Eclectic in Houston

5750 Woodway Galleria

713-266-0046

American, Eclectic, Recommended, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

Barnaby's on Woodway is small and has a more upscale feel to it when compared to other locations. The food, however, is good ol' Barnaby's, with interesting twists on traditional sandwiches and salads like their pesto chicken sandwich with artichoke hearts or the turkey breast with cranberry mayo. Hamburgers are a specialty of the house, and you'll find ten different versions, each one better than the next.

2 articles

Barnaby's

1701 Shepherd River Oaks

713-520-5131

American, Breakfast, Eclectic, Recommended, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow, Readers' Choice

Mountain-size salads and a wealth of sturdy, consistently fresh and vibrant foods keep Barnaby's in business. Smoked chicken tostadas with roasted corn salsa delights, and the chicken pesto salad sandwich with artichoke hearts is remarkable. The meat loaf with garlic mashers is comfort food at its most, um, comforting. And the many burger combos, accompanied with a hearty stack of perfectly crisp french fries (or subbed with steamed veggies), will satisfy even the most finicky of eaters. Get in early to avoid long waits.

7 articles

Barnaby's

414 W. Gray River Oaks

713-522-8898

American, Breakfast, Eclectic, Recommended, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

Mountain-size salads and a wealth of sturdy, consistently fresh and vibrant foods keep Barnaby's in business. Smoked chicken tostadas with roasted corn salsa delights, and the chicken pesto salad sandwich with artichoke hearts is remarkable. The meat loaf with garlic mashers is comfort food at its most, um, comforting. And the many burger combos, accompanied with a hearty stack of perfectly crisp french fries (or subbed with steamed veggies), will satisfy even the most finicky of eaters. Get in early at the Montrose/River Oaks location to avoid long waits.

7 articles

Barnaby's Cafe

602 Fairview St. Montrose

713-522-4229

Eclectic, American, Recommended, Best Of, Slideshow

Mountain-size salads and a wealth of sturdy, consistently fresh and vibrant foods keep Barnaby's in business. Smoked chicken tostadas with roasted corn salsa delights, and the chicken pesto salad sandwich with artichoke hearts is remarkable. The meat loaf with garlic mashers is comfort food at its most, um, comforting. And the many burger combos, accompanied with a hearty stack of perfectly crisp french fries (or subbed with steamed veggies), will satisfy even the most finicky of eaters. Get in early to avoid long waits.

8 articles

Bellissimo

1848 Airline Dr. Heights

832-618-1168

Eclectic, International, Italian, Critics' Pick, Menu, Slideshow

Bellissimo is the casual Heights-area trattoria with a tinge of taqueria, thanks to chef/owner Javier Machuca. After more than two decades spent cooking in Italian kitchens, Machuca now runs this family-friendly Italian-Mexican fusion restaurant to great acclaim. The restaurant outgrew its first space in less than a year, a fact attested to by the crowds that still flock to the larger location every night. Try the Pasta alla Bellissimo that's filled with grilled chicken, black beans, jalapeños and diced tomatoes over jalapeño-flavored fettucine or Machuca's twist on lasagna with a chile gray-like marinara sauce that's simply amazing.

3 articles

Black Walnut Cafe

16535 SW Freeway, Sugar Land Outside Houston

281-565-7800

American, Eclectic, International, Italian, New American, Recommended, Menu

Order at the counter from an extensive menu, then find a spot and read one of the free newspapers while you wait. Breakfasts include outstanding omelets, waffles and pancakes. Sandwiches to try are the rustic grilled cheese with cheddar, mozzarella and a slice of peppered bacon, and the pot roast. Salads are huge and include such favorites as the Asian tuna and the sirloin steak. Be sure to leave room for the desserts: bread pudding, chocolate cannoli and Italian cream cake.

Bombay Pizza Co.

914 Main St. Downtown/ Midtown

713-654-4444

Eclectic, Indian, Italian, Pizza, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

In a melting pot like Houston, a place like Bombay Pizza Co. — a downtown pizzeria that specializes in Indian toppings like saag paneer and chicken tikka masala — is almost a given. What isn't a given is that it would be good. It is very good. The thin-crust pizzas resemble giant rounds of naan topped with delicious specialties like Mitul's Masala with grilled chicken, chorizo and spicy potato gravy, or the Slumdog, which includes a spicy Bombay pizza sauce. The place delivers, too, and is great for to-go thanks to its convenient spot on the light-rail line.

