Guadalajara Del Centro

3 out of 5 Stars

 

Website

1201 San Jacinto St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 650-0101

 

You know why I love a late Saturday lunch?

Lunch just became happy hour. This does not bode well for potential dinner plans....eh, so be it!

My trio settled into  the L shaped bar up front, turned on the game (like I cared), and began feasting on complimentary bottomless chips and salsa (the double edged sword of all Mexican cuisine). We are in trouble - the chips were thin and warm and the salsa - fresh and medium spiced (looks like I'm getting full already).

We proceed to order from the appropriately sized beer menu with everyone's favorite Mexican imports as well as several local beers including St. Arnold's. Neil K. went with a $7 Mexican Martini that was so strong we called him out for nursing it....in other words, perfection.

As for sustenance, we order off the $3.50 well rounded happy hour menu.

First up, the queso blanco which did the job, though I prefer the orange variety. Next were the nachos - a small plate of 4 chips stacked with ground taco beef, melted white cheese, and jalapenos. Decent for $3.50 (and more filling than it sounds). We also destroyed the chicken flautas with a poblano cream sauce on the side, my personal favorite of our 3 selections.

Neil K. manned up and got a full throttle platter consisting of tacos, enchiladas, rice, beans, and a generous helping of pico de gallo (which I really respected). I hate when they charge you extra for a very necessary condiment!!! He polished the platter off, so it was definitely enjoyed, but would never consider this place a top 5 Tex Mex joint by any means.

All in all average food. I will say that the atmosphere was pleasant, colorful and chic. I particularly eyed the intimate round booths that could seat about 6. Service was on point as our bar waitress was as nice as can be and our food and drinks came out in perfect timing.

I think Guadalajara del Centro makes perfect sense for a downtown happy hour or an OK meal before an event downtown.

Otherwise, there is no reason find parking for this Tex Mex joint....stick with El Tiempo.

City Hall Farmers Market

4 out of 5 Stars

901 Bagby
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 880-5540

Instead of my usual lunch hour, my friends and I evacuated our cubicles for CULTURE HOUR....right in the middle of City Hall (every Wednesday).

We concluded our short walk from our building to the smell of piping hot sausages (which we came to find out were grass fed burgers courtesy of Georgia's Farm to Market) - one of the 40+ vendors today.

Blue and white tents bordered the beautiful reflection pool consisting of everything from various cheese suppliers (like Houston Dairy Maids), to fresh produce (less common), to tamales, breads (Slow Dough), meats (Revival), tacos (Fusion Taco Truck), crepes (Melange), and other unique specialties.

Performing on the steps of City Hall was a great meringue band, and while I didn't see any lawyers from Vinson & Elkins salsa dancing, there were several others (me) doing some shimmying to the Latin beat.

Was it crowded? Yes, BUT, the crowd was hovering way below the uncomfortably annoying line. It was difficult to get our sample on during prime time 12 - 12:30. But come after, and samples are aplenty! Unlike most farmer's markets - the majority of the crowd was there to dine, not shop.

We finally settled on a hot lunch from Nisha's Quick N Ezee Indian Food which also sells samosas, naan, chutney etc. to take home. They only offered one dish for lunch- ginger chicken, veggies, rice and naan for a fair $8.

While I ADORED the samples on the product side of their stand passed out by Nisha herself, our lunch was rather underwhelming (boo). While I enjoyed the veggies, the carnivore in me found the chicken CRAZY dry even though it was bathed in a mildly spicy sauce. The rice was also insanely dry and flavorless even though it had been cooked with onions. Even the naan failed - where is that bite as light as air I has been craving? Regardless, I'd give them another try.

By the time we aimed for some Melange crepes as a sweet ending to a sad meal, they were out of batter. Also sold out - the goat cheese chocolate truffles from a nearby cheese stand.

Despite all of our first time fails, I ADORED the Farmer's Market. A great atmosphere with TONS of Houston Flavor (IE a complete melting pot). I would like to see more Asian representation - Urban Harvest, get on it!

So City Hall Farmer's Market - next week, we've got a date. Same Place. Earlier time (gotta ensure crepe amazingess).

