Istanbul

Nazif's Is Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

Nazif’s Turkish Grill & Deli swings into action with olive oil, tomatoes, yogurt, sheep’s milk cheese, tea and more from its delicious Mediterranean crossroads cuisine.

The Humble Deli Sandwich

Houston's top 10 versions.

Top 10 Restaurants in Rice Village

We're tackling the city's neighborhoods one by one now that the Best of Houston issue is out. First was Montrose, then the Heights and now Rice Village, an area that's absolutely saturated with great restaurants. One of the best things about the saturation in Rice Village is how easy it is to park ... More >>

Parking Problems at Pampa Grill

Attention, Inner Loopers: You can lay claim to a host of issues that are all your own, but not parking problems. They exist all over town. Yes, even here at Pampa Grill -- the subject of this week's cafe review -- in far west Houston at a little strip center on Hammerly at Gessner. "What should we ... More >>

Kerry Beyer Goes Across the Universe Without Leaving Home in Music Video

Every time we get a new song or video from Kerry Beyer it is just plain weird. Not the videos themselves, but the fact that these acoustic accomplishments are coming out of one of Houston's best and most acclaimed horror film directors. Oh well, a man's got to have layers. His newest outing is a co ... More >>

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change: A Sweet, Rosy-Cheeked Revue

The setup: This intimate, four-character, Off-Broadway musical revue about relationships (1996) makes you feel better when you leave than when you come in, as its visionary producer James Hammerstein once said. There's magic in that pronouncement, for this pleasant, unexciting, eager-to-please litt ... More >>

Health Department Roundup

Slow week for punitive measures -- the Health Department issued no citations and temporarily closed just one place. Looks like you'll have to get your schadenfreude elsewhere. Try reading a few stories about the former captain of the Costa Concordia, that should work. The recipient of that closure ... More >>

Our Top 10 Music Videos of 2011

​Our obsession with the medium of music videos remains as strong as its ever been, and we've done our best to bring as many of the best of the newest releases to you in the digital pages of Rocks Off over the course of the year. We're pleased to round up the cream of the crop as we did this ti ... More >>

They Might Be Giants, But Terrance Zdunich Is The Bad Ass Russian

We got to hang out with Terrance Zdunich, the creator of Repo: The Genetic Opera and the man who played Graverobber in the film, while he was down in Houston at Comicpalooza promoting his excellent comic The Molting. Either we clicked like true homies, or he's just really, really patient with goth f ... 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. Sunset: Jonathan Gold, Pulitzer Prize-winner and food critic for our sister pap ... More >>

Capsule Art Reviews: "Evergreen: Original Contemporary Prints" "George Gittoes: Witness to War" "Jackie Gendel: Fables in Slang" "Just Press Print!" "Musicians Who Make Art" "Voodoo Pop: Mary Hayslip and Trey Speegle"

Shisha and Chardonnay

At Skewers, you can smoke, drink and eat classic Lebanese food.

Houston's Best Patios: The 10 Best to Pretend You're On Vacation

Photo by Taylor LaShaeEl Pueblito, home of Houston's best cabanas.​With patio weather season in full swing, Houstonians are absolutely spoiled for places to enjoy the day outside. And sometimes all you know is that you're in the mood for a patio, but can't figure out where to go. So how do you ... More >>

Aluminum Show

Ali Nazik at Istanbul Grill & Deli

Look! A parking place! Of course, it wasn't there when I visited. ​I've passed by Istanbul Grill & Deli often during dinner hour but never stopped as the parking situation always made me a bit nervous. However, after hearing a Turkish colleague of mine praise the place, I stopped the car, p ... 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. 29-95: Former EOW blogger J.C. Reid has a nice piece on the subtleties and idio ... More >>

Midnight Movers

San Antonio's Girl in a Coma may stumble onstage, but not on Adventures in Coverland.

Planet Houston: Country Cooking

An around-the-world guide to the foods of Planet Houston

Who Knew There Are So Many Songs About Rabies?

Centers for Disease Control Library​Monday night, as the crickets sang sweet songs into the early fall air, Rocks Off hung a wreath made of rubber bats on our door, and wrapped up copies of Old Yeller and Cujo to surprise our young daughter with when she awoke the next morning. Ahhh, is there ... More >>

Black Crowes Pull the Plug

Band celebrates album's 20th anniversary by going on hiatus.

