jscarbor

I think the food available might be a little dissapointing so I would focus on having a good time. Guadalhara has good tex/mex although i haven't been in years. I would say Babins could be decent but it would probably not be as good as what you get in La. Would the Tommy Bahama place be fun before a concert? Ive never been.

i'd skip Perry's. I think it is the most overpriced avg food joint in Houston. The pork chop which on occassion can be very good was a steal last year at $19 but the price was raised to $25 ( I think) recently. Steaks are in the $25-$40 range and they are cert angus beef I believe. The one in Sugar Land is beautiful, it might be the nicest steakhouse in houston, but the food just doesn't match IMO.

Oh no! Did I read in the press the john has sold the place? Who is the new owner?

What about some love for Henry's Puffy Tacos? Bring Puffy Tacos to HOUSTON!

Next time hit the original blanco cafe for old school mex/tex, quite possibly the best chile con carne I have ever had the pleasure to have on enchiladas. No alcohol served but they did allow me to bring in some beer. Rosarios for really good touristy type tex/mex.

Wow! You sure are a good sport. I would have ditched the crowd and headed to DV for sure. I mean Yao's?! Thats a little on the wierd side for someone to demand to eat there when they are downtown?

Finally! I made it to Dolce Vita last night and I too was very satisfied with the whole experience (even the $16 glass of wine they gave me, I thought I had the $9 d'alba barrola?). Our first dishes were the brussel sprout "slaw" with pecorino and radishes in a red wine vinegar dressing. Nice light sprightly dish. Next was the spec niman ranch, cold smoked perhaps, prosciutto. This was a stunning smoked/cured pork. I could eat this everyday. The serving tray is really cool also, the meat is served on a large wooden cutting board with some paper on top, surely for sanitation purposes. Next was the fried artichokes, probably the least inspiring of all dishes but still tasty. The waiter had suggested the fried rapini but we passed? On the waiter, Preston, he was awesome. Very good at giving suggestions and confirming items we thought sounded good. And even though there was a mixup (I didn't say anything about it) on the wine, I'd say he was the best waiter I have encountered in many many years. Sigh, he leaves monday for a new job after passing his series 7. BTW, the wine he did serve me was excellent! I wish I knew what it was? If you go to DV soon please look up the $16 glass red wine? I want to try and buy it for home consumption. Ohhh yeah, the pizza?! It was marvelous. we had the tellagio, pear, arugula with truffle pizza and it was devine. The only suggestion I would make to the chef is perhaps a little fleur d sel, I really think that would have added an extra dimension that would have really made this crazy good. That being said, the combo of the sweet pear, slightly spicey arugula, the pungent cheese and the earthy truffle is really superb. Not to be outdone IMO was the rubiola, leek and chunky pancetta pizza. Again, balance of taste was truly amazing here. The sweet sweated leeks, the salty big chunks of pancetta and the smooth silky rubiola were outstanding. In fact, this might be my first repeat pizza on my next visit, not the tellagio/truffle pizza, its that damn good! Next time I hit this place I will probably try a pasta and perhaps a tomato sauced pizza like the margarita or the spicy salame that my brother raves about. The problem is, I have a hard time getting something so mundane? Of course, my guess is the mundane can be sublime at this restaurant?

Ohhh so good. Stopped by Himalaya last night after the Stros game and had the grilled fish and Lamb curry specials. Grilled fish was rubbed with dry spices (garam masala perhaps?) and grilled. It was very tasty especially with that excellent naan. The Lamb curry was incredible. I think it took some of its origins or maybe vice versus from penang dish of thai. It was a peanut based pakistani curry. It had the cardaman which I think is what made it different from thai penang. Can't rec this place enough.

