Don’t let the humble food truck fool you, The Lucky Fig serves upscale farm-fresh Italian fare by a well-trained chef. Owned and operated by chef Luca Manfe—a television personality and author—who promises fresh ingredients from local farms and farmers’ markets. The menu is constantly changing to meet the demands of the season, so guests can expect different menus to accompany different times of the year. All items on the menu are inspired by classic Italian dishes but are served with a modern food truck flair. The current menu consists of classics like meatballs, pancetta sandwiches, gnocchi, pappardelle with braised lamb shank, and tiramisu.

Since The Lucky Fig is a roaming restaurant, the food vendor can be found all around town throughout the week. Some of its most popular locations include the Urban Harvest Farmers’ Market, Houston Community College, and the Palazzo at Cypresswood. The truck's serving schedule is available online.

The Lucky Fig
Various locations
Houston, TX
(832) 776-7507
http://theluckyfig.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-lucky-fig-houston?osq=hot+and+new

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Located in a strip mall just a couple minutes from Siena at Memorial Heights, Absolve Wine Lounge’s unremarkable exterior hides a gem of the Houston wine bar scene. It’s a cozy but comfortable spot that's perfect for date night or a night with friends. The eclectic and colorful décor of striped armchairs with bright blue ottomans, wood and fern accents, and 19th century paintings makes this a cool place to hang out—it feels more like relaxing in someone’s swanky living room than a bar.

Absolve offers a wide variety of wines by the glass and bottle as well as cocktails. Are you a beer drinker? Fear not—there are tons of craft ales available too. The food goes above typical wine bar fare with interesting options like the Punjabi popcorn, the duck baked brie, and the champagne donut bread pudding. The bartenders are knowledgeable and would love to guide you to a great glass of vino.

Absolve Wine Lounge
920 Studemont Street
Houston, TX 77007
(281) 501-1788
http://absolvewinelounge.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/absolve-wine-lounge-houston?sort_by=date_desc

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It's not very often that you find top-notch barbecue and a stellar vegan burger in the same place, but Beaver's boasts both. The "gastropub meets icehouse" near Siena at Memorial Heights is known for its brisket and its nut burger, not to mention the many other revised American dishes.

If you want to try the brisket, order eight ounces of it over toast. It comes hot from a smoker stoked with oak and maple wood, and it's dished out with pickles, onions, cole slaw, and, of course, a healthy smattering of barbecue sauce. Pork ribs and pork sausage are also on the list of smoked meats. You can savor the brisket stuffed inside tacos as well or get more adventurous with something like the alligator and crawfish grits. If you want to skip the meat, try the Beaver nut burger. Its blend of brown rice, cashews, and walnuts mimics the texture of a beef burger without most of the unhealthy fat.

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

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr hile