Armandos →

Graffiti Raw 1001 California St. (Behind Uchi) Houston 77006 713.750.9550 www.grafittiraw.com

This new restaurant is brought to us by the owners of Flora, Coppa Ristorante, and Gratify. Tucked away on a leafy little street corner in Montrose, it is withing walking distance of dozens of other popular dining spots. Parking choices are the street, valet, or a garage across the street. The interior is airy, well-lighted with floor-to-ceiling glass to bring the neighborhood inside, and the feeling is casual. You will be greeted and served by friendly young personnel. Outdoor seating is available. The music inside was too loud to talk at lunch, but they cheerfully amped it down. Our server greeted us by telling us “we have a CALIFORNIA menu”. I could not help bouncing back with MY question: “does California have restaurants with TEXAS menus?” Gotcha! * To share * Guacamole & chips * Cod croquettes (California?) * Charred octopus, chorizo, chili crunch, boiled lemon Yukon potato, paprika, crème fraiche * Shrimp al mojo * Seared scallops * Roasted oysters * Crab claws * Fried calamari * Soups & salads * Miso Caesar * Stuffed avocado, crème fraiche, jumbo lump crabmeat, roasted corn, cilantro, ricotta salata, chili piquin, taro chips * Cioppino, shrimp, clams, mussels, red snapper, Calabrian chili, lobster stock * Mighty green soup, spinach, chard, broccoli, kale, vegetable broth, Cannellini beans, pork sausage on request * Tuna salad * Gazpacho * Crudo * Nori tostada, nori rice flour batter, smashed avocado, yellowfin tuna, chili sauce, frenso chili, chives * Ceviche * Campechana * Ceviche combo, red snapper, shrimp, octopus, red onion, serrano, radish, cucumber, sal de capulin, mango habanero lime * Main * Angus cheeseburger * Forbidden bowl, salmon forbidden rice, red curry, butternut squash, broccoli, bok choy, watermelon radish, cilantro * Crab & shrimp fried rice * Spaghetti rustichella * Linguine alla vongole, white clams, white wine, lemon, butter, Thai chili, Calabrian chili * Pork ribs * Roasted chicken * Pan roasted salmon * Whole roasted branzino, olive oil, garlic * Steak frites * Paella Negra * Steak N Eggs * Dessert * Chocolate tart w toasted pistachio crust & berry compote * Beet cake, red beets, pecans, cinnamon, purpleflour, cream cheese * Tres leches *

Images courtesy of Armandos.

Flora →

3422 Allen Parkway Houston 77019 713.360.6477 florahouston.com

There is a lot of buzz about this newly reimagined restaurant.  If you go during daylight hours, you are surrounded by the verdant greenery of Buffalo Bayou Park, and a lake just below the entrance.  If you go after dark, outside is invisible but inside sparkles with the tiny lights of literally dozens of chandeliers, which reflect off the floor to ceiling windows which surround the dining room, giving it a magical feel.  There is a private space for events, and it is busy. Valet parking required, and reservations highly recommended. Enjoy!  Small bites  * Chickpeas, lime, sumac, aleppo, roasted garlic  * Nachos, shrimp or beef, cheese, refried beans, sour cream pico de gallo, picked jalapenos, guacamole  * Guacamole & chips  * Queso, chorizo, roasted tomatillo salsa, chips  * Charred octopus, chorizo, roasted sweet potato, salsa macha, sour cream  Soups & salads  * Nopales salad, cactus, escabeche, purslane, onions, cilantro, queso fresco, tostados  * Seafood stew, shrimp, redfish, octopus  * Quinoa & lentil, red onion, butternut squash, cucumber, tomatillo, jicama, cilantro, avocado  * Chicken fideo soup, aromatic vegetables  * Vegetables & sides  * Chayotes & cucumber, hoja santa yogurt  * Papas a la brava  * Mushrooms al ajillo, roasted garlic, parsley, cobanero  *  Raw bar  * Red snapper ceviche  *  Ceviche negro, yellowtail, red onion, cucumber, avocado, corn  * Oysters on the half shell  * Gratify ceviche, red snapper, shrimp, octopus, avocado  *  Aguachile, shrimp, cucumber, avocado, serrano, scallions, lime  * Carne  * Carnitas de Puerco, tender slow-cooked pork  * Marinated skirt steak (fajitas)  * Barbacoa de lamb, marinated in spices  * From the sea  * Shrimp mojo de ajo, sauteed in butter & garlic, refried beans, Spanish rice  * Seafood combo, shrimp, snapper, octopus, guacamole, onion ring  * Entrees  * Beef short rib, red mole, black bean tamal  * Pollo adobado  * Green enchiladas, corn tortilla, poached chicken, salsa verde  * Chile relleno, poblano pepper, beef picadillo, salsa ranchera  * Green mole chicken * Tacos  * Shrimp, al pastor, fish

