[jc281]

Anyone know of some good restaurants/cafes in the area?

[memebag]

Kam's Chinese! But only on weekdays. Weekends it isn't so good.

[jc281]

alright.

just seems like the whole area is lacking big time.

[Jax]

Yeah I live in the hood and I agree its a bit lacking. If you live near the Metro station you can go to Tacos A Go-Go in about 5-10 minutes (Ensemble HCC stop). I also walk to Cafe Express in the MFAH on occasion. Good fast food there. I haven't tried Kam's yet but maybe I will one of these days. I wasn't overly impressed with the Thai and Japanese places on the same block of Montrose.

[Houston19514]

Hotel ZaZa (I think their restaurant is named "The Monarch")

[jc281]

lol. so yeah there is basically nothing.

where do people who work in TMC eat for lunch?

[musicman]

spanish village on almeda. great ritas on the rocks. great cheese and onion enchiladas.

[Jax]

I ate at Spanish Village and I have to say I was really unimpressed. I would have to say its probably the worst tex/mexican restaurant I've been to in H-Town. Didn't try the ritas or cheese and onion enchiladas though. I had some kind of special combo meal with several different things which tasted too much like Taco Bell for my taste. Maybe I just ordered the wrong meal?

Yeah the ZaZa Monarch restaurant is good but damn expensive. You can get some snacks at the bar which are more reasonable but still more than I would usually pay for snacks (except for special occasions like my graduation).

At least the Museum District is close to a lot of good vietnamese choices, only a short car/bike/metro rail ride away including Mai's, Pho Saigon, Van Loc, and others...

Quote

where do people who work in TMC eat for lunch?

The Med Center has a chinese place (Wang Fu), a Chipotle, and a sushi place at Dryden Station. And there are some other options in the "commons" that waterfall/parking garage building. And each hospital has its own cafeteria and sometimes a McDonalds type place (not worth going to in my opinion, even if you work at one of the hospitals). Chipotle and Wang Fu are good on occasion though and only 2 metro rail stops away.

This post has been edited by Jax: Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 9:07 AM

[brucesw]

Compared to my depraved part of town that area is awash with good eateries. What do you mean by 'area' though, walking distance?

There's lower Montrose, lower Richmond. A new place called Bowl is opening up on Richmond, 400 block or so, this week I think. Looks interesting.

The Village would be in the area afaic - tons of good eateries. My favs are Istanbul, Kahn's, Ruggles.

Main St. @ OST - Captain Benny's Oyster Bar

Kirby across from Reliant - Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet.

On Almeda besides Spanish Village (which I haven't ever cared for) - Reggae Hut, owned by the same guy who owns Breakfast Klub I think, and Alfreda's Soul Food Cafeteria, owned by the people who own District 7 Grill downtown, the retro diner.

Many of the institutions in TMC have eateries; there is also. I haven't eaten at any of these just made a note of it in case I ever have to spend lots of time in TMC again (as a visitor).

The Miller's Cafe that used to be on Main across is on level 2 of Scurlock; some people think they do great burgers.

This post has been edited by brucesw: Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 9:26 AM

[jc281]

yeah, walking... i guess thats tough for any area of houston though. i just remember once i was going from zaza through hermann park to tmc and back around to some of the museums and didnt see one establishment. i dont know where something could even go, but im sure a place close to the big circle at montrose would clean up

[musicman]

Jax, on Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 @ 9:03am, said:

Didn't try the ritas or cheese and onion enchiladas though.

these are the only 2 things i ever order here. rest is mediocre like most.

This post has been edited by musicman: Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 10:14 AM

[Jax]

Quote

yeah, walking... i guess thats tough for any area of houston though. i just remember once i was going from zaza through hermann park to tmc and back around to some of the museums and didnt see one establishment. i dont know where something could even go, but im sure a place close to the big circle at montrose would clean up

I did the exact same walk with my mom when she was in town and we were hungry. The only thing we could find was an ice cream truck. The good news is that Hermann Park will soon have its own cafe/restaurant which is currently under construction. There is also a sandwich place in the TMC across from Memorial Hermann that's not bad, but I don't think its open on weekends. The nice thing about the eateries around Dryden is that they are open decent hours 7 days per week.

