OT: If one were to go to Houston...

[Kevan]

in a couple weeks, where would one find some local color, good eats, BBQ, whatever? A small team of us worker bees (no not BBD, he's not invited) is visiting offices just outside of the highway belt there, due north and due west of the downtown area. Chances are we'll be staying not too far from Citywest Blvd.

It's all woik with just dinner times to play, I'm afraid.

[Sandy]

So where we will be staying??

I'll bring the molasses. :) :)


Sweet Syrup Sandy

[Kevan]

quarters too.

[manet]

1. "good company": a slick joint for sure, but the food is very good. probably have a web site _ they ship their pecan pies, so they must.

2. "mr. green's": in a no-name old strip mall. skinny little, bare bones
restaurant with incredible BBQ. not on the map. get your brisket, slice
of wonder bread and sliced pickle.

3. west alabama ice-house. even if you don't get to this one, get to
an ice-house for a beer.

[manet]

4. where i cut my teeth in the art hanging world: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://simonandbaker.com/mfa_entrance.jpg&imgrefurl=http://simonandbaker.com/museum_fah.html&h=572&w=400&sz=39&tbnid=VRIoAhDinjwJ:&tbnh=131&tbnw=91&hl=en&start=27&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2Bhouston%2Bmuseum%2Bof%2Bfine%2Bart s%26start%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa %3DN

[manet]

5. if sandy's going with: http://www.houstonhappyhikers.org/photosherprk/5578-ParkTrain.JPG

[pale scotsman]

Goode company bbq is good, luling city market bbq is dang good and you'll find a luther's just about everywhere and it'd always pretty darn good.

Don't get hung up on bbq 'cause there's killer mexican, tex-mex, and chinese believe it or not. Houston has it's own little china town. Lots of good places to eat. Manet is right about the ice houses. Tin roofed joints with sprinklers running on the roof to keep 'em cool in the summer. We used to go to one up on FM 1960 but can't remember the name of it for the life of me. Make sure and drink a lone star while you're there. Oh yeah... wait till you see the traffic. It sucks.

[djg]

in a couple weeks, where would one find some local color, good eats, BBQ, whatever? A small team of us worker bees (no not BBD, he's not invited) is visiting offices just outside of the highway belt there, due north and due west of the downtown area. Chances are we'll be staying not too far from Citywest Blvd.

It's all woik with just dinner times to play, I'm afraid.

No sort of Houston expert, but I liked the Goode BBQ company--try the turkey (really), in addition to the brisket (obviously). And there's always some color at the Menil Collection.

[Tailwinds]

Try Pappa's for seafood (some of it with a Cajun flair). Eat some for me, too, while you're at it.

Most of the small, hole-in-the wall BBQ places are far better than the chain restaurants like Luther's i.m.h.o.

Definitely go to an icehouse or two if you like to drink beer. It's a TX thing...

Traffic does suck in Houston. Be prepared for BIG delays. Hopefully, you'll be staying near your destination.

[shaq-d]

well, just echoin what's been said above. houston might be a sucky city but the mexican and tex-mex is damn good. just about any taquiera u walk into will have great fajitas in great big portions with $2 margaritas.
yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

sd

[bulliedawg]

FYI, Houston has more strip clubs per capita than any city in the US. Atlanta is second.

[fiamme red]

Katz's Deli -- whoops, I'm thinking of Houston St. (pronounced how-ston, hot hyoo-ston).

Wait, there is actually a Katz's Deli in Houston, TX! Who would have believed it!?!?
http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/reviews/rsv1702.asp
http://houston.citysearch.com/review/11418304.
Can't vouch for them.

[little.man]

The one place that I would definitely recommend to eat is Pappasitos. The only thing I ever order there is beef fajitas. Excellent. A lot of people also rave about their ribs. Lots of other choices on the menu, but I would only go with one of those two choices.

http://www.pappasitos.com/about.html

The one at Richmond and Hillcroft should be fairly near where you are staying. I thought there was also one on Westheimer near there, but do not see it listed. The one at Richmond and Hillcroft is the original location.

Lots of other Tex-Mex restaurants around, but Pappasitos is one of the best and the food will be consistent at all of their restaurants.

The Pappas family must own half the restaurants in Houston - Pappasitos, Pappadeaux, Pappas, etc. All are good, but imho Pappasitos is the one to visit.

Goode Company BBQ has been mentioned. I have not eaten there in years, but believe it is still serving good BBQ.

I thought that Caberras for Italian food was pretty good.

