Damian's 30th Anniversary

I was lucky enough to be invited to do a tasting at Damian's 30th Anniversary dinner.  

This is a very nice set of menu of 4 course meal.  I know you missed the January deal, of $30 for a 3-course dinner like the one I'm about to tell you how good it is.  But for the entire month of February,  it's Spaghetti and Meatball Fridays for $8.30 in honor of their start year of 1983.  In March, they are having the return of classic dishes daily, chosen by their servers.

For start, we were greeted by Johnny Mandola, he was very hospitable and it's like welcoming people to his home.  He made sure all of his guests are taken care of.

We started out with shrimp brochette h'orderves.  It's quite nice and tasty, but didn't want to fill up on bread, we got more to go.

Once we sat down, we had the Mona Lisa salad.  It's very unique is that it has mixed greens, feta cheese, and roasted almonds.  Together with the balsamic dressing, it's a very sweet start.  No, seriously, it is kinda sweet and you get that as a mix with everything in the same bite. 

Right after the salad, they brought out the Ravioli for the antipasti course.  It's really well done, the only thing is that it's a sweet potato ravioli, which made me felt double starched.  Personally, having been here, I think I would've selected the gnocchi instead, which has spinach and cream in a tomato sauce, much more well balanced and less likely fill you up early on in the night.

For my entree', I selected their Veal Marsala with green beans.  Everything is very flavorful just I remembered them to be.  Green beans were fresh and I literally wiped the plate down with them to get the very last bit of that marsala sauce.  YUM!

Lastly for dessert, we had tiramisu.  Who doesn't like tiramisu?!  Nobody!  Light mascarpone cream and coffee soaked ladyfingers.  This is as delightful as you're going to get.  Totally made my night!

One thing I like about Damian's is that if you go there before going to a show at the theatre district, they have 2 shuttles that takes you there.  They take you to Jones Hall, Alley, Wortham, and Hobby Center.  For special events, something really big like Paul McCartney, they may make an exception to go to Minute Maid or Toyota Center.  Check with them when you make a dinner reservation.  The good thing is, you grab an early dinner, let your server know you're going to a show, they'll make sure you get on that shuttle.  You don't have to fuss about parking and getting stuck when you are out of the show, and afterwards, you can come back for dessert.  It's a great arrangement, and the only restaurant that I know of offer this service.

When we were there, companies are having happy hour for their staff at their banquet room.  They have a wine room for private dinners.  Not to mention they have a gluten free items noted on the menu in case you're interested.  And their servers have been there for a long time which knows their stuff.  Being that this is the restaurant's 30th year, they must be doing something right.  

Damian's

3011 Smith Street

Houston, TX 77006

713-522-0439

http://www.damians.com/menu.html

Jenni's Noodles

I'm just on a curry kick here... We went to Jenni's Noodle for the Inferno Curry.  Now, don't lt the name deter you, I'm a total whim when it comes to spicy stuff, and it's not so bad.  As a matter of fact it's very tasty and coconutty.

My only complain is that there isn't enough rice to go with the soup... I needed more rice to soak up the curry and eat it with the chicken and potato.

Jenni's Noodles House

3111 S. Shepherd at Alabama

Houston, TX

713-Noodles 

call for pick ups!

http://www.noodlesrule.com/

Maggiano's

My friend and I decided that it's long over due for a meet up and we both were craving pasta, so to Maggiano's we go!

I always liked the decor in the place, make you feel like you're in a steak house but casual and good food.

We started with Fried Mozzarella, it's huge not as I had in mind, I was thinking mozzarella stick but the marinara sauce is addictive.

I ordered the Lobster pasta, as you can see the portion is huge, I ended up taking most of that home.

A note about their gluten free offering.  I mentioned to the server that I'm interested in having gluten free dishes, he immediately go to the back and get the chef to come an speak with me.  Basically, he asked me what I had in mind for selection and let me know if it can be done or not.  That was a nice touch.

Their pasta is with corn pasta, so that's why it's gluten free.  While it's hot, I cannot tell the difference and the sauce is superb.  They also have a $12.95 pasta menu.  You pick one while you're eating there, and another one to take home.  And aside from Lasagna that they cannot make gluten free, all the other pasta does have a GF version.  I will say that the take home pasta, you can definitely tell it's very corn-y.  But like I said, eat them hot!

Maggiano's

2019 Post Oak Blvd

Houston , TX 77056-4401

713-961-2700

they do curb side take out

http://www.maggianos.com/

India's Restaurant

It's been a while since we had India's food, so delicious...

