Benjy’s Restaurant: Lounge Around at This New American Eatery

Benjy’s is an American restaurant done in the style of a 1920s lounge bar, complete with round leather booths, orb-shaped chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and a handsome wooden bar well-suited to enjoying an evening cocktail. While its ambiance is retro, Benjy’s remains one of the hippest spots in all of central Houston.

Here, the focus is on farm-to-table fare. Customers enjoy artfully plated dishes like crispy chicken, ricotta gnocchi, and sake kasu salmon. Wood oven pizzas and entree salads are ideal for lunch, while the brunch menu features a selection of omelets, biscuit sandwiches, and Fresh toast entrees that will cap a weekend off the right way. Although Benjy’s is known for its food, its cocktails, locally brewed craft beer, and an impressive wine list are just as important to the dining experience!

Benjy’s Restaurant
2424 Dunstan Street
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 522-7602
www.benjys.com
www.yelp.com/biz/benjys-houston-3

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

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

Uchi: Contemporary Japanese Dining

Uchi offers elegant, modern fare in an atmosphere that works well for everything from a romantic date to a business dinner with new clients. This central Houston restaurant is inspired by Japanese flavors and techniques, though it serves seafood from around the globe in a series of small, shareable dishes.

You'll find traditional sushi and sashimi, like sea eel with orange and ginger or salmon belly with ikura, but you'll also find a number of unique options, like the "ham and eggs" sushi roll, which combines katsu pork belly with an egg yolk custard and espelette. Other menu items include things like smoked duck confit served with endives and bacon and tempura fried cauliflower, and regulars say you shouldn’t miss the crispy Brussels sprouts served with a squeeze of lemon chili. Finally, you should know that this place is popular and fills up during peak hours, so making a reservation is definitely the way to go.

Uchi
904 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 522-4808
www.uchirestaurants.com/houston
www.yelp.com/biz/uchi-houston

Have Crepes at Melange Creperie

Owners Sean Carroll and Tish Ochoa fell in love with the classic creperies that line the streets of Paris, and after spending their honeymoon in the City of Light, the couple decided to open up their own creperie back home in Houston. Their open-air crepe cart, Melange Creperie, debuted in 2010 and is still going strong today, serving up Parisian style crepes with your choice of either two or three ingredients.

Try a classic Nutella and banana combination, or bite into a fresh strawberry and chantilly cream combination. If you prefer savory flavors, try the classic ham, egg, and cheese, or go for one of the daily lunch specials, which can include everything from zucchini and chili to seasoned potatoes. Regulars say you should know that this cart gets busy, and that at peak times you should be prepared to wait for your order (paying with exact change can speed things up a bit). You'll have lots of company while you wait, however, as you chat with the crowd that generally gathers around this popular cart.

Melange Creperie
403 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77006
(832) 724-9464
www.melangecreperie.wordpress.com
www.yelp.com/biz/melange-creperie-houston

Vietnam Poblano: Flavorful Banh Mi Sandwiches in Houston

Locals know that Vietnam Poblano is the place to go for fresh banh mi sandwiches in northwestern Houston. Combining French and Vietnamese influences, banh mi is a staple of Vietnamese cuisine, and this sandwich may just become one of your favorite things to eat.

Regulars recommend you try the barbecue pork banh mi topped with a fried egg, or opt for the spiced Gogi beef topped with carrots, cucumbers, and cilantro. All sandwiches include a zesty house-made garlic mayo spread. Noodle and rice dishes are also available, as are snacks like hot wings and spring rolls. If you visit at the right moment, you might even be offered a complimentary bowl of beef alphabet soup!

The decor at this Houston eatery is comfortable and casual, prices are reasonable, and the service is said to be speedy and efficient. Visit Vietnam Poblano's website to learn more!

Vietnam Poblano
1411 Gessner Road
Houston, TX 77080
(832) 649-8955
vietnampoblano.com
www.yelp.com/biz/vietnam-poblano-houston

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

Treebeards: Dine on Down-Home Southern Fare Favorites

If you’re in the mood for simple, filling Southern fare, head straight for Treebeards. Open for lunch only, this small chain of cafeteria-style eateries serves all of your favorite homestyle Southern dishes, including fried chicken, buttery mashed potatoes, and flavorful jambalaya just like they make it in New Orleans. Fill up on meatloaf just like Mom used to make it, then add a side of seafood gumbo made according to the traditional Louisiana style. Don't skip the popular butter cake for dessert, provided that you’re not already too full, of course!

Enjoy your food at one of the wooden tables inside of the cozy, family-friendly eatery, or venture outdoors to the balcony to spend some time people watching over Market Square while you eat.

Treebeards is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays. The restaurant is closed on weekends.

Treebeards
711 Louisiana St
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 224-6677
www.treebeards.com
www.yelp.com/biz/treebeards-houston

Miller’s Cafe: Casual Houston Dining

With 35 years of history serving Houston diners, Miller’s Cafe has become a favorite destination for a tasty meal in a friendly, relaxed setting. Big juicy burgers are the hallmark of this popular spot: visitors can choose from 14 varieties, including a Guacamole Burger, Grilled Onion Burger, Mushroom Swiss Burger, BBQ Hamburger, Turkey Burger, Jalapeno Burger, and a Bacon Cheese Burger. All are served with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mayo & mustard on a poppy seed bun.

Other options on Miller's menu include Frito Pie, a Grilled Ham & Cheese Sandwich, Chicken Finger Basket, a Ribeye Steak Sandwich, a Chicken Salad Sandwich and a Chili Barker – an all-beef hot dog with mustard, onion, chili & cheese. Sweet Potato Fries, Onion Rings and French Fries are among the sides offered.

Visit the Miller's Café website to learn more about this Houston restaurant!

Miller's Cafe
3830 N. Shepherd Drive
Houston, TX 77018
(713) 699-2947
www.millerscafehouston.com/index.html
www.yelp.com/biz/millers-cafe-houston

Bombay Pizza Company Offers A Fusion of International Cuisines

Bombay Pizza Company fuses traditional Italian-style pizza with Indian fare flavors to deliver truly unique tastes to Houston. The restaurant is cozy, complete with old fashioned low lights and warm colors.

Consider ordering a specialty pizza or two and splitting it with the table, especially if it’s your first time at Bombay. Try the saag paneer with spicy spinach, collard greens, and three types of cheese or the masala pizza with chicken, chorizo, and potatoes sprinkled with cumin. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, Bombay has some equally tasty burgers. One interesting option is the potato patty fried in chickpea batter or the beef burger seasoned with traditional Indian cuisine spices. There are also pasta dishes and curries to enjoy.

Visit on Mondays to take advantage of Bombay's $10 pizza night, complete with a salad and a drink, or stop by for happy hour on weekdays, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., for $3 off any pizza.

Bombay Pizza Company
914 Main Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 654-4444
www.bombaypizzaco.com
www.yelp.com/biz/bombay-pizza-co-houston

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