4 FM 1960 W.
Houston, TX

Ok, I know it’s a chain but I have recently discovered that many people have not eaten here. Why? I have been told it is it intimidating to walk into a steakhouse when you are pinching penny’s. This is not one of those places folks. The food is not high priced at all! You can get a 6 oz sirloin with soup or salad and one side for 9.99 plus tax. I believe you need to live life fully which includes your taste buds. So save up if you have to!

I have eaten my way through the menu here and at other locations as well. The croutons on the salads are deep fried which makes them really light and crisp. The combination platters are a really good deal. Love that they bring bread and butter and will keep on bringing it to you as long as you want more.

The food has always been good for the price and the amount of food on your plate is perfect. There is no reason for me to eat anymore than a huge baked sweet potato, 6 oz steak, salad and a bunch of bread.

Most of the time the service is good. We did get a lousy waitress once who never checked on us. I am sure she didn’t work there for long unlike some other Houston area restaurants that seem to keep people they really should let go but I will rant about that in a separate post at a later time.

2120 Buckthorne Pl
Woodlands, TX 77380

My mouth starts watering every time I am near this sign. Why? Three foodies with some experience in the restaurant business got together and decided to do something fresh. Use high-quality ingredients that are cooked-to-order as fast food. They use a grill with mesquite wood coals just like it used to be done. They actually grind Angus chuck roast every day to make their hamburger patties! From what I understand Boar’s Head makes a hot dog exclusively for them as well, although I have not been able to get past Bill’s burger. I have eaten here many times and get Bills burger every time I order. This is THE burger I compare every burger to. I have been on a quest for the best burger for a while now and I want you to know that I really like this place!

This night I decided to not to go inside to order. It is really convenient to have a drive through! Here is my goodies after I unpacked them from the bag.

The strawberries and cream malted milkshake is the best I have had anywhere. It is not really sweet and very refreshing.

Bill’s burger is a 1/2 lb certified Angus chuck patty with sautéed onions, sliced cheddar, bacon, jalapeños, prime sauce and lettuce. They do have other burgers as well but this one is really good. Yes I am gushing over this burger. They also have steaks, chicken and ahi tuna. This place pays attention to detail with special sea salt on the sweet potato fries.

Here it is after I cut it in half to handle it easier. Doesn’t it look good!

This place pays special attention to detail on everything including the sides. This is the sweet potato fries seasoned with gourmet flaked sea sal

Flying Dutchman Restaurant Oyster Bar
9 Kemah Waterfront St
Kemah, TX 7756

This is a seafood restaurant but we were told they have amazing burgers. We stopped here just to try one. This is my plate before I put it together. See the toasted bun? Look at all that cheese!

Here it the burger after I stacked it. YUM!!! This is one of the best burgers ever. The buns are chewy, soft, buttery and toasted. The meat is seasoned perfectly with something I can’t put my finger on. The cheese is plentiful and really tasty. The veggies are fresh. Put them all together and it makes one really good burger. The juices were running down my arms and all was well the world. The next time you are in the area make it a point to stop and grab one

We sat outside on the huge deck area because the weather was really nice. It would have been better for us to eat indoors though because the mosquitoes started attacking right after we got our food. It is a good idea to spray yourself with bug spray before you go if you are staying outside. As we were leaving we did notice a can of bug spray at the desk that could have been offered by our waiter. I am not sure why he never offered it because we told him we were being bit. On the news the next day there were complaints about how bad the mosquitoes were everywhere.

This is my daughter right after we embarrassed her by telling our waiter she thought he smelled really good. He laughed and said he was wearing was Unforgivable by Sean John. The rest of the night we refereed to him as Mr. Smelly Good Man where we had him laughing. The service this night was pretty good other than the lack of bug spray. I do not know if part of it was because of the compliment we threw him or not. It is a great idea to toss out compliments though!

7830 Highway 71 S
Fort Smith, AR 72908

Not flashy at all, this is a regular diner from the old school days. Pete’s has actually served the Fort Smith area since 1933!  Just tried Re-petes last August when I was in town for an investigation. It was surprised at how quiet the place was for a diner that seemed to get good reviews.

The waitress was exceptional and got a big tip from me. The burger was really good as well as the chili cheese fries. I could have had a large bowl of just the chili. The desserts were begging for me to try them but I was busting out of my clothes from all the food. I am looking forward to another trip to Fort Smith to sample more food from this place!

