Katie "katiedid710" F.'s Profile

Queen Vic is an upscale-looking, fried food serving, nice, relaxing place to spend an evening.  Owned by the folks from Oporto, the place has been under construction for months.  Understandable, as it used to have the name "Club Discreet," which was well, not very discreet.

So the concept is a gastropub, meaning that the food is a bit more upscale, and the beer/wine list is legit.  In visiting last weekend, the first night it was open, I found the beer, wine, and cocktail offerings to be reasonably priced for the type of establishment.  The cocktails were well made ($8-10), the beer wasn't too expensive ($5-6), and the wine list was small, but the selections were thoughtful.

The food wasn't particularly my style (fried), but it seems to fit in with the concept perfectly.  The ingredients are qualityand the end result is crunchy and delicious.  If you're looking for health food, go somewhere else.  One of the most impressive looking dishes is an upright presentation of two beef skewers, though it's not worth $32 in my estimation.  I'd stick with the more hearty pub fare, along with a reasonably-priced pint or flight of beers.

Queen Vic is definitely a welcome addition to the neighborhood.  Now, can someone please buy out the Diamond Club and turn it into a gastropub too?

Jerry is the best dance instructor that runs the best Zumba class I've ever been to....I'm one of those people that needs serious help with choreography, and even I love this place.  It's fun, goofy, creative, and a major workout - what more can you ask for?  

Make sure to come early, or else you might not get a spot even close to the front.  It seems like 50+ people attend each class, which is a testament to how enjoyable Jerry makes exercise.  He teaches most of the classes with the help of some other talented instructors.  I consider myself lucky to have found a workout that I enjoy with instructors that have a passion for what they do.

I worried all day that I would be the first to review this amazing bar....glad the word is getting out!  Sugarcane gets my vote for best bar in Houston after the killer cocktails I had there yesterday evening.

Drinks are fresh, delicious, and inventive: they only use Texas alcohol (e.g. Tito's Vodka) for the cocktails, with the exception of tequila, because that has to come from Mexico.  They fresh-squeeze all the juice, locally source the produce, and get creative with the combinations.  Heck, they even make their own sweet and sour!

The vibe of Sugarcane's is artsy & inviting, and it's on the area of Washington that will (hopefully) not be invaded by the typical Washington scene.

What makes me like this place most is the welcoming, friendly atmosphere created by the GM, Bryan.  He talked with us enthuiastically about the eco-friendly concept of the place, and we were lucky enough to be the recipients of some experimental drink samples.  

And did I mention that these drinks don't give you a hangover?  That's the claim...you'll have to test that one out for yourself.

If you're looking for a quirky, fun, original place to buy you or a friend some wearable art, look no further than Hello Lucky.  Teresa, the owner, is also a talented artist that is passionate about her craft.  In addition to her own jewelry and screenprinted tees & tops, she sells a great selection of accessories and art from other artists.

From the taxidermied ninja squirrel on the wall (trust me, it's there...you have to see for yourself) to the vegan soaps and handmade cuffs, there's something for everybody on your list.  Teresa will even offer you beer or wine while you're browsing.  You can't beat that kind of hospitality!

Boy, did Houston need a shop like this!  Thanks to One Green Street, there's now an adorable, socially-responsible boutique in town where you can buy every sort of green gift you can imagine.

From recycled plastic bottle undies (trust me, they are comfortable AND adorable) to certified organic doggie paw balm, there's something for everybody.  They sell clothing for men and women (upcycled, recycled, and handmade), items for baby, jewelry, fair trade/organic body products, snacks, bedding, and more.

Since they're so new, they are doing lots of interesting events to promote the store.  Make sure to look on their website for the latest happenings - for example, there's a "chicks with sticks" knitting club and a magazine mixer on the books, as well as a benefit for breast cancer.

While I've never been here for dinner, Dharma Cafe's brunch is seriously one of, if not the best, in town.  It may not be as big as Baba Yega, as packed as Baby Barnaby's, or as upscale as Hugo's, but it strikes the perfect balance of all of them.

