Dance the Night Away at Babaloo International Cafe & Bar

One Yelp reviewer enthusiastically reports that Katy's Babaloo International Cafe & Bar has a "nice atmosphere, good service, and lots of dancing going on," and that's pretty much the sentiment of most Babaloo regulars. This unique bar, eatery, and dance floor offers the best of all worlds: You can eat and drink, then dance it all off until you're ready for round two.

The tapas-style food menu is appropriately geared towards late-night nibbling and sharing, featuring lots of tasty finger foods like beef sliders, bacon wrapped scallops, egg rolls, and nacho potato skins. Babaloo's drink menu has a solid wine and cocktail selection with a particular emphasis on Latin-style mixed drinks and bottle service for those who wish to make the evening a VIP experience. And depending on the night, you might shimmy around the dance floor to a live Latin band, a hip hop DJ, or all the top 40 hits you love!

Babaloo International Cafe & Bar
22756 Westheimer Parkway
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 391-4167
www.babaloocafe.net
www.yelp.com/biz/babaloo-international-cafe-and-bar-katy

China Cottage: Your New Favorite Take-Out Spot in Katy

Since opening in 2007, China Cottage has been serving a blend of Chinese regional cuisines to happy Katy customers. The restaurant does a brisk lunch business, and its lunch specials are a very good deal, combining an entree dish with rice, crab rangoon, and your choice of soup. Dinner at China Cottage is a more relaxed affair, but not because there are fewer customers; diners just have more time to linger over their meals after the workday is finished. Large portions and reasonable prices mean that it can be easy to over-order and end up with lots of leftovers, but that's not a problem when the food is this good.

The dining room is bright and open, while the service is fast, friendly, and attentive, so dining in is always a pleasure. But sometimes you just need to eat your Chinese food while sitting on your own couch watching a movie. If it's one of those days, China Cottage's take-out service is the answer.

China Cottage
637 South Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 492-7832
www.china-cottage.com
www.yelp.com/biz/china-cottage-katy

Get Authentic Cajun Dishes at Seafood on the Geaux

For authentic Cajun and Creole seafood, Seafood on the Geaux is a destination worth trying. This popular eatery specializes in regional favorites such as the crispy shrimp po’boy served with house-made tartar sauce and the fried catfish dinner served with fries and toast. Order a pot of boiled crawfish, or even get the crawfish live to take home and prepare yourself. If you're in a hurry, head directly to Seafood on the Geaux's drive-through window and get your meal in a jiffy. If you've got time, though, regulars suggest that you sit down at one of the picnic tables out front and enjoy your meal while it's piping hot.

Portions are generous and prices are reasonable. Combine that with authentic Cajun recipes and the shop's casual, comfortable atmosphere, and you'll understand why Seafood on the Geaux is a Katy favorite!

Seafood on the Geaux
979 South Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 398-3003
www.seafoodonthegeaux.com
www.yelp.com/biz/seafood-on-the-geaux-katy

Red Oak Grill: American Cuisine with a Mediterranean Flair

Once you eat at Red Oak Grill, you'll understand why it has such a loyal following among Katy locals, many of whom make a ritual out of a weekly family meal at the restaurant. Relax in one of the deep booths or enjoy the sunshine at a table next to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Wherever you sit, you'll find lots of American classics on the menu, like burgers and fries or grilled catfish filets with house-made tartar sauce and a baked potato. But you'll also find a number of Mediterranean-style dishes, which are some of the restaurant's specialties. Try the beef or lamb kabobs for a Mediterranean version of barbecue, and be sure to taste the creamy, mildly spiced hummus spread served with pita bread.

Red Oak Grill is a popular breakfast spot, so consider heading over on a Saturday morning for a leisurely plate of French toast with fresh fruit or flaky biscuits topped with a dollop of creamy sausage gravy.

Red Oak Grill
2004 South Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 392-2612
www.redoak-grill.com
www.yelp.com/biz/red-oak-grill-katy

The Bagel Cafe: A Well-Rounded Breakfast Spot in Katy

Located in a shopping plaza in Katy, The Bagel Cafe is a casual deli that's ideal for a quick, filling breakfasts on your way to work. For those who prefer to linger a while, the cafe also features a few small tables and free Wi-Fi for checking your emails over a hot cup of coffee.

Open daily, The Bagel Cafe is obviously most well known for its bagels, which are prepared from scratch and baked on-site every morning. The menu includes favorites like poppy seed and everything bagels, as well as specialty flavors that change daily, such as cinnamon crunch, garlic, and asiago cheese. A small selection of breads and pastries are also made fresh daily, and every hearty bagel can be made into a sandwich for breakfast or lunch.

If you’re in charge of bringing breakfast to your morning meeting, family reunion, or other group function, note that The Bagel Cafe offers baker’s dozens of bagels and the delicious spreads to go along with them.

The Bagel Cafe
631 S. Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 646-7474
www.thebagelcafe.net
www.yelp.com/biz/the-bagel-caf%C3%A9-katy-2

Bite a Burger, Sip a Shake at Steak ‘n Shake in Katy

For 80 years Steak 'n Shake has been serving premium burgers and milkshakes to happy diners, and the Katy location of this popular chain carries on this tradition.

