Miyako

4 out of 5 Stars

Website

Upper Kirby

3910 Kirby Dr
Houston, TX 77098
(713) 520-9797

Galleria /Briargrove

6345 Westheimer Road

Houston , TX

(713) 781-6300

Can I say that Miyako is a Houston institution for sushi? It maybe be an overstatement, but its also been providing Houstonians with sushi, sake, happy hours and.....hangovers for years.

Sometimes I'm in the mood for trendy sushi (Sushi King), sometimes it's cheap sushi (Oishii), but when I like to go old school....I go to Miyako (home of my very first sushi experience).

What can you expect?

A welcoming greeting for starters! But you can expect that same enthusiasm from your waiters (with the exception of happy hour - too busy to be happy), sushi chefs, and bartenders.

They are constantly featuring specialty roles displayed in front that are aesthetically gorgeous, but my standard go - to will always and forever be......drumrolll........

MIYAKO'S ORIGINAL TUNA TARTAR (off the starters menu) - NOM NOM NOM!

Think layer upon layer of spicy tuna, avocado and seaweed salad goodness surrounded by fried wontons and a spicy mayo drizzle....

......this would easily be my submission to Food TV's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate".

The seating options at Miyako are perfect for just about any dining scenario:

To the right, tables that can be formed for large groups, booths, and the highly entertaining sushi bar.

To the left, more intimate tables allowing you to sit comfortably on the floor (shoes off style) and even a few private rooms perfect for sake bombing with your favorite degenerate friends!

Miyako is most famous for their cheap happy hours, but let's not forget about their excellent reverse happy hour that starts at 9pm - close: a lovely 30% off the entire menu!

Miyako often gets dismissed because it's not the hip new sushi bar in town, but for this Yelper, it's always a welcome option.

And with that, "Irasshaimase"!

Barnaby's Cafe

4 out of 5 Stars

 

Website

Montrose / River Oaks

1701 S Shepherd Dr
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 520-5131

 

Galleria

5750 Woodway Dr # 174
Houston, TX 77057-1500
(713) 266-0046

 

In light of summer, I've been craving lighter foods. Generally not a big salad girl, I'm always on the lookout for greens with a certain "Je n'ais sais Quois".

Enter Barnaby's - the posh but causal neighborhood eatery welcoming pooches (via patio) and their masters alike.

Barnaby's doesn't know how to make a lame salad. Barnaby's doesn't know how to serve a salad with less than 5 ingredients. But Barnaby's definitely knows how to turn a salad into a party (yes, I've just referenced The Hills).

I've enjoyed the Salsalito Crunch, Chinese Chicken, Lebanese Fattoush and Mediterranean Salad for years and they always impress.

Its funny - about a year ago, I thought I had sworn off Barnaby's. While they have a large menu, and I'm not very picky, most dishes did not stick out to me and I'd always settle on a burger. And while I adore their fries, the burger was always a little too dry and the bun was a little too wheaty.

Being on my salad kick has reunited me with my old friend Barnaby "and it feels so good".

What's so great about their salads? First - THEY ARE HUGE! You can actually split a salad and still take home lunch for tomorrow. $9 goes FAR.

Most salads come with grilled chicken (I always ask for the shredded form to compliment the cool and crisply chopped lettuce). But they are happy to top any of their salads with chicken / tuna salad and salmon as well (for an extra charge). As I mentioned, their salads come perfectly chopped - no cutting up massive lettuce leaves. This gives you the pleasure of tasting every FRESH ingredient in each bite.

My only issue with Barnaby's is their menu. Sure they list the salads, but could it kill them to describe the salads underneath???  I've only been to Salsalito once and can't imagine it in salad form, sorry!

JUST A TIP: Don't attempt to save $$ by doing the half order salad. They only take about $1 off so you might as well have salad that will last you another meal or 2.

Bonus: they give you insanely generous amounts of dressing in to go ramekins (so you don't have to worry about soggy salad). That's what's up!

The Black Swan

4 out of 5 Stars

 

Omni Hotel
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 871-8181

 

"After the party it's the hotel lobby.."

Or in the Omni's case, it's at the Black Swan.

No party to start with? No problem! I've hosted and attended countless birthday parties and celebrations at this underground lounge.

Oh, the Black Swan - a MUST if you are at a wedding reception at the Omni Hotel.

