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Dozens of Houston restaurants return to service after the winter storm

Hundreds are restaurants are reopening today.

Photo by Shannon O'Hara

With power mostly restored and water pressure returning, Houston restaurants are returning to service. Given the number of establishments represented below, we’ve grouped this list by neighborhood.

Expect limited menus and staff at places offering dine-in. Boil water orders may restrict beverage choices. Patience and understanding are strongly encouraged.

Montrose/Midtown/Museum District

Avondale Food & Wine
Brasil
Bludorn (limited menu, 5-8:30 pm)
The Burger Joint (limited menu, to-go only)
Café Poêtes (to-go only)
Candente (limited menu, to-go only, 2-6 pm)
Damian’s (curbside only)
The Fish (to-go only)
Ginger Kale (12-5 pm)
Good Times Cafe (limited menu, 12 pm - sold out)
The Hay Merchant (to-go only, limited menu, 3-7 pm)
Holman Draft Hall
Kau Ba (to-go only)
La Grange (limited menu, 4-10 pm)
Love Buzz
Lucille’s (limited menu, 1 pm - sold out)
Miss Saigon Cafe
Montrose Cheese and Wine (to-go only)
Nobie’s (to-go only, limited menu, 5 pm - sell out)
Oporto (to-go only, 3-9 pm)
Paulie’s
The Pit Room (to-go only, 11 am - sold out)
Revelry on Richmond (Limited menu, 2-8 pm)
Riel (to-go only, limited menu, 2 pm - sold out)
Rosie Cannonball (dine-in and to-go, 5-9 pm)
Rudyard’s
Sixes and Sevens
Tacos A Go Go (to-go and delivery only)
The Toasted Coconut (to-go only, limited menu, 5 pm - sell out)
Tres Tacos
UB Preserv (to-go only, limited menu, 3-7 pm)
Wooster’s Garden

The Heights and surrounding neighborhoods

Antone’s Famous Po ‘Boys
B&B Butchers & Restaurant (limited menu, to-go and delivery only, 4-8 pm)
B.B. Lemon (to-go and delivery only, 4-8 pm)
Be More Pacific (to-go only)
Blk Mkt Birria
The Burger Joint (limited menu, to-go only)
Cactus Cove (to-go only, 12 pm - sold out)
Cafe Luxor (to-go only)
Cedar Creek (to-go only, 12 pm - sold out)
Click Virtual Food Hall
Dish Society (limited menu, to-go only)
Dumpling Haus
Fat Cat Creamery (retail items only, 1-6 pm)
Gabby’s BBQ
The Halal Guys
Harold's in the Heights (limited menu, to-go only)
Johnny’s Gold Brick (to-go only)
Maison Pucha Bistro
Ninja Ramen (tacos only, 1 pm - sold out)
Onion Creek (to-go only, 12 pm - sold out)
Rainbow Lodge (to-go only)
Red Dessert Dive
Robot Noodle (to-go only, limited menu)
Savoir (to-go only, limited menu, 3 pm - sold out)
Spaghetti Western (Shepherd only, 11 am - sold out)
Spanish Flowers
Studewood Cantine (dine-in and to-go, 4 pm - close)
Tacos A Go Go (to-go and delivery only)
The Taco Stand (limited menu, drive-thru only)
Taqo Mexican Kitchen
Twisted Grilled Cheese (limited menu, 11 am - sold out)
Urban Eats
Verdine
The Waffle Bus (11 am - 10 pm)
Xin Chao (limited menu, 4:30-9 pm)

Downtown/EaDo/East End

Bovine & Barley (open until 1 am)
Bravery Chef Hall (4-10 pm)
El Big Bad (limited menu, 6 pm - sold out)
The Flying Saucer
Grotto (limited menu)
Indianola (limited menu, delivery and to-go only, 3 pm - sold out)
La Calle
McCormick & Schmick's
OMG Seafood To-Go
Roots (limited menu, 4-10)
Southside Flying Pizza
Tacos A Go Go (to-go and delivery only)
Underground Hall (limited menus, 2 pm - sold out)
Xochi (limited menu, 4 pm - sold out)

