Merida Mexican Restaurant: Mayan Fare to Take Anywhere

Merida Mexican Restaurant brings something a bit different to the table when it comes to Mexican fare, offering traditional Mayan cuisine from across the Yucatan Peninsula. Whether you’re looking for a place for a sit-down meal, convenient takeout, or even delivery to anywhere in the area, this casual and authentic eatery offers all three.

The menu consists of breakfast, lunch, and dinner made with recipes perfected over the restaurant’s 40-year history, and the prices are very reasonable for their generous portions. Merida specializes in dishes like Cochinita Pibil and handmade Empanadas Yucatecas, as well as daily specials that change from day to day.

With a colorful, welcoming interior furnished with comfortable tables and a convenient online ordering form that makes it easy to place an order for pick-up, Merida is one of the best spots in town for a tasty Mexican meal.

Merida Mexican Restaurant
2509 Navigation Boulevard
Houston, TX 77003
(713) 227-0260
meridarestauranttx.com

Artista Restaurant: A Picture-Perfect Dining Experience

Just like a painting in an art museum, the dishes at Artista Restaurant are picture-perfect and exceptionally creative, diner say. This artistic eatery is located in Houston’s Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, and it offers sweeping views of the city skyline from any table in its spacious dining room.

Here, guests can dine on New American classics and signature dishes from Michael Cordúa, one of the most inventive and renowned chefs in all of Texas. The lunch and dinner menus include wild Scottish salmon, calamari tempura appetizers, and premium filet mignon steaks served with complementary sides, including the restaurant’s almost-famous mascarpone mashed potatoes. The dessert menu includes crème brulee, tres leches cakes, and other decadent sweets, and there is even an expansive wine list for of-age guests.

If you’re going out to see a show in the area, be sure to make reservations beforehand for dinner at Artista!

Artista Restaurant
800 Bagby St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 278-4782
www.artistahouston.com

Spaghetti Warehouse: Twirl a Fork Into Tonight’s Dinner

There’s nothing more comforting than a big bowl of pasta, unless it’s enjoyed in the company of family and friends, of course! At Spaghetti Warehouse you can do just that, as this popular chain eatery specializes in hearty Italian fare served in a warm, welcoming ambiance that’s perfect for large parties.

No matter if you’re celebrating a birthday or just the end of the work week, Spaghetti Warehouse always offers a table large enough for a group and a menu of pastas, homemade meatballs, seafood dishes, and the famous 15-layer lasagna. There are affordable wine options to pair with your meal, as well as beers and cocktails and a long list of Italian desserts. With reasonable prices on very large portions and a fun, lively atmosphere, Spaghetti Warehouse is always a reliable dinner choice.

To make a reservation at Spaghetti Warehouse, visit the restaurant’s website.

Spaghetti Warehouse
901 Commerce Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 229-9715
www.meatballs.com/?page_id=29&st=TX&locid=13

Irma’s: Enjoy Mexican Cuisine Morning, Noon and Night

If you’re looking for a family-owned eatery serving authentic Mexican cuisine, you’ll find it at Irma’s. If you come for lunch or dinner, Irma’s offers housemade guacamole and crispy chips to start the meal, and the popular strawberry lemonade is truly a can’t-miss menu item. Entrees like shrimp and spinach enchiladas and tender carne asada will leave you feeling full, while the sweet sopapillas make the perfect dessert to finish off your meal. For early risers, Irma’s even offers a traditional Mexican breakfast that consists of huevos rancheros and other favorites.

This local favorite is furnished with casual wooden tables and colorful Mexican decorations throughout, and it even has a full bar with flatscreen televisions for anyone who wants to stop by to watch the big game. There is also a plant-filled outdoor patio, perfect for warm evenings.

Irma’s
22 N Chenevert St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 222-0767
www.irmashouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/irmas-restaurant-houston?sort_by=date_desc

Sip a Cocktail, Listen to Live Jazz at Prohibition Supper Club & Bar

Enjoy an evening of hand-crafted cocktails, sultry jazz, and delicious dinner at Prohibition Supper Club. This swanky, unique cocktail bar boasts that it's Houston’s only true supper club, and its location inside of the historic ISIS Theatre still maintains much of its early-1900s charm. The bar portion is decorated true to 1920s style, complete with bartenders dresses in traditional garb, plush furnishings, and moody lighting cast from the elegant chandeliers.

The 3,000-square-foot restaurant features black and white tiled floors and mirrored walls, as well as a granite bar and an outdoor patio. If you want to see a show with your meal, there are prix fixe dinner options that go along with vaudeville shows and musical performances in the attached theater.