I'm at a point in my life where weddings, at the very least, are a quarterly event. But if you love a good wedding reception (complete with DJ, dance floor, awkward old relatives of the couple, and jaded drunk bridesmaids), you can get your fix any Saturday night HERE.

The Black Swan is simply fantastic. My friends and I love to get our dance on but not too keen on the club scene and not too talented to be at a salsa club...so the Black Swan is where we  go to get a little crazy.

Don't expect to dance to "oontz oontz oontz" or the latest beats from DJ whoever - the music here is strictly cheese fest top 40. Basically, it's a dance floor created for you to become a complete *hot mess* while doing the cupid shuffle.

Not in the mood to dance? No worries - plenty of booths, tables and standing room away from the dance party for you and your friends.

Be sure to dress up (no tennis shoes or graphic tees) as they do have a dress code.

My only cons:
-Drinks are pricier - $8 for a rum and coke
-No cell phone reception as it's underground

Bottom line: If you are in the mood to get gussied up and let loose without being on Washington or Midtown - The Black Swan IS the answer.

As my good friend simply stated: "It's not a successful Black Swan night if it's not kinda fuzzy ."

The Richmond Chill Bar & Grill

5 out ot 5 Stars

Website
4704 Richmond Ave
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 622-0775

The name says it all. This IS the CHILLEST bar on Richmond.

I may have driven by this dive 1,000 times, but I finally dropped in for open mic night yesterday to see a friend play some blues (every Wednesday).

Upon entering this cozy bar, (yes, I think everyone on Yelp agrees COZY is the best way to describe Richmond Chill) I was immediately drawn to the giant cushioned bench dawning 20+ pillows. It took up the entire back wall and I LIKED IT.

Candy, the bartender, was super friendly and fast pouring our $3 Blue Moon pints (yum!). It seems like there is an awesome drink special every night of the week.

Richmond Chill features a full bar and food menu to keep any patron buzzed and satisfied.

Crowd was mixed with twenty somethings and charming geezers that just wanted to get their drink on - a friendly bunch to say the least.

Nothing but smiles and pint glasses at Richmond Chill!

I might just have to become a regular at this tiny, unpretentious joint.

Five Guys Burger and Fries

4 out of 5 Stars

For all locations, visit website.

After several rounds in the ring between Five Guys and Smashburger, we have our heavyweight mid grade burger champion of the world.....

FIVE GUYS!

It's been close to 2 years since "better than fast food" burger chains started taking over Houston and in my mind the main contenders were always Smashburger and Five Guys (because I don't know where Moo-ya is and HATE Little Bigs).

After a few tastes in both joints, its unanimous - Five Guys has the better burger.

What initially turned me off about Five Guys was marketing their burgers as "juicy and well done". Is that even possible??

The reality of their burgers is that while you don't see pink - these burgers are cooked to medium perfection and indeed - juicy as can be (thanks grease)!

There is just something brilliantly perfect about Five Guys burgers. When you see this burger - there is nothing special to it: standard sesame bun, standard toppings, standard patty. THEN you bite into it.....and...well...sweet, sweet harmony. All of the ingredients melt together into this delicious bite of awesomeness. It's magic!

Five Guys' flaw is their fries - a little too natural for me (I need some crispiness. Let's face it -  we are eating burgers - who is trying to be healthy?

So in a perfect world, I'd take a Five Guys burger with Smashburger fries on the side....and now I'm sounding like a fatty.

Bonus: All of their toppings are free on top of an already reasonably priced burger (who likes adding .99 for grilled onions and another .99 for shrooms - not I!

Score! While I have yet to see a long wait for food, they provide complimentary shelled peanuts to munch on till your food arrives!

Ginza

3 out of 5 Stars

 

5868 San Felipe St
Houston, TX 77057
(713) 785-0332

 

Ginza is your friendly, convenient neighborhood sushi bar. If you live in the Tanglewood area, I would not blame you for stopping by weekly (it's fresh, fast, and reliable).

With that being said, for me, Ginza is not "OMG" amazing.

Pros:
-The atmosphere is "old school" and appears to be family run which always makes me smile
- If you are in a rush, you can easily be in and out in 30 minutes flat
-Most importantly, the sushi is good and fresh

Cons:
-The appetizers are insanely small. We ordered the tuna tartare to share....this was difficult task
-Of the three rolls and three appetizers we ordered, the shrimp shumai is the only one that is memorable
-No happy hour =(

I totally get the appeal of Ginza. You won't be dissapointed.

