First, here are a few pictures of Samuel's silly hair yesterday morning. I'm pretty sure they're my new favorites. Baby's got some crazy hair:
From the side he looks a little like Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail, don't you think? Before she went crazy with the plastic surgery and plumped her lips up to freakish proportions:
Love this one, too:
Second, because we love food, because we miss Houston's restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, dives, etc., because we have an opinion on where you should eat when in Houston, because our friend Rachel started us thinking about Houston's food scene, and because Sammy is asleep and I'm avoiding the pile of laundry with my name on it, here it is:
The Meurer Family's Definitive Guide to Eating Out in Houston
Best Cheap Breakfast
New York Bagel and Coffee Shop
Please, please, please go here. Soon. They have the best bagels south of Manhattan. And they have a daily (weekdays only) special consisting of a bagel, home fries, and two eggs for less than $4. This place is the real deal: think Jewish bakery/delicatessen with great food and lousy decor!
Best Polenta with Shaved Almonds in Honey Sauce
Empire Cafe
This is one of our favorite breakfast dishes ever. And you can't beat Empire for cool ambiance and Westheimer/Montrose area people watching! Also of interest: Monday night is half-price cake night, and their Chocolate Black Out cake alone is well-worth the trip.
Best Pizza in a Laid-Back Setting
Star Pizza
Try the Joe's Pizza (sauteed spinach, fresh tomatoes, and fresh garlic) on whole wheat, Chicago style. You will thank us.
Best Fancy Pizza on Westheimer
Dolce Vita
Great pizzas. Great setting. Also wonderful: the appetizer "shaved brussel sprouts with pecorino."
Best Pricey Burger
Barnaby's Cafe
The Blue Cheese and Bacon burger is our favorite burger in Houston. It's delicous. And the fries are delicious, too (think classic McDonald's style with a little zest). It is a bit expensive, though ($8.50 a burger), but don't let that keep you from trying this tasty, artery-clogging wonder!
Best Cheap Burger
Tookie's
This place is as unpretentious as it gets, a real southside gem. Try the Bean Burger (my favorite) and the Wine Burger (Will's favorite). Greasy Americana at its best.
Best Gyro
Niko Niko's
I crave these gyros at least once a week. And the potatoes/rice/french fries offered as a side are all equally tasty.
Best Indian Buffet
Shiva's
This Rice Village staple is well-reviewed for a reason! Ever since Taj Mahal (everyone's favorite Gulf Freeway dive) closed its doors, Will and I have been among the Shiva's faithful. Go for the lunch buffet: unlimited Saag Paneer! Note: Austin has nothing on this Indian restaurant. Sorry, Austinites.
Best Fajitas
Original Ninfa's on Navigation
Best. Ever. And fresh flour tortillas! And tomatillo salsa to die for!
Best Fajitas in a Better Part of Town
El Tiempo
The chicken fajitas with garlic butter sauce and cilantro rice rival even Ninfa's. Yep, I said it. Go to the Richmond location.
Best European
Charivari's
The chef was born in Transylvania! For real. Their Weinerschnitzel with mashed potatoes is amazing, and if you go at lunch it's $18.50, as opposed to $25 at dinner. Not a cheap restaurant by any means, but ideal for a special night (or day!) out. Cannot recommend this place enough!
Best Coffeeshop/Bar
Agora
Our hands-down favorite place for coffee: old word ambiance and a great cappuccino! You can also watch World Cup/Euro Cup soccer matches here (which we have), and, really, what's better than watching soccer with expats while drinking great coffee/beer/wine? Exactly. Nothing.
Best Chinese
Shanghai River
A Westheimer favorite for these reasons: (1) Chicken with Orange Peel, (2) Vegetable Dumplings, and (3) Spicy Green Beans. The best!
Best Ice Cream
Hank's
Their Oreo Cookie ice cream is RIDICULOUS. This place is as Houston calorie-chic as it gets!
Best Hipster Place to Actually Eat Decent Food
Brasil
This place oozes cool, but the food is actually quite good. The four cheese pizza (I think that's what it's called) is a favorite of mine. There are even two nice patios! Note: local artwork and pretention abound.
Best Bosnian
Cafe Pita +
Bosnian food in Houston! FINALLY. And it's good, folks. And affordable! The cevapcici are excellent, as are all the various burek options: spinach and cheese, meat, cheese, etc. Best place to take the Slavophile in your life!
