Cooking Girl (Montrose)

Seems authentic, atmosphere no bells and whistles, food seemed really authentic and the restaurant gave off a vibe like there was some little old asian lady in the back cooking her homemade recipes...and that goes far with an inner loop crowd!  We enjoyed the fish the most, I did like the mapo tofu, but seeing all the oil rise to the top after the tofu was gone brought on some remorseful feelings.  The green beans good!  The beef dish was ok.  It's odd, you think they're everywhere, but I feel like everyone is always looking for a good Chinese place and I really hadn't found that, but I think this place might be a good place!

Republic Diner + Sojubang (Heights)

It's always nice to have a Korean restaurant nearby...my personal biased opinion.  This new place took over the former Witchcraft bar and same owner as Lola's Diner.  I think I heard he was Korean too.  Kind of excited but also don't want to get my hopes up about the food, diving in...

Location isn't bad, close so that's good.  Our server was great and we ordered several things...the veggie pancake for appetizer, the galbi (beef) dish with rice, and the kimchi fried rice.  I liked the veggie pancake, the beef dish was tasty but a bit too fatty and greasy tasting and the kimchi fried rice just didn't have the right flavors, and it was a bit too saucy.  The side dishes were not tasty at all.  The flavors were off.  This one traditional black bean side dish, literally had like 7 or 8 little beans in the dish.  A little underwhelming.  They also charge for a refill on the side dishes, but I can understand that.  In a traditional Korean restaurant the patrons usually don't really abuse the "service" of freebies or side dishes...whereas an American crowd may? ...so I can understand, but I still don't like it if I'm used to freebies and now I have to pay for a refill?  But, that's just me being a Korean patron.  Overall, it was an ok experience, maybe I'll try again with my family and see if they want to add it to the rotation for the convenience of the location.

Breakfast at Revival Market

Well now...people...did you think I went missing?  I guess I sort of did.  You know how the holidays come bombarding you with to-do lists!  I'm finally done with those lists and now ready for some smooth sailing into the new year!  The last 2 weeks of December always feel so unstable to me.  Nothing is consistent, the days, the work hours, the obligations, events, parties, get-togethers, the family...  It's bitter sweet...hectic, but it's festive and fun.  It's my favorite time of year.  You love it, but you're also sad it's all going to be gone soon.  So as part of my inconsistent days, this morning we decide to go to Revival Market for breakfast.  It was disappointing to see their breakfast ends at 11am.  However, they do have a few all day breakfast items, this picture above being one of them.  I ordered the Traditional Breakfast, $12, which includes 2 farm style eggs, bacon or sausage, and a piece of toast.  We subbed ours with a biscuit which was nice of them to allow.  When my breakfast arrived, the eggs came sunny side up.  I don't eat eggs sunny side up and then realized our server never asked me or matt and ethan how we wanted our eggs.  None of us eat our eggs sunny side up, but that's how we got them.  They were accommodating enough to send mine back to scramble.  They should ask though...

The sausage was really good, the biscuit was really good, but I wish...wish they would keep breakfast open longer.  The full breakfast menu.  It's a small place and it would be nice if they offered that...especially since their restricted breakfast menu looks really good.  Or at least on Saturday and Sunday have breakfast a little longer.  Overall, we enjoyed our meals, just that one wish and it would be the perfect weekend place.

*the picture above is without the eggs since they sent them back to scramble them.

Les Ba'get Vietnamese Restaurant (Montrose)

I happened to just be driving by and see this cute little bungalow and… What, it's a Vietnamese restaurant?   Ok, well I'll definitely put that on the weekend list of places to go.  We visited on Saturday and loved it!  It's cute inside and the food was really good!  All of it!  We both got the Pho, I got the file mignon bits, Matt got the filet mignon and the flank.  We were both impressed, very good!  We also ordered the Buddha spring or summer rolls, I can't remember which one but they were the vegetarian with tofu rolls.  Again, really good!  Fresh, soft and the peanut sauce was great!  Even the Vietnamese coffee wasn't bad. It wasn't the best I've had, but it was up there.  And we not only enjoyed the food but the atmosphere was was really nice.  It's what I had hoped for Pho Binh in the Heights, but the overall experience there isn't that great and the food, other than the Pho, isn't really that great either.  

