front door and actually pulled her car up, along side the patio where we and the other two customers were sitting. She got out of her car, helped the buss boy lock up and essentially waited for us to leave. Clearly there was no more food, but what about more Hookah smoking - something we had already paid for? Oh, we got the point.
P.S. The food's alright, but the service left a bad taste in my mouth. If a restaurant's open until 10pm, that doesn't mean they should kick customers out at 10:01. Your diners are more than guests, the pay for a product and a service.
The Fat: I live in Montrose. That little fact affords me the luxury of riding my bike or walking to many of my favorite spots. So many restaurants, shops, coffee houses and bars are mere paces away from my humble abode.
After a long day at work, a much needed jog and a good long shower, my friend called and asked me if I wanted to grab a bite to eat. "Heck yeah," I said. I was hungry. Being the blossoming food critic (and unavoidable control freak) that I am, he "allowed" me to pick the place. I suggested that we walk to a destination. The only time Houston is good for a stroll in the summer is after the sun goes down and I was in the mood for a stroll.
I recently put up a poll on my blog asking readers to "vote" on which Mediterranean restaurant they'd like to read about next. However, we were dining well before the poll had expired. Nonetheless, Mediterranean food was on my mind. My friend suggested we go to the place that had accumulated the least number of votes so that when the election was over I could still go to the place that "won." That brings us to La Fendee; a low score and a slow walk from my house.
Before we left, I looked the restaurant up on-line to see what time they closed. You never want to walk to a place on an empty stomach only to find out that you have to walk somewhere else! We arrived at 9:10. They closed at 10pm, perfect!
As usual I had a hard time trying to figure out what to order. It was my first time and I wanted to peruse the menu a bit. While I'm tossing around the standard Mediterranean selections, I noticed that two of the three tables next to us had hookahs. They were sipping and puffing away, laughing and having a ball... I was hungry, but mostly I was jealous. I ordered a hookah. My friend wanted to order it after the meal, but we just figured if we ordered it first we could smoke it before and after. Good idea, right?
La Fendee fills their hookahs with flavored tobacco - you can choose from strawberry, cherry, apple or mint. While I wasn't fond of any but the mint (but too afraid to get a menthol hookah), I asked for a mix of strawberry and mint. I figured that would somehow make it alright.
Now, I've never smoked from a hookah before, but I know that there is some superb tobacco to be had in this world. I don't think La Fendee knew that though. The fruit smell (and taste) was vaguely reminiscent of a car deodorizer, the kind one would proudly hang from the review mirror of their Trans-Am, circa 1987. Eek! The mint was the only saving grace. Whatever, I chalked it up to an experience...and it gave me more time to look at the menu.
After a few relaxing puffs, a few laughs about how cool we were to be smoking hookahs on a week night and few more glances at the menu, we decided to start with the Chef's Special Mediterranean Plate; an appetizer combo of all the faves - hummus, tabbouleh, babaganush, Greek salad, falafel, stuffed grape leaves, chicken and beef shawarma with a side of pita bread. Wow! We also ordered the fried eggplant with pomegranate sauce, it sounded too good to pass up. We told the waitress we'd start with that and order more if we were still hungry.
When the food arrived I was pretty impressed with most of it. It looked appealing and the portions were nice. The flavor and consistency of the hummus and babaganush were exquisite; thick, creamy and perfectly seasoned. The falafel were tasty too. They had been fried to a healthy, crunchy brown.
The pitas were crunchy too, but not in a good way. It was as if they had been exposed to air all night. The pomegranate eggplant, which I was totally excited about, was super saturated in oil and barely edible. Even my hungry companion couldn't stomach the greasy dish. The chicken and beef shawarma was overcooked and crusty, like it was from the bottom of the barrel, scraped off for the last order of the evening. It all tasted like the stuff that would have gone into the garbage if we hadn't ordered it. Sure, they were nearing closing time, but If I'm gonna get half-assed food, I would expect to pay half price!
