Museum District Restaurant And Bar Scene - More Coming

[ricco67]

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.

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.

Edited June 24, 2008 by marmer

[ricco67]

... 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]

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]

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]

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]

<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]

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]

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.

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.

Edited June 27, 2008 by brucesw

[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.

Edited February 10, 2009 by danhole

[roadrunner]

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]

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!

[Highrise Tower]

I might be going to the M.C. Escher exhibit at MFAH.  Any restaurant recommendations? I typically go to Niko Niko's after the museums.

https://www.mfah.org/exhibitions/virtual-realities-art-of-mc-escher

[august948]

59 minutes ago, Highrise Tower said:

I might be going to the M.C. Escher exhibit at MFAH.  Any restaurant recommendations? I typically go to Niko Niko's after the museums.

https://www.mfah.org/exhibitions/virtual-realities-art-of-mc-escher

If you're going casual then Bodega's mentioned in the post above yours is not bad and just a block or two away from the MFAH.  Also nearby on Almeda is the Turkey Leg Hut.

[Houston19514]

8 hours ago, august948 said:

If you're going casual then Bodega's mentioned in the post above yours is not bad and just a block or two away from the MFAH.  Also nearby on Almeda is the Turkey Leg Hut.

And Fio’s right next door to Bodega.  Also Barnaby’s, City Cellars HTX, or Cafe Leonelli at the Museum -  good and Uber convenient.

[HNathoo]

On 7/9/2022 at 12:12 AM, Highrise Tower said:

I might be going to the M.C. Escher exhibit at MFAH.  Any restaurant recommendations? I typically go to Niko Niko's after the museums.

https://www.mfah.org/exhibitions/virtual-realities-art-of-mc-escher

Lucille's. The chef was recently nominated for a James Beard award. Love the yardbird and the Fried tomatoes.

[bobruss]

You might want to eat at the Kinder building cafe. Its really nice and extremely convenient since its in the museum.

[Houston19514]

32 minutes ago, bobruss said:

You might want to eat at the Kinder building cafe. Its really nice and extremely convenient since its in the museum.

aka Cafe Leonelli 

[bobruss]

On 7/9/2022 at 12:12 AM, Highrise Tower said:

I might be going to the M.C. Escher exhibit at MFAH.  Any restaurant recommendations? I typically go to Niko Niko's after the museums.

https://www.mfah.org/exhibitions/virtual-realities-art-of-mc-escher

You won't believe the number of prints that Escher completed in his life. I cant remember going to an exhibition and seeing so many works by one artist. And etching, litho and woodcut prints are very time consuming and take great patience. I worked in the printmaking studios at u of h many years ago during my MFA years. It's quite remarkable the amount of work that he created.