Where I Ate: City: Houston, Texas

Warning: This may be the longest thing I’ve written since College – If you want to skip to the good stuff, scroll down and work backwards. Though, I think you’ll be ready for a meal if you start at the top and head down at a normal pace.

As I sit in Philadelphia’s wonderful airport (actually, the airport is quite nice – lots to do and an abundance of power outlets – it’s just the on-time service that sucks), I’ve found another good establishment to nosh on some vittles while I await the inevitable return to the home state. I started thinking about my last engagement. I manage to get to a number of different eating establishments when I travel for work.While I haven’t built up a good list yet (though I’m well on my way this trip already), I’ll start you off, fair reader, with the highlights from my last traveling gig:

This Post’s Highlight City: Houston, Texas

From memory, this is a pretty comprehensive list of the establishments I frequented. I challenge Sahadev and Pete to find holes in the places I ate with them. Some are pretty standard; some are a bit off the beaten path. For the most part, I've gotten better about getting outside of my comfort zone, while still being sensitive to cost… for all our sakes, that’s a good idea.

Random Bar:

First, a shout out to a very cool place I never would have found on my own. My cousin D happens to be a bartender while attending school in Houston at a place called Dean’s Clothiers. I loved the vibe of this place. Live Music, Inventive combination of History and Invention for the Décor (especially love the bathroom wallpaper – no joke) and of course, the staff is friggin cool as sh…ifting gears:

On to the food Jeeves!

Fast Food

Here’s the standards list: I characterize fast food much like my mother does – I have to unwrap it. Usually wait in a queue, national chains, multiple states have them.

McChevron – A McDonald’s/Chevron Station/Convenience store – All your gassy needs in one place. While I have only seen McD’s combined with a Walmart before, I still classify this as Chain food – Quality as expected.

Sonic: This was my first time there. I’ve been watching the commercials from Cleveland for about 3 years now, and I finally get my chance! … Eh [insert shoulder shrug with palms up] Food was ok, but service was so-so. Slow, no condiments offered or brought to the car (and no way to order them). Pricey for a quick burger. The get a ‘Push’ – They get one more shot just in case it was a bad day.

Panda Express: My weekly dose of Sweet and Sour chicken – As Expected – ask for extra sauce. My first attempt at General Tso’s – he’s a top five commissioned officer choice.

Pizza Hut – Not much that varies here, advertised as a sit down place, but no lunch buffet, Still: tasty, quick, hit the spot.

Domino’s - Ditto, but they need to figure out how to process a credit card online. If I don’t want to talk to someone, I sure don’t want to talk to them 3 times to give them my money. Still… it’s pizza, always a crowd pleaser.

Burger King – The crown lives on – and they’re open REALLY late. Thanks for that. As Expected.

Cici’s Pizza: Have to keep this in the lower eschelon due to quality. I preferred the old school Pizza Hut buffet, when it was a novelty, busy, and the pizzas turned quickly. This stuff got cold. Salad and pasta were cool, but there were only 2 varieties of pizza I went back to. If you are going to go here – go when it’s busy. It’s good then. Otherwise it’s ‘next morning, coffee table’ pizza.

Panera: Another standard for good, quick lunch. I rarely get anything other than the Frontega chicken, an Asiago bagel with Veggie Cream Cheese, and a huge honkin water… why mess with success?

Mid Range Places:

These were places I needed to order from a menu, but could sit down and have my food brought to me.. But you still get paper napkins and plastic “we don’t care if you steal it” cutlery:

Hilton Garden Inn – In this grouping only because of my criteria. Good expansive breakfast, Room service is OK. About average for a hotel.

Random Chinese place…first day on our own lunch: didn’t catch the name of this place, but it was our first day on site. Wait staff wasn’t terribly friendly, no free refills on 12 oz soda’s (start of a nasty trend) and the portions weren’t really sizable. For the price – which was also small – I should have ordered two portions. Not bad, not great – plenty of room to improve next time… and so it did.

The Mexican place that didn’t speak English – 45 and Sam Houston Parkway – Terrific Authentic Mexican food. Make sure you can translate (which I was able to due to 4 years in High School and years of being ridiculed by my central/south American architecture compatriots). Highly recommend the enchiladas.

Pappa’s on Westheimer – True Texas Barbeque. Pappa’s are all run by the same family, from what I am told, each family member has a different branch. Good stuff, BIG portions, a little more vinegary that my tastes would first choose, but BBQ is like an Operating System and College Football – no manner of convincing will make you change your mind as to what you like. Overall, thumbs up. Try the Carrot Cake – no joke.