Tomball Location
10850 Louetta Rd
Houston, TX 77070

I really love a good burger and this place has a pretty good one! I almost hate to blog about it because this place is a chain that is growing all over. I think the food is overpriced for what you get, however this is the new trend it seems. The decor is bright red, industrial minimalist.

You walk in and order from a menu hanging on the wall. The burger selections are already put together for you. You can do your own combination if you prefer. They give you a number and a drink cup like many of the new chains do these days.

We decided to sit outside for the ambiance and because the temperature was perfect.

The burgers come in a wire basket with paper. The buns are not only chewy but toasted for something extra special. They offer sides like french fries, sweet potato fries, haystack onions, fried pickles, fried jalapenos and smashfries which are tossed with rosemary, olive oil and garlic. Everything I have tried so far has been tasty!

I have had the burger when I am dieting on the plate with no bun and all the way full on with a bun. Yes you can diet and eat burgers! It is called the Atkins diet:) At the moment I am eating bread. Yay for my taste buds! The burgers are good both ways. I prefer to eat them with the bun because it is fresh, chewy and adds another flavor component.

I have never had to wait long for the food which is another plus!

6925 Cypresswood Dr.
Spring, TX 77379

We decided to try out Gringos on Cypresswood the other day and I was pleasantly surprised that I really liked the food and the service.

The atmosphere is upscale casual which is a little different from the run of the mill Tex-mex type of restaurants. I felt a little under dressed in shorts and a blouse.

The parking lot was packed where we thought it would be a long wait. We actually only waited for 10 minutes which really isn’t bad. The waiter took our drink orders right away and then out came the chips and dips that are the normal fare for Mexican restaurants. One of the dips was something creamy with avocado in it which was bland but fixed with a little salt.

The waiter came back exceptionally fast with our drinks and took our order. One of our drinks was recommended highly by our waiter turned out to be really good. It is called citrus tea which is a blend of tea, orange juice and lemonade. They refilled the citrus tea all night with no extra charges

We ordered queso with meat which also turned out really good! I was really impressed that they served this dip in a deep fried tortilla bowl with shredded salad mix and pickled and fresh jalapenos on the side. I was thinking if they do this for the queso then what will they do with everything else they bring out? I could come in here for just the queso for lunch.

I ordered the presidente for my entrée which is two cheese enchiladas, a bean chalupa, queso chip, beef taco, guacamole, Mexican rice and got boracho beans instead of refried beans. I know this sounds like way too much food but I was really hungry and this entrée was only 9.59. Of course my eyes were bigger than my stomach as they brought everything out to me on 3 plates. haha!! Everything tasted good

I did take food home to my son who said OMG yum!!! I am sure we will all be eating here again soon

6915 Cypresswood Dr
Spring, TX 77379

There is an interesting cafe in North Houston and is only one of three locations. The original place was opened up in Beaumont in 1941.  It is a cafe offering breakfast and lunch items as well as a coffee house that features a full bakery. You can walk in and pick out what you want to take home instead of sitting down to eat. The counter people will pull them out of the case and box everything up for you.

They have a case full of fresh made gelato. Have you ever tried it? There are a few differences between ice cream and gelato. For example gelato has less air whipped into it because it is churned slower than ice cream which makes it denser. To some this means it is more creamy even though there is less fat. In the USA  ice cream has to have at least 10% fat to legally be called ice cream. Gelato usually has only 5-7% fat. The flavor of gelato is more intense.

According to the counter person the lemon is the best seller. This flavor is really surprising and the most unexpected because of how tart and refreshing it is. I highly recommend you to try some before you leave.

The coffee is fresh and hot all the time. They even have pictures on the wall of one of the places they get coffee from. Yes, they even have single origin beans. They will whip up the specialty  drinks for you behind the counter.  If you order a regular coffee they hand you a cup and saucer or plastic cup  (if the order is to go) over the counter for you to serve yourself at the coffee bar.

The atmosphere is laid back and relaxed which makes talking with friends over coffee nice. Most of the pastries in their cases have been taste tested by me at one time or another.

There other locations:
2596 Calder St, Beaumont,

4440 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, TX

Hwy 365, Nederland, TX

1500 Towson Ave
Fort Smith, AR 72901

When I am in Fort Smith I love to stop by to get the comfort food offered at Ed Walker’s. This is THE proverbial diner. I love this place all the way down to the melamine plates. If you love watching diners drive ins and dives this is one of those types of places. The burgers are on point with the juices running down your arm. Salads are fresh and pleasantly larger than what you expect. I have eaten here on several occasions and never have I been disappointed with the quality of the food or the service. You may have to wait at peak times for a seat but it is not for long..