Also, Les Ba'get is counter service and they are still in soft opening mode so they tend to run out of food by the end of the day.  So you know, we really liked Les Ba'get that we went again on Sunday to try something else.  Matt really enjoyed his vermicelli with Buttered Garlic Chicken.  I didn't love my vermicelli with lemongrass tofu as much, but overall we still enjoyed it!

I went again a few days later with 2 other friends and I ordered the Rice plate with Lemongrass Beef and that was really delicious.  David got the pork and Sasha also go the Lemongrass Beef and we all agreed the Lemongrass Beef was better than the pork. However, I didn't think the pork was bad, it's just not as tender as the beef dish.  Anyways, they all really enjoyed it and both also liked the tofu spring rolls.

I tried again this past Monday and they were closed.  Not sure what their business hours are, but they may be closed on Mondays...just an fyi.  Definitely go try, it's a great spot for Vietnamese food and nice atmosphere.  It's my new favorite spot!

Popping into Helen Greek Food and Wine (Rice Village)

All I need is to hear a little buzz and I'm there.  The latest buzz and we were excited to visit this weekend when we got a chance to get out was Helen's located in Rice Village.  I believe they took over the Kahn's Deli that was formerly there.  Super cute place, small and cozy.  We didn't make a reservation, but got lucky and were seated immediately.  However, call in for a reservation a day or two and you should be good.  

We had  a great server, she reminded us of Jennifer Garner and said she did get that often.  She was great, she directed us towards, in order that the dishes came out, fried squash interesting flavors and textures, the Greek salad was fresh but so many tomatoes we were almost stuffed trying to finish it off.  It wasn't what we were used to for a Greek Salad, but we assumed it might be the way a Greek salad is traditionally done back in the mother land.  Then our chicken entree came out, we only ordered half which was great because in hindsight I think we, overall, ordered too much.  But again, the chicken and chips below it were good, interesting flavors.  Next was the butter pasta, wow, super buttery, but after awhile, I just didn't notice it as much.  This dish was my least favorite in taste because it was so heavy, but the tile pasta was different and like I said, I didn't mind the butteriness of it as much.  We finished off with desserts, Ricotta Mousse (they're most popular) and we also ordered the Baklava, which was not her recommendation.  She also suggested the Pistaschio dessert, but Matt really wanted the Baklava.  I don't blame him, it came in a super adorable presentation, in one of those iconic Greek paper coffee cups!  The baklava was not to my liking...I don't really like chocolate and cinnamon in my Baklava, I realized.  But, Matt liked it.  Oh and the mousse...it was fantastic, as she suggested.  And my apologies, but I can't seem to find their menu online so I'm not totally sure what the official names of the dishes were.  

It's more of a mild version of fine dining for Greek food, not so much casual, as most people associate with Greek food.  We really liked the restaurant.  It's a great place for a date or small groups.  We enjoyed the atmosphere, service and the food very much!  Fun place, the perfect spot for our date night on this beautiful evening!

Trying the Newly Opened Lee's Fried Chicken & Donuts (Heights)

Well, it's about what you think...just fried chicken and donuts.  A little odd of a combination, but hey...there must be something to it or else they wouldn't be doing it.  They do have a Kale Salad on the menu...I wonder how many people are ordering that.  

The place is brand spanking new, first day opened...and we get there at 730pm and they're open till about 10pm or as they said, when their fried chicken is sold out.  We order the combo #3, which includes 2 breast, 2 thighs, 2 wings, 2 drumsticks.  Of course we ordered some donuts, we're not party poopers.  We got 3 glazed, 2 jelly, and as suggested the bacon and praline.  I'm not sure what Matt was thinking with the jelly donut, but who am I judge...I'm all about nostalgic experiences.  I eat mash potatoes with white gravy and a white roll strictly for the nostalgic reasons.  

