Brady’s Landing: Livin’ It Up Down by the Water

From its perch on an island in the Port of Houston, Brady’s bewitching water views are especially dramatic at night.  The vibe here is muted elegance; all dark wood, creamy linens, and heavy drapes—a rustic Victorian feel. There’s nothing to distract from the amazing display outside, and unfortunately that extends to much of the menu. It’s big on seafood, with a few meat standards like New York Steak and Chicken New Orleans. Brady’s real draw, however, is the all-you-can-eat Sunday Champagne Brunch.  It crams over 100 items into two rooms of food, from fluffy made-to-order omelets, to grit cakes and fajitas, to pasta, to scrumptious cinnamon rolls.  It’s not cheap ($29.95 per adult; $11.95 kids, plus tax and tip), but with complimentary champagne and mimosas, your out-of-town guests will see that Houstonians know how to party.

Brady’s Landing
8505 Cypress Street
Houston, TX 77012
(713) 928-9921
www.bradyslandingrestaurant.com

Sudie’s Seafood House: World’s Greatest Catfish

Sudie's Seafood House is a great choice for the budget-conscious family who wants a break from the assembly-line seafood chains. With only two locations, Sudie’s keeps a tight grip on quality control, consistently serving up a huge selection of mid-price, high-quality Gulf favorites like Crawfish Gumbo. But the real draw here is the farm-raised Mississippi catfish. Sudie’s claims it’s the best in the world, and whether you like it classic—fried in a light, sweet batter, with hushpuppies and fries—expertly blackened, or in a tangy lemon pepper sauce, it’s remarkable stuff, pure and flaky, a feast for all five senses. The catfish entrees run about 12 bucks, or have it all all-you-can-eat for $15.99. Don’t enjoy too many of the blended (and very strong) tropical cocktails—you’ll want to save room for the fish!

Sudie’s Seafood House
352 Gulf Fwy N.
League City, TX 77573
(281) 338-5100
www.sudies.com

La Brisa Mexican Bar & Grill: The Real Deal

Yes, there’s a giant neon sign out front, and their website features a bouncing cartoon frog.  But La Brisa isn’t just another highway Tex Mex joint. The huge, beautifully tiled interior contains a more authentic experience, with out-of-this world enchiladas that can convince the toughest crowd of all. The combination platters, like Los Compadres (hand-breaded jalapenos stuffed with cheese and jumbo shrimp, topped in creamy cilantro sauce along with chicken/beef fajitas) are enormous, cheap, and lovingly spiced. This chef takes pride in his craft; there’s not a hint of grease anywhere. The atmosphere is buzzing but never too loud, and during football season you can kick back with cervezas and watch the game on the patio. Service is good-natured and quick, and the size of the restaurant means there’s almost never a wait.

La Brisa Mexican Bar & Grill
501 North Wesley Drive
League City, TX 77573
(281) 554-4000
www.labrisa.net

Relaxing Eats on the Patio at Marina’s Mexican Restaurant

Simple, delicious Tex-Mex, served with astonishing generosity—that's what you'll find at Marina's Mexican Restaurant. The fish tacos are among the best around; soft and buttery, with sweet field greens and homemade chipotle ranch. Sizzling fajitas are lean, tender, and mountainous—the half-pound size, which serves one, is $10.95; one pound is $20.95. Tortillas are fresh and inventively spiced. Strong, bottomless margaritas and $2 Tecates every day should be enough to convince everyone, but sit on Marina’s stunning galleried patio and you could easily be in one of those little hill towns near Puerto Vallarta, enjoying a long siesta after a swim. Come back more than once and the friendly staff will know you by name.   

Marina’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar
3500 West Main Street
League City, TX 77573
(281) 338-1888
www.marinasmexicanrestaurant.com

Angelo’s Pizza & Pasta: Classic Pasta Dishes and More

Gotta have some pasta? Head to Angelo’s Pizza and Pasta for a heaping plate of spaghetti or a sizzling pizza decked out with the freshest ingredients. Brick oven pizzas include the Angelo’s Special with pepperoni, mushrooms, bacon, black olives, peppers and onions, Pizza Caprina with olive oil, garlic, spinach, feta and mozzarella cheese, and the White Pizza with alfredo sauce and mozzarella cheese. Pasta dishes feature Cappellini Tuscana with mushrooms, artichokes, sundried tomatoes, basil, and fresh tomatoes, Penne Milano with sundried tomatoes, mushrooms, feta cheese and basil, and Baked Ziti with ricotta, tomato cream and mozzarella. Panini, calzones, soup, antipasti and salads are also on the menu. Open for lunch and dinner.

