Stage Door Inc. is Pasadena’s community theater where you can see your neighbors under the bright lights. You can even audition yourself. But if you don’t crave the spotlight, locals say that you’re in for a treat with these productions of classics, recent Broadway hits, and family shows.

Located in the Pasadena Town Square Mall, Stage Door Inc. offers a great chance to see theater as it’s meant to be: intimate and affordable. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., with most shows lasting approximately two to three hours. Park between Macy’s and Sears and enter the mall through entrance B.

Check the website for current shows, the upcoming season, audition information, and more information.

Stage Door Inc.
284 Pasadena Town Square Mall
Pasadena, TX 77506
(832) 582-7606
http://www.stagedoorinc.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/stage-door-inc-pasadena-4

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/zaimoku_woodpile

Cheddar’s Casual Cafe opened in 1979 in Arlington, Texas and has since expanded all over Texas and the South. The concept is simple: serve fresh, quality food for a fair price in a comfortable atmosphere.

The Pasadena location has Cheddar's usual comfort food, including dishes like chicken fried steak, country style fried chicken, and combination plates like steak and ribs and tenders and shrimp. Healthy options under 575 calories are also on the menu. If you order a salad, be sure to ask for a warm honey butter croissant, as they are only available upon request. Fans rave about the fresh, steaming sides, especially the broccoli cheese casserole and mashed potatoes.

Service is fast, friendly, and gets high marks as well as the prices, which regulars call reasonable. The drinks are huge, strong, and cheap. Take-out is available.

Cheddar’s Casual Cafe
3365 E Sam Houston Parkway South
Pasadena, TX 77505
(281) 998-2800
http://www.cheddars.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cheddars-casual-cafe-pasadena-2
 

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/caboosespiceco

Torchy's Tacos originated in Austin, but the tales of these tacos have traveled across the state to Houston, where the franchise has debuted several locations. What started off as a somewhat far-fetched dream of chef Michael Rypka ended up becoming a wildly successful business.

Taco selections include the shrimp with coleslaw, jalapenos, and queso: the beef barbacoa with avocado, and cilantro; and fried mushroom with refried black beans, corn, and carrots. The meat is tender and juicy, the vegetables are fresh and well-seasoned, and there are plenty of vegetarian options.

Be sure to try Torchy's breakfasts, which feature crisp potatoes, scrambled eggs, tomatillo sauce, and expertly cooked bacon. Torchy's is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week and opens at 8 a.m. on the weekends.

Torchy's Tacos
2411 South Shepherd Drive
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 595-8226
http://www.torchystacos.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/torchys-tacos-houston

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/The Culinary Geek