Run out of options in the NW....need some recs!

[desidude]

Hi friends,

So I am visiting Houston on work, staying near Willowbrook Mall in the NW and have been here for 2 months!!! Woo hoo.

I had posted upon arriving here and got some fabulous recommendations, But now I am repeating them way too often and need some more suggestions. I am WILLING to drive further. Some places I have tried include

Lupe Tortilla - Good, Los Cucos in the Willowbrook Mall, terrible, Anothai cuisine - FM and Loretta, both are good, clean, good food, Campionis, Carabba's, Udipi Cafe, Himalaya (SW Freeway), Wazu, County Line BBQ, Brother's Pizza, Peli Peli, the Italian in Vintage Park, Via Emilia and a couple of other places in the area whose name I don't remember too well.

So, what else is good around here, and maybe a bit of a drive which is ok in the evening and weekends.

Any good Greek?
Any good Italian?
Any good Middle Eastern/Lebanese
Any Fondue (apart from Melting Pot)
Any good European?
Any good Chinese in the neighborhood? If not, where is the Chinatown that you recommend?
Any good Japanese?
Any others?

Would love your suggestions please, as I am becoming way too frequent at the places I know of!

Thanks so much,
desidude

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Campioni
5419 Fm 1960 Rd W Ste F, Houston, TX 77069

Lupe Tortilla's Restaurants
318 Stafford St, Houston, TX 77079

County Line
13850 Cutten Rd, Houston, TX 77069

Melting Pot Restaurant
6100 Westheimer Rd Ste 146, Houston, TX 77057

Los Cucos
5831 Highway Blvd, Katy, TX 77494

Udipi Cafe
4632 Fm 1960 Rd W, Houston, TX 77069

Peli Peli
110 Vintage Park Blvd., Houston, TX 77070

[brucesw]

I see you've been here long enough to start becoming naturalized - yes, we are used to driving great distances for good food!

Greek - + one for One's a Meal, also Niko Nikos, Stellios Deli (Richmond @ Sage, Galleria area) and Alexander the Great Greek (most upscale)

Middle-Eastern/Lebanese - + one for Caspian, Kasra, Fadi's,, also Dimassi's - (buffet, as is Fadi's; I think Dimassi's has better food but Fadi's is nicer, several locations for both), Cafe Bijan, around the corner from Himalaya. I like Afghan Cuisine on Hwy 6, northern edges of Sugar Land, better than any of our Persian restaurants. Also Hafez on Westheimer near Phoenicia and Caspian - never been but a friend who works in the area says it's great.

There is a little Mom 'n Pop place on Dairy Ashford, just south of I-10, across from Stratford Hi, Cafe Rita, Lebanese Armenian. Great food and people.

European - + one for Pasha, also Istanbul Grill in the Village. Closer to you, Empire Turkish Grill on Memorial (never been). Feast in Montrose, one of the best restaurants in the city. Melange Creperie - sidewalk creperie in Montrose, only open for bkfst and lunch, various days, only do-able for you on weekends. Charivari - Transylvanian (?) in Midtown. Polonia on Blalock in Spring Branch (Polish), Cafe Pita + (Bosnian), Westheimer outside the BW. Belgian - Jeanine's Bistro in Montrose, Broken Spoke in Heights.

Japanese - Umai on Bellaire

Chinese - + one for Fu Fu, also San Dong

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Cafe Rita
755 Dairy Ashford St, Houston, TX 77079

Empire Turkish Grill
12448 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77024

Alexander the Great Greek Restaurant
3055 Sage Rd, Houston, TX 77056

Fu Fu Cafe
9889 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036

Dimassi
1039 W Bay Area Blvd, Webster, TX 77598

Niko Niko's
2520 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006

Afghan Cuisine
11920 S Highway 6 Ste 1200, Sugar Land, TX 77498

Broken Spoke Cafe
1809 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007

[txpickyeater]

Greek?
Niko Niko's, One's a Meal

Any good Italian?
DaMarco high end, Michelangelo's (lower Westheimer) La Vista(Galleria and Memorial/8, Pasta Lamontes aka Lomonte's Italian Restaurant & Bar (I10 West@hwy6)