The decor is all funky diner in mostly red, white and black. It is a fun place to make memories. Several things are different here than at other restaurants. One thing different is on the menu and is the 5 pound burger. It is huge! It comes with all the fixings on the side. I have not personally eaten a 5 pound burger by myself yet but I have seen it done. You can order outside from your car and get a car hop to bring you a beer! How is that for service!

I have had the burgers which are really good. The chopped steak smothered in onions, bell peppers and gravy is just really good. The flavors blend really well together especially with one of their super duper side salads.

You may want to remember your trip in a special way by grabbing an ed walker cup before you leave. This has now become my daughters favorite cup in the house.

Just look at this smothered steak. It tasted as good as it looks here. I have also tried the famous french dip which is also yummy

11919 Eastex Fwy
Houston, TX 77039

When we moved from Houston to Oklahoma this was one of the places that I missed going into. This is an authentic Mexican bakery where they claim to make everything from scratch. They say they buy nothing made or use anything frozen. There is something special about picking up a pizza pan with tongs and walking along case after case of pastries to get what you want. Many of the items are only .30 to .70 cents! I usually fill up a tray and cannot carry anymore before I stop myself and go to check out.

In the middle of the store is the refrigerated area with a counter where they will bag up all of your goodies for you. They also get what you want from these cases which are filled with sliced tres leches cakes, puddings and other goodies.

Around the walls and the front window are decorated with cakes. They all have numbers beside them to help you in ordering one for a special occasion. They take special orders on whatever you can think up as well. The specialty here with cake is not over the top fondant but easy whipped icing type of cakes. Piñatas hang from the ceiling making the store very colorful.

Before you check out with all your sweets you should know they have savory items as well. They offer pork or chicken tamales $3.50 for 1/2 dozen or $6.50 for a dozen right by the cashier when you check out. I have tried them both and find them to be authentic and tasty.

After I leave I usually grab something out of the bag to nibble on while driving home. Be careful as most of the items here are not very sweet which can make you eat more than you should. Even though nothing from this bakery is rich or filled with sugar like a normal American bakery they are all still considered pastries loaded with calories. Hope you have fun picking out your pastries!

Spring
103 Midway St
Spring,  TX 77373

When spending a day shopping in Old Town Spring I make this is one of my stops. The menu is only one page long which makes selecting what you want to eat easy. I usually order a burger and fires or onion rings depending on my mood. The fries are hand cut and sometimes limp but they are still fresh potatoes which makes up for that. The burgers are a good size with fresh toppings that slide around as you try to take a bite. If you order the Chicken Fried Chicken you need a big appetite because it is huge, taking up almost the entire plate. The beer bread is yeasty, dense and really good. It is a shame you only get one slice with a dinner entrée. If they brought everyone a loaf they most likely would be more busy. You can however, buy the beer bread mix on your way out the door.

I have never had to wait to be seated or to get service. The food always comes out fast and hot. Their menu is priced a little on the high side which may account for the lack of patrons after the town shops all close. There is little competition during the day for all the shoppers which may be one reason for the prices. The few places to eat make them have captive clients. People need to sit after hours of walking in and out of shops in all kinds of weather. I also think people consider Old Town Spring just for shopping instead of a destination place for food.

As someone who loves nostalgia I don’t just come here for the food. I love history and this building is loaded with it. Wunsche Brothers opened in 1902 as the first building in Spring as a saloon and hotel. It was the last to close during Harris County law of Prohibition. Uncle Charlie Wunsche who lived upstairs until his death in 1935 is said to still haunt the place.

The story of Charlie Wunsche is that he fell in love with a young woman who didn’t love him in return. If you talk to the staff they will all tell you tales of working there including after hours. One staff story is that someone came into the bathroom but there was nobody there. She told me she ran out and does not like to be there alone. Other interesting things I have been told is that the staff gets touched, you can see full bodied apparitions and Uncle Charlie plays around with them. Some believe there is a girl there as well although I cannot find any information to support this.
For more on the history of Old Town Spring read this article
http://www.hauntedchef.com/2011/09/11/old-town-spring/