Walk-On's Update

I came back to check out the interior the other day. Had a nice lunch and the place was pretty busy. Very comfortable sports bar atmosphere. Guys in shorts and women in cheerleader skirts, so a very light Hooters touch but they don't seem to be leaning on that.

I had the ribeye po'boy with waffle fries and a chocolate shake for my lunch. Enjoyed the sandwich, the ribeye was pretty done but very tender and juicy. Had a good light cheese sauce with it. Have to say that the dominant flavor is salt. Kind of like a french dip after you dip it, but less onion. I like salty so that worked for me.

The chocolate shake is not a drink, it is a dessert--kind of a soft serve with whipped cream. Very tasty. I had them bring it with the meal, and went to it a few times to cut the salt--they went well together.

The bathroom was clean and ready, and the interior is well done and not distracting. Overall a good place.

My Yelp Review

Los Tres Ranchitos Update

My initial review of this place was of take-out food very close to the beginning of the pandemic. It was a bit rough. I really thought I should give them a chance to do better.   The other day I came in for a lunch special--chile relleno with rice and refrieds.  Service was very good--really fast food delivery.  I only had a few minutes to eat their chips and salsa.  Their salsa is served warm, and this salsa, unlike some I've had, seemed made to be served that way.  The chile relleno was decent, a nice savory sauce but I don't know if it would displace my favorites.  The rice and beans were good.  Got a generous serving of guacamole.  

The interior of the place is what I really wanted to see.  And it's a very appealing version of the standard Mexican place--lots of commercial art, color scheme chosen to increase your appetite.  A nice place to come with your family.  The restroom was fine, though they do use the hallway as a storage area so be careful if you are mobility impaired.  Overall, glad I came back.

My Yelp Review

Jersey Mike's at Kuykendahl near 2920

This new location opened a bit closer to home and I stopped in to pick up sandwiches for us.  Had the Bacon Ranch Chicken and Big Kahuna cheese steaks.  Also a bag of chips, a brownie, and a Stubborn root beer.

The sandwiches were good ones--the regular is a very generous serving, which it should be for $10.  The Big Kahuna is their classic cheese steak with peppers--jalapeno and red--and has a little kick to it.

It's a sandwich shop that won't disappoint.  Service was fine, the dining room and bathroom were both clean, and was as quick as it could have been for a fresh hot sub.  The brownie was fine, definitely a good chocolate hit, and the drink machine was working OK--a little gas but nothing out of the ordinary.  I am mostly a Subway guy but would have no issues with getting Jersey Mike's.

ChickingOut

We haven't had grilled chicken in our neighborhood since El Pollo Loco's brief run, so I was excited to try this family-run business.  I had a half-chicken meal with the hot seasoning, with a side of rice, a biscuit, a drink, and a lime cake for dessert.

The chicken was excellent, and that's what we all come for.  The breast was tender and flavorful, and that's the hardest part to get right.  The dark meat was of course great as well.  The hot seasoning was pleasantly warm, enough so that I cooled it with the avocado ranch dressing that came with it.  They also have salsa and chipotle mayonnaise.  I am on the sensitive side when it comes to seasoning, so if you really like it spicy you'll need to add some hot sauce.  

The sides were good backup singers.  The rice was above-average Mexican rice, a lot of flavor and good texture.  The biscuit was fine--perhaps could have used some butter and honey but it ate well as is.  The desserts I would say are not special--they are prepackaged.  The lime cake is a layered dessert with cookies and lime filling but it had all been together long enough that it was one texture throughout--tasted decent but kind of mushy.

The drink machine was functioning correctly when I was in.  The interior is not decorated but was nice and clean.  The single bathroom is nicely appointed and was ready to go when I visited.  Overall, I'm glad to see this option in our neighborhood again and will be back.

My Yelp Review

Taqueria Bye Bye Hunger

Taqueria Bye Bye Hunger has gone in where Tony's Street Tacos used to be, in the Chevron station that is now called Rootmart.  I stopped in the other day to get lunch for us.  We got a beef shawarma wrap and a gyro, and some Tex-Mex rice.  Their fryer was out of commission so we didn't get fries.

The sandwiches are made when you order them, so you'll wait a bit for fresh food but it's worth it.  The beef shawarma was very good, nice and tender with a good tzatziki sauce.  The owner is the chef, and she added her special spice mix to the shawarma which added a real depth of flavor.  Interestingly, she sprinkles it on at the end, after she's completed the wrap, so the spices are only on the end. Basically two different sandwiches. It's an excellent spice mix and I would have loved to have had it throughout.  

