The build-your-own bloody mary bar on the weekends might be reason enough to visit The Union Kitchen. This Kingwood eatery is well known for fun and innovative ideas like the bloody Mary bar, including a menu that encompasses multiple global cuisines and a dash of Southern hospitality.

The ingredients used at The Union Kitchen are incredibly fresh since the chef makes twice-weekly visits to a local farmers market. If you go with a group of friends, consider ordering some of the small plates to share so that you can sample a range of different tastes from the kitchen. Try the tempura fried lemon topped with fennel, broccolini, asparagus, bell pepper, and just a touch of lemon oil. Pair that with a halved avocado stuffed with blue lump crab and cotijia cheese for a contrasting flavor profile, and pick out a few more dishes just for the fun of tasting.

The Union Kitchen
23918 Highway 59 North
Kingwood, TX 77339
(832) 644-9067
www.theunionkitchen.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-union-kitchen-kingwood

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/stu_spivack

Why don't you let Amedo's Italian Restaurant do the cooking for you tonight? This popular Kingwood-area restaurant is always a good choice, whether it's a weekday meal after a busy day at work or a romantic date night over the weekend. The restaurant's ambiance is sleek and elegant, while the menu is full of simple Italian classics prepared with skill.

Regulars praise dishes that showcase the quality ingredients, like the caprese salad, which is served with roasted garlic and huge, fresh basil leaves tucked in between slices of juicy tomato and soft mozzarella. The deep dish lasagna is made from the owner's own family recipe, and the veal marsala combines tender veal cutlets with a classic wine and mushroom sauce. It's easy to fill up quickly at Amedo's because the prices are reasonable and the portions are generous, so take special care to leave room for dessert, because it shouldn't be missed. Ask your server for the daily dessert specials!

Amedo's Italian Restaurant
22704 Loop 494
Humble, TX 77339
(281) 359-4451
www.amedeos.net
www.yelp.com/biz/amedeos-italian-restaurant-humble

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/cyclonebill