CocoInTheMix III

Eric's Restaurant

-------------------------------------------

Pan-Seared Tuna

with vegetables

-------------------------------------------

Back to school.... 

Because we know it is not easy to be a full time student and have a job, we congratulate and dedicate this TBTCoco to those CocoEaters who work and study while they reach their goals. Specially to Eric's employees who are trained at the Hilton College. 

A few months ago, we visited this full-service restaurant which is located in the heart of the University of Houston's main campus. Eric's offers tasty seafood, pastas, salads, steak dishes, and more. 

We had a great experience during the lunch time. Great service and a relaxing atmosphere during our lunch meeting. One of the dishes we ordered was the Pa-nSeared Tuna . Even though the tuna was a little bit overcooked, it was totally enjoyable with the help of the delish vegetables and beans 

If by any chance you are on campus, and you are looking for a casual place to have a breakfast or lunch meeting, you should try Eric's Restaurant . Enjoy it!

-------------------------------------------

Service: 4.5/5

Ambience: 5/5

Dish: 3.7/5

-------------------------------------------

Bingo Bash at Hotel Derek

Thursday, August 28th 

-------------------------------------------

Are you looking for something different to do on Thursday night?! 

Well, CocoInTheMix invites you to Bingo Bash at Hotel Derek. A night where you can win a weekend stay in a suite, $200 to spend at Revolve Kitchen and other prizes.

Tickets are at $35 and include valet parking, five games, one signature cocktail and delightful bites.

Good luck and do not forget to contact Lady Derek to reserve your spot! 

Ladyderek@destinationhotels.com

713.297.4327

-------------------------------------------

Chef Grant Gordon

-------------------------------------------

Houston's culinary community suffered a big lost. Chef Gordon, a rising star, passed away last night, August 25th. (The cause of his death has not been determined, CultureMap reports.)

Gordon started his career at Tony's and was in the process of opening a new restaurant with David Keck and Paul Petronella in the Montrose area called The Edmond. 

Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

-------------------------------------------

Photo Credit: @stpimages

Dolce Vita

Dolce Vita

pizzeria enoteca

-------------------------------------------

Dolce Vita, an italian restaurant located in the heart of Montrose offers a variety of pizzas and pastas for lunch, dinner and brunch. The last time we came here, it was last year. The image we had about its service and food were totally different to what we have to say this time. Sadly to say it, but Dolce Vita is not the same Dolce Vita we used to go. 

The ambience was perfect during the lunch time. It was quiet, and It was not busy when we got there, but later, a few parties showed up. However, we cannot say the same about the customer service or the food. 

The first fail was when we walked in. We never got greeted by the hostess or asked where we would prefer to be seated. We just made eye contact, she asked us how many would be and then she started walking upstairs, so figured out we had to follow her. Once we got to the second floor, she started having a conversation with one of the waitress while we were waiting behind her. After a minute, she turned around, and told us to pick any table. She never walked us to the table or bring the menus to us. 

Once seated, we got a waitress who looked bored with her job. She knew the menu very well, but all the time we asked for recommendations she would make faces or make the moment uncomfortable. Even though she had the wrong attitude with us,  the only good thing about the waitress was her several visits to the table to make sure everything was fine.

Probably because of the ambience, we did not have a terrible experience, but heartbrokenly, Dolce Vita would not be our first option to dine in even though they have amazing pizzas. Although, if you have not been to Dolce Vita, we recommend you to stop by and try their pizzas, but cocoeaters be aware of the customer services at Dolce Vita.

-------------------------------------------

Service: 2/5

Ambience: 4.3/5

-------------------------------------------

Verdura

mushrooms with mint and ricotta rosa

-------------------------------------------

When we read mushrooms and ricotta we knew we had to have it. Unfortunately, we had higher expectations of this verdura. 

This appetizer does not come with bread, so we ate it as it came; just the ricotta with the mushrooms, but it was missing something; the bread! 

We asked for some bread (which had an extra charge) and it was exactly what this appetizer needed to be tasteful. 

