Houston Entree

Three Best Bites: Margaritas, Pizzas and Salads

It’s time to make your mouth water and discover what new dishes around town are worth every bite.

Margarita Sampler at TQLA
While the new TQLA has gotten surprisingly great feedback on its food offerings, little has been said about the drinks. Not surprisingly, the restaurant offers plenty of tequila options for the connoisseurs among you—or for neophytes like me, try the margarita sampler: three smaller-sized portions in the flavors of your choice. With eight varieties to choose from, you’re sure to find a winner… maybe you’ll like our favorites—Hibiscus and Mango.

Hot Diggity Dogs

Just in time for the hot dog holiday also known as July 4th, Syd Kearney of 29-95 gives a proper run down of where to find the best gourmet hot dogs in the city.

Making the list: Sammy's Wild Game Grill, which opens appropriately in July; The Barbed Rose, where we can definitely vouch for the Wagyu hot dog made with house made everything; The Burger Guys; Canopy; Good Dog Hot Dogs; Max's Wine Dive (the first in town to offer a gourmet "haute" dog) and the laid back outdoor venue, Moon Tower Inn. 

A Pop-up Dinner That Pops

Sunday evening a small group of avid diners gathered at Spotlight Karaoke in Midtown for the debut of Harold Wong’s foray into the latest craze in nontraditional dining; the pop-up dinner.

Wong has been busy as the executive chef at Azuma Sushi in downtown Houston and decided to stretch his creative wings by launching the first of several dinners outside of the restaurant under the name The Munchies Den.

The dinner was not announced via the usual social media circuit, Twitter and Facebook and so the group of mostly Azuma regulars got treated to an eight course meal that featured some interesting dishes. 

Name That Meatball

Fresh off their big meatball coup in the first annual, "Meatball Invitational" hosted by My Table Magazine, Trattoria Il Mulino is launching a competition of another sort.

Instead of using your mouth (although tasting them before hand is recommended), it's time to use your brain to help Il Mulino come up with a name for those now-famous meatballs. The contest winner is treated to dinner for two at the new restaurant inside the Westin Houston Memorial City hotel.

Made with beef, pork, veal, ricotta, parmesan and pecorino romano and topped with a tomato-basil sauce, these carefully crafted meatballs are worth an entry, if only to win a few plates full of the contest subject themselves.

Here's how to enter: by emailing meatballs@ilmulino.com, visiting their Facebook page or connecting on Twitter. The simplest way: head to the restaurant and enter in person.

Party Time at Whole Foods Montrose

Whole Foods in Montrose has been creating quite a buzz lately. As soon as it opens, it may be creating even more buzz from the in-store beer and wine bar, complete with growlers.

Lauren Marmaduke at Eating Our Words wonders if dancing in the aisles at the new Whole Foods will be as prevalent as it is in "Disco" Kroger. It won't be long before that question will undoubtedly be answered by the dance-loving-beer-and-wine-drinking-hot-pants-wearing residents of the Montrose.

Photo: bookgrl

Restaurants Flocking to the Heights

The Heights is attracting restaurants like kids to a water hose. Add to that list the Houston institution of Ruggles. Reported by Culturemap via Swamplot, the 11th Street Cafe will soon transform into Ruggles 11th Street Cafe. With a few, minor changes like menu updates, new booths, extended hours and wine and beer offerings, 11th Street Cafe fans shouldn't be too worried about an extreme makeover-style overhaul. Who's next in line for the Heights?

Houston Dining > Austin Dining?

According to the city's own residents, Austin is a "dining wasteland." That is, according to Examiner.com's Mike Riccetti's dinner companions during a recent Houston dining excursion.

Visiting chef Alberto Baffoni's recently opened Sapori Ristorante Italiano first, Riccetti was lukewarm about the new Italian spot on the west side. The nomadic dinner finished at the quaint and unpretentious Saldivia's South American Grill, where Riccetti had only glowing reviews. Reflecting on the personality of Houston's unique restaurants, he was reminded why our city reigns as the culinary king of Texas.

Photo: Steak from Saldivia's (via Facebook)

Green Light for Pilot Light

After hearing that innovative chef Seth Siegel-Gardner was leaving Kata Robata, we knew his talents wouldn't be dormant for long.

As reported by Ruthie Johnson Miller at Culturemap, Siegel-Gardner is partnering with friend and former pop-up restaurant collaborator at last year's Just August Project, Terrence Gallivan. 

The two have formed Pilot Light Restaurant Group and their first order of business: three BYOB dinners at Revival Market, June 18, June 25 and July 2. Affordably priced at $65 for a five course meal, the free-for-all to purchase tickets is Saturday, June 11 starting at 4 p.m. at Revival Market. Cash or check only, and bring comfortable shoes, we expect a line.

Tycer Cuts Ties, Ouisie's New Table and Eater's Error

Tycer Sells Gravitas

Chef Scott Tycer says goodbye to Gravitas after refusing to sell just a couple of years ago. Stephen Ross, a former Gravitas employee with extensive food and beverage experience all over the state, will be taking over the restaurant through his new partnership,  according to CultureMap. 

Ross announced that in addition to a few changes to Gravitas, including a new bar menu and a patio expansion, he will also be launching two new concepts: a beer garden/grill/bourbon bar and a third concept still in the works. Tycer’s reasons for selling now were not disclosed. 

Caffe Bello Out, Masterful Margaritas In?

A Caliente Rumor

Don Julio’s, a local Tex-Mex restaurant voted Best Margaritas by Margarita Texas, is rumored to be taking over the space once occupied by the Vallone's Caffe Bello in Montrose.

Owner Sam Rivera tells Digest This! that they are “leaning in that direction, but no documentation has been signed.”  An official announcement is likely sometime in the next two weeks, he says.  This would be the first inner city location for the eatery.

Rivera says he's excited to bring his restaurant to Montrose if everything works out, and while the menu is expected to stay the same, he indicated the concept would include an energetic atmosphere, possibly with a live music aspect.

Molina's Confirms new Location

Also on the move, Molina’s Cantina plans to return to the West U area at a  new location at the Braes Heights Shopping Center at 3801 Bellaire Blvd, the corner of Bellaire/Auden. Molina's will takeover the site formerly occupied by Terlingua Grill.  Seating is anticipated for  180 indoors and 40 on the patio.

Their former long-time home at Buffalo Speedway and Bissonnet was demolished to make room for the H-E-B's Buffalo Market.  Molina’s is one of Houston’s oldest family-owned Tex-Mex restaurants, and run by brothers  Ricardo, Raul and Roberto.