Another piece of good news is that there will be a few restaurants at ground level in the new Rice Collaborative Research Center near Dryden.

[sarahiki]

brucesw, on Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 @ 9:23am, said:

On Almeda besides Spanish Village (which I haven't ever cared for) - Reggae Hut, owned by the same guy who owns Breakfast Klub I think, and Alfreda's Soul Food Cafeteria, owned by the people who own District 7 Grill downtown, the retro diner.

Have you eaten at Reggae Hut or Alfreda's? I've wondered about both but had never had a recommendation from anyone. I agree about Spanish Village; I heard great things about that place and thought the food was pretty bad.

There was supposed to be a new development nearby... a medical building with retail/restaurants on the ground level... does this ring a bell with anyone? Maybe on that huge (vacant) site on McGregor, just east of (and adjacent to) 288? I wish I could remember details. Maybe the whole thing is stalled.

Any chance of Mosaic having retail or restaurants?

[Jax]

Mosaic will have both. No idea when they will open though. I heard like a year ago that there was going to be sushi...

[KatieDidIt]

The Raven on Bissonet.

[cottonmather0]

Reggae Hut is great and I second Katie on the Raven Grill/Picnic. Neither is necessarily within reasonable walking distance of any of the museums, though.

There is also plenty of stuff in the Village, but that too isn't really in the "Museum District" either.

[MovingSoon]

I like Thai Sticks Restaurant, across the street from CVS on montrose. Danton's is Ok though I prefer Goodes Seafood.

[jc281]

Jax, on Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 @ 10:17am, said:

I did the exact same walk with my mom when she was in town and we were hungry. The only thing we could find was an ice cream truck. The good news is that Hermann Park will soon have its own cafe/restaurant which is currently under construction. There is also a sandwich place in the TMC across from Memorial Hermann that's not bad, but I don't think its open on weekends. The nice thing about the eateries around Dryden is that they are open decent hours 7 days per week.

Another piece of good news is that there will be a few restaurants at ground level in the new Rice Collaborative Research Center near Dryden.

speaking of food, your username is one of my standby's. i wish they'd open more around houston.

[Subdude]

MovingSoon, on Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 @ 5:43pm, said:

I like Thai Sticks Restaurant, across the street from CVS on montrose. Danton's is Ok though I prefer Goodes Seafood.

Way overpriced I thought, and kind of pretentious for Thai food.

[sunsets]

I can add a few more places located on the north side of the TMC to the suggestions....

There's also sushi available in the TMC, at Azuma, just around the corner from Chipotle. They stay open until 7 or 8 at night, I think.

The ground floor of Methodist's Smith tower has two places to eat - a deli and a Mexican/Cuban place. There's a Murphy's deli on the second floor of that building, too.

The new Memorial Hermann professional building (the shiny one with the glowing roof) has an Au Bon Pain on the second floor.

And, as has been previously mentioned, the McGovern commons building (the double water wall) in the heart of the TMC has a food court on the ground floor. That's only open for breakfast/lunch. However, the restaurant on the top floor of that building, Trevisio, has good Italian food and an excellent wine selection. They keep "regular" restaurant hours as well.

[marmer]

Cafe Express in the Beck Building of MFAH. Good, cheap, classy, artsy setting. (Note: there are other places which are better and places which are cheaper. There are places which are classier and places which are artsier.) But I REALLY enjoy Cafe Express when I'm at the MFAH and it's the only real choice if you're actually in the Museum District (as opposed to the Med Center) and have a "normal" definition of "walking distance."

There's a Mickey D's in the HMNS.

There's a Burger King on Holcombe at Main. (or at least there used to be...)

There's 13th Street on the Rice campus, which has little to recommend it unless you're on or near campus anyway. But they have cheap sandwiches and snacks, and the new Brochstein Pavilion (which serves only drinks and small pastries) is a very pleasant place.

[rsb320]

jc281, on Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 @ 12:13am, said:

lol. so yeah there is basically nothing.

where do people who work in TMC eat for lunch?

There are places at street level in TMC. I'm sure many get employee discounts at their respective hospital cafeterias.

What's that place up on Chelsea? I think it's one of those all-you-can eat Argentinian meat places, like Fogo.