Moon Tower Inn

4 out of 5 Stars

Website
3004 Canal St
Houston, TX 77003
(832) 266-0105

We live in a world where one's options for a hot dog range from Jame's Coney Island's 99 cent boiled processed meat (Tuesdays only, folks) to Max's Wine Dive's laughable $14 gourmet "haute dog" (seriously, $14 for a dog???).

So aside from the occasional baseball game and backyard bar b q's, I've been sticking to Hebrew National from my grocery store.

Enter Moon Tower Inn. Not just a happy medium - but serving the hipsters of Houston (and the rest of us) the MOST PERFECT HOT DOG.

Moon Tower Inn reminds me of a house party that never truly ended. In the heart of the Warehouse District stands a few picnic benches, an old fountain, horseshoes, a makeshift stage, and, of course the hot dog stand. It's anti establishment, kind of a hot mess, and it works for me.

They rotate a serious beer list (all under $4) but always have $1 Lonestars on tap.

During my inaugural visit to MTI, I opted for the "Velvet Elkis" (made with elk, pear, apple and port and topped off with their spicy mayo) out of the 4 gourmet dogs they were offering that day.

MTI, are you for real? This $6 dog was totally worth it. The dog itself was thick, juicy, spicy, and BURSTING WITH FLAVOR. I regularly eat my dogs sans bun (not for fear of carbs), because most buns are weak. MTI's buns.....made from straight up pretzel dough...YES, PLEASE.

I devoured my dog, washed it down with my Lonestar and thought to myself, "how about another!".....not so fast. One dog fed me just fine.

I didn't get to experience the "scene" or the long wait I had read about, as I came on a Tuesday night, but after my Velvet Elkins, I think I could handle it.

The guys manning the stand were as cool as can be and could only be friendlier if they offered hugs with their hot dogs (and that would be weird).

Bottom line: $7 for "damn good food" and a "cold ass beer" is a winner in my eyes.

So Moon Tower Inn, Round 2, Tatonka (buffalo dog)...let's do this!

Huynh

4 out of 5 Stars

Website
912 Saint Emanuel St
Houston, TX 77003
(713) 224-8964

 

Did you know that at Huynh, the vermicelli bowl comes with a free side of smiles?

Seriously. It's on the menu. Under sides.

This, along with the slow service during lunch hour, were the only things wacky about downtown's best Vietnamese restaurant.

The moment the high won't break 90 degrees, I know it's PHO SEASON!!!!! So naturally I corralled Brianna S. and company to Huynh for a piping hot bowl of beef broth heaven.

All too often you'll see amazing hole in the wall Asian restaurants you can't bring your finicky friends to, or super trendy spots who can't make good sushi to save their life (ahem, RA - yes, I'm talking to you).

Huynh masters the fine balance / art of creating a hip restaurant without compromising its Vietnamese authenticity.

There are so many dishes to explore at Huynh, but I could not resist the pho with beef. The broth was so flavorful, I didn't even use the siracha on the table (eventually, I caved with a dash of Hoisin). The thin slices of beef cooked right in the broth were tender and simply delicious. Most importantly, Huynh provides you with the perfect amount of rice noodles to complete this amazing soup. I added on a Vietnamese egg roll which was divine and not over-porked like others I've had. So yes, feel free to add on the egg roll!

Brianna S. went for the simple chicken fried rice. Neither of us being huge chicken fans, were both pleasantly surprised by the diced char-grilled chicken that blended beautifully with the browned rice and vegetables. Just like the pho, no additional sauce was even needed.

Our friend got the most impressive dish of all, the banh mi bo luc lac complete with fried egg (why? bc you gotsta).

All three of our mouths watered when they brought out the plate of stir fried beef, veggies, rice, and that perfectly fried egg. You know it was fantastic, because he didn't even offer us a taste! Greedy, greedy ; ).

The only thing stopping me from awarding Huynh the whole 5 star crown was service. It took 15 minutes for water alone - yikes!

Regardless, as the menu reads.....smiles were  still a'flowin from every diner there!

Nikos Nikos Market Square

5 out of 5 Stars

Website

301 Milam
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 224-4976

The clouds have parted. Heaven has spoken. And most importantly, the crowd has calmed down.

As a huge original Niko's fan....I could not wait to get my gyro on in the new Market Square location.