The gyro was OK but not nearly as exciting--strong gyro flavor that went well with the sauce, and if you like gyros it might be a good one, but for us it was neither good nor bad.  Both sandwiches had dill pickles along with the usual ingredients--new for me with Middle Eastern food.  Not sure what to make of that combination--I liked it OK on the shawarma, though it would have been fine without them, and I think it might have detracted from the gyro.

The Mexican rice was a very good version, good vegetables and a very rich mouth feel.

The "taqueria" in the name comes from their breakfast tacos--they had a nice selection that looked good, but I went with the Middle Eastern food.

Decor is just paint--they are just getting started.  Service is very friendly and warm, you will not find better. Overall I think these folks are very good cooks and still finding their way.  They have a good product now and I believe it will get better.  They have no social media and no menu--you'll just have to come by to see what they have.

My Yelp Review

Artisan Culture

This place is tucked away in a little neighborhood business area.  They are definitely going for the green/clean eating market--all products are vegan and gluten-free, so whatever you are trying to avoid you probably can. They have a very nice menu of coffees and specialty drinks.  I went more basic and ordered a latte with vanilla flavoring.  A new item on the menu is crepes--they have a chef on duty until 1pm and right now they offer two kinds.  I ordered the seasonal one, a pumpkin and fruit crepe.

The coffee was good and reasonably priced.  The latte had a nice foam and the traditional little leaf pattern.  I got a nice caffeine kick from it so I considered that covered.  

The crepe came very nicely presented, with fresh strawberries and a tasty filling.  The crepe was folded neatly. This is very challenging with vegan ingredients--most vegan crepes fall apart into little shreds even as they are being folded.  This one broke up more than a standard crepe would, but it held together reasonably well and added texture to the ingredients.  Altogether it was really a perfect snack, it was satisfying but didn't weigh me down at all.

You get a 10% discount if you ride your bike to the place--unfortunately not easy to do as there are no bike trails nearby, but it's a nice thought.

The bathroom was clean and ready, very nicely appointed.  As was the dining area--it very clearly is set up to welcome people to stay awhile.  The mask culture (lacking) is noted but I am not judgmental on this, since one can't eat while masked anyway.  If you are looking for a Portland vibe in the Houston area you will find it here.

My Yelp Review

Ta'CoNChile

I've been wanting to try this food truck at the Gosling Express Food Truck Plaza for awhile now, and managed to get there the other evening.  They have a reputation as a Mexican, more than Tex-Mex, truck.  Ordered a Mexican hot dog, a quesabirria, a cup of Mexican street corn, and a horchata agua fresca to wash it down.

The staff were very friendly and helpful, and my wait was not long--worth it for fresh-made food.  I very much enjoyed the Mexican hot dog.  It comes with grilled onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, bacon and cheese, and a Mexican cheese sauce to bring it together.  Great flavor combination.  It was a fantastic value at $4.  They keep the price down with dollar-a-pack hot dogs and cheap buns, but really for the money it's well worth it.  I would get it again.

The street corn was a great starter.  Layers of Mexican cheese and taco sauce mix together for a tasty corn casserole in a cup.  I love Mexican street corn and this was a good example.  The horchata was very good, with a stronger kick of cinammon than usual.  Definitely worth getting an agua fresca with your Mexican meal

The quesabirria is their specialty item.  It is Mexican beef stew meat and cheese in either flour or corn tortillas, finished on the grill to make it nice and chewy.  The birria sauce is served as an au jus so you have control. This dish has a very specific appeal--if the sight of a puddle of orange grease at the bottom of the plate makes your mouth water you will like this item, otherwise I would recommend trying their traditional tacos.

The salsas are served in little squares of plastic wrap, tied off.  So you have to poke them with a fork to get the salsa.  The red sauce has a serious kick, the green less so.  They are OK but the quesabirrias didn't need them.

They have bolis on their menu for dessert, which is ice cream frozen in a plastic wrapper.  I'm not a real fan so I did not get one and can't evaluate it.

It would be hard to say you should come to the food truck park specifically to eat here.  I went several times during their google maps posted hours and they weren't open.  They are consistently open Fridays (that's the day they post on Facebook) and seem to be trying to settle into a Thursday-Sunday evening schedule.  I would say take advantage of them if you see them open.

My Yelp Review

Ceviche Ria

This place is a successor to TJ Baja Tacos and Very Fresh Ceviches and Snacks.  They are now back in a restaurant-size space.  I came in the other day to give their new venue a try.  Ordered a Diabla shrimp tostada and a pineapple agua fresca.  You order at the counter and they bring the food to your table if you eat in. Service was polite and everything is made fresh so there's a little wait but it's well worth it.  

