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Want a taste of Texas? Here are five quintessential Houston dishes and where to get them:
Fajitas at the Original Ninfa's.: Johnny Hanson : 29-95
A Texas-sized steak: Vic & Anthony's
This downtown spot gets everything right. The clubby decor, the fresh flowers, the perfectly mixed cocktails -- everything calibrated to make you feel like a high-roller. And in addition to that steak, try the calamari and the crab cakes. You won’t regret it.
Two options: Brenner's Steakhouse and Strip House
Barbecue: Pizzitola's Bar-B-Cue
We’ve seen more bar fights over brisket than basketball. Texans do love their smoked meats. And this spot has been serving up some of the best for more than 80 years. And about that brisket, you really should have slab of ribs, too.
Two options: Goode Company Barbecue and Hickory Hollow
Fajitas: Original Ninfa’s on Navigation
As the name implies, this is where it all started. If you believe the legend, Mama Ninfa was (is) the patron saint of Tex-Mex. In her tiny kitchen, she cranked out the world’s first fajitas. She also popularized the margarita, turned the first avocado into guacamole and concocted a green sauce with healing powers. Mama Ninfa has left this mortal coil and the restaurants bearing her name has been gobbled up by the man, but this outpost hangs on to her memory and most of her recipes. Some of the waiters here have been serving Mama’s sizzingly plates of fajitas for more than 20 years. Just ask.
Two options: Pappasitos and Goode Company Hamburgers and Taqueria
Oysters on the half shell at Danton's Gulf Coast Seafood.: Bill Olive
Chicken fried steak: Barbecue Inn
This diner has been comfort-feeding H-Town for more than 60 years. It’s earned its retro feel. Everything is homemade and presented proudly. The CFS is fork tender, the gravy extra creamy and the fries house-cut. (Yeah, we eat fries with our CFS. You should, too.)
Two options: Beaver's Ice House and Sabine River Cafe
Oysters: Danton’s Gulf Coast Seafood Kitchen
A handsome dining room, a warm bar and a kitchen that knows how to treat fresh seafood. Danton’s has about a dozen oyster dishes on its menu, including raw, baked and in a rich, creamy stew. Our favorite is the humble po’boy with its perfectly fried oysters and garlicky remoulade dressing.
Two options: Goode Company Seafood and Calliope's Po-Boy
Pappasitos is not even close to being in the same league as The Original Ninfa's on Navigation.
As a barbecue restaurant, Hickory Hollow makes a decent, slightly under-seasoned, chicken fried steak. Gatlin's, Pierson's and Virgie's are all much better choices.
Are you referring to Gatlin's as better barbecue (which I agree with), or are you saying they make CFS? If it's the latter, please, provide more details!
Gatlin's?? I have never understood the hype. It is overpriced, slow and has poor service generally - and the barbecue is mediocre at best. The one time I was there they ran out of ribs and substituted something else without crediting the price difference. We also got overcharged on something else, though I don't recall exactly what. They were too clueless to try to sort out the bill so we just left and have not been back.
How can you not list Lupe Tortilla's fajitas? I cannot understand how Pappasitos gets ranked so high, they are average at best!
I would choose other places than big chains for fajitas. It sad that this web sites focuses only on big chains. Open your mind a little.
So you are Wrong....try again !!
Big chains? What are you reading? Goode Company is a locally owned, Houston-supporting "chain" with five restaurants. All here. Four w/in just a few blocks of one another. Pappasitos also is a local chain, but it is consistently well run with epic portions, good prices and realiable good - often very good - fare. The only foreign concept is Strip House.