On the Road Eats: South of Houston

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I drove to Galveston once to go on a cruise.  We stopped at a buffet that my husband heard about for true southern cooking.  I am not a fan of buffets(seen too many people take food and then change their mind and put it back) but I took one for the team.  On this trip, I was headed to a meeting in League City and asked people on Chowhound where to eat during my trip(no buffets for me!)

Nobi Public House

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According to one Chowhounder, he loves the noodles and his daughter loves the bahn mi.  I love asian food so I knew I must try this spot.  The gentleman at the table  next to me said i MUST order my dish with a fried egg.  Vermicelli(room temperature) with grilled pork, fried egg, nuts, and an egg roll.  They had dozens of craft beers on tap and if it had been after working hours, I may have indulged in a blonde ale.  This is a solid spot to try if down in the Webster area!

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grill
Perry’s is here in Dallas but for some reason I have never been there.  I have been to Nick & Sam’s, Pappas, The Palm, Eddie V’s, Bob’s, Al Biernat’s…..but never Perry’s. So I decided to visit Perry’s in Clear Lake for an early dinner in their bar.  This was the original Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille which opened in 1993 after adding tables at the Perry family’s meat market proved successful.  The bar has a great social hour menu and I didn’t want anything too heavy since I still needed to head back to Hobby for my flight.  I started with the tenderloin sliders with onions and mushrooms(no cheese for me) and sweet potato fries, then ended with the white chocolate cheesecake with a blueberry compote. Perfect amount of food, especially after the lunch I had at Nobi and it was a straight shot to the airport.   And yes, I will be going to Perry’s in Dallas for a great steak dinner with my husband.  The service was excellent, the atmosphere(in the bar) was mellow(exactly what I needed after a long day of travel with one flight to go) and quite a few menu items, specifically the filet with creamed spinach and lobster mac and cheese, are calling my name!

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The Clotheshorse Boutique
A clothing boutique on Main Street in League City, they offer clothing, shoes and numerous gift items…..Great selection of Kendra Scott!

Unexpected Interiors
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Had a couple hours to kill before a meeting and lunch.  I found Unexpected Interiors on Main Street in League City and they had gifts, art and jewelry.  I think there is a reason my husband doesn’t like when I have any time to spare on a business trip…I shop.  Check out the new wrap bracelet I found!

On the Road Eats: Houston

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Back to Houston for more client meetings and two great meals!  Thank you to OpenTable for making reservations so easy!

Osteria Mazzantini
Right next to Caracol in the galleria area is Osteria Mazzantini.  I kept reading that they were closing so I was very happy to have the chance to eat here.  If you have not been, GO NOW.  The meal started with toasted focaccia with olive oil and herbs and butter.  I ordered the executive lunch which included a choice of appetizer, salad or soup and then an entrée.  The scallop crudo was amazing, I almost wish I could have it once a week.  The Bolognese was wonderful, a bit peppery, but still wonderful.  If I had any room left, I would have had dessert.  I left this restaurant very happy!

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Songkran Thai Kitchen
I love Thai food so I was excited to see this new restaurant posted on Eater Houston. On my way from one client to the next I made a quick stop with my colleague and had a great lunch. They start the meal with soup and a salad and then we shared the Pad Si-ew and the Pad Thai.  I will definitely recommend this to others if they are in the area.  If they happen to be full, try Etoile next door!

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On the Road Eats: Houston

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Houston, TX.  Ranked Number 7 on the New York Times’ list of the 46 “Places to Go” in 2013.  I travel down to Houston about 4 times a year.  I have a lot of clients there and I am always reading about the awesome restaurant scene.  Here are a few of the spots I hit this trip.

Underbelly
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I have read about Underbelly for a while now and decided to stop there for lunch.  The server recommended the Hog & Hominy Poutine, Roasted Chicken & Butter Biscuit(a deconstructed chicken pot pie) and the Seared Gulf White Shrimp, Pimento Cheese Grits,  As much as I wanted to try the first two, I absolutely love pimento cheese(my favorite is Zilk’s from Whole Foods) and I had to go with the shrimp and grits.  I was not disappointed and will need to come back for dinner on another visit.

Caracol
Caracol was voted one of the top 5 restaurants this year by Houstonia Magazine and their happy hour got a great review.  Since I opted for an early “dinner”, it was the perfect spot for me.  I ordered a Mojito, the Taquitos Tronadores de Carnitas (slow-cooked pork, crema fresca and avocado-tomatillo sauce) and the Croquetitas de Yuca y Jaiba (yucca and crab fritters with an avocado tomatillo). The service was great and the food was absolutely delicious.

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Fountain View Cafe
I searched and searched for a great breakfast spot in Houston.  Somewhere close to my hotel, somewhere fast and somewhere inexpensive.  I came up with Fountain View Cafe. It was voted No. 1 breakfast spot and it hit my requirements.  You walk in, order at the counter, pour your own coffee and they bring your food to you.  When you are done, you leave and they bus the table.  I ordered an egg, cheese and bacon croissant sandwich and a cup of coffee.  Will I be back?  If I need something fast and filling, this is the spot.

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Lillo & Ella
I found Lillo & Ella on Eater Houston.  Options in this part of town seemed a bit limited and the menu looked interesting so I decided to try it.  My boss joined me for lunch and we were the only table in the restaurant.  We shared the chipotle and honey edamame to start, a little sweet a little spicy.  For our meals, he ordered the Blue Crab Fried Rice, I ordered the Thai Muu Noodles.  Both were delicious.  After the meal, we agreed how great the food was so we found it strange that they had NO lunch crowd.  This is definitely one you need to try!

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Any other spots you recommend for my next visit?