The shrimp in the dish is popcorn shrimp.  They were perfectly cooked and fresh, with a nice snap.  They offer mild, medium or spicy heat levels.  I would say the overall spice level is low.  I'm above-average sensitive--I ordered medium and just barely detected any heat.  If you like your spice, order it spicy and maybe tell them to amp it up some more.  The dish was a beautiful warm shrimp salad--lots of shrimp, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and other flavors with a tasty diablo sauce.  Nice savory flavor and a good boost from the sauce.  The tostada was crisp and firm enough to pick up if you wanted, though it is piled high so I ate it with a fork.  

The pineapple agua fresca was tasty and refreshing, not too strong but with great fruit flavor.  Went very well with the meal,  They also have horchatas, smoothies and shakes.

I've had their corn snacks in the past, and they are an excellent afternoon pick-up.  The mix of corn, cheese and spices is very satisfying.

The interior is very attractive and goes perfectly with the seafood theme.  Those who visited TJ's may remember that the interior was quite elaborate--not quite so much so this time, but more restful with some very nice artwork.  The bathrooms had just been cleaned so were of course ready to go.

The food is priced for fresh chef creations--my lunch set me back $23 but it was well worth it.  This is a seafood place, first last and always--no non-seafood items on offer unless you count the brisket options on the kids menu (so they'd probably make an adult-size version if you wanted), and vegetarian options are limited to the corn snacks.  If you are looking for Mexican seafood this is the place to go. 

My Yelp Review

Dutch Bros. Coffee at Gosling and 2920

This place has made a big splash in the neighborhood so I stopped in.  I ordered an Annihilator, which is a chocolate macadamia nut breve, and a lemon poppy seed muffin top.  You have options on the classic drinks--I had mine over ice.

All Dutch Bros. shops are drive through or walk up only, so they are forgoing the market for people to sit together for coffee or pull out their laptop and work.  Instead of having a speaker box for the drive through, they have staff outside taking customer orders at their cars--a nice human touch.

The customer service was excellent at this location.  The place was extremely busy, but the line moved quickly.  They handled any customer issues generously and effectively.

I wish I liked what I got better.  The coffee drink was sweet and milky--I didn't taste any chocolate or macadamia, or much coffee for that matter.  No caffeine kick that I could detect and I am somewhat sensitive.  The muffin top was a frozen item that got kind of gummy as it thawed.  Not real appealing.  I might need to get something more, or less, traditionally coffee-oriented.  My wife has had a better experience and has been back a few times.

Their marketing game is strong.  They give out collectible stickers that are a hot item.  But I'm not sure why one would switch from Starbucks, and you really can't if you want to sit somewhere.

My Yelp Review

Woodall's BBQ

I always love having a new BBQ option in the neighborhood, even though BBQ is one of the most difficult cuisines to get right.  Tried Woodall's the other night for a family dinner.

We got takeout, but if you eat in the service is somewhat like Spring Creek, in that you go through a line and they dish it up for you.  We got a 3 meat plate with wet brisket, ribs and pulled pork, a pulled pork loaded potato, onion rings and mac 'n' cheese for sides, and some chocolate mousse for dessert.

The meats had excellent smoke on them and the pulled pork had great flavor.  Barbecue is all about the cook on the meat for me, and this was darned close to perfect.  The ribs were in fact competition perfect texture, tender but not falling off the bone and smoked all the way through.  The brisket was also deliciously tender, not quite cut-it-with-a-fork but very close.  And all were available at 6pm!  To get meat this good you normally would have to go to Corkscrew or Texas Chocolatier at 9am and wait a couple hours.  The ribs and brisket were very lightly seasoned, with most of the flavor coming from the smoke.  The barbecue sauce was a molasses-based Kansas City style that complemented the meat well.  The consistency made me think it might be store-bought but I don't mind this--there are a lot of good sauces out there, and not much well-cooked meat.

The mac 'n' cheese is a homemade style, with good texture and flavor but be aware that it's a dry mac 'n' cheese, not a saucy one.  The potato is generously sized and has lots of that great meat on it.  Ours was slightly on the firm side but within the range many would like--not crunchy.  Could perhaps have used a bit more condiments but again well within average and very good.  The onion rings were a bit of a disappointment--freshly cooked, but obviously not made there and kind of chewy.  A deep-fat fryer is not traditional BBQ and is a pain to maintain and operate, so I have to wonder if it is worth it if you're not making your own batter.  The mousse was fine, but kind of lacks something when it comes from a little styrofoam cup. They do have a few interesting drinks--I picked up a cane sugar Dr. Pepper, and they have 7up on tap.

The dining area is very simple, one big room in the gas station strip mall with a bit of an echo when it is busy. The decor very much celebrates rural Texas.  If you eat in you get your food served on butcher paper, traditional BBQ style.  The bathroom was clean and ready, and the staff was quite friendly and helpful. Barbecue travels quite well so it's a good choice for takeout.  Definitely a good choice for a few pounds for a party, and the potato is good too. 

