danhole

Sorry to leave you hanging Peter! Here it is: UPDATE: We went back to Capital Grill on Memorial Day. We had the $100 worth of credit, so what's to lose? Well I am happy to say that it was 150% better than the first time we went. Of course they did know that we had complained so I think they took special care of us, but regardless it was great. Our waiter, Jason, made suggestions here and there. I didn't want the big wedge salad, even though it was good but too big, so he steered me to a salad of field greens with grape tomatoes and added the bacon and blue cheese to that. We were tempted to try some different steaks and I was looking at the Kona steak with shallot butter. In the end we decided to get the same as before, but Jason added maitre 'd butter on top of it, which made a big difference, and the steaks were cooked perfectly. Totally different for first time. He also brought me some of the shallot butter to try - so tasty! I could have eaten it like soup. I got a half portion of au gratin potatoes, which were delicious, and my DH got the Sam's potatoes again. At the end of the meal, since it had been my birthday a couple days before, Jason brought us a complimentary dessert of creme brulee, with a lit candle on the side of the plate. It was very good, too. Now we will go back and I am going to get that Kona steak and ask for Jason to be our waiter!

Have you tried this place, Ostioneria Mar Azul? I haven't been but have heard it is Mex-mex, not tex-mex. It's on Bellfort by 59. ← I went there once when it was Ostioneria Michoacan - emphasis on seafood and I had a couple of pretty good meals there. I wonder if they all changed names (there are 6 or 7 of those around on b4). The menu I have from then had 'Authentic Mexican Dishes': Enchiladas Verdes Enchiladas al Chipotle (translated as 'in hot devil sauce!) and Tex Mex Enchiladas. ← That's not the same place. This place is a place where you would probably be one of the only non mexican patrons in it, and it is not part of a chain. It is not listed on B4. Look it up on CH.

Have you tried this place, Ostioneria Mar Azul? I haven't been but have heard it is Mex-mex, not tex-mex. It's on Bellfort by 59.

Thelma's has re-opened. See here. http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2009/...eopens_city.php

We went to Capital Grille on 2/15. Reservations for 5:30. I had asked around for recommendations, and we decided on this place mainly because my husband had always wanted to try it and I was particularly interested in the dry aged porterhouse. We were seated promptly, and the restaurant is very nice inside. Our server was Jill and she was very good. I wanted a glass of wine, but the list was overwhelming, so she helped me make a choice, and even brought 2 samples to make a decision. He had a margarita. Started off with a variety of delicious bread. Then I got a wedge salad, which was enormous. It is really something that 2 people should share, but my DH doesn't eat that, so I took it home, which was a waste. Big chunks of bacon, more like pork belly, and a great blue cheese dressing. He ordered the delmonico, which is a prime cut of meat (the only one they serve, and I got the PH. Both of us wanted them cooked medium rare, closer to rare, but she said the chef recommends that the delmonico be cooked a bit more, so whatever. We also wanted the au jus on the side, because we want to taste the meat. As sides he got the Sam's potatoes, and I got the parmesan truffle fries. When the steak came out mine was over cooked to medium, and I sent it back. His was fine, but did not have any flavor. When mine came out I had the same reaction - no flavor at all. It didn't taste like beef, no melt in your mouth, no seasoning, salt, nothing. Both of us tried the au jus on our steaks and it tasted watery, not beefy. I even tasted a spoonful of it and it was diluted. We were both so desperate for some flavor that we even put some butter on them. They were just something to chew on. The sam's potatoes were good, the fries were so-so, not much parmesan, and hardly any truffle flavor. We were very disappointed. As I said, the service could not have been any better, and we brought the steaks home and doctored them up the next night, and they were passable, but not worth what we paid for them. And yes we did complain the next morning. I got a phone call within hours of sending the email to the website, and he was very apologetic, and said he would make it up to us and guaranteed we would have a great steak next time. After waiting 2 weeks, I sent another email and finally got 2 $50 voucher to come back, but make the reservation through this person. I guess we will go back and get the same thing, because he said it was highly unusual and we must have gotten a bad batch (WTF?) Really sad because today I read a review of the same place by a person who went the day before we did and talked about how the PH literally melted in his mouth like butter! Don't know when we will do it again. At least it wasn't all bad. And mind you, we do not often splurge like this!