The dining room's spacious, light, and airy, and there were just enough seats for everyone, without it being too packed or too empty.  The service is prompt and attentive, without being overly in your face.  The buffet's just the right size, and the food is as high-quality I've ever seen in that kind of setup.

Speaking of food...before going through the buffet line, order a mimosa and a made-to-order omelet.  I got an egg white omelet with salmon, feta, and asparagus - it was the best omelet I've ever eaten!  They have a nice mix of breakfast and lunch options on the buffet.  Make sure not to miss the two casserole-type sides.  Not sure what one of them was, and the other was a mixture of different types of corn/hominy.  Whatever was in it doesn't matter...you will want seconds, I promise.  There is also typical brunch fare - pancakes, waffles, bacon, eggs, and more.

There are two buffet items that are so good they deserve their own paragraph: the blueberry scones and the chocolate bread pudding.  Oh wow.  If I had eaten them first, I would have saved room to go back for thirds and brought a bigger purse to snag some leftovers :)

I'm guessing there are 171 reviews because of Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives?  While I am starting to despise that show and all of Guy Fieri's bleached hair madness, he did pick a darn good place to review.

Niko Niko's is a Montrose institution.  And there's no way you can leave there with even a millimeter of empty space in your stomach.  My favorite standard is the chicken parmesan gyro, which is a gooey, cheesy pile of melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.  There's no way to eat it and not get it all over you.  Pretty much everything comes with a generous side of potatoes, and if your meal doesn't come with a salad, make sure and get one...the feta cheese is crazy good - they must make it in-house.

On the off-chance that you stll have room after your meal, make sure to grab a bakalava or two.  Or three.  Those Greek pastries are my nemesis.

Truluck's is one of those rare chains that gets it right: food, ambiance, and service all make dining here a truly enjoyable experience.  When you visit, make sure you get there in plenty of time to enjoy a drink (or two) at the bar.  Drinks are stiff and the cocktail menu's creative - my favorites are the kir royale and the lychee martini, but there are lots of interesting martini options.  If you're lucky, you'll get to hear Kelly Dean, the piano man, work his magic on the ivory.

While the bar menu is varied and the quality is good, save your appetite for your meal.  The natural choice are the king crab legs, but if you want to really get a flavor for all Truluck's has to offer, order the cioppino.  It's a broth-based stew that includes pretty much every type of seafood you can imagine.  Desserts aren't anything special, just your standard gigantic slab of cheesecake, cake, pie, and the like.

Every single time I've been to The Flat, it has been completely different.  Different vibes, different music, and different crowd.  The one thing that doesn't change is that killer frozen mojito!  

While the inside isn't sparkly & new, it's just dingy enough to be a relaxed place to sit and chill.  The bartenders are quirky and fun, and there's never a shortage of random people to meet.  It's the perfect neighborhood bar.

If you've never been before, make sure you keep your eye out as you drive south down Commonwealth (one way) - there's a small sign, and it's on the left.  If you miss it, you have to U turn and go back around.  Parking's on the right side of the street.

If I were a mussel, destined to die a hot, steamy death, I would want to perish by the hands of Catherine Duwez.  That lady knows how to cook a mussel.

Having moved over from Cafe Montrose after that restaurant's unfortunate demise, Ms. Duwez hit a home run with both the kitschy, home-grown decor and fantastic food at Broken Spoke.

There are so many styles of mussels it's almost impossible to choose, but here are my recommendations in order of preference (all of them being whiz-bang amazing): curry (by far the best for me - creamy, complex sauce that was more smooth than spicy), l'escargot (whoa - crispy garlic and fragrant herbs...need I say more?), marinere (the restaurant's most popular preparation - largest mussels of the bunch and were really good, but I liked the others a bit better).

Frites?  Finished the entire bowl.  Rabbit special?  Melt-in-your-mouth wow factor.  Only thing that didn't hit the mark?  Seemingly store-bought bread.  Desserts were traditional and satisfying: crepe suzette was very intensely orange but paired nicely with the ice cream, though coupe negrita ended up being the best choice: Belgian chocolate sauce, ice cream, and perfectly-cooked crepe.  Delicious.