Best Chicken Picatta/Tiramisu Combo plus Tree
Michelangelo's
If you've been thinking to yourself, "Man. I wish there were a romantic place I could go to eat
excellent chicken picatta and tiramisu while sitting next to a giant live tree," this place is for you.
Best Crepes with Nutella
Coco's Crepes
Go there today.
Best Waffle plus Chicken Wings
The Breakfast Klub
Because who wouldn't want some waffles and wings or catfish and grits for breakfast?
Best BBQ Pork Spring Rolls
Mai's
I'm not the biggest fan of shrimp spring rolls (or really anything too fishy), so these tasty pork ones satisfy my spring roll cravings. Also, the peanut dipping sauce is lovely. Another plus? This place is open LATE: 3 AM during the week, 4 AM on the weekends.
Best Pho
Pho Saigon
We discovered this place when we lived on Milam. Try the affordable and delicious pho soup with white meat chicken. Oh the cilantro! The sprouts!
Best Restaurants We Haven't Actually Eaten at but Have Heard are Amazing
Reef
Named the #1 Seafood Restaurant in the U.S. by Bon Appetit magazine. These people aren't messing around. This is supposed to be as good as it gets for all you seafood lovers out there.
DaMarco
Chef Marco Wiles is always winning awards, and people we know who've eaten here say it's wonderful. It's a little expensive for our taste (understatement), but if you have an extra $100 you're looking to spend, here's your place. Also of interest: Da Marco's owner is also the owner of Dolce Vita, the fancy pizza place reviewed above.
Indika
So, everyone from the Houston Press to the New York Times swears by this restaurant. We're hoping to go sometime soon. If you go before us, tell us what you think.
You can't ever say we didn't talk about Houston's restaurants. Now hungry mama has to go do some laundry.
The Meurer Family's Definitive Guide to Eating Out in Houston
Best Cheap Breakfast
New York Bagel and Coffee Shop
Please, please, please go here. Soon. They have the best bagels south of Manhattan. And they have a daily (weekdays only) special consisting of a bagel, home fries, and two eggs for less than $4. This place is the real deal: think Jewish bakery/delicatessen with great food and lousy decor!
Best Polenta with Shaved Almonds in Honey Sauce
Empire Cafe
This is one of our favorite breakfast dishes ever. And you can't beat Empire for cool ambiance and Westheimer/Montrose area people watching! Also of interest: Monday night is half-price cake night, and their Chocolate Black Out cake alone is well-worth the trip.
Best Pizza in a Laid-Back Setting
Star Pizza
Try the Joe's Pizza (sauteed spinach, fresh tomatoes, and fresh garlic) on whole wheat, Chicago style. You will thank us.
Best Fancy Pizza on Westheimer
Dolce Vita
Great pizzas. Great setting. Also wonderful: the appetizer "shaved brussel sprouts with pecorino."
Best Pricey Burger
Barnaby's Cafe
The Blue Cheese and Bacon burger is our favorite burger in Houston. It's delicous. And the fries are delicious, too (think classic McDonald's style with a little zest). It is a bit expensive, though ($8.50 a burger), but don't let that keep you from trying this tasty, artery-clogging wonder!
Best Cheap Burger
Tookie's
This place is as unpretentious as it gets, a real southside gem. Try the Bean Burger (my favorite) and the Wine Burger (Will's favorite). Greasy Americana at its best.
Best Gyro
Niko Niko's
I crave these gyros at least once a week. And the potatoes/rice/french fries offered as a side are all equally tasty.
Best Indian Buffet
Shiva's
This Rice Village staple is well-reviewed for a reason! Ever since Taj Mahal (everyone's favorite Gulf Freeway dive) closed its doors, Will and I have been among the Shiva's faithful. Go for the lunch buffet: unlimited Saag Paneer! Note: Austin has nothing on this Indian restaurant. Sorry, Austinites.
Best Fajitas
Original Ninfa's on Navigation
Best. Ever. And fresh flour tortillas! And tomatillo salsa to die for!
Best Fajitas in a Better Part of Town
El Tiempo
The chicken fajitas with garlic butter sauce and cilantro rice rival even Ninfa's. Yep, I said it. Go to the Richmond location.
Best European
Charivari's
The chef was born in Transylvania! For real. Their Weinerschnitzel with mashed potatoes is amazing, and if you go at lunch it's $18.50, as opposed to $25 at dinner. Not a cheap restaurant by any means, but ideal for a special night (or day!) out. Cannot recommend this place enough!