My Yelp Review

Mama Juanita's Restaurant at Gosling and Root

This well-known local chain now has a location at Gosling and Root.  We got takeout from there the other night on a busy evening.  We had the yellow queso with chips, the El Capitan (grilled shrimp with pork carnitas), and chipotle enchiladas.  We ordered direct from the restaurant to avoid delivery commissions for them.

One nice touch is that they send all three of their salsas with takeout.  The queso was standard, chips were fine also.  I mixed in some of the red salsa with the queso and it made a really nice combination--the salsa had a lot of flavor and was mildly spicy.  The salsa verde was the spicy one of the bunch--good flavor and an intense kick.  They also had a chipotle salsa that had a pretty good kick of its own and good flavor.  All tasted homemade.

The El Capitan shrimp were quite good, properly cooked with lots of paprika and other spices, they had some kick but very manageable.  The pork carnitas were good also, tender and moist with plenty of onion.  I was happy with the dish.  The chipotle enchiladas tasted good but from the description we thought they'd be creamier, more like the sour cream enchiladas.  Not a real knock on them.  They were very spicy, with the salsa verde it's for serious heat lovers.

For sides we had charro beans, refrieds, and rice.  The charro bean soup was pretty good, salty with good bacon flavor.  The rice was a saffron rice, which I like better than the tomato-chile rice.  On its own it was on the dry side, but was good with the other things.  Refrieds were fine.

We didn't get dessert, since it really doesn't travel well for the most part.  But I would have ordered the fried ice cream, it was a great looking presentation--ice cream topped with corn flakes in a pastry shell.  Also looked like they had free ice cream.

I went inside to pick up my order.  It took a bit longer than I would have liked to get waited on, though not seriously so, and the order was ready for me.  The order was correct, which does not always happen with takeout for more than one person.  The interior is pretty basic--one square room with tables pretty close together, and it was busy so on the noisy side.  You're kind of on top of the dining area at the doorway.  The restaurant is a mask-free zone--no one present was wearing one.

All in all it was fine, a strong three stars but not four.  I'm just not sure why I'd prefer it to other Mexican places in the area.  If you're a fan already and live nearby then it's great to have one convenient.

My Yelp Review

Sno Show at HEB at Gosling and 2920

This small snow cone trailer is now located at the HEB at Gosling and Root when it isn't booked.  Stopped by the other day for a couple of snow cones and snacks.  They have a nice inventory of flavors and add-ons--we got coconut with gummy bears and blue raspberry.  They also have hot dogs and chips so you can grab a light meal.

The snow cones were good, plenty of syrup.  The gummy bears weren't actually gummy bears.  They were more like vitamin gummies.  I actually like those better but just FYI.  We were offered seconds on the gummies, which was a nice touch.  I had a hot dog with mine, which cost $1 and was a dollar hot dog.

What stands out about this snow cone place is the range of price points.  You can get a large one for $7, with a range all the way down to a $2 baby cone that you could have your three year old hold and not feel bad if they drop it.   A great choice for an inexpensive treat on a hot afternoon.

My Yelp Review

Cheri's N'awlins Sneaux Bawls

I stopped by this truck, located at the Gosling Express food truck park, for dessert on a very hot Saturday afternoon.  I got a Sneaux Float--shaved ice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, with root beer shaved ice syrup and a can of A&W on the side. It was a pretty massive dessert, plenty to share for 2 or 3 people.  The different textures make it very interesting to eat.  It got kind of solid at the bottom, but I think that's just how snow cones are, particularly in hot weather.  The people running the truck are super friendly and it's a pleasure doing business with them.

Like a lot of small food truck operations, the stated hours are aspirational.  I found them closed the first couple of times I tried, and kind of picked them up by accident while I was here for another truck.  Take advantage of them when you see them open, a snow cone is a fine complement to the other food available at the court. 

My Yelp Review

Boriken Puerto Rican Kitchen

I stopped by this food truck in the Gosling Express Food Truck Park for a late lunch the other day (they open at 2pm).  I had the garlic shrimp for an entree and an alcapurria on the side, and washed it down with a Mate India soda.  Overall the meal was very successful, I can heartily recommend it.

The garlic shrimp dish is true to its name--shrimp cooked in a garlic butter sauce, reminding me very much of shrimp scampi.  The shrimp were nicely cooked, and the shells were softened up enough that I just ate them whole.  The dish comes with a choice of sides--rice, tostones (fried plantain) or mofongo.  Mofongo is a savory mashed plantain casserole formed tightly in a mold.  It has a great combination of textures, and it went particularly well with this dish as it soaked up that garlic butter sauce to make it taste even richer.  Yum!  It came with a tasty dipping sauce, but the sauce didn't really go with the dish and they could probably leave it off.  