Magnolia Bar & Grill (CLOSED)

4 out of 5 Stars

6000 Richmond Ave
Houston, TX 77057
(713) 781-6207

WA WA WEE WA! Now that is some GOOOOOD crawfish!

Magnolia Bar & Grill was the second stop of my Crawfish tour this season. The excellence of the crawfish here made me rethink my review of my first stop (Ragin' Cajun). Magnolia blew them right out of the water - 100%!

The interior - ADORABLE (think of those French Quarter style homes popping up all over The Heights). We chose to dine on the deck overlooking Richmond. You will easily forget you're on one of Houston's loudest blocks once the sweet Motown band starts jamming.

When dining deck-side, you order everything at the bar. No worries - EVERYTHING came out fast, fresh, and HOT - especially our CRAWDADS!

Magnolia has got it going on with their crawfish. They are HUGE (meat from claws, huge). They are JUICY. They are PACKED with FLAVOR. This is what I was waiting for!

Our seafood campechana and oysters on the half-shell - EXCELLENT - as fresh as can be!

Our least adventurous friend went with an order of popcorn shrimp. Their batter was off the chain - dark and crispy!

I knock one point off because they did not have corn to accompany the crawfish (a sin!!!) and their beer selection was meh.

Magnolia - you are chill and fun all at the same time. We shall meet again!

Ragin Cajun

3 out of 5 Stars

4302 Richmond Ave
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 623-6321

For all locations see website.

I finally kicked off crawfish season after holding out for bigger "daddies" this past Sunday evening. RELIEF!

I find it most appropriate to commence crawfish season at Ragin Cajun, as this is where my love affair with them began 3 years ago (life was different back then).

My two gal pals and I ordered 3.5 lbs of crawdads, boudin balls, hush pups, and a Blue Moon beer bucket and wound up paying $18 each (a lil pricier than we hoped, but well worth it).

The daddies were bigger than expected (considering it's not April yet) and cooked to perfection. We added a tad more seasoning, since we craved the "can't feel my lips....need more beer" tingle. By the end of the bucket...Rajin Cajun had three happy customers.

I can't recommend the boudin balls (not my style) but the hush puppies were a great accompaniment to our beloved crawfish.

The atmosphere at Ragin is perfection. Ordering at the front bar is a breeze and your meal comes out in minutes. The staff is super friendly and contribute to the casual vibe.

Bonus! I joined their free "Craw Club" and look forward to polishing off more crawfish in the remaining season on a discount. YA!

Friendly Tip: Avoid parking near the dumpster...you may end up with permanent stink eye.

Nit Noi

3 out of 5 Stars

4703 Richmond Ave # A
Houston, TX 77027-6616
(713) 621-6088
For all locations see Website.

I've lost that loving feeling.

I once named Nit Noi not only my favorite thai restaurant, but my favorite restaurant...of all time.

When my flights home from college came in too late to allow me to stop here upon arrival, then my parents knew to have it waiting for me in the fridge. It had to be my first meal home.

My love affair with Nit Noi was intense to say the least.

Then there was the bulldozing incident. Some high-rise had the audacity to come in and bulldoze the entire strip center Nit Noi inhabited in the Rice Village. There was promise that one day Nit Noi would come back and live on the first floor of this building, but that day still has not come.

I have resorted to becoming a patron of the Richmond location. I keep coming back hoping it will once live up to the amazingness that Nit Noi on Bolsover was....and it has never been the same.

Enough with the drama. Here are my recs (knowing they are notch down from the goodness they should be):

1.Soft Spring rolls - an excellent noodle to veggie ratio with no thick helping of green lettuce - bah!

2. Crispy spring rolls - these may still be the best spring roll you will ever have. Thicker. Better Filling. Amazing flaky, fried batter. These should be punctured with a fork for 2 minutes before consumption.

3.The Pad Thai - used to be sweeter and creamier than any other Pad Thai in the land. It's still edible, but doesn't hit the spot it once did.

4. Pad See Yu - the big boy version of Pad Thai. Less sweet, more grill flavor.

5. Eggplant - sweet, glorious eggplant.

6. Their peanut sauce. Still the best.

Obviously upon reading my descriptions, you can see the memory of the original location still rests in my heart.