The fried chicken has to be the best fried chicken I've had since the whole fried chicken movement.  It's super tasty, crispy, flavorful!  We all agreed the fried chicken was really good.  I have to tell you, just thinking about it is making me crave it!  And surprisingly the doughnuts were really good too!  I liked the glazed doughnut the best.  I find it's hard for doughnut shops to get the glaze to dough ratio right.  Shipley's does it right and Krispy Kreme does it right, other than that...most fall short, incudling, in my opinion Dunkin Donuts.  Anyways, I was pretty impressed.  However, the two they high suggsted, apple fritters, which I didn't get to try, sold out, they said were their most popular item.  She also suggested the praline bacon, which I thought was a little too sweet and way to much on it.  I'm a big fan of mixing bacon with the unexpected, but for me and Matt this one wasn't that great.  However, the 14 year old did like it. I took a bite of their jelly doughnuts and did not like it.  We also got the potato salad and coleslaw, which I thought were also both good...we were all on the same page, Lee's gets 3 thumbs up!  Definitely worth the try!  

Truffle Egg Salad at Local Foods

This dish single handedly sabotages my entire diet!  I'm not really on a diet, but I do try to eat healthy and this meal gets me everytime.  I dream about this meal.  Now, I know it's not for everyone, but for those of you that have similar tastes as me, it's delish...mm mm mm...so good.  Definitely go try!  I try to find something new here, but I haven't been able to move off the Truffle Egg Salad Sandwich yet.  Mm!!

Velvet Taco (Washington Corridor)

I have noticed this business in the neighborhood go up and then open but, no strong desire to visit until I saw a write up on it and so it's where our Friday dinner is.  It's pretty cool and hip, big place and quite a bit of a crowd.  The menu is pretty cool, a lot of things that appeal to me.  I had a bit of a hard time choosing, but with the help of the employee, I chose the Poke taco and Grilled Flank Steak Taco.  I liked the Ahi Poke, healthy and light, but it is probably the most expensive item on the menu, at $6.50.  But, it's definitely an item I can put on the regular menu and be happy with.  You know, a gal has to watch her girlish figure!  The other taco...the Grilled Flank was a little bland, but I did request all the heavy, fat stuff on the side...so, it's understandable it was a little boring.  Matt got the Pulled Pork and he and Ethan both got a Brisket Taco.  Ethan did not like the place at all, but you know, he's 14.  He's not exactly a foodie.  The more plain, the more he will like it.  He took a few bites of his taco and hated it...too much stuff on it.  Matt and I both liked Velvet Taco and preferred it over Torchy's.  Anyways, that's my short, two cents.

Also, I think this creamed corn thing was complimentary, but not really sure.  It might of been what was supposed to be on my Flank Steak taco, but probably not.  It was a pretty big helping.  Nice place!

Asia Market Restaurant Open!! (Heights/East of 45)

Like everyone, I too was wondering if Asia Market's restaurant had opened yet.  I did a cursory search and kept finding the new owner's of the grocery store, Asia Market Thai Lao Food.  But it is not to be confused with "Asia Market Restaurant", which is on the other side of 45...just a few short minutes.

On arriving, it's actually a nice space inside.  It was good to finally see the owner's after several months of not and it was good to see them in their new space...finally.  However, it was unclear to Jodie and I what the protocol was.  We sat for so long, we thought I was supposed to go up and order at the bar.  But, we figured it out and a server finally came and greeted us after 15 minutes.  They're definitely a work in progress, still trying to figure things out.  Looks like they have all new staff and the food seemed a little different.  But, the owners assured me the cook is the same and has been with her since the beginning.  Ok well, maybe just an off day.  

Anyways, I plan to be back with everyone else I've introduced to Asia Market because I'm super supportive of the owners and they need a lot of support.  It's got to be the scariest thing to open a brand new business and they could use all the help in getting the word out, so spread the word, they're officially open!!

Dishes above are the Thai style Papaya Salad, med spicy, Kee Mao Noodles with Chicken, med spicy, Crispy Rice Salad, and a small order of Sticky Rice.

