357050 Thu Jan 04 21:15:04 -0800 2007 8 5 Texas 0 2153770 Hey folks, I'm coming out to Houston in a couple of weeks and would appreciate some suggestions about good eats. Does anybody have opinions about a great BBQ place? Also, it would be great to hear your ideas about restaurants with a casual atmosphere and great food. Thanks. Thu Jan 04 21:15:04 -0800 2007 23087 CapitolHill 1 2153781 Red Onion Cafe, several locations-google them for the menu and reviews. Goode Company BBQ Houston is big on casual. Houston is big on portions. The Vietnamese restaurants are often TERRIFIC there, and great values. Thu Jan 04 21:16:46 -0800 2007 2153770 27748 rruben1 1 2153809 Houston is not a barb-b-que capital by any stretch, but I'm fond of William's Smokehouse and Luling City Market. I know the original in Luling is better, but barring a 2 1/2 hour drive, it's damned good. The last two trips have been spectacular, with an order for one of 1/2 lb. of brisket, 1 slice of cheese, and a side order of their sweet pickles (which I think are the best in the city). Good luck Thu Jan 04 21:23:38 -0800 2007 2153770 26905 Mikeflan 1 2153838 If you like chicken fried steak, the Carriage House Cafe on Fallbrook behind the Sam Houston race track can't be beat! I've heard their BBQ is great -- they claim it's cooked 17 hours. Depending on what part of town you're staying, there are countless restaurants of all ethnics. Our favorite Cajun is the French Market on 1960W and Eldridge. Enjoy your stay! Thu Jan 04 21:29:37 -0800 2007 2153770 57171 ncs821 1 2153863 I used to work for a company in Houston and had to travel there often. I came across a couple of places that I fell in love with (not BBQ). If you are in the mood for some good Mexican or Cajun Seafood, check out Pappasitos (mexican) or Pappadeaux (Cajun seafood). I really love the chips and sauce at Pappasito's and the seafood enchiladas or fajita's are excellent. Pappadeaux does great blackened fish with special sauces. You can't go wrong with either one of these. Thu Jan 04 21:33:03 -0800 2007 2153770 64141 zeus112999 1 2154205 Any of the Ninfa's restaurants are great tex-mex and have some charm. www.mamaninfas.com Thu Jan 04 22:47:52 -0800 2007 2153770 64155 Bababooey 1 2154737 Man, some of these rec's are cracking me up.=) Williams is one of the best que joints around, the ribs are great and the sides are very tasty. Goode co BBQ is better than avg and the Kirby location has the Armadillo Palace across the street with really good casual food in a kitchy Texas atmosphere. What do you mean by casual atmosphere? Just about anywhaere in houston is casual. Fri Jan 05 01:24:39 -0800 2007 2153770 15213 jscarbor 1 2154862 My BBQ preferences: 1. Williams Smokehouse - one of the half dozen or so best in the state AFAIC. Closed Sun & Mon. 2. Thelma's - on FoodTV several times, often packed; best I've ever had is ribs and chicken (and catfish). 3. Luling City Mkt - exact same sauce as the famous one in Luling; links have gone downhill; get there early (before noon), they serve from a steam table and the meat gets very uninteresting. 4. Swingin' Door, FM 359, Richmond, TX - pecan smoked; only open Wed-Sun. A little pricey but generous portions; table service (unusual for a bbq joint) 5. Hinze's - Wharton - about 50 miles, yeah, you're probably not interested. 6. Goode Co. - as I recall, Robb Walsh's Legends of Texas BBQ makes the point that Luling City Mkt and Goode Co. have to use gas fired ovens due to smoke pollution restrictions; all the others mentioned use wood burning pits. Something like 50-70% of Houston restaurants are listed on b4-u-eat.com. The good thing is links to maps (and sometimes websites and menus), the bad thing is ringers (employees and competitors posting). Burgers: 1. Christian's Tailgate 2. Lankford Grocery Greek: Niko Niko's on Montrose; Bibas on W. Gray Mediterranean (buffet) - Dimassi's (4 locations) Houston is a very international city but if by CapitolHill you're referring to DC there probably won't be much in the way of international cuisine you don't have access to, but if you want some recs, let us know. Special rec: head over to Goode Co's Armadillo Palace on Kirby for the venison chili, the real deal, just meat and spices. (I've also heard good things about the burger but never tried it). If you're going to Ninfa's, go to the original on Navigation. This is where the fajita craze took off in the country in the early 70s. Ninfa didn't invent them, but was the first to serve them outside the Rio Grande Valley. Ninfa's is a chain now but this is a very un-chain-like location. The original Carraba's on Kirby is still run by the Mandola-Carraba families from what I understand and is better than the chains (haven't been in years myself and never eaten at one of the chain locations). Oh yes, should say something about Chicken Fried Steak -- the Press did a review last year claiming Kelley's Country Cooking (5 locations) had the best -- there a thousands of places serving CFS so I don't know, but theirs is pretty good. Go to the original location on Park Place @ 45, near Hobby -- it's a time warp. Fri Jan 05 02:11:08 -0800 2007 2153770 53614 oltheimmer 1 2157520 For casual with excellent food I would also steer you to Dolce Vita on Westheimer. Great pizzas like the pancetta, leek and Bubiola or the arrugula, truffle and cheese pizzas. Also the speck ham is a thing of beauty. Fri Jan 05 21:13:36 -0800 2007 2153770 15213 jscarbor