Prohibition Supper Club & Bar
1008 Prairie St
Houston, TX 77002
(281) 940-4636
www.prohibitionhouston.com

Oxheart: Try a Foodie Twist on Texan Cuisine

Oxheart may consider itself a Texan restaurant, but it’s a world away from the local barbecue spot. Upscale and stylish yet still comfortable and welcoming, this often-buzzed-about eatery serves some of the most creative takes on Texas cuisine in all of Houston.

The menu is split into two distinct six-course menus: the vegetarian Garden Menu and the omnivorous Tasting Menu. The dishes always change to accommodate which ingredients are currently in season, but past menu items include a stew of preserved alliums and Indica rice, lightly smoked wild boar with pork Thailande, and Japanese roots and a sofrito of dried shellfish. Drink pairings can be added to either of the menus for an additional cost, and each libation is carefully chosen to perfectly complement the rest of your dining experience.

Reservations are recommended at Oxheart, and they can be made via the restaurant’s convenient website.

Oxheart
1302 Nance St
Houston, TX 77002
(832) 830-8592
www.oxhearthouston.com

Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican Kitchen: A Whirlwind of Food and Fun in Houston

Whether you’re looking for a place to find great Mexican food or for refreshing drinks with your friends, Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican Kitchen is a great spot for both. This swanky cantina serves modern takes on classic Mexican cuisine in a stylish, see-and-be-seen atmosphere, complete with a grand entryway, stylish bar, and warm tables large enough for your entire group.

The menu features taco salads and seafood ceviche for lunch, and the build-your-own lunch plates are economical options for your midday break. For dinner, Cyclone Anaya’s offers Tex-Mex combos, enchiladas, and grilled fajitas, and there are vegetarian and gluten-free options. Tequila flights, mojitos, and flavored margaritas are some of the most popular beverages at Cyclone Anaya’s, but there are also a number of imported Mexican cervezas for those who prefer beer.

The weekend brunch is also one of the most popular in town, making this an exciting eatery at any time of day.

Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican Kitchen
309 Gray Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 520-6969
www.cycloneanaya.com

Holley’s: Sea(food) and Be Seen in Houston

Holley’s Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar is a Houston favorite that offers a delicious selection of seafood prepared by some of the most renowned chefs in town. The resulting menu is fresh, modern, and creative, making this a standout eatery that locals adore. Holley’s menu features seafood dishes inspired not only by classic Texan cooking, but also by cuisines found throughout New Orleans, Kentucky Bourbon country, and along the eastern shoreline. A well-curated wine list rounds out the offerings here.

If you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for a place for a great dinner in town, Holley’s stylish ambiance and urban feel is sure to fit the bill. There is a business casual dress code throughout the elegant dining room, but if you’re looking for something a bit more laid-back, the attached oyster bar has a casual ambiance that still feels really special.

Holley’s
3201 Louisiana Street
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 491-2222
www.holleyshouston.com

Last Concert Cafe: Keep Your Eyes Peeled for This Hidden Gem

The Last Concert Cafe is a popular Mexican restaurant located right in central Houston inside of a nondescript stucco building with a mysterious red door. Although there is no sign and the front door always remains locked, this well-kept secret is among the most popular restaurants in the area for Mexican food lovers. The menu includes classic Tex-Mex favorite like loaded nachos, various styles of tacos, and black bean tostadas, and the wide selection of Mexican beers may appeal to every beer aficionado.

There is live music almost every night of the week inside of the dim, mural-covered dining room, which creates a lively atmosphere and the feeling of an underground jazz club. On the weekends, Last Concert Cafe hosts one of the most unique brunches in town, complete with hearty Mexican fare dishes, breakfast cocktails and, of course, live music all day long.

Last Concert Cafe closes between lunch and dinner, so be sure to check the hours before visiting.

Last Concert Cafe
1403 Nance Street
Houston, TX. 77002
(713) 226-8563
www.lastconcert.com
www.yelp.com/biz/last-concert-caf%C3%A9-houston-3

Delight Your Taste Buds at Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine

"If you're coming to Aladdin's bring your appetite," says one Yelp reviewer. And he's not alone: Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine is known as one of Houston's go-to spots for hearty, filling, and healthy meals. The garlicky hummus is made in-house and brightened with a quick squeeze of lemon, while the deep, smoky flavor of the roasted baba ghanoush provides a pleasing contrast to the hummus. Get an order of each accompanied by some warm, fresh pita bread for dipping.

Main dishes include spiced lamb gyros with grilled peppers, feta, and tzatziki as well as the restaurant's famous grilled kabobs in sirloin, chicken, lamb, and veggie varieties. Mix and match with one of the kabob combination platters, which also include dips and sides of your choice. This place is BYOB, so be sure to grab a bottle of your favorite wine to pair with your dinner.

Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine
912 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 942-2321
www.aladdinshouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/aladdin-mediterranean-cuisine-houston

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