Date 6 – Pizza L’Vino

Where: Pizza L’Vino, 544 Waugh, Houston, TX 77019
When: February 9, 2013

After the previous week’s disappointing pizza, Brenden and I decided we should redeem pizza in Houston with a new contender: Pizza L’Vino. After travelling to New York for a funeral and coming down with the norovirus, I had a rough week. I finally accepted that I was ready to eat cheese again. Kinda a big deal.

Brenden and I were on a long bike ride through the East Side and made our way back to Waugh. Waugh is a street we are both on constantly; it’s the main road between Brenden’s place and my place. We’d seen the build out and opening of Pizza L’Vino and both wanted to try it. We stopped by to check out the menu. We were initially thrown off by the pizzas with such names as “Meathead” and “Lowfat Body Fuel.” And I was extremely curious about why they advertised using “Wisconsin Mozzarella.” It’s mozzarella, it’s supposed to be fresh, not from the other side of the country… not to mention Texas is home to some of the best known mozzarella in the country, from The Mozzarella Company in Dallas.

A man pulled up to pick up his order and expressed an unsolicited endorsement of the pizza. He was very friendly and we discussed the merits of Pizza L’Vino. He also told us that the man who opened up this pizzeria was the co-founder of the beloved Houston pie joint, Star Pizza. We were sold. Brenden went inside to pick up a menu and inquire about the delivery area, while I held our bikes outside. He was in there for a long while, talking about who knows what. Brenden is the type to carry on a long conversation with your waiter, the barista, the cashier – any serviceperson. He is the guy who rings the bell at Kroger when he has good service. That’s just him.

We rode our bikes in the rainy drizzle back to Brenden’s and I placed an order:

  • 1 hand-tossed Queen Margherita Pizza (to compare to the previous week)
  • 1 Iceberg Wedgie
  • 2 Abita rootbeers
  • a classic cannoli

After the order, Doctor Ben, Brenden’s downstairs neighbor, came up and we invited him to be our special blog guest. The pizza arrived quicker than promised (even on a Saturday night!) and I quickly started dividing the salad into three portions. The separate Danish blue cheese crumbles were a nice touch – a very enjoyable salad.

We all took some slices and began to pound the pizza. Everything tasted very fresh – it was remarkable how ungreasy the cheese was. It was almost unnatural how the cheese wasn’t stretchy (not a good thing). It was tasty, but I would like to get something different next time – looking your way, Cheese Bomb.

The best part was splitting the cannoli with Brenden. It was delish! I could see calling Pizza L’Vino and just ordering cannolis and wine and calling it a night.

Brenden’s take: “Pizza L’Vino falls into not a quite a NY Pizza. It was fresh, it was light and it was tasty. I didn’t think the pizza was amazing; it was an average neighborhood pizza place. Salad was good; I enjoyed that and I don’t typically like blue cheese dressing. The cannoli was great. I was really happy that the pizza place offered a cannoli because is good cannoli is hard to find in Houston. 

Doctor Ben’s take: 2 thumbs up.

Dr. Ben

Date 5 – Roma’s Pizza

Where: Roma’s Pizza, 223 Main St.  Houston, TX 77002
When: February 1, 2013

Where the old El Rey stood in downtown has been resurrected as a new NYC style pizza joint competing for the late night crowd.

Being pizza fans, Nicole and I decided to give it a shot. We went to Roma’s Pizza on a Friday night around ten o’clock. While I realize that the place is new, it was completely dead. There were a few pies out where you could grab a slice, however they looked like that they had  been sitting there since the dawn of time.  While discussing what to order with Nicole the fellow working the front counter engaged us in conversation, and that is when it started to get weird. I am not sure if he was trying too hard to be friendly or it is always this strange, but it quickly became very clear that this place is still trying to work outs some serious bugs in it’s day to day operations. This is be expected, but considering that were the only people there, things should have gone a bit smoother.  $20 and an awkward conversation later our order was in. I had a hard time taking Roma seriously as a NYC pizza place; it came across to me as a NYC pizza place for those who do not know better.  My tip off was the oven, a conveyor convection style  found in most chain delivery places, opposed to a flat slab pizza oven.