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 3/5

-------------------------------------------

Crochette Suppli

risotto and mozzarella

-------------------------------------------

This starter was a suggestion from the waitress, and it was not nothing special at all. We did not get any special taste or flavor from this appetizer. 

Adding a sauce for this starter may help to make it a little bit fun and delectable. 

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 2.5/5

-------------------------------------------

Pasta 

maccheroni, prosciutto, peas and scallions

-------------------------------------------

Dolce vita is a place for pizza. Even when we used to visit this place last year, we never had good experiences with the pastas at Dolce Vita. 

We ordered this pasta because it comes with prosciutto, but we did not notice the prosciutto on it. It had a strong taste of peas which was not enjoyable at all. 

We could not finish this dish.

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 1/5

-------------------------------------------

Pizza Prosciutto e Rucola

tomato, mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula

-------------------------------------------

Dolce Vita equals pizza. The pizza prosciutto e rucola had an excellent savory of the tomato sauce, toasted thin crust and fresh ingredients.

We highly recommend this pizza at Dolce Vita. 

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 5/5

-------------------------------------------

Local Foods

Local Foods

upper kirby

-------------------------------------------

Local foods features seasonal items and a variety of sandwiches and salads prepared with ingredients from local markets. 

It first opened in Rice Village, but the allure of gourmet comfort food has led to the opening of a new location on the corner of Kirby and Westheimer. 

The Upper Kirby location has a fresh feel in both its picturesque outdoor patio and preppy indoor décor. The sandwich shop’s clean and crisp atmosphere is rather calming and a perfect location for a casual meal.

Orders are taken at the counter by the friendly staff who then hand you a number while you find a seat and wait for your meal. 

The downside- this place has become quite popular so finding a seat might take you a few minutes.

-------------------------------------------

Service: 4.5/5

Ambience: 4.7/5

-------------------------------------------

Truffled Egg Salad

market greens, tomato, parmesan, aioli, pretzel bun

-------------------------------------------

This is the type of sandwich you crave after eating it once. A gourmet recipe which turns the regular egg salad sandwich into an epicurean experience.  

The egg salad is embellished  with just the right amount of salt and truffles aioli sauce and sits on a warm pretzel bun. We ordered the sandwich with the Asian cabbage slaw and the utterly fresh Tuscan Kale salad prepared with golden raisins, toasted pine nuts, and parmesan.  

A palatable dish for a summer meal.

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 5/5

-------------------------------------------

Cruchy Chicken

nut "crumble", provolone, buttermilk ranch, pickles, tomato, pretzel bun

-------------------------------------------

A Local Foods favorite, this sandwich features a combination of flavors that mesh perfectly well. 

The tender chicken is well accompanied by the pickles and buttermilk ranch, while the crusted nuts make for a prefect crunch in each bite. The sandwich comes with two sides which are just as delicious. 

We ordered the carefully seasoned housemade chips and cabbage slaw. The cabbage slaw is prepared with edamame, bean sprouts, and lemongrass vinaigrette for an Asian twist.

4 y media

-------------------------------------------

Dish:  4.5/5

-------------------------------------------

Stone's Throw

Stone's Throw 

-------------------------------------------

As soon as we walked into Stone's, we knew  that we found our new spot for cocktails in the Montrose area. This new Montrose neighborhood bar is exactly what the famous Westheimer drinkery curve was missing. 

When we walked in, we felt in love with the high energy and the dark architecture the bar offers with its chandeliers, high ceilings, dark wood, black booths and its iron works all over the bar. With only a few weeks open this place gets packed on a weekend. Even though this bar  offers plenty of seats downstairs and upstairs, by 10:00 pm, all the seats and booths were taken already. Fortunately, we were lucky enough to get a table upstairs which was more than perfect because we could see the entire bar from our spot. 

The ambience was amazing. It gets a little bit loud because of the crowd, but if it bothers you, they have a small patio with several tables outside. 

Even though we loved this bar as soon as we walked in, we though that we would have to wait so long for our drinks, but we did not. The three times we went to the bar for drinks, we did not wait longer than 5 minutes to be served. 