But that sauce was a perfect complement for the alcapurria (and it had its own container).  Alcapurrias are a fritter often made with green bananas and taro root and stuffed with meat.  This one was made with a plantain base.  It was nice and crisp on the outside and quite tasty with the sauce.  It was fresh from the fryer so it was extremely hot, and would remain that way for quite some time--it would travel well.

The entrees are priced from $13.50-$23, not unusual for a food truck but a bit more than many in this food truck park.  But you can get a perfectly reasonable lunch from the small item menu, which has empanadas as well as the alcapurrias, and not spend more than $10.  Service was very friendly and helpful.  A great way to experience Puerto Rican food, which we have not had in this neighborhood.

My Yelp Review

Savage Burrito

Savage Burrito is a "ghost kitchen" that operates out of Uncle Julio's Restaurants.  It is delivery-only and online ordering only--no phone number.  But since it's a separate brand I thought it deserved its own review. We ordered dinner the other day--an O.G. burrito, a build-your-own burrito and a build-your-own bowl.  Also got a soda, some chips and queso and some churro bites.

The burritos were tasty--the beef was very tender and had good flavor, and the other ingredients complemented it well.  The tortilla was sturdy enough to hold all the food and folded properly, so it was easy to pick it up to eat.  It was also tender enough to enjoy all the way to the end.

The chips and queso were also very good.  The chips were very thin and fresh, so they had a great crunch. The queso had more than average salt, but the jalapenos (Hatch chiles on the menu) mixed in were very good and the queso was great with the chips.  The churro bites were very good, particularly if you eat them first when they are still warm and at their lightest and crunchiest.  But even if you save them for the end they are well above average.  They are served with chocolate sauce, which I personally prefer to Nutella.  The drinks are just regular sodas and waters, no need to order if you have them around the house.

Service was excellent--the DoorDash order came well ahead of schedule, and everything was packed neatly in the bag.  The only thing that knocks this review down is that the custom burrito included roasted corn, which we didn't want.  It's difficult to get custom items right, but could be important for customers with allergies.

Ordering this way is not cheap, with tips and fees it was about $15 per person, but it's a good value.

My Yelp Review

Melting Leaf CBD and Coffee

I stopped in the other day to give the coffee a try and check out the CBD offerings.  The manager was very helpful and polite, and recommended the latte to me.  I had the latte with some caramel and a shot of CBD.  The manager comped my 10mg CBD, saying the system could only charge for 20mg.  So nice!  The CBD does not add any particular flavor to the drink.  I also picked up some chocolates.

I'm not sure the coffee would beat out Starbucks, but you can't get CBD at Starbucks (at least not yet).  The shop is clean, bright and modern-looking, geared mostly to take-out in these times but there are a couple of tables.  The restroom was clean and ready to go.  If you're looking for a pick-me-up with benefits, this would be a good place to try.

My Yelp Review

Pepperoni's Pizza on 2920

We tried this place for the first time the other night for a two-family dinner, so there's a lot of detail.  We did online orders, and got garlic bread with cheese, pepperoni rolls, some Texas BBQ wings, two salads (House and Napa Walnut), three smalls (All the Meats on thin crust, Veggie, and vegan cheese with spinach and alfredo), two larges (one supreme, one cheese), a couple of desserts (cannoli and cheesecake) and added a couple of bottles of their house soda at the last minute.

The appetizers were very tasty.  The garlic bread is very garlicky and cheesy, soft and delicious.  The pepperoni rolls had great flavor.  The salads were a good choice also--the garden salad was fine, but the Napa Walnut salad was especially rich and satisfying with the gorgonzola cheese and candied walnuts.

The pizza was very good as well, I would say a cut above the big chains.  They were very generous with the toppings and the crust had great flavor.  The pizza ate really well and the availability of small sizes meant no one had to compromise on what ingredients they wanted, which is an issue for us.

The desserts were OK, basically store-bought.  The cannoli seemed a little hard and stale, but tasted all right.  The sodas were a good choice--they have root beer and lemonade, both made with cane sugar.

What brings the review down a bit is service issues.  The orders were about 20 minutes late due to a power outage that reset their oven.  These things happen.  What also happened was mistakes on our order.  The order is delivered to you sealed, so it's not really possible to check and see if everything is there.  I can't tell you how the wings are because they didn't make it into the order.  Also, the meat pizza came on the hand tossed crust, not the thin crust, so I don't know what that's like either.  The people were nice, but ended up rushing.

