Restaurants cater to appetites, wallets of all sizes

City of Houston brings food, festivities for every age

Courtesy Photo | Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau
Courtesy Photo | Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau

By Molly Dunn
Contributor

Around Reliant Stadium and downtown Houston, you can find a multitude of restaurants varying in cuisine, atmosphere and quality. Whether you want to eat close to the stadium or grab a bite on your way in from surrounding cities, you are guaranteed a great meal at these local favorites, including many one-of-a-kind eateries.

In the Upper Kirby area, Beck’s Prime at 2902 Kirby Drive offers praiseworthy burgers, fries and shakes to satisfy your fast-food cravings. Whether you are in a hurry or want to have a sit-down meal, Beck’s Prime is an excellent, affordable choice for lunch or dinner.

Goode Co. Texas Bar-B-Q, located at 5109 Kirby Drive, is a Texas landmark when it comes to barbecue. From brisket to sweet water duck to barbecue sandwiches and excellent southern desserts, this original Houston barbecue joint will give you all the fixings for a barbecue meal and more.

Check out Goode’s Armadillo Place located directly across from Goode Co. Texas Bar-B-Q at 5015 Kirby Drive, for another barbecue restaurant with live music.

Houston’s, located at 4848 Kirby Drive, is a perfect place to eat for lunch or dinner if you want a variety of quality food. Before a football game, you may crave a big juicy cheeseburger, or perhaps a tender steak. If so, Houston’s is the place for you. Ask anyone about Houston’s and you are bound to here a praise or two about their hand-cut french fries or their messy finger-licking barbecue ribs.

Star Pizza, located at 77 Harvard, off of Washington Avenue, is home to some of the best pizza in town. Locals rave about the quality of their pizza. Stop by this local favorite and enjoy a personal slice of pizza, split a whole pie with your friends or chow down on some of their excellent sandwiches and pasta options before heading to the game.

Hickory Hollow BBQ, 101 Heights Blvd., is a Texas style café you don’t want to miss. Whatever your comfort food may be, you can find it here. Houston Press names their chicken fried steaks as “Best in Houston.” You certainly don’t want to pass up this restaurant while in town.

In the Midtown Montrose area of Houston, you can find many unique local restaurants varying in cuisine.

Ponzo’s Italian Food, located at 2515 Bagby, is a family-owned and operated Italian restaurant that offers everything from pizza to calzones to cannolis. They are open for lunch and dinner and are closed on Mondays.

Niko Niko’s, located at 2520 Montrose Blvd., is a Greek and American café that was featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” Known for their gyro sandwiches and french fries, Niko Niko’s has established a name for itself. As an affordable and enjoyable meal, check it out and you won’t be disappointed.

El Tiempo Cantina, located at 1308 Montrose Blvd., has some of the best Tex-Mex food in Houston. El Tiempo Cantina is known for having the best fajitas, guacamole and green salsa. Its lunch and dinner menu consists of various seafood enchiladas, beef fajitas, numerous quesadillas and grilled entrees. El Tiempo Cantina is a town favorite and cannot be missed.

Around the Galleria area in Houston on Post Oak Blvd., there are many chain restaurants and fast-food places. Kenny & Ziggy’s Deli, located at 2327 Post Oak Blvd., is a New York delicatessen restaurant known as Houston’s best deli. Kenny & Ziggy’s Deli was also featured on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” and the locals know why. With excellent Zagat ratings, this deli offers the best sandwiches, soups and deli entrees that are compared to original New York delis. Whether you want a triple smoked pastrami sandwich, a cup of matzo ball soup or a Brooklyn style patty melt, this deli will give you what you want and even more.