Hugo’s (Mexican Restaurant-NOT Tex-Mex) →

1600 Westheimer Houston 77006 713.524.7744 hugosrestaurant.net

Hugo Ortega put his name in the name of his restaurant, and it is part of a ‘family’ of restaurants which includes Urbe, Xochi, Caracol, and Back Street Cafe…all big successful Houston favorites.  Hugo’s menu features recipes from his native country, and is located in a classic old building in Lower Westheimer.  It is always busy and reservations are recommended.  Crudos  *  Oysters  * Aguachile de camaron, ruby lobster shrimp, onion, lime, serrano  * Ceviche verde, catch of the day, avocado, cucumber, jalapeno, olive, cilantro, lime  * Sopa Azteca, tortilla soup flavored w chicken, dried chipotle peppers  * Entremeses  * Pulpo al carbon, grilled octopus, onions & peppers, chipotle-tomatillo salsa, small tortillas  * Chapulines, pan-sauteed grasshoppers, guacamole, tortillas, tomatillo salsa  * Taquito de langosta, small lobster taco, frijoles refritos, pico de gallo, avocado  * Empanadas de platano, plaintain turnovers stuffed with refritos, queso fresca  * Taquitos de pollo, rolled fried chicken tacos, avocado-tomatillo salsa, guacamole, queso fresco, crema fresca, frijoles refritos  * Platos Fuertes  * Chamorro de Puerco, slow-cooked pork shank in salsa chipotle, tomatillo, nopales, purslane, refritos  * Pato en mole poblano, crispy duck, mole poblano, mole cornbread, calabaza puree  * Carne brava, wood-grilled skirt steak, poblano peppers, onion, salsa tarasca con cacahuate, refritos, arroz a la Mexicana  * Cabrito, roasted kid goat, nopales asados, refritos, guacamole, salsa habanero  * Enchiladas del dia  * Pescado in mole Amarillo, catch of the day in yellow mole, roasted fingerling potatoes, cherry tomatoes, onions, broccolini  * Mariscos al ajillo, sauteed scallops, shrimp, lobster, mussels, clams, octopus, garlic, quelites, arroz blanco  * Camarones al mojo de ajo, shrimp sauteed in garlic & lime-infused oil, chipotle pepper, refritos, nopales salad  *  Sides of charred Brussels sprouts, scalloped potatoes, grilled asparagus, and guacamole.  If you remember, take a look at the amazing oak tree in the yard of the house across from Hugo’s front door.

Maize Authentic Mexican Restaurant & Bar →

14795 Memorial Houston 77079 346.409.2733 maizehouston.com

Located in the Energy Corridor in the former location of BBItalia, Maize is a new and popular venture of a popular chef from the Xochi-Hugo’s-Caracol group.  The menu is decidedly NOT Tex-Mex and there is a special section that most of you will have never sampled!  This venue is huge, with many small private dining areas, a large friendly bar with adjacent and ample patio seating.  Valet parking next to the door and free parking across the street. Maize is definitely worth the little extra drive out Memorial, as you will see from the menu, which follows.  Oysters  * On the half shell w jalapeno & lime  * Grilled w chile de arbol butter, onion, bread crumbs  * Appetizers  *  Ceviche rojo-red snapper, guajillo pepper aguachile, lime cucumber, avocado, onion  * Tostado de Atun, sliced tuna, cucumber, habanero mayonnaise, onion  * Flautas de Puerco  * Huarache de chorizo, homemade chorizo, blue corn masa, cotija cheese, red tomato sauce  * Sopa de pollo  *  Empanadas de camaron  * Pulpo negro, octopus, potato, avocado, pickled onion, cauliflower  *  Maize seafood tower  *  Maize seafood bowl  (both to share 2-4 persons)  *  Insectos  * Grasshopper, beans, pastilla pepper sauce  * Ant soup, thick tortilla, black beans, ant salsa, avocado  * Tacos de insectos, four corn tortillas, each with a separate insect specialty  * Soup & salad  * Sopa de tortilla, shredded chicken, fresh tomato soup, avocado, tortilla strips  * Roast corn chowder  * Ensalada Invierno, red romaine, apple, squash, pumpkin seed, requeson, pomegranate dressing * Chef Fabian Specialties  * Pollo al carbon  * Bistec a la Mexicana  * Pescado, catch of the day  * Seared scallops  * Cachete de Puerco, confit pork cheeks, yellow pepper adobo, potato, quintonil  * Barbacoa de res, slow cooked beef, habanero sauce, pickled onion, cilantro, fresh corn tortillas  * Enchiladas de pato, confit duck, green tomatillo salsa, Mexican rice, fresh cheese  * Certified Angus beef tenderloin, sauteed mushrooms, roasted potatoes, mole negro, broccolini  *  Roast ora king salmon, corn dumplings, vegetable broth, wilted leaf spinach    