The seating area is very informal, not something you would use with a group but OK if you're on your own for lunch.  The restroom (only one) was clean and ready.  The prices are a cut above the big chains as well, you're paying for quality.  We'll give them another try sometime but I'll find a way to check the order better.

My Yelp Review

Mr. Sweet at Gosling Food Truck Plaza

Mr. Sweet is a catering service in The Woodlands area, and now they have a food truck in the Gosling Express food truck plaza.  They have a wide variety of Venezuelan desserts.  We tried it out the other night--had a piece of milhojas, which has layers of puff pastry, cake and creme, with an arequipe (caramel) topping.  The night was challenging for this kind of dessert as it was very hot, but this dessert and everything they had looked to be in great shape.  We enjoyed it a lot --saved some for later and it was still good.  Polite service and a menu that will take you on an adventure--we gave Google a workout looking up the names.  Great way to finish a meal there.

My Yelp Review

Yates Barbecue at Gosling Food Truck Plaza

We've been anxiously waiting for this place to open in the Gosling Express food truck plaza and it's finally here.  Tried it out and it's fantastic.  This is old school BBQ--the menu is handwritten on an erasable board, so you get whatever they have that evening.  When we went they had brisket, turkey legs, sausage and a few other things--no ribs.  OK by me, I was there for the brisket.  Had it on a sandwich with green beans and potato salad.  

The sides were OK.  Green beans were cooked well but not a lot of seasoning.  But we're here for the meat.  And the brisket was amazing, as good as any I have had.  Very tender so it ate well on the sandwich.  The flavor was very good without the sauce, you could taste the smoke and the seasoning was excellent.  But the sauce is over the top.  A traditional red sauce with great depth of flavor.  You don't need a whole lot but I put a lot on anyway, might have drunk it.  

They are very new but should not be missed.  Good 'cue is hard to do, and they have nailed it.

My Yelp Review

Starbucks at Gosling Green

Stopped in to this new location in the Ariza Apartment complex the other day.  It's a Starbucks.  The place is nice and clean, and the service is decent and polite.  We had a Dragonfruit-Mango refresher and an iced caramel macchiato, and some banana bread.  The refresher was quite good, a favorite of ours.  I had not tried a caramel macchiato before.  It tasted good but was mostly just sweet, not much caramel in it.  Delivered on the caffeine front.  The banana bread was good, not going to beat homemade but complemented the coffee well.  Convenient to our neighborhood, though you can say that for at least three other locations, but it is very accessible off Gosling--the light at Mossy Oaks serves it directly.  We will very likely be back.

My Yelp Review

Sweet Inspirations Tea Room & Gift Shop

Stopped in to try out this new place near Kroger the other day.  The target demographic is most definitely Christian "ladies who lunch".  The decor is for sale, and is very nostalgic and Christian family oriented.  Christian popular music plays in the background.  

The food is absolutely delicious and very well done.  It is a classic tea room, featuring quiche, sandwiches (including cucumber) and a full tea menu.  I started off with one of their popular teas, the Houston Hero.  It is a delicious, full bodied tea, with a hint of caramel and almonds.  No sweetener needed for me, and I would say try any of them first before you add anything.  For my lunch I had the Tea Room Sampler, which includes a slice of quiche, a cup of soup, and a salad selection.  For the quiche, I had the sausage and spinach.  Nicely savory and very pleasing texture, really enjoyed it.  I went with the tortilla soup--very nice presentation with the colorful tortilla strips.  The soup itself was very thick, with good rich flavor and just a little kick.  The pasta salad was fine, a pasta with black and green olives and tomatoes.

For dessert I went with the brownie.  It had a crunchy chocolate top, kind of like a Nestle's Crunch bar but homemade, with a layer of marshmallow creme and the brownie.  Hard to eat with a fork but good to pick up, and the taste and texture combination was excellent.

The restaurant itself is spotless throughout, including the bathrooms.  Service is paced for conversation.  The teas are very unique, not a coffeehouse offering.  If this is your kind of thing you will find no better example.

My Yelp Review

Taqueria at Windrose Food Mart (Star Stop 58)

There is a new taqueria in the Exxon station at the corner of Gosling and Kuykendall, where Chai Taco used to be.  I believe there was one after Chai Taco that I never got to review, because when I stopped in today for lunch the owners are brand new--so new they have not come up with a name for their business yet.  

I ordered a plate with carnitas and beef birria, something unique in my experience.  They threw in a pork adobo taco as a sample.  The carnitas were very tasty, moist and tender with great pork flavor.  The beef was good and interesting--I could taste the beer and the flavor had a lot of depth. The beans and rice were the usual stuff.  The salsas definitely tasted homemade.  The salsa roja was decent, with a good strong kick.  The salsa verde was the highlight, though--it was delicious, excellent chile flavor that blended well with both the pork and beef.

