Author Topic: Recommendations for Houston Weekend  (Read 5166 times)

Knoxbanedoodle

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Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« on: April 14, 2015, 09:59:27 am »
So my wife and I are surprising my dad for his birthday at the May 1st game. We're staying in a Hyatt Regency near MMP and will be looking for places to eat/things to do Saturday. Breakfast, lunch, dinner--the works. We're foodies, on the drinky side, and looking to spend a little money. On Sunday I think we'll be brunching with my folks en route to the airport. All suggestions appreciated!

NeilT

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2015, 10:23:41 am »
Breakfast Saturday.  Common Bond for people watching, Cafe Brazil for serenity, Buffalo Grill or El Real for Mexican.

Lunch.  Crawfish and Noodle, then visit one of the big Asian groceries, or Himalaya.  Himalaya is outstanding.

Dinner.  Reef, or Carcacol, or Indika, or Oxheart, or Underbelly, or Kata Robata, or Ninfa's on Navigation.  Skip the game and go to a couple.

Brunch Sunday.  Hugo's.  Really no choice here.
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NeilT

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BudGirl

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2015, 10:33:26 am »
Went to Harry's a couple weeks ago, that place is good comfort food - excellent breakfast.

I also went to Beirut  (on Washington) last month.  That place was good.

And I second Caracol.
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GreatBagwellsBeard

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2015, 10:40:38 am »
I'd throw Coltivare and Pax Americana on the dinner list, and Weights + Measures on for breakfast and lunch.

Has anyone been to Jackson Street BBQ yet?
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NeilT

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2015, 10:45:32 am »
I'd throw Coltivare and Pax Americana on the dinner list, and Weights + Measures on for breakfast and lunch.

Has anyone been to Jackson Street BBQ yet?

I have not, and was thinking about it for lunch.
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Bench

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #6 on: April 14, 2015, 01:26:18 pm »
If you want a great brunch or lunch downtown, I recommend The Honeymoon down on Market Square.  OKRA Charity Saloon is worth a visit for some drinks if only to appreciate the architecture and the grandiosity of its social mission.
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Dark Star

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #7 on: April 14, 2015, 02:25:20 pm »
So my wife and I are surprising my dad for his birthday at the May 1st game. We're staying in a Hyatt Regency near MMP and will be looking for places to eat/things to do Saturday. Breakfast, lunch, dinner--the works. We're foodies, on the drinky side, and looking to spend a little money. On Sunday I think we'll be brunching with my folks en route to the airport. All suggestions appreciated!

By the way, I really like " ... on the drinky side."  Nice.
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MusicMan

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #8 on: April 14, 2015, 02:26:54 pm »
I'd throw Coltivare and Pax Americana on the dinner list, and Weights + Measures on for breakfast and lunch.

Has anyone been to Jackson Street BBQ yet?

I'll heartily second both Coltivare and especially Pax Americana.
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GreatBagwellsBeard

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #9 on: April 14, 2015, 02:27:02 pm »
I have not, and was thinking about it for lunch.

Apparently,  on game days you can pay $50 to park in their parking lot...and get a $50 food credit to boot.
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Limey

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #10 on: April 14, 2015, 02:29:32 pm »
I'd throw in Hearsay on Market Square for cocktails and small plates (i.e. any meal of the day - or in-between meals as you wish).

Cook and Collins for brunch (and cocktails)...and a good selection of bars withing pissing walking distance.

Sanctuari Bar (inside Triniti) for cocktails (of course) and a bar menu that sports one of the best damn burgers in Christendom.
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hostros7

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #11 on: April 14, 2015, 04:57:52 pm »
A few things to add here, although I generally support most of the recommendations.

Breakfast/Brunch - if you aren't opposed to heading into the heights, Down House offers one of the finest combined cocktail/food programs that can be had before noon.  Hugo's would be my first choice for an iconic Houston brunch, but it's also buffet-style, which isn't my first choice.  Honeymoon appears to be a similar option to Down House that is closer to your hotel, but I've only had the cocktails there and can't vouch for the food.  Hearsay has never been a favorite of mine, and I would opt for Batanga (across the street) if forced to choose between the two, particularly if it happens to be on a Sunday when all the bottles of wine are half-priced.  Another market square area option is El Big Bad.  The fish tacos are good, but I haven't had much else.  House-infused tequilas and creative margarita options are the primary appeal there.

Neil T's dinner recommendations are pretty on point.  I'd nix Reef though and add in Coltivare and Pax as suggested and consider Liberty Kitchen River Oaks, Holley's, Goode Co. Seafood, or Prego if you were in the mood for a really good seafood dinner at a spot other than Reef.  Oxheart is my favorite restaurant in town, but you may not be able to get a reservation at this point.

If you're in the mood for fine craft beer selection/ice house feel but don't want to compromise on food offerings, consider D&T ice house or Moon Tower Inn, although the latter lacks TVs and ambience.  Mongoose vs. Cobra has limited food but also great beer/drinks.