Chef Chat, Part 2: Catherine Duwez of The Broken Spoke

​Yesterday we spoke with The Broken Spoke's (1809 Washington Avenue) chef and owner, Catherine Duwez, about her culinary background. Today we continue our conversation. Eating Our Words: We hear you make some amazing homemade mayonnaise. That must make you pretty popular with diners. Catheri ... More >>

$7 at Istanbul Grill and Deli

​Where? Istanbul Grill and Deli (5613 Morningside, 713-526-2800) What $7 gets you: A gorgeous sandwich and a glass of water. I stopped by Istanbul Grill and Deli in the Rice Village for lunch with family. It was a scorching day, and Istanbul's cool interior was refreshing. Istanbul has a sma ... More >>

Bedtime Stories

Natalie Merchant finds poetry in new album.

Turkish Ravioli: Manti at Istanbul

English translation for manti: Oh dear God, yes.​Manti is one of the few Turkish dishes that Americans might be familiar with that didn't come from the Mediterranean. Foods like hummus, baba ganoush and dolmades all have roots in the Levant and its bordering countries. Not manti. The clever l ... More >>

5 Places to Take Your Kids After Church

Take them to the Black Lab. ​Whether your Sabbath involves pulpits and preachers or pigskin and Pearl, here are some ideas to maximize the family time, faith notwithstanding. The Black Labrador Take your baby to a pub...? Why the heck not, when the cheese soup at the Black Lab is absolutely ... More >>

Orhan Pamuk

The Turkish author gives us an Istanbul that is both ancient and modern

The 10 Most Underrated Restaurants in Houston (According to You)

​Last week, we asked you to share your comments with us about Houston's most underrated restaurant. In the second of a two-part question about overrated and underrated restaurants thorughout the city, you weren't any shyer with your comments than you were when we asked about overrated restaur ... More >>

Social Distortion: Dear Social Media Swami

Actual swami not pictured.​Dear Social Media Swami,I think my girlfriend's social media obsession is out of control.  At any given time, she's either on the computer or checking her iPhone for the latest stuff happening on Twitter, Facebook, or whatever.  She hates being bothered ... More >>

The Sister Cities Of Houston: A Critical Appraisal, Part 1

With the recent addition of Karachi, Pakistan, Houston now is a sister to 18 other cities around the world. Hair Balls is on the case - we studied all of them so you wouldn't have to. In the interest of brevity, though, we are parceling out our findings over the next couple of days. Here are the f ... More >>

Mehmet Murat Somer

The U.S. finally gets to meet the camp characters in the Hop-Çiki-Yaya series

Sultan's Mediterranean Grill

The Edge of Heaven Can Wait

Storylines and cultures crash in this German/Turkish import — and isn't it arty?

Turquoise Grill Brick Oven Bistro

Try the Turkish kebabs at this offbeat office building eatery off Kirby

Get Lit: Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips, by National Geographic

The Joy in the Bubble

Cannes 2007 was a success, but how many of its movies will you actually get to see?

Our top DVD picks for the week of September 19:

Great Kebab

Istanbul Grill

Hot Plate

My Kebab; No, Mine

What's That Smell?

Canadian art punks Les Georges Leningrad drop a number deux

The End Game

A widow just wanted her home. But that was asking too much.

Ancient Eggplant

Ephesus Grill may be a new restaurant, but its cuisine is from way back in the day

Best Turkish Restaurant

Empire Turkish Grill

Best-Looking Restaurant Staff

Istanbul Grill and Deli

Not That Turkey

Where have all the Turkish restaurants been? Hiding in plain sight as "Mediterranean" cafes.

Best Stuffed Mushrooms

Istanbul Grill & Deli

Imagine All the Pitas

Houstonians have broad minds, and stomachs

Turkey Pie

Istanbul Grill & Deli

Have Gavel Will Travel

Campaign cash carries a retired judge around the world

God's a Joke

The Reverend Jeffrey Eernisse preaches the gospel of divine comedy

Turkish Delight