The original steakburger is still one of the restaurant's most popular items, combining an all-beef patty hot off the grill with American cheese on a toasted bun. Add a side of the signature shoestring fries (topped with cheese if you're especially adventurous) and you've got a classic American meal. In addition to your food, be sure you order a milkshake. These hand-dipped shakes include real ice cream and whole milk, whipped together into a smooth, creamy, and frosty treat. Try topping yours with whipped cream and a cherry.

The restaurant itself is clean and pleasant, and the service is friendly, but if you're in a hurry, it's simple to get your tasty meal to go at the drive through window.

Steak ‘n Shake
20950 Katy Freeway
Katy, TX 77449
(281) 578-1987
www.steaknshake.com/locations/23937-steak-n-shake
www.yelp.com/biz/steak-n-shake-katy

Have Thai Food in Katy, Texas at Thai Spice

Over the past 20 years, Thai Spice has evolved from a single restaurant into a successful regional chain. Its Katy location is locally known for serving expertly spiced, authentic Thai fare and for providing friendly, consistently efficient service.

Regulars especially praise the yellow curry, which combines your choice of meat with potatoes and carrots in a coconut-based curry sauce. You can specify how spicy you'd like your dish on a four-point scale, so there's no need to shy away from a curry—or any other dish on the Thai Spice menu—out of concern that it might be too fiery. Seafood is also a popular menu choice at Thai Spice, and the grilled lemongrass shrimp over glass noodles provides bold flavors without too much heat.

Whatever you order, you can be sure that it will arrive at your table colorfully and artistically arranged, so that your meal will be a feast for your eyes as well as your taste buds.

Thai Spice
1420 South Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 574-1500
www.thaispice.com
www.yelp.com/biz/thai-spice-katy

Lupe Tortilla: Bite Into Your Tex Mex Fare Favorites

When you need a taco and margarita fix, Lupe Tortilla hits the spot, according to regulars. This Katy restaurant serves traditional, slow braised barbacoa tacos, fresh grilled mahi-mahi with roasted red pepper butter, and everything in between. Some menu items come directly from Mexican cuisine, though the most of the menu leans more toward Tex Mex flavors and preparations. Yelp reviewers say the beef fajitas are especially good, and they arrive at your table sizzling hot with guacamole, pico de gallo, grilled poblano, and cheddar cheese, and the restaurant's tortilla soup is a local favorite.

The service is fast and friendly, and the dining room is brightly painted in teal and white, with an eclectic mix of sombreros, aloe plants, and kerosene lanterns artfully arranged along the walls. The atmosphere is good for a casual dinner with friends and family and for large groups gathering to celebrate a birthday, graduation, or other special event.

Lupe Tortilla
703 West Grand Parkway South
Katy, TX 77494
(281) 392-2322
www.lupetortilla.com/locations.php
www.yelp.com/biz/lupe-tortilla-katy-2

Rosa’s Pizza: Not Your Average Pizzeria in Katy

Rosa's Pizza is a low-key, family-owned pizzeria offering delicious food at a great value. Several Yelp reviewers call Rosa's the best pizza in Katy, and once you eat here you just might agree.

Toppings include all the classics—pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms—and Rosa's offers a handful of specialty pizzas that give you a more gourmet experience. The Four Seasons pizza, for example, combines prosciutto, black olives, artichokes, and sun-dried tomatoes, while the Alfredo pizza uses alfredo sauce for its base. The New York style pizzas come in four different sizes, ranging from 12 to a whopping 19 inches, so you'll be able to order just the right amount. Don't forget that Rosa's serves more than just pizza. Try the manicotti stuffed with cheese and herbs, or opt for the lightly breaded veal parmigiana served with a bed of pasta and tomato sauce for a dinner you’ll really enjoy.

Rosa's Pizza is open Tuesdays through Sundays. Beer and wine are also available for purchase.

Rosa's Pizza
510 South Mason Road
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 392-3500
rosaspizzeriatx.com
www.yelp.com/biz/rosas-pizza-katy

Brooks’ Place: Some of Houston’s Favorite Barbecue Comes From a Trailer!

Although Texas has more barbecue restaurants than you can count, Houston’s Brooks’ Place was voted in the top 50 barbecue spots in the entire state. The restaurant recently relocated from its original Katy location to a larger trailer in Cypress, but the tried-and-true recipes are still just as delicious.

All of Brooks' menu items are cooked on an authentic smoker just like barbecue is meant to be prepared. Specialty meats—like beef brisket, racks of ribs, and smoked or fried turkey—are served either platter-style or on a sandwich, but no matter how you eat it, the meat is always perfectly juicy and packed with mouthwatering barbecue flavors. Sides dishes change from week to week, but they include traditional favorites like baked beans, potato salad, or spicy Creole okra.

All of Brooks’ Place’s foods are also available to cater a party or large event, so you can share this authentic barbecue fare with friends and family.

Brooks' Place
18020 FM 529
Cypress, TX 77433
(832) 893-1682
www.brooksplacebbq.com
www.yelp.com/biz/brooks-place-cypress

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