My dining companion was still hungry after our apps had arrived, but we sort of lost track of time. Promptly at 9:59pm the waitress came over with our check. Although I'm a stickler for allowing paying customers to live out their welcome when they appropriately arrive during posted business hours, I can understand if a waiter needs to round up the troops by asking, "The kitchen is about to close, would you like to order anything else?" This did not happen.
I actually liked our waitress. She was sweet and attentive. However, she dropped that check like a hot cake and told us that, while we were welcome to take our time, they needed to run the reports. A few minutes after giving her our credit cards (upon request) and then filling out the tip (upon another immediate request) the lights in the restaurant were suddenly turned off. Hookahed, hungry and half a minute past closing, we felt alienated and unwelcome. Aside from the obvious, this also meant we couldn't refill our drinks or even use the bathrooms.
At 10:15pm the owner (or manager, either way it was bad business) escorted the staff out the front door and actually pulled her car up, along side the patio where we and the other two customers were sitting. She got out of her car, helped the buss boy lock up and essentially waited for us to leave. Clearly there was no more food, but what about more Hookah smoking - something we had already paid for? Oh, we got the point.
P.S. The food's alright, but the service left a bad taste in my mouth. If a restaurant's open until 10pm, that doesn't mean they should kick customers out at 10:01. Your diners are more than guests, the pay for a product and a service.
Sambuca - Give it a Try
The Skinny: For a well rounded night of good service, perfectly executed fare and some lively contemporary music, get Dolled Up and head Downtown.
The Fat: I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of lunging myself into the Houston mess on the weekends. Why should I venture Downtown when there are more than enough great places in Montrose, River Oaks and The Heights where I won't have to pay $15 to park my car and walk 10 blocks to my destination? However, there are a few places that make the madness well worth it.
I've visited Sambuca about five times over the past few years. Sometimes I'll go on a date, other times I will step in with a group of friends. Whomever may accompany you, this is one of the Houston establishments that really makes you feel like you're living it up. Although they serve a fantastic lunch menu, it's just one of those places you should visit when the sun goes down.
The restaurant has two main levels, each cozy in their own right. Dark accessories and leopard print upholstery pepper the restaurant. Tables for larger groups tend to be upstairs or set off to the side. Some tables are placed right in front of the stage. If you want to feel like part of the action, ask to be seated there. Late night, they move some of the stage-front tables to allow more space for a dance floor. I have been seated upstairs and, while it's the perfect retreat for an intimate occasion, the downstairs level is by far my favorite place to sit.
If you're there to dine, I highly recommend making reservations. There's a swanky bar area where you can wait for an opening or just sip on Martinis, but if you want a table you may as well reserve a spot. My only suggestion would be that you make a specific request for where you'd like to sit.
The last time I made a reservation, I asked for a booth. Requesting a booth is usually a great idea because each one is placed along the perimeter and is curved to face the main dining area. When we arrived, however, all the downstairs booths were occupied, so we were shuffled upstairs to the one remaining booth. We felt quite isolated from the rest of the restaurant. For a reservation with a special request for booth, you'd think they would have asked us if we wanted to sit at THE ONLY BOOTH UPSTAIRS...alone...away from the rest of the crowd. While it was the perfect place for a wild make-out session, (don't get me wrong, I'm pretty adventurous) it was only 6pm and we had a show to attend at 8pm. So shoot me if I didn't want to wrinkle my dress before the Symphony!
Ah, the food. For starters, the Carpaccio in the Raw is a must. This duo of delicate salmon and beef was drizzled with orange and balsamic vinaigrette, respectively. So sublime.
Oh, and I'm always up for a little escargot too. The escargot at Sambuca is an outstanding selection. While I much prefer the basic preparation of butter, garlic and little else, this appetizer was just as alluring because it was smothered in lemon, garlic, spinach and smoked Gouda. They're also topped with small puff pastry pieces, which were flavorless additions that detracted from the dish. In fact, I think it would be best if the escargot were served without them. I promptly removed them from my plate. Instead I used some of Sambuca's crusty bread to sop up the ridiculously cheesy goodness that was left on my plate after I inhaled the snails.
