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Rack of lamb au jus with shallots and Nicoise olives as served at Le Mistral.: Smiley N. Poole : 29-95
Houston has some vibrant 'burbs and none more so than the growing area known as the "Energy Corridor." With its mix of monied older neighborhoods and luxury apartment complexes filled with young professionals, you'll find a good mix of patrons at all of these spots. Here are 10 recommended restaurants in the Energy Corridor:
Le Mistral: Chef and owner David Denis is a perfectionist. His French fare is hearty yet plated to dazzle. For his guests, he commands an army of servers that are so unobtrusive that the dining room feels relaxed even on a hectic evening. For a bit of romance, request a table on the softly lighted patio.
1420 Eldridge Parkway, 832-379-8322.
Negro Modelo beer batter fried jumbo lump crab filled avacado with tomato relish and lime cilantro sour cream at Cyclone Anaya.: Brett Coomer
Cyclone Anaya's: Cyclone Anaya was a Mexican champion wrestler who married a former Miss Houston and started a restaurant. Some of the recipes used at this sexy, high energy, high-end Tex-Mex joint are original.
800 Town & Country Blvd., 713-461-1300
Rattan Pan-Asian Bistro: This cafe’s sleek contemporary dining room suits the artfully plated food coming from the kitchen. Try the deftly fried tempura shrimp, the garlicky Vietnamese beef and the fragrant lamb satay. A sleek — there’s that word again — Enomatic wine-dispensing system makes wines by the glass a tasting adventure.
1396 Eldridge Parkway, 281-556-9888
Sharky’s American Grill: Casual, friendly Sharky’s aims to please with a wide selection of salads, sandwiches and grilled seafood. Signature dishes include the Great White Shark Burger (one pound of beef, bacon, cheddar and chipotle sauce) and baby-back ribs. Two things that bring us back: $2.50 happy hour wine and the best hush puppies in town.
1140 Eldridge Parkway, 281-496-7427
Goode Company Seafood: Gulf Coast seafood cooked with care (if not much flourish) is the focus of this local favorite. The dining room has an upscale feel, but sneakers and a T-shirt are acceptable attire. There’s frequently live music on the weekends.
10211 Katy Freeway, 713-464-7933
Texas Goat Cheese Salad at Ruggles Green.: Michael Paulsen : 29-95
Las Ventanas: Gorgeous hacienda-style dining room, stylish and sprawling patio and Texas-size portions make this a perfect spot for feasting on Tex-Mex and downing H-Town’s favorite adult beverage, the margarita.
14555 Grisby Road, 281-752-6990
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen: This big and bustling restaurant is part of a locally owned chain. The large menu is dotted with Cajun and classic Gulf coast fare. Here’s your chance to try the freshest seafood served by people who know how to treat it.
10499 Katy Freeway, 713-722-0221
Ruggles Green: There’s much to love at this home-grown casual counter-service operation: a emphasis on fresh organic ingredients, a large eclectic menu and a thoughtful beer and wine menu. You do want to save room for dessert here. (Pink Velvet cake, anyone?)
801 Town and Country Blvd., 713-464-5557
Watson's House of Ales: Syd Kearney : 29-95
Taste of Texas : The best feature of this outrageously popular good-value steak house is that you can personally instruct the butcher to cut a rib-eye to your desired thickness. There are good breads, side dishes and grilled shrimp; also a distinguished wine list.
10505 I-10 West, 713-932-6901
Watson's House of Ales: There’s no mystery as to why this pub is popular with the kidz working in the Energy Corridor. Part of the Houston-born Sherlock’s Pub chain, Watson’s boasts terrific happy hour specials, an extensive menu of bar bites and burgers and arguably the best patio in Houston.
14656 Grisby Dr., 281-920-2929
This story originally was pubbed March 5, 2011; it was updated April 26, 2012.
Errrr... Syd, these are pretty much all chains along I-10? What about places further south on Memorial, or Eldridge @ Briar Forest? Aka, Le Mistral & co must feel left out!
Hey, CC, right right. Le Mistral is better than several restaurants on this list. I'll be honest, there's a number of guides we've rolled out over the past few days that are more for soon-to-be-headed-this-way Final Four tourists. These were selected for diversity in food and price and proximity to major thoroughfares. When FF has passed, they'll be updated to reflect a more Houston-centric sensibility. It's not personal, it's business.
Still nothing wrong with a lot of those choices. Thanks for the free pub to one of my client's pubs (Watson's)!
" These were selected for diversity in food and price "
I don't see where diversity is presented? Price? Le Mistral is probably $3-4 more than these chains.
How's that update coming? Do you need a full year to get to this?
Taste of Texas is the Jam!
Try some of the following that are in that area, or close by:
Rattan Bistro
The Red Onion
Pasta LaMonte's
The Burger Guys
Lynn's Steakhouse
The Bull and Bear
Rioja
The Burger Guys
Bowen,
Thank you for listing Burger Guys twice - imho, it wouldn't hurt to have it listed a third time. Houston's best-kept secret for gourmet hamburgers and the best french fries in the history of potatoes (or France).
The Bull and Bear also deserves honorable mention if we're talking about a favorite of expats. Best hangover food in the area.
You're welcome. It is one of my 2 favorite burger places in this city - and both are completely different.
The other one is Lankford's.
Bowen, you're right. Some of these you list are very good. Again, this particularly guide was written keeping visitors in mind. I love The Bull and Bear, but you gotta wanna find it. Ditto Burger Guys (with their tiny sign). And neither of those places are surrounded by the hotels that will be filled with Final Four guests.
LOL RIGHT?!?! Could they have made it any smaller?!? They have to park their truck out front so people can figure out where the restaurant is
Baba Yega's was good until they changed "A Delight". It's not like the original. The cheese was tasteless and the sandwich was not even hot.
What about Eddie V's? Sure it's a little pricey, but the food is amazing as is the service and ambiance. Yum!
My first time to Watson's. It was a Friday night, I drove around 5 times trying to find a handicap parking place. I am disable and in a wheelchair. I found a non-handicap parking place. Watson's has only one handicap parking place. An SUV was parked in it and did not disable plates or Placard. When I came our there was truck with no disable plates or Placard. Now to the the service. I was by myself. The work was good and arrived quickly. I got condiments at the end of the meal. I could not get anybody attention. They were more concerned serving big parties that drink a lot.
Watson's is near my house. I guess I will have to drive the extra miles to go to Baker Street, Watson's sister restaurant.
Bill ford
Hungry's should most definitely make the list. It's diverse, reasonably priced, and has the freshest food in the area. Not to mention the variety on the menu; their salads are the greatest!!!
I heard there is a new Alma's Cevice restaurant opening in the Energy Corridor. Do you have any info on the location? Thanks.
Las Ventanas - Ugggghhhh! The food is disgusting! I don't think the chef tastes the dishes he is putting on the menu. In most cases, they are bland, bland, bland! I once took a client to Las Ventanas, as we ended up ordering another dish becuase the first one was so bad. When the second one came, it was not any better. This was one a one-time think either... I work nearby and have eaten there several times. I have never been happy with the food there. It is true that they have a beautiful "hacienda-style dining room, stylish and sprawling patio", but if you want good Tex-Mex, go across the street to Lupe Tortilla's. They have the best fajitas in town!