[memebag]

marmer, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 12:42pm, said:

Cafe Express in the Beck Building of MFAH. Good, cheap, classy, artsy setting. (Note: there are other places which are better and places which are cheaper. There are places which are classier and places which are artsier.) But I REALLY enjoy Cafe Express when I'm at the MFAH and it's the only real choice if you're actually in the Museum District (as opposed to the Med Center) and have a "normal" definition of "walking distance."

Ewww. Cafe Express sells multiple configurations of overpriced, dry, flavorless chicken breasts. There's nothing "artsy" or "classsy" about that.

[sheeats]

I'm just wondering if these elusive Museum District (which, to be fair, is a very small nugget of Houston) restaurants are only to be sought by foot, or can you hop in a car? Or ride the light rail? I mean, the Village and Montrose are -- at most -- two or three minutes away by car (maybe 15 or 20 by foot) and have some of the best restaurants in town. Or take the light rail to midtown or downtown and chow down there.

So...I don't really understand the problem here, I guess.

This post has been edited by sheeats: Monday, June 23, 2008 at 5:20 PM

[ricco67]

sheeats, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 5:20pm, said:

I'm just wondering if these elusive Museum District (which, to be fair, is a very small nugget of Houston) restaurants are only to be sought by foot, or can you hop in a car? Or ride the light rail? I mean, the Village and Montrose are -- at most -- two or three minutes away by car (maybe 15 or 20 by foot) and have some of the best restaurants in town. Or take the light rail to midtown or downtown and chow down there.

So...I don't really understand the problem here, I guess.

The problem with accessing the excellent dining in the 'trose by Rail is that it is that it is a bit of a walk from the Holman station and you have to KNOW about it. But I would imagine that the walk is significant at the moment.

[marmer]

memebag, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 4:29pm, said:

Ewww. Cafe Express sells multiple configurations of overpriced, dry, flavorless chicken breasts. There's nothing "artsy" or "classsy" about that.

Whatever. I know some people don't like Cafe Express and I expected someone to say something. I have enjoyed every meal I've had there (mostly burgers, sandwiches, and salads, never a chicken breast.) Their condiment bar is spectacular and their _location and decor_ are classy and artsy, there in the basement/tunnel of the Beck Building. It's not cheap, but I have paid more for worse food, and nothing about MFAH is cheap except the free Thursdays.

I'm the same way about Olive Garden. I've never had a bad meal or bad service there.

[sheeats]

ricco67, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 5:28pm, said:

The problem with accessing the excellent dining in the 'trose by Rail is that it is that it is a bit of a walk from the Holman station and you have to KNOW about it. But I would imagine that the walk is significant at the moment.

I should have been clearer, perhaps.

The Village and Montrose = car, perhaps a walk to some of the closer points (like The Black Lab).

Downtown and Midtown = light rail.

Sorry.

marmer, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 5:33pm, said:

Whatever. I know some people don't like Cafe Express and I expected someone to say something. I have enjoyed every meal I've had there (mostly burgers, sandwiches, and salads, never a chicken breast.) Their condiment bar is spectacular and their _location and decor_ are classy and artsy, there in the basement/tunnel of the Beck Building. It's not cheap, but I have paid more for worse food, and nothing about MFAH is cheap except the free Thursdays.

/hijack on

I'm with ya on Cafe Express. I think it's good for what it is -- I mean, "Express" is right in the title -- and people who don't like it usually go in expecting something else entirely. I wouldn't order chicken breast in a place like Cafe Express because I'm realistic about when it was cooked and how long it's been sitting in a warming tray. I think one has to be realistic when placing their order at joints like this: sandwiches, salads, etc. are their bread and butter because it's easy to do those both fast and tasty. And their sandwiches and salads really are quite good.

/hijack off

This post has been edited by sheeats: Monday, June 23, 2008 at 5:44 PM

[memebag]

marmer, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 5:33pm, said:

I'm the same way about Olive Garden. I've never had a bad meal or bad service there.

Is your microwave or freezer broken?

[ricco67]

memebag, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 6:12pm, said:

Is your microwave or freezer broken?

I was never a fan of The Olive Garden and I still struggle to find a good italian joint. (the one on parkplace didn't do it for me).

[memebag]

ricco67, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 6:17pm, said:

I was never a fan of The Olive Garden and I still struggle to find a good italian joint. (the one on parkplace didn't do it for me).