Best Coffeeshop/Bar
Agora
Our hands-down favorite place for coffee: old word ambiance and a great cappuccino! You can also watch World Cup/Euro Cup soccer matches here (which we have), and, really, what's better than watching soccer with expats while drinking great coffee/beer/wine? Exactly. Nothing.
Best Chinese
Shanghai River
A Westheimer favorite for these reasons: (1) Chicken with Orange Peel, (2) Vegetable Dumplings, and (3) Spicy Green Beans. The best!
Best Ice Cream
Hank's
Their Oreo Cookie ice cream is RIDICULOUS. This place is as Houston calorie-chic as it gets!
Best Hipster Place to Actually Eat Decent Food
Brasil
This place oozes cool, but the food is actually quite good. The four cheese pizza (I think that's what it's called) is a favorite of mine. There are even two nice patios! Note: local artwork and pretention abound.
Best Bosnian
Cafe Pita +
Bosnian food in Houston! FINALLY. And it's good, folks. And affordable! The cevapcici are excellent, as are all the various burek options: spinach and cheese, meat, cheese, etc. Best place to take the Slavophile in your life!
Best Chicken Picatta/Tiramisu Combo plus Tree
Michelangelo's
If you've been thinking to yourself, "Man. I wish there were a romantic place I could go to eat
excellent chicken picatta and tiramisu while sitting next to a giant live tree," this place is for you.
Best Crepes with Nutella
Coco's Crepes
Go there today.
Best Waffle plus Chicken Wings
The Breakfast Klub
Because who wouldn't want some waffles and wings or catfish and grits for breakfast?
Best BBQ Pork Spring Rolls
Mai's
I'm not the biggest fan of shrimp spring rolls (or really anything too fishy), so these tasty pork ones satisfy my spring roll cravings. Also, the peanut dipping sauce is lovely. Another plus? This place is open LATE: 3 AM during the week, 4 AM on the weekends.
Best Pho
Pho Saigon
We discovered this place when we lived on Milam. Try the affordable and delicious pho soup with white meat chicken. Oh the cilantro! The sprouts!
Best Restaurants We Haven't Actually Eaten at but Have Heard are Amazing
Reef
Named the #1 Seafood Restaurant in the U.S. by Bon Appetit magazine. These people aren't messing around. This is supposed to be as good as it gets for all you seafood lovers out there.
DaMarco
Chef Marco Wiles is always winning awards, and people we know who've eaten here say it's wonderful. It's a little expensive for our taste (understatement), but if you have an extra $100 you're looking to spend, here's your place. Also of interest: Da Marco's owner is also the owner of Dolce Vita, the fancy pizza place reviewed above.
Indika
So, everyone from the Houston Press to the New York Times swears by this restaurant. We're hoping to go sometime soon. If you go before us, tell us what you think.
You can't ever say we didn't talk about Houston's restaurants. Now hungry mama has to go do some laundry.
7 comments:
Awesome exhaustive list of eats in Houston (metro)!
I thought you had missed pizza, but I checked again and of course my sister did not. Star Pizza is simply amazing, especially on whole wheat! Candelari's has homemade sausage, but they are a bit pricey.
Does El Tiempo have whole wheat tortillas, because I fear our Chuys will be ceasing to make them following in the Austin footsteps?
Any good Chinese / Oriental food suggestions?
-Kaleb
Kaleb,
I forgot Chinese and Vietnamese! Will edit the post to include that as well :)
No whole wheat tortillas at El Tiempo but amazing homemade flour ones!
Do you have a theater district/downtown recommendation?
Kelly,
We haven't spent that much time eating in downtown, and the few places we have visited have not been exceptional. Both Reef and Charivari are in midtown, though, which is really very close. Hope that helps! Do you have any recommendations?
Oh my goodness! Is that a Beatles shirt??
Where did you find that?
Even if I never have kids, I would love to have it...
It IS a Beatles shirt! It was a gift :)
Speaking of Meg Ryan hair (By the way Sammy's hair is o-so-much better than Meg's hair, mostly because he does not have to "try" so hard!) we watched a movie called In the cut with her and Mark Ruffulo. Highly disappointing, and I highly do not recommend watching it EVER! What happened to the good ol' days where I was proud to fight over the rights to have my Barbie play Meg Ryan. At least we can still count on Tom Hanks! Oh and Samuel should ALWAYS wear his hair like that!
Post a Comment