Upper Kirby/West University/River Oaks

Cleburne Cafeteria (11 am - 7:30 pm)
Common Bond (limited menu, 9 am - sold out)
Dish Society (limited menu)
Eighteen36
The Halal Guys
Hobbit Cafe
Hungry’s (to-go and delivery only, 12-8 pm)
Izakaya Wa (to-go only)
Liberty Kitchen (to-go only, 12 pm - sold out)
McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
100% Taquito (limited menu)
Picos (to-go and delivery only)
Qin Dynasty (to-go only)
Simone on Sunset (open until 1 am)
Tony’s (to-go only, online ordering available beginning at 4 pm)

The Galleria and surrounding neighborhoods

The Annie Café & Bar (4-9 pm)
Antone’s Famous Po ‘Boys
Bosscat Kitchen (limited menu)
The Brisket House (limited menu, 12 pm - sold out)
Cyclone Anaya’s (limited menu, 11 am - 8 pm)
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse (limited menu)
Dish Society (limited menu)
El Patio (food truck menu, 1-6 pm)
Jenni’s Noodle House
Kenny & Ziggy’s (to-go only)
McCormick & Schmick's
Musaafer (5-9 pm)
The Original Ninfa’s (to-go only, 11 am - close)
Pappadeaux (Westheimer location)
Tribute at the Houstonian
Velvet Taco (Galleria location, 12-10 pm)
Willie G’s (limited menu)

Memorial/Spring Branch/West Houston/Katy

Alicia’s Mexican Grille
B.B. Italia (to-go and delivery only, 4-8 pm)
BuffBurger
Chef Kenny’s Vegan Cuisine
Chick Houz (to-go and delivery)
Craft Burger
Dish Society (limited menu)
Green Garden Chinese Restaurant
Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen (various locations, see social media for details)
The Halal Guys
Hungry’s (to-go and delivery only, 12-8 pm)
Izakaya Wa
Jimmy Changes (to-go only)
Jinya Ramen Bar
Miyazaki (to-go only)
Orleans Seafood Kitchen (to-go only)
Phat Eatery (to-go only)
Slowpokes (12 - 6 pm)
Treebeards (12 pm - sold out)

Southwest Houston/Chinatown/Sugar Land

Aki Steak & Sushi
Alicia’s Mexican Grille
Dandelion Cafe
Fernando’s
Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen (various locations, see social media for details)
Jinya Ramen Bar
Harlem Road Texas BBQ
OMG Seafood To-Go
Shri Balaji Bhavan
Sit Lo (limited menu, to-go only, 12-5 pm)
Spanky’s Pizza
State Fare (limited menu, 12 pm - sold out)
Watershed

Cypress/Spring/The Woodlands/Kingwood

Airi Ramen
Alicia’s Mexican Grille
Beltway Burgers and Bites
The Brisket House (limited menu, 12 pm - sold out)
Common Bond (limited menu, 9 am - sold out)
Cyclone Anaya’s (limited menu, 11 am - 8 pm)
Duck N Bao
Fielding's Local
Fielding's Wood Grill
Galiana’s Tex Mex & Agave Bar
Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen (various locations, see social media for details)
Hearsay on the Waterway
Houwei Chinese Restaurant
Hunan Garden (to-go only)
Ichigo Curry and Ramen
Iza Robata
Jinya Ramen Bar
LA Crawfish
Peli Peli (to-go and delivery only)
Plum Coffee Shop

Clear Lake/Webster/Friendswood/Pearland

Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen (various locations, see social media for details)
Jimmy Changes (to-go only)
Magnolia Cajun Comfort
Pier 6 Seafood (limited menu, to-go encouraged)
Spanky’s Pizza

weather news-you-can-eat

water, water everywhere

The quest for a Topo Chico replacement — we rate 9 sparkling waters

Photo by Eric Sandler

We purchased sparkling water at five stores across the inner loop.

