The Heights Restaurant And Bar Scene - More Coming

[J008]

Does anyone know about this supposedly awesome Thai place on Cavalcade? Someone I know had take out (brought by someone else who I don't know) from there and said it was incredible but knows nothing about it. I know most people don't consider Cavalcade "The Heights" but close enough to count it's restaurants if they're awesome.

Asia Market & Thaifood 1010-B Cavalcade

http://maps.google.c...,348.94,,1,0.78

It looks like a total dump, never been but the houston press loves it.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2009/08/asia_market_thai_food_curry_ho.php

Edited January 25, 2012 by J008

[ggold]

Asia Market & Thaifood 1010-B Cavalcade

http://maps.google.c...,348.94,,1,0.78

It looks like a total dump, never been but the houston press loves it.

http://blogs.houston...od_curry_ho.php

It is very good. If you are not used to ethnic grocery stores, you might not love the look of the place, but the kitchen pumps out some great food. They have a website with their menu: http://asiamarkethouston.com/

[Eggplant]

Despite your protests to the contrary, I'm going to stick with "abundance" at the intersection of wishful thinking and cautious optimism. Realistically I believe we've crossed the line between glass half empty and glass half full.

Not until we get an Indian restaurant!

I can't argue with you on that one, although I do find comfort in the fact that my favorite Indian and Indian fusion restaurants in Houston are easily accessible downtown. Both Korma Sutra at 706 Main St and Bombay Pizza nearby at 914 Main are excellent (in very different ways) and only about 10-15 minute drive assuming you're not hankering for curry during the morning rush hour. I recommend them highly if you've never been, and hope you'll join me in convincing the owners to franchise in our direction.

Thanks for the comments on the Asian Market. I've passed it a thousand times and didn't give it a second thought. The menu options on the website look promising.

[s3mh]

Both Korma Sutra at 706 Main St and Bombay Pizza nearby at 914 Main are excellent (in very different ways) and only about 10-15 minute drive assuming you're not hankering for curry during the morning rush hour. I recommend them highly if you've never been, and hope you'll join me in convincing the owners to franchise in our direction.

Don't forget about Pondicheri in the new West Ave development on Kirby.

[heights_yankee]

It is very good. If you are not used to ethnic grocery stores, you might not love the look of the place, but the kitchen pumps out some great food. They have a website with their menu: http://asiamarkethouston.com/

Growing up in a part of the country where the older and more ethnic it looked, the better the food, i am ready and willing to eat here. thanks for the info!

[Texasota]

Asia Market is quite good and their prices are a bit lower than average I would say.

[mkultra25]

Count me in as another fan of Asia Market. The last time I was there, the young backpacker-type guy at the table next to us had a look of complete amazement as he dug into his meal and claimed that it was the first Thai place he'd found locally where the food was just like what he'd had in Bangkok.

[Eggplant]

Don't forget about Pondicheri in the new West Ave development on Kirby.

I never forget about Pondicheri; it's in my Houston Top 5! Their "Texas Chaat" is a family favorite. I didn't mention it because of the 15 minute driving constraint I used for the post. Although close in distance, the drive to Upper Kirby can be a nuisance for some people at rush hour whereas the trip downtown is relatively painless. Regardless, we do it all the time. That chaat is amazing.

(Note to anyone clicking on the link - the actual dish doesn't look very much like the photograph. They've perfected the presentation over the last year.)

Back to the Heights . . . one roadblock I encounter when talking to restaurant owners about expanding here is the assumption that the only viable Heights option is Washington Ave. I see Washington in the same way I see downtown or Kirby or Rice Village; i.e., driving destinations with lots of good options, but outside the definition of a neighborhood restaurant from a geographic and walkability perspective. Whether it's the alcohol prohibition or misconceptions about our demographic, it seems that alternatives on 19th, Studewood, 11th, White Oak etc. were not even considered. I suppose my (cautious) optimism stems from the belief that the growth we've seen in the last year and the anticipated (keeping my fingers crossed here) success of Zelko, Liberty Kitchen and the other newbies, will inspire others to follow suit.

