© Ninfa’s
Two new eateries — Monarch, the Hotel ZaZa’s in-house restaurant, and Reef, a seafood restaurant and bar in Midtown — have been vying for the title of “Top Table” in the city since they opened this past spring. Diners can sample Chef Bradley Manchester’s seafood, steaks (and seafood and steak combos such as a Kobe short rib paired with a lobster) and light Mediterranean fare in Monarch’s casual bar, the main dining room or its terrace. Monarch is open for lunch, dinner, late-night dining and a Saturday brunch (11am to 3pm) that’s a killer people-watching event.
Chef-owner Bryan Caswell, a Jean Georges Vongerichten veteran, is at the helm at the contemporary nautical-themed Reef. The emphasis is on fresh seafood and locally grown ingredients with a seasonal menu that reflects Caswell’s Gulf Coast, Asian and Mediterranean influences. Caswell’s love of fishing is reflected in his use of atypical seafood such as sablefish, grouper, triggerfish, cobia, tilefish and wahoo.
Among the many innovative menu items worth noting are the raw bar’s snapper carpaccio; the crispy skin snapper on sweet and sour chard and the roasted grouper with pecan-shallot cracklins, braised collards and pot licker jus. There’s a well-priced (and good-sized) wine list and innovative cocktails. The crowded (and loud) casual dining spot is open for lunch and dinner.
Its trendy 3rd Bar (Named for the third sandbar from the beach, where sharks are known to lurk!) has a separate menu and serves until 2am. (Thursday through Saturday), which means you can savor the views of the Downtown skyline, as well as a drink, from its oversized windows till the wee hours of the weekend. Reservations are highly recommended for both eateries.
Established Heat: Chef Monica Pope’s t’afia (Creole for ratafia, a fortified wine) isn’t the new kid on the block anymore (It debuted in 2004.). But the Midtown eatery remains a top table (To many, t’afia remains Houston’s culinary epicenter.) based on its “passionately local” New American menu, one that relies heavily on fresh, local and regional organic produce. Locals keep coming back for: dinner-only, casual dining (Tuesday to Saturday); the five-course, $45 local market tasting menu and seasonal plates; a Texas-accented wine list; creative cocktails (Try the ratafia-tini, a mix of blood orange & garden basil ratafia.) and the $22, three-course, prix-fixe Friday lunches, which change each week. Its minimal décor lets diners focus on the real star: Pope’s homage to Texas ingredients.
Need to satisfy your Tex-Mex cravings? Head to the original Ninfa’s (2704 Navigation Blvd), winner of the Houston Chronicle’s poll for best Tex-Mex restaurant. Its menu includes the usual suspects plus Mama Ninfa’s originals such as yummo carnitas and tacos à la Ninfa.
If you can’t leave town without chowing down on barbecue, plan to eat at Goode Co. Texas BBQ. Locals of all types as well as celebs flock to the cafeteria-style Kirby Drive and Katy Freeway outlets for its authentic BBQ at low prices: Almost everything on the menu is priced well under $10.
Dine With a View: The glass-walled Skyline Bar & Grill on the 24th (top) floor of the Hilton Americas-Houston hotel offers spectacular city views. But you may prefer the more intimate Artista. Located on the second floor of the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Houston, it’s a pre-theater favorite. But its innovative menus, restful ambiance and elegant interior design are worth a trip even if you’re not headed to the theater. Its mix-and-match menus can be challenging, but the helpful and knowledgeable waitstaff can simplify the selection process. Dine indoors or on the outdoor terrace that overlooks Tranquility Park. Open for lunch, dinner and post-theater (desserts, appetizers and spirits) dining.
© Cheapflights Ltd Marlene R. Fedin
