Restaurants
The numbers are keyed to the map on the back of this section.
The Village, just west of campus, caters mainly to an upscale clientele. However, there are a number of less expensive restaurants, and a lot of good food to be had. Some old standbys: Jason's Deli , which specializes in hot and cold sandwiches in the $4 range, and Le Madeline , slightly pricier ($10 for dinner) French provincial food. Both are in the Village Arcade, corner of University and Kirby.
Located just past campus on Rice, the Hungry International Cafe offers a wide array of sandwiches and traditional entrees, with a particular interest in Greek flavors. Nearly half of all menu entrees are designed for the health-conscious, and fresh meats, fruits and veggies make for a delicious meal. Hungry's also boasts all the traditional coffee drinks, plus a selection of over 125 beers. Entree prices range from $4 to $10. -- Joanna Winters
Across the street from Hungry's is the Houston Bread Company . The food here is hearty, plentiful and cheap. You can buy fresh-baked breads, sandwiches and soup (served in regular bowls or hollowed-out bread). I usually have trouble finishing my food here, the portions are so large. -- Christof Spieler
Patu , on Rice Boulevard, is a Thai restaurant that for some reason is ignored by most Rice students. If you've never tried Thai food before, you're in for a treat -- try the succulent panang shrimp or anything with noodles. Dinner entrees don't run dirt cheap ($6.95 and up), but they're worth it. A handy thing to remember is the delicious and diverse $6.95 all-you-can-eat lunch buffet on Saturdays. -- Marty Beard
With a disarmingly cheerful, informal interior, El Meson (2425 University) might lead you to think it's a typical American small-town restaurant. But the Cuban dishes served here are anything but. Entrees ($6.95 to $12.95) include quite exotic dishes such as paella (lobster, chicken, shrimp and mussels in a rice casserole), ropa vieja (meaning "old clothes," shredded beef in a special sauce) and fried plantains -- as well as traditional Hispanic foods. Desserts include tres leches (a sweet cake) and flan, while a wide bar serves over 50 beers on tap, as well as ales, porters, grapa and, of course, margaritas. -- Joanna Winters
An Italian restaurant with lavish interiors, Baci brings good food to Houston -- for a price. It offers a large variety of pasta and seafood entrées, as well as juicy Italian steaks. For dessert, try the Tiramisû. It's good. A typical dinner for two will set you back by around $50, so this isn't your average Joe's Diner, unless you're Bill Gates. At University and Kelvin. -- Chetan Kapoor
There's a number of restaurants north of campus, along Kirby and Shepherd:
Dolce and Freddo , on Kirby, is a yuppie capuccino bar and a popular site for botched dates between Rice students. Seriously, though, besides their excellent selection of excellent gourmet coffees, they have gelato -- the Italian answer to ice cream -- in many flavors. Not a bad place to go. --M arty Beard
House of Pies , on Kirby Drive at Alabama is a popular hangout for Rice students after hours (it's open 24 hours). It offers a great selection of hearty breakfasts, sandwiches, burgers for prices from $4.50 to $7 and full-size dinners from $7.50 to $9. Their selling point is a delicious and huge selection of 45 pies and cakes, including specialties such as Bayou Goo (made of sweet cream cheese, chocolate chunks, vanilla custard and pecans), rhubarb pie and their best-selling strawberry cheesecake. Come alone or in a horde, and a friendly, typically full-time waitstaff will make you feel right at home. -- Joanna Winters
A reasonably priced place to eat Mexican food, Pico's Mexican Restaurant has killer fajitas and margaritas. The decor prompts a happy fiesta-style outing for dinner with friends or a date. The only problem with the place comes from the acoustics -- the place is noisy and it's often hard to hear the person across the table from you. Kirby at 59. -- Heather Smith
Beck's Prime on Kirby has fast food to die for. Their hamburgers rival those found at Fuddrucker's. Unfortunately, the prices are closer to Fuddrucker's prices than Mickey D's prices. Their beef is always tender and juicy and flavorful, and the bread and condiments are fresh. The French fries are tasty, too. Attempt to sip the THICK chocolate milkshakes and fail -- these are apparently meant to be slurped with help from a spoon. Go to Beck's and be a carnivore. -- Marty Beard
Pizzaria Uno is a step above the regular pizza place -- delicious, filling deep-pan pizzas, chrome-and neon decor, free refills on soft drinks, even sidewalk tables. Expect $7 for a pizza. On Kirby at Richmond. -- Christof Spieler
Chuy's Comida Deluxe: A little pricier that Pico's, Chuy's has much cooler decor (including an Elvis shrine) and food that's just as good. It's a really fun place to take groups to eat, but be warned: You will have to wait a while to be seated. On Westheimer a block west of Kirby. -- Heather Smith
Star Pizza has two locations; the one on Shepherd is more accessible to Rice students. This pizza kicks Domino's ass! It borders on the gourmet, but its prices are quite reasonable if you go with a group and share a large pizza. I recommend Joe's Pizza, which features spinach and tomatoes. The decor at the Shepherd location is mildly kitschy and very enjoyable. Movies are shown at the other location. -- Marty Beard
Amy's Ice Cream , on Shepherd just north of 59, is a goofy Texas chain that originated, appropriately enough, in eccentric Austin. Their ice cream is delectable and far more interesting than anything you'll find at Baskin-Robbins: Try white chocolate with strawberries. Besides ice cream, they also have wonderful coffees and low-fat frozen stuff like yogurt. But don't go here just for the ice cream: The atmosphere is great, too. The staff is often as hip as the decor. They'll butcher the ice cream for you, tossing it high into the air and beating it to a pulp so as to mix in your choice of goodies. -- Marty Beard
For good ol' Southern seafood, Pappa's Seafood is the place. On Shepherd.