But do sop up the remnants. Don't be shy, what's the point? This is food, people. It's meant to be enjoyed.
You'll surely be satisfied with any entree you order, but I tend to lean toward the steak. I always love a good fish, but I cook a lot at home and so the last thing I wanted was another salmon dish. I'm in it for the meat. The Petite Filet (to be exact) was more than enough for me, but a larger version is available. If there were side dishes on the plate (which there were) I overlooked them entirely. The meat had all my attention...and rightly so.
The great thing about the meat at Sambuca is that, while it is always perfectly prepared (medium rare, baby) they top each steak variety with it's own little pat of seasoned butter. Who doesn't like butter? Mine came with a slice of Gorgonzola Walnut butter. My date's New York Strip came with Roasted Garlic and Thyme butter...oh my god...sh!
P.S. I never make it around to dessert at Sambuca, but I'm sure it's delicious. The last thing I remember is that they never offer enough chocolate dessert selections...but with a precursor of good wine, good music, and (if you're lucky) good company, I'm thinking that a fantastic dessert will follow suit.
Location: 909 Texas Avenue (713) 224-5299
Photo courtesy of Kenny Haner
The Fat: I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of lunging myself into the Houston mess on the weekends. Why should I venture Downtown when there are more than enough great places in Montrose, River Oaks and The Heights where I won't have to pay $15 to park my car and walk 10 blocks to my destination? However, there are a few places that make the madness well worth it.
I've visited Sambuca about five times over the past few years. Sometimes I'll go on a date, other times I will step in with a group of friends. Whomever may accompany you, this is one of the Houston establishments that really makes you feel like you're living it up. Although they serve a fantastic lunch menu, it's just one of those places you should visit when the sun goes down.
The restaurant has two main levels, each cozy in their own right. Dark accessories and leopard print upholstery pepper the restaurant. Tables for larger groups tend to be upstairs or set off to the side. Some tables are placed right in front of the stage. If you want to feel like part of the action, ask to be seated there. Late night, they move some of the stage-front tables to allow more space for a dance floor. I have been seated upstairs and, while it's the perfect retreat for an intimate occasion, the downstairs level is by far my favorite place to sit.
If you're there to dine, I highly recommend making reservations. There's a swanky bar area where you can wait for an opening or just sip on Martinis, but if you want a table you may as well reserve a spot. My only suggestion would be that you make a specific request for where you'd like to sit.
The last time I made a reservation, I asked for a booth. Requesting a booth is usually a great idea because each one is placed along the perimeter and is curved to face the main dining area. When we arrived, however, all the downstairs booths were occupied, so we were shuffled upstairs to the one remaining booth. We felt quite isolated from the rest of the restaurant. For a reservation with a special request for booth, you'd think they would have asked us if we wanted to sit at THE ONLY BOOTH UPSTAIRS...alone...away from the rest of the crowd. While it was the perfect place for a wild make-out session, (don't get me wrong, I'm pretty adventurous) it was only 6pm and we had a show to attend at 8pm. So shoot me if I didn't want to wrinkle my dress before the Symphony!
Ah, the food. For starters, the Carpaccio in the Raw is a must. This duo of delicate salmon and beef was drizzled with orange and balsamic vinaigrette, respectively. So sublime.
Oh, and I'm always up for a little escargot too. The escargot at Sambuca is an outstanding selection. While I much prefer the basic preparation of butter, garlic and little else, this appetizer was just as alluring because it was smothered in lemon, garlic, spinach and smoked Gouda. They're also topped with small puff pastry pieces, which were flavorless additions that detracted from the dish. In fact, I think it would be best if the escargot were served without them. I promptly removed them from my plate. Instead I used some of Sambuca's crusty bread to sop up the ridiculously cheesy goodness that was left on my plate after I inhaled the snails.
But do sop up the remnants. Don't be shy, what's the point? This is food, people. It's meant to be enjoyed.