I have not reported back about Capital Grille because there were high point and low points. The next morning we did get in touch with them and got a response by early afternoon, with a personal promise by the managing partner (?) that he would make this right for us, and expressed dismay at our displeasure. So until I find out exactly what that really means, I am not going to get into the particulars. I will say that the service was excellent and our server Jill could not have been better. Also, the delmonico is a Prime cut - I think the only one they serve. I'll let you know more later. We have to decide if we are going to give it one more try or not. Thanks Dani

Capital Grill on Westhiemer--good steaks, reasonable wines. Try the crabcakes. Pappas--great steaks, wines are outrageous. Mortons-Galleria area- good balance. I love wine with my steak--I would go to Capital Grill--the spinach, potatoes, and mushrooms go well--crabcake early. Enjoy. Houston is a great resteraunt town!! ← Thanks for responding Bill! Amazing how quite this forum is. My husband really has his heart set on Capital Grille so we have reservation for Sun evening. I know the steaks are choice and not prime, but I really want the dry aged. I am thinking the delmonico, or the porterhouse. And I really want to try the truffle parmesan fries. I'd like to have the steak tartare, but I think that might be meat overkill, and I'm not that fond of crabcake. Tried it a couple times, and just haven't really taken a shine to them. Next time we can splurge I think we will try Smith & Wollensky's. I'll try to report back about Capital. Dani

I have been asking around and am curious about the egullet crowd. If you had extra money for a splurge, where would you go for a really great steak, and why would you choose that particular restaurant? Not saying I will go, just getting a feel for upscale steakhouses in Houston, beyond the Saltgrass, Outback mediocre type steaks.

You should check out Bedford, the new restaurant that Gadsby recently opened in Houston. The are a lot of local food blogger that have reviews about it and it is pretty avant garde, and is being well received. http://www.bedfordrestaurant.com/homepage.html

Thanks Bruce. The only chili I saw was on top of scrambled eggs. Not sure that sounds very appealing, but I haven't tried it yet. Wonder if it is the same as at James Coney Island? I often get a large chili to go from there and bring it home. Nothing better (than my own) for cold weather.

Do you mean what did I have at the Greek Fest? Well, I always have the Dinner plate. I have to because that is the only way you can get a portion of the pastitsio (meat and macaroni with bechamel sauce). It comes with meatballs called soutzoukaki, and I liked the flavor, but mine were ice cold, which was odd because everything else was steaming hot. The tiropita was so stuffed with cheese it was spilling out. The little dinner roll was way too hard to bite into, and the greek salad was okay but the best things were the olives and tomatoes! I liked the spanakopita, but it was very small. My husband doesn't like greek, so he had a souvlaki, which I tasted and liked a lot. The last time we went was probably 6 or more years ago, and boy has it grown! And I'm not sure that is a good thing. It seems to me that the quality of the food was not as good as it used to be. More mass produced than homemade, but considering the crowd I guess there is no other way. Some odd greek pastry demon got into me, and took over my body forcing me to buy a box of pastries to bring home. That was odd since I don't really have a sweet tooth. I wanted to try the loukoumades (hot honey puffs) but the line was so ridiculously long I gave up and got the variety box with baklava, kourambledes (butter cookies w/toasted almonds topped w/powdered sugar that seriously melt in your mouth as you get dusted in a mound of powdered sugar), and Finikia (sweet honey cookie w/various spice topped w/nuts that I haven't tried yet.) As if that wasn't bad enough then the koulourakia (twisted butter cookies for dunking) called to me so I had to have those as well. I finally snapped out of it! Before we left I went ahead a got a couple more spanakopitas, and tiropitas to take home. I kick myself for not having at least one dolmade. And while I was at it I should have brought a souvlaki home, too. Oh well. I haven't tried turkish, but if it's like greek I will give it a go. Wasn't Zorba's a hoot! I remember the music and dancing. It was a wild night. Remember the food, music and place, but not my dates name! He was a drummer, if that counts!

I haven't ever had any of his chicken and will look forward to trying the turkey. I bet they're both good. I haven't been to Pierson's in a couple of months. ←

After going to the Greek Festival this weekend I am all about eating even more greek food! One of my favorite cuisines. First time I had it was 30 plus years ago in a place named Zorba's. I didn't know what I was eating but my date did and he did all the ordering, and I just gobbled it down. Since then I have had the dinner plate at the greek fest, first time over 6 years ago. I had to go to the website and write down the dishes they served so I knew what to look for when going to a restaurant. I have also gone to Niko's which I liked a lot. The only other is I had some spanakopita at the Ren Fest once, but that's it. Now I am curious about Biba's, but there is no menu online, and Yia Yia Mary's. I wanted to try this place in the Woodlands called Olive Oil when we stayed out there in August, but never got around to it, sigh. Any other places worth mentioning? Oh, I might add that I am NOT looking for gyros. I like the meat, but I don't care for the sauce much.

I dropped by Pierson's last Tuesday to get a smoked chicken, but Clarence didn't have any. He said he usually makes those on Thurs., Fri, & Sat.. and he has a "Chicken List" where you put your name down and they will give you a call to let you know when they have them! That's pretty cool. So he says that he has some smoked turkey, have I tried that? Well no I haven't, so I got a sample, and I bought the rest of it. It was so good. He is offering to smoke turkeys for your Thanksgiving dinners. You bring the turkey and he will smoke it for $1.99 per pound. I may do that, it was so very good. I also got an order of brisket for my DH and a peach cobbler for me. I got the sauce on the side and had too much vinegar, so I had to doctor it up at home, although I hardly ever use sauce because the meat should speak for itself. I may mention that to Clarence next time and see what has changed. It used to be better . . . the sauce I mean. Just thought you all would like to have an option for smoked turkey.

