Sorrel Urban Bistro on Alabama

Eat here throughout August for their Houston Restaurant Weeks menu. Sorrel's 3-course menu for $35 (a bargain for this somewhat pricey restaurant) includes your choice of three starters, four entrees, and three desserts. Our foursome tried many different dishes, so here is the rundown: the corn chowder with a fried oyster was delicious and loaded with fresh corn. The grouper was tasty and like sashimi, cured with soy sauce and very thinly sliced. The salad was a generous portion of fresh field greens, enhanced with cheddar, figs, and ham, and dressed with a light vinaigrette. Entrees were a bit trickier. I would avoid the NY strip steak. While it was much larger than expected--about 10 ounces--and perfectly cooked to medium rare, it lacked the intense flavor of a prime steakhouse steak. The sweet potato gratin that accompanied the steak, while sounding tempting, was too rich. A better entree choice would be the shrimp and grits, which featured five large, whole (with the head) seared shrimp, or the veal scallopini. The food is presented beautifully and piping hot, which adds to the enjoyment. We also like seeing the food prepared in the open kitchen and I recommend requesting one of the high-top tables alongside the kitchen to see all the action. 

Del Frisco's in the Galleria

Eat here during August for their $35 bargain of a sumptuous three-course Houston Restaurant Weeks menu. Start with a salad or bisque, then choose from a 10-oz. Prime NY Strip, an 8-oz. Filet Mignon, or three other non-beef entrees (all served with an individual side dish) and end with one of three desserts. I highly recommend the strip steak, which was juicy, flavorful, and cooked to a perfect medium rare. It was served with a generous helping of delicious red-skinned mashed potatoes. For dessert, avoid the chocolate bread pudding because it was quite dry, and go with the chocolate mousse or strawberry cheesecake. What was so nice about the dining experience was the pride the restaurant took about their participation in HRW. The server proudly announced that last year the restaurant generated $78,000 in contributions to the Food Bank and that this year's goal was $100,000. Unlike other restaurants, where you have to practically beg to see their HRW menu, Del Frisco's presents it immediately and promotes it with enthusiasm. Another thing I liked about the experience was that the server, upon delivering the bill, immediately explained that the gratuity had already been added to our bill, since we were a party of six. So many servers purposely don't point this out, hoping you won't notice and will double their tip!

Cafe Piquet in Bellaire

Eat here for excellent Cuban cuisine. This is about as close as one can come to Havana without leaving Houston. The restaurant is decorated with lovely photos, artwork, and curios depicting Cuba, which gives the restaurant an authentic atmosphere. The menu offers a very wide variety of dishes. We like to start with an off-menu item--a basket of warm plaintain chips topped with chopped roasted garlic. I like the grilled chicken breast (Pollo a la Plancha) or thin-cut sirloin (Palomilla), both of which come with grilled onions on top and black beans, white rice, and sweet plantains on the side. There are plenty of typical Cuban dishes too, such as Ropa Vieja (shredded beef in tomato and wine sauce) and Cuban sandwiches, if you are more adventurous. Service is excellent and prices are very reasonable. Cafe Piquet is definitely worth a visit.

Frank's Chop House on Westheimer

Eat here on Sunday nights for half-price wines and good 'ol Southern cooking. But don't check your cholesterol for at least two weeks afterwards! We loved the appetizer of fried green tomatoes, topped with three succulent shrimp in a spicy remoulade, served piping hot and delicious. We followed that up with Frank's specialties: chicken fried steak and buttermilk fried chicken. Each came with two sides. The baked macaroni and cheese was to die for, made with four Italian cheeses and just the right amount of crispiness on top. The service was good, not great, and the ambiance was pleasant, although a little too dark for my taste. Frank, the owner, is always on duty, making the rounds and adding that special personal touch that so many restaurants today don't have. By the way, there are healthier choices on the menu, such as the beautifully presented herb roasted half chicken, grilled veggies, and cauliflower purée, but when you need Southern comfort food, Frank's is the place.

Local Foods in Rice Village

Eat here for a great egg salad sandwich. Since you don't find egg salad on many lunch menus, it was nice to see a truffled egg salad sandwich here. With a hint of truffle oil and Parmesan, the tasty egg salad was served with greens and a slice of tomato on an amazingly crunchy, delicious salty-sweet pretzel bun. Choose two side salads from amongst nine on the menu, but beware. They are a bit unusual and may not be what you would expect from their names. Read the ingredients on the menu, but then check them out in the case. They all have very distinctive flavors, which you may or may not find pleasing. I liked the beet salad, but my friend, Kim, did not. The kale salad was too strong on this visit, but I liked it on my previous visit. My friend, Debbie, ordered the three side salad plate and had plenty to take home because of the ample portion. The place is busy, very casual, and not too noisy, with comfortable chairs, big booths, and an outdoor patio. Try to avoid the peak lunch hour because parking (in the way too narrow spaces) and seating is limited. 

Brasserie 19 on West Gray

Eat here for a summery, beach-like atmosphere, but not for great food. The white-on-white decor is stylish and reminiscent of a seaside resort in the Hamptons. Unfortunately, the food doesn't live up to the decor. It is average, with limp mixed greens, bland and too rare sirloin strip steak instead of typical entrecôte for steak frites, and a funky wine list presented on an iPad. While the wine selection is decent and the bottle prices reasonable, the by-the-glass prices are ridiculously high. A $45 bottle is offered for $18 a glass. The pommes frites and bread are good, as is the service. We may give the restaurant another try in order to sample other menu items, such as mussels in white wine and French onion soup, since these are typical bistro foods that you can't find everywhere, but I am not terribly optimistic. However, there is something to be said for an attractive setting and a good bottle of wine. So if you go, ask for the "quietest table", go early, and don't go with high expectations. 

Max's Wine Dive on Washington Avenue

Eat here for outstanding Southern fried chicken. A signature dish at this noisy, slightly irreverent late night neighborhood gastropub, the chicken was a delicious indulgence worth every calorie. It was tender and juicy, with crispy skin that was seasoned just right and wasn't greasy. It was served piping hot with sweet and spicy chipotle honey dipping sauce, mashed potatoes, and collard greens (which can be substituted for a salad, if you are like me and don't care for these greens.) The Kobe beef burger was a generous 8 ounces, but pricey at $18, plus another $4 if you want to add mushrooms, onions, and gruyere or bacon and blue cheese. The fried oysters were sublime. Served atop crunchy fried wontons, the oysters were crispy outside, melt-in-your-mouth soft inside, made perfect with a touch of garlic aioli and a sweet and spicy habanero salsa. The wine list is extensive, reasonably priced, and features many wines that you won't find anywhere else. The bartender was very knowledgeable and gave us three different wines to sample to help us choose. No snootiness here! Max's takes reservations, which were honored promptly. Definitely pay Max's a visit when you long for gourmet comfort food and a nice glass of wine.