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.