Sushi in Houston's Chinatown?

I was itching for sushi today but finding sushi near my office is not necessarily an easy task. Of course, Chinatown is nearby... and there actually is some sushi in Chinatown. Hokkaido seems to be one of the few places and it's actually quite good and reasonably priced. In fact, not only do they have good sushi, they also offer up free udon and red bean soup. How about that?

If you want to visit Hokkaido, it is in Diho Square at 9108 Bellaire Blvd. It's tucked in the corner of shopping center so keep your eyes peeled and head in for some of this...

Quality on the Rise at CityCentre and Hotel Sorella

There's been a lot of buzz surrounding the opening of CityCentre in Houston and the accompanying Hotel Sorella. Rightfully so... the mixed use development is beautiful and you can tell everything is being done with quality and design in mind. Restaurants like Eddie V's, Ra Sushi and Straits and stores like Anthropologie and Bailey, Banks and Biddle have already opened. Yard House is set to open this month and soon others like Brio Tuscan Grille and The Wine Loft will open.

We had a chance to stay at Hotel Sorella and absolutely loved the hotel. Sleek, modern design with nice touches everywhere. The lobby has a modern but very inviting look with comfortable seating that also doubles as a continental breakfast area. To the right of the lobby of the Monnalisa bar with a gorgeous interior featuring an elevated firepit and a big outdoor deck with a pool and private cabanas.

The rooms are nice and roomy - over 400 sq ft with views looking towards the west side or the Galleria/donwtown. Everything is just done really well and if you're a fan of interior design, you'll appreciate the little touches they've made - you'll sure notice the repeating pattern found throughout the hotel.

I can't recommend the place enough, particularly since they have some very nice grand opening rates that can have you staying for as little as $99.00.

Facing into the room - plenty of space. The sofa is modular and movable.

Sorella did an nice job selecting comfortable bedding - this is a king size bed.

Looking down into the main plaza on a beautiful night

Live music on a Thursday night in front of the hotel - the Monnalisa set up a bar on the left.

Tapas at Tinto

There's a new tapas restaurant in town... Tintos Restaurant in the River Oaks Shopping Center at West Gray and Shepherd. We had a chance to check it out last night before heading to a party at the ZaZa Hotel. Very nice! A bit pricey but it had a good dinner menu, very nice atmosphere (we sat outside on the patio) and an excellent wine list. Our selections (not necessarily in this order)...

Manzanas con Queso - $6 (the combination on this dish is really delicious)
Garbanzos y Vegetales - $7 (kind of has an Indian "bent")
Rollita de Berenjena - $7 (like two small stuffed grape leaves - the tomato made the dish)
Croquetas de Jamon - $7 (nothing particularly outstanding but good standard fare)
Pato de Madrid - $10 (excellent combination of flavors but a small portion)

We only had one glass of wine but the wine list with extensive and reasonable - quite a few bottles under $30.00.

I would definitely go back. I really like that that side of the River Oaks Shopping Center "lives". The other side with the new Barnes and Noble looks like crap. Booooo Weingarten.

Lastly, going to ZaZa was an event as usual. The hotel is always the place to see and be seen and there were several events taking place. As usual, the valet line was a bit of a bear but heading down to a private party at the Conspiracy Room made it worth it!

Quick Pho Tip

Here's a quick dining tip... I decided to check out Tau Bay (not to be confused with Pho Tau Bay) today on the Southwest Freeway - a popular Vietnamese restaurant on the corner of 59 and Beechnut. Excellent place for pho. My boss and I went there for lunch and had two stout bowls of pho for $13.00. Not bad. A majority of the clients were Asian and the service was fast and efficient. Apparently the SW Freeway location is better than the Bellaire location as it is run by the original owner.

Tau Bay
8150 Southwest Freeway
Located in the same shopping center as the Carnaval night club.

Tasty Update for Houston

I suppose I've had a few nice meals over the past week. Aside from my usual glowing reports of Mint Cafe' (just had a wonderful lunch there with the family), here are three of the places I hit up and my impressions.