Since so many solid suggestions have been made, the only other dinner option that I will throw out there is Roost.  It's a little more casual, but the food is top notch and reflects the diversity of the Houston restaurant scene on one menu, much like Underbelly.

Lastly, Backstreet Café is a great spot for brunch, lunch or dinner - charming atmosphere, a large, well-executed menu with something for everyone, and a solid drink program.  Coincidentally, it is owned and operated by the same group that runs Hugo's (and Prego and Caracol). 

ETA: my commentary really only focuses on downtown options or spots that are a short cab/uber away.

« Last Edit: April 14, 2015, 05:04:36 pm by hostros7 »

juliogotay

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #12 on: April 14, 2015, 05:08:46 pm »
From the current issue of Texas Highways which has greatly improved it's content in the last couple of years

http://texashighways.com/travel/item/7800-urban-spark-houston

NeilT

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #13 on: April 14, 2015, 06:38:33 pm »
I've been to Pax Americana once, and it's very good, but we're sitting there and this random woman comes over and says " you know you're with the prettiest woman in the room."  Which was absolutely true.  Then this guy comes over and says you guys look like Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.  I figured people must be telling us that stuff because we were by far the oldest people there. 

But I was with the prettiest woman in the room.
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Lefty

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #14 on: April 14, 2015, 11:01:19 pm »
Has anyone been to Jackson Street BBQ yet?

Going to Houston to eat BBQ is like going to Dallas to eat Cajun food.
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94CougarGrad

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #15 on: April 15, 2015, 06:11:17 am »

But I was with the prettiest woman in the room.

You're a good boy, Neil. No wonder she likes ya.

As a former Houstonarean, these suggestions are all much appreciated. When we're in town, we spend almost all of our time in the Clear Lake and Galveston areas and aren't as up - to - date on what goes on in the big city.
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NeilT

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #16 on: April 15, 2015, 06:31:47 am »
Going to Houston to eat BBQ is like going to Dallas to eat Cajun food.

Killen's is very good.  So is Gaitlans.
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GreatBagwellsBeard

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #17 on: April 15, 2015, 12:38:01 pm »
Hugo's brunch is only buffet on Sundays.  Saturday mornings have a menu.
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NeilT

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #18 on: April 15, 2015, 12:47:08 pm »
Has anyone been to Jackson Street BBQ yet?

We went there for lunch today.  I tend to like their places, Reef is still one of my 2 or 3 favorites in Houston, and I like Greg Gaitlan, so I'd tend to like it.  I had a sliced beef sandwich and we ordered a half-slab of ribs between us.

It's not Killen's.  It's not Gaitlan's.  It's a big barn of a place set up to run a bunch of people through a line.  It's not destination barbecue, but it's fine for lunch and would be fun pre-game.  I thought it was better than Goode Company. 

They said they were doing a ton of pre-game business and shutting down nights at 7.

Almost forgot, most important, there's plenty of free parking at noon in the lot north of the building.
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Ebby Calvin

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #19 on: April 15, 2015, 03:27:45 pm »
I second OKRA bar and add Julep to the drink conversation.  Not far from downtown/stadium.
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Knoxbanedoodle

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #20 on: April 16, 2015, 09:58:10 am »
I second OKRA bar and add Julep to the drink conversation.  Not far from downtown/stadium.

O.K. We've sketched out a tentative itinerary that includes: Pax Americana, Moon Tower Inn, D&T Ice House, Okra, one of Ninfa's or El Real, and possibly Hugo's.

Thanks for all the recommendations!

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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #21 on: April 16, 2015, 10:37:40 am »
O.K. We've sketched out a tentative itinerary that includes: Pax Americana, Moon Tower Inn, D&T Ice House, Okra, one of Ninfa's or El Real, and possibly Hugo's.

Thanks for all the recommendations!

Can't go wrong with any of those.

Has anyone been to the new El Tiempo next to Ninfa's on Navigation?  I'm generally not a big Tiempo fan, but I'm interested to know if there's anything particularly different from the others or it's worth going there if I happen to be on that side of town. 
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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #22 on: April 16, 2015, 12:57:38 pm »
Can't go wrong with any of those.

Has anyone been to the new El Tiempo next to Ninfa's on Navigation?  I'm generally not a big Tiempo fan, but I'm interested to know if there's anything particularly different from the others or it's worth going there if I happen to be on that side of town.

Yep.  Nothing too different.  I still prefer the original Ninfas.
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Re: Recommendations for Houston Weekend
« Reply #23 on: April 16, 2015, 01:58:31 pm »
Can't go wrong with any of those.

Has anyone been to the new El Tiempo next to Ninfa's on Navigation?  I'm generally not a big Tiempo fan, but I'm interested to know if there's anything particularly different from the others or it's worth going there if I happen to be on that side of town. 

I live within walking distance of the one on Montrose and we regularly drive over to Navigation. I think it's because it is less crowded.
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