18 articles

California Pizza Kitchen

1705 Post Oak Blvd. Galleria

713-963-9262

Eclectic, Pizza, Recommended, Menu

This L.A.-based chain's Post Oak location is great for people-watching. It definitely has that West Coast feel, with a trendy, open and airy design and a creative Asian/Italian/Southwest fusion menu. Diners here enjoy a lot more than just fine thin-crust pizzas. You can't go wrong with the chicken lettuce wraps or the dumplings to start with, and the smoked bacon and gorgonzola chopped salad is a serious contender for best dish. CPK's Thai chicken pizza helped redefine what pizza could be when it was first introduced many years ago.

1 event

Canopy

3939 Montrose Montrose

713-528-6848

American, Eclectic, New American, Recommended, Best Of

Canopy is a peaceful haven in Montrose where patrons enjoy a sophisticated dining experience. Menu selections include fresh seafood and steaks with plenty of vegetarian offerings. Come for the inventive cocktails and stay for the amazing desserts. Canopy provides plenty of shade on hot days and an outside patio for enjoying a sandwich at lunch or eggs Benedict at brunch on the weekends.

8 articles

Community Bar

2703 Smith Montrose

713-526-1576

Bar Food, Eclectic, Fusion, Bars and Clubs, Best Of, Menu

Community Bar's atmosphere caters toward more mature adults. Meaning that it is neat and quaint without a lot of cutesy ironic stuff on the walls. It sometimes gets forgotten in the Midtown bar mix, which is a shame. It boasts a stellar bar food menu that fuses several different types of cuisine. The bar's Tuesday steak nights are the truth, and the stuff that Wednesday lunches are made of due to the portion sizes.

2 articles

Costa Brava Bistro

5107 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire Inner Loop - SW

7138391005

Eclectic, Menu

Featuring Spanish fare with a French Twist, Costa Brava Bistro, 5107 Bellaire Boulevard, is open for lunch and dinner service. (713) 839-1005 http://www.costabravabistro.com/

Etoile Cuisine et Bar

1101 Uptown Park Blvd. Galleria

832-668-5808

Eclectic, French, International, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu

Walking into Etoile for the first time and observing the menu and decor, you might get the impression that the place is a little dated. But don't be fooled: Chef Philippe Verpiand's traditional French dishes are anything but boring and old-fashioned. The attention to detail and knowledge of French cuisine are evident in everything from the simple but sinful foie gras au torchon to the more elaborate coq au vin, as well as in the formal but never stuffy service. Verpiand grew up in France and worked in a number of Michelin-star restaurants before moving to the U.S. and eventually ending up in Houston, where his young Galleria-area restaurant has already made quite an impression. The traditional menu is classic in the best way, while the seasonal menu features produce and other items at their freshest. Etoile also offers diverse brunch, lunch and happy hour menus, meaning that you never have to leave the restaurant. Really, why would you want to?

33 articles

Facundo Cafe

3103 Ella Outer Loop - NE

713-880-0898

American, Burgers, Eclectic, Recommended, Slideshow

Could food from a car wash be any good? Facundo Cafe proves that it can be, with a small but capable kitchen that turns out every-thing from omelets and sandwiches to gourmet burgers and fish tacos with mango slaw. As a bonus, you can get your car's oil changed, get it detailed, or have your inspection sticker updated while you wait. In a hurry? Call ahead and they'll have your food ready and waiting for you to pick up, curbside, although it's far more fun to eat inside at the perpetually busy grill.

11 articles

Go-Sip Cafe

1050 N. Post Oak Rd. Outer Loop - NW

713-808-9349

Cafe, Coffeehouse, Eclectic, Health, Sandwiches, Vegetarian, Coffee Shops, Recommended

You would never know this is a restaurant since it is situated in an office park, but inside it's homey. The organic yogurt, granola and fresh berries coulis will leave you wondering if you'll ever eat anything else for breakfast. Lunch includes creative salads and pita wraps like the hummus and grilled vegetables or the organic kafta with mint yogurt.