You'll surely be satisfied with any entree you order, but I tend to lean toward the steak. I always love a good fish, but I cook a lot at home and so the last thing I wanted was another salmon dish. I'm in it for the meat. The Petite Filet (to be exact) was more than enough for me, but a larger version is available. If there were side dishes on the plate (which there were) I overlooked them entirely. The meat had all my attention...and rightly so.
The great thing about the meat at Sambuca is that, while it is always perfectly prepared (medium rare, baby) they top each steak variety with it's own little pat of seasoned butter. Who doesn't like butter? Mine came with a slice of Gorgonzola Walnut butter. My date's New York Strip came with Roasted Garlic and Thyme butter...oh my god...sh!
P.S. I never make it around to dessert at Sambuca, but I'm sure it's delicious. The last thing I remember is that they never offer enough chocolate dessert selections...but with a precursor of good wine, good music, and (if you're lucky) good company, I'm thinking that a fantastic dessert will follow suit.
Location: 909 Texas Avenue (713) 224-5299
Photo courtesy of Kenny Haner
Rudyard's Pub - Give it a Try
The Skinny: Aside from the down right relaxed atmosphere and great beer, this place serves some fairly good bar food.
The Fat: This little hole-in-the-wall pub quickly became one of my favorites when I first moved to Houston five years ago. I would drag myself over there pretty regularly, after a long night of studying, for a few beers and an eclectic assortment of live music . Then one day, when 3 (or4 or5) Stella's just wouldn't stop my tummy from rumbling, I realized...there's a kitchen here...with a full menu!
I started out small; I'd order a basket of super crunchy tater tots (a deep fried, must have!) with ketchup or crispy fried zucchini with a side of ranch dressing to take the edge off. Oh, I wasn't gonna get serious about this food. After all how good could the food be in a place where you feel like you're overdressed if you're wearing a brand new pair of jeans and a t-shirt without holes?
Fast forward to the present. Nothing about their food has changed except my opinion of how good it is. Get any burger and you're sure to be stuffed, satisfied, and ready for a nap. They serve great sandwiches, hot subs, salads and quesadillas. Try the garden burger. They're not made from scratch but, aside from the shape of the preformed patty, you would never know.
The Pasta Special rocks my world. The recipe changes, but it always gets me smilin'. Thick linguine smothered in a magical, creamy sauce and peppered with fun veggies (i can only seem to remember the corn) and topped with juicy grilled chicken. It comes with two pieces of cheesy, crusty bread so you can sop up any of the yumminess you may have left behind.
Sure, everything tastes better when you've had too much to drink. That's why the drive through line at Taco Bell is the longest at 2:15 am. But, Rudz has some pretty good bar food, with or without the beer buzz.
P.S. The reasons I love Rudyard's are simple. I can go on any given night and head upstairs to listen to local bands, sit downstairs on the patio and eat, or just pop by for one too many beers...and then walk home.
Location: 2010 Waugh Drive
I started out small; I'd order a basket of super crunchy tater tots (a deep fried, must have!) with ketchup or crispy fried zucchini with a side of ranch dressing to take the edge off. Oh, I wasn't gonna get serious about this food. After all how good could the food be in a place where you feel like you're overdressed if you're wearing a brand new pair of jeans and a t-shirt without holes?
Fast forward to the present. Nothing about their food has changed except my opinion of how good it is. Get any burger and you're sure to be stuffed, satisfied, and ready for a nap. They serve great sandwiches, hot subs, salads and quesadillas. Try the garden burger. They're not made from scratch but, aside from the shape of the preformed patty, you would never know.
The Pasta Special rocks my world. The recipe changes, but it always gets me smilin'. Thick linguine smothered in a magical, creamy sauce and peppered with fun veggies (i can only seem to remember the corn) and topped with juicy grilled chicken. It comes with two pieces of cheesy, crusty bread so you can sop up any of the yumminess you may have left behind.