After a good 15 minute wait, while enjoying Sunny 99.1’s ultra lame evening programming  (remember it is Friday night) we were presented with what seemed to be a tasty margherita pizza.  Looks however can be deceiving… While everything looked OK, it started off bland quickly morphed into just plain terrible. Needless to say that neither Nicole nor myself were able to finish what we started.  We did however leave our leftovers for any lucky homeless dweller who happened to find it. Lucky meaning that he or she would not be eating as much bad pizza as we did. Now I realize that Roma’s Pizza is new and they might still be working out the bugs. However they need to get their act fast or they will be exiled off Main Street as quickly as they appeared.

Nicole’s Notes: When we started this project, we realized that events in our life would occur and it could come across in our dates. On the morning of this date, I got a phone call from my cousin while I was at work. She told me that her father, my Uncle Kenny, unexpectedly passed away in his sleep. It was devastating. When I got home from work, I discussed the details with Brenden. He asked if I felt like eating and I said, “yes, I want pizza.” My best pizza memory was with my Uncle Kenny. I was young, probably thirteen or so, and was visiting him on Long Island. We had spent all day at the beach and we were salty, sun soaked and starving. We were ordering “NY pizza,” a luxury for me since moving to Texas 2 years prior. He asked what I wanted on my special pizza and I looked at him in the eyes and said “extra, extra, EXTRA cheese.” He nodded and repeated it, exactly how I said it, into the phone. I had my doubts that the pizzeria would comply, but that was the cheesiest pizza I’ve ever seen. My family was choking on the strands of mozzarella. It was the best pizza I’ve ever had. I figured a slice of authentic NY pizza would be a great way to honor my uncle. When figuring out where to go, I reminded Brenden that Roma’s Pizza had recently opened and their pizza specials looked great on Facebook. Brenden thought it was a perfect choice.


We arrived to a spookily empty restaurant. First tip-off. Brenden when out to his car to retrieve his camera and I ordered. The guy behind the counter said, “we don’t have spinach, is it ok if we just use basil?” Spinach? On a Margherita? I looked up at the board and saw that the Marg came with both spinach and feta. Another clue. I shrugged and said, “That would be fine. Actually preferable.” We proceeded to have a strange conversation about a woman who accidentally left 500 dollars at the restaurant. It wasn’t clear that she got it back. He offered to add a slice of cake to my order. I told him that the pizza should be filling enough, but if he had cannoli on the dessert menu, it might change my mind. The man did not know what a cannoli was. Strike three. I tried to explain that it was an Italian dessert – a ricotta filled pastry, kinda. When he looked at me blankly, I struggled with a cream-filled churro analogy. I also ordered two Dr. Peppers. Roma’s Pizza didn’t have their beer license yet, but I was discouraged to see that they didn’t have root beer. I find root beer and pizza a classic pairing. Even beyond that, it was a very disappointing experience. It definitely didn’t do my food memorial justice. But I suppose misses is all part of the 52 Houston Dates adventure. Brenden and I made the best of it and made it fun all the same.

Date 4 – Simply Pho

Where: Simply Pho,  2929 Milam St, Houston, TX 77006
When: January 26, 2013

Brenden wasn’t feeling very well, so I suggested to him something that always makes me feel better when I’m fighting a cold, pho. Houston has a large Vietnamese population and consequently great Vietnamese restaurants. Brenden told me about a new pho place that had just opened up; it qualified under the 52 Date rules, so we went.

Simply Pho was previously in the space that housed Pho Nga, and we were at their grand opening. The restaurant was bright and clean. It was also near empty on 8PM on a Saturday night. We parked Brenden’s El Camino right outside the front door, which is rare in Midtown.

The first thing I noticed besides the balloons and streamers, was the temperature. I was wearing capris (it was in the 80s earlier that day, yay Houston) yet I was overjoyed that I brought a cardigan because it was freezing in there. Thank god it’s pho, right?