If you have not visited Stone's Throw yet, we highly recommend you to stop by this new neighborhood bar and try their fascinating cocktails. 

-------------------------------------------

Service: 4.5/5

Ambience: 4.7/5

-------------------------------------------

Ginger Roger's

gin, ginger liqueur, lime juice, agave nectar, mint, house made ginger beer

-------------------------------------------

This drink only needs 3 words to be described... Fresh, delightful & divine. If you are into Gin, you definetely have to try one of this Ginger Roger's at Stone's Throw. 

The freshness and the acidity of this drink went flawlessly with the Gin.

-------------------------------------------

Drink: 5/5

-------------------------------------------

Santa Poca

resposado tequila, aperol, hibiscus liqueur, lime juice, agave nectar

-------------------------------------------

When we asked the bartender which cocktail was the most popular, he recommended us Santo Poca. We said Yes! 

The Santo Poca was so good and delicious that we ordered it twice. Because drinks based on tequila are difficult to enjoy, we though we would not like it, but this drink was our Fav. We will definitely order it again on our next visits...

We totally recommend you to have and enjoy this amazing mix of tequila and the aperitif Aperol at Stone's Throw 

-------------------------------------------

Drink: 5/5

-------------------------------------------

Coco In The Mix II

Hugo's 

authentic mexican cuisine

-------------------------------------------

Chapulines 

pan sautéed grasshoppers served with guacamole, tortillas and chipotle tomatillo salsa 

-------------------------------------------

Service: 4/5

Ambience: 4.5/5

Dish: 5/5

-------------------------------------------

CocoInTheMix 's first TbtCoco goes to Hugos! A place for ritas and... grasshoppers! 

Eating bugs does not always sound tasty, but we are always in the mood to try something uncommon. We were enchanted with the idea of trying Hugo's grasshoppers. It was a must have appetizer. 

This new crispy experience was beyond amazing. The sautéed onions and guacamole gave the gentle touch to this dish. 

CocoEaters, if you stop by Hugo's one of these days, trust us, you cannot miss this distinct experience. 

-------------------------------------------

Blue At Brenner's

-------------------------------------------

Cocointhemix is dedicated to one of the most magical places in Houston: Blue Bar at Brennar’s on the Bayou! This traditional Houstonian restaurant features a luxurious high energy patio bar with the gorgeous view of our bayou.

Enjoy the rest of the summer days by taking advantage of the great prices they offer during their Happy Hour which goes from Monday to Friday, 5pm - 7pm.  

For drinks (6$ cocktails and Martinis/ 7$ for wine glass/4$ craft beers) and small bites (6$) - CocoEaters please don’t miss their sliders, they are absolutely delicious!

Also, for those cigar aficionados, since Blue is an outdoor bar, they offer cigars to purchase and enjoy on the patio and its green surroundings. 

Cheers! 

-------------------------------------------

Photo Credit: Brenner's on the Bayou

Pappas Meat CO.

steaks & more

-------------------------------------------

For those CocoEaters who love and enjoy the Pappas family's concept, CocoInTheMix brings you good news.

The Pappas Brothers welcome their new restaurant, Pappas Meat Co. which will open in Fall 2014 at 12010 East Freeway. The idea of this new casual steakhouse is to feature traditional American and Southern food with an extensive meat selection for those eaters in the area.

Best of luck to the Pappas Brothers, and we cannot wait to try this new dining concept! 

-------------------------------------------

#CocoDijon #HoustonBlogger #HoustonFood #HoustonFoodie #Houston #Htx #IgHouston #HoustonEats

-------------------------------------------

Photo Credit: Pappas Restaurants

Caracol Restaurant

Caracol Restaurant

mexican coastal cuisine

-------------------------------------------

The newest restaurant from Chef Hugo Ortega situated in the Galleria area offers terrific dishes with the best ingredients from the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. 

Its white walls, big windows, the modern rustic decor and the great ambience gave us the vibe that we were looking for the night.

Heartbroken we cannot say the same about the service during our visit to Caracol. 