Himalaya - 6652 Southwest Freeway - Nothing new here... I love going to Himalaya. Kaiser has a tendency to push the special for lunch but don't fall for it. Yes, the special is good but the menu has so many other great options. This week? The grilled fish masala - it was unbelievably good! The portion was massive so I had enough for two lunches. While it takes a bit longer for the grilled fish masala to come out, it is well worth the wait.

Shawarma King - 3121 Hillcroft (at Richmond) - Recommended to me by a friend and I'm glad he did. The chicken shawarma was simply delicious and very inexpensive. I don't know what spices they put on the chicken but it has a delicious flavor. I'll be back there, for sure.

Cafe Mezza - 6100 Westheimer - So, I was a bit confused by this place. I had heard so many people talk about it as a delicious Mediterranean restaurant but, the first warning was the front of the menu... "American cuisine with a mediterranean flair" - I suppose that's fine if you're not expecting an authentic Mediterranean/Lebanese meal but I was. So, yes, the food was pretty good but it was suited more for American palates. The hummus was rather bland (similar to the hummus at Hungry's International) and the babaganoush was OK. Overall, it was a nice place and the service was great (our waitress was wonderful) but I probably would go to a number of other places to get a Mediterranean fix before coming back to Cafe Mezza.

Getting down and yummy in Houston with Mediterranean food

My last post was about food but my suggestions were admittedly not around the corner - more like 5,000 miles away. How about some local Houston suggestions?

Well, let's start with a place I kept hearing about and decided to check out - Russo's New York Coal Fired Pizza (owned by New York Pizzeria). About six months or so, I started reading about Russo's and the greatness of their coal-fired oven. Apparently a coal-fired oven can get much hotter than a traditional oven and it can make a pizza particularly crispy... maybe like the ones I'm used to in Rome? Robb Walsh gave it a good review although his most recent review of Grimaldi's made it evident that Grimaldi's trumps Russo's.

What did I think of Russo's? It was fine... nothing spectacular and really not different from most of the pizza places around town. The atmosphere was crazy - lots of families and kids on a Friday night (who are we to talk... we were there with a child) and the service was attentive... but, again, the pizza was just normal. Let's be honest... it does not come close to the greatness of Dolce Vita.

Now, the main reason I wanted to post a food entry was to post a few of my favorite Lebanese/Mediterranean places around town. Here are a few you can check out:

Mint Cafe' - 2800 Sage, 77056- I've blogged on this place before. We really like going there... Zaid and his parents always treat us well and pay so much attention to our son. The meat dishes are good but the veggie sides are what truly shine. Excellent falafel, too. Try their cous cous (different than they typical cous cous you'll come across at most Lebanese places around town), their delicious stuffed squash or my favorite... the ardishawki (see left)

Cafe' Rita - 755 Dairy Ashford, 77079 - I feel like I have Robb Walsh to thank for so many discoveries around town... this is one. As his review states, Cafe' Rita is Lebanese food with an Armenian twist. The twist is spice... a little bit of heat. The Armenian beef kabobs are simply delicious and the vast selection of sides can be a bit overwhelming... in a good way. The fava beans are excellent as is the Armenian cous cous. Prices are extremely reasonable and, while I haven't tried any desserts yet, they look quite good. George and Rita are absolutely wonderful and they will make you feel at home.

Zabak's - 5901 Westheimer, 77057 - I've only been here once but I had heard so much about the falafels, I had to check it out. The falafels... wow! So good... I agree that they're the best in town. A brother and sister run the restaurant using their father's old recipes (he passed away a few months before the restaurant opened... Allison Cook provides a bit of the story). I'll need to go back to try more dishes and to check out the falafel dishes which, apparently, are really really good.

Cafe' Lili - 5757 Westheimer, 77057 - Lili and her family run a great Lebanese restaurant - the service is always spot on and the food is excellent. I really like their kafta kabob salads and their babaganoush is excellent as is the moussaka. Not a big fan of their lebni - too plain. Still, it's one of our favorites and the coffee at the end of the meal is a real treat.