We sit down and order hot tea and the waiter brings us menus. We right away notice that the menus have smiley face stickers on house specials, although my menu had an extra smiley face. We order Chắ Giờ, crispy egg rolls. We notice that it comes in orders of 3 and we ask if we can have 4. The waiter is hesitant, maybe confused. I explain that we will pay for an extra egg roll and he checks with the chef.

Although there were a lot of options, we both craved pho. Brenden ordered P1 Phở Tai, beef noodle soup with round eye steak with extra meatballs (he was really excited about the meatballs for some reason) and I ordered P11 Phở Tái Nạm Gầu Gân Sách, beef noodle soup with steak, well done flank, fatty brisket, tendon and tripe. Hey, I’m adventurous too. Plus, it was the dish my extra smiley face was near. We both order regulars rather than large, which definitely sufficed. $6, no matter the pho. Fantastic!

We get our four egg rolls! The pho comes out not much later with fresh accompaniments. Brenden puts a lot of spice in his, but he says it was still bland – maybe he couldn’t taste anything because of his cold? My broth was clear, not greasy and my meat was good. Pretty typical pho, but very clean.

We finished and were pleased with our meal. It would be a nice place for a date, but not too late, because they close at 9. And ugh, I totally have Brenden’s cold now.

Brenden’s Take:

It was nice because it was new and clean, compared to other Vietnamese restaurants in Midtown. The ambiance made me I felt like I was in Bellaire. The prices were dead on for the food; I liked that I could add meatballs for a dollar. My food was exactly what I expected for the surrounding area. It would take a couple more visits to explore the menu to compare to the other places in the neighborhood. Is it better pho than across the street? I hope that they extend their hours on the weekend!

Date 3 – The Bombay Palace

When: January 20, 2013
Where: The Bombay Palace, 15295 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77478

So Nicole and I decided to throw a wild card into the mix of our 52 Houston Dates when we decided to have dinner with a bunch of friends. New rule: if we have “special guests” at dinner, they choose a restaurant new to us and we co-author the post (Nicole in italics). My good buddy Trent organized a meeting on the southwest side of town (Sugar Land) which is full of Indian cuisine, something of which I am fairly ignorant. I had Indian food once before, over ten years ago. The flavors were new and scary and I didn’t have a good experience. However, I knew that Sugar Land was home to great Indian food and I was prepared to give it another shot. There were eight of us that dined at The Bombay Palace on Sunday night, with friend Brian Elliot acting as our guide.  While my buddies Trent and Matt both enjoy Indian food, Brian is well versed, needless to say, and the group relied on his expertise to navigate the intricate menu. It was all new to me and many of the menu descriptions seemed quite similar. It was clear that this was an Indian restaurant for those with experience. When I was introduced to Brian, it was explained to me he was an Indian food connoisseur. I took that as an invite to sit right next to him, explain everything to me on the menu and trust him to order with my inexperience and taste in mind.

Bombay Palace Sugar Land

The Bombay Palace is a nicely decorated place located in a typical beige Houston suburb shopping center; I think there was a Freebirds next door. The Bombay Palace had recently changed management, it was previously known as Mantra. Our meal started off with some pappadam, which is a sesame seed cracker that one dribbles some chutney on, kind of like the Indian version of chips and salsa. Served were a tamarind and a mint chutney, both were simple and approachable.  I probably could have eaten several baskets of the stuff, but the meal had to press on. Brian ordered up an appetizer that consisted of samosas which is a fried pastry filled with spiced potatoes  and aloo (peas), along with some chicken achari and a salad. The waiter suggested we order the chicken achari, promising Brian he would like it. Brian was unsure, but was very glad he took the waiter’s advice. I was blown away with the chicken achari as it was the most tender, most savory chicken that I have eaten in a long time. The blend of spices and seasoning in conjunction with the chicken being cooked perfectly made for a mouthful of awe…non nom nom. The samosas were also quite delicious and one could make a meal out of a handful of these. I found the chicken achari to have a freshness to it that was similar to a cilantro spice. Not my favorite, but I appreciated the flavor and it won favor with the table. I was impressed with the waiter suggesting such a well-liked dish. He knew his audience.