The people are very friendly and seem ready to work hard.  The store itself is very clean, and the drink machine was in good working order.  The new business has some growing pains--the salsa came in a little bundle of plastic wrap, am guessing they didn't get their salsa cups in yet.  But I'm very happy to give a new food place a boost.  Hopefully they will get their name soon so we can leave reviews.

Uncle's BBQ

We've been watching for this place to open for awhile, and gave it a try for a family dinner a short while ago. Sure glad we did!  Overall an excellent experience.

Our order included a 3 meat platter, pulled pork sandwich, tacos, a baked potato, and dessert.  We ordered online late in the day.  As often happens with a good BBQ place, they were out of the ribs I ordered, and also 2 of 3 desserts.  But they called right away to let me know and offer a substitute on the meat.  

The headline product is BBQ, so we'll start with the meats.  I ordered moist brisket, sausage, and turkey.  The moist brisket is truly moist, nice and tender, and had a good smoke on it.  The sausage was great, a very balanced flavor--not too smoky or chewy, but not Polish either.  The turkey was moist and tender.  The sauce provided was very good--had a little kick to it and complemented the meats wonderfully.  The meats are lightly seasoned--this is sauce-oriented barbecue and is well executed.  

The pulled pork sandwich was one of the best we've had--we ate a lot more of it than we intended.  Great smoke flavor on the pork, and very tender.  The tacos were quite delicious and the potato was well received.

The sides were a mix--we had green beans, which were cooked southern-style (soft) and had great pepper and onion flavor.  No bacon that I could discern, so they might be vegetarian friendly.  We also had the shrimp fried rice, which was somewhat less successful.  Basically popcorn shrimp heated up with brown rice.  They should either kick that up a level or take it off.

Dessert was more of an adventure.  They were out of both apple crisp and pecan pie, but they had some banana pudding left.  I had ordered the pecan pie online, and to make up for it they offered 2 banana puddings.  We had ordered another banana pudding, and ended up with 2 total, so we were shorted just a little.  But the pudding itself was wonderful--creamy with great banana flavor.  I think you wouldn't miss with any of them.

They have a very broad menu so future visits will have many new things to try--we didn't get into the hot dogs, burgers, or empanadas.  They are close to the Corkscrew/Franklins/etc level and may yet get there.  4.5 stars rounded up.

My Yelp Review

Leslie's Sports Bar #3

This place was planned for quite a while and is now open.  I stopped in the other day to try the bar food and check out the ambiance.  It was early in the day so just me and the bartender so I can't speak to the vibe.  Also didn't check out the drinks, but they appear to be standard issue.  The list of beers is divided into "domestic" and "imported", but not everything on the import list is actually inported--"premium" would be more accurate.  I had the pork sliders with curly fries.  The fries are standard frozen and I think were air fried, but they were just fine.  The sliders were pretty good--they were tender and had a sauce with a little heat. Ketchup was spicy too.  So if you want some protein to pad the alcohol this place is a good choice.

The bar itself is very basic, plenty of screens but not a lot of decoration.  They have an outside patio. Bathrooms are clean.  They used to have an item on the menu called the "man pleaser", a bean, beef and sausage with tomato combo that is specifically not billed as "chili".  It is the owner's special recipe but is not available right now, they hope to bring it back soon.

My Yelp Review

Criollo Bistro at Gosling Food Park

The Venezuelan food truck is well represented at the Gosling Food Park, and Criollo is the newest entry.  They are also the early risers, open at 10am.  We've had a couple of items from there.  The other day I stopped in for lunch and had the Pabellon Criollo, which I believe is their signature dish.  I had the beef version--some "pulled" beef, fried plantains, white rice, and black beans.  The highlight for me was the fried plantains--they had a nice crust on them that brought out the sweet flavor.  But Pabellon has no sauce, and I found it kind of dry.  For those of you who don't like sauce, and I know you're out there, this would be something to try.

We've also had the burger and it's quite good--the mushroom burger had a generous helping of mushrooms and great flavor.  So I'd definitely get a burger next time around, or branch out for the empanadas.  I would have had a dessert, but they didn't offer them the day I was in the mood for that. The people are friendly and the place is attractive. 

My Yelp Review

Sweet and Shakes

We like to go to the food truck court at the Gosling Express.  We've stopped in to Sweet and Shakes a couple of times.  I've had a simple chocolate shake and a brownie with ice cream.  The shake was just fine--a good portion and good consistency, thick but not too thick (I like to be able to drink my shakes--if I want soft serve ice cream I'll get that).  The ice cream on the brownie was good quality, but the brownie itself was rock-hard and inedible.  I like having this truck at the site, it complements the others well.  The service was fine and polite.  But I will stick with simple desserts from them.