Niko's could not have picked a better second spot. I love me a break from the downtown tunnels, especially when it involves being surrounded by a gorgeous park, reasonable prices and tzatziki sauce.

I was pleasantly surprised by their limited menu. Niko's "light" is still offering all of our faves including their famed gyro, chicken pita, greek salad and chicken soup (hello winter) among other specialties. Be prepared to forfeit their coveted fries and rice, BUT they ARE offering fresh cut chips and hummus for your side (extra charge).

For those of you who are familiar with the great taste of the original Niko's, expect Market Square to provide the the same quality in execution and flavor. My gyro was STUFFED with meat, hearty tomato wedges, red onion, and that cool, refreshing tzatziki dressing - for under $6.

Several tables surrounded the stand; some under a covered patio, while others donned umbrellas. I was able to enjoy a delicious lunch with the ever so fabulous Dan S, take in some amazing downtown people watching, and return to my office within an hour - not bad, not bad at all.

What have we learned today?
If you are downtown, hungry, and it's GORGEOUS outside you are doing yourself a disservice if you go anywhere BUT Niko's Market Square for lunch.

Niko's - you did good. Real good.

Frank's Pizza

4 out of 5 Stars

Website
417 Travis Street
Houston, TX 77002-1807
(713) 225-5656

The odds of me turning down an invitation to Frank's when the clock strikes noon are prettttttttttttttttttttttttttttty slim.

Why?

Because It's easily your best option for pizza downtown.

Pizza by the slice at Frank's is far superior to heartless Roman Delight in the tunnels and much larger / cheaper than the  baby slices at the trendy Bombay Pizza Co.

Frank's always has a few piping hot slices ready to serve including supreme, pepperoni, cheese and usually a veggie option. The employees are willing to make other varieties if you are cool waiting.

The best part - you can get a monster slice with a soda for under $5! That's a'more!

As for the flavor? Pretty on point! I would venture to say it's pretty comparable to Ray's Pizza in NYC (you know, the pizza joint on every corner).

So does Frank's pizza inspire poetry? No. But it's not supposed to. It's made by a guy named Frank (not true). But it does hit the spot.

Bonus! The joint pays homage to every movie filmed in Houston by plastering framed posters all over it's walls. Respect.

I also enjoy the neon shirts the delivery boys have been sporting - way to beat the heat!

Oh, Frank's.......you remind me of my favorite late night pizza joint from my college days in Bloomington, IN.......except that I'm sober and it's daylight. Seeing as though you are open late, I can always count on you to recreate the memory.

Hunan

3 out of 5 Stars

Website
812 Capitol St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 227-8999

 

Hunan Downtown is clearly a nicer option for weekday lunch than your usual tunnels fare as proven by their white linen tablecloths and hostess. Don't be fooled though, you can still get in and out in under an hour.

If you are a fan of Gigi's in the Galleria, I am pretty sure Hunan has the same owner.

Hunan has your standard Chinese lunch specials (entree, soup, egg roll and rice) for a steeper price (about $10).

I went with beef with broccoli and egg drop soup. I'm teetering between if it was average or slightly above average for the highly Americanized dish. The soup was definitely standard but did the job. The beef was mixed with tender and tough bites.

My friend strayed away from the more affordable lunch specials and opted for the Return of the Phoenix Chicken off the regular menu. Now, I love Gigi's Return of the Phoenix (IE sesame chicken on flavor steroids). The dish cost him $17 but there was more than plenty to take home for a second meal.

Service was excellent and the decor was a pleasant change from the standard downtown lunch scene.

It was definitely nice to really feel like I got a lunch break by going to an establishment like this.

Is it worth it? I prefer to splurge on dinner, but if you don't mind paying $15 for a weekday lunch, I'd give it a try. It might be a great spot for a coworker's birthday lunch as the restaurant seemed pretty accommodating for groups.

BONUS: They have an all you can eat dim sum special M-W under $10. I haven't tried it, but plan on doing so!

Tip for Hunan: Try adding the Return of the Phoenix to the lunch special. Trust me.

Hubcap Grill

3 out of 5 Stars

 

Website

1111 Prairie St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 223-5885

 

Should I be embarrassed about the amount of burgers I've reviewed recently? Yes.

