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Prima Pasta: Vegetarian-Friendly Italian Cuisine

June 17, 2014 by

The backbone of traditional Italian is meat, so you might not expect to find vegetarian options at an Italian restaurant—let alone an entire menu. But Prima Pasta in Houston values only one thing above Italian tradition, and that is its clientele. So the eatery offers a vegetarian-friendly menu that still captures the spirit of Italian fare with dishes such as fettuccine Alfredo (a favorite among regulars), spaghetti with marinara, and veggie lasagna.

Of course, Prima Pasta also serves a meat-laden menu to its customers with some similar options. Try the Alfredo with grilled chicken or shrimp, the spaghetti with meatballs, or the lasagna with its classic ingredient, beef. No matter what you order—pizza, pasta, or classic entree—it will always be fresh, since chefs craft everything in-house every day. And the menu changes every week to incorporate a few new dishes, so while your tried-and-trued standards are always offered, so are some fresh options every time you visit.

Pasta Prima
6811 Kirby Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 666-4047
www.primapastarestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/prima-pasta-houston-3

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Follow the Cask to Taps House of Beer in Houston

June 10, 2014 by

It'd be almost impossible to miss Taps House of Beer. In lieu of a front door, there sits a huge cask with an entryway carved out. Walk right through into Taps' open, industrial-style space. Much like the brew house's exterior, the interior is a little off-beat. Wooden picnic tables are scattered throughout the bar, complementing a framework of exposed wooden beams and walls of brick. A shuffleboard table, arcade games, and foosball reside inside, whereas cornhole, bocce ball, and ladder golf are outside. Needless to say, this isn't your typical late-night bar.

That fact comes into clearer focus with a glance at the bar's list of beers, which showcases more than 90 different suds on tap and many by the bottle. From classic Corona or Blue Moon to Strongbow, Bombshell Blonde, and Flying Dog Tire Bite, the brews land all over a spectrum that spans "Light and Easy" to "Amber, Pale, or Pils." Although beer clearly plays the starring role at Taps, a modest food menu offers a handful of shared plates such as Jack Daniels pulled pork sliders and pizzas.

Taps House of Beer
5120 Washington Avenue
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 426-1105
www.tapshouseofbeer.com
www.yelp.com/biz/taps-house-of-beer-houston

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Roost: Fusion Fare in Houston, Texas

May 20, 2014 by

Using farm fresh ingredients and a seasonal tapas menu that fuses Southern, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, Roost has earned itself a favorite place on the Houston dining scene. The menu changes every three weeks, so you can always count on new flavors emerging from the kitchen. Sumptuous plates – to share, or not – include a Mason Jar Pickles of Local Produce, Smoked Trout Mousse with rye toast points, Fried Cauliflower with miso dressing & pine nuts, Beer Can Cornish Hen with honey mustard sauce, Curried Crab Cakes with chayote squash slaw and Angus Flatiron Steak with pickled watermelon. The ‘Gimme Some Suga’ dessert menu features taste tempters like Coffee N’ Donut Holes with salted caramel & coffee ice cream. Yum!

Moments from Marquis Lofts on Sabine, Roost is open for dinner Monday through Saturday.

Roost
1972 Fairview Street
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 523-7667
http://www.yelp.com/biz/roost-houston

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Bite a Biscuit, Go For a Growler at BRC Gastropub

May 13, 2014 by

Eaters experience bacon a little differently at BRC Gastropub. For example, eatery's signature cheddar biscuits come slathered in bacon jam, instead of crowned with crispy strips. You can order one for yourself or an entire box of them to-go—along with a growler of beer. Because in addition to creating reimagined versions of comfort food, BRC's staff also pours rare craft beers, more than 28 at a time (plus 25 bottled varieties).

Both local microbrews and nationally applauded craft suds come from the taps at BRC. The drafts rotate all the time, but you'll often find everything from a Sierra Nevada IPA to Karbach Weisse Versa Wheat, brewed right in Houston. BRC also keeps some brews in the cellar, debuting them in limited batches. You can always expect a new trending brew to accompany your cheddar biscuits, which you can order with fried chicken. Or pair your pint with a pub burger, vegan falafel burger, or starter like fried Gulf oysters.

BRC Gastropub
519 Shepherd Drive
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 861-2233
www.brcgastropub.com/index.php
www.yelp.com/biz/brc-gastropub-houston

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Sip a Texas Beer, Dig Into a Shrimp Po’Boy at Beaver’s

April 15, 2014 by

Beaver’s in Houston is located in a building that was once a traditional Texas icehouse, where communities would go to pick up ice and converse with neighbors over a beer. Working off of that history, Beaver’s is still a great place to meet with friends for a brew and now a meal created with ingredients found from the third coast.

Enjoy seafood dishes like the crawfish and crab cakes or a shrimp po-boy fried in cornmeal batter and topped with slaw and tartar sauce. Other crowd favorites include the nut burger made with brown rice, cashews, and walnuts; the beef brisket served with Texas toast; and the variety of macaroni and cheese dishes.

