Houston Area Restaurants

Fred's Italian Corner at 2278 W. Holcombe Blvd. between West University and the Texas Medical Center in Houston.

Having a difficult time finding a seat is a sure thing if you show up on any weekday at noon. Customers line up at the front counter to give Fred their orders for lunch, but waitor service is the order for dinner.

Satisfied customers, walls covered in rave reviews from city and college newspapers and awards are what draw large crowds to the tiny Italian eatery. To speed up the process, Fred takes the orders at his seat beside the kitchen. Waitors mysterously match plates to customers after they find seats, and they bring fresh bread and salad to the table. Try Fred's for dinner, or in the mid-afternoon for a less hectic experience.

The Linguini Grilled Checken with Alfredo is outstanding. Ordering this sizeable serving and a soft drink from Fred's help-yourself refrigerator will cost you around $10, and will be worth every penny.

In addition to many pasta dishes, Fred's serves lasagna and pizza. Call (713) 665-7506 for more information.


Mucho Mexico Los Molcajetes Restaurante at 1310 N. Wayside in East Houston.

This large highway-side restaurant serves hard-working people in Houston's busy commerce and ship channel district. Families come for the affordable prices. Most plates are under $6 and kids can eat a good meal for much less.

The establishment boasts "Houston's most authentic Mexican Food." Friends from Mexico say the Enchiladas Authenticos, made with healthier queso blanco, are the best in town. You can also get the Tex-Mex versions with chicken or beef and cheddar cheese.

Mucho Mexico has the feel of the busy truck-stop dining rooms on the Pan-American Highway. The restaurant, and next-door bakery, can be found along Highway 90 (Wayside), about one block South of Interstate 10. Call (713) 673-4598 for more information.


Update: Cafe Piquet at 6053 Bissonnet in Southwest Houston, just east of Hillcroft, will be moving soon to a new location near their current address. We will update the information soon.

The small cafe, set in the corner of a storefront shopping center, serves Cuban dinners and sandwiches. It's sign may be difficult to spot among the many Latin stores and shops. Look near the middle corner of the "L" shaped center.

The Pechuga a la Plancha, chicken breast grilled with onions, is excellent. A favorite beef dish is Picadillo.

Most of the plates are served with white rice, black beans and plantains. The cost, if you add a drink, will range from $7 to $10. It's worth spending a little extra to try some of the Cuban appetizers on the menu, such as the Mariquitas, plantain chips with garlic.

The owners, Neno and Nelly, operate the restaurant daily and can be found running the kitchen and the cash register, and visiting with the many regular customers that crowd around tables for lunch each day.


More Houston Area Restaurants

Eastside/Telephone/Lawndale
Dinner Bell Cafeteria, 6525 Lawndale Street, near Wayside
Fiesta Loma Linda, 2111 Telephone Road, off I-45 South
Mandola's Deli, 4105 Leeland Street
Pete's BBQ Brisket and Seafood, 1000 Telephone Road

Eastside/Third Ward
Groovey Grill, 2619 Calumet, in Third Ward
Bowie's Country Kitchen, 3717 Dowling, at Alabama
Drexler's BarBQ, 2020 Dowling, near I-45
Family Cafe, 2712 Blodgett Street, near Live Oak in Third Ward

Downtown/Near Eastside
Sal's Italian Cafe & Grill, 1508 Hutchins Street, near Leeland
Irma's Restaurant, 22 N Chenevert Street, near Downtown

Central/Montrose
Acadian Bakers, 604 W. Alabama
Taqueria La Jaliscience, 1308 Montrose Blvd.
Van Loc Restaurant, 3010 Milam Street
Original New Orleans Po-Boy, 3902 Main, near Alabama

Southwest
Raja Quality Restaurant, 5667 Hillcroft Street, near Westpark
Cafe Piquet, 6053 Bissonnet
Antone's Original Poboy, 8110 Kirby Drive
Thai Cottage, 5124 Cedar Street, near Bissonnet and Rice
Brisket Bar-B-Q, 9401 Main St., near Loop 610
West Loop/Greenway
Ragin' Cajun Restaurant, 4302 Richmond Avenue
Avalon Diner, 3285 Southwest Freeway (Hwy. 59)

Northside/Crosstimbers
Mexicatessen, 302 W. Crosstimbers
Barbecue Inn, 116 W. Crosstimbers
Flying Saucer Pie Co., 436 W. Crosstimbers

Northside/Heights/Main/Airline
Golden Seafood House, 2407 Airline Drive, near the Farmers' Market
Spanish Flowers, 4701 N. Main Street, off I-45 North
Ducho's Steakhouse, 633 Heidrich Street (catfish specials)
Asland's, 1801 Ashland Street, at 18th in the Heights

Northwest/Hwy 6
French Quarter Market and Grill, Copperfield, 281-550-9900

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