H-Town StrEATS

No address listed Outer Loop - SW

American, Eclectic, International, Street Food, Food Trucks, Best Of

It's hard to believe that food coming off a truck can be as inventive, or can taste as good as, what you get at H-town Streats. But then again, it's not every food truck that has trained chefs working at the helm. On any given day, you'll find Jason Hill and/or Matt Opaleski manning the truck, which means that crawfish taco with Tabasco aioli is gonna taste like a lot more than the $3 you're paying to eat it. In fact, whether it's their infamous boudin balls with creole mustard, their fried avocado taco with cilantro slaw, their burger with sautéed mushrooms and cheese, or their watermelon agua fresca, pretty much everything that you try at this truly gourmet food truck is going to be a winner. The menu changes often, too, so no need to worry about eating the same old, same old. Even if you followed the truck around like a die-hard disciple, the menu is extensive enough that you'd still be able to enjoy a different meal every day. Food sells out quickly, so try to visit them at the beginning of service.

1 article

Haven

2502 Algerian Way Lower Shepherd-Kirby

713-581-6101

American, Eclectic, Critics' Pick, Menu, Slideshow

Haven is a "seasonal kitchen" tucked away off Upper Kirby featuring local ingredients and inventive twists on classics like shrimp and grits, dirty rice and Mexican elotes, along with well-executed standards: a fried-egg sandwich with gruyere and bacon, a Texas cheddar burger served with house tater tots, and the catch of the day plated with tomatoes and okra. The kitchen's respect for the freshness and simplicity of ingredients shines through, and the desserts, including a Texas buttermilk pecan pie and coconut tres leches bread pudding, are not to be missed.

124 articles

Jonathan's The Rub

9061 Gaylord St. Outer Loop - NW

713-465-8200

Eclectic, New American, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Jonathan Levine is a down-to-earth guy, a good cook and a gregarious host. He buys the very best seafood and high-quality beef and cooks it simply. His prices aren't cheap, but the restaurant is always packed. Sure, the food is great, but it's the show that people come for. There just aren't many restaurant owners sweating on the line while cracking wise with the patrons anymore.

8 articles

Kata Robata Sushi & Grill

3600 Kirby Lower Shepherd-Kirby

713-526-8858

Eclectic, Fusion, Japanese, Sushi, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

Executive Chef Manabu "Hori" Horiuchi has been a James Beard: Best Chef Southwest semi-finalist three times since 2012. So, it comes as no surprise that he is serving some stellar sushi and stunningly inventive dishes here in Upper Kirby (not to mention what is easily considered one of the best omakase, or chef’s tastings, in the city). Granted, the fabulous stuff doesn't come cheap. But if you're on a budget, go to Kata Robata during happy hour when you can eat inexpensive grilled dishes off the robata and drink cheap domestic and Japanese beers.

130 articles

Kojak's Deli & Fine Foods

1912 W. 18th St. Heights

713-426-1800

Deli, Diner, Eclectic, Greek, Mediterranean, Recommended, Menu

The wide variety of homemade lunch and dinner specials are a draw at this Mediterranean-themed, order-at-the-counter neighborhood spot. Breakfasts range from steel-cut oats to French toast, migas to traditional eggs and bacon. Lunchtime brings a terrific Cuban sandwich, Middle Eastern specialties like hummus and falafel, chicken enchiladas, a gyro plate and quiche. Dinner might include lemon-pepper chicken, seared salmon or meatloaf.

Ibiza

2450 Louisiana Montrose

713-524-0004

Eclectic, Fusion, New American, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

Ibiza offers a package deal of great value: an adventurous list of wines at prices close to retail, combined with imaginative dishes from one of the city's most daring chefs. Ibiza does do well with its red meat dishes, and the restaurant boasts a long list of boutique red wines, but don't ignore the excellent fish dishes.