Feast has made some changes to their menu as well. They have some fixed "Feast Favorites" that are offered on a daily basis, while still having some dishes that change daily. They also are offering a less expensive lunch menu with 2 courses for $12.95 or 3 courses for $15.95. A new Roast Beef dinner is being presented on a Sunday once a month. You have a choice of the roast beef or a fish pie. Check it out: http://feasthouston.googlepages.com/home

Thank you so much for the details! This won't be in my budget for quite awhile, so I live through your descriptions. Looking forward to the photos!

Max's Wine Dive has made some drastic changes to their menu, offering some oddities such as Bangers, Chicken and Dumplings, Udon, Wild Boar Pasta . . . check it out for your self: http://www.maxswinedive.com/menus/dinner.php It's sort of an odd mix, but intriguing. Jonathan Jones is making some changes at Beavers as well. They are offering some new items on the Sunday Brunch menu, including a couple of new "mary's" as in the Squealing Mary, made with Bacon infused vodka, with bacon salt on the rim, with a bacon garnish, and then there is Beaver Mary, bruised celery, garlic, wasabi & ex-wife hot sauce. Also new is a Chorizo & Gulf Shrimp SOS, Homemade Texas toast and two fried eggs topped with wild caught Gulf shrimp, homemade Duroc pork chorizo, shiitake mushrooms, and cream. I was lucky enough to be with a group that got to have a sample of this dish before it made it onto the menu and it was very good. The website isn't showing all of the changes. The only way you find out about them is if you get on the email list or go hang out with Chef JJ.

Morgan, what was on the tasting menu? Here you haven't mentioned any food other than the end of the meal and I am already getting hungry! Thanks

Try this: http://www.b4-u-eat.com/eat002.asp?Z=&A=Me...nter&H=0&N=&S=N or maybe go to yelp.com

I still don't have a thing in my fridge or freezer, except for some cheese I salvaged, powerade, and bottled water. We didn't get our power until Mon. the 29th. Amazingly Pierson's was open the Tuesday after the storm. He didn't have the entire menu but we took what we could get, and were darn happy to have some hot food! This area was really slow to get back on it's feet.

Don't know what to say -- you saw the picture on my blog (I'm trying to get better as a photographer). I think it's a little more down-home and messier sandwich than at BBs but it's been a couple of months since I've been to BBs and will need to go back. Original owners were Vietnamese I think; new owners seem to be Chinese - there are lots of Chinese dishes on the menu. One new item was the Angus Beef Po'Boy which sounds like it might be an upscale version of a NO hamburger po'boy which is kind of a minor obsession for me (like the sliders at LBBB). I asked and he said it's chopped angus, patty shaped to the sandwich roll as it should be. Everybody in town that does a NO hamburger po'boy just cooks a regular patty then cuts it in half and puts the two halves side-by-side lengthwise on the roll - that's not the way it's supposed to be done. I wouldn't hesitate to have the roast beef po'boy at either Jazzie or BBs but really can't rate which one is best right now. BTW, congrats on your 'food exploring.' Sometimes I hit a disappointing stretch and get discouraged but sometimes I hit a real winner and that's great. I'm planning on checking out what looks like an old fashioned neighborhood chicken shack on the North side maybe this weekend - I think I've got my hopes up too high for some killer FC. ← Bruce, I had a major DUH moment after I asked about the roast beef, because I then saw the Chili Bob link and went to that. Odd mix of chinese and cajun at jazzie's. I left one more place off my list, Fuegovivo Churrascaria, way out Westheimer. We really enjoyed it, but we do love meat. The salad bar was very good, IMO, and the hot sides smelled good, but I was saving room for meat! I am looking forward to going back.

Kerr, I ordered the Sambroso (?) plate, because of this Alison review http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/dining/cook/5556306.html All I got were 2 lousy chunks of dry pork, not what I would consider carnitas to be. I haven't been to Vieng Thai yet, but in all fairness you should at least try Thai Lanna, and I will try Vieng! Yeah, Dairy Ashford is out of my comfort zone. I need to go with someone who is more familiar with that area. But now BB's is much closer, not as close as jazzie's. I'll have to try both.