It was not that terrible, but it was not exactly what we were expecting from this place. Unfortunately, our server did not provide a skillful customer service, not even an average service. During the dinner, we never heard any recommendation or explanation about the menu. Our waiter would put some pressure on us to order as fast as we could whenever we wanted to order something because "he was always in a rush". 

Actions like those made the night a little unpleasant sometimes, but thanks to the ambience and vibe of this place, those uncomfortable moments were overshadowed.   

-------------------------------------------

Service: 2.7/5

Ambience: 5/5

-------------------------------------------

Tostones de Atun

tuna, young coconut, macadamia, ginger, habanero

-------------------------------------------

The presentation of the tostones covering the tuna was totally different and particular, but the quality of this starter was not the highest one. 

The texture and taste of each bite of the tuna were not as delightful as we assumed since Caracol is mostly known for its seafood cuisine. 

We are a tuna lover, but we would definitively not order this appetizer from Caracol. 

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 2.3/5

-------------------------------------------

Taquitos Tronadores de Carnitas 

crispy rolled pork tacos, avocados-tormatillo salsa

-------------------------------------------

This plate was delicious! All of these “taquitos” were extremely crunchy and tasty. They are filled with pork, and they come with an avocado and sour cream sauce on the side. 

This plate is not spicy at all! It is an excellent option if you are not a spicy lover.

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 4.5/5

Coppa Osteria

Coppa Osteria

-------------------------------------------

One of those nights we ventured with no reservation with hopes to be seated within a decent time frame. We decided to pop by Coppa Osteria, a small italian restaurant within the enchanting West U area of town. As soon as we pulled up outside, the al fresco diners filled the patio even with the dense humidity of a summer Houston night. 

We decided to lounge at the bar to raid the different selection of concoctions offered. The ambience at the bar was as entertaining for our 45 minute wait to be seated. The bar has a broad selection of spirits, they even have the hard-to-find English PIMMS! The bartender  offered was outstanding, she was very attentive and even offered us to change one of our drinks since she noticed we didn’t like it that much. While we were waiting to be seated, we had a Burrata Tartufo at the bar as an appetizer. This has to be the best Burrata we have ever eaten. The cheese was so fresh and soft, the prosciutto was so tender, and the truffle… the distinctive and glorious flavor of the truffle accompanied with these addictive crunchy crostini was beyond amazing.

 After we were seated, our waiter came immediately to the table. He was an Argentinian young guy, very nice and respectful. He know the menu by heart and was able to make very informed recommendations. Again, we enjoyed the outstanding service at coppa. The ambiance was really nice and versatile, you could see that the place was full with people from all the ages but predominantly young crowed. 

Coppa Osteria can be a great selection if you are looking for romantic, groups or family dinner.  

-------------------------------------------

Service: 5/5

Ambience: 5/5

-------------------------------------------

Pizza “Ham & Eggs”

spicy coppa, quail eggs, parmesan reggiano

-------------------------------------------

We had high expectations with this dish since we have tried their plain margarita pizza before and it was amazingly good. As you can see from the pic this is a very “good looking” pizza, it had these tiny and cute fried eggs on top. On the other hand, It had too many things going on. The mix of flavors were hard to enjoy; a lot of seasoning, and at the same time it was spicy. We sadly have to say… we didn’t love it.  

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 3.3/5

-------------------------------------------

Spaghetti Carbonara

black pepper, parmesan reggiano, egg yolk, salumi toscana

-------------------------------------------

We have heard great things about Coppa's carbonara  that this time,  we decided to order it. This dish was completed table-side when the waiter prepared and poured the sauce over the Spaghetti in front of us. The carbonara was pretty enjoyable and tasteful, but we believed this one had too much pepper which sadly overshadowed the taste of all the other delicious ingredients.

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 4/5

-------------------------------------------

True Food Kitchen

True Food Kitchen

-------------------------------------------

With a great concept and strong opening, True food has welcomed all the eaters in the Houston area. True food is the new healthy eatery by Dr. Andrew Weil which opened a few weeks ago in the Galleria area. As soon as we walking in during the lunch time, we could felt the fresh and casual vibe of this place. 

