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Best Sake

Zake Sushi Lounge

The bass booms at the chic Zake Lounge, where Asian hipsters with asymmetrical hair mingle with Inner Loop hotties in halter tops and Montrose bohos in Birkenstocks. While amped-up dance versions of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" (huh?) and Paul Simon's "Call Me Al" (WTF?) throb overhead, regulars order chilled blue bottles of Moonstone Sake -- a sweet, smooth number with hints of peach -- and sip it from small, clear glasses. Others down Zipang, a sparkling, bubbly citrus sake that tastes like a fruity beer (or Sprite with a kick), from little black ceramic cups or straight from the bottle. High rollers nurse the more traditional (and way more expensive) Hakushika Chokara Dry, a full-bodied spirit. Can't let go of the brew? Try a Zake bomb. A colorful cup is filled with beer, and a cup within the cup is filled with sake. It's a great table shot, and a delicious way to learn sake with a chaser.

Best Bloody Mary

Griff's

Much like a foamy pint of Guinness, a Bloody Mary is a drink that eats like a meal. And when you're faced with returning to the sober world on a Sunday morning -- but need a little help -- there are few better meals than a Bloody Mary. But the drink requires work: a dash of pepper, Tabasco, maybe some salt and the obligatory celery stick. Stagger into Griff's for Sunday Bloody Sundays, where the helpful folks will drop a generous helping of vodka in your glass and point you to the Bloody Mary bar. All you have to do is concoct. It's easy, what with the tomato juices, mix, Tabasco, celery salt and more. Garnish with pickles, asparagus, green beans, carrots and the good ol' celery stalk. Hell, it's basically an alcoholic salad. Bloody Sundays are only held during football season, so we suggest you show up early, mix your Mary and scream for the Texans.

Best Chinese
Fast Food

Chinese Cafe

If the prospect of eating another bland box of Chinese-American takeout gives you a moo goo gai panic attack, then here's a fresh idea: real Chinese fast food in the heart of Chinatown. Near the long, spare counter, back-lit photos depict an assortment of dishes that are often vegetable-centric, well spiced and refreshingly free of glop. When the veggie's in season, the chicken with pea shoots -- a light, saucy dish with a hint of ginger -- is superb. The unique "eggplant with fish flavor" comes soft and bathed in chile oil. And the steamed whole tilapia fish with green herbs on top is an ever-popular favorite with the predominately Asian clientele; try it with tofu and a spicy sauce, if you want something heavier. The decor is clean and spare, the tea from a dispenser is free, and the service is brisk. It's a perfect spot for a quick meal, and well worth the drive to get there.

Best Nan

Khyber North Indian Grill

Jeff Balke
You can hear the slaps as soon as you walk in the door. The thuds emanate from behind the counter of Khyber North Indian Grill, where a chef painstakingly pounds dough into plate-size discs, which are then toasted in a tandoor oven. Out they come, steaming, delicately crisp on the surface and pillow-fluffy inside -- the perfect nan. By the time they arrive at your table wrapped in tissue and freshly buttered, they've completely stolen the show. Over the past decade, owner Mickey Kapoor's cuisine has been lauded for its "modern sensibility" and lambasted for being "Americanized." (In his defense, his restaurant is a favorite of British expats. And as any foodie can tell you, Brits know Indian food like we know Tex-Mex.) But the nan-- never greasy, soggy or too crispy -- has garnered universal praise. Whether stuffed with onions, pistachios or just served plain, Kapoor's breads -- like his kooky messages on Khyber's marquee ("Our karma will run over your dogma") -- are just plain addictive.

Best Prix-Fixe Lunch

Tony's

Think you can't afford Tony's? Think again, for there's a bargain for the taking. Considering that the entres alone range from $12 to $32 for lunch, Tony's prix-fixe lunch (a.k.a. the Crescent Express) is quite the bargain. Just $17 gets you a three-course lunch with soup or salad (which change daily), a main course (which changes every two weeks or so) and dessert. A typical meal might include white bean and andouille sausage soup, Romano-crusted chicken breast over arugula and heirloom tomatoes, and a dessert of Valrhona chocolate ice cream and raspberry sorbet, which in itself is worth the price of admission.

Best Comfort Food

Blue Plate Bistro

Comfort food shouldn't be expensive. It should bring back fond memories of home, of Grandma and Aunt Sue. It should be plain and simple. Blue Plate Bistro fills the bill on all accounts. There you'll get a good meal at a reasonable price in comfortable surroundings. Maybe it's mac 'n' cheese you crave, or everyone's perennial favorite, meat loaf. Whatever dish says "comfort food" to you, chances are you'll find it at Blue Plate Bistro. But don't go expecting everyday cooking; this joint offers uptown food with upscale ingredients. The chicken potpie, for example, uses rosemary roasted chicken, portobello mushrooms and smoked corn. Get the drift?

Best Martini

The Davenport

Sure, it's cool to sip a $12 martini on a cushy chaise longue in a chic hotel bar. But sipping a cheap martini while sitting thigh-to-thigh with strangers on a cramped couch in front of a fireplace -- a televised fireplace? That's cool. That's the Davenport. The place is so cozy (casually claustrophobic) that there's no room for egos or snootiness. And with martinis such as A Nice Pair or the Peachy Keen going for so cheap, there's nothin' but love there. The Shepherd Plaza mainstay sports more than 500 bottles of liquor, including something like 50 vodkas. Let the barkeeps serve you up a Bombay Sapphire martini and enjoy the kick from a very generous pour. Leave the prissy cocktails and attitude to the downtown set. The Davenport is way ring-a-ding-ding, baby.
  • 2117 Richmond Ave., Houston, 77098 Map

Best Churrascaria

Nelore Churrascaria Brazilian Steakhouse

No, it isn't the first churrascaria in Houston, or the biggest. In fact, it's a pared-down version of a Brazilian steak house, designed to fit in a Montrose bungalow. But with its wood floors, stone fireplace and cozy porch, the atmosphere of Nelore Churrascaria is more pleasant and personal than other restaurants of its type. Nelore serves 11 varieties of meat every day, and No. 1 on the hit parade is the rib eye, its signature steak: The Certified Angus steaks are folded over into a curious "C" shape to fit on the swords that are brought to your table by waiters clad in gaucho pants.

Best Mint Julep

Under the Volcano

Let's hope the new management of the Cotton Exchange Bar brings back their once-legendary mint julep. Offering premium spirits, elephant ear-sized mint leaves and a special silver tumbler, the club served the best in town. Until that happens, we'll stick with the mixmasters at Under the Volcano. Every barkeep at the hut-looking lounge in Rice Village is adept at perfectly muddling the mint leaves and blending the oh-so-right mix of Maker's Mark, ice, soda or water (if that's your thing) and a sift of sugar. All that's missing from this Southern experience is the expensive seersucker suit and a certain annual horse race.

Best Salad

Barnaby's Cafe

Photo by Houston Press Staff
Not many salads can last for three meals, but Barnaby's chicken Mediterranean salad does it consistently. The whole affair starts with a massive plate of shredded lettuce. Then come the thin, crunchy red onions, slices of roma tomatoes, some plump black olives and a mound of seasoned chicken, thinly shredded. The dome of salad is topped with a generous helping of feta and served with a side of zesty, zingy and creamy vinaigrette. The perfect dish for a heath-conscious diet, it's hearty, light and refreshing and makes for a great next-day lunch -- and dinner.

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