Smoosh Cookies (Rice Village)

For our regular Friday treat day, I took the 14 year-old with me and to my great pleasure he decided he wanted to try my suggestion, Smoosh Cookies, rather than our regular doughnuts or Menchie's...after he looked at some pictures online, that is.  So we head there and we were not expecting a food truck, as it had an address listed online, but I guess this is their temporary home for now.  We walk up and as the menu shows, you pick your choice of cookie, ice cream and a topping.  Ethan chose chocolate chip with peanut butter brownie ice cream, and an oreo cookie topping.  Talk about too much going on.  He's not really in tune with the concep of cohesive flavors, but he said it was good and he liked it and he would definitely go back.  I got the oatmeal cookies, with French vanilla and no toppings....and it tasted like 2 cookies with ice cream in between.  It was good, but I didn't really think there was anything really special going on with it and really, if I was craving something like this, I would just go get 2 cookies and stick some ice cream in between.  It's not really rocket science, but hey, it was fun and I'm glad we checked it out.

Dish Society (Galleria/San Felipe)

Well I'm not sure what all the hubbub is about...finally got a chance to try Dish Society and sure it's a nice atmosphere, and the food is ok, but I really didn't see what the noise was all about.  We both ordered the Avocado Quinoa Salad, add chicken and actually, I think my salad had 10 pieces of lettuce and the chicken was a little undercooked and I'm not even kidding, but my stomach hurts right now.  Jimy felt the same.  He did mention the chicken was slightly slighty undercooked and the manager was nice enough to offer to bring him a new piece of chicken breast out, but you know...I thought the whole experience was just ok.  

B&B Butchers (Washington)

I was super interested in making a visit and since we still have a week of Restaurant Week left, we decided to visit.  Unfortunately, their earliest availability this week was Monday at 8pm, so that's when we decided to go.  Matt and I both ordered the Wedge Salad, he with Blue Cheese dressing and since I despise Blue Cheese, I went with the server's suggestion, Balsamic Vinagrette, which was not really a good choice, in my opinion.  A Wedge works better with a creamy sauce, anyways...  We both ordered the 8 oz Filet Mignon, Matt ordered his medium rare, mine was medium and they both seemed to be cooked the same, more rare, which was fine by me.  The Filet was amazing, wow delicious!  Really tasty, perfection.  We also had 3 glasses of wine between the two of us, which went perfect with our steaks.  Our desserts were good, but by far...the steak was the standout, perfection!  The others were all subpar, in my opinion.  The atmosphere was nice, not overdone, simple, and masculine.  Good place for a really nice steak.  The charity portion of our meal, the restaurant donates $7 per meal.  Our bill came out to $172 including tip so a $14 donation seems a little ridiculous as a reason to eat, dine out for charity...but you know, it's an excuse and I guess $14 is better than nothing.

MF Sushi (Museum District)

I know you're thinking to yourself, when are you going to get your camera?  And to that I say, soon.  I sold my camera a couple of months ago so I'm sorry that you are subjected to photos off my iphone, but I promise, soon.

Now, the reason why I am blogging is to share about the good news of MF Sushi!  I know their architect, same as the architect and builder of Triniti.  Nice.  I love that backdrop of the orient behind the sushi chefs.  As Matt noticed, the sushi bar area looked different from what you're used to...no glass partition between the chefs and the patrons.  It looks like all their ingredients are built into the counterop bar.  

Now to the food!  I typically like clean, simple, sushi, sashimi will do thank you.  And I don't typically go for all the pizazzy stuff...but at MF Sushi, their signatures nigiri is the best!  I would pass on the ginger salad and mochi ice cream, just stick to the sushi.  Sorry, I can't find their menu online else I would tell you what we ordered, but pretty much most of the nigiri items, expensive but super delicious!  Our server was really great, but also forgot his name.  I definitely liked the new digs, always love their food, great option for high end sushi!

