Caffe Bello

La Casa de Caballo Brings Tex-Mex and Steaks to Montrose

I admit: I was wary when I heard the news that a Mexican steakhouse would be moving into the old La Strada location in Montrose. The two-story building at Westheimer and Taft has housed a succession of failures over the past five years: La Strada itself, which closed in 2009 after 22 years hosting t ... More >>

Is Great Pizza in Houston Finally on the Rise?

Let's face facts: Houston isn't known as a great pizza town. We don't attract heavy-hitters like Il Cane Rosso, in Dallas. Hell, we don't even have one outstanding, nationally recognized pizza place here -- no Pizzeria Bianco like Phoenix, no Pizzeria Mozza like Los Angeles. Last year, Greg Morago ... More >>

The Hits of 2011

Our favorite new Houston restaurants.

The 10 Best New Restaurants of 2011

The challenge in choosing 10 of the best restaurants to open in Houston each year is a daunting one: Many of the restaurants I think are "the best" have little to nothing to do with each other, making for a list that falls all over the map when it comes to price, cuisine and location. Then again, t ... More >>

First Look at Don Julio's

Credit where it's due: The margaritas are very good.​As often as I feel exhilarated with the state of the food scene in Houston, I feel exasperated just as frequently. Such is life in our city, and you take the good with the bad. And such is life at Don Julio's, the suburban import Tex-Mex re ... More >>

Killer Dragon

A new chef and a revamped space breathe new fire into Dragon Bowl.

Dropping Benjamins at Dragon Bowl

Photos by Theo SantosHand rolls on the line. (Hundred Dollar Hand Roll most definitely not shown.)​A few weeks ago, while perusing the new menu at the recently revamped Dragon Bowl, my dining companion and I noticed an anomaly at the casual Heights restaurant: There, amidst the $6 and $7 hand ... More >>

Openings & Closings: Familiar Faces Edition

Hubcap Grill's new fence outside its soon-to-be-open restaurant on 19th Street.​Some familiar faces will soon be popping up around town, from the Heights to Montrose and back again, starting with the news that Olivier Ciesielski -- the former executive chef at Tony's -- will be opening his ver ... More >>

Openings & Closings: The Chock Full o'Nuts Edition

Yeah, I don't understand this either.​Remember last week, when we blithely reported that it had been such a wonderful week of good news? Prepare yourself for a mixed bag this week -- and it's a big bag -- starting with the ugly stuff. After Caffe Bello's abrupt closure, there were rumors that ... More >>

Openings & Closings

The chopped brisket sandwich at Ray's Real Pit BBQ.​It's been a week of changes for Houston restaurants -- menu changes, chef changes, location changes -- and some of those changes include at least one shocking closure. That closure was Caffe Bello, which quietly closed its doors on Monday. T ... More >>

Top 5: Food Streets

Photo by Kevin ShalinLai Lai Dumpling House​When it comes to food, all streets are not created equal. These are the five best in Houston. 5. Airline I really wanted to put Airline higher on the list, but truth is, it just edged out Montrose to land in the top five. Granted, this street is ... More >>

Top 5: Restrooms

Caffe Bello.​I'm a bit of a germaphobe, not like Jack Nicholson from As Good As It Gets, but a germaphobe nonetheless. A good restroom says a lot about a restaurant, with important aspects including cleanliness, visual appeal, and overall coolness. These are my top five restaurant restrooms ... More >>

Twenty Ways to Please Your Lover on Valentine's Day

​*17 - Alden Hotel (February 14) Chef Sam Beier has created a lust-worthy Valentine's Day menu featuring Sunchoke Veloute, Roasted Lobster Salad, Shrimp-Crusted Flounder, Cane Sugar Cured Duck Breast, Petite Filet with Favas and Lobster Ravioli, and Caramelized Halibut, among others. The mea ... More >>

The Top Ten New Restaurants of 2010

My Personal Top 5 Favorite Restaurant Dishes of 2010

The chef pictured (Michael Dei Maggi) has moved on from Caffe Bello, but those mussels remain...​Having a young child, a spouse with a crazy work schedule, and no family in town to baby-sit can certainly put a damper on one's culinary pursuits in a city blossoming with delicious dishes. Howeve ... More >>