Of course, I really go there for their papadum, so good.  Better than any taco shell you've ever tasted.

Our usual dishes: Keema Curry with lamb... goes great with rice.

Saag Paneer: spinach with cubed cheese, the cheese was a bit over empowering a bit.

Cauliflower and potato marsala.

I always love to go there because the service is always top notch.  I love the hot towel, the drinks poured as soon as you sit down.  Food is always fast and good.  Don't be discouraged by the parking, there's more in the back of the building.

India's 

5704 Richmond Ave  

Houston, TX 77057
(713) 266-0131

http://www.indiasrestauranthouston.com/

BRC

For a good, quick lunch, BRC always delivers!

On weekends and on a beautiful day, you can almost guarantee that the patio is full, go early to grab a seat!  There's parking on the side of the building and they have an agreement with the building next door to park there on weekends, so no need to drive around.

I got their cheeseburger sliders, do ask what the sliders of the day is because that changes regularly.  They are sandwiched in their delicious buttermilk biscuits, and the meat patty is juicy and flavorful.  They also have awesome mustard, I don't usually say that about condiments, but this was really good. 

The fries are like crack to me, they must've fried it twice, because they are nice and crispy.  Now it might be too oily to some, but it's delicious for sure.  Come in and grab a pint and grab some sliders.

BRC Gastropub

519 Shepherd Dr.

Houston, TX 77007

713-861-2233

http://www.brcgastropub.com/index.php

Corner Table

I had read about Corner Table from Eater-Houston.  By Bruce Molzan, formerly Ruggles famed chef.

The space is kinda unique, they took over the Brownstone space near West Ave.  And their schtick is that they do are for the Paleo eaters in the area... so we thought we'd give it a try.

The space is definitely hip and upscale.  But from talking to the GM, they do plan on having a more casual lunch.  Brownstone was a huge space, so it may be a little dis-oriented trying to find the front door.

We got the Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Bolognese.  This is a Paleo dish, but funny thing was that they gave us 3 slices of normal bread... hmm... don't think that's kosher for Paleo eaters... 

The funny thing was that the front of the house all understood that, but the kitchen was not paying attention.  It's like they are not paying attention how paleo doesn't do bread.  They were carrying out the dish as is.  But like I said, front of the house from GM to the server, all are educated about paleo style of eating, which I can appreciate that.

We also ordered a Potato Pizza, and obviously they have gluten free dough.  Arugalah on top of the pizza, but it has mozzarella and bacon.  It's taste very smokey, you can tell this flat bread was in a stone oven of some sort.

To top of the night, we shared a creme brulee.  Which is totally kosher... it has a nice crack on top, and the creme part is very vanilla tasty!

Every one was very friendly, and educated enough about the paleo eating lifestyles.  The menu portion is not as big as we had hoped, but I can appreciate them making an effort.  Since alot more restaurants are doing gluten free dishes, going that extra step to make it paleo is refreshing.

The space is shi-shi, and for dinner you do feel like it's more of an upscale experience.  But if they lunch is more casual, I'm more incline to bring friends to go try it together.

Corner Table

2736 Virginia Street

Houston, TX 77098

713-568-9196

http://www.facebook.com/thecornertable/info

Kubo's Cafe

For a cold day, I went to another Japanese comfort food.  This time, I went to Kubo's Cafe, which is significantly different than Kubo's in the Village.  

This is definitely more Cafe Express style, you walk up, order, grab a seat and pick up your food type place.  They do have sushi like the original location does.  But this location has more hot dishes and definitely comfort Japanese food.

 So, I got the beef curry rice.  I love Japanese curry as opposed to Thai Curry or Indian Curry.  There's a hint of sweetness to it, that the other curry doesn't have.  What I do miss, however, is that usually Japanese curry has potato in the stew.  I love the potato because they've been cooked for so long and soaked up all the curry that it's tasty in the first bite.  Where are my potatoes?

Like I said, they serve alot of sushi dishes, but they also focus more on hot dishes.  They have ramen (the real ones), curry, udons, fried stuff and bento boxes.  You know what they say, if the Japanese goes there, you know it's good.  When I sat down for lunch, there are alot of Japanese that work near at the Energy Corridor stopped in for lunch, that's definitely a validation.

Kubo's Cafe

9889 Bellaire Blvd
Suite 234
Houston,TX 77036
713.995.4200 

http://www.kubos-sushi.com/kubos_cafe/index.html