Collina's (just the one on Richmond near Weslayan) is excellent, but not really close to the museum district, and even further off topic than my last few posts.

[ricco67]

memebag, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 6:26pm, said:

Collina's (just the one on Richmond near Weslayan) is excellent, but not really close to the museum district, and even further off topic than my last few posts.

I'll give it a shot, ever since Papa La Rosa's closed, I've been bummed.


we go off topic on threads?

[marmer]

Fred's Italian Corner is no farther by car (or bike) than some of the places we've been discussing, if it's quick 'n' cheap old-school Italian you're after.

memebag, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 6:12pm, said:

Is your microwave or freezer broken?

Dude, I'll bet I've eaten more frozen dinners than you have! Even the worst restaurant food is better than most frozen dinners, IMHO. Besides, at a restaurant you don't have to wash dishes or clean up. (assuming you brought some money ) But I didn't mean to hijack, I only mentioned the Olive Garden as an example of a restaurant I like that gets bashed a lot. Sorta like Cafe Express.

This post has been edited by marmer: Monday, June 23, 2008 at 8:51 PM

[ricco67]

marmer, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 8:45pm, said:

... Besides, at a restaurant you don't have to wash dishes or clean up.

Amen. This is why I use my oven for storage.

[memebag]

marmer, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 8:45pm, said:

Dude, I'll bet I've eaten more frozen dinners than you have! Even the worst restaurant food is better than most frozen dinners, IMHO.

Olive Garden is frozen dinners. The only reason I would go there was if my microwave or freezer were broken and I really just had to have some microwaved frozen food.

[crunchtastic]

memebag, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 9:27pm, said:

Olive Garden is frozen dinners. The only reason I would go there was if my microwave or freezer were broken and I really just had to have some microwaved frozen food.

But they have a cooking school in Tuscany! I guess they make the food there, then freeze it, and send it here.

For a city this size... Houston truly sucks when it comes to Italian food. Specifically the southern italian, gulf-coast, seafood heavy kind, considering all the coastal families. They kept the good food east of the Texas line and sent their cousins down here to run casinos and steakhouses.

[sarahiki]

memebag, on Monday, June 23rd, 2008 @ 9:27pm, said:

Olive Garden is frozen dinners. The only reason I would go there was if my microwave or freezer were broken and I really just had to have some microwaved frozen food.

I've always been an Olive Garden snob, because I had a terrible meal there about ten years ago in upstate New York. But we went recently with the kids, who are little and tough to bring to restaurants. We had the nicest, most thoughtful waitress I've ever had in a restaurant, who brought cut up fruit for the baby without being asked, for example. The bread was great, the salad was good, and the rest of the food was fine. No, it's not great quality food, but it certainly has other virtues--service, for example. I probably won't go back, but I'm not going to knock it anymore, either.

[ricco67]

sarahiki, on Tuesday, June 24th, 2008 @ 3:42am, said:

<br />I've always been an Olive Garden snob, because I had a terrible meal there about ten years ago in upstate New York. But we went recently with the kids, who are little and tough to bring to restaurants. We had the nicest, most thoughtful waitress I've ever had in a restaurant, who brought cut up fruit for the baby without being asked, for example. The bread was great, the salad was good, and the rest of the food was fine. No, it's not great quality food, but it certainly has other virtues--service, for example. I probably won't go back, but I'm not going to knock it anymore, either.<br /><br /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

I'm not a fan of Olive Garden, but they were the closest when I got a an italian craving and I gave them another shot (like you, I didn't eat there for 10 years and I HAD to go one a year or so ago) and I will have to admit, the waitstaff will bend over backwards you. I've never had (in my 3 or 4 visits in one) bad service at OG. The Food....eh...

[20thStDad]

Has anyone been to Danton's on Montrose at 59? I've passed by but never gone. That's pretty close to the district.

[MovingSoon]

20thStDad, on Tuesday, June 24th, 2008 @ 5:59am, said:

Has anyone been to Danton's on Montrose at 59? I've passed by but never gone. That's pretty close to the district.

Have been there for happy-hour half-price oysters. Not bad. Other than that Goodes seafood is slightly better food a bit cheaper. But I like Danton's atmosphere better.