Fadi's - 8383 Westheimer, 77063 - This is the restaurant that put me on a Lebanese kick. Over the years, we've watched as the first location gradually gobbled up its neighbors and grew to a large restaurant. The cafeteria-style restaurant is a great way for newbies to be introduced to Lebanese food... so many great options and dishes like the veggie sampler are massive. Be sure to look further down the line - some of the best dishes are towards the end of the line.

Empire Turkish Grill - 12448 Memorial Drive, 77024 - This is one of our local haunts - as a Turkish restaurant, their menu leans more towards kabob, all of which are excellent. We typically start with their refreshing and delicious shepherd salad and cold appetizers like their delicious ezme and one of the best lebni in town. Kabob appetizers are large enough that they can be divided by two people - the adana kebab and the tavuk kebab (very juicy) are excellent. For something different, try the lahana samra - stuffed cabbage rolls. Desserts are delicious. Empire is more upscale that the other restaurants I've listed so it might be more fitting for a nice dinner although lunch is a steal at only $8.95.

There are still a few places I haven't tried... Mary's, Shawarma King and Cafe Mezza. They're on the list... but these five places are a good start. If you're new to Mediterranean food, start with Fadi's. If you want to go to someone's "home" to eat, go to Cafe' Rita get to know George and Rita.

The Colors of Downtown Houston

This past weekend, we went to the Via Colori festival in downtown Houston. Apparently this was the third year the festival had been held though it's the first that comes to mind. Held in other cities like Scottsdale, AZ and Columbus, OH...

The festival will showcase more than 175 artists who will create original masterpieces on the street in a pastel medium. From creation to completion, festival-goers will be able to watch as artists turn asphalt into art. Food, beverages, entertainment and children’s activities will round out this spectacular fall weekend in Sam Houston Park and the surrounding streets of Bagby and Allen Parkway.

It was a gorgeous sunny day with highs in the 60s so just walking around Houston while viewing some amazing work was truly enjoyable. The festival runs for one more day and is sure to return in 2009. Below are a handful of shots from the event...

Exotic Food Options in Houston

How about some food updates for Houston?

Let's start with some bad news - one of my favorite Houston restaurants, Bice, is no more. According to My Table's web page, the upscale Italian restaurant restaurant recently closed. I saw this confirmed on the B4-U-EAT web page, as well. Not sure if the economy is to blame or a somewhat poor location. Either way, it's a loss for Houston's dining scene.

Now... let's talk about places that are definitely open. The first is Himalaya... a Pakistani restaurant located at 6652 Southwest Freeway, on the northwest corner of the intersection with Hillcroft. The food at Himalaya is wonderful - so flavorful, abundant and reasonably priced. The family-run restaurant offers a wide selection of dishes. Kaiser and his wife are always willing to provide insight on what to order. The last time I went, I ordered goat keema (he described it as being like goat chili) and daal fry. So many delicious complex flavors and quite a bit of fire, to boot. The special is usually a safe bet and offers a taste of different flavors. I've ordered mutton before, as well, and it was out of this world. Now, should you choose to eat there, the atmosphere can be a bit lacking but, let's face it, atmosphere is not why one goes there. It is all about the food. For more on Himalaya, a 2005 Robb Walsh review in the Houston Press provides more insight.

Since we're talking ethnic food, let's talk about Phoenicia Specialty Foods at 12141 Westheimer. What can I say about this place? If you like Mediterranean food, Phoenicia is heaven. I still can't believe I haven't mentioned this place before. I thought of it earlier today after nibbling on a date filled maamoul (a cookie filled with date paste).

So... how can I describe it? In many respects, Phoenicia is like a typical grocery store - produce, a butcher, bakery, deli, etc. The thing is, you'll find products you would never run across in your typical Kroger. How about a butcher that offers kakta kabobs or soujouk links? Or a bakery that offers delicacies you would typically find in a Lebanese pastry shop? And a deli that has 6 different types of fresh feta cheeses from Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria as well as homemade marinated string cheese like you might find at a Bosnian restaurant. Of course, you'll have an endless selection of packaged goods, aisles of exotic sweets and even a counter where one can buy various tobacco products to be used in a hookah.