Will it stop me from Yelping? No.

Brianna S. and I arrived at the ultimate hole in the wall, Hubcap Grill.

We came to enjoy the National Burger Month special - $5 for a burger, fries, and soda - (extra awesome sauce on the side).

Within minutes, our meals were delivered to the back alley outdoor seating area.

At first bite, I knew exactly how to describe my meal. This is your dad's burger at a cookout - definitely brought back childhood memories. The patty is grilled flat, salty and well done (but still drips the necessary grease).

The bun was really light and crispy...unique.

We tried both the regular and sweet potato fries. Both were crispy, but I definitely preferred the sweeter variety at Hubcap.

My biggest complaint was minor-no fountain drinks!

The restaurant itself is no frills all the way down to serving mayo in packets which works for a place like Hubcap.

The Verdict: This was an easy 3 out of 5 for me. Not my favorite burger, but enjoyable.

Will I come back? Totally - I gotta try the sticky burger (yes, the one with PB and Bacon). Yelpers are raving about it - I'm such a follower..

The Grove

4 out of 5 Stars

Website
1611 Lamar Street
Houston, TX 77010
(713) 337-7314

In the voice of Chandler Bing:

"Could The Grove BE the most beautiful restaurant in Houston?"

Got an out of town guest or date to impress? This is your spot!

Waking up to a GORGEOUS Saturday, my friends knew we had to dine outdoors and headed down to Discovery Green. We became possessed by The Grove's inviting deck (all "if you build it, they will come" style) and next thing you know, we are sitting on their adorable red and white patio chairs.

You can't help but feel like it's the greatest day of your life when you are at The Grove on a sunny day.

We started off with the most amazing ceviche I've ever had. Fresh and light, this ceviche was not swimming in salsa the way I see most ceviche these days. It was served with crispy plantains which kept me smiling. This was my favorite selection, hands down.

Moving on, we tried the deviled eggs topped with chorizo and olive tapenade. Despite the fact that the yolk was a tad too mustardy - I was pleased.

We finished off with the Nicoise Salad. The seared tuna was awesome, but at the end of the day, I am just not a salad girl.

Service was excellent, and the beauty of this restaurant is unbelievable - fancy but understated and comfortable. A rarity.

The Grove is definitely a special place in Houston. I can't wait to return.

Little Napoli

3 out of 5 Stars

Website
1001 Texas Ave
Ste 100
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 225-3900

Bored of tunnel food and eager to enjoy a gorgeous day, my coworkers and I took an above ground stroll downtown to Little Napoli for lunch.

I got a warm and fuzzy vibe upon entering this quaint corner restaurant. This vibe continued as I perused their lunch friendly menu with meals starting as low as $6! A limitless list of options ranging from pastas to pizzas and chicken entrees makes this a lunch spot for even the pickiest eater.

Tracey T. was dead on about the bread "laced with crack" that was promptly brought out after we were seated (soft, fluffy and sweet inside with a crispy crust).

Brianna S. and I split the antipasta salad and a lunch sized margarita pizza with shrooms and black olives. In the future, I will pass on the salad (your basic salad with thin slices of salami, pepperoni and provolone cheese with watery dressing didn't jive with me).

Our pizza, however hit the spot (definitely not the best, but scratched my itch if you know what I mean). Garlic lovers will be pleased with this $7 pie.

Our waitress was attentive, prompt and sweet making our first experience a pure pleasure.

Downtown yelpers will definitely get out of their lunch crunch with this average but homey Italian spot.

Bonus: Happy hour from 2 - 8 (not a typo). I didn't have a chance to see what is included, but WOW.

Cork Wine Bar

2 out of 5 Stars

1201 San Jacinto St # 158
Houston, TX 77002-6930
(713) 936-1000

They sure don't make wine bars like they used to.

My friends and I stopped into Cork on a whim, before heading to our main destination for the night. My immediate response when I walked into Cork was this:

"There was some commercial real estate guy that looked at The Pavilions and said 'A wine bar would make a killing here.'"

And thus, Cork was born.

This place is large and in charge with 2 story ceilings and a clean and modern decor. Aside from one other couple, my group of eight were the only patrons present on a Saturday night. We settled in on a set of comfy couches in the back and took a look at our options.

