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Started By
Message
Houston Dining Run Down 07.22.21-07.25.21
Posted on 7/26/21 at 9:51 am
Posted on 7/26/21 at 9:51 am
Before I start this thread, I want to thank LL for partially inspiring this trip. Her thread, and the lucky fact that almost all restaurants were within 10 minutes from our AirBnB, helped narrow down places to eat in a city with tremendous variety.
We arrived in Houston Thursday afternoon and had reservations at Uchi. Here we did the the omakase, which was about 10-11 courses. We were treated to a great variety of sushi (all fish we have never tried before, including bluefin tuna), wonderful dishes like yellowtail, salmon, and flounder in interesting sauces, and the cooked dishes...short rib nigiri, wagyu tenderloin, and rack of lamb. My goodness this was an incredible meal and the service was impeccable. What a tremendous start.
We woke up the next morning and had breakfast at Blacksmith. Besides coffee, I had a delicious smoked salmon scramble and my wife had the breakfast tacos. Great start to the day, which included us going to the Zoo and burning those calories.
Lunch was at Ostia, where we had the yellowtail ceviche, a gnocchi dish, and their famous chicken with salsa verde. Perfectly portioned and shared family style, this was a very good meal and one we enjoyed after a hot morning at the zoo.
Dinner that night was at Hugo's, which to me might have been the star of the trip. I am adventurous so I ordered the chapulines (pan sautéed grasshoppers, guacamole, tortillas, chipotle-tomatillo salsa) as a starter. They were crispy, salty, and had a slight vinegar tang. Delicious with the salsa and guac. We also had the plantain empanadas, which were stellar. Wife ordered the scallops, which were beautiful, and I ordered the arroz a la tumbada (think a Mexican paella). Again, all great dishes. Ended with the best tres leches cake I've ever had.
The next day we got up early to go to the Natural Science Museum. We had breakfast at Common Bond, a trendy coffee shop and bakery that had some amazing pastries. We shared a pear earl grey scone and I had the pork hash and she had tamales benedict. All delicious. We did about 4 hours of museum and built up and appetite for lunch where we went to The Pit Room. I'm just going to be honest and say this ruined BBQ for me in Louisiana. It was just another level. We shard brisket, pork ribs, and sausage. The sides were a star all on their own. Elote, fire roasted okra, and potato salad all great. The brisket was unlike any I've had and the bar of pickled items was good to cut through the richness of the meat.
After this meal we were stuffed and had a few hours to kill before the Astros game. We visited the Holocaust Museum, as my wife's family was impacted greatly by this atrocity, and then headed back to the AirBnB and eventually the game where we had a great time.
I had made 10:00 PM reservations at Bludorn, and by the time rolled around we were hungry again. It was our final meal, so we went big and dined on oysters, squash blossoms, gnocchi, and shared the amazing lobster pot pie. Amazing food and service, and we loved the causal feel of the restaurant with its plushy sofa seats an vibe.
We left Sunday morning and stopped at Common Bond one last time for coffee and breakfast. I had a basic breakfast plate with eggs, bacon, and biscuits and my wife had avocado toast. Again, all food was delicious.
With the exception of Pit Room, all restaurants did complimentary valet, which was great as parking was scarce. Service at all restaurants was stellar, with our waiters/waitresses often working in teams and all giving a personal touch to the meal.
There was honestly not a weak meal on this trip. I highly recommend all restaurants we visited. Houston really impressed me with their food scene (which we barely scratched) and their high level of service.
And now this week...I fast and exercise everyday
We arrived in Houston Thursday afternoon and had reservations at Uchi. Here we did the the omakase, which was about 10-11 courses. We were treated to a great variety of sushi (all fish we have never tried before, including bluefin tuna), wonderful dishes like yellowtail, salmon, and flounder in interesting sauces, and the cooked dishes...short rib nigiri, wagyu tenderloin, and rack of lamb. My goodness this was an incredible meal and the service was impeccable. What a tremendous start.
We woke up the next morning and had breakfast at Blacksmith. Besides coffee, I had a delicious smoked salmon scramble and my wife had the breakfast tacos. Great start to the day, which included us going to the Zoo and burning those calories.
Lunch was at Ostia, where we had the yellowtail ceviche, a gnocchi dish, and their famous chicken with salsa verde. Perfectly portioned and shared family style, this was a very good meal and one we enjoyed after a hot morning at the zoo.
Dinner that night was at Hugo's, which to me might have been the star of the trip. I am adventurous so I ordered the chapulines (pan sautéed grasshoppers, guacamole, tortillas, chipotle-tomatillo salsa) as a starter. They were crispy, salty, and had a slight vinegar tang. Delicious with the salsa and guac. We also had the plantain empanadas, which were stellar. Wife ordered the scallops, which were beautiful, and I ordered the arroz a la tumbada (think a Mexican paella). Again, all great dishes. Ended with the best tres leches cake I've ever had.
The next day we got up early to go to the Natural Science Museum. We had breakfast at Common Bond, a trendy coffee shop and bakery that had some amazing pastries. We shared a pear earl grey scone and I had the pork hash and she had tamales benedict. All delicious. We did about 4 hours of museum and built up and appetite for lunch where we went to The Pit Room. I'm just going to be honest and say this ruined BBQ for me in Louisiana. It was just another level. We shard brisket, pork ribs, and sausage. The sides were a star all on their own. Elote, fire roasted okra, and potato salad all great. The brisket was unlike any I've had and the bar of pickled items was good to cut through the richness of the meat.
After this meal we were stuffed and had a few hours to kill before the Astros game. We visited the Holocaust Museum, as my wife's family was impacted greatly by this atrocity, and then headed back to the AirBnB and eventually the game where we had a great time.
I had made 10:00 PM reservations at Bludorn, and by the time rolled around we were hungry again. It was our final meal, so we went big and dined on oysters, squash blossoms, gnocchi, and shared the amazing lobster pot pie. Amazing food and service, and we loved the causal feel of the restaurant with its plushy sofa seats an vibe.
We left Sunday morning and stopped at Common Bond one last time for coffee and breakfast. I had a basic breakfast plate with eggs, bacon, and biscuits and my wife had avocado toast. Again, all food was delicious.
With the exception of Pit Room, all restaurants did complimentary valet, which was great as parking was scarce. Service at all restaurants was stellar, with our waiters/waitresses often working in teams and all giving a personal touch to the meal.
There was honestly not a weak meal on this trip. I highly recommend all restaurants we visited. Houston really impressed me with their food scene (which we barely scratched) and their high level of service.
And now this week...I fast and exercise everyday

