<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><rss xmlns:atom='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' version='2.0'><channel><atom:id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600</atom:id><lastBuildDate>Sun, 24 Aug 2008 20:00:11 +0000</lastBuildDate><title>Houston Restaurant Reviews</title><description/><link>http://www.quoz.com/</link><managingEditor>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</managingEditor><generator>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>162</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-2659388807301090040</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jul 2007 03:20:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-07-24T22:32:52.808-05:00</atom:updated><title>Reef</title><atom:summary type='text'>2600 Travis Street

The former chef at Bank runs this classy joint.  A former pho restaurant used to occupy the space.  It's not a real loss for downtown.  The decoration is beautiful.  Undulating walls play against the concrete floor lighted with the huge windows looking towards downtown.  The pearlescent tables made from poured plastic make this joint swank--even if they use the over-hyped </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/07/reef.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-2085579958068285082</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:23:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-06-20T23:35:13.554-05:00</atom:updated><title>Shabu House!</title><atom:summary type='text'>9889 Bellaire Blvd

Located in the same shopping center as Juice Box, Fu Fu Cafe, and Cafe 101, this uber-trendy restaurant serves up shabu shabu, a Japanese hot pot.  The small restaurant is really one big U-shaped counter with a pot of boiling broth to the right of every seat.  The decor is modern and the service is touch-and-go.

Each seat your group occupies requires an order from the menu.  </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/06/shabu-house.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-1309017024673527706</guid><pubDate>Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:44:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-06-11T01:59:56.818-05:00</atom:updated><title>Catalan (Dessert)!</title><atom:summary type='text'>5555 Washington Avenue
713.426.4260

I wrote last time that Catalan's dessert was "quite a letdown."  I've changed my mind: they have changed their pastry chef.  Julie Hewitt, the new pastry chef has only one thing left from the old menu, the banana bread pudding.  From what I've tasted of her new menu, she should get rid of that dish too and add one of her own.

We tried the peach souffle.  It </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/06/catalan-dessert.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-4362652442925611568</guid><pubDate>Wed, 06 Jun 2007 08:10:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-06-07T09:56:57.599-05:00</atom:updated><title>Lee's Sandwiches!</title><atom:summary type='text'>11210 Bellaire Blvd., Suite 113 @ Boone Road
281.933.9988

In the heat of battle that is the normal workday, there comes a time in any peon's Tuesday (or Monday or Wednesday) when it becomes necessary for one people to throw off the shackles of Community Coffee and seek the darker, richer pastures of outrageous and expensive coffee.  Such was the injustice of today's heat, workload, and </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/06/lees-sandwiches.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-644272859383018238</guid><pubDate>Thu, 31 May 2007 01:30:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-05-30T20:36:53.214-05:00</atom:updated><title>?? Tofu Restaurant</title><atom:summary type='text'>Bellaire, Behind Sinh Sinh

This place has a good variety of small side dishes, though the flavors need a bit more spice.  The kim chee wasn't quite punchy enough.  The seasoned mushrooms had a nice tang.  The cucumbers had a pretty good spice.  The fish tasted fresh.  

We ordered a combination.  You choose one tofu based hot pot.  We had the one with kim chee and beef.  Next time, we'll order </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/05/tofu-restaurant.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-959372419440465287</guid><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2007 03:28:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-05-20T22:36:29.581-05:00</atom:updated><title>Heights Camphouse Bar-B-Q</title><atom:summary type='text'>2820 White Oak Dr
713.861.2033

Rumor has it that cops frequent this barbecue house.  When we went, a cop was the only other customer.  The restaurant has the feel of a run-down, small-town cafeteria.  Almost like someone forgot to tell the owner that they need to make changes after 30 years of deterioration.  The atmosphere here reminds me of Biba's, meaning there is no atmosphere.

We had the </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/05/heights-camphouse-bar-b-q.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-3911527619345679535</guid><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2007 03:21:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-05-20T22:26:16.378-05:00</atom:updated><title>NOTES: I Love Art Car Parade</title><atom:summary type='text'>
</atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/05/notes-i-love-art-car-parade.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-6239759202538058452</guid><pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2007 03:09:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-05-20T22:37:57.911-05:00</atom:updated><title>Pollo Campero</title><atom:summary type='text'>5616 Bellaire Blvd
713.395.0990

Instead of KFC or Popeyes, try Pollow Campero.  Started in Guatemala, this fast food fried chicken joint has spread thoughout Latin America and now the United States.  They marinade their chicken and bread it in a way that makes the chicken flavorful, tender and tasty.  The fried flavor can best be described as fried in lard--which if you don't know, is a </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/05/pollo-campero.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-5928079182106690118</guid><pubDate>Fri, 04 May 2007 06:55:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-05-04T09:59:52.581-05:00</atom:updated><title>Indika</title><atom:summary type='text'>516 Westheimer Road

In writing for my other blog, I realized I hadn't written anything about Indika!!! I've eaten here twice in the last couple of weeks and about half a dozen times over the past year.  It's a new restaurant run by an innovative Indian chef.  I like the chicken chaat appetizer.  In fact I like most of the appetizers.  I'll do an in-depth review at some point, but should point </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/05/indika.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-7527007490413028283</guid><pubDate>Tue, 01 May 2007 04:01:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-04-30T23:11:22.217-05:00</atom:updated><title>Shade</title><atom:summary type='text'>250 W 19th St.
713.863.7500

I thought I had reviewed Shade before, but I haven't.  This restaurant in the heights is a pretty good neighborhood joint.  It is beautiful modern restaurant with soft light colors minimal decoration and maximum attention to detail.