A big plus to any Nit Noi is price. I can come here with 3 friends, split one order of Pad Thai and 6 soft / crispy spring rolls and come out under $10 with tip and plenty full.

Another plus: the food always comes quickly and the restaurant is always clean.

To be honest, if you want to try Nit Noi, I would suggest trying the Woodway and Voss location (as it is a better reminder of Bolsover). Unfortunately, it is out of my way.

High-rise folks: I am still waiting for my Nit Noi. What's the status, Gladys???

RDG + Bar Annie

3 out of 5 Stars

Website
1800 Post Oak Boulevard
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 840-1111

 

If you prefer paying $20+ cover to go to a "see and be seen" club, you may very well LOVE RDG + Bar Annie.

Pulling up to the valet-only restaurant in my scratched Toyota Solara in the company of 7 Series BMWs and 2 door Benzs is always a pleasure (and by pleasure, I mean awkward).

The architects and designers for this spot were brilliant. The moment you set foot upstairs to the lounge and restaurant, you are no longer in Houston, and most definitely in LA or Miami (without any cheese factor). Unfortunately, this is the highlight of RDG + Bar Annie, as I came here to dine.

My meal began with a chopped wedge salad. The wedge was fantastic; delicious blue cheese dressing perfectly chopped, cool, and crisp iceberg lettuce with thick bacon shavings.

Impressed with my salad, I couldn't wait for my second course - steak tar tare. Now, I've enjoyed steak tar tare once before at Tao in Las Vegas. The dish came with several thin slices of flavorful, tender raw steak. LOVED IT.

Do you know what I don't love? A raw hamburger patty with a raw egg yolk on top. My friend forewarned me of this, but I assumed the steak would be of a certain grade or treated in some manner making it worthy of living on the menu of one of Houston's nicest restaurants.

RDG + Bar Annie charged me $18 for a raw unseasoned hamburger patty from the meat counter at H-E-B.

Maybe I'm not the foodie I thought I was.

My friend gave me some of her shrimp taco to fill me up. It was fine - nothing I'd ever crave.

Service was a miss for me too. While our waiter brought out everything super fast, he barley spoke to us. He made no attempt out of making an impression on our party of five and was practically a ghost. The downstairs toilets also reeked of sewage - don't know what that was about.

All in all, RDG + Bar Annie falls short for what's publicized as a five star restaurant.  I would recommend it for a drink date or perhaps a company dinner. I personally would only return for a martini on the upstairs balcony (so long as I arrived in someone else's car).

Maggiano's

4 out of 5 Stars

Website
2019 Post Oak Blvd
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 961-2700

Maggiano's is to society what Home Depot is to most girls.....you only go when it is absolutely necessary.

Necessary times include eating with a large and in charge group, a private party, your first meal out of jail, and in most cases for me - a hilarious, cheap dinner.

Hilarious, cheap dinner? At Maggiano's? Do tell!

I strongly encourage Houston Yelpers and friend or two to grab a table at the front bar of Maggiano's Monday through Friday in between 6 and 9pm . You are guaranteed to be surrounded by suits, cougars, and awkward dates galore while listening to the most ridiculous cover band on keyboard and guitar (and by cover band, I mean a man and woman covering Gnarles Barkley and Earth, Wind and Fire and by ridiculous, I mean cheese-fest). People watching at its finest!

Order a wine, bellini, or whatever strikes your fancy, a small appetizer (like calamari) and split a side pasta. It may not be advertised on the menu, but they offer sides orders of pasta for $3 or $4 (your choice of pasta and sauce)! Sit back, relax, and hilarity ensues for a grand total of $10 -$15 per person including tip. 60% of the time, it works every time.

But seriously, for bulk dining, Maggiano's is one of the best options out there. It's still a nice setting, guests have plenty of options, and the food (when taken into consideration that it's served in bulk) is "a'ight".

I went here recently for a friend's birthday dinner (party of 12). When making a large reservation, they require you to choose a set menu. By set menu, they mean a BOTTOMLESS smorgasbord of food. We ended up with 2 salads, stuffed mushrooms, fried zucchini, lasagna, ravioli, chicken marsala chicken parm, AND cheesecake for $40 a person (we also order a couple bottles of wine).

$40 is a lot BUT, you end up ordering so many items that everyone is happy and everyone takes home leftovers (think dinner and lunch for the rest of the week).

Maggiano's service was outstanding! They were prompt, friendly, attentive, and happy to continue serving additional orders of whatever we wanted fully knowing they were just going to box it up later.