[s3mh]

I suppose my (cautious) optimism stems from the belief that the growth we've seen in the last year and the anticipated (keeping my fingers crossed here) success of Zelko, Liberty Kitchen and the other newbies, will inspire others to follow suit.

Nothing to anticipate as far as Zelko goes. They are packed all the time. Liberty Kitchen has had a pretty decent start. What I am really curious to see is how Sale Sucre does when it opens. I peeked in the window and saw the plans. It is really set up like a cafe with a small bar and a few tables. I would really like to see that kind of business model thrive in the Heights. Small cafe, something different/original and not a second or third location. The Heights should really be an incubator for new and interesting restaurants whether they are high end like Shade or Stella Sola or fun and easy like Jus Mac or Happy Fatz. It is nice to have a BBs, Christians, Tacos Agogo and soon to be Little Woodrows, but something new would be better.

Also, it is worth mentioning that Melange Creperie has a second crepe cart that is usually parked at Stella Sola for breakfast and lunch (7-1ish m-th, 10-2ish weekends).

[s3mh]

http://www.29-95.com/restaurants/story/bryan-caswell-closes-stella-sola

Dang. I hope that they at least let Melange keep making crepes there. The guy working the stand said that they leased from Stella Sola. Hopefully it won't take long to find someone to fill the space.

[TheNiche]

The chef at Stella Sola must've forseen that fierce competition from the sit-down only golden arches in the new Heights Wal-Mart would spell the end for his endeavor, his reputation, and his career. It was a good call for him to make a graceful exit, but it sure is sad that yet another Heights institution has succumbed to the evil Wal-Mart plague.

[s3mh]

The chef at Stella Sola must've forseen that fierce competition from the sit-down only golden arches in the new Heights Wal-Mart would spell the end for his endeavor, his reputation, and his career. It was a good call for him to make a graceful exit, but it sure is sad that yet another Heights institution has succumbed to the evil Wal-Mart plague.

It is interesting that I am able to move on and talk about other subjects, but you are not. You are getting your cruddy walmart paid for in part with your tax dollars, but you seem to be unable to contribute anything other than your weak attempts at humor that are just dripping with your class envy and resentment. Walmart is getting build and, absent a judicial miracle, funded with tax dollars for improvements. It sucks, but life goes on. I have better things to do than rehash the same tired arguments that have been made over and over on this board.

[TheNiche]

It is interesting that I am able to move on and talk about other subjects, but you are not. You are getting your cruddy walmart paid for in part with your tax dollars, but you seem to be unable to contribute anything other than your weak attempts at humor that are just dripping with your class envy and resentment. Walmart is getting build and, absent a judicial miracle, funded with tax dollars for improvements. It sucks, but life goes on. I have better things to do than rehash the same tired arguments that have been made over and over on this board.

Not enough time to argue about it but still plenty of time to spread your misinformation, I see.

Nah, making ironic grievances against the Heights Wal-Mart has become a sort of internet meme, like Planking, Tebowing, or Foul-Bachelor-Frogging. It'll be over soon enough, but for the moment, it's still funny. I encourage anyone who agrees with me to LIKE THIS POST!

[SilverJK]

It is interesting that I am able to move on and talk about other subjects, but you are not. You are getting your cruddy walmart paid for in part with your tax dollars, but you seem to be unable to contribute anything other than your weak attempts at humor that are just dripping with your class envy and resentment. Walmart is getting build and, absent a judicial miracle, funded with tax dollars for improvements. It sucks, but life goes on. I have better things to do than rehash the same tired arguments that have been made over and over on this board.

lol... you state your able to move on, then bring it all back up again. FACEPALM!

Sale-Sucre update anyone???

[crunchtastic]

Niche suffers from a number of maladies. Class envy is not one of them.

