Perbacco: Authentic Italian Fare in the Heart of Downtown Houston

Located across the street from Jones Hall, Perbacco serves authentic Italian food in a delightful, upscale ambiance. White linens drape over every table, while the walls are painted in a calming shade of pale blue. Large, undressed picture windows allow natural light to flood inside.

The laid-back atmosphere complements the plates of pasta and casseroles that Perbacco has to offer. The familiar menu allows patrons to experience traditional dishes in a pleasant ambiance. Lasagna and eggplant parmigiana are popular among regular diners, as are the tortellini alla panna and the spaghetti marinara. Fresh seafood and chicken selections are another pleasant option at Perbacco, grilled and served with salad or over pasta.

Visit Perbacco's website to find out more about this Houston restaurant near Reserve at Garden Oaks.

Perbacco
700 Milam Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 224-2422
www.perbaccohouston.com
www.yelp.com/biz/perbacco-houston

Follow the Cask to Taps House of Beer in Houston

It'd be almost impossible to miss Taps House of Beer. In lieu of a front door, there sits a huge cask with an entryway carved out. Walk right through into Taps' open, industrial-style space. Much like the brew house's exterior, the interior is a little off-beat. Wooden picnic tables are scattered throughout the bar, complementing a framework of exposed wooden beams and walls of brick. A shuffleboard table, arcade games, and foosball reside inside, whereas cornhole, bocce ball, and ladder golf are outside. Needless to say, this isn't your typical late-night bar.

That fact comes into clearer focus with a glance at the bar's list of beers, which showcases more than 90 different suds on tap and many by the bottle. From classic Corona or Blue Moon to Strongbow, Bombshell Blonde, and Flying Dog Tire Bite, the brews land all over a spectrum that spans "Light and Easy" to "Amber, Pale, or Pils." Although beer clearly plays the starring role at Taps, a modest food menu offers a handful of shared plates such as Jack Daniels pulled pork sliders and pizzas.

Taps House of Beer
5120 Washington Avenue
Houston, TX 77007
(713) 426-1105
www.tapshouseofbeer.com

www.yelp.com/biz/taps-house-of-beer-houston

Prima Pasta: Vegetarian-Friendly Italian Cuisine

The backbone of traditional Italian is meat, so you might not expect to find vegetarian options at an Italian restaurant—let alone an entire menu. But Prima Pasta in Houston values only one thing above Italian tradition, and that is its clientele. So the eatery offers a vegetarian-friendly menu that still captures the spirit of Italian fare with dishes such as fettuccine Alfredo (a favorite among regulars), spaghetti with marinara, and veggie lasagna.

Of course, Prima Pasta also serves a meat-laden menu to its customers with some similar options. Try the Alfredo with grilled chicken or shrimp, the spaghetti with meatballs, or the lasagna with its classic ingredient, beef. No matter what you order—pizza, pasta, or classic entree—it will always be fresh, since chefs craft everything in-house every day. And the menu changes every week to incorporate a few new dishes, so while your tried-and-trued standards are always offered, so are some fresh options every time you visit.

Pasta Prima
6811 Kirby Drive
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 666-4047
www.primapastarestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/prima-pasta-houston-3

Table 7 Bistro: Satisfying Comfort Food in Houston

Relaxing vibes and a desirable menu of regional comfort foods can be found at Table 7 Bistro on Fannin Street in downtown. A branch of the District 7 restaurants, this eatery offers patrons quick and friendly service for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Bar and table seating is available in the bright and colorful dining area, while the street-facing patio is open during more enjoyable weather.

The menus offer a balanced mix of American fare favorites that incorporate several cuisines. For instance, the naan flatbread pizza is topped with wild boar or pesto chicken, while burgers include an Akaushi Texas Kobe Beef option. The crab cakes are wildly popular among regulars, a great choice to pair with any meal. Breakfasts at Table 7 are substantial, offering breakfast pizzas, omelets, and the always popular Belgian waffles.

The fast service doesn’t mean you need to rush out; Table 7 is an easy place to linger when the meal is done.

Table 7 Bistro
720 Fannin Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 227-4800
www.district7grill.com
www.yelp.com/biz/table-7-grill-houston

Find Mediterranean Fare at Niko Niko’s Greek and American Cafe

Some say Niko Niko's Greek and American Cafe may just be one of the best places to enjoy Mediterranean fare in Houston, Texas. It offers a varied menu of tasty comfort food, along with some distinctive dishes.

Visit and you can start off with a classic hummus appetizer, or go for pork kebobs seasoned with oregano and lemon. Regulars keep coming back for the lamb and beef gyros and other sandwiches served with homemade tzatziki sauce. If you're not so keen on lamb, try one of Niko Niko's juicy burgers, covered with feta cheese, bell peppers, and mushrooms. Other dishes of note include the Greek meatballs, vegetarian lasagna with three cheeses, and the baby lamb shank.