Sure, everything tastes better when you've had too much to drink. That's why the drive through line at Taco Bell is the longest at 2:15 am. But, Rudz has some pretty good bar food, with or without the beer buzz.
P.S. The reasons I love Rudyard's are simple. I can go on any given night and head upstairs to listen to local bands, sit downstairs on the patio and eat, or just pop by for one too many beers...and then walk home.
Location: 2010 Waugh Drive
Star Pizza - Give it a Try
The Skinny: They make "whole wheat crust" taste more heavenly than healthy.
The Fat: I’ll let you in on a little secret, I’m a creature of habit. When visiting a new restaurant, my goal is to find a gem on the menu that drives me wild and order it every time thereafter. On the other hand, if I happen to get something mediocre, I keep trying, now and again, until I’m floored or disgusted. It’s pretty simple, I’m all or nothing. Luckily I found my gem on the first go-a-round. Five years running, I love Star Pizza every time.
Joe’s Pizza’s (insert angelic song here)! On a hand tossed crust this pizza is the bomb. It’s topped with sauteed spinach, roasted garlic and a ridiculous amount of gooey mozzarella. It’s not something you want to eat on a date, unless you just don’t care who you’re kissing. Order this pie with a Greek salad (any salad is enough to share) and it’s pretty much all you need to get fat and happy.
You can get any of their pies on white or whole wheat crust (chose whole wheat.) And yes, I tend to be a veggie lover when it comes to pizza; Star Pizza’s got the corner on that! But fear not - this is not a tree hugger pizza shack. They have many a meatier option and will gladly make a "half & half" pizza for those of us who rub elbows with the carnivorous type.
As it is with every decent pizzeria, Star Pizza offers some meaty, fail safe toppings like pepperoni, bacon, sausage and ham in practically any combination a meat lover can think of. But, everyone knows that "Pizza + Thinking = What’s the Point?" The thing is, this gourmet joint designed such creative combinations that one needn’t even think too hard. Just check out their menu, it’s perfectly planned to accommodate the lot of us.
If you want to dine in, there are two great locations. The original location is close to 59 and Shepard. It’s based in a quaint, two story house that’s been slinging out pies since 1976. The newer location is just on the edge of The Heights, right on Washington.
The restaurant service is just what you’d expect. They’re kind, they say hello, they get your order and they serve you up some fine food. It’s pizza, ya’ll. Just go and get it.
P.S. If you can’t make it in, the delivery service is friendly and fast. So, if you’re lucky enough to live anywhere near their delivery range, having pizza delivered from any other place is a shame.
Locations: #1 2111 Norfolk (near Shepard and 59)
#2 3600 Washington (The Heights)
The Fat: I’ll let you in on a little secret, I’m a creature of habit. When visiting a new restaurant, my goal is to find a gem on the menu that drives me wild and order it every time thereafter. On the other hand, if I happen to get something mediocre, I keep trying, now and again, until I’m floored or disgusted. It’s pretty simple, I’m all or nothing. Luckily I found my gem on the first go-a-round. Five years running, I love Star Pizza every time.
Joe’s Pizza’s (insert angelic song here)! On a hand tossed crust this pizza is the bomb. It’s topped with sauteed spinach, roasted garlic and a ridiculous amount of gooey mozzarella. It’s not something you want to eat on a date, unless you just don’t care who you’re kissing. Order this pie with a Greek salad (any salad is enough to share) and it’s pretty much all you need to get fat and happy.
You can get any of their pies on white or whole wheat crust (chose whole wheat.) And yes, I tend to be a veggie lover when it comes to pizza; Star Pizza’s got the corner on that! But fear not - this is not a tree hugger pizza shack. They have many a meatier option and will gladly make a "half & half" pizza for those of us who rub elbows with the carnivorous type.
As it is with every decent pizzeria, Star Pizza offers some meaty, fail safe toppings like pepperoni, bacon, sausage and ham in practically any combination a meat lover can think of. But, everyone knows that "Pizza + Thinking = What’s the Point?" The thing is, this gourmet joint designed such creative combinations that one needn’t even think too hard. Just check out their menu, it’s perfectly planned to accommodate the lot of us.