Beaver’s boasts a plentiful selection of Texas beers on draft, along with some creative cocktails and even delicious non-alcoholic “mock-tails” for those abstaining. Beaver's is open until 10 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Beaver's
2310 Decatur Street
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 864-2328
http://beavershouston.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/beavers-houston

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Italian Sausage Is a Family Tradition at Candelari’s Pizzeria

April 8, 2014 by

Dubbed "a man of great taste" by his friends and family, Alberto Candelari was responsible for a sausage recipe that became a family tradition—one that even outsiders can enjoy at Candelari's Pizzeria on West Holcombe. The story goes that Alberto had just returned from a hunting trip and was experimenting with creating his own sausage in the back of the family's Houston liquor store. He struck gold with what would become widely known as Candelari's Italian sausage. But Alberto's Italian sausage was just the jumping-off point for a variety of other sausage recipes that, today, serve as the cornerstone for many pizzas and other dishes at his namesake eatery. Chefs still select the highest quality meats to stuff in each sausage, mixed with natural spices and often even a dash of liqueur.

You can sample the sausage in a grinder at lunch, on an "Autentica" thin-crust Neopolitan pizza (on a white or five-grain crust), or over linguini marinara. But Candelari's also creates dishes without sausage, such as veggie pizza, beef tenderloin (cooked over an open flame), and cedar-plank-roasted salmon. Enjoy any of the dishes with a bottle of Italian wine.

Candelari's Pizzeria
2617 W. Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 662-2825
www.candelaris.com
www.yelp.com/biz/candelaris-pizzeria-houston-2

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Enjoy Eggplant Parm and People-Watching at Empire Cafe

March 18, 2014 by

Located on busy Westheimer Road is Empire Cafe, a romantic little spot to grab your morning coffee or brunch with a couple of your best friends. The decor is distinctly European, while the friendly, laid-back service leaves you feeling right at home.

Pick from coffee served with a variety of syrups (or perhaps a splash of Bailey's Irish Cream and Kahlua), or select from teas like blackberry sage and cinnamon plum. The breakfast menu boasts a number of delicious egg dishes, while lunch offers eggplant parmigiana, goat cheese and mushroom ravioli, and a delicious variety of pizzas big enough to share with a friend or take home for later.

The patio at Empire Cafe is a must when the weather is nice and makes a great spot for people watching. Empire Cafe is open Sundays through Thursdays, 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Empire Cafe
1732 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77098
(713) 528-5282
http://empirecafe.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/empire-cafe-houston

Public Domain/Public Domain
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Underbelly: Fine Dining in Houston

February 18, 2014 by

With soaring ceilings, handcrafted walnut tables and an open kitchen that lets you watch the chefs work their magic, Underbelly might just be the perfect spot for a unique dining experience. The frequently changing menu takes advantage of what’s seasonal and fresh from local purveyors. Stop by for lunch to feast on Grilled Shrimp Salad with buttermilk dressing, Butter Biscuits & Chicken Gravy, or a Roast Beef Sandwich with Korean red chile mayo. The dinner menu features a tasty array of entrees like Seared Snapper with tomato confit, Korean Braised Goat with dumplings, Wagyu Satay with cold soba salad and Crispy Local Vegetables with caramelized fish sauce. Save room for dessert, as diners praise the Fried Strawberry Pie with toasted rice ice cream. Underbelly is open Mondays through Saturdays.

Underbelly
1100 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 528-9800
http://www.yelp.com/biz/underbelly-houston

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Enjoy a Romantic Fireside Dinner With a View at Backstreet Cafe

February 11, 2014 by

Set in a historic building dating to the 1930s, Backstreet Cafe in Montrose is the ideal place to toast a special occasion. Complete with working fireplaces, rooms overlook the restaurant's idyllic backyard, where guests are welcome to dine surrounded by camphor trees and arbors swelling with vines and shrubs.

Artfully-presented menu item include crab cakes, shrimp and grits, coffee crusted steak, and lamb chops smothered with sauce. Backstreet Cafe also boasts a comprehensive vegetarian menu that features mushroom taquitos with tomatillo salsa, jalapeno fettuccine with black beans and spiced with cilantro, and a cauliflower and root vegetable patty coated with saffron. 

Backstreet has private rooms and is a fabulous place to host your next event, be it for a birthday party, wedding rehearsal, or business lunch. It's suggested that guests make reservations to ensure they can be taken care of in a timely manner.

Backstreet Cafe
1103 South Shepherd Drive
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 521-2239
http://www.backstreetcafe.net/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/backstreet-caf%C3%A9-houston-2

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The Pass: Visit the Chef’s Table

January 21, 2014 by

The Pass seeks to create an experience where patrons feel they’re dining at the chef’s own table. Expertly attentive service, impeccable food and a casually elegant atmosphere have earned them kudos from happy diners. Pass through the secret entrance and prepare to be wowed by a chef’s tasting menu with 5 to 8 courses, with or without wine or cocktail pairings. You can call ahead or go online to find out the changing menu, or be surprised by the marathon of delectable delights presented to you. Courses might include Ham & Eggs, which is egg custard served in a can of caviar, layered with capers, salt, spices, & black caviar. By all accounts it’s a little bit of heaven in your mouth. Dinner is by reservation only.

Not far from Marquis Lofts on Sabine, it's open Tuesday through Saturday.

The Pass
807 Taft Street
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 628-9020
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-pass-houston

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