Topo Chico drinkers nationwide are in a bit of a tizzy. Coca-Cola, which acquired the cult-favorite sparkling mineral water in 2017, announced that the product will be unavailable for at least the next few months.

CNN reports the shortage is due to “facility upgrades at the water source and production facilities in Mexico.”

“We are now making further investments at the source to improve source stability and quality and enable increased production, requiring us to temporarily stop production,” Coca-Cola said in a letter to CNN.

For Topo Chico fans, the shortage brings an obvious question. What should a person drink until the supply is restored? Or, what’s a permanent replacement that will avoid this issue altogether?

After collecting suggestions from people via Instagram, I went to Spec’s and inner loop grocery stores to purchase nine varieties of sparkling water with one goal in mind — find something that’s similar enough to Topo Chico that it will earn a spot in my refrigerator.

In the interests of science, I only included sparkling water brands that are similar in size (approximately 12-ounce bottles) and price (between $1 and $1.50 per bottle). Whenever possible, I purchased glass bottles instead of cans or plastic. Although many are available in flavors, I only purchased unflavored waters. All waters were chilled overnight in a refrigerator prior to tasting.

Sparkling water taste test Each water was chilled overnight prior to tasting.Photo by Eric Sandler

Not surprisingly, my top three choices came down to two other Mexican sparkling waters and a convincing dupe from H-E-B.

Most Similar to Topo Chico

Agua de Piedra
Purchased from Spec’s (can also be found at La Michocana), this water from Nuevo Leon, Mexico can be found at several restaurants and coffee shops around town. It offers both strong carbonation and just enough saltiness to satisfy a Topo craving. As long as I can source it reliably, this will be my new house water.

Mineragua
Available at both Whole Foods Market and H-E-B, this water from Jarritos is almost as carbonated as Topo Chico. Its flavor profile is salty with a slight, citrus-style acidity. I prefer the flavor of Agua de Piedra, but others may like this more.

1877 Mineral Water by H-E-B
H-E-B’s house brand sparkling mineral water is sourced from Texas, in Mineral Wells. It has carbonation that persists from opening until finishing. Its slightly salty flavor will be welcomed by Topo Chico drinkers. Overall, it’s probably the best choice for more people, since it’s so readily available.

Less Like Topo, but Still Tasty

Rambler Sparkling Water
This mineral water from Austin is available everywhere, including many restaurants and bars. Since it's only available in cans, its more mild carbonation doesn’t match Topo Chico’s; however, it has a lightly salty taste that makes it very refreshing. This is a good option for those who find Topo to be too fizzy.

Tehuacan
Purchased at Central Market, this water is sourced from springs within Citlaltépetl, Mexico’s highest mountain. The mountain’s volcanic rock gives the water a noticeable saltiness with a slightly sour taste. Although it wasn’t quite to my taste, its strong carbonation and distinct flavor could appeal to other Topo devotees.

Private Selection Sparkling Mineral Water
Available at Kroger, this water is neither as carbonated nor as salty as Topo Chico. Still, it has enough fizz and minerality to do in a pinch, particularly for people who prefer shopping at Kroger over other grocery stores.

Your Mileage May Vary

Richard’s Sparkling Rainwater
Admittedly, a non-mineral water was unlikely to emerge as a favorite in this taste test. Since it’s made with filtered rainwater, Richard’s has a very clean taste and a mild level of carbonation.

Saratoga Carbonated Spring Water
Like Richard’s, this water is too lightly carbonated and too mildly flavored to satisfy a Topo craving. Still, it’s clean and refreshing, which could appeal to non-Topo drinkers.

I’ve Had Better

Liquid Death Mountain Water (Sparkling)
Bland and flat-tasting, this water was the only one I wouldn’t purchase again. Maybe the flavored versions are better.

rankings topo chico reviews