Pot Belly’s : By far the best “I wish I’d known there was one of these here from day one” stumbleupon’s of the trip. I have had these in Chicago and DC. Get the Wreck… and the Italian… maybe a couple others. My ONLY criticism is that the sandwiches are relatively small for what I like in a deli-type sandwich.

Pappadeux (At the airport) – Relative of Pappa’s. Almost moved up to the next category, but being an airport… paper and plastic. Great burgers, tasty Calamari, and a pleasant dark wood atmosphere in the midst of a hoppin airport.

Fox SkyBox (At the airport): Similar setup to Pappadeaux (Same physical orientation in fact) but mush more sports-bar. Good apps, tasty beverages. The nachos could be a bit crisper, but still got me through my queso fix.

Taco Cabana: Here’s the good thing I have to say about TC: Salsa bar. However if you have a Moe’s in the area, it’s no contest. Go to Homer’s best friend’s place. Thumbs down.

Random Small Italian Place near Sam Houston Parkway – Can’t remember the name of this place. Another “Stumble Upon.” Pete and I went here. Typical Italian Deli type place, but with tables. Very little English spoken, but craving-soothing food. Big negative – No free refills on 12 oz cokes that were mostly ice. Didn’t go back.

Outback Steakhouse: Bloomin Onion, Battered ‘Shrooms, 12 oz Ribeye w/ au jus… ‘Nuff Said.

Cheddar’s: Another nice place. I think these are a chain, but I haven’t seen them anywhere else. Went there a ½ dozen times – that should mean something. Great portion size if you like sides. Burgers are good, service is quick and friendly. Overall, probably the place I would have made a regular spot if I got to choose everyday. Job well done.

Red Robin: Yes, they offered it… I partook: Bottomless Fries. My record was 4 orders, then it was time to get back to work (or as I put it “afternoon naptime”). Loved the inventive burgers. The Hawaiian, the Barbeque, etc – all just a little different spice mix to make you do the Scooby Doo head turn (insert “ errr? Shaggy?” sound effect here)


Upper Crust-ier Type Joints:

These were nicer places. Linen on the table, you feel under-dressed in jeans and/or without a jacket. Probably not places I would try if I couldn’t charge it in after fasting for breakfast and lunch to save up the Per Diems.

Benihana’s – Good food, not enough variety for a meat-a-tarian. In fact, my vegetarian friend didn’t even find enough to get a meal out of. It get’s a push.

Forno’s – Terrific little Italian place up on Westheimer. Crispy Calamari, Oven fired authentic Italian Pizza’s (Try the Campagnia). And friendly service. Went back whenever I could.

Santo’s – Mexican place in a strip area that had a nice bar area for the sports lover, and seating for the more normal diner. Great Stuffed peppers (Chile Rellenos – sorry for the spelling there). The avocado/cream/dipping sauce that comes with the chips is fantastic.

Rio Grande – Attached/Affiliated with the Hilton on Westheimer. Had THE BEST wings in probably 2 year. A Chocolate/Chipotle sauce on them that I wanted to use as a facial moisturizer… and kinda did unintentionally. DELICIOUS. Talked about these wings for about a solid week. Rest of the menu was decent. Tried a couple, wasn’t disappointed.

J. Alexander’s: Land, Drive to meet client, Sit down at a great restaurant… and try to look respectful of the expenses they will be paying. “I’ll just have a bacon cheeseburger please.” I fully plan to make up for this at a later date. This place has a fantastic reputation as a steakhouse – I just couldn’t make best use during a first impression. Burger was still damn memorable… yum!

Fogo De Chao: This one I built up to. Had a buddy tell me “You HAVE to go here.” He knows my carnivorous habits. So I got the Biz Dev guys to fund my client dinner – it was our end of project roll off dinner, and it was magnificent:

Picture this – Huge Salad bar (one full wing, yes wing, was CHEESE!), great bread, full bar… and everyone who had ever eaten there tells me to touch NONE of it! Because you have to save room for the meat. For those of you (like me) who don’t know what a Churrascaria is – here’s your learnin':

Men with spits of meat, right off the grill, walk around the restaurant. Want some, flip your table provided paddle to green… can’t fit any more in your gills? Flip to red… then chow down. 15 different meat selections ( I managed 12 – couldn’t find the other 3). Chicken, Pork, Beef… Happy, Happy, Happy. The Marinated Port and the Bacon Wrapped Filet were my favorites.

Rarely do I leave a city on a truly happy food note – Houston, Well Done.

Next Cities: – San Francisco, then Philadelphia.