I have no idea officially what language the streets are in but it is certainly asian of some sort. I can say that yesterday was a great food day for me. I hit Sandong Noodle House for Beef Noodle Soup and pan fried dumplings. The funny thing is the perso I took usually eats "asian" food at PF Changs and his comment was something like "that order of dumplings would cost $15 at PF, what a bargain here for $3.50. Its a big plate of 12-15 dumplings. For dinner it was grilled fish and a peanut lamb curry at Himalaya. Ohh my was that good!

FWIW this topic started off as a Texas thread. I'm glad to see it go into a worldwide thread. The doner sandwich at Istanbul Grill houston is great but probably not world class. The muff at central market in NO and the many great po boys in NO probably are USA's best sandwiches?

Don't forget Banh Mi. Make sure to go to Givral's in Houston for those. ← Givrals,thiem ha, cali sandwich. They are all good. There is also a good viet fish joint with fish lunch specials for $4. Really good stuff. We have beef done 7 ways and fish done 7 ways joints. Mi/pho it goes on and on. Houston could be just an asian circuit in the sw part of town where the streets are in Chinese? Viet? Or we could hit our base of mexican as well. Machacada con huevo in the morning, viet (pho/mi) for lunch and some peruvian (seviche) at night. Hit 3 continents and feast for $20 on that day.

I'm here but I can't help you. I thought tafia was good but not particularly memorable. My guess is you have a better chance at a memorable meal at laidback. $.02

Chris, Let me throw my hat in the ring for Houston. We can get as off te eaten path here as possible. If you want regional specialties we can do bbq, mex, vietnemese. Its a reat cop food town IMO.

How was lunch?

What about the chapli kabob and the hunters beef? Both are fantastic.

te to say it but I agree with Big Boy except I think mark's is a little better than he gives it credit IMO. And De Marco is nearly a great restaurant. Noe could be but my one experince there was OK and the lack of customers and no vibe/buzz really hurt the experience. On the other hand we have a ton of great places to eat that are affordable.

Although I have never tried them I have heard that the fried shrimp is good. The yellow potato and french fries are damn good as well. The "famous" pork chop is not that great IMO. I actually love their food, especially the gyros, the awsome lemony rice soup and that huge sampler platter they have with all kinds of stuff in it. Oh, and the yellow potatoes . Never had their sweets though. ←

I have to say that although I think the price of a meal at Aries was out of line IMO, the food was exceptional.

I hit Istanbul Grill today in Houston and had the Doner sandwich and it was awesome! Vertical rotisserie meat sliced thin served on the best bread around with pickled cabbage, red onion and lettuce. Ohhhh so good. Other great sandwiches: Rueben at kahns Cheesesteak at that joint on Richmond BBQ beef sandwich at Thelmas

Hey Greens, I will come soon. I almost hit your place the other day but couldn't get enough time to do it. I see here you are open for lunch, that might be the best time for me. What do you offer at lunch? Should I just look on website? Great tude to take about Cook review, it wasn't a bad review just not glowing. I wont let her deter me though.

Yes throw in De Marco for sure! I have always left Cafe Annie dissapointed. It isn't bad it just isn't great. Obviously I don't think it makes the top 5 restaurant list in Houston. But if pops wants to go there then my guess is he will be dissapointed if you don't go. As for Thai, Vieng Thai is very good. I personally wouldn't go to nit noi but they are successful so...Thai Corner on Bellaire is also very good thai and the soups at Kanamwan shine even if the place is way overpriced. Tampico is a great place to take family for great grilled snapper. ASit upstairs in the dining room or on the patio upstairs. Its a great place.

Me, I'd hit Marks, Noe or Aries befor Cafe Annie. BBQ I would pass on Otto's and hit Williams Smokehouse.

Finally made it over to Mary's for a lunch. I have to say that I was very impressed even though I only ordered some basics. I had the very good hummus and a beef shawarma that was probably the best I have had. I can't wait to go and try some other things.

Personally, I avoid Lupe Torts because the fajitas are over rated grilled pieces of mush. Horrible texture on their fajitas. And, do I really want my kid playing in some nasty sand box before dinner?

Yum! Excellent Beef.