If you're a foodie or just curious about new cuisine, I would just suggest you go check it out and enjoy walking around and taking in the place. I guarantee you'll find something of interest. Check out some pictures of Phoenicia on the she eats blog.

Excellent Service at Arco D'Oro

Good service in a restaurant should be expected but great service should be rewarded. Other than a generous gratuity, what better way to recognized an excellent effort by letting others know about the experience? And our experience last night at Arco D'Oro was an indeed outstanding.

Simply put, we arrived a bit early knowing that we needed to eat before we fed our baby boy. Such is the life of parenthood - eating around your child's schedule. Despite not having reservations on a Friday night, we were placed in a nice booth that made it easy to accommodate us with our son. Throughout the night, we were waited on very attentively - not only by the wait staff but by the maitre 'd who frequently checked with us, spent quite a bit of time talking to us and simply made us feel very welcome despite having an eleven month old in tow. Some nice restaurants would do the opposite and make it clear that "uninvited" children on a Friday night were simply not welcome. Arco D'oro, on the other hand, made us feel like VIPs. That did deserve a generous tip and, as promised, a kind word.

This week we'll be trying out the new Ristorante Cavour at the Hotel Granduca - we'll be enjoying a night out sans baby. The restaurant has a mere 7 tables and has a reputation for impeccable service. Early reviews have been very positive - we'll see how our experience measures up.

Voice: Worth Listening

Can't believe I waited so long to post this entry but a few weeks ago, we headed to one of the best new restaurants in Houston during date night - VOICE Restaurant and Lounge at Hotel Icon. Early reviews and the word on the street about the restaurant tend to be glowing. Michael Kramer has brought some wonderful new flavors to the Houston dining scene. The wine list is very extensive and is reasonably priced, much more so than Bank's previous offerings. My wife ordered the venison sous vide and I ordered the Alaskan halibut although we swapped plates. I'm glad we did - the venison was excellent. The forest mushrooms made an excellent a la carte side dish. Dessert was a delicious warm apple crisp. Next time I would like to try the tasting menu but our first experience was really very very good. Oh, and by the way, if you haven't stayed at Hotel Icon, it is rightfully one of the top rated hotels in Houston.

A Different View of Houston

Random pictures from this past Memorial Day showcasing some of Houston's random, sometimes odd and sometimes beautiful fabric.

A Few New Tastes in Houston

Tried out a couple new restaurants over the past week or so...

Aga's - An Indian/Pakistani restaurant at 11842 Wilcrest. So, my colleague told me about a great Persian place near the office and I said, great, I love Persian. Persian turned out to be Pakistani and, you know what, I still liked it. The place itself is cavernous so they must host a lot of banquets. I was a bit blind going in but the owner steered me to some good choices. I had the Aga's Masala Chicken (tasty and the right amount of spice but very bony) and a great Dal Fry. It was actually too much. The Nan was giant but delicious.

Andrea's - 12513 Westheimer - I had heard a lot about this place from my parents and found that it was OK. It sounds like they're still dealing with some service issues but it wasn't bad although there were some hiccups. The food was good, not great - not what I had anticipated, particularly since the two owners are Italian. Next time, I would try some pasta (my wife's pesto dish was excellent).

Cru' - 9595 Six Pines Drive in The Woodlands - We were in The Woodlands for a variety of reasons and went to Market Street to do some shopping, etc. We stopped in Cru' for lunch - while more of a wine bar, the place has a good-sized menu for lunch and dinner. Prices were a bit high for both wine and food, particularly for what you get. My seared ahi tuna salad had the smallest portion of tuna I've ever seen. Service was average and it seemed like the restaurant (a chain) spent more on the atmosphere than anything else. Recommended? I don't know... probably not. I can think of much better wine bars/restaurants in Houston.

Three Houston Treats

This past weekend, we had a chance to eat at three restaurants we had never tried before - edit that, two for my wife as she had been to Andre'. Regardless, two of the three were restaurants we had been wanting to try for a long time - So Vino and 17*. Both were excellent.

