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Taste of Houston
Tapas-style Reviews
Tastebuds
got you all tangled up? With so many restaurants to
choose from, it is easy to feel overwhelmed with culinary
confusion. Here's a few dining recommendations from
the staff of OutSmart.
Beck’s
Prime
Multiple locations.
These upscale burger joints have been touted as the
best in Houston, although many complain of inconsistent
hamburgers, which sometimes taste like ground sirloin
and other times like a prefab from Sam’s. But there’s
no denying their unforgettable fries, the thick, skin-on
kind that can be cooked extra crispy on request, nor
their dessert-sized mocha shakes. And the Alpine Chicken
sandwich—basted in hickory barbecue with sautéed
onions, mushrooms and Swiss cheese—makes you wish
you were bulimic so you could just keep on eating. $
Colina’s
Italian Cafe
3835 Richmond Ave. (@ Weslayan)
713/621-8844
2400 Times Blvd. (Rice Village)
713/365-9497
12311 Kingsride
With its reliable Italian food, unpretentious feel,
and BYO wine option (with no corking fee), Houston yuppies
flock to these neighborhood locations. And as long as
you don’t expect haute cuisine, you’ll be
perfectly content. Order the pizza Marguerite and one
of the antipasto salads and you may even border on exhilaration.
$
Golden
Room
1209 Montrose (@ Dallas)
713/524-9614
True to its name, this gold-gilded Thai-Chinese will
have you rubbing elbows with the entire room—literally.
Some find it a bit too intimate for private conversation,
but the chicken wraps, spicy curries, and flavorful
soups are meant for sharing, so dig in. Just don’t
burn your tongue. $$
Jalapenos
2702 Kirby Dr. (@ Westheimer)
713/524-1668
This River Oaks standby boasts spinach enchiladas so
undeniably delicious that all others pale in comparison.
They’re an orchestration of taste and texture,
with spinach just the right consistency—not grainy,
mushy or stringy, but fusing with the cheese and cream
sauce to create a texture all its own. Their ultimate
secret, however, lies in the iced tea. It’s always
perfect, which tells you how much thought they put into
things that others often find trivial. You’ll always
find a table, and their type-A waiters guarantee speedy,
attentive service. $
La
Strada
322 Westheimer (@ Taft) 713/523-1014
5161 San Felipe (@ Sage) 713-850-9999
Yes, they do more than Sunday brunch. It’s called
award-winning cuisine and matching wine list available
to the entire population seven days a week. Two hip
locations differ in style and mood, but not in the yummy,
unconventional pastas or reliable bellinis. $$
Niko
Niko’s
2520 Montrose
713/528-1308
Dishes up authentic Greek food with Kalamata olives
as salty as they get. Caters as much to vegetarians
as meat lovers. Grab a chicken and spinach pita on the
go or chat outdoors over a plate of humus. Bring your
own ambiance—everything’s plastic except the
food. $
Riva’s
1117 Missouri St. (Montrose)
713-529-3450
The brothers Silboyeh bring you Italian cuisine so unusually
well seasoned you’ll notice the pasta as well as
the sauce. The simple dinner salad is alive with fresh
vegetables and a tangy vinaigrette and a pleasant forecast
of things to come. These men know herbs, and their fish
dishes will make seafood converts out of diehard carnivores.
And pastry chef Pierre kneads up some tasty little numbers.
$$
Urbana
3407 Montrose (@ Hawthorne)
713/521-1086
Stark minimalist decor, and a classy menu that offers
everything Texan and beyond, with barbecue-grilled shrimp,
Comal-seared tuna, richly marinated steaks, light pastas,
ingenious salads, and interesting deviations on popular
’90s sides like mashed potatoes and portobello
mushrooms. $$
Our
cost guide reflects the average cost of one dinner with
a drink and tip. Deduct about 25 percent for average
lunch prices.
$ $15 and below (inexpensive)
$$ $16 to $30 (moderate)
$$$ $31 to $50 (expensive)
$$$$ $51 or more (very expensive)
Do you have a restaurant you would like
to share with OutSmart readers? Tell us about it so we
can share it with our readers. Email to: feedback@outsmartmagazine.com.
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