We usually have brunch here and start with the large plate of pastries.  These warm goodies don't last long on our table and I'm always </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/04/shade.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-5386022925345254676</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:20:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-04-12T13:27:04.724-05:00</atom:updated><title>Fish City Grill</title><atom:summary type='text'>Sugar Land Town Square
281.494.3474

This posting uses simple sentences: it matches the restaurant.

I've eaten here twice.  Prices are reasonable. The ambiance is relaxed.  Service is good.  This is a chain.

They have daily specials on the blackboard.  Specials usually include salmon and cost about $12.  Ignore the specials.

Eat the po-boy.  I like the fried crawfish po-boy.  It is yummy.  Not</atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/04/fish-city-grill.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-7359788374898171557</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Apr 2007 03:43:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-06-12T01:26:33.543-05:00</atom:updated><title>House in the Heights</title><atom:summary type='text'>1400 Allston Road
713.880.2166

House in the Heights is... (wait for it)... a house in the heights. A chef named Patrick Zone runs this very cute restaurant.  This is the second iteration of the restaurant.  It opened at its current location in early 2006.  Walking into the house is like walking into an old Heights family house, replete with mirrors, dark woods, knickknacks and a maze of rooms.

</atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/04/house-in-heights.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-5342469672771190474</guid><pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2007 16:22:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-03-26T22:53:17.816-05:00</atom:updated><title>Sadaharu Aoki (Paris, France)</title><atom:summary type='text'>35 rue de Vaugirard, Paris 6è
Paris, France

We were in Paris for the weekend and went to Sadaharu Aoki's pastry shop.  As you might have guessed from the name, the chef is Japanese but trained in both Japan and France.

The tiny shop is all white and staffed with oriental women.  There are two tiny white tables that can seat two people each.  We sat at one while a Parisien in fur sat at the </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/03/sadaharu-aoki-paris-france.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-111942485820736277</guid><pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2007 07:10:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-04-12T13:28:02.061-05:00</atom:updated><category domain='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#'>Kirby</category><category domain='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#'>Japanese</category><title>Miyako (Kirby)</title><atom:summary type='text'>I have a love-hate relationship with this Houston institution.  I hate that I always wind up here when there are several better sushi restaurants.  I love that this was one my first sushi restaurants and is always consistently pretty good--though almost never great.  Today I had the same experience.  After wandering around in the car thinking about what I could eat for $10 or less, I settled on a</atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2005/06/miyako-kirby.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-6550695842826194899</guid><pubDate>Tue, 20 Mar 2007 05:35:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-03-26T23:04:31.726-05:00</atom:updated><category domain='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#'>Montrose</category><category domain='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#'>Greek</category><title>Bibas Greek Restaurant (One's a Meal)</title><atom:summary type='text'>607 W. Grey Street
713.523.0425

Bibas Greek Restaurant is old.  The very worn, grey booths look like they should smell.  They don't.  The bar hasn't been use like it was intended in years.  The few patrons there during dinner look like they want to smoke a cigarette but can't: One guy kept gnawing on a cigar.  The man in front of us read his newspaper page by page, nursing his coffee.

The </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/03/bibas-greek-restaurant-ones-meal.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-8203106634154655614</guid><pubDate>Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:18:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-03-26T23:09:45.784-05:00</atom:updated><category domain='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#'>Chinese</category><title>Wild Ginger</title><atom:summary type='text'>2735 N Town Center Blvd
281.313.0881

Wild Ginger's business card says that they have sushi, satay and pho.  I didn't see any sushi, but did see the satay and pho on the menu.  The menu is a bit Chinese, a bit Thai, and a bit Vietnamese.

I had the pho.  It came with basil and bean sprouts.  The pho tasted okay.  There are so many better places to eat pho, it's not worth the visit to Wild Ginger </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/03/wild-ginger.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-1059395045827231571</guid><pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2007 06:09:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-03-15T00:56:00.345-05:00</atom:updated><title>Shri Balaji Bhavan</title><atom:summary type='text'>5655 Hillcroft Avenue
713.783.1126

My father-in-law calls this the best deal in town.  He is probably on the money on this point.  Balaji Bhavan is a South Indian restaurant.  Dark inside, and covered with tile, this restaurant very much reminded me of our trip to India.

