eating
Haven - $$$, Houston’s first 100% organic and seasonal restaurant
BRC – new gastropub near Washington, down-home cooking with a twist in a cozy but modern atmosphere (try the cheese biscuit with bacon relish!)
The Grove - $$$, located at Discovery Green - modern cuisine e.g. halibut on sweet potato mash. If you go on Wednesdays between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., you'll get to watch the free Zumba class going on in the park outside - guaranteed chuckles!
Block 7 Wine Company – retail/restaurant hybrid with wine-based menu with exclusive, boutique wines. Try the flatbreads, perfect for nibbling and sharing
Mockingbird Bistro - $$$, in Montrose area – French-inspired, homey feeling, great service
Pizzitola's – best spareribs in town, with a tomato-based (i.e. not overpoweringly gooey or sweet) barbecue sauce, populated by locals and not tourists
Goode Co. – famous for somethin’! Best pecan pie in town
Ragin' Cajun – for those of us who like crawfish and corn on the cobs (sold in buckets, no plates)
Lucio's – seasonal, organic food, Italian-inspired and outstanding. You can almost watch your chef cook your food, real neighbourhood feel. Plus, it's BYOB!
Onion/Dry/Cedar Creek – these three are Heights’ staples for food and drink, at any time of day. Great brunches, friendly staff.
Cafe Brasil – filled with hipsters, often boasts live music and free movie screenings on the patio. Browse Domy books (connected to the patio) for rare photography and architecture publications. Great salads and sandwiches with fresh ingredients (e.g. grated tuna, pumpkinseed and goat cheese on bed of raw spinach)
Babba Yega – gorgeous patios with fountains, by far the best brunch buffet in town (the waffle station alone justifies going)
Hugo's – Hugo Ortega is one the pioneers of Southwestern cuisine, plus a very friendly person
El Tiempo Cantina - high-end texmex, fantastic ceviche
Tampico's – no-frills fresh seafood at unbeatable prices(order the red snapped, it's bigger than your torso), served the authentic mexican way (the guac is to die for). Bottomless frozen margaritas if you want 'em
Baby Barnaby's - Montrose area, great brunch (green eggs and ham with jalapenos, oh my!)
Dharma Café – downtown, healthy lunches with many vegetarian options
Giacomo's - Italian trattoria on Westheimer, great for tapas
Max & Julie's - can't get more refined than this, LOVE their salmon crepes
Niko Niko's - to satisfy your falafel craving
Bombay Pizza - who knew curry & pizza could be so dynamite?
The Blue Nile - because Ethiopian food rocks.
cafe/bar/lounging
Chocolate Bar – fantastique, and I’m not even a chocolate fanatic! Try their german chocolate ice cream
Te House of Tea – in the Montrose area, homemade iced chai tea…spicy and satisfying
Waldo's – cute cafe on Heights blvd. owned by young married couple, decorated to resembleyour living room
Agora – café for the European hipsters of Houston, good wine collection and creative coffees
Empire Café – standard “hip” ambiance in Montrose area, can’t go wrong
Spec's – Texas’ crown-jewel for luxury and gourmet items (starting with licor and ending at the deli). If it exists in Ecuador, it exists here…
Mr. Gino's - best blues ever. A taste of the real thing....get ready to see some serious characters! Take your own snacks and licor, that is if you're not into beer and fried pigskins. Go Sundays between 4-6 p.m., if you're lucky you'll catch some Zydeco.
Poison Girl - casual bar in Montrose area, who DOESN'T love a little pinball?
Greetings from Nazko valley, central British Columbia! Our visit up here to see Leah and Eppo has been relaxing, full of delicious food, outdoor activities and gorgeous scenery. True to its reputation, this valley is full of crystal clear rivers and lakes, vast green forests and impressive hillsides. Despite being a family visit, we've seen bears, moose, owls, deer, geese (the real Canadian kind!), loon, and a beaver (I think). Days were filled with dozing, grazing (local beef! smoked fish! salmon from Vancouver island! maple & walnut ice cream! homemade cakes of all denominations!), canoeing, fly fishing (OK, so we just watched, but we get points for waking up at 7 and braving the wind), long walks, coffee/hot chocolate/tea (i.e., hot beverages), firewood gathering, visits to neighbors' farms (finally, I understand eggs), lengthy sessions of cult HBO series, and a teensy bit of Scrabble. Generally, pretty sweet. Thanks for having us!
