JCR

Yes, pending demo.  Now owned by group that already has a restaurant in the Heights.

Awhile back I was told by a principal from Glasswall that the property had been donated by the owners to the Archdiocese and now the Archdiocese is/was selling it.  That is the supposed hold up why nothing had happened to that property.  I'll try to get more info.

Met a friend at Skinny Rita's last night.  I had already had dinner but wanted to catch up on things.  She's already there and has her food.  Chips came with 3 different salsas.  These were really good.  She had two appetizers.  Chicken flautas and a crab cake.  I sampled the flautas and they were excellent.  Guacamole on top and greens.  Almost like a flautas salad.  This joint does a healthier style Mexican food.  They advertise fresh, no GMO, etc.  The menu is pretty extensive. 

The build out is really nice.  I remember this when is was Rico's Triangle for the 3AM hangover breakfast.  I never did go when it was Frida's.  The bartender gave us a tour and the patio out back is nice.  Took the stairs up to see the rooftop patio area too.  With the nice weather we've been having my friend wished we had eaten up on the roof area.  Next time. 

I just got back from the Birdhouse and being the only customer there, I got my food in 5 minutes.  This was my 2nd visit and first time for chicken as I had CFS the first time, both were excellent.  There were also more choices in sides and specials today. 

I mentioned to the young lady that I had read here on HAIF the incident with the late morning customer.  She said he was extremely rude and that they were very busy at the time.  I showed her this thread on her phone and she got a kick out of it and read it to the staff in back.

Guess what people?  The food is made to order.  If you want fast food under heat lamps there are plenty of other choices elsewhere.

And as always, I just find it easier to park on Oxford and walk over to the place.

Thanks for the tip, JCR. I'm always on the lookout for a new CFS to try out, and after previous conversations, I know there are a couple of HAIFers thrilled with the information in your post. Can you give me a cross street on 11th? Is it on East or West 11th? I don't know where Buchanan's is.

Other CFS I can recommend are from Glass Wall and Franks Americana Revival in River Oaks.  At Franks, it is on both the lunch and dinner menus.

As for the Birdhouse check their facebook and twitter.  They only make a certain quantity of food and that's it.  They run out like Gatlins BBQ does.

Went to the Bird House on 11th across from Buchanan's for lunch.  In addition to the fried chicken they also have a chicken fried steak that was mighty tasty.  They told me they are planning to do crawfish again for next season.  The Boil House and Bird House are the same folks.  

Restaurant Death Watch: Piatto.  Anyone else notice the taped over portion on the hanging sign.  Why they ever thought they could do lunch I'll never know.  Most likely not doing the covers needed with that overhead.

Restaurant Death Watch Reprieve:  The El reopened on Wednesday.  Not enough time to do a total revamp, but maybe to think about addressing issues listed on Yelp, Reddit, Google, and the Houston Press.  They did seek outside expertise but no deal was executed AFAIK but maybe they will implement the free advice given.  Or maybe not.

Rumor mill: A fine dining joint for the north Yale area (Sunset Heights)  Discussions ongoing no deal inked as of yet.

GOOF: Building on CoH property and an unpermitted patio.  No wonder you've been red tagged.  Way to go Berryhill!

Crater Heights Alliance:  The Bedford/Stella Sola building.  There are many reasons this place is still empty.  It is so bad that very successful local restaurateurs have avoided it like the plague. And when outsider moneys who are eating up the Heights hype and overpaying for everything else are avoiding it too that just goes to show you how bad it is. The only way this property will ever be useful is tabula rasa.  A gas/electrical fire would not surprise me.

Interesting. They're claiming gas leak. 

If my source is wrong, a histogram of their FB and Twitter posts tells much.

the sign says 'closed for utility problems' - have you heard otherwise? 

Yes, by a super reliable source.

The El Cantina Superior is done.  Will be interesting to see what happens next...

Meanwhile, the El Cantina Superior is getting slaughtered on Yelp and other forums.  It is still very early, but people have told some pretty terrible tales of food and service in the early days of the restaurant. 

 

 

The Heights restaurateur I know told me his clients have said the same thing.  Doing Mexican food in this town is really competitive.  There are too many choices in Houston and even close to the Heights for good established Mexican food joints.

On a side note.  It will be interesting to see what establishments move into the strip center north of Spanish Flowers once Braun redoes it.  They have a good track record of turning commercial space around.

A long time Heights restaurateur told me that commercial developments are waiting in the wings for the repaving on north Main and of a recent change of ownership of the strip center on Main. There was also more interesting gossip that I will not post.

Yeah, this makes no sense. One has to assume that the property owner has some unrealistic price expectations.

That.  And that the layout of the place it terrible and is too large overall.  I know restaurateurs that know the building well and they won't touch it.  Vacancy for that long in the Heights tells you something. 

Mozelle's on Heights Blvd. is done.

I don't think he was doing it to be sadistic, he just tended to like to argue and had a low tolerance for fools (yes, I was there too)

The Heights forum has been dead without him.  His mocking of the peddlers of the Yale St. "Bridge of Death" was priceless.

Not Heights, but for those of us in Shady Acres/Timbergrove area The Warehouse Bar and Chill just opened recently. On 11th between Ella and Seamist. Craft beers and full bar, but they need to have more than just one white and red wine.  New American bar food.  A good addition to the hood'.

Nice example for the public not to park like this lest you receive a parking violation....

Idiot.  There are always HPD at that Valero.

So had anyone been to Piatto in the midrise on 11th and Studewood?

That's great!

When Craftsman Houses Were Evil:

 

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304302704579334742423271308?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsForth&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304302704579334742423271308.html%3Fmod%3DWSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsForth

Went to good dog a little while ago.  I had a good meal.  The chili from the chillin' dog is now served on its own in a cup or bowl.  The menu can be found on their twitter feed.  https://twitter.com/GoodDogHouston  There is more than just hot dogs. This is a very good addition to the 'hood.

Darn straight there is always a place for fear mongering.  Its been proven time and again, that low income housing increases crime in the areas in which it is built.  People do not want low income housing around their houses.  I oppose any HUD or other low income housing anywhere near economically prosperous areas....It makes no sense.  The resources for low income housing should be allocated properly in low income areas.  If a lot in the Heights that costs $200,000 (not possible in Heights anymore) to buy can accommodate one family, that same $200,000 could be used to buy 5 or 6 lots in some lower income areas like around UH or in Sharpstown.  Both areas have equal access to public transportation and jobs - the only difference is you are not dragging one area down when you build that housing.

 

I wont mince words -low income housing should not be built in prosperous areas, EVER....in this case its just a remodel of an existing project so there is nothing to be opposed to.

It's the truth.  All Section 8 does is spread misery to nice neighborhoods.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/american-murder-mystery/306872/

Inequality leading to desperation?  What a joke.  These welfare parasites get Medicaid, section 8, food stamps, WIC, and a plethora of other taxpayer funded wealth transference programs.  We need to go South American style; Paramilitary units to socially cleanse the undesirables and dump them in Buffalo Bayou.  "Clean Houston, Beautiful Houston".

Edge of the Heights between Durham and Shepherd.  An easy getaway.

Christians changes coming, word is owner sold out to SherlocKk's,all sites except old quik stop....more live music on White Oak...

I heard this last night as well.  So he is keeping the original Christians Totem on Washington and I10?  My source said the name is being sold along with the businesses.

7 figures for a house with no garage?