Hobbit Hole Cafe , on Shepherd: This cozy hole-in-the-wall is for the Bilbo Baggins in everyone. An array of sandwiches includes many vegetarian specialties as well as burgers and other traditional favorites ($5.95 to $6.95), and the rest of the menu offers salads, enchiladas, chicken, seafood and more for $6.95 to $8.95. Most meals are served with carrot slivers or chips, and drinks include delicious smoothies made from fruit, crushed ice and honey. Dine indoors to visions of dwarfs and dragons or outdoors on the breezy, candlelit patio in back of the restaurant. -- Joanna Winters
Marble Slab , on Montrose, is another ice cream place (and my personal favorite) which specializes in fresh ice cream, mixed with fruits, chunks of chocolate or other ingredients of your choice, and served in a choice of cones. It's open late -- perfect for study breaks. There's another location in the Galleria on Post Oak. -- Christof Spieler
Houston's new Chinatown (the old one is situated downtown), located on and around Bellaire Boulevard's 9100-9300 blocks, is not for the palate in love with Americanized, buffet-style, fried ! Chinese food. Instead, imagine a bustling, down-and-out center where Houston's Asians convene, shop and eat. As a general rule, ugly interiors and hygiene rivaling that of CK accompany cheap and damn good food. -- Maisie Chou
Exploring and discovering your own favorite eatery is lots of fun. A good place to start is Chinese Cafe , 9252-C Bellaire, where the sober interior and laid-back atmosphere make for a student's paradise of cheap, no-frills Chinese dining. Its nearly all-Asian crowd guarantees the food's authentic taste. When ordering, remember the portions are definitely large enough for sharing. Some recommendable dishes include Shrimp with Snow Peas ($6.95) and Double Spicy Chicken ($5.95), which the menu will remind you is "Hot, Hot." Dare to try the spicy Chinese classic Ma-Po's Bean Curd ($4.95). -- Maisie Chou
Big Ten Cafeteria , 9306 Bellaire, may look like a dump, but I wish you good luck finding another place where spare change will buy you an entire meal. Cute little stands sell a variety of Chinese specialties like Won Ton Soup ($2), Big Ten Noodles ($3), and Papaya Milkshake ($1.35). Assorted Lunch Plates ($3.50, steamed rice included) are sort of a pot-luck deal and amazingly large-portioned. If the mismatched formica and semblances of dirt turn you off, don't sit down to savor the in-China atmosphere like me; simply consider Big Ten a great takeaway. -- Maisie Chou
More sit-down (and therefore date-friendly, as well as pricier) Imperial Palace , 9164 Bellaire (tel. 773-3838), offers a rather delicious dichotomy of dim sum lunches or a la carte Cantonese cuisine. On weekends, count on a pretty long wait to enjoy dim sum, dainty Cantonese dishes and pastries, carted right to your table. Don't forget to try assorted Siu My (Steam Dumplings, $1.65), Char Siu Bao (Steamed BBQ Pork Bun, $1.65), Kuo Tae (Pot Stickers, $1.65), and my favorite, Dan Tart, an egg custard ($1.65). For heartier fare, turn to the menu. Peking Duck goes at $28 and is hardly authentic Peking Duck, but still quite delectable. I've even been to IP for a formal, and I must say that the pre-arranged group dinners, both in quantity and quality, are a steal compared to reputable restaurants elsewhere. -- Maisie Chou
Finally, we have Atchafalaya on Main (near the corner of Kirby). This is a cool Cajun restaurant with New Orleans decor. Inside you'll feel like you're on Bourbon Street, but without the crazy crowds. They serve wonderful crawfish and the best Bengeits in town. Rather pricy, but worth it for the Cajun flair. -- Heather Smith
Mai's , off Milam, rocked my world. For less than 10 dollars, my friend Steve and I stuffed ourselves into bloated bliss. Mai's offers a wide variety of Vietnamese food, including plenty of vegetarian dishes, for beautifully low prices.
Plus, the fish sauce will make your eyes roll into the back of your head. The owner, Mai, always makes sure to keep random sports events running on the TV. -- Nina Olien
Baba Yega , on 2607 Grant, is a great place for wholesome, well-made food, including lots of options for vegetarians. Atmosphere is intimate and cozy, so it's a good place for romantic dinners for two, if you're both of the same gender. Babe Yega is in the heart of the Montrose club area. Straights are welcome, but homophobes should stay away. 522-0042. $5-10. -- Ann Abel
Toopee's Coffee Company is probably my favorite coffeehouse in Houston. Less noisy, crowded and pretentious than most others (the Rice CoffeeHouse excluded). Lunch/dinner menu includes sandwiches, potatoes and quiches. Breakfast sounds great with omelettes and buckwheat pancakes. Great artwork and friendly staff to boot! 1830 W. Alabama, 522-7662, 65 cents -$3 for coffee, about $5 for food. -- Ann Abel
Go to the Vietnam Restaurant in a group, be adventurous, share entrees and stuff yourselves for $6 each. Some dishes are rather spicy, great for clearing those sinuses! Make sure to get a lot of Imperial Rolls. Drink the decadent Vietnamese iced coffee with sweetened consensed milk and stay awake for hours. 3215 Main; 526-0917, $5-10. -- Ann Abel
This item appeared in the Features section of the September 1, 1995 issue.
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