[sevfiv]

brucesw, on Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 @ 9:23am, said:

A new place called Bowl is opening up on Richmond, 400 block or so, this week I think. Looks interesting.

There's a now open sign there - anyone have any news/information?
The web site as of today is just a placeholder:
http://eatatbowl.com/

Glad to see a new restaurant within walking distance, but I wonder about the longevity (this is about three blocks away from where the Proletariat was...).

[brucesw]

There's a review already on b4. I drove by there today but will give them some time to get it together. Sounds interesting.

Also noticed Alfreda's is now known as Fred's and the sign mentions District 7 Grill - there was room in the parking lot at noon - very unusual. Close to Reggae Hut I saw Culinary Kreations, maybe a sit-down place, and further south on the other side of the street a Culinary Kreations deli, both new to me.

sarahiki, on Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 @ 1:03pm, said:

Have you eaten at Reggae Hut or Alfreda's? I've wondered about both but had never had a recommendation from anyone. I agree about Spanish Village; I heard great things about that place and thought the food was pretty bad.

There was supposed to be a new development nearby... a medical building with retail/restaurants on the ground level... does this ring a bell with anyone? Maybe on that huge (vacant) site on McGregor, just east of (and adjacent to) 288? I wish I could remember details. Maybe the whole thing is stalled.

Any chance of Mosaic having retail or restaurants?

Sorry, didn't see this before. Never been to Reggae Hut but have a friend that likes it; I have a Caribbean place close to me on Bissonnet that I like so no need to drive over there. Alfreda's just once before the ownership change I'm sure. Soul food is not a favorite of mine because vegs are so overcoked. Also got another one close to me so I don't go that far for soul food when I want it.

Re: Scurlock above - I was there today. No Miller's that I saw but Murphy's Deli on the second floor and ads in the elevators for Alonti and Italia Coffee de Oro or something like that.

I wonder if there's gong to be/already is any kind of eatery in the former Plaza Hotel? Would be a good place for one.

Also noticed Ernie's across from Bell Park - is that a restaurant or club? Used to be both but I can't remember the name.

I wound up at Coozan's on Kirby, just doors from Dimassi's, across from Reliant. Hole-in-the-wall cajun/wing place with very small menu. Boudin balls were good, baskets I saw being served looked good.

This post has been edited by brucesw: Friday, June 27, 2008 at 4:38 PM

[sevfiv]

I noticed the Alfreda-Fred change - they just painted over the Al---a facing Southmore (ha), and whited out the sign on Almeda.

[sheeats]

Bringing it all full-circle: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2009/...ringing_som.php

New restaurant opening this month in the Museum District (on Caroline at Binz) called Bodega's Taco Shop. Should be interesting.

[danhole]

From Brucesw:

"Also noticed Ernie's across from Bell Park - is that a restaurant or club? Used to be both but I can't remember the name."



Ernie's on Banks serves food now. They have burgers, sandwiches, salads, wings, etc., and on Thursday night they have a good steak special. There is an ad in the Press weekly about that. Pretty cheap for what you get. Oh, and it's a sports bar and serves food.

This post has been edited by danhole: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 4:06 PM

[roadrunner]

sheeats, on Monday, February 9th, 2009 @ 3:10pm, said:

Bringing it all full-circle: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2009/...ringing_som.php

New restaurant opening this month in the Museum District (on Caroline at Binz) called Bodega's Taco Shop. Should be interesting.

This place is open now and I tried it out. It's pretty good. Very similar to Chipotle and Freebirds. I'll be going back.

[sheeats]

roadrunner, on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 @ 8:23am, said:

This place is open now and I tried it out. It's pretty good. Very similar to Chipotle and Freebirds. I'll be going back.

I heard they had their soft opening earlier this week. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it! Their grand opening is this Friday from 6pm to 10pm, if anyone's interested.

[Jax]

I stopped by "Bodega's" on my way home yesterday. It's pretty good. Very similar to Chipotle. There is a bar with a fairly decent looking drink selection, at least for a fast food type place. It also was a surprisingly nice looking place for fast food Mexican. I'll definitely be back because I can walk there from my apartment and I actually walk past it fairly often.

Finally another restaurant I can walk to besides Cafe Express!