Fringe Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 There was a great article in yesterday's Chronicle about the new restaurant. (I can't find it on their terrible web site or I would post a link). It really sounds exciting. I hope they don't over do it and charge exorbitant prices. After all, it's Tex Mex and that's what makes Tex Mex so damn good is it's simplicity and low cost. I would think they would since they have to compete with other Tex Mex places nearby like El Tiempo and Chuy's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 (edited) There was a great article in yesterday's Chronicle about the new restaurant. (I can't find it on their terrible web site or I would post a link).http://www.chron.com...od/7451654.htmlWalsh said previously that the prices will be normal Tex Mex prices. Sounds a little optimistic to me, but still prices should be decent. Edited March 3, 2011 by kylejack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takeshi Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 Wow, the OP was right. Absolutely horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 They opened last weekend. Can't wait to try it but I will give it a few weeks for the crowds to die down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMidtown Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 They opened last weekend. Can't wait to try it but I will give it a few weeks for the crowds to die down.The reviews are all over the place (as they usually are)....we're going on Friday to check it out.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidegate Posted March 22, 2011 Share Posted March 22, 2011 (edited) Wow, the OP was right. Absolutely horrible. Yes, the gloomy, stale urine-ridden, street person dorm that was there was MUCH preferable. Let's all go over after it closes and have a pi** party in the name of conservation. Edit: In no way do I condone micturition on private property other than my own. Edited March 22, 2011 by sidegate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 (edited) I'm loving it so far. Regarding price, small queso (which was a decent size for 2) was $5, margaritas were $8, entrees were generally in the $10 neighborhood. Fajitas were $15 for half a pound or $28 (I think...) for a pound. Queso was great, margarita not so much, and entrees I tried were great. They're very much still polishing the edges, though. I've heard stories of some entrees not being right, so you may want to go after the 28th or so (which is when they start opening for lunch as well). They have a limited menu right now while they get up to speed.Try Borundi enchiladas (pork). Edited March 23, 2011 by kylejack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 For $8 the margaritas better be excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crunchtastic Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 My admin went last night and gave me the following report this morning on one of the combo plates: rice: awful and lumpy, refritos good, chile gravy good, tamale filling tasted of allspice (which she really harped on for a place calling itself tex mex) no onions in the cheese enchiladas (I'm with her there- if it's real there should be onions, dangit), and the plate was totally congealed right after it hit her table.Overall, she said it was some of the worst she's had in a while. I'm going to wait a bit, but still definitely go, if for no other reason than the puffy taco. Man, I miss me some real San Antonio puffy tacos. I wonder is they do a old-schooly chile relleno with cheese? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 ^Sounds...interesting. And oooh - puffy tacos! Last I had was at Amazon Grill...not too shabby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20thStDad Posted March 23, 2011 Share Posted March 23, 2011 For $8 the margaritas better be excellent.Or be quart-sized 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Bad: Margarita, rice, guacamoleGood: Burundi pork enchiladas, cheese enchiladas, quesoStill giving them a chance, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMidtown Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Bad: Margarita, rice, guacamoleGood: Burundi pork enchiladas, cheese enchiladas, quesoStill giving them a chance, though.5 hours and counting till Im there....Im already thirsty though!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 Bad: Margarita, rice, guacamoleGood: Burundi pork enchiladas, cheese enchiladas, quesoStill giving them a chance, though.can anyone comment on the ambiance of this place? for me, this is usually as important as the food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidegate Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 I love that they have seating out front - gives a great buzz to the bend in the evening.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 can anyone comment on the ambiance of this place? for me, this is usually as important as the foodThere is one big dining room with very tall ceilings. Above some stairs by the door there is a smaller seating area, and also a Tex Mex museum of sorts with memorabilia from Felix's and other places. Underneath the balcony area is a bar area, but no actual bar you can sit at...at least yet. There are tables around the bar area, and from there it leads out to a patio on Westheimer, the patio facing former Chances that will be Anvil's new beer place Hay Merchant, and Chris Shepherd's Underbelly. Back in the main dining room, there's big historic photo panels on the wall. I'm not sure who the pictures are of. The walls are bright neon colors. On a big projection screen they're playing old Westerns, like High Plains Drifter. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 (edited) There is one big dining room with very tall ceilings. Above some stairs by the door there is a smaller seating area, and also a Tex Mex museum of sorts with memorabilia from Felix's and other places. Underneath the balcony area is a bar area, but no actual bar you can sit at...at least yet. There are tables around the bar area, and from there it leads out to a patio on Westheimer, the patio facing former Chances that will be Anvil's new beer place Hay Merchant, and Chris Shepherd's Underbelly. Back in the main dining room, there's big historic photo panels on the wall. I'm not sure who the pictures are of. The walls are bright neon colors. On a big projection screen they're playing old Westerns, like High Plains Drifter.Nice anxious to check out the patio, will add for some more street life with the other bars you mentioned.Hopefully only 10 days more than back to H Town... Edited March 26, 2011 by DrLan34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 26, 2011 Share Posted March 26, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidegate Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Great picture!