Never been to any of the icehouses around here, but do recommend the Gingerman if you enjoy beer.

http://www.gingermanpub.com/houston/h-frame.html

Jillians is an oversize video arcade if you are into those types of Games.

And the topless clubs will bring color to some part of you :). Send me a private message if you need a list of the ones to visit.

Lived in Houston for 10 years, then in New Orleans for 13. Back in Houston now because of Katrina, but will be back in New Orleans shortly. Won't miss Houston, but will miss the Tex-Mex. And definitely will not miss the traffic. Try to stay off of I-10 if at all possible.

If you have any specific questions, please let me know. If I do not know the answer, can definitely find out.

Mark

[pale scotsman]

FYI, Houston has more strip clubs per capita than any city in the US. Atlanta is second.

How could I forget Rick's Cabaret. What a way to go broke...

[manet]

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.arrested.com/image/6746139.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.arrested.com/635975.html&h=218&w=164&sz=13&tbnid=3i3RKCmG0SgJ:&tbnh=102&tbnw=76&hl=en&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnicole%2Bsmith%2Bhouston%26svnum%3D10 %26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG

[Kevan]

for the wonderful suggestions. I'll try to do you proud. I certainly think we can fit in Tex-Mex, a BBQ and definitely a short visit to an ice house. Traffic permitting. I too have heard about the infamous Rick's and their particular choice of...well, umm.. meat. I know that's like visiting New York's Statue of Liberty, but due to the mixed company I'll be keeping, I'm sorry to say, I'll have to miss that spot.

My visit is aimed for the end of January.

[Kevan]

I’m back from Houston and I feel I owe that town an apology, qualified maybe, but an apology nonetheless. I had a wonderful time there.

Alright, I still have some major problems with the town. First, most of the commercial areas are plain butt ugly. The strip malls have gone unchecked for unmeasured miles and the word “zoning” must be a 4-letter word to that town. It’s such a shame that the fathers didn’t require developers to leave or incorporate patches of green to soften the commercial attack. Highway 75, as an example, was downright horrible with the franchise attack that took place there. Okay, enough about this, lets get to what has made Houston a better place for me and any of you lucky enough to find yourselves there best get in the car and get going..

First off, the weather. The weather last week was frickin’ beautiful there, sunny, low 70’s. If you stay clear of their summer, you’ll be fine. So nice was it, I didn’t want to return to New York.

The recommendations made by you folk were spot on. Sorry, we did miss visiting the seemingly thousand varieties of Pappas establishments, but they looked such the chain, we never really felt inspired to try’m. Frankly, our first evening’s event at Café Adobe was such a bust, we steered clear of what we thought might be a major operation.

Favorite spot.. hands-down was the West Alabama Ice House. This is a must see! After working in the office go back to the hotel put on your jeans and T-shirt and then you’re suitably dressed.
http://cityguide.aol.com/houston/entertainment/venue.adp?sbid=109082392

The cute young lady behind the counter there, that could pop multi-long neck caps like she was pulling a flat tube from a tire, while still in the race, suggested we go around the corner to this place for some BBQ:
http://www.demeris.com/AboutUs.php

Dirt cheap dinner complete with two slices of white bread, jalapeño corn, macaroni and cheese, ribs and beef. Awesome and low-fat too!

Okay, there are those times where only a corporate style dinner will do. The one recommended to us was in the Galleria area. Super outrageous interior complete with Inca walls and a jungle theme is Americas.
http://dinesite.com/info/rstrnt-173534/??&t=0

You will be paying the decorator for the meal too. Not cheap. South American cuisine which was pretty good, but frankly.. it couldn’t hold a match to the likes of my all time favorite meal spot Goode Company:
http://www.goodecompany.com/goodeRestaurantTaqueria.aspx

Go no further until you pull your beer from the ice chest and give your order request at Goode’s.

If you got time for a fun lunch then try this joint. Their shrimp po’ boy did just fine. And if you’re there for a really fun lunch try their bucket of crayfish:
http://www.ragincajun.com/main.html

We also stopped at the Ginger Man and when faced with their beer selection, I looked into the face of the bar maid, told her I didn’t know what I wanted just make it a dark ale. Have no idea what I got, but it was good. The back wall had to have easily 100 paddles for different kegs of beer and there are an equal number of different bottles too!

The week was nearly over. I stuffed my gut, swilled the beer, finished my work, but had enough left in me for one last visit to the ice house.

Thanks guys and thanks Houston! :banana: