tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29178184291114337352012-01-18T16:05:02.507-08:00tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.comBlogger341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-5677387063873620352010-03-30T12:41:00.000-07:002010-03-30T13:43:58.304-07:00

The Houston Press recently blogged about their Top 10 Restaurants in the Heights, and the comments quickly deteriorated into a discussion about how they were a bit too lenient in their definition of the Heights. Ok, so maybe the title should have been “Heights Area Restaurants.” Me, I’m less interested in debating official borders. The topic nobody seems to be discussing: how awesome is the

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-10458544524114629962010-02-26T20:52:00.000-08:002010-02-26T21:24:46.317-08:00

9:30pm. 9:45pm. Those were my options.I sat in my Dallas hotel room last Thursday night, attempting to book a table at Stella Sola for Saturday night. I originally put in an 8pm request to Open Table and I assumed 48 hours was enough time to get my pick of times. Wrong.My vegetarian sister visited for Christmas, and I was tempted by a tweet from Alison Cook that pronounced their gnocchi as one

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-87778949284989605172009-11-30T19:05:00.000-08:002009-12-02T19:17:45.255-08:00

I know this post is a bit off topic for this blog, but I've seen a bunch of comments on Twitter complaining about various restaurant websites and I think it's time we all have a talk. I've searched and searched and found little to nothing in terms of written guidelines or best practices when it comes to restaurant websites, so no wonder everything is so messed up. Thankfully, most restaurants are

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-34194655939607326852009-11-17T19:47:00.000-08:002009-11-17T19:57:55.690-08:00

I would normally consider Stanton's outside the Heights, but hey if Heights Blog considers it part of the Heights, that's good enough for me. A couple of my friends went to Stanton's for the first time and were fairly impressed, so Stanton's has been on my mind today. I originally wrote this review for the Fearless Critics, but it didn't make the cut. I think that's a damn shame, but Stanton's is

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-89597811945117923412009-11-03T19:37:00.000-08:002009-11-03T21:02:59.101-08:00

I must confess: I'm a pie guy. I love cake too, but if I had to choose, it would totally be pie. True, bad pie is an abomination (if you've ever had a crappy apple pie from a grocery store, you know what I'm talking about), but unlike bad cake, bad pie can sometimes be saved. I once resurrected a crappy pecan pie from Kroger by taking a slice and slapping it upside down on a hot cast iron skillet

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-6923976064952573262009-10-21T19:28:00.000-07:002009-10-21T20:07:46.891-07:00

I normally don't post anything about a restaurant until it's been open for a few months, but Lola has been getting a lot of publicity recently, so why not? Consider this posting more of a one visit observation. There's been a lot of chatter over the world wide interwebs about Lola, you would think it's the most significant restaurant to open in the Heights in the last year. I won't quite go that

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-29769029530818190912009-10-18T18:50:00.001-07:002009-10-18T20:41:26.845-07:00

I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.-WimpyI was in Las Vegas for a conference last week and had dinner one night at Burger Bar at the Mandalay Bay Casino. For those not familiar, Burger Bar serves a large variety of burgers, many obscenely expensive (there is a Kobe burger with foie gras on the menu for $60; only in Vegas!). Burger Bar is a favorite of mine for its beer selection

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-79153926397352542422009-09-30T20:13:00.000-07:002009-09-30T20:17:33.383-07:00

The newest edition of the Fearless Critic Houston Restaurant Guide is now available for purchase. The new edition is the first to employ a Council, a group of local foodies and bloggers who assist with rating and reviewing all the restaurants this wonderful city has to offer. In full disclosure, I was a participating council member. Shhh…New Heights restaurants include Carter & Cooley, Chicago

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-42446650642869715142009-09-29T20:22:00.000-07:002009-09-30T04:43:06.793-07:00

When Beaver’s opened two years ago, I must admit that I was less than impressed. I found the quasi-Carolina barbecue style to be frustratingly inconsistent, expensive, and downright un-Texan with their paltry portion sizes. I know several Carolina apologists who praise the power of the pig and dismiss brisket and everything cow-related as not “real” barbecue. Fine. I can accept regional

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-52465041082521141672009-09-16T12:12:00.000-07:002009-09-16T13:18:44.516-07:00

I love the cocktail program they have at Anvil, but rarely get a chance to drop by (especially during the week). Rye whiskey is one of the most significant spirits in classic cocktails, and the Fiesta Liquor on Shepherd and 610 has it for $17.99. For comparison, Specs lists the Wild Turkey Rye for $23.96.I've also made my own Sazeracs with Old Overholt and Rittenhouse 80, and the Wild Turkey is

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-82840854729274635132009-08-31T18:17:00.000-07:002009-08-31T19:50:52.707-07:00

On a road known more its collection of famous Mexican restaurants (Airline Drive, in the Eastern section of the Heights) sits Sweet Temptation. The name itself creates even more confusion, perhaps signaling that this concept wasn’t fully thought out.The best dishes are the bruschetta and the restaurant's version of a spaghetti carbonara. The bruschetta is simply prepared with fresh tomatoes and

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-13145570894834687072009-08-08T22:48:00.000-07:002009-08-08T23:19:00.954-07:00

Dear HEB,Congratulations on the opening of your new Buffalo Market (on Buffalo Speedway and Bissonnet). From what I’ve read over the last few weeks, your new store looks mighty impressive. Your cheese and wine selection look just as extraordinary as Central Market’s selection. I’m sure the residents are quite pleased that they will no longer have to drive the extra two and half minutes it would

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-44833766261625836992009-07-20T19:46:00.000-07:002009-07-20T20:33:43.804-07:00

Carter & Cooley is located in a historical building right in the middle of historic 19th Street. The entire operation oozes history, with framed black and white photographs of Houston’s past lining the walls. High ceilings and cute antique furnishings round out the attractive space.Bear with me for one small tangent. A few weeks ago, Cameron Diaz was on Jimmy Fallon and contributed to a

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-90091377191031532492009-06-23T10:46:00.000-07:002009-06-23T11:56:36.934-07:00

I'm prefacing my post with "Road Trip" after I realized that I clearly gone past "The Heights." The drive isn't far (6.4 miles from the center of "Greater Heights" according to Google Maps), and if you haven't explored the areas just north of the Heights on Shepherd, you're really missing out. This drive will put you right past B&W Meat Market on North Shepherd, which is always a great stop for

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-87341432058391386282009-06-13T19:33:00.000-07:002009-06-13T20:50:01.110-07:00

I originally decided to visit MAM's when I heard about their issues with their landlord (Fiesta, more forthcoming), but was so blown away by the quality of their New Orleans style sno-balls I decided it needed to move to the front of the line.For those only familiar with the pedestrian "snow cone," the Sno-Ball will be quite a shock. The ice—unlike other inferior snow cone varieties—is pillowy

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-14065836656209119082009-05-19T10:29:00.000-07:002009-05-28T13:29:41.632-07:00

We're going to take a trip to 018 for this post to visit two north Houston institutions. Both Barbecue Inn (116 W. Crosstimbers) and Doyle's Restaurant (2136 W. 34th St) have been in business for well over 50 years; however, both restaurants have taken strikingly different approaches.I’ve heard people describe Barbecue Inn as the type of place that never changes. This is certainly true, but I

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-16045028259892930282009-05-18T13:00:00.000-07:002009-05-18T13:22:53.056-07:00

I just found out yesterday that Pizzitola's won second place in the Great Taste of the Heights audience vote. Barbecue is a controversial subject, especially in Houston. For some reason we have a very small number of quality barbecue joints. I was glad that Pizzitola's was at the event; the fact they were recognized is just a bonus.Pizzitola’s is rightly proud of their pork spareribs. Seasoned