The menu is extensive and cheap.  I like chaat--a kind of Indian snack.  This time I had the best chaat I've ever tried at </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/02/shri-balaji-bhavan.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-7175462953675404507</guid><pubDate>Sun, 11 Mar 2007 06:08:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-03-20T00:59:02.087-05:00</atom:updated><title>1308 Cantina</title><atom:summary type='text'>1308 Montrose
713.807.8996

We walked over to John Paul's restaurant today.  Formerly known as John Paul's Sabor, the restaurant is now called 1308 Cantina.  Redecorated to look much more like a traditional restaurant Mexican, I prefer the new earth tones of this decor to the cold blue of the previous decor.  What has not changed is the attentive service and the thoughtful menu.

I had three </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/03/1308-cantina.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-7880449251011866410</guid><pubDate>Sat, 10 Mar 2007 08:47:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-03-15T00:48:43.693-05:00</atom:updated><title>Inversion Coffee House !</title><atom:summary type='text'>1953 Montrose Blvd
713.523.4866

Hurrryyyy!!! Come to Inversion Coffee House before the suburban yuppies find it.  Located in the Art League of Houston's new building, this coffee house will surely grow to more locations in the coming years.  The staff are friendly and the local clients bring a much needed boost of artistic inspiration to the coffee house scene.



The coffee tastes like any </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/03/inversion-coffee-house.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-7761825650746450625</guid><pubDate>Sat, 10 Mar 2007 08:21:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-03-15T00:51:33.045-05:00</atom:updated><title>Tofu Village</title><atom:summary type='text'>9889 Bellaire Blvd.
Dun Huang Plaza

We walked by Tofu Village last week and saw a lot of people inside.  So this week, instead of Noe or Cafe Laurier, we tried Tofu Village.  This Korean restaurant rocks.  They decorated with simple elements like wood, oversized pictures of popular singers, and the occasional television.  Incredibly, some of the patrons actually sounded Korean.

This is not a </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/03/tofu-village.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-4924682657084269952</guid><pubDate>Sun, 25 Feb 2007 06:52:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-03-26T23:09:45.784-05:00</atom:updated><category domain='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#'>Chinese</category><title>Spicy Sichuan</title><atom:summary type='text'>????Bellaire Blvd

I have question marks on the address because I don't know what it is.  It's located in the same shopping complex as Sinh Sinh, on the corner of one of the buildings.

The first special on the list is crispy Sichuan chicken (or some name like that).  It's basically bite-sized pieces of chicken wok-fried on high heat with sichuan peppers and dry red peppers.  At Sichuan Cuisine, </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/02/sichuan-cafe.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-3983801147322944137</guid><pubDate>Sun, 25 Feb 2007 06:42:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-02-25T00:51:07.304-06:00</atom:updated><title>Antica Osteria</title><atom:summary type='text'>2311 Bissonnet
713.521.1155

We've tried eating here twice before on the weekend, only to get turned away because we didn't have reservations.  This time, we went really early, 6:00.  As usual, very expensive cars sit out front.  We didn't get to make it into the restaurant because all the tables inside were taken.  We sat outside on the porch.

The menu is pretty extensive.  It reminds me a bit </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/02/antica-osteria.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-1627302767920009463</guid><pubDate>Wed, 21 Feb 2007 07:43:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-02-21T01:56:04.141-06:00</atom:updated><title>Pho Thai Binh Duong</title><atom:summary type='text'>11528 Bellaire Blvd.

This pho restuarant is a bit hard to find and is further West than Hong Kong Supermarket outside the Beltway.  Located in a run-down shopping center, this pho shop specializes in something most other pho shops don't even attempt: dry pho.

The specialty here is "pho ga kho," that translates into "pho chicken dry."  The general concept is to take the pho ingredients, chicken,</atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/02/pho-thai-binh-duong.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-4040497580443361473</guid><pubDate>Tue, 20 Feb 2007 16:30:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-02-25T00:42:13.234-06:00</atom:updated><title>Kanomwan</title><atom:summary type='text'>736 1/2 Telephone Rd.
713.923.4230

Those in the know call it Telephone Thai.  We've been meaning to go here for quite a while, but rarely find the inspiration to head East of Houston.  We're glad we went.

Initial impressions were favorable.  Kanomwan is a clean restaurant with light green walls.  The guy in front takes all the orders and handles all the payments.  He is by all accounts a tough </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/02/kanomwan.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink='false'>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12349600.post-1078895072256807269</guid><pubDate>Sat, 27 Jan 2007 03:14:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2007-03-26T23:09:45.785-05:00</atom:updated><category domain='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#'>Chinese</category><title>Monsoon Wok and Lounge</title><atom:summary type='text'>1200 Mckinney St # 103
713.571.7253

Monsoon isn't that good of a restaurant.  It's owned by a group out of Wisconsin called Mo's Restaurants.  The bar is a pretty cool place to hang out after work and grab a drink.  The decor is modern asian.  A bit like a scaled down streamlined version of PF Chang.  We sat at the busy bar area rather than the quiet dining area.

They have a small happy hour </atom:summary><link>http://www.quoz.com/2007/01/monsoon-wok-and-lounge.html</link><author>noreply@blogger.com (Huan)</author></item></channel></rss>