Middle Eastern/Lebanese
Kasra Persian Grill, Fadi's, Cafe Caspian (If you go, go across the street to Phoenicia market), all Westheimer, Pasha (Rice Village)

Any good European?
Rudi Lechner's German/Austrian(Westheimer), Old Heidelberg German(Galleria)

Any good Chinese in the neighborhood? If not, where is the Chinatown that you recommend?
Belaire Blvd. east and west from West Beltway 8.
Fu Fu Cafe (soup dumpings aka steamed pork buns aka Xia long bao)

Any others?
Barrys Pizza for Sicilian pizza (Galleria)
Chicken Fried Steak Goodsons Cafe (Tomball) Hickory Hollow(multiple), Barbecue Inn (Fried Chicken** and Fried Shrimp and also among the best) (inside loop north of Downtown), Rio Ranch(Westheimer)

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Lomonte's Italian Restaurant & Bar
14510 Grisby Road, Houston, TX 77079

Kasra Persian Grill
9741 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77042

Old Heidelberg
1810 Fountain View Dr, Houston, TX 77057

Rudi Lechner's Restaurant
2503 S Gessner Rd, Houston, TX 77063

Fu Fu Cafe
9889 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036

Barbecue Inn
116 W Crosstimbers St, Houston, TX 77018

Niko Niko's
2520 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006

Cafe Caspian
12126 Westheimer Rd Ste 100, Houston, TX 77077

[geegeeTX]

Any good Greek? http://eurobakery-cafe.com/ this is on Louetta near Kuykendahl - have not been, but I've heard good things about it (i.e. - very authentic).

Any good Italian? I am at a loss on this one. But there is a place called Vito's Famous (http://www.vitosfamous.com/) on Spring Cypress - they are from Philly - great cheese steaks and pizza, too - also have homemade cannoli. Love it.

Any good Middle Eastern/Lebanese - Nadia's Mediterranean Grill. Very solid Middle Eastern - great falafel and shawarma. On FM2920, right past Kuykendahl.

Any good Japanese? Did you try Matsu on FM 1960? I love that place.

There are so many great places outside of the suburbs, but with 3 small kiddos, the husband & I have to be pretty choosy about when and where we go these days, when we get to go into the city to dine. If you like sushi, The Blue Fish in Bayou Place downtown was fantastic when I ate there on Thursday night.

I have been to Bootsie's several times, and you should know that as far as dinner goes, right now they only offer 6 or 9 course tasting menus. The lunch still menu changes daily. I read that once Restaurant Connate opens, Bootsies will return to a more varied menu. You can read that article here: http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/tombal...

Good luck, and thanks for the feedback on your food ventures!

[desidude]

Hi lambowner, thanks so much for the replies. I will make sure to check these out. I have looked at b4-u.eat.com but not spent much time on it, maybe I need to.
I have not gone to Bootsie's as yet, I was wondering if it is ok for a solo diner? or maybe I can invite you :)
Yes it has been long and I miss my home cooked food but I am very grateful for this opportunity at work!
Thanks so much
desidude

[Lambowner]

Okay, you said you would drive!

Spanish, best in the city: Rioja on Kirkwood in West Houston
Greek: One's a Meal, Westheimer
Cajun Seafood: Danton's, on Montrose
Middle Eastern: Fadi's on Westheimer
French, so many choices, all pretty pricey, but Bistro Provence on Memorial, Brasserie Max & Julie on Montrose, Bistro Le Cep on Westheimer, and BRENNAN'S if you haven't been there yet, a Houston legend.

If you want to see old Houston, visit some of the city's 50+ year old restaurants like Barbecue Inn or Doyle's Italian. Old school fer sure.

Have you surfed B4-U-Eat.com? Houston's own restaurant guide with user reviews. You can search by part of town or cuisine.

I remember your other post. Curious, have you tried Bootsie's yet in Tomball? I still have not made it there.

Bet you just want to go home though! Two months is a long time, even with getting to eat meals out each day

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Bistro Provence
13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079

Bistro Le Cep
11112 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77042

Rioja
11920 Westheimer Rd Ste J, Houston, TX 77077

Barbecue Inn
116 W Crosstimbers St, Houston, TX 77018

Brasserie Max & Julie
4315 Montrose Blvd, Houston, TX 77006