March is here! Need a lunch or dinner recommendation? Here’s where you should eat right now in Houston.
Hollister on Washington
Hollister Grill has a second location, this one on Washington Avenue in the former Cova spot. The homey little spot is now open for both lunch and dinner, so stop by to sample a Gulf Coast menu that’s full of Southern and Latin flair. The short rib crostini and Texas Cobb salad and worthy choices, but the rest of the menu is chock-full of win, too.
Corkscrew BBQ
The state of BBQ in our Houston area is steadily rising, thanks in part to Corkscrew BBQ in Spring. Corkscrew is a small operation — housed in a black-n-pink trailer — that sells out daily. That means you should try to go early and be prepared to wait in line to order. Your dedication will be rewarded with outstanding ribs, tender brisket, and flavorrific sausage. Aim to arrive before the daily cobbler sells out, too.
Reginelli's Pizzeria
The New-Orleans-based Reginelli's Pizzeria has opened its first Houston shop near Memorial City Mall. The pizza is not Neopolitan, not Chicago, and not New York… it’s really just its own unique style. The crust will disappoint those of you hoping for something more authentic, but the fresh toppings are delicious. The cozy place was packed on a recent Friday night, so you may want to go early.
Macaron by Patisse
Step aside, cupcakes! Houston has a full-time macaron shop: Macaron by Patisse in the River Oaks Shopping Center on West Gray. All macarons are carefully, craftfully made in house daily — in 20+ glorious flavors. Our favorite flavors so far are the lovely Blueberry-Vanilla and life-altering Salted Caramel. Since you know you’ll want more than one, grab a box of 12 for $25.
La Casa del Caballo
Given our town’s affinity for both cuisines, it’s a wonder that no one has combined a steakhouse with a Mexican restaurant until now. But here’s La Casa del Caballo to offer things like hand-cut Angus steaks right alongside tacos, grilled fish dishes, and five-pepper enchiladas. Housed in the former La Strada space on Westheimer, La Casa del Caballo is open for lunch and dinner.
Craft Infusion
This new offering is food truck meets craft beer, successfully marrying two of right now’s hottest trends. All menu items feature some sort of beer tie… The golden Fish and Chips, for example, are encased in a Karbach tempura batter, and the pastry in the outstanding Oxtail empanadas is made from No Label Milk Stout. For dessert, skip the IPA cookies and head straight for the Beer-a-Misu.
Fraiche Kitchen
Another new truck around town is Fraiche, which is manned by two pedigreed chefs that are dedicated to providing creative, made-from-scratch food that’s sourced locally. Stop by for some delicious pulled pork sliders — and don’t forget to add a side of tater tots with chipotle aioli. These days you can also get a crawfish roll. Follow Fraiche on Twitter for a location — or check their handy Web calendar.
Uchi
Clearly the James Beard committee is as enamored with Uchi as we are, nominating chef Tyson Cole in the Outstanding Chef category. The Japanese favorite is still a tough reservation to get, but there's a way to sample the heavenly goods without losing your sanity: Uchi offers a daily Happy Hour from 5–6 p.m. It’s the same impeccable service and craveable food — but at a much lower price and without the bustle.
Hugo’s
Hugo Ortega has quietly run one of the best restaurants in Houston for more than a decade, and his servitude has once again been rewarded with a James Beard nomination in the Best Chef (Southwest) category. We hope chef Ortega’s mastery is rewarded when the finalists are announced on March 18 — and the winners are presented on May 6. Stop by between now and then to show your support.
Wherever you can find the best crawfish
Crawfish season is in full swing, so grab those mudbugs while you can. The best per-pound deals are often at Asian places like Crawfish & Noodles, 88 Boiling Crawfish, and the Boiling Crab. But several upmarket restaurants are jumping on the bandwagon with creative crawfish dishes, too. Try the crawfish ravioli at D’Amico’s, crawfish tamales at Hugo’s, and even crawfish cheesecake at Backstreet Café. Prego is offering sautéed crawfish with pasta, while Haven has crispy Phyllo crawfish beignets.
Need more recs? Try our where to eat right now lists from previous months:
September – October – November – December – January – February
Take advantage of crawfish season with these steamin' mudbugs at the new 88 Boiling Crawfish.