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-18651857956172255742009-05-16T20:26:00.000-07:002009-05-16T20:58:16.036-07:00

I have a lot of thoughts on the Great Taste of the Heights event tonight, most extremely positive. I twittered throughout the whole thing, and instead of me taking several days to summarize, here it all is in all its tweety glory. My problem with Twitter is its lack of narrative. The 140 character is its appeal, but it lends itself to being snarky, and unfortunately I'm sometimes guilty of this

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-43048715652273088512009-05-12T12:06:00.000-07:002009-05-12T12:17:42.507-07:00

I say this rather sarcastically, because OF COURSE I care.I found a blog posting on the Chronicle's site which is riddled with errors. Did someone throw this together in 30 seconds? Items in bold are my emphasis to show obvious errors."Participating restaurants include Bedford, Berryhill, Carter Cooley's, Chatters, Collina's, Dacapo's, Dry Creek/Cedar Creek, Hickory Hollow, Houston, Tamales

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-35183727971840904252009-05-08T13:39:00.000-07:002009-05-08T20:18:06.720-07:00

My Waldo's Coffee post got a lot of comments, mostly from those recommending Antidote. Hey, I'll take requests! Especially when we're talking about coffee.My first visit to Antidote was last summer during the White Linen Nights festivities. We enjoyed listening to a truly outrageous band, complete with banjo, trash cans and coffee can string instruments. I clearly remember that it was a typical

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-13363489708295230702009-04-23T14:12:00.000-07:002009-04-23T15:05:23.979-07:00

The Chronicle pretty much took all the wind out of my sails on Pink's. I had been working on a Pink’s post for over a week now, but that’s what I get for taking too long (the reason for my delay should be evident in the size of this post). I think most of my post is still valid, so without delay, here goes!We ordered the Deuce, which includes goat cheese, spinach, portabella, sliced tomatoes,

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-85299843659148923732009-04-21T13:33:00.000-07:002009-04-21T13:38:18.407-07:00

Thanks to Jenny for the news... it appears Bizarro Heights is about to get another wine bar type thingy, but this one looks a little different.I'm curious to see if the area can support this many wine bars.

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-16951519465680963142009-04-21T09:05:00.000-07:002009-04-21T09:24:37.540-07:00

The discussion on Twitter today seems to be about breakfast tacos, so now seems like the appropriate time to mention Chilosos.Chilosos sits in a converted bungalow on the north side of 20th Street. The space is warm and welcoming, although the ordering process is a bit convoluted. I would recommend going in with a plan: just order what looks good at the steamtable.The breakfast tacos are enormous

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-35166548167652807812009-04-09T13:16:00.000-07:002009-04-09T14:32:54.317-07:00

Waldo's sits in a converted bungalow on Heights Blvd, just south of 11th. It's an interesting place to say the least. The front porch was occupied by the slacker/dog owner/smoker contingent, while the inside was quiet and subdued. Inside, there was a cozy sitting area to the left that was completely packed with this adorable group of elderly ladies. A lone barista manned the coffee station (uh oh

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-11490301480786589032009-04-07T12:18:00.000-07:002009-04-07T13:01:36.047-07:00

Back in 2003, Shade opened to critical acclaim in the restaurant-starved Heights area. The restaurant has stayed with the formula of serving well prepared, modern American interpretations of Southern classics. A recent change in executive chefs has only (so far) resulted in modest changes to this blueprint.In the summer of 2008, David Luna joined the kitchen of Shade, replacing longtime executive

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-65472140768375890712009-04-06T12:23:00.001-07:002009-04-06T12:32:51.333-07:00

Apparently it's going to drop into the 30s here tonight (remember those pets and plants!), so I'm thinking we're going to stay in and make a good beef stew with a hearty red wine to celebrate the last use of central heat for the season.I picked up this bottle at Roma's Liquor (1531 W 18th St.) for $11.99. Roma's is much better than I expected, and certainly has a much better wine selection than