The 10 Best New Restaurants of 2010

Which one of our top 10 restaurants landed a spot in the newest edition of GQ?​Trying to select only 10 restaurants out of the dozens that have opened the past year is agonizing. In a good way, of course -- Houston has been fertile ground for innovative and passionate restaurateurs this year. ... More >>

R.I.P.: A Toast to the Restaurants We'll Miss the Most

Photo by Robb WalshAlas! No more salchi-burgers from Brisa Cocina Mexicana.​While toasts are usually reserved for happier events or for New Year's Eve, we thought it appropriate to toast the dearly departed restaurants which closed this past year, wishing those who had to close them future suc ... More >>

Openings & Closings

Still one of my favorite photos. Welcome back, Leon's.​More great news for the Heights this week as it was announced that D'Amico's Italian Market has set its sights on White Oak Boulevard for its second location. The popular restaurant has been operating at 5510 Morningside in Rice Village si ... More >>

Openings & Closings

Photo by GroovehouseShort ribs with chimichurri sauce at Tango & Malbec.​Last night saw the grand opening of Houston's newest South American restaurant, the oddly named Tango & Malbec (2800 Sage, 713-629-8646). No, it's not a supper club with cheesy dancers; it's an Argentinean establishment r ... More >>

Openings & Closings: November 2010

Zelko Bistro and Katz's have some new fried pickle competition in the new Natachee's.​It's been a while since we've done a monthly roundup of openings and closings, but we're getting that train back on track now, and what a month to pick for that re-railment. November was busy, both in terms o ... More >>

Openings & Closings

Jellies out for tasting at the new Kraftsmen Cafe in the Heights.​The biggest news of the week seems to be the revolving doors at some of Houston's more popular restaurants: BRC Gastropub, Caffe Bello and the Inn at Dos Brisas (which, okay, is up the road in Independence, but we still claim it ... More >>

Social Media Folks, Caffe Bello and Fun Times

​Organized by frequent EOW commenter, foodie, tweeter extraordinaire and website developer who counts the Vallone enterprise as one of his clients, Albert Nurick (aka @htownchowdown) gathered lots of tweet-happy, food-loving Houstonians for a meal at Caffe Bello last night. The conversation fl ... More >>

Montrose Match

The Vallones somehow fit right in with Houston's funkiest neighborhood.

Mini-Tinis and Mini Pizzas at Caffe Bello

The bianca pizzetta.​Happy hour at Caffe Bello draws all types, from the two gay men on my left last week who were in search of a good cigar bar to the older, well-dressed couple who were quizzing the bartender about where he'd worked in the past over a bottle of white. "You look so familiar, ... More >>

Top 5 Foods to Eat Before Summer's End

Photo by Vera Dinca​By this time next week, summer will officially be over. Not according to Houston's weather system, mind you. But at least by the calendar, which marks September 22 as the autumnal equinox and the beginning of fall. We'll believe that when it dips below 70 degrees. Until t ... More >>

Sampler Plate: This Week In Food Blogs

Each week, we put together a sampler plate of the most interesting links from both local and national food blogs. Know a blog we should be paying particular attention to? Leave the address in the comments section below. Culture Map: Sarah Rufca asks a question that anyone who deals with group dinin ... More >>

Openings & Closings

Jazzie's played out; Gatlin's takes the stage.​As mentioned earlier this week, the latest Tony Vallone outfit -- Caffe Bello (322 Westheimer) -- has finally opened in the old La Strada location in Montrose. Early indications are that the fabulous pizzettas are the restaurant's strong point, wi ... More >>

First Look at Caffe Bello

Papparedelle and mixed seafood linguine at Caffe Bello.​Tony Vallone has officially invaded Lower Westheimer. The Montrose dining scene has long been a bastion of quirky restaurants -- whether upscale or ultra-casual -- and seeing an old-school, old guard River Oaks restaurateur like Tony Val ... More >>

Finding a New Voice

Coca-Cola braised beef cheek and cassoulet.​"I just picked up a knife for the first time today about an hour ago," an exasperated but happy-looking Greg Lowry gushed yesterday evening at Voice. The new chef at the downtown restaurant in the sumptuous lobby of the Hotel Icon has been spending h ... More >>