Andre' - What I really like about this place is the outdoor patio at Uptown Park. Great location! Both of us had salads which were quite tasty and the desserts are delicious. A great place for a light lunch or early dinner. A second location is open at 2515 River Oaks Blvd.

So Vino - We've gotten to know the chef at So Vino and had talked to him many times about the restaurant. Well, we finally made it there for dinner on "date night". We started with a plate of mixed cheeses - the highlight was a truffle cheese, sottocenere al tartufo, that took me back to Italy. A delicious crab cake then paved the way duck for me and shrimp angel hair pasta for my wife. The star of the show was a sinfully delicious cranberry bread pudding. It's a must! The restaurant's main focus is wines from the southern hemisphere but all major producing countries are represented. Bottle prices were quite reasonable.

*17 - Much has been written up about *17 since it opened in the Alden Hotel - reviews have gushed about *17. We had tried on two other occasions to eat there but had to cancel our reservations. Not this time. We chose *17 as a nice place for a Mother's Day brunch. Mimosas were overpriced but not why we visited. We split a delicious flatbread as an appetizer and both ordered their frittata - a great brunch option. Service was crisp and attentive and the atmosphere is refined and elegant. They did a great job of accommodating our baby, as well. It would be a nice place to visit in the evening, sans baby.

Some Sweet Argentine Delicacies

Happy Easter everyone... we had a nice time enjoying some splendid Houston weather. One of the delicacies we also enjoyed this Easter Sunday was a nice portion of alfajores from Asturias Bakery in Houston. Located on Dairy Ashford, just north of the Westpark Tollway, Asturias is a tiny but wonderfully authentic Argetine bakery. We picked up not only two varieties of alfajores but also some other delicious pastries. Outside the strip center bakery are a few tables, typically taken by Spanish speaking clientele enjoying their cortados. Stop by Asturias and pick up some delicacies for your next get-together or just to satisfy your sweet tooth.

If you're not in the neighborhood, you can get your Argentine fix at either Gianotti's at 6539 Bissonnet or the Original Marini's Empanadas Houston at 10001 Westheimer (in the Carillon) or 3522 S. Mason Road in Katy 0r Manena's Pastry Shop and Deli at 11018 Westheimer.

Tart Cafe in Houston

A quick Houston tip... if you're in the Museum District, a great little lunch place to hit up is Tart Cafe. Located at 4411 Montrose in a building primarily occupied by galleries (such as one of our favorites, Peel Gallery), Tart specializes in (you guessed it), tarts. They're delicious! Their salads are excellent, too. A simple dish like a chicken and pesto tart with a side salad will run you under $10.00 - not bad at all.

Relaxing Times at Salento in Houston

The weather in Houston today was picture perfect - temperatures in the upper 60s, beeeautiful clear skies and our Gulf Coast humidity was nowhere to be found. What a great day to head to Rice Village. We wandered around from store to store with the baby and took some time to chill out for a relaxing lunch at Salento. What a great little place - cozy and quaint with a focus on "gathering" (as their web site explains) rather than just eating before hitting the road.

Salento offers a small selection of sandwiches, salads and sweets and excels with a nice mix of wines, teas and coffees. But the clincher is that Salento is a great place to just hang out. In fact, they want you to linger... regular events such as live music and weekly Wednesday night tango nights make it easy to do so.

While our baby boy wasn't very cooperative today, we still found the time to enjoy some excellent (and generously sized) sandwiches, salad and a Quilmes beer. You know... given the tango nights and the Quilmes, I can't help but wonder if the place is Argentine-run. Anyway, I can't recommend the place enough. A local crowd (architectural historian Stephen Fox was enjoying a leisurely Sunday afternoon) frequents the place and it's not unusual to see the same faces sitting hour after hour. It just has a great vibe and the people are nice - you can't ask for more.

La Trattoria - Real Italian Cuisine

I'm always on the lookout for real Italian restaurants in Houston. At times, the search can be quite daunting - many of the most popular Italian restaurants in town are chains, sadly unauthentic or run by individuals who really don't have a clue.