If you want to dine in, there are two great locations. The original location is close to 59 and Shepard. It’s based in a quaint, two story house that’s been slinging out pies since 1976. The newer location is just on the edge of The Heights, right on Washington.
The restaurant service is just what you’d expect. They’re kind, they say hello, they get your order and they serve you up some fine food. It’s pizza, ya’ll. Just go and get it.
P.S. If you can’t make it in, the delivery service is friendly and fast. So, if you’re lucky enough to live anywhere near their delivery range, having pizza delivered from any other place is a shame.
Locations: #1 2111 Norfolk (near Shepard and 59)
#2 3600 Washington (The Heights)
Onion Creek - Give it a Try
The Skinny: The beer selection is top notch, the atmosphere is cozy and Austinesque and the burgers are great* (do read below for my beef with their burgers.)
The Fat: I’ve been a lover of Onion Creek for quite some time. I can head there midday for a cup of coffee or go there late night for a couple of beers. The enormous multi level patio deck offers plenty of seating with outdoor tables, chairs and picnic benches. Inside, you’ll find more tables closer to the bar and a little lounge section off to the side filled with mismatched couches and a Packman machine.
Overall the menu is pretty expansive for this little Heights patio bar. They offer an assortment of individual pizzas, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads and a decent number of vegetarian selections. I am, however, a loyal fan of their burgers - the OC burger to be exact. It’s layered with white cheddar, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onion and chipotle mayo.
Burgers and sandwiches are served with your choice of chips or potato salad. Now, listen to me when I say this...DO NOT LEAVE without trying the potato salad! This creamy concoction tastes like a stuffed potato that’s been mixed, mashed, chilled and scooped out for your side dish pleasure.
So back to the burgers*. Here’s the catch. Every once in a while, they’re simply out of burgers. I have to say that, in all the years I’ve ever been to Onion Creek, this only happened once. The rub is that it happened on the one night I took seven friends there specifically for their burgers. On the way there I’m like "The burgers are so great...You have to try the burgers...I’m getting a burger...Burgers this and burgers that"...only to find out that there was not a burger to be had. What? Who runs out of burgers at 8pm on a Friday? Apparently Onion Creek does from time to time. Yep, sort of felt like an ass.
From what I was told when I asked the guy at the bar, Onion Creek has a pretty small kitchen, so they get their burgers cooked down the street at their sister restaurant, Dry Creek (great burgers too, go figure). When the place gets busy, sometimes they just can’t keep up with the burger demand and they fall a bit short.
After a couple of beers and some SERIOUS whining, I settled for a pathetic variation of a Panini. Panini, as we’ve come to know and love them, have one deliciously distinguishing quality - those babies are grilled to have a nice, hearty crunch. Some places may grill them more than others, but any way you toss it, Panini get some grillin’.
Now, I’m not sure if it was a busy night, but my "Pathetinini" - as I like to call it - was made of two pieces of soft round bread, whose tops had been sliced off to resemble Panini bread. Ok, so I’m into working things out on the fly, but can I get some grill action? Uh, none? It was so sad. I think my friends and I actually laughed, (out loud) pointing and criticising, my soft, white sandwich when it got to the table. Sure we behaved like cruel children on a playground poking fun at the one kid wearing faux converse tennis shoes, but I asked for a Panini God dammit, not some sandwich with a star drawn on the side of it.
I won't even get into the Asian Wrap my friend ordered...Ok, I will get into it. This wrap was filled with little more than lettuce and dry Ramen Noodels. Literally! You know those mechanically bent, white noodles that (once water is added) suddenly take on the form of nutritional and totally acceptable meals you used to eat during your first few years of college? While some of us love the taste of $.15 noodles, (myself included) I can't think of anyone who can figure out how $.15 noodles plus lettuce = $7.25. I don't care how bad you are at math!