Revisiting Holley's (Midtown)

The first and last time I went to Holley's I really liked everything I had.  This time I had the oysters, which I forgot to take a shot of.  They were all from the upper east coast and Canada.  We also had the wedge salad, I had the grouper, Matt had the Texas Wagyu Bacon Burger, mm mm mm....by the way, I can't remember the last time I had a burger.  Ever since I've been seeing a nutritionist, it's been really hard for me to eat a burger.  I think I have had it once, but 2 years later, this is the burger I wanted to eat if I were going to eat a burger...mm mm mm...

And the coconut cake...mm....everything was so good!  My only complaint was the stale crackers.  That's a good thing, if that is my only complaint.  One of my favorite seafood restaurants!  

Revisiting Underbelly (Montrose)

I have only been to Underbelly once before, so to finish off Matt's birthday we decided to revisit Underbelly.  We sat in a different dining room this time, the big, open, main space, it was nice.  I was just reminded how nice this restaurant was and how I should come here more often.  I was a little embarrassed at my dress as we were not intending to go to Underbelly, a big white t-shirt, cut off shorts and some Chacos...I looked like a tree hugger.  But, they didn't seem to care, they sat us at the community table right in front of the kitchen where we could see Chris Shepherd very close up.   

We ordered through our server, forget her name, Asian lady....she was super great.  We enjoyed her peppy and pleasant personality.  She helped us order, we for sure got the Korean Rice Cakes, she helped us with the Market Vegetable dish (which we really liked, but a tad too much on the soy sauce, but still overall good),  We also ordered the Tomato Salad, which we really liked, nice and fresh.  We went with our own pick for the Butcher's cut steak dish, which I thought was a little salty, but Matt really liked.  We probably should've gone with her suggestion and went with the Snapper.

So I had mentioned how close we were sitting from Chris Shepherd and surprisingly he sent over a free dish, the Chicken with foot, and beans and meat dish.  It was pretty good, we really appreciated how nice that was of him to do that.  But goodness...between that extra dish and the Fried Pie, oh man...we were so stuffed.  You think we would just not eat all of each dish, but it's hard because each dish isn't that big so you feel it's so wasteful and not to mention it's all just so good.  I can't remember the last time I was that full, I literally looked like I was 4 months preganant!  Next time, I'll try to be better...keyword, "try".  I really should come back here more often, the hardest part, not overeat!  One tip, skip the Fried Pie and definitely get the Vinegar Pie, so unexpectedly good!

Ruggles Black Desserts

Oh my!  Carrot Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, and Oreo Cheesecake...I tried them all and the Strawberry Shortcake was the best, in my opinion.  This is not gourmet stuff, just good, big Texas sized desserts to fill the bellies.  Not the best place for a good cappuccino either, but I find most places don't really know how to make a cappuccino. Coffee might be a better choice.  There dessert tray is a little excessive.  I think it has 40 desserts on it.  Anyways, it was alright.  Service was good.

Aka Sushi Lunch

I just realized I haven't blogged at all about my go to sushi place!  I forget to mention places I frequent.  Well, like I mentioned previously,  I have been trying to make better choices when out for eats because of both my trainer and nutrionist.  My go to sushi restaurant is Aka Sushi on W. Alabama.  They have a great lunch special that includes a roll, 3 pieces of nigiri and soup and salad, $13!  I usually get tuna and avocado for my roll and the peppercorn tuna nigiri.  It's easy, everything I like and comes all in one deal with this super great price and my pleases my nutritionist and trainer!

So I've been on this sort of mission to try all the sushi restaurants in town for a great lunch special.  But, let me mention, I will not try just any sushi restaurant.  I'm super duper picky when it comes to sushi.  I didn't grow up eating sushi, long story, but basically, I most only visit sushi restaurants that have a good reputation.  

Soma Sushi Lunch (Washington Corridor)

So, you know lately I've been seeing a trainer and now he's in my ear on a weekly basis about my diet so I've been really trying to tighten up my eating.  That means, going out has to be better in line with my nutrition plan, so I've been visitng sushi more frequently than I have been in the last 2 years.  Other than Uchi, my favorite go to sushi restaurant is Aka Sushi on W. Alabama.  They have a great lunch special that includes a roll, 3 pieces of nigiri and soup and salad, $13...not bad!  I usually get tuna and avocado for my roll and the peppercorn tuna nigiri.  