Posted on 7/26/21 at 10:40 am to LSUZombie
quote:this is the type of information I love on TD!!
all restaurants did complimentary valet
Thanks for the information. We have a child who lives in the Houston burbs so I am bookmarking this for the future.
I trust LLs recommendations also. Thanks for the report Zombie!
Posted on 7/26/21 at 10:42 am to LSUZombie
Next time try some of the other BBQ in the area, I'm not sure I would put pit room in my top 5.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 10:44 am to JL
Pit Room was only three minutes from our AirBnB and after seeing reviews it got the nod. Maybe not top 5 for Houston but damn if it didn't smack down all other places I've been to in Louisiana.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:08 am to LSUZombie
Pit Room is one of my favorites, people like to split hairs and crown a king. As BBQ with a TexMex influence, it’s the only brick and mortar in the city like it.
Solid write up, glad y’all had a good time
Solid write up, glad y’all had a good time

Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:11 am to JL
quote:this. If you felt so strongly about Pit Room's brisket, then Truth or Feges or Corkscrew brisket would blow you away.
Next time try some of the other BBQ in the area, I'm not sure I would put pit room in my top 5.
Having said that, Pit Room is still a proper craft BBQ place. It's not like you raved about Demeris or Rudy's or Spring Creek BBQ.
This post was edited on 7/26/21 at 11:13 am
Posted on 7/26/21 at 11:32 am to LSUZombie
quote:
fire roasted okra
One of my favorite sides at any BBQ place in the city.
The Pit Room has probably the best smoked chicken in the city. Like someone else said, it's the only brick and mortar BBQ place that has a Tex Mex slant...the tacos, the beans, the salsa, queso...all good shite.
Every craft BBQ place in town has something they do better than the others...before Feges and Truth and Pinkerton's...the Pit Room was the best place in the city back in 2016-17 when Bram Tripp was still around.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 12:23 pm to JL
quote:
Next time try some of the other BBQ in the area, I'm not sure I would put pit room in my top 5.
Splitting hairs. Pit Room is on the same shelf as Corkscrew, Truth, Roegels, Killens, etc. It's great BBQ.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 12:34 pm to LSUZombie
great review
for you houston folks is there anything similarly good out by the cynthia woods amphitheater?
for you houston folks is there anything similarly good out by the cynthia woods amphitheater?
Posted on 7/26/21 at 1:04 pm to LSUZombie
quote:
fire roasted okra
That item is my favorite side at any BBQ place I’ve been. Only thing close for me is the collard greens at Feges.
Like others have said, Pit Room is legit delicious BBQ.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 2:00 pm to ragincajun03
congrats - all your choices in restaurants were top notch
Posted on 7/26/21 at 3:39 pm to cgrand
Go see Chef Austin at Tris across from Cynthia Woods. Cureight was their tasting menu only dining room inside a dining room but is on hiatus. I’m certain he’d still put together some of those Cureight dishes for you. It’s hard to go wrong with anything that comes out of his kitchen.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 4:23 pm to Badmug
NICE
thanks, thats exactly the kind of place i like
thanks, thats exactly the kind of place i like
Posted on 7/26/21 at 5:48 pm to LSUZombie
Glad to see the pit room disappointment has been discussed. Down voting for no pics.


Posted on 7/26/21 at 6:37 pm to LSUZombie
Bludorn rules
I'm also incredibly jealous of your vacation food budget, holy shite
I'm also incredibly jealous of your vacation food budget, holy shite

Posted on 7/26/21 at 6:47 pm to Leonard
I don't know about Zombie, but food is the vacation for me. The rest is merely passing time between meals.
Posted on 7/26/21 at 7:00 pm to LouisianaLady
Haha it’s honestly the same for the wife and I. But living down there was often too tempting to just go out and get a great meal vs making something
One could also make an entire weekend out of visiting the Asiatown scene near Bellaire. HK Dim Sum
One could also make an entire weekend out of visiting the Asiatown scene near Bellaire. HK Dim Sum

Posted on 7/26/21 at 7:02 pm to Leonard
quote:
One could also make an entire weekend out of visiting the Asiatown scene near Bellaire. HK Dim Sum
Something I wish we had more of here in LA. Will have to check out the Houston dim sum scene

Posted on 7/26/21 at 7:04 pm to Leonard
quote:my daughter really misses this since her job moved her from New Orleans to Montana
But living down there was often too tempting to just go out and get a great meal vs making something

Also adding Houstin dim sum to my list!!
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