La Trattoria at 6504 Westheimer, however, would not fall into any of those categories. Carlo Molinari opened La Trattoria in the 1980s. His restaurant focuses on mostly northern Italian cuisine with other Italian classics thrown in for good measure. His wine list is about as extensive as you'll see with typical Italians wines like Chianti and Barolo as well as other great varieties like Valpollicella and Nero D'Avola.

What's great about La Trattoria is that Carlo does not compromise when it comes to his food. Clients looking to add chicken to their pasta will find that La Trattoria will not oblige. Rightfully so as chicken and pasta do not add up in Italy. Some people find Carlo's inflexibility off-putting but I find it refreshing as not often does one find an Italian restaurant that refuses to bend to American ideas of Italian cuisine.

Houston Restaurant List

I'm going to start maintaining a list of Houston restaurants I like and would recommend via a constantly updated entry. When I think of something I want to add, I'll just bump this to the top. Expect this to start small and grow as we go along...

Downtown (and Nearby)
Azuma Sushi - 909 Texas - Downtown location of outstanding Rice Village area sushi bar. Great design and atmosphere.
Cabo - 419 Travis - Nice big menu - fish tacos always worth ordering. Great balcony seating (if you can find a spot)
Gravitas - 807 Taft - Scott Tycer and Jason Gould's brainchild - tasty food in a loud, frenetic environment.
Perbacco - 700 Milam - Italian-run and very authentic. Great before the theater.
Vincent's -2701 West Dallas - ...and Nino's and Grappino di Nino - all adjacent to each other. Take your pick - all three are excellent.

Galleria Area
Arco D'Oro - 5000 Westheimer - Sardinian cuisine. Grab a spot on the patio.
Berryhill - 1717 Post Oak - Multiple locations. Casual "baja-style" cuisine. Great fish tacos!
Bice - 5175 Westheimer - Elegant Houston-location of Italian-run chain. Pricey. Great for client dinners.
Cafe Lili - 5757 Westheimer - Family-run Lebanese food. Complimentary coffee a nice touch.
Thai Restaurant - 5757 Westheimer - Excellent family-run Thai restaurant with good service.
Uptown Sushi - 1131 Uptown Park - Delicious upscale sushi restaurant. Place to be seen.

Memorial Area
Bistro Provence - 13616 Memorial Drive - Delicious French cuisine. Nice homey interior, excellent patio seating.
Ciro's - 9755 Katy Freeway - Expanded location with a nice outside patio (despite the noise)
Collina's - 12311 Kingsride - One of four locations. Food is decent but a good casual restaurant for families. BYOB. Tasty pizza.

Rice Village Area
Crossaint Brioche - 2435 Rice Blvd - Nice spot for an afternoon cappucino and tarte
Patu Thai - 2420 Rice Blvd - Tiny Thai restaurant short on space but big on quality.
Prego - 2520 Amherst - Great Italian restaurant. Always buzzing... expect a wait.

Upper Kirby
El Tiempo Cantina - 3130 Richmond - Extremely popular spot with delicious Tex-Mex

Upper Westheimer Area
713 Restaurant.Lounge - 10001 Westheimer - Great sushi on an eclectic menu with reasonable prices.
Fadi's Grill - 8383 Westheimer - Original Fadi's location has outstanding mediterranean food.
La Trattoria - 6500 Westheimer - Italian run restaurant with Northern Italian cuisine.
Rioja - 11920 Westheimer - Very good tapas, nice patio with live music on weekend

Other
Achille Express - 1127 Eldridge - Casual Italian-run eatery. Great pizza margherita.
Marine's Empanadas - 3227 Hillcroft - 47 types of Colombian style empanadas made fresh. Delicious.
Rattan Pan-Asian Bistro - 1396 Eldridge - Nice variety of Asian food - well-designed restaurant, attractive patio.

Where I Would Stay in Downtown Houston

Let's say you're coming to Houston for business, for pleasure or for, well, whatever reason. There are plenty of wonderful hotels in town. Some are well-known chain hotels like the Four Seasons. Others are small and intimate luxury hotels like La Colombe D'Or. If you were to ask me where to stay in downtown Houston, I would probably point you to one of four hotels.