On to the main course; Brian ordered no less than six different dishes that we all shared family style. In no particular order we had:

  • Chicken Madras- Spicy chicken with a hint of coconut and poppy seeds
  • Saag Paneer – Fresh spinach cooked with lots of tomatoes and mild spice, finished with a touch of cream.
  • Lamb Vindaloo – Lamb cooked with potatoes and hot marinated whole spices.
  • Daal Makni – a mélange of five lentils garnished with butter and cumin
  • Chicken Tikka Masala – Tandoori chicken cooked in a creamy tomato sauce.
  • Navrattan Korma – A combination of vegetables and nuts cooked in a rich cashew nut sauce.

I proceeded to put a little of everything on my plate, which turned into a color pallet of Indian flavors. The dishes were served with three different types of naan bread, in regular, mint and garlic flavors, along with some jasmine rice to help soak up all the different tastes. At this point I was not totally sure what I was eating but it was all excellent. When it came to second helpings my focus turned to the chicken madras, lamb vindaloo and tikka masala. All I can say was the spicy and tang flavors of the lamb vindaloo were great, Matt mentioned that it was his favorites and I think I would second that opinion. My stomach filled up quickly and what seemed like an average sized meal became quite filling.  My final thoughts can only be summed up by: Nom, Nom, and Nom!!!!!

When Brian found out I was a cheesemonger, he immediately suggested the creamy saag paneer; and he was right in doing so, it was a favorite dish of mine. Sepi and I couldn’t get enough of it. I also fell for the tikka masala. The tomato sauce was not unlike my tomato soup made with cream. It was rich flavorful and NOT spicy. I adored it. Brian did warn me that the tikka masala sauce at The Bombay Palace was unique and that if I ordered tikka masala from another Indian restaurant, I would have different results. I was fond of the garlic naan also. I have to laugh that all the dishes I liked are on the kids menu. I guess I’m at the chicken fingers and french fries level with Indian food. Other takeaways: 

Matt Zimmer: “In the scheme of my Indian experiences it was fresh, clean and spiced just right… the pinnacle of Indian food in Houston so far.”
Trent Veazey:  “The lamb vindaloo was pretty good.”

The meal was surprisingly inexpensive for all that we consumed. Tip included, we got out under $25 each. A great night with friends, eating Indian food in Sugar Land. 

Date 2 – Turquoise Turkish Grill

Where: Turquoise Grill off  Norfolk and Kirby near Richmond, 3701 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX
When: January 11,  2013

This quaint deli style café is tucked away between office buildings on Norfolk just off of Kirby a few blocks south of Richmond; be careful as it is easy to pass on by.  I was recommended to try Turquoise from a friend of mine who is Turkish as she remarked that the food was very good.  It is hard to argue with a person knows more about the topic than myself.  I had it on to my to try list for over a year, and tonight was the night.

We started off with some Turkish tea and an order of hummus.  I’ve had Turkish tea before, and it is usually served in a traditional tulip shaped glass called a Kyrenia.  However, this was just in a tea in a cup, but like good coffee, I could drink as much as I wanted.  The pita bread and hummus was light and very well balanced, with no overpowering flavors and most importantly fresh.

For the main course, Nicole ordered the Tilapia and Shrimp in a Burrata cream sauce.  I opted for one of the many kebabs, in particular the Sultan Beyti Kebab, which consisted of beef and lamb rolled in a light bread with a spicy tomato sauce and yogurt.  I was a bit confused about the “rolled in light bread” description on the menu  thinking it could be some sort of bread crumbs, but in fact it was almost like a tortilla. With a side of rice and vegetables, my kebab was tasty to say the least.  More accurately, creamy, spicy that was gentle on the tongue, a different spice experience from eating Mexican food.  The meat was very tender and bread was soft, it would be worth ordering again.  However the menu overall had so many great selections on the menu, it was one of those times where it is tough to pick something because it all sounded good.    Prices were reasonable ranging from about $8 to $13 a plate.