brucesw and jscabor inspired me last year to "try something new" on another board. So I decided that 2008 was a perfect time to start it all (get it - eight = ate. Corny, I know) This year I have so far tried 15 new to me places. Maybe more but these are all I can remember: Triple A on Airline, okay but I think it may be a better breakfast place. Good specials, but I need to go back and try more choices. Beavers, I have gone twice and wasn't that impressed either time, but now they have a new chef, so I am going to try it again. My biggest regret is that I should have gone with my gut and ordered the burger, but I didn't. I got a taste of it though, and it was good. Spanish Flowers, I liked it. Good old tex mex. Tortas El Angel, I must have ordered the wrong thing. It was fine, but not as good as others have reported. El Rey on Ella, I had an al pastor torta that I really enjoyed. Gotta get back to this place. Da Marcos on Westheimer, Fabulous! Special birthday dinner treat for me, and left me craving the food. Gotta save up for this place, though. Feast on Westheimer, went with a group and the chef prepared us a special menu. Some I liked a lot, and others not so much. If I could order off the menu and have a say, I would probably like it more. Pierson's & Co on T C Jester, we are now regulars at this place. It's down the street and so far I have enjoyed everything. Big Woodrows, went for the crawfish back in May. Best crawfish I have ever had. Enormous! Steamboat House off Sam Houston Pkwy., Expensive but very good. Great service, and interesting place to wander around and look at all the Texas history. Little Bitty Burger Barn on Pinemont, We are regulars there now as well. Recently disappointed in the Steak special, but the french dip is great, and so are the tator tots. Los Cucos on Memorial, Alison Cook did a write up so we went. It5 was good, not great, just good, and I was terribly disappointed in the carnitas I was served. But would go back and try some other things. Catalan on Washington, Great place. We had lots of small plates and enjoyed every bit of it. Thai Lanna, put that review on here in another post. really liked it a lot. China Doll on Antoine, went last week and really liked it. I am not an expert in Chinese, and was eating with a child, so I kept it simple, but the crab rangoon actually has crab. Large menu with the usuals and so dishes with names I have never seen before. I wish someone who is more knowledgeable than I am would check it out and let me know. So far that is it, but I am on a mission! Thanks guys for the push I needed.

<Jazzie Café on 19th - I’d heard there’d been a change of ownership and it was a good thing. Great NO style roast beef po’boy. Expanded menu, improved accommodations.> Bruce, can you elaborate a bit more about Jazzie's? What have they added to the menu, and describe the roast beef, please.

This place used to be called Vung Thai, then it was sold, and went downhill, so the original chef/owner bought it back and renamed it. When it was Vung Thai, it was not a very attractive place, good food but nothing special. It is now an really classy little place with Seamist green tablecloths, under glass, and nicely folded napkins standing up on the table. The walls are a rose type color, and has nice art and special touches that make it a very nice atmosphere. It is a BYOB place. I went with a fellow CH'er (cheflambo), and we enjoyed it so much that I referred a friend who works nearby and she just called to rave about the place. She eats lunch with a woman who cannot be pleased, yet this woman liked it all. We started with the Siamese egg rolls, full of fresh vegetables and glass noodles, lightly fried and crisp. We also got the Cheese rolls, which were cream cheese, mixed with green onion, carrots and celery, also lightly fried and crisp. Both were served with a sweet and sour sauce. They are cigar size and not greasy. My friend (that went for lunch the next day) said they got the thai dumplings and they were the best dumplings she has ever had. She is a real foodie, and eats out a lot, so I trust her judgment. She also shared a glass noodle salad that she really enjoyed. The appetizers were so good, and now that I am studying the take out menu I brought home, I think I want to try them all. I got the Prix King with chicken, and it was delicious. In investigating exactly what that is I found out it is spelled differently depending on the restaurant, or perhaps the region of Thailand. It is also know as "prik khing curry" and translated to chili ginger. Whatever it was, it had a nice bite to it, but not so spicy that I couldn't handle it. It came with a bowl of sticky rice, which I mixed a bit of into the dish. The green beans were very crisp. When I reheated it, the beans were softer (of course) but the flavor was still very good, maybe even a bit better. Cheflambo ordered the Fried Fish Salad, which looked so good. Very colorful with lemon grass, red onions, green onions and other salad ingredients served with a special lime sauce. I am still learning about fish (yes, I have a bit of a seafood phobia) so I asked for a bite of her fish salad. It was a mild fish, lightly breaded and very good. I need to find out exactly what type of fish it was. They offer your curries, pad thai, basil beef, pad see ew, and all the familiars, but Chef Kim takes a lot of pride in her food so it is top notch. There are so many other things on the menu I want to try, so I am sure I will be going back time and time again. There is a 2 hour break between lunch and dinner, so it goes as follows: M-F lunch 11-3, dinner 5-9:30. Sat. lunch 12-3, dinner 5-9:30. Oh, and my friend had the mango and sweet rice dessert and said it was very good, and perfectly presented. Looking at this place from the outside you would never expect such flair, great food, or beautiful decor, but you get all that and it's pretty darn cheap. 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 iced teas with tip = $30.