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-62070771476538864422009-04-06T11:57:00.000-07:002009-04-06T11:58:20.631-07:00

Jazzie’s signature item is the authentic New Orleans po-boy, served with your choice of fried seafood (catfish, oyster, shrimp, or soft shell crab) in a sliced French roll. The key to a great po boy is the bread, and Jazzie’s nails it: an ideal blend of crusty and chewy, never doughy. The chef cooks the fried seafood with a very light flour crust, with generous portions. For those avoiding fried

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-80447260542177141462009-04-01T07:09:00.000-07:002009-04-01T07:20:24.336-07:00

I made a quick stop at the Kroger at 11th last night to pick up two cartons of milk. On the way to the register, I walked quickly through the booze aisle and found a Markham 2006 Sauvignon Blanc:$13.99 is not a bad deal for a decent wine, and Markham is a quality winemaker known mostly for their reds. A good rule of thumb to follow is to buy a wine for a reputable winery, and Markham certainly

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-75977659063808739392009-03-31T14:33:00.000-07:002009-03-31T14:43:40.556-07:00

Washington Avenue: Bizarro HeightsFor better or worse, Washington Avenue now provides all the elements that the Heights traditionally could not: trendy bars, restaurants, and large apartment complexes. Please see the table below.Bizarro HeightsThe HeightsNo treesLots of treesBar after trendy bar for milesTwo barstools at TextileLiquor store next to a school (the chutzpah!)What’s a liquor store?

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-27323810963466599712009-03-30T13:40:00.000-07:002009-03-30T13:45:18.632-07:00

For some reason, Tia Maria’s gets no love. Why is that? Located where Mangum, Dacoma, and US290 all converge, Tia Maria’s has been serving decent Tex Mex cuisine for at least 20 years. Force me to categorize even further, Tia Maria’s falls squarely in the category I refer to as “goopy Mexican.” Enchiladas smothered in cheese, Queso with pickled Jalapenos, Quesadillas stuffed with lots of cheese.

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-75247725087212485582009-03-23T13:20:00.000-07:002009-03-23T14:41:03.235-07:00

Sometime last week, one of the Houston Chowhounds asked on Twitter: If you had to pick one Tex Mex restaurant in Houston for one night, which would it be? I answered the original Ninfas on Navigation, but Café Teotihuacan was my 1a.Much has been written about Teotihuacan (or ta-HOO’-a-HOO’-a as we lovingly call it) that it almost seems redundant to mention. The corn tortillas, the bargain

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-53831855651247248952009-03-22T20:01:00.000-07:002009-03-22T20:13:41.000-07:00

I was at Fiesta Liquor (Shepherd just south of 610) on Saturday and spotted this crazy deal: $3.99 for a large bottle of Stone IPA or Arrogant Bastard Ale. The manager informed me that the $3.99 price was the regular price, they just felt like spotlighting it a bit more. Both beers are fantastic, but I think the Stone IPA is the more food friendly choice. An IPA would make the perfect complement

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-32081207651446696632009-03-22T19:30:00.000-07:002009-03-22T19:52:01.721-07:00

So many options for my first restaurant post… why choose Collina’s? Their printed menu and website list about a half dozen critical quotations, all dated over a decade ago. Not a good sign. I admit Collina’s is a questionable choice, but follow me for one minute. Centrally located in the Heights? Check! (19th Street, does not get more central Heights than that)BYOB? Yes, oh yes. Packed? Most

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2917818429111433735.post-55642726764089257242009-03-22T07:22:00.000-07:002009-03-22T07:49:08.676-07:00

For too long, the Heights has been negligent in providing its residents (and surrounding city) with good quality dining options. This blog is my open attempt to influence the restaurant scene in the Heights.Part of the problem with the Heights as a restaurant destination is its status as a dry neighborhood. Typically, restaurants make a significant percentage of their profits on booze. No booze =

tshuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07607778856594222405noreply@blogger.com0