Enormous windows inside this three-story-high restaurant frame the downtown skyline. The shelves behind the romantically lit bar are two stories high. It's a treat just to walk into the place. Artista bills its food as "contemporary American cuisine," but that's a bland understatement. Bold... More >>
This modest little restaurant at the corner of Travis and Alabama looks like a shoestring operation, with bare concrete floors and rough tables. But the menu of African-American breakfast foods has some real standouts. They've got chicken and waffles, if you're longing to try this famous... More >>
The waitress greets her regulars by name with their favorite breakfast beverage in hand. This funky old diner specializes in breakfast of the serious eggs-and-meat variety. There's steak and eggs, chopped steak and eggs, pork chops and eggs, and chicken-fried steak and eggs, as well as... More >>
The ramshackle patio is overgrown with vegetation, the interior is all worn woodwork and old furniture, and the rafters seem to be held together by the license plates that cover them. Children are forbidden here, no doubt in part because of some risqué artwork. But it's the menu that will... More >>
This is one of the best new restaurants that's opened in Houston in years. Call it a "New American Surfer Bistro" if you're looking for a category. But don't get too fixated on anything in particular, because the menu changes monthly. You can only hope they have some slow-cooked short ribs and... More >>
If you love big juicy burgers, ice-cold beer and all things Texan, this restaurant, saloon and Wild West museum may soon become your favorite hangout. More >>
This hip Montrose eatery describes itself as an American bistro. Entrées such as roasted chicken with corn bread and braised beef Burgundy are among the best upscale comfort food dishes in the city. More >>
Run by head cook and surrogate mother Eydie Prior, Lankford's may be the homiest restaurant in the city. The enormous breakfasts, with perfect eggs and homemade hash browns, are just like Mom used to make. Eydie's kitschy decorations change seasonally. Her grandkids often sit at the bar and... More >>
This is a perfect place to enjoy a big fat steak with french fries and an earthy Rhône red wine or a hamburger and a cold beer. The American-Mediterranean menu doesn't try to wow you with cleverness, but in many cases, the quality of the ingredients elevates the simple dishes to unexpected... More >>
This sleek and fashionable eatery caters to a hip, casually dressed clientele. The Asian-style fish offerings are tops, but there are also Southern and Cajun dishes on the menu, each upscaled with a clever twist from owner Claire Smith and executive chef David Luna. More >>
Galveston locals love the gumbo, spaghetti and burgers at this fabulous old bar and grill, which has been run by head cook and bottle washer "Junior" Puccetti for the last 55 years. Before that, it was run by "Pappa" Puccetti, who opened the place in 1944. More >>
This convenience store serves some of the most impressive cheeseburgers in town. The patties are half-pound and hand-formed, and the sesame-seed buns are well toasted. Variations include the Rio jalapeño burger, the BBQ blues burger and the Tex-Mex burger with salsa. More >>
Tookie's Squealer is an extreme form of bacon cheeseburger, featuring bacon that has been ground up with the beef. The thick, hand-formed, bacon-slick patty is fried crisp on the griddle, covered with cheese and served on a bun. The genius of the concept is that the bacon grease bastes the patty... More >>