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

Today we celebrate and show our appreciation for all of the fantastic fathers in our lives and we hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing day!

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