I admit, I am no wine connoisseur, so for me to critique the menu is ridiculous. I do know, the beer connoisseurs of the group were pleasantly surprised with their beer list. I wish I could remember what was ordered, but it was compared to Guinness but with with a little more milkshake flavor without the weight - delish! Along with the two beers, two bottles of Merlot and Pinot Grigio were ordered for the group. The bottles were fine (nothing to run to Spec's for) and our bill totaled to $70...not too shabby.

So why the two star treatment? Establishments like Cova and The Corkscrew were opened by people who LOVED wine and wanted to share that love with the world (and did so, successfully).

The service at Cork was fine. They were attentive and friendly, but nothing went the extra mile to make me say "this place is solid".

Seeing as it was a new establishment and empty, they had the opportunity to go the extra mile. Sure, we did not ask, but the staff did not tell us anything about their menu. We are at a wine bar - let's see some passion or enthusiasm!

Full from dinner, I glanced at the food menu - pretty generic: a cheese plate (no mention of cheeses), couple of sandwiches - nothing super exciting.

I reiterate, Cork did nothing wrong, but they also did nothing more than average. My advice to the management is to add a little more love here. With so many wine bars in Houston, step your game up!

Saint Arnold's Brewery

5 out of 5 Stars

Website
2000 Lyons Ave
Houston, TX 77020
(713) 686-9494

The Newery IS the new brewery!

This review is not a review. If you love good beer, good people, and hazy Saturdays there is no question - You MUST attend the brewery.

I would like to use my review as a medium for tips:

1) The earlier you get there, the better. Doors open at 11. Try to get there before 1. More likely than not you will have to wait in a line, but you will def get in.

2) If you get there past 1, prepare to stand in a long line outside and hope they don't close the doors on you.

3) Invest in a pint glass while you're there (or bring a St. Arnold's glass if you already have one). You get way more beer than the dinky one they hand you with the $7 entrance fee (totes worth it).

4) Bring lunch! Beer + pizza / subs / tamales = awesomeness

5) Unless you get there EARLY, bring fold-able chairs if you like to sit while you drink (while space is a plenty, tables and chairs are not)

6) come with a good vibe - good energy is essential to the brewery

PROCEED!

La Carafe

2 out of 5 Stars

 

813 Congress St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 229-9399

 

I am almost afraid to post this - bc it seems as I am the only person with a bad experience here.

To be fair-I have only been once.

I will start out with why I gave it 2 stars and not 1:

I can't deny how cool the history of this place is and maybe that's why the bartender felt he can be a complete jerk and get away with it.

On to my experience:

I came here on a date (thankfully it was a 5th or 6th date so it was not as awkward as it could have been). We sat down at the bar and had the bartender recommend a red wine to us. He then proceeded to pour us what we thought was a taste to confirm our selection.

NOTE: without sounding conceited (but this is important to the story)- my date and I are both easy to please, casual, polite people

Neither of us enjoyed his recommendation and went with another bottle.

The bartender got a lil crazy here. He proceeded to talk down to us and let it be known that his initial small pour for us was NOT a tasting but to check if the date of the wine seemed accurate. AND he will no longer recommend another bottle because clearly we have different taste. It was AWKWARD to say the least. I felt like I committed a crime in his bar.

We proceeded to go with our own wine selection and he had us pay up front. My date whipped out his credit card - nope, not accepted here.

Now don't get me wrong - I know this is a case where they are trying to maintain the quaintness of the bar by only accepting cash and I get that -but the bartender's reaction - INSANE.

Bartender's response:
"We don't accept credit cards and the ATM outside of the bar is out of service. I have already opened 2 bottles for you and you can't pay me. Clearly neither parties (bartender and my date/me) are happy. Perhaps you should leave as this is clearly not working out."

WOW. If we were rowdy, rude or unwilling to pay - I'd get it. However, we were sober, willing to pay, and just wanted to enjoy our evening. My date and I gave each other non verbal cues as to what we should do.

The date proceeded to find an ATM a few blocks away while I waited - and finally enjoy the bottle for the next few hours. However - we moved to the UPSTAIRS and bonded over the worst service EVER and still joke about it to this day.

So in short - enjoy the bar but be weary of very bitter bartenders.