 

The place has a casual atmosphere and would strike you as more of a lunch place, think Turkish restaurant meets deli,  however wine and beers were available.  We arrived and there were only about three or four tables of people, a few more trickled in during our meal.  My only criticism is it seemed a bit short staffed, with only one waitress taking care of everybody.

The food was great at Turquoise, however there is no reason why this place should not be busier on a Friday night.   I think perhaps their location is working against them or that they really cater to the lunch crowd.  Whether lunch or dinner Turquoise deserves a try.

Nicole’s Notes:
I was surprised at the casual nature, and that it was quiet on a Friday night.   A bit disappointed but understanding that they were out of Haydari (Lebanese cheese dip).  My food was creamy and delicious. Service was friendly but understaffed; an enjoyable experience overall and a fun but unlikely date spot.

Date 1 – Bellissimo Ristorante

Where: Bellissimo in the Heights, 6500 N Main St, Houston, TX
When:  January 4, 2013

First place was ladies’ choice. We met after work at a nearby coffee shop and decided to start our gastronomic New Year’s resolution. We had plans with friends that evening, so I chose a neighborhood restaurant I had heard good things about.  I figured the spicy Mexican influences would please Brenden and I would be happy with the creamy, cheesy Italian dishes. Plus, I haven’t had much Italian food in Houston  and wanted something warm and comforting in my belly in the few weeks of cold weather we experience each year.

We arrived just before 7pm and on a Friday night, we had one couple ahead of us in line, which was extremely reasonable given the size of the space. I was relieved to see it be relatively casual for an Italian place.  We had a small wait and were seated and served by our waiter, Omar. Omar was very friendly and asked how we had heard about Bellissimo. He happily explained the compelling story behind the restaurant, how the head chef of Mia Bella had ventured out with his own family-run restaurant.

Bellissimo has applied for but has not received their alcohol license and is currently BYOB. Everyone dining had brought their own wine bottle(s). We were still alcoholed-out from New Year’s Eve and elected a favorite of ours to drink, sparkling water.

Viewing the menu, we saw many enticing dishes; it was hard to make a decision. You had the option to create your own pasta or pizza sans the usual upcharges for customization. We decided to forgo an appetizer, and each got an pasta dish with a Caesar salad. Brenden chose the Main Street, pasta with grilled chicken, Italian sausage, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes in a black pepper cream sauce. I dined on a dish I think was called Fettuccine alla Bellissimo, with shrimp, spinach, mushrooms in a Parmesan cream sauce (note to self: keep more notes to self next time).

While we waited for our food, we enjoyed our fresh bread and olive oil and watched the wait to get a table grow. Both of us remarked how excellent our timing was.  We wrote the rules of our 52 Dates resolution and what to include on a post.

 

Our Caesar salads had real anchovy on them, something I always appreciate. Our food came perfect, portioned well and seasoned. I was surprised how much of a kick the typically mild alfredo  sauce had. I loved my meal.  Brenden was still hungry after finishing, so we ordered dessert. We settled on the tiramisu. It wasn’t exceptional, but it presented well.

When our check came, I was very pleased – we got specialty beverages, salads, 2 pasta dishes and dessert and with tip the total came to (wait for it)… 52 dollars. I was glad to explore my own neighborhood and find this not-so-secret gem of a restaurant. We hope to return soon (definitely on off-peak hours!)

Bellissimo Houston

 

Brenden’s Take: 

Overall, I found the salad, pasta and dessert average Italian food. The place is new and they’re trying to make it work on a budget, so the place is a little cramped. With how they laid out their floor plan, I kept getting bumped into by the waiter. I would go back though and try something completely different, like the pizza, but I would hit it up on a weekday.