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    Adventures in H-Town

    New in town, and already I have 15 favorite Houston restaurants

    Cathy Parsons
    Mar 11, 2011 | 6:00 am

     Editor's note: Cathy Parsons recently moved from Music City (Nashville) to the Bayou City (Houston). In a periodic column, she will write about her new life here.

    In the book/movie Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, one of my favorite parts is when the author is in Rome and they are all discussing the city’s “word.” Rome’s word, they decided, is "sex." The word for NYC is "ambition" and D.C.’s word is "power."

    So after a few months of living in dining heaven, I have come to the conclusion that Houston’s word must be "eat."

    Yes, "eat"!

    Right after I moved here, I read somewhere that the residents of Houston eat out more often than in any other city, and I am certainly doing my part. There is such a dizzying array of choices that I am truly overwhelmed when asked for recommendations when my friends come into town. I find myself reading every review I can get my hands on, and one of my first questions when I met anyone is, “What is your favorite restaurant?” I even have a little notebook in my purse where I record these places.

    Since my boyfriend has lived in Houston for many years, he is a great source to educate me on dining establishments in the city, but there is one little thing that we realized pretty early on: I am a huge foodie and RT… not so much. He knows many good places around Houston, but his tastes are a bit more traditional than mine.

    And he does not like sushi! Gasp!

    Sushi isn’t something I take lightly- thus my quest to find the best in the city. Please advise.

    Coming from Nashville, it didn’t take me very long at all to get around to virtually all of the restaurants in Music City, but in Houston? I will need years and years. It’s not just the variety, but the values are usually really terrific compared to other big cities. So if you are new to Houston (or just like reading what places newcomers have fallen in love with), I have come up with a few faves, in no order whatsoever:

     Sullivan’s - Awesome martinis and old school vibe and piano bar

     Catalan – Fun and lively with an interesting menu

     Ruggles on Westheimer – Always right on and desserts to die for!

     Grappino’s/Nino’s - The first meal RT and I shared in Houston , romantic outdoor patio

     Cadillac Bar – Enormous brunch if you are starving on the weekend, and just dynamite Tex-Mex

     Grotto - Love the outdoor fire pit area and the open hearth ovens provide a delicious aroma inside

     Vic & Anthony's – Very grown up and established with great steaks (which I don’t eat, but RT loves)

     Little Pappasito's – I am a sucker for salsa and theirs is so good

     Post Oak Grill – A Houston classic with fabulous service

     RC’s Pizza – Located in Kingwood and the absolute BEST I have had since I moved to Houston

     Ragin Cajun – Grad a handful of napkins and order up

     The Black Labrador – Heavy, but great for British classics

     Escalante’s – Love their style of healthy Tex-Mex

     Acadian Bakery – Baked goods that will blow you away

     Americas – Sexy ambience and fabulous cuisine

    I know, I know… this is a tiny list, and I have only begun to scratch the surface. Feel free to write your recommendations in the comments and I will add them in my notebook. I have no doubt that I will continue the “list” for years to come.

    Looks like I will be gearing up for a lifetime of strenuous workouts so that I can take full advantage of the fabulous food here in Houston, but it will be so worth it.

    unspecified
    news/city-life

    This Week's Hot Headlines

    Houston restaurant serves Beyoncé a Southern feast and more top stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Jul 5, 2025 | 10:32 am
    Taste Bar Kitchen Jay Z Don Bowie
    Courtesy of Taste Kitchen + Bar
    Legendary rapper Jay-Z with Taste Kitchen + Bar chef-owner Don Bowie.

    Editor's note: t's time to look back at the hottest Houston news of the week, starting with a Southern feast fit for Queen Bey. Plus, new bar openings from some big names. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then head to this guide for 4th of July weekend fun.

    1. Houston restaurant served Beyoncé a Southern feast for her first meal in H-Town. One of Houston’s most prominent Black-owned restaurants gave Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and her family their first taste of the Bayou City. On June 27, the party ordered an extensive spread from Taste Kitchen + Bar, the restaurant in downtown known for its chicken and waffles and other Southern-inspired fare.

    2. Exclusive: New cocktail bar from Houston hospitality stars coming to the Heights. The Heights’ growing bar scene will soon welcome a new addition with serious cocktail cred. Anvil owner Bobby Heugel has partnered with bartender Jacki Schromm to open a new cocktail bar in the former Ready Room space.

    3. Country star Koe Wetzel opens new location of his lively bar in Houston. One of Texas country’s rising stars has brought his lively bar to Houston. Koe Wetzel's Riot Room opened in Midtown in June.

     Koe Wetzel Riot Room Houston The pickup truck on the front of the building makes it easy to spot.  Photo by Motion Theory Media  

    4. Houston will have vivid sunsets and air quality issues from Saharan dust. An annual meteorological phenomenon has blown in to make Houston's sunsets a little more spectacular. A huge Sahara Desert dust cloud made its way to the Houston area on June 29, bringing hazy skies. The bad news is that air quality might worsen; the good news is that locals can expect a week of Technicolor twilights.

    5. Houston CEO's art-filled River Oaks mansion listed at $6.2 million. Art lovers seeking a home that’s a perfect showcase for their collection will be very interested in 1069 Kirby Drive, currently on the market for $6.2 million. The home is owned by Pete Bell, the CEO of Cotton Holdings.

    most popular storiesbeyoncethe heightsanvilkoe wetzelopeningshome-for-salecelebritieshot-headlines
    news/city-life
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