I love this place overall. And after all is said and done, I'll continue to go back because, if you know what to order, the food is great. The people are friendly and the place is alive with a certain spirit the makes you feel like you're at a backyard party. While the pizzas and appetizers aren't bad either, I say order a burger for your main dish. Give me a burger, a beer and some awesome weather and I’m all about Onion Creek.
P.S. You may want to call ahead and make sure they're stocked up on beef before you get there because if you're anything like me, once you crave a burger...nothing else will do.
Location :3106 White Oak Blvd.
The Fat: I’ve been a lover of Onion Creek for quite some time. I can head there midday for a cup of coffee or go there late night for a couple of beers. The enormous multi level patio deck offers plenty of seating with outdoor tables, chairs and picnic benches. Inside, you’ll find more tables closer to the bar and a little lounge section off to the side filled with mismatched couches and a Packman machine.
Overall the menu is pretty expansive for this little Heights patio bar. They offer an assortment of individual pizzas, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads and a decent number of vegetarian selections. I am, however, a loyal fan of their burgers - the OC burger to be exact. It’s layered with white cheddar, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onion and chipotle mayo.
Burgers and sandwiches are served with your choice of chips or potato salad. Now, listen to me when I say this...DO NOT LEAVE without trying the potato salad! This creamy concoction tastes like a stuffed potato that’s been mixed, mashed, chilled and scooped out for your side dish pleasure.
So back to the burgers*. Here’s the catch. Every once in a while, they’re simply out of burgers. I have to say that, in all the years I’ve ever been to Onion Creek, this only happened once. The rub is that it happened on the one night I took seven friends there specifically for their burgers. On the way there I’m like "The burgers are so great...You have to try the burgers...I’m getting a burger...Burgers this and burgers that"...only to find out that there was not a burger to be had. What? Who runs out of burgers at 8pm on a Friday? Apparently Onion Creek does from time to time. Yep, sort of felt like an ass.
From what I was told when I asked the guy at the bar, Onion Creek has a pretty small kitchen, so they get their burgers cooked down the street at their sister restaurant, Dry Creek (great burgers too, go figure). When the place gets busy, sometimes they just can’t keep up with the burger demand and they fall a bit short.
After a couple of beers and some SERIOUS whining, I settled for a pathetic variation of a Panini. Panini, as we’ve come to know and love them, have one deliciously distinguishing quality - those babies are grilled to have a nice, hearty crunch. Some places may grill them more than others, but any way you toss it, Panini get some grillin’.
Now, I’m not sure if it was a busy night, but my "Pathetinini" - as I like to call it - was made of two pieces of soft round bread, whose tops had been sliced off to resemble Panini bread. Ok, so I’m into working things out on the fly, but can I get some grill action? Uh, none? It was so sad. I think my friends and I actually laughed, (out loud) pointing and criticising, my soft, white sandwich when it got to the table. Sure we behaved like cruel children on a playground poking fun at the one kid wearing faux converse tennis shoes, but I asked for a Panini God dammit, not some sandwich with a star drawn on the side of it.
I won't even get into the Asian Wrap my friend ordered...Ok, I will get into it. This wrap was filled with little more than lettuce and dry Ramen Noodels. Literally! You know those mechanically bent, white noodles that (once water is added) suddenly take on the form of nutritional and totally acceptable meals you used to eat during your first few years of college? While some of us love the taste of $.15 noodles, (myself included) I can't think of anyone who can figure out how $.15 noodles plus lettuce = $7.25. I don't care how bad you are at math!
I love this place overall. And after all is said and done, I'll continue to go back because, if you know what to order, the food is great. The people are friendly and the place is alive with a certain spirit the makes you feel like you're at a backyard party. While the pizzas and appetizers aren't bad either, I say order a burger for your main dish. Give me a burger, a beer and some awesome weather and I’m all about Onion Creek.
P.S. You may want to call ahead and make sure they're stocked up on beef before you get there because if you're anything like me, once you crave a burger...nothing else will do.
Location :3106 White Oak Blvd.
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