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A well-composed dish makes a tasty lunch.

First Look: Shandy's Cafe Heights

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Mar 31, 2021

Having to spend a sunny Houston afternoon running errands can always be made better with a stop for lunch. Finding myself in the near downtown area, I decided to head for the Heights and try the recently opened Shandy's Cafe on W. 19th and maybe stop in at a few...

First Look: Valencia's Tex-Mex Garage

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Dec 29, 2020

The holiday season is upon us and while it may not be as festive or grand as previous years, there are still many little joys to celebrate. One of those little joys are the sunshine-filled days that peek out occasionally in December. While our Houston summers are often unbearable, the...

Labor Day Dining and Drinking in Houston

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Aug 29, 2019

For folks who are lucky enough to not have to labor on Labor Day, there are plenty of festivities to keep you hydrated and satiated the whole three day weekend. We checked in with restaurants and bars around town and discovered that Labor Day brunch is now a thing. No...

Feges BBQ inside the food court in Greenway Plaza

Smoked Out: Feges BBQ

By Carlos Brandon

Jul 16, 2019

I have been annoyed, perhaps irrationally so, by Feges BBQ since it first opened in early 2018. It is, by all accounts, a beloved, dual-chef-run, locally-owned barbecue joint with the supposed quality and creativity to lead a new generation of Houston smokehouses — and they put it in Greenway F*****g Plaza!...

Openings and Closings: Mikki's Pearland Opens, La Vista 101 Closes

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Jul 12, 2019

Mikki's Cafe, 9603 Broadway, opened June 14 in Pearland. This makes the second location for the popular soul food restaurant with the original at 10500 Belfort. Diners love the daily specials and homemade flavors in dishes like smothered fried chicken, candied yams and collard greens. One of its best sellers...

Two meat platter with brisket, boudin, mac n' cheese and creamed corn from El Burro & the Bull.

Smoked Out: El Burro & The Bull

By Carlos Brandon

Apr 9, 2019

As much as any aspect of Texas barbecue, regionality plays perhaps the most prominent role in any pitmaster's portfolio of smoked meat. The protein, preparation and flavor preferences of each region vary in ways both subtle and overt. From the whole-hog smokers of East-Tex, to the slow and low brisket...

Openings and Closings: Bernie's Burger Bus, Common Bond Expand

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Mar 22, 2019

Bernie's Burger Bus, 6324 Highway 6, opened March 15 in Missouri City. This is the first location with drive thru service. It's also the first free-standing Bernie's with a patio and dedicated parking lot. There are three other locations in the Greater Houston area, including the Heights, Katy and Bellaire...

Large order of pork dumplings with won ton soup combo at Doozo Dumplings and Noodles

Stuffed: Doozo Dumplings & Noodles

By Carlos Brandon

Mar 12, 2019

We set out to find and devour stuffed food from every possible culture right here in the Bayou City. From empanadas to dumplings, kolaches to samosas, we're getting stuffed. Every now and then this city can still surprise us. Even those of us who make it our job to know...

EggHaus combines authentic German and Polish bratwurst with everyone's favorite Czech-Texan breakfast creation, the kolache.

Stuffed: Kolaches at EggHaus Gourmet

By Carlos Brandon

Mar 5, 2019

We set out to find and devour stuffed food from every possible culture right here in the Bayou City. From empanadas to dumplings, kolaches to samosas, we're getting stuffed. Way back in the year of our Lord 2011, Hans Sitter started his now legendary King's Biergarten in Pearland by converting...

Openings and Closings: Uptown Sushi Reopens, Rhotey Rotisserie Closes

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Mar 1, 2019

Uptown Sushi, 1131 Uptown Park Boulevard, has reopened after a six month upgrade and renovation. The family-owned Japanese sushi and fusion restaurant has been serving the uptown Galleria area since 2004. Co-owner Peggy Chang says "After 15 years of serving our inventive cuisine, we were inspired to redesign our restaurant...