Then for a friend's birthday I visited Kata Robata, her choice.  I hadn't been there since they first opened.  I posted about that visit about 2 posts ago.  Again, great experience, but that was a dinner meal.  We ordered the Chef's Sashimi plate.  I thought the sushi there was great too, but will have to visit for lunch to compare apples to apples.  This time, I visited Soma Sushi on Washington.  Jodie and I decided to try the Ramen, which was fine, not the best I've had.  Our server was great, he gave great suggestions on how to get what I wanted.  I basically customized the roll and made a tuna and avocado roll, flipped inside out, for bigger pieces, his suggestion.  Then got tuna sashimi and 2 peppercorn tuna nigiri.  I thought the sushi quality on the nigiri and in the rolls did not taste very good.  However, the tuna sashimi was excellent.  I didn't really care for the atmosphere...it as very "boot and pants and boots and pants"...that's my version of club music.

New! Flower Piggy (Longpoint/Gessner)

I have to be honest, I love this owner personally after frequenting his restaurant on Longpoint called Bonga.  It's where I go out to eat my Korean food.  So I have been noticing Bonga has been getting excessively crowded these days and last time I went he told me to go to his other restaurant that they just opened called Flower Piggy.  So the loyal customer that I am, 2 days later, here I am trying it for the first time with my mother for lunch.  The side dishes come out and they were ok, half I liked, half I didn't.  For my main meal, I ordered the bibeembap, which is rice, beef, and veggies in a hot stone bowl, which was actually pretty good.  My mom got the mul naengmyun (water noodles), her usual and she liked hers as well.  We also love the owners, they are super nice and sweet people!  The wife/cook came out and chatted with us a bit.  I think it's her and her son that's running this one.

The decor, like most Korean restaurants, is lacking.  I'm pretty sure they did nothing after taking over the old place here.  Maybe a new coat of paint, gray and just other little things.  I would some really neat things, like a sit on the floor area, like they do in South Korea.  Anyways, I digress...great option, if you don't really care so much for atmosphere.

Pho Binh (Heights)

Well now...Vietnamese food hits the Heights!  Is it good, is it not, is it going to make it...well, that's what I came to find out!  They've been 1 week opened...and me and Matt both are with somewhat low expectations, open, but a little apprehensive.  As I'm looking to see what their hours are, I do find out there are several Pho Binhs in Houston.  The manager says third one, and he's Vietnamese and so are most of the employees.  Good sign.  There are servers that are not, but that's ok, it still feels authentic.

I ordered Pho Ga, Matt ordered the Pho Tai and we also ordered Vietnamese egg rolls and the Vietnamese coffee.  The coffee came out first, it wasn't bad.  Not the best I've had.  It was quite a hefty serving in a plastic bubble tea-like cup.  Good ice.  Our Pho comes out and yes...it's good!  The temperature was great, hot!  The taste was good too!  We both liked it.  We did notice they brought us both our own individual plate of greens, which is different.  We noticed they were kind of limpy.  The lime slice was teeny tiny.  I happened to notice there was a big portion of noodles in my soup and when the manager came by to check up on us, I told him about it and he said that there was someone that came in the week before that complained there weren't enough noodles.  I asked him if they were non-Asian and he said yes.  Well, what they don't get is you're not suppose to have too much noodles because it expands and overtakes the soup!  Anyways, we got a laugh about that.  

Just like an authentic Vietnamese restaurant, where nothing comes in order, our egg rolls come at the end of our meal.  The rolls were ok, again not the best we've had.  We did also notice they brought us one piece of lettuce leaf with the egg rolls.  I guess they didn't think we would use it...so we had to ask for more and our server came out with a plate with one more leaf...haha!  We got a laugh out of that too.  Also, I don't know if they were having ac issues or it's normally like that, but it was hot in there too.  But, all in all, we liked it and it will probably be our go to pho spot, simce it's much closer than Simply Pho.  They seem like they're ironing out some kinks, but we liked the pho and that's what really matters the most...and they seem to care.  Good job on the grand opening.