7 articles

Olives Martini Bar & Grille

2268 Texas Dr., Sugar Land Outside Houston

281-980-2823

Eclectic, New American, Recommended

This place is more bar than restaurant, although the food, meant to be enjoyed with drinks, is worthwhile. The whole of the front of the place opens up to the street, making it very inviting with its fiery red interior. Start out with their roasted artichoke-garlic hummus or the seafood martini, then try the shrimp linguine or flank steak salad. They specialize in martinis, and if you feel like splurging, go for the diamond martini, where for $5,000 you get platinum flakes and a one-carat diamond in your drink. Just don't swallow the stone.

Ouisie's Table

3939 San Felipe St. River Oaks

713-528-2264

Eclectic, French, New American, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu

Leave it to Elouise A. Jones to bring out the trendy best in old, homey favorites. Her River Oaks restaurant, Ouisie's Table, has a cream of mushroom soup, for example, with thin, milky broth that is loaded with tons of mushrooms that fairly pop with freshness. Fried oysters are so tender and juicy that they seem lighter than air. Then, there’s the chicken fried steak, a flawless rendition of the classic with an undulating crust and thick, creamy black pepper gravy served in a gravy boat on the side for smothering every last bite. The stunning patio is the perfect spot here for brunch. Southern Comfort Bloody Mary and decadent seafood-stuffed crepes, anyone? Enjoy it all when the weather permits.

47 articles

The Remington

1919 Briar Oaks Lane Galleria

713-403-2631

Eclectic, European, New American, Music Venues, Menu

The St. Regis Houston hotel describes the atmosphere at The Remington as "casual elegance," which is on point. The food takes a Texan slant on American fusion cuisine. Though it's fairly casual cuisine for the price, much attention is paid to plating and appearance. The interior carries on the Texas theme with a red, white and blue (although mostly red) seating area.

Revival Market

550 Heights Blvd Heights

713-880-8463

Cafe, Eclectic, Retail, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu

Agricole Hospitality’s chef Ryan Pera and Morgan Weber, the duo that is also behind the popular Coltivare and Eight Row Flint, aren’t afraid to change with the times. As such, the focus of their first Heights baby, Revival Market, has ebbed and flowed with the needs of the ever-changing ‘hood. What was once a gourmet market and craft butcher shop with a small café has turned into a bustling café with a smaller market and craft butcher shop. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is Revival’s emphasis on local product, as every ingredients—from the house-made bacon to the seasonal vegetables—is thoughtfully-grown, raised, and sourced. Head here for all-day breakfast (the corned beef hash is top notch and spice fiends won’t want to miss the hot chicken honey butter biscuit) and incredibly good sandwiches and salads at lunch, then pick up some local goods to go. You’ll be too tempted not to.

58 articles

Ruggles

903 Westheimer Montrose

713-527-9400

American, Eclectic, Recommended

This is one of Houston's only certified green restaurants, and chef Bruce Molzan is featuring locally grown produce and meats, all of which are hormone- and antibiotic-free. The brightly painted exterior of the old house gives way to a more subdued interior. The food is consistently creative, from the organic "hempanada" to the aji agave glazed double pork chops to the Gulf shrimp pad thai to the unbelievable dessert called Charlotte's Web. White tablecloth service never waivers.

Saint Arnold Brewery

2000 Lyons Ave. East End

713-686-9494

American, Brewpub, Eclectic, Breweries and Wineries, Retail, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow, Readers' Choice

Saint Arnold Brewing Company is Texas’s oldest craft brewery, and a Houston institution. Public weekday and Saturday tours fill the brewery with a diverse crowd of beer lovers, and the tour hall’s taps often feature hard-to-find brews, with a view of the brewery floor. A menu centered on an array of sandwiches, salads and snacks — many of which incorporate Saint Arnold beer — offers tour attendees a one-stop choice for a beer-centric afternoon. Show up early to get the most bang for your buck with the daily special, which comes with salad, an entrée and beer. Save room for a float made with Saint Arnold root beer and Mexican Vanilla ice cream from local favorite Fat Cat Creamery, and pick up a souvenir T-shirt or glass while you’re at it.

1 event 196 articles

Wild Kitchen

8806 Stella Link Braeswood

832-778-9555

Eclectic, Restaurants, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

This tasty take-out stand features California-style burgers, London-style fish and chips, juicy fried oysters and perfect onion rings. Don't order the towering "Special Burger" unless you have a very big mouth.

1 article

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Eclectic in Houston