Enchiladas, a puffy queso, margaritas and a siesta make for a perfect day.

Openings and Closings: Los Tios Number Five, 77 Degrees This Spring

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Feb 8, 2019

Los Tios, 5161 San Felipe, is expected to open in the former Ciao Bello space this spring. The Tanglewood location will be the fifth and largest Los Tios in the Houston area coming in at 6,000 square feet. Adair Concepts, owned by siblings Katie Adair Barnhart and Nick Adair, operates...

Openings and Closings: Sweet Paris Highland Village and Blanco Tacos Galleria

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Dec 14, 2018

Sweet Paris Creperie and Cafe, 2701 Drexel, opened December 8. The new Highland Village location makes the sixth since the creperie began in 2012, founded by husband and wife, Allison and Ivan Chavez. The duo have traveled the world and are on a mission to revive the art of eating...

Forget pumpkin spice, it's time to poke.

Openings and Closings: Pokeology Returns, Finn Hall Opens Next Month

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Nov 9, 2018

Pokeology, 2313 Edwards, will open November 18 at Sawyer Yards. The brick and mortar for this poke restaurant, which used to operate out of Doc Holliday's in Rice Village, has been a long time coming, since it shuttered its operation at the back of the bar last May. The new...

Mediterranean salad with raw falafel at Natural Living

Hidden Spots Around the Bay That Will Help You Keep Your Fitness Goals

By Jennifer Fuller

Oct 22, 2018

The cooler weather has reached Houston and people are already daydreaming about the delicious holiday treats to come. This time of year is one of the toughest times to stay on-track with a healthy diet. But with a little assistance from passionate health enthusiasts who love helping people reach their...

Eat your daily requirements in one salad.

First Look: Flower Child Uptown

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Oct 3, 2018

It seems like we Houstonians are always skirting around construction, whether we be in Downtown, Midtown, Uptown or south of town. The suburbs aren't much better. From my home, I can grab the Sam Houston Tollway toward the Galleria and be flying along at 70 miles an hour, then hit...

Vibrant Opens in Montrose

By Carlos Brandon

Aug 30, 2018

Not long ago, Kelly Barnhart was an assistant curator at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Today, she's the owner, designer, and creative director of Montrose's newest dining concept. Part restaurant, part art gallery, Vibrant opened its doors to the public this week with high hopes for its health focused,...

Openings and Closings: The Lounge at Field and Tides, The Classic All Day

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Aug 10, 2018

Field and Tides, 705 East 11th, has expanded its footprint by adding the 1940s vacant gas station next door as a lounge extension. Chef Travis Lenig and business partner Chico Ramirez opened the newly renovated building, which lay dormant for more than a decade, to serve as a lounge and...

Cancel Everything, It's National Chicken Finger Day

By Kate McLean

Jul 27, 2018

The seduction of Raising Cane's begins at the drive-thru when the car window rolls up, hot boxing the scent of what's to come. I like to hold off until I get home, prolong the pleasure if you will, and once I make it through the front door, attack everything inside...

Suck the marrow out of life. Or the bone.

Openings and Closings: Ciao One-Fifth Romance Languages, Lyle Bento Returns

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Jul 20, 2018

One-Fifth Romance Languages, 1658 Westheimer, will close July 31 to make way for its next concept, One-Fifth Mediterranean. For folks wanting to bid adieu, the restaurant will host a family meal the last evening. There will be no set menu, so open your mind and your taste buds and let...

Perfect Pairings: Crispy French Fries and Vanilla Milkshake at Beck's Prime

By Kate McLean

Jul 18, 2018

There are moments in your life, and we all have them, when you just have to say screw it… I'm doing something for me today. Nothing satisfies that moment more than hot fried potatoes dipped in cold dairy. Wendy's, yeah, McDonalds, maybe, but if you get the opportunity to splurge...

Lunch

Hidden Gem: Maria Rita's Tex-Mex

First Look: The Chipper in Katy

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