Tiny Boxwood’s: Classy & Casual Dining

At Tiny Boxwood’s restaurant, it’s about the whole package: the food, the ambiance and the service. Together, they make the whole dining experience memorable. Located in Highland Village, you’ll find cuisine with a French flair, any time of the day. You’ll like the clean, classic dining room, or dine on the patio. Come for breakfast or brunch and try the grilled bread plate with homemade jam, eggs, quiche or morning cheese. The lunch menu includes tasty soups, salads and sandwiches, and check out the chef’s seafood special or any other dinner course, and you’ll be satisfied. Mid-afternoon, come in for a nice respite with cheese and wine! Tiny Boxwood’s is open Tuesdays through Sundays.

Tiny Boxwood’s
3614 W. Alabama Street
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 622-4224
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tiny-boxwoods-houston

Supreme Sushi at Kubo’s Sushi Bar & Grill

Praise for Kubo’s Sushi Bar & Grill comes from many directions, including Zagat. This fresh sushi center, a decade old, keeps raising the standard of Japanese cuisine in the Houston area. Set on the second floor of the Rice Village Arcade, Kubo’s also offers an inviting atmosphere.  Lunch and dinner service seven days a week makes this a dependable friend to your cravings.  Happy Hour—also seven days a week—makes Kubo’s irresistible to your social life as well.

Kubo’s menu continually undergoes scrumptious innovation, with the addition of upscale Kaiseki and Shokado Bento, so diners can count on old favorites without worry of ever becoming bored. Sushi, sashimi and roll selections are extensive and magnificent; salads, soups and entrees appeal to all tastes, with plenty of vegetarian options. Don’t miss exciting and yummy special events, such as Sake 101!

Kubo’s Sushi Bar & Grill
2414 University Boulevard #200
Houston TX, 77005
(713) 528-7878
www.kubos-sushi.com

Hearsay Gastro Lounge: Food, Drinks, Friends

The Hearsay Gastro Lounge is a great place to see to meet up with friends for lunch, happy hour, dinner or late night. Located downtown in the historic W.L. Foley Building, you’ll like coming into the Hearsay to see how beautiful the place is, with its high ceilings, chandeliers and casual décor. Come for happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and enjoy terrific deals on beers on tap and by the bottle, wine and cocktails. Wednesdays are also a good time to come for Ladies’ Night! The bar also has a good selection of bourbons and whiskeys. The lunch and dinner menus features tasty apps, soups, salads, sandwiches and small plates, with something for everyone. And the kitchen is always open late until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays!

Hearsay Gastro Lounge
218 Travis Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 225-8079
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hearsay-gastro-lounge-houston

Lucio’s: Quaint BYOB Dining

Located in Midtown, Lucio’s is the place to go for an intimate dinner with somebody special. But do yourself a favor and call ahead for reservations – the place is cozy and fills up fast. Whether you come for lunch or dinner, you’ll find a nice selection of appetizers and entrees that are made with fresh, local ingredients. Regulars recommend the Beef Carpaccio and the crab cakes as a starter, and main dishes like the crusted Ahi tuna and rib eye steak are also good. Don't forget to bring your wine — but if you do, Lucio's has a nice selection. Lucio’s is open Monday through Friday for lunch, and Monday through Saturday for dinner.

Lucio’s
905 Taft St
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 523-9958
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lucios-byob-and-grill-houston

Juice Box: Fruity Goodness

There’s nothing nicer to cap off one of Houston’s punishingly hot days than heading to Chinatown for a meal in the blessed air conditioning, and then cooling off with shaved ice from Juice Box. This fast food style space serves up refreshing, light desserts made with shaved ice, a bounty of fresh fruits, flan, and plenty of condensed milk. The end result is a cooling concoction with a great balance between tart fruit and sweet, creamy milk. Juice Box also has drinks, including fresh fruit smoothies and iced teas laced with chunks of fruit. Be forewarned, this is a cash-only establishment and can get very crowded at peak times. You might want to pick up a dessert or drink to go and take a stroll through Chinatown if there aren’t any tables available.

Juice Box
9889 Bellaire Boulevard
Houston TX 77036
(713) 484-8085

Pho Binh: Bowl of Joy

Pho is a daily staple of Vietnamese cuisine – eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this soup of beef broth redolent with star anise, cinnamon, and caramelized onions and served with noodles, fresh vegetables, and meats is a culinary delight. Pho Binh’s original location, Pho Binh Trailer, is an unpretentious, gritty little spot to try pho in a wide range of varieties, with meats that range from familiar to Western diners to downright odd. If you are an adventurous sort, you’ll find brand new textures and flavors to try in every bowl. Pho Binh also has several other locations that offer equally delicious food in a more polished atmosphere, but Pho Binh Trailer is a place you have to experience at least once.

Pho Bihn

Pho Binh Trailer
10930 Beamer Road
Houston, TX 77089
(281) 484-3963

Pho Binh Bellaire
10827 Bellaire Road
Houston, TX 77072
(281) 568-7333

Pho Binh By Night
12148 Bellaire Boulevard
Houston, TX 77072
(832) 351-2464

Pho Binh Westheimer
5901 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77057
(713) 781-8881

Jonathan’s The Rub: Burger Paradise

It’s a little hard to find, and the décor isn’t much to speak of, but Jonathan’s The Rub consistently sweeps the best burger category in local polls year after year. The massive burgers, seasoned with a top secret spice rub and served on an ever so slightly sweet sourdough bun, are only on the lunch menu; if you ask nicely you might be able to get one for dinner. But really, you can save the burgers for lunch; Jonathan’s dinner menu has many tempting options including a lobster slider starter (Maine lobster salad served open-faced on sweet Hawaiian buns), Italian pastas, and an assortment of juicy steaks. Jonathan’s is small and does not take reservations but you can call half an hour or so before your arrival to make sure there is seating available.

Jonathan’s The Rub
9061 Gaylord Street
Houston, TX 77024
(713) 465-8200

Ruggles Green: Good Food, Good For You

Ruggles Green is a casual place where you can always find good food that's good for you. Come in and take a seat – there’s no ceremony here. You’re not going to find any waiters – just step up to the counter. The menu items use local organic ingredients from 17 different area farms, so you know it’s fresh. All the meats are hormone and steroid free, and all of the desserts use natural, organic sweeteners. Also, those eating gluten free will find lots of great options. There’s even a selection of organic wines! 

Ruggles Green
2311 W Alabama St
Houston, TX 77098
(713) 533-0777
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ruggles-green-houston

Zelko Bistro: Pair Great Food & Wine

At Zelko Bistro, the food, wine, service and atmosphere combine to create a classic yet casual dining experience. Located in Houston Heights, the chef/owner of Zelko Bistro first creates the experience by using the freshest local and sustainable ingredients. Then, the right wines are chosen to pair with each dish. And there are so many good wines here that the Houston Press awarded Zelko Bistro as the place with the best restaurant wine list! The selection of apps, salads, sandwiches and entrees will satisfy any diner for lunch or dinner. And try something from the dessert list like the Texas Strawberry Shortcake! Zelko Bistro is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Zelko Bistro
705 E 11th St
Houston, TX 77008
(713) 880-8691
http://www.yelp.com/biz/zelko-bistro-houston-2

Pin It on Pinterest