SuperLuckyCat

Hi - I am proud to say that I wrote the Kids Eat Free comment about the unhealthy options. Although the original article did provide a nice list of places to avoid on what day. I don't have any kids (thank goodness) yet and that does make me quick to judge, but I see so many fat kids these days and I know my tax dollars will be paying for their medical care some day. We thought we were being tortured growing up never being allowed to have McDonalds more than 1X a month, if that, and never getting soda or sugar cereal, but now I realize how smart my parents were.

OK, by telling this story I have to admit I went to Houstons for dinner last night (there is a salad there - the grilled chicken one - that I often crave) on the way to a movie. My fiance was wearing a baseball hat and was asked to remove it. No big deal, I did laugh and he was grumpy about it but managed to survive the trauma. We noticed that they seated 2 parties after us, one with a boy of about 10 years old in a baseball uniform including ball cap AND one with a woman wearing a baseball hat. On the way out I commented to the hostess that they seemed to be selectively enforcing their no-baseball hat rule. She said very quickly and loudly that they let little kids and women wear them. Discrimination! Discrimination! I wonder if they enforce it to gay men? Or celebrities? What if Yao Ming walked in wearing a baseball hat? Or Nolan Ryan? The devil in me wants to harass Houstons somehow or write to Whine & Dine.

I can't believe he isn't demanding that the Houston's management call him personally and offer a free dinner for two, a full apology and a personal greeting when he returns. Oh, and give him a card that says "you hereby never have to tip again at Houston's so that your evening is as effort-free as possible" Can you imagine being so outraged by something like that that you have to write to the Houston Chronicle about it?

Can we start a thread where people can post a quick review of something recommendable you ate recently in Houston? I'm interested in what you eat on regular basis - not just the big special $$ meals out (but love to hear about those) but your usual must-eats or places you stumbled across. I'll start: Saturday PM a friend and I popped in for some quick dinner at Onion Creek Coffee House on White Oak in the Heights. We both had their version of pizza which is on split ciabatta bread. I had jalapenos, salami and white cheddar and she had vegetables and cheddar. I am normally a cracker-thin pizza crust girl (like La Griglia or Kenneallys) but these were delicious! The crusts were crunchy and had lots of pockets of oozey cheese. They have a nice wine by the glass menu and we got out of there for under $20 for dinner for two! Terrific atmosphere, so laid back and we saw someone get an impressive-looking carrot cake on the way out (one more glass of wine in me and I MIGHT have asked that stranger for a bite of it (and don't think I've never done that).

Great omlettes, too. On Saturdays it's next to the Farmers Market at T'affia so there are plenty of things to see and do.

Reading Whine and Dine is among one of the first things I do online on Thursday AMs - it provides some good insight to some of the American culture and is very entertaining. There wasn't anything that noteworthy today but once again the air of entitlement riddles many comments. People seem to think that if the manager or someone in charge at any restaurant doesn't drop everything to run to meet them and escort them to their seats IMMEDIATELY then they aren't getting the appreciation they deserve for being there. You know when you are at a restaurant and you see tables of 2 (sometimes 4) where noone is talking to each other and then are just looking at the kitchen door or at the servers with a sort of "where is my food - there's only so much I can talk/think about without you serving me ASAP!" - those are the kind of customers I picture writing into Whine & Dine. I remember when Hugos first opened and some friends and I mistakenly went there (after many excellent visits) the day after it was favorably reviewed and it was filled with all these people and I commented "the Whine and Diners are here!" I don't mean to sound elitist. After waiting tables for many years when I was younger I am senstitive to people who aren't out for the whole dining experience and are intolerant of interesting restaurants.

I just got back from a weekend there and finally tried Bayonna which I must say was slightly disappointing. I had a salad that was special that night with lemon and parmesan that was outstanding and the sweet potato brioche rolls were spectacular but then the loin of lamb with goat cheese was just OK and the dessert we had was not worth the splurge. We were a party of 3 women and so maybe that's why we had aloof service (my personal opinion). We did have amazing food and Frankie and Johnny's for lunch on Saturday - a fried soft shell crab po boy and beer - heaven. Dinner on Satuday was at Bacco which I thought was the best meal of the weekend in terms of flavor and service. Their lobster ravioli is the best I have ever had.

I need cannolis in the Houston area. Any recommendations for that? Does CM have them?

I agree with Eric - I like finding places that don't necessarily make national food guides. Although, Hugo's might be perfect for what you need since the food is so labor-intensive and usually top-notch. Cafe Annie is too people-on-expense-accounts and if you are a small party not ordering very expensive wine, service can get bad. I take people from out of town to El Pueblito on Richmond for a good Houston experience. I don't see people mentioning that place very much but it's solid Mexican-Guatemalan with funky atmosphere and great salsa and margaritas. Hi Houston eGullet people - this is my first post here! I am new to eGullet (formally only a lurker). I hardly ever leave the loop (except to find food I've heard about and to the airport to leave town for work. Cheers! SuperLuckyCat