Click for a Larger Shot of Hotel and Restaurant Locations

Hotel Icon - This has been one of the city's hottest hotels since it opened before the 2004 Super Bowl. Having stayed there and seen several of the different rooms, I can attest that the rooms are beautifully appointed, the bathrooms are nice and spacious and the entire hotel has a great sense of style.

Alden Hotel - Formerly the Sam Houston, the Alden Hotel is known as one of the hippest hotels in town. Particularly worthwhile are the hotel's restaurant, 17 and the always popular bar, A+.

Lancaster Hotel - As the web site says, the Lancaster is Houston's original small luxury hotel. It consistently gets great reviews from those who stay there and is perfectly situated in the middle of Houston's theater district.

Magnolia Hotel - Just a few short years ago, The Post Dispatch building was reborn as the Magnolia Hotel, one of four Magnolia hotels located across the country. This is a great historic hotel located a short walk from Main Street and Minute Maid Park.

Now, if you're going to stay downtown, you may as well eat downtown. Without going into detail, here are four options you can try over a long weekend in Houston.

• Azuma - Sushi
• Bossa - South American Fusion
• Mia Bella Trattoria - Italian
• Longhorn Cafe - "Texan"

Bossa has always worked well for us as a pre-theater restaurant. Mia Bella is an Italian restaurant with great atmosphere... right on Main Street. Azuma has excellent sushi with a great menu. And the Longhorn Cafe' is a good place for a casual meal, right around the corner from the Lancaster.

Stay ZaZa in Houston

It can never hurt to play tourist in your own backyard... this past weekend, we did just that, staying at Hotel ZaZa in the museum district.

We had visited the ZaZa before... not as hotel guests but as guests for the Tribeza Magazine launch party. Our first impression was immediate... this isn't your grandmother's Warwick Hotel, anymore. The ZaZa was unveiled as an elegant, sultry and somewhat naughty hotel with a dark but alluring side. From the glamorous lobby to the whimsical yet head-scratching water display behind the elevators, the ZaZa is never short on surprises.

Our Balcony Room

Our room was a balcony room on the 3rd floor - nice and spacious with great decor, a fantastic wall-mounted LCD TV and a balcony overlooking... well, not much other than parking garages and the light rail line. See if you can swing a view overlooking the museums and the Mecom Fountains. If anything, at least the sliding patio doors kept most of the noise out of the room.

Turndown with a twist

Some nice touches in the room - little pillows with whimsical sayings, a humorous turndown service, Bulgari toiletries and, since it was our anniversary, a complimentary bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne. Nice indeed. If you're so inclined, ordering breakfast in bed is actually reasonable - more reasonable than our recent stay at the Hyatt Regency on Town Lake in Austin... and while I like the Hyatt, I'd pick the ZaZa anyday. Service was very prompt and attentive although we stayed on a Sunday night -a slow night. Not sure what it would be like during a busy night. From what we've seen at parties, they would be scrambling to keep up.

The pool is a great spot to blow an afternoon

Other amenities in the hotel - be sure to spend some time at the pool... a great area with plenty of nice, big loungers and a little over half-a-dozen private cabanas that overlook the pool area and the Meacom Fountains. Adjacent to the pool is a well-equipped fitness center with about a dozen machines, very nice treadmills and ellipticals, some freeweights, etc. By the entrance to the pool area is a small cafe' and ZaSpa... we cut through the Spa but did not use any services.

ZaZa, as seen from Hermann Park

Now... the area. One of the best reasons to stay at a hotel like ZaZa is the surrounding area... more museums than you can handle in one weekend and Hermann Park. We really enjoyed going out to Hermann Park and taking a nice, leisurely stroll around the reflecting pond. Very peaceful. For dinner, we drive five minutes to the west on Bissonnet to the always charming Raven Grill. Today's lunch was at Niko Niko's... good but not quite up to the hype. We tried to hit Dolce Vita but, alas, Monday was the wrong day (same with the museums, of course).

A stroll in Hermann Park

Anyway, you can't go wrong at ZaZa - a sultry hotel for a glamorous little weekend getaway tucked one of cultural centers of Houston.