002houston July 09:002houston
SIP CODES
By Beatrice Valencia
6/18/09
4:02 PM
Restaurateurs, club/bar owners, pubbers, etc., if there is a special event or something you would like the public to know about, email me at bvalencia@002mag.com and I will help spread the word for you. See you out!
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I’M HOT. CONSTANTLY HOT. THERE’S A LINGERING LAYER OF MOISTURE ON MY SKIN. GETTING DRESSED IS DIFFICULT ENOUGH BUT HAVING TO FACTOR IN WHAT WILL WORK BEST IN THE HEAT ADDS A WHOLE NEW CHALLENGE. THEN ON TOP OF THE HEAT, YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WHEN YOU SEEK REFUGE INDOORS, IT’S GOING TO BE SUBZERO DEGREES. THE CONSTANT CHANGE OF DEGREES MAKES STAYING THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE A BATTLE. BUT GIVEN THE CHOICE, I WILL GLADLY SEEK REFUGE AT ANY OF THE PLACES MENTIONED THIS MONTH. NO PLACE IS “NEW” TO THE CITY BUT I HAVE A NEWFOUND APPRECIATION FOR EACH. I’M SURE I’M ABOUT TO SPILL SOME SECRETS THAT WILL HAVE MAJOR FOLLOWERS OF SAID PLACES ANNOYED. I HAVE TO SHARE THE WEALTH, FOLKS! THERE IS NOTHING LIKE FIGURING OUT A GEM OF INFORMATION AND THEN BEING THAT BEACON OF LIGHT TO SHARE IT WITH WORLD! THAT IS MY LOVE OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE. SO IF I NEED TO SEEK REFUGE FROM THE HEAT, YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME. INSIDE, EATING, DRINKING AND QUITE POSSIBLY UNDER A “BLANKET” (A.K.A. A PASHMINA). Diamond in the rough…OISHII RESTAURANT3764 Richmond Ave. 713.621.8628 Completely turned off by the location and having driven by it a plethora of times, it took the suggestion of a good friend to give me the courage to actually try it out. And now I feel like a big ahole for judging a book by its cover. Granted, it’s in an old gas station shopping center so parking is sparse but there is a small lot next door. Once inside, prepare for absolute waiting line chaos. (Remember, it’s a hole in the wall.) The waiting area is cramped and usually full of people waiting, some who have been waiting for a while. You could save yourself this headache by making a reservation. Random, but they do take them. Those waiting will be cursing your name but they too could’ve done the same. Once seated it will take you some time to read the whole menu. They have a pretty extensive collection of rolls. There’re all the usual suspects, then specialty rolls and customer rolls among all the vast offerings. I am a big fan of their miso soup. At $1.50 it’s the most flavorful miso I have ever tired. You would think that with such affordable pricing the sushi must be mediocre at best. Erroneous! The sushi is fresh and the real test is the sashimi test – it’s FRESH. I don’t even bother to order it thinly sliced. It’s too busy to
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bother with such mundane requests. The service is hit or miss so don’t expect anything stellar. This also has to do with the busy factor. They don’t rush you through either. If anything, you will get slow service and a few forgotten items, like ponzu sauce, but that’s a minor detail. For a hole in the wall with decent service, fresh sushi and great prices, you can deal with the “headaches” until you’ve figured out all the shortcuts. Let’s try this again…DOLCE VITA PIZZERIA ENOTECA- 500 Westheimer Rd. 713.520.8222 Having been in the past, my experience wasn’t the most memorable. After coming back, I realized it was because I ordered incorrectly. And all this time I thought, wow, people have really low expectations for food. Scratch that thought! I just hadn’t mastered the menu. Lesson learned. I went back with a group who clearly knew the menu and all the high points on it. Reluctant as I was, I put all my faith in their ordering abilities and came out pleasantly surprised. One of my favorite discoveries is the fritto baby artichoke. Four baby artichokes drenched in olive oil atop parchment paper and a lemon slices for added flavor are in one serving. I like to wash it all down with their sangria. It’s not sweet so it’s easy to drink. That in itself can be a little worrisome; a glass or two is enough for me. For the main course, I tried a bit of the spaghetti Bolognese – spaghetti in a meat sauce. A tasty and classic rendering might I add. I also had a few slices of the prosciutto e rucola pizza. Tomato, mozzarella, prosciutto and arugula are served on a thin crust and then we added truffle oil to our order. I LOVED this combo. The oil perfumes the room and it complements the arugula and prosciutto quite nicely. If this seems too fancy, a favorite of most is the Calabrese pizza. In normal terms, it’s a pepperoni pizza. Aside from the food, service is quick and friendly. It’s typically crowded so a wait is expected. Seating is inside and outside plus upstairs so don’t be discouraged if it looks uncomfortably crowded when you walk in. The website claims to take reservations for parties of 6 or more but I’m not sure how accurate that may be. After this learning experience, I too am a fan of this pizzeria! Taste bud revolution…ANVIL BAR & REFUGE1424 Westheimer Rd. 713.523.1622 After making an attempt in the past to go and then having that dream squashed by “could you please wait outside, we’re at capacity,” I finally had my day inside! Stopping for a few drinks pre-event, my curiosity was peaked from the moment I stepped foot indoors.
Exposed brick walls, a massive wall of liquors and clean furniture help you keep your focus on what is truly the work of art here, the cocktails. Using various classic techniques to create dynamic libations for patrons, the bartenders mix up mad scientist potions worthy of enchantment. A combination of bitters, fresh ingredients and liquor are combined and served over ice or ice cold in an expert fashion. The “cocktails for the day” menu are where you’ll find the most enticing offerings. With combinations such as rum, honey, lemon and champagne, the “Airmail,” your most difficult decision will be which one to try first. I tried the above mentioned on my last visit. The faintly sweet but sour combo with tangy touches is probably a safe bet for the less adventurous. My favorite creation to date, probably a safe choice as well, is the “Smitten.” I honestly don’t remember what it’s made from other than gin and lemon. I do know that it tastes like an orange peel but in a good orange peel flavor way. It’s tangy and tart but very refreshing at the same time. It makes my taste buds go, wow! And I like wow! The cocktail menu changes so don’t be surprised if you don’t see the same libation twice. If you can remember the name, something tells me they’ll be happy to make it for you. For all those out there who don’t like the fancy cocktail thing, they also have various beers to choose from. I took a few sips from my boyfriend’s Ommegang Hennepin and found it to be tasty and light. Even if beer isn’t your thing either, this place caters to everyone. The possibilities are endless and this can only translate to repeat business. An oldie but a goodie…SCHLOTZSKY’S – 1005 Westheimer 713.528.3354 In high school, we used to have one right down the street and I lived there for lunch. And that was a VERY long time ago. My favorite part of road trips is being able to stop at this “funny name but serious sandwich” spot. That was until I realized there is one on Montrose right in my stomping grounds! My boyfriend was a little hesitant considering the shopping center it is located in looked a bit rough. Undeterred, I walked in and placed my order. Neither he nor the shopping center was going to stop me from sating my favorite sandwich craving! I’m a stickler for the Smoked Turkey Breast combo. I order the small size after seeing the huge difference between the medium