URBE →

1110 Uptown Park Blvd (former Café Express space) Houston, TX 77056 713.726.8273 urbehouston.com

This wonderful new addition to the Hugo Ortega group of restaurants (Hugo’s, Caracol, Backstreet Café, Xochi, etc.) serves ‘Mexican street food’ in a casual, bright and airy space. A long bar graces one wall and it is my guess this will be a new magnet for the single & mingle crowd. The menu is fun and delicious-no surprise! Platos chicos * Masa pancakes stuffed w pork carnitas, chicharron, refried black beans, salsa verde * Masa cake stuffed with chickpea puree, crema, queso fresco, salsa costena, watercress * Crispy chicken tacos, salsa albanil, crema, queso fresco * Quesadilla * Taco w roasted sweet potato, goat cheese, pumpkin seeds, salso macha, requeson, corn tortillas * Papas bravas, potato wedges, guajillo pepper, chipotle aioli, crema, queso fresco * Guacamole y totopos * Campechana estilo D.F., shrimp, oysters, red fish, octopus, tomato, cucumber, avocado, onion, jalapeno * Ensalada mercado, greens, radish, cucumber, avocado, creamy cilantro dressing, pepita, queso fresco..* Platos Fuertes * Barbacoa, beef cheek and chuck on agave leaf, onion, cilantro, adobo consommé, cactus salad * Huarache, large masa cake shaped like a shoe, carnitas, rajas, refried black beans, salsa verde, crema, queso fresco * Pecho de res, sliced brisket, grilled chambray onions, pickled red jalapeno, refried black beans, salsa costena, flour tortillas, cactus salad * Tacos de pescado, battered fish, refried black beans, chipotle aioli, napa cabbage, corn tortillas * Pollo ahumado, smoked half chicken, salsa albanil, papas bravas * Carnitas, slow-cooked pork, salsa albanil, cilantro, onion, refried black beans, Mexican rice, tortillas

Mandito’s Restaurant & Cantina →

On the Square Round Top, TX 78954 (979) 249-5181 manditos.com

“Little Armando’s” has selected the best from the Tex-Mex food and drink menu at its River Oaks location and is a very popular place in this very popular center of German-Texas, between La Grange and Brenham-about an hour and fifteen minutes drive from West Houston. Round Top is a super-interesting place for a little weekend get-away excursion, for the day or overnight in a charming B&B. There is almost always something going on in this tiny town, population 102: the rollicking 4th of July parade, coming up soon; the several gigantic antique fairs, which draw dealers and customers from all over the U.S.; the music festival; and for me the best of all: Henkel Square www.henkelsquareroundtop.com , the historic village which contains completely restored homes and other buildings from the mid- and late-1800’s… some of them housing smart clothing boutiques, antique stores, and even a pie shop * Appetizers * Chili con queso * Queso flameado * Guacamole * Nachos * Soup & salad bowl * Mandito’s world famous burrito bowl-chicken, ground beef, steak, lettuce, pico de gallo, shredded cheese, avocado, white rice, black beans, & your choice of meat * Tortilla soup * Enchiladas * Cheese, beef, chicken * Suizas, topped w mozzarella cheese, salsa verde, sour cream * Tres hombres, cheese, chicken, & ground beef, topped w chili con queso * Tex-Mex Classics * Burrito * Crispy tacos * Chalupa * Flautas * El Palacio-chalupa, taco, enchilada topped w salsa ranchera * Tacos al carbon * Fajitas * Carne asada, on sizzling skillet * Seafood * Baja tacos, fried fish w red cabbage, chipotle mayo, queso fresco, pico de gallo * Ceviche * Blackened tilapia, white rice & black beans * Breakfast * Chilaquiles * Huevos rancheros * Breakfast taco * Migas * Closed Monday, open Sunday 11-3 *