My Yelp Review

Oh' Mazing Potatoes and 'Que

This new food truck is currently parking near the corner of Rhodes and 2920.  I am a huge fan of 'que so I had to stop and give this a try.  For me, barbecue is all about the meat, so this time around I got the four-meat plate to give it all a fair try.

Sausage: They serve a firm smoked sausage with excellent flavor, very much enjoyed it.
Ribs: A very generous portion of meaty ribs with a great smoke on them.  Not falling-off-the-bone tender but ate very well.
Chicken: A nice large dark quarter with very tasty skin and a good smoke through the meat.  Not super moist but not dry either, a good in between.
Brisket: I know, you're saying "what about the king of BBQ meats"?  I would say the brisket hit both ends of the spectrum.  I had some nice moist cuts with wonderful smoked flavor through the fat.  Again not quite fork tender but definitely worth eating.  I did get a piece of the bark that was too big and hard to be edible.

So the theme of the meat would be great flavor, good but not great texture.  

I didn't go with classic sides--I had the corn and the broccoli rice casserole.  Both were somewhat forgettable, loose corn and kind of middling gooey broccoli rice. I would try the classics next time.

Closing on a high note--the sauce was absolutely amazing, some of the best I have ever had.  The sauce complements all the meats perfectly, and turns them into wonderful sandwiches for leftovers.  I got four generous portions of sauce, one for each meat, and I didn't use it all so I have a nice container of sauce for my home 'que.  This could be bottled and sold.

All in all very worthwhile and I wish them well.  I'll try the potato next time.

My Yelp Review

La Michoacana Meat Market on 2920

I stopped in the other day to get the makings for a family dinner. Picked up some T-bones for an excellent price, along with some very attractive and low-priced produce.  They had plenty of stock when other stores were pretty picked over after Uri.

I took advantage of the visit to try out the taqueria in the store.  They have a great selection of meats for a taco, and some wonderful looking catered items like a 2' x 2' chicharron covered with meat.  I tried out 3 tacos--fajita, green chili chicken, and carnitas.  I just got tacos so this review is not as complete as what I would normally do for a taqueria, but I think still worth putting out there.

The fajita had excellent flavor and was very tender.  It is cooked with onions and spices and is great with nothing else on it.  The carnitas taco was very tender and the flavor was good, but it would need help from the salsa and trimmings to be a great taco.  They sell the carnitas by the pound and it looks and smells fantastic.

My favorite was the green chili chicken.  The sauce is very savory with just the right amount of heat.  I would absolutely get that again sometime.  And maybe get a plate so I can try out the beans and rice. 

My Yelp Review

Island Fin Poke

I stopped in the other day to try this new place in our neighborhood.  The concept is much like the build-your-own salad or sandwich places, but with poke--most have tried it by now but if you haven't, think sushi in a bowl.  The base is warm rice, which I liked a lot.  I won't bore you with the laundry list of ingredients, but I'll mention the standouts--delicious tuna and salmon, plenty of veggies, and very tasty nori (dried, salty seaweed).  I had mine with OG and Thai chili sauces.  The combination worked well, it tasted great and I finished it off pretty quickly.  If you are not confident about your ability to combine flavors (I think I got lucky, though the staff is helpful) you can ask for one of the pre-built bowls.

They have some interesting sides to go with those bowls.  I had a Stubborn soda (cola), it's a nice take on a cola and pure cane sugar so it is not as cloyingly sweet.  Also got some Dole Whip for the family, which was quite marvelous but beware--the cups are huge!  If you're not up for a 16 oz. froyo you can share it.  I did not know about the story behind Dole Whip--it's very rare outside the Magic Kingdom (some sites claim it is only available there), but Disney recently put their recipe online.  In any case, now you can pretend you went to Disney World this year if you close your eyes.  And they have their liquor license if you are up for an adult beverage with your meal.

A special shout-out for the service.  The staff are obviously well coached on being polite and helpful, and did a great job while I was there.  The owner recruits locally so you stand a fair chance of recognizing your server if you live in the area.  

The service is quick but it's not cheap fast food--you pay a price for fresh ingredients like this.  They have family prices that help.  And I felt like I got full value since I enjoyed my meal so much.

The business is taking a very proactive approach on safety.  All staff are wearing masks, and they advertise a special air filtration system intended to make it safer to eat in the dining area.  If you want to eat outside they have tables.  Poke also travels quite well, it's a fine takeout meal.  Absolutely worth a visit, whether you love poke or just want to try it.

My Yelp Review