Back to Stella Sola, tho. Actually...I heard the new tenant will have NO parking spaces and have a wine+walkability pairing menu in which after each course you walk briskly for 5 blocks, then valet 2 cars and before your next course. If you can't meet the time constraint, you have the option of Metro bus stop quik-clean duty, or a 100% upcharge for your next wine flight. I understand it's pretty much the brass ring for chef-driven sustainability.

[heights_yankee]

If you are like me and really enjoy a good steak and great service, this might be the best food news in the Heights ever

Killen's coming to the Heights

[heights_yankee]

update here: http://theheightslifehouston.blogspot.com/2012/06/harolds-torched-for-tacos-but-what.html

[Angostura]

That space is bigger than one realizes.

It'll be nice to have some more windows facing 19th St.

[heights_yankee]

That space is bigger than one realizes.

It'll be nice to have some more windows facing 19th St.

Yeah, that place is HUGE and has ample parking. I agree about the windows. I just wish it wasn't an Austin based chain. I am not an Austin lover... but that's just me. I'll get my tacos on White Oak.

[SilverJK]

Yeah, that place is HUGE and has ample parking. I agree about the windows. I just wish it wasn't an Austin based chain. I am not an Austin lover... but that's just me. I'll get my tacos on White Oak.

And i'll get mine on 20th (Chilosos). Unless they are closed, then it will be a battle between Torchy's and Taco's A gogo.

[heights_yankee]

And i'll get mine on 20th (Chilosos). Unless they are closed, then it will be a battle between Torchy's and Taco's A gogo.

Have you tried El Gallo de Jalisco? Cash only but a damn fine taco to be had there.

[Texasota]

Eh, Torchy's is overrated and overpriced, but this is really not a terrible development.

[JCR]

If you are like me and really enjoy a good steak and great service, this might be the best food news in the Heights ever

Killen's coming to the Heights

Not anymore. Killen's bailed. Word is that building is going to become a doctors office.

[heights_yankee]

Not anymore. Killen's bailed. Word is that building is going to become a doctors office.

Wow. That sucks.

[kylejack]

Not anymore. Killen's bailed. Word is that building is going to become a doctors office.

Any source on this?

[kylejack]

Not anymore. Killen's bailed. Word is that building is going to become a doctors office.

Still don't know who your source is, but they're apparently wrong.

Per Ronnie Killen on an Eater comment:

The second floor of the building was always going to be Dr offices. We are still working on the lease. I have already purchased grills, granite, carpet, tile, china, stemware. The city takes a lot longer than I had originally thought. My bad.

[Pleak]

Floyd now has a restaurant in Webster. in the old boat shaped buiding in front of Garden Ridge Pottery and the Burlington Coat Factory (old Hydroponic Fiesta). 528 at 45. Still great food. get there before it somooow gets chainified as well.

They just opened a new location in Sugarland about 2 months ago. In the parking lot of the mall between JCPenneys and the Methodist Hospital. It's in a building that appears to be cursed as arestaurant location. Ruby Tuesday first built their for their 2nd (or third) failed attempt to break into the area. Then another restaurant opened for about a year, then caught fire. Now this.

I know this is a thread about the Heights - sorry for the diversion, but I had no idea who Floyd's Cajun Seafood was until I read this thread. Now I will have to go try it.

[heights_yankee]

Still don't know who your source is, but they're apparently wrong.

Per Ronnie Killen on an Eater comment:

Excellent. Excellent.

[s3mh]

Still don't know who your source is, but they're apparently wrong.

Per Ronnie Killen on an Eater comment:

It turns out that Killen has ditched the Heights:

http://www.theleadernews.com/?p=1832

http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/09-10-12-killens-steakhouse-in-the-heights-is-dead-is-the-stella-sola-space-doomed/

After this, I cannot imagine who would want to take a shot at that space.

[SilverJK]

After this, I cannot imagine who would want to take a shot at that space.

Maybe some of the people already lined up trying to make offers/deals?