Foodie News

Where to eat right now: 10 hot, must-try restaurants for November

Feast is vigilant in its fresh, sustainable offerings, so you know this guy wasswimming yesterday.
Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
Buffalo Sean cranks out creative crepes at Melange, now with a second locationto serve you.
Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
Try Ouisie's renowned seafood gumbo on the soup-salad-sandwich plate at the Birdand the Bear.
Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
Downtowners rejoice! The famous Phoenicia falafel is coming to you this month.
Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
Chef Philippe Schmit, aka: the French Cowboy, offers a harvest tasting menustarting Nov. 15.
Down House has a new menu. Will they still offer the PBLT sandwich? (PB = PorkBelly, fools.)
Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
The Pi Pizza truck finally opened this month. Stop by for a slice or a sandwich.
Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller
While you're at the new downtown Phoenicia, be sure to grab some beautifulbaklava for dessert.
Photo by Ruthie Johnson Miller

Cooler weather is finally upon us — but here are 10 hot places to keep you warm in November. Some are new restaurants entirely, while others are more seasoned, but all are well worth a visit.

The Bird and the Bear
The new Bird and the Bear touts itself as a casual partner to sister restaurant Ouisie’s Table. While you wouldn’t be able to tell that from the prices, the crowds don’t seem to mind.

Pretty people abound, snacking on salads, sipping on gumbo and poking at beautiful salmon dishes. If you go, be patient in your parking prowess — or fork over $3 for valet.

Pi Pizza Truck
If you’ve been tracking these guys on social media, you know how difficult their permit process has been. But the Pi Pizza Truck is finally up and running and open for business. The place offers huge slices of pizza pie in interesting combinations.

The crust is solid, though it could use more char, and the toppings are creative. Follow them on Twitter for a daily location.

Phoenicia
Yesssss! The second location of this fantastically awesome Mediterranean grocery and deli is set to open on Nov. 7.

In addition to the wonderful hummus, pitas and baklava, the new spot will have a larger array of take-away foods, perfect for the downtown clientele. Perhaps even more exciting, the new Phoenicia will serve breakfast starting at 7 a.m.

Down House
After a veritable roller coaster during its first few months of business, Down House has reached a happy place. They’ve brought aboard chef Benjy Mason, former sous chef at Feast, and launched a new fall menu offering a larger selection of small plates in addition to the mains.

Don’t worry — the outstanding coffee, beer and cocktail program is still very much in tact.

Philippe
Is this the month to indulge your inner Frenchie? Perhaps — especially now that Restaurant Philippe has new four- or six-course tasting meals starting Nov. 15.

On the menu? Salad with foie gras shavings and quail eggs, pumpkin ravioli, baked bay scallops with caviar, beef short ribs with chestnut gnocchi, ambrosia salad and a chocolate Crepe Suzette.

Melange Creperie on the Right Bank
Craving crepes? Great news — Houston’s favorite crepe cart has opened a second location!

If you haven’t stopped by for one of Buffalo Sean’s melty masterpieces, now you’ve got a second option, right in front of Stella Sola on Studewood in the Heights. Follow them on Twitter for a list of weekly specials.

Feast
Cooler, drier weather means it’s the perfect time for the comforting warmth of Feast. The place is fresh off an appearance on the Food Network’s Best Thing I Ever Ate and has a smashing new list of fall specials.

Feast has chosen to diversify its menu over the past few months, offering a few more mainstream dishes in addition to the acclaimed offal ones.

Pinewood Café
We were sad to see Little Big’s close up shop in Hermann Park, but all is right now that Pinewood Café has taken over the spot.

The place offers a nice range of sandwiches, salads, burgers and wraps — plus wine and craft beer — lunch and dinner, seven days a week. As nice as the weather’s been, you might want to try one of Pinewood's custom picnic baskets.

Plonk
It’s just a casual, neighborhoody wine bar and restaurant, but Plonk Bistro has been garnering a good deal of attention lately. Perhaps it’s the friendly service, neat location, or deliciously consistent food that has won our hearts.

Or maybe it’s just that insanely great burger. Whatever it is, stop by to check it out sometime soon.

Restaurants Rockin' the Pumpkin
Along with its sigh-a-rific weather, the harvest season also brings fantastic pumpkin dishes. Restaurants all over town have added some great ones, and we likey.

Our favorites include the pumpkin risotto from Giacomo’s, Saint Arnold Pumpkinator ice cream from the Eatsie Boys, pumpkin-seed crusted salmon at TQLA, and the pumpkin pie crepe from Melange Creperie.

Now tell us: Where can we find your pumpkin dream dishes?

Need more recs? Try our lists from previous months:

May – June – July – August – September – October

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two days of bbq

2 Michelin-rated barbecue joints holding can't-miss pop ups in Houston

Courtesy of KG BBQ

KG BBQ is bringing its Egyptian-influenced barbecue to Houston.

Two of the Texas barbecue joints to earn Bib Gourmand recognition in the Michelin Guide will be holding pop ups in Houston this week. One is visiting from Austin, while another is a Spring favorite with a one-day-only menu.

On Saturday, December 14, Austin’s celebrated KG BBQ will be serving at Axelrad in Midtown. Part of Texas Monthly’s 2023 list of the Top 25 New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas, KG BBQ has earned wide acclaim for pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh’s Egyptian-influenced take on Texas barbecue.

The menu will include many of KG’s most popular dishes, including brisket rice bowls with smoked Mediterranean rice; smoked lamb chops; sumac-and-cinnamon-rubbed lamb shoulder, and sides such as pink buttermilk potato salad and Baladi salad.

Service begins at 10:30 am. Preorders are available online with a minimum order of $60.

In a statement, Axelrad co-owners Adam Brackman and Monte Large say that KG will make more visits to Houston in 2025. El-Ghayesh adds that he’s a fan of the Houston bar that’s known for its spacious backyard with hammocks, a stage, and a wide-ranging menu of beer and cocktails.

“Since the moment I stepped foot in Axelrad, I loved their culture, their vibrant colors and artistic flare, their attention to detail and hospitality and love for entertainment makes this place perfect for bringing back my nostalgic memories of hosting pop-ups like how I started in Austin,” he said. “I’m proud to bring what I have created to Houston. From how diverse the city is, its beautiful variety of ethnic foods, and large Egyptian community, it has so much to offer. We are excited to serve up some Egyptian BBQ to the Houston community through our pop ups over the next year at Axelrad.”

On Sunday, Spring’s Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q will trade its usual offerings for a special menu of dishes made with smoked whole hog. The menu will include whole hog plates, whole hog sandwiches, whole hog-and-parmesan polenta cakes, and whole hog served over cheese grits with a New Orleans-style barbecue sauce as well as sides and desserts. Service will run from 11 am until everything sells out, likely sometime between 2 and 3 pm.

“The whole menu is filled with specials and cool items we don’t do everyday at the stand,” co-owner Jordan Rosemeyer writes in an email. The motive, beyond exercising some creative muscles, is to raise money for Hogs for the Cause, an annual event that raises money for pediatric brain cancer research and the families who are fighting it.

Like KG, Rosemeyer is also a member of Texas Monthly’s 2023 new and improved list. Located at 2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd., the humble trailer has earned acclaim for its weekly specials, housemade ice cream, and well executed barbecue staples.

news-you-can-eat barbecue pop ups kg bbq rosemeyer bar-b-q