Angelo's Pizza and Pasta
400 W. Bay Area Boulevard
Webster, TX 77598
(281) 332-2404
http://www.yelp.com/biz/angelos-pizza-and-pasta-webster

Star Cinema Grill: A Dine-In Theater

Wouldn’t it be great if you could watch a first run movie while eating a great meal and sipping on a beer, glass of wine or cocktail? You can do just that at Webster's Star Cinema Grill, a dine-in-theater with all of the above in a spot not too far away from Avana South Shore. The movie-themed menu features starters like Gone With the Wings in your choice of regular or boneless, Nachos Libre, and the Three Amigos Combo with wings, stuffed jalapenos, and cheese sticks. Honey I Shrunk the Sandwiches features Angus Beef Sliders and Pulled Pork. A Blues Brothers Burger is topped with – what else – bleu cheese, and the Chicken Run Sandwich features a grilled or breaded chicken breast and provolone cheese. Pizzas, pasta and a nice kid’s menu make this a fun option for an outing at the movies. Check the website for upcoming screenings and more information!

Star Cinema Grill
1020 Nasa Parkway
Webster, TX 77598
(281) 557-9300
http://www.yelp.com/biz/star-cinema-grill-webster

South Shore Grille: Havana by the Bay

Park the car and leave South Shore Grille’s strip mall home behind. Inside, everything is rich, warm, inviting, and relaxed, with dark wood and plush banquettes creating a country club atmosphere. Sip a perfectly-balanced mojito and take in the room’s palm trees; you might be in Havana, back in the glory days. The menu—a creative blend of Cuban and contemporary American cuisine—will deepen the effect. Start with the zesty Marina Bay dip, thick with shrimp, crabmeat and rich cheese. Begin your meal with spicy cold avocado soup, and then try the feather-light Grouper Tacos, which burst with cilantro and Monterey Jack. If you’re still hungry, go for the sweet grilled Atlantic Salmon, lightly seasoned and served with a choice of sides, including garlic red potatoes and heartily spiced Cuban black beans. Things might go slower in the islands, but the service here is great. After your meal, linger in the friendly bar. 

South Shore Grille
2800 Marina Bay Dr. # F
League City, TX 77573
(281) 334-7700
www.soshoregrille.com

Red River BBQ: Simply the Best

We all know that Texans take their barbecue seriously—it’s a big deal when folks crown a favorite. Listeners of MIX 96.5 agree; Red River BBQ is the best in Houston. And if it’s the best in Houston, it has a claim to being the best in the world. This is an authentically down-home, cheap, and delicious experience that will shame those pretenders from Memphis and Kansas City. Grab a handful of peanuts when you walk in the door, and head straight for the ribs. The wet, slow-cooked meat falls off the bone, dissolving in your mouth with a smoky, caramelized tang. The spicy sausage po’boy is delicately crisp and juicy, with just the right amount of heat. And the green beans have that sweet, off-the-grill snap. Naturally there’s beer, and ribs are all you can eat every Saturday and Sunday for $7.95! Red River BBQ is open until 10 p.m. Monday – Thursday, and 11 p.m. on weekends. 

Red River BBQ
1911 East Main Street
League City, TX 77573
(281) 332-8086
www.redriverbbq.com

The Italian Cafe: A Bella Trattoria

This is a genuine trattoria, more family living room than restaurant. You’re greeted warmly as you enter the cozy dining area, where you choose your entree from the display, grab a plate, and sit down to watch your meal being prepared in the lively, open kitchen. Servers bring your food and bus your table, but that’s all. The result is a loud, loose, unhurried vibe that feels close to Italy itself. The menu mixes old world favorites like three-cheese Lasagna with Creole-inflected fare like white ribbon Pappardelle Pasta, with sauteed breaded chicken strips and spicy piccata sauce. The ingredients are fresh, the cheese is rich, and the gravy (as your Italian grandma would say) is to die for. Like the best family reunions, it’s strictly BYOB; the Cafe provides wine glasses, ice buckets, and corkscrews for a $2.50 corkage fee. And they don’t accept tips, so why not splurge on a round of Espresso?  Buon appetito.

The Italian Cafe
4622 NASA Rd 1
Seabrook, TX 77586
(281) 326-1618
www.theitaliancafe.com

Valdo’s Seafood House: Fresh from the Gulf

Cruise the Bay, drop anchor at Valdo’s pier, and hop off to enjoy fresh, succulent Gulf seafood with a Mexican/Creole accent. Prices are similar to chains like Pappadeaux, but the comparison ends there; the big guys don’t offer you gigantic mountain shrimp over thick, tart remoulade, or spicy Pontchartrain fish with an elegant New Orleans wine cream sauce.  Valdo’s chilled-out decor might not recall Mexico, but entrees like the huge shrimp Enchiladas are the equal of any self-consciously “authentic” restaurant in town. Gulf oysters are back in abundance, so why not crack open a few, sip a strong, colorful cocktail, and watch the water dance. Check out Valdo’s website for coupons.

Valdo’s Seafood House
4106 Nasa Parkway
El Lago, TX 77586
(281) 326-3866
www.valdosseafoodhouse.com

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