Albeit it's not the best Italian fare, but for a care free feast among a lot of people, Maggiano's is not a bad option.

Bonus!

Maggiano's is a big supporter of the Make A Wish Foundation. One of my "random nights of hilarity" at the front bar at Maggiano's happened to be a night they hosted a Hawaiian luau for a Make A Wish family. Not only did Maggiano's provide the feast for a group of at least 50, they also hired a fire dancer to perform outside the restaurant as a sendoff for the family's trip to Hawaii that Maggiano's paid for!

Good peeps at Maggiano's which ultimately bumps my 3 star review to a 4!

The Oceanaire

2 out of 5 Stars

Website
5061 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77056
(832) 487-8862

NOTE: This is a review of the BAR menu only.

After many failed attempts to hit up Oceanaire for a celebratory meal, my friend and I finally sampled its fare by way of the bar menu. I'm on a budget and if I'm going to splurge, it's not going to be on a ho-hum Thursday night. Almost everything on the bar menu was under $10, so I figured it was a great way to sample Oceanaire's "way" with the creatures from the sea.

I will review our selections from best to worst.

Oceanaire offers tuna, crab cake, and cheeseburger sliders (who doesn't these days??).

Ironically, the cheeseburger was the winner. They managed to cook the burger medium rare which is pretty amazing considering the size of the patty - juicy and succulent and topped with the sweetest caramelized onions.

The crab cake slider was meh and the the tuna was not ordered.

Next up......we began a lustful affair with the fish and chips. Let me explain. At first bite, the fish was great! The golden batter was just right (sweet and crispy) and still allowed you to enjoy the fish. It went downhill from there. I quickly realized the dish had no real substance (IE - I got bored with the flavor). I didn't even attempt to finish my portion. The "chips" were perfection as I prefer them fine and salty.

And then there was the "chopped" salad with shrimp and crab meat. Frankly, they should feel embarrassed to bring this out to a paying customer. Claiming the salad was chopped was a blatant lie. They topped the (not wedge salad) with shrimp the size of my toenail and crab meat that tasted like water. If there was dressing on the salad, it was not memorable. This was a big fail.

Needless to say, the meal was mediocre at best. What was memorable was the service - top notch even at the bar. Our waiter was very attentive. Along with excellent bread, they give you olives to nosh on while your order is being prepared.

As a seafood fan, I was sad to see the burger, bread and service as the highlight of my experience at Oceanaire. Perhaps the bar menu was not the way to go. Regardless, I will not be returning to Oceanaire (at least on my dime).

Berryhill

4 out of 5 Stars

1717 Post Oak Blvd
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 871-8226

For more locations visit website.

I have a fever and the only cure is more BERRYHILL!

It starts out subtle....just a little itch that needs a scratch....and then cold sweats...some shivers and my friends are off to grab the original fish tacos (no cabbage, extra sauce on the side).

We can all get turned off by chain restaurants, but Berryhill's roots are right here in Houston. LOVE that.

You got to respect some of the deals offered by Berryhill:
- $1.99 fish tacos with a drink thanks to the recession.
- $1.99 bar bites like chicken tamales
- Free bottomless chips and salsa bar including that amazing cilantro ranch dip

What to order:
-1 original fish taco (each taco is stuffed with 2 pieces of  tempura battered fish that are held together with 2 corn tortillas for max durability). The "Fannet way" is to take the extra tortilla and 2nd piece of fish and BAM - 2 fish tacos!

-1 chicken tamale

-1 side of rice or corn on cob

Happiness ensues.

Whether you are ordering take out or dining in, service is always super fast. And if you order right, you can easily get a great meal under ten bux.

Berryhill. Because sometimes you don't want tex mex.

Crapitto's Cucina Italiana

3 out of 5 Stars

Website
2400 Midlane St
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 961-1161

I had the pleasure of dining at Crapitto's on a late Tuesday night. I love Houston, but my biggest issue with it is the lack of late diners here.

As a result, my date and I were the only 2 people at the restaurant by 8:30...a little awkward. This could be pretty romantic if Crapitto's was half the size and dimly lit - but this was not the case.

Nevertheless, service was top notch (since we basically had the place to ourselves). They never made me feel rushed to leave even though we were their last customers.

I went with a risotto with seafood and crawfish - it was amazing! The crawfish and shrimp were plentiful and cooked perfectly. The risotto was crazy creamy without getting too mushy.

To me, Crapitto's has that old school Italian restaurant  charm - modern it is not.

So just a 3??? I need to return in order for Crapitto's to gain more stars from me as I can't base a review on 1 entree and no other patrons in site.

But if you really need a recommendation, I'd say take a chance and go! I will definitely be returning.

Daily Grill

2 out of 5 Stars

 

Website

5085 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 960-5997

 

I remember when they first opened up (pre smoking ban) - this place reeked of ciggs. Fast forward a few years later...this place still reeks...but this time...of blah food.

A pal of mine and I came here for a quick dinner after some late night weekday shopping. We noticed immediately that the menu was rather pricey. Just to give you an example....we decided to split a salad and still ended up spending $11 each after tip (with just 1 so-so salad)!

Everything on the menu is rather heavy, but nothing seemed to really hit the spot.

When looking through the salad options....they all pretty much sounded the same with the exception of the standard caesar, and some gorgonzola, pecan endive option.

So we went with one of the cobb / blue cheese varieties (I kid you not, there were about 4 of these salads on the menu - not sure what's going on with that).

The salad was chopped the way I like it, but as far as wow factor - there was none.

I don't plan on coming back. If I want to spend $20+ on a meal at the Galleria, I'd happily go to GiGi's.

I will say that the service was great, and the bread they give you to nosh on was even better. So Daily Grill, isn't SO bad...

Mongolian Hot Pot

4 out of 5 Stars

Website

5901 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77057
(713) 975-0687

Mongolian Hot Pot: Where soup becomes fun!

This is one of those places you only go with your non-picky food friends! Friends that are weary of raw meats and how food is cooked - stay away.

With that warning out of the way - Mongolian Hot Pot hits the spot when you want delicious and exotic soup!

Friends and I came here thinking it was a Mongolian bar-b-q place (where you pick ingredients and sauces and someone will cook it in a wok). When we walked in and saw a Melting Pot-esq setup we knew we were in for something special.

Each table has a burner in the middle where a large bowl of broth is cooking. Customers can select various kinds of ingredients including meats, fish, exotic vegetables, and several noodles.

You can also choose if you want regular or spicy broth (or both) as well as sauces to accompany the soup.

We selected the regular broth that came with thin slices of raw beef that you place in the broth (they fully cook in 20 seconds). We also put various kinds of mushroom, glass noodles, bok choy, and tofu in the bowl.

The broth is so flavorful and satisfying!

Soup not your thing????
We also tried their stir fry (although it was not the Mongolian stir fry we were used to). You get to select 2 types of protein, 2 kinds of vegetables and a sauce. This also comes with noodles, soup, and egg rolls. AWESOME SAUCE!

I love how customizable this place is to everyone's palate! The waiters are very attentive and they even remember you upon your return!

Overall a great experience. I can't wait to test out more combinations!!

La Vista

5 out of 5 Stars

Website

1936 Fountain View Dr
Houston, TX 77057
(713) 787-9899

La Vista is......happiness.  Fine food in a casual setting - and that's how the chef want s you to feel. The website is called http://www.fatbutter.com - enough said.

The moment you enter the parking lot you smell the garlic sizzling. And although this quaint restaurant sits on the corner of an old supermarket plaza, you quickly forget once you sit down on a bench with a bottle of wine.

On a beautiful night...La Vista IS the place to go. I don't bother sitting indoors because the patio is just perfect.

I have never been underwhelmed with anything I order here. However, here are my top pics:

1) Steamed Mussels in garlic sauce. WOW! They are always cooked perfectly and the broth is heaven. They give you crispy bread to soak up the broth - it is so good you don't even miss the frites that normally accompany this type of dish.

2) EVERY pizza is perfection hands down. The crust is thin the way I like it and the ingredients are aplenty.

3)  Their spicy shrimp and grits dish is the ultimate comfort food.

The menu is a perfect size - plenty of options without becoming overwhelming.

The service is average, but the food and the wait (sometimes) is worth it.

And (bonus) the BYO wine you sip while you wait and dine make up for any shortcomings.

PS- Conveniently, there is a liquor store right next door in case you forget your bottle(s) at home. Score!

Great for a date or group of friends!

Ciao Bello

4 out of 5 Stars
Website

 

5161 San Felipe
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 960 - 0333

What a great new spot!

I came here with a girlfriend and we were on a mission for pizza - we got HOOKED UP.

We planned on ordering half Margarita / half pear, goat cheese and caramelized onion.

They ended up giving us just the pear/goat/onion pizza. They realized the mistake immediately and said they would bring a smaller version of the marg to make up for it.

5 minutes later - a giant marg came out just for us.

So yeah - service was WONDERFUL.

So let's talk about the food:

Pizzas are Sicilian style - the way I like it. THIN AND CRISPY. The crust had this great flakiness to it.

Both pizzas were delicious - flavorful and at least 2 notches up from your average thin crust pizza. I was also surprised at the great price for such a large portion - I think they were $12?

We also order the Osso Bucco Ravioli. While fellow yelpers Katie F. and Albert N. highly recommended this pasta dish - I didn't see pizazz and will not be ordering it again. Don't get me wrong - it was good....I am just excited to try all the other amazing dishes on the excellent menu at Ciao Bello.

I wish I were with a bigger group so I could have tasted a few more items...but if you love fine pizza - the Vallone's have done it right.

After I finish my leftovers from the extra pizzas we received, I will definitely be returning.

YAY for another great pizza spot in Houston!!!

Jenni's Noodle House

Website
3.5 out of 5 Stars

Montrose:
3111 Shepherd Dr. @ Alabama
Houston, TX 77098
(713) 523-7600

Galleria:
2027 Post Oak Blvd @ Westhiemer
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 621-4200

Heights:
602 East 20th St. @ Oxford
Houston, TX 77008
(713) 862-3344

Part 1:

If noodles is what you want - Jenni's is where to go. They have so many different options (noodles soups, noodle dishes, flat noodles, wide noodles, sweet noodles (though I did not see glass noodles).

I really prefer this new location - much more comfy and spacious than the the original.

Food: I ordered the Vietnamese egg rolls and the "stir me crazy" entree (substituted with Udon noodles).

Both selections were delicious and not too greasy.

Service: FAST and FRIENDLY. You order up front so if you are with a group, you don't have to worry about splitting the bill. The guy taking my order listened to what I was craving and made a perfect choice for me. They also have pictures of all their dishes in case you want a preview of what you are in store for.

Jenni's is great for a casual date, group gathering, or take out.

Part 2 (updated):

I had to do an update after yesterday's dinner. I ordered the same thing as usual (Stir Me Crazy). This time, my order came out to $18!!!

WHY? They decided to charge me for all these things they normally don't - it was not cute.

So why the $18 for a noodle dinner (this did include a springroll...but still).

They charged me extra for each of the following things SEPARATELY:

a) Subbed soba noodles for udon noodles
b) Asked If I could do half beef and half tofu (they said no, they will just charge me extra for tofu)
c) then they asked if I wanted my tofu crispy or soft. I said crispy (obviously - ha) and they charged me extra for that too (on top of the charge for tofu in the first place).

I was not impressed. It was shameful.

So, ya - I'm a lil mad at the crew @ Jenni's for being kinda sheisty.

Gigi's Asia Bistro

4 out of 5 Stars

5085 Westheimer

Houston, TX 77056

(713) 629-8889

My favorite place to celebrate over a meal if I'm craving Asian!

There is a great vibe the second you walk in the door - every time!

Gigi's is one of the few places where the  cool decor does not make up for bland food and shotty service - the ambiance just enhances the flavors you experience here!

Gigi's is ideal for a date, a small group of friends, and even a large party (as you can easily order several dishes and share among the table).

They even have great private dining booths that you can reserve for no charge.

Plus - on nice nights - their outdoor seating makes you feel like you are on vacation even though you are sitting along busy Westheimer!

On to the food - my top pics:

Return of the Phoenix Chicken - has been a favorite of mine ever since it was on the old Hunan menu. It's a better version of your average sesame / general Tso's chicken. It's pricier - but you can taste it in the grade of chicken they use - SO WORTH IT

Pad See Yoo - (I know I butchered the spelling) - a noodle dish. It is off the menu but they will always make it for you. The noodles are wide, flat and AMAZING. It comes with delicious slices of beef.

Really - you can't go wrong here.

I also hear they have an awesome weekend all you can eat dim sum special during lunch!

The only reason I even give it a 4 instead of a 5 is bc it can be pricey. My brother's fave dish is $34 (filet mignon cut up in cubes).