Niko Niko's Greek and American Cafe
2520 Montrose Boulevard
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 528-4976
www.nikonikos.com
www.yelp.com/biz/niko-nikos-greek-and-american-cafe-houston

The League of Extraordinary Brewers: Unique Brews and Delicious Eats

Craft beer enthusiasts might enjoy The League of Extraordinary Brewers in Houston. A true celebration of small breweries from Texas and beyond, this gastropub also serves beer brewed right on the premises. Local beers include Nitro Lone Pint and Brazos Valley alongside Texas labels such as 512 and Rogness. The selection changes to include new and seasonal taps, a reason to stop back frequently to see what’s offered.

A fresh pint of your favorite style of beer goes great with the small plate selection on the menu, including cheese plates and the favorite beer cheese pretzel. More substantial fare includes hand-stretched pizzas topped with Meyer’s Elgin Sausage, a regional craft meat. Settle in beside other beer connoisseurs in this cozy yet comfortable brewery accented by exposed brick and wall length windows. Visit the gastropub's website to learn more about The League of Extraordinary Brewers!

The League of Extraordinary Brewers
907 Franklin Street
Houston, TX 77002
(281) 406-0652
leaguebrewpub.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-league-of-extraordinary-brewers-houston

Taste Why Pretzel Buns and Homemade Chips Make Local Foods Stand Apart From the Rest

Local Foods is Houston’s modern take on the sandwich shop, complete with concept lighting and local beers. Customers order food at the counter and seat themselves to await their order.

Menu items feature produce and meats sourced locally when possible, from the olive oil to the cheese to the eggs. Here, you can anticipate a variety of options to please everyone, including sandwich options like the duck with cranberries and brie, a traditional Vietnamese banh mi with tofu, and roast beef with cheddar and curried cauliflower. Regulars are a big fan of the pretzel bun that comes with select menu items, and the homemade chips and vegan chili make savory sides.

To wash down your locally based meal, choose from Texas beers, like Rahr & Sons and Southern Star, or enjoy a Mexican Coke or the hibiscus-pear kombucha.

Local Foods
2424 Dunstan Road
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 521-7800
http://www.houstonlocalfoods.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/local-foods-houston

Hubcap Grill: Burgers, Fries and Bottles of Root Beer

Affectionately referred to as a "hole in the wall," the Hubcap Grill in downtown Houston is a bar and grill that wins hearts through the all-American combo of juicy burgers and crispy fries.

Don’t let the plastic patio furniture or tiny dining area fool you; Hubcap is an elitist when it comes to grilling a patty. Ordering it rare or well-done is serious business, whether you ask for the Guacamole Swiss Burger or the Triple Meat Cheeseburger. If beef isn’t your thing, try the Muffaletta Grilled Chicken Sandwich for a taste of what’s good in life, and be sure to wash it down with a bottle of icy cold root beer.

Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, Hubcap Grill's downtown Houston location is cash-only, so come prepared to slap down a few bills to get what you deserve: a thick, delicious burger and fries served with a smile from one of the best grills in the city.

Hubcap Grill
1111 Prairie Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 223-5885
www.hubcapgrill.com
www.yelp.com/biz/hubcap-grill-houston

Bite Into a Tasty Taco at Torchy’s Tacos

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

Enjoy a Smoothie in Houston at Smoothie King

Smoothie King, now an international franchise, grew from humble roots. Back in the 1960s, founder Steve Kuhnau ​set out to mix up a smoothie that would ease his allergies and low blood sugar. Equipped with just some fresh fruit, other nutrients and proteins, and his home blender, Steve eventually found the perfect balance. His health started improving, and in 1973 he decided to share his discovery with the masses at his first nutritional smoothie shop.

The lone shop evolved into more than 650 Smoothie King locations that, today, serve the same nutritional smoothies to customers in the continental U.S., Korea, Singapore, and the Cayman Islands. That includes a location on West Holcombe, where customers note that the staff is especially friendly and the owner often personally oversees operations.

Many of the smoothies can replace an entire meal, with anywhere from 7 to 45 grams of protein in each serving of 20 ounces. Try a Lean1 chocolate smoothie with bananas and almond. It packs 27 vitamins and minerals and 22 grams of protein into a mere 293 calories, staving off later cravings and helping your body burn fat. Or nourish your body with a fruity snack in between normal meals, such as the apple kiwi kale smoothie—it's full of illness-fighting vitamin C and antioxidants.

Smoothie King
2617 W. Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77025
(713) 661-1663
www.smoothieking.com/stores/store.php/134

www.yelp.com/biz/smoothie-king-houston-15

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