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkultra25 Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 Back in the main dining room, there's big historic photo panels on the wall. I'm not sure who the pictures are of. From a recent piece in the Chronicle:In the dining room they plan to display totemic oversize photographs of Houston Tex-Mex legends Leo Reynosa Sr. (the founder of the now-closed Leo's Mexican Restaurant, who in his younger years rode with Pancho Villa), Felix Tijerina (a community leader whose restaurants featured a hybrid style of Tex-Mex that became popular with Texas Anglos), and Mama Ninfa Rodriguez Laurenzo (Houston's first lady of Mexican cooking, who is credited with introducing the world to the taco al carbon, or fajita). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 (edited) My admin went last night and gave me the following report this morning on one of the combo plates: rice: awful and lumpy, refritos good, chile gravy good, tamale filling tasted of allspice (which she really harped on for a place calling itself tex mex) no onions in the cheese enchiladas (I'm with her there- if it's real there should be onions, dangit), and the plate was totally congealed right after it hit her table.Overall, she said it was some of the worst she's had in a while. I'm going to wait a bit, but still definitely go, if for no other reason than the puffy taco. Man, I miss me some real San Antonio puffy tacos. I wonder is they do a old-schooly chile relleno with cheese?Hola! I will have to steer you away from this place. I also went last week. It was bad. To be honest, there wasn't anything that was good.The rice had no flavor. The salsa had zero kick. I ordered the puffy tacos and the cheese enchiladas. The puffy tacos were not cooked thoroughly. The taco ended up falling apart after a couple of bites. The meat tasted like canned chili, loaded with salt. The cheese enchiladas also contained the chili. I had a flashback to eating a tv dinner cheese enchilada.If anyone is looking for old time Tex Mex go to Larry's Mexican Restaurant in Richmond. Been there for decades. Look for the Felix inspired sign. Edited March 28, 2011 by musicman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 Back in the main dining room, there's big historic photo panels on the wall. I'm not sure who the pictures are of. You're kidding right? Heard of Ninfa Laurenzo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 You're kidding right? Heard of Ninfa Laurenzo?I didn't see a picture of her, the ones I saw were men. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMidtown Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 Went Sat night.....here's our take on stuff....ritas were ok -- not great -- one of the owners actually came out and specifically asked us about them, apparently the buzz is the ritas are bad and they are trying to figure out why -- to us they tasted like a mix, but he said they weren't....he said they will be tweaking them...Tamales were good...enchiladas were very good.....puffy taco, not so good - very greasy -- not lard greasy (that would be good) but greasy from the deep frying....Salsa was warm/hot (from cooking -- not from spices) which isn't my preference, but my friends thought it was good...Our service was great -- they replaced chips, water,etc...before they were empty...our waiter was very attentive and friendly...seems they have improved that from some of the earlier commentsThe place definitely has a buzz going right now, it opened at 5:00 and by 5:30 it was full....they open for lunch starting today..Hopefully they will get the rough edges taken care of as I think they are a great addition to that area...will definitely be going back.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HtownWxBoy Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 At there last evening for the first time... great food and great service. We got to eat outside overlooking Westheimer which was nice ... the weather was great. Only mishap was my friend found a pretty big bone in his chicken ... the owner or manger came right out to see and make sure we weren't upset which we weren't... he said they were still working out the opening kinks and want to know of any problems we had... everything else was great. I'll definitely be going back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 If anyone is looking for old time Tex Mex go to Larry's Mexican Restaurant in Richmond. Been there for decades. Look for the Felix inspired sign.LOL. You sound like one of my best friends that goes to Larry's every week. My wife and I have been there but have never understood the fascination with the place or of the popular Lopez near the Meadows. Neither have bad Tex-mex but nothing to write home about and their margaritas are terrible. Much better places exist but I know everybody's tastes are different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian0123 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Review with some pictures just posted on InnerLooped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 (edited) Review with some pictures just posted on InnerLoopedYour enchilada plate was $10, unless they've changed the prices. All but 1 of the enchilada plates are under $10. Nice review, looks similar to my experience! Edited March 31, 2011 by kylejack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 (edited) LOL. You sound like one of my best friends that goes to Larry's every week. My wife and I have been there but have never understood the fascination with the place or of the popular Lopez near the Meadows. Neither have bad Tex-mex but nothing to write home about and their margaritas are terrible. Much better places exist but I know everybody's tastes are different.larry's and Lopez's are completely different styles of food not sure of the facination you've mentioned. larry's doesn't put canned chili on their enchiladas. Clearly roasted meat is their norm. please go to El real and report back. You'll discover what bad tex mex is. Edited March 31, 2011 by musicman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 larry's and Lopez's are completely different styles of food not sure of the facination you've mentioned. larry's doesn't put canned chili on their enchiladas. Clearly roasted meat is their norm. please go to El real and report back. You'll discover what bad tex mex is.I'm scared to after your review although I guess it's worth a trip just to see the remodel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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