Houston is one of Texas' biggest business hubs. The site of many foreign embassies and consulates, it is also a major diplomatic center. Houston has a diverse and international population, and the city is home to a large number of unique restaurants. Visitors and residents can find almost any kind of food which suits their fancy, including Indian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Brazilian and Russian. If you don't like eating at the same old chains, Houston is a good city in which to find cool and unusual restaurants.
Hobbit Cafe is a "Lord of the Rings"-themed restaurant that has been operating since 1972. The restaurant has a large wooden deck placed under a shady oak tree where guests can sit in good weather. Hobbit Cafe has been visited by many politicians, actors, artists and musicians over the years; Jack Nicholson, Peter Max and Woody Harrelson have all eaten there. The cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition to the main dishes, the cafe has a large selection of "elevenses" (a Hobbit term for sandwiches), "second breakfast" foods (appetizers), "merry drinks" of beer and wine and "tea-break" teas, juices and smoothies. Guests can order fish tacos; veggie, spinach-and-mushroom, and chicken enchiladas; Hobbit wraps and Caribbean salmon.
Hobbit Cafe
2243 Richmond
Houston, TX 77098
713-536-5460
myhobbitcafe.com
Texas has a lot of burger places, but the Burger Palace serves gourmet burgers made with Akaushi beef, American Kobe beef. Burger Palace guarantees that the beef is antibiotic- and hormone-free and that all animals were treated humanely. The restaurant has a classic American burger served with lettuce, onion and tomato, as well as cheeseburgers and burgers topped with grilled pineapple, mushrooms, Swiss gruyere cheese, tabouli, applewood-smoked bacon or fried onions. You can also find salads, hot dogs, hummus, falafel and chicken fingers. Burger Palace is open for both lunch and dinner but is closed Sundays.
Burger Palace
2800 Sage Rd., Suite A-1100
Houston, TX 77056
713-877-9700
burgerpalacehouston.com
Called "one of the hippest places in the Montrose area" by Frommer's, Baba Yega is an eclectic restaurant that has been in business since 1975. The restaurant is located in a converted bungalow and has outdoor dining areas where guests can sit beneath shady oak trees amid waterfalls, fish ponds and fountains. Baba Yega's menu includes ribeye steaks, ceviche, sandwiches, grilled salmon, soups and salads. The cafe also has a vegetarian menu with meat-free meatloaf, black bean burgers and vegetable Reubens. Tuesday is pasta night, when guests can create their own pasta dish, and Sundays offer a large breakfast buffet.
Baba Yega
2607 Grant St.
Houston, TX 77006
713-522-0042
babayega.com