The brightness in the restaurant, its open kitchen which can be seen from the main dining room and to be able to see what the chef and the cooks are doing with the fresh ingredients give you a pleasant feeling of cleanliness.   

Customer service was amazing, our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and drinks. He recommended us the most popular dishes and natural juices which were totally worthy. 

We appreciated how attentive, and cordial our waiter and the rest of the staff were during our lunch, but the waiter's amiability was a little bit too much. To the point that at the end it was kind of annoying. Sometimes, being too much over the customers is not pleasant. 

If by any chance you are in the Galleria area looking for a casual and healthy dish to fulfill hungry tummy, we recommend you to stop by True Food to try any of the items from their wide healthy selections, and do not forget about their natural juices. 

-------------------------------------------

Service: 4/5

Ambiece: 5/5

-------------------------------------------

- NO PICTURES FOR THESE ITEMS - 

We apologize for the inconvenience. 

Watermelon Lemonade

watermelon & honey lemonade

and 

Cucumber Refresher

cucumber & honey lemonade

-------------------------------------------

These natural drinks were super fresh. We just wanted to try the juices because they called our attention, so ordering 1 juice per person was enough for our lunch. You cannot dine in True Food without having one of their amazing juices. 

-------------------------------------------

Drinks: 5/5

-------------------------------------------

Caramelized Onion Tart

smoked garlic, black fig & gorgonzola

-------------------------------------------

Perfect size to be sharable for a group of 3. The salty taste from the gorgonzola and the sweetness from the black fig made a great combination. The formidable combination of the gorgonzola and the figs overshadow the caramelized onions which was not a problem for us. The only problem was that this appetizer was a little bit oily for us.

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 4/5

-------------------------------------------

Red Chili Shrimp

sesame noodle, gai lan, spinach & shiitake mushroom

-------------------------------------------

If you are not into hot dishes, we recommend you to go for another healthy option. Otherwise, shrimps, vegetables and noodles with a delicate spicy touch is the correct answer of why the Red Chili Shrimp is one of the most popular dishes at True Food. 

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 4.7/5

-------------------------------------------

Turkey Lasagna 

spinach, ricotta & organic tomato

-------------------------------------------

This dish was perfect. It would probably look a little small when it was brought to the table, but it  is not at all. It was tasty and cooked perfectly. However, the lasagna had too much extra sauce. If they put less sauce in it, they would hit the nail on the head. However, on our next visit, we could reorder the Turkey Lasagna easily.

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 4.5/5

-------------------------------------------

Coco In The Mix I

Prohibition

super club & bar

-------------------------------------------

Did our CocoEaters and CocoDrinkers miss Prohibition in the Galleria area? 

CocoInTheMix welcomes back Prohibition Club & Bar which is reopening its doors in DowntownHouston. The new Prohibition will feature a raw bar, fresh seafood and delicious dishes when it opens this summer. 

If our CocoEaters would like to preview Prohibition's new menu, join them this evening at 7:00pm for its special pre-opening event at Krastsmen Baking. 

Tickets are at $75 which include family style dinner and wine

For purchase visit: 

http://prohibitionhouston.com

-------------------------------------------

SUNDOWN

at the grove

-------------------------------------------

It's Wine Wednesday , and today CocoInTheMix cheers with wine... or beer! 

  

Every Wednesday until September 17 from 5:30pm to 8:00pm, The Grove is hosting "Sundown at The Grove". For $15, tickets include a craft beer flight featuring 4-oz. pours and custom food pairings.
However, if some CocoDrinkers prefer to keep it classic and have a glass of wine on a WineWednesday, you can exchange your flight of beer for 2 glasses of wine. 

Cheers! and enjoy the view of The Discovery Green from The Grove's rooftop.

-------------------------------------------

  

Piola

famosi per la pizza

-------------------------------------------

Wine Tuesday is the new Wine Wednesday for Coco In The Mix (at least until tomorrow)

Ladies, are you looking for an enjoyable Thirsty Tuesday night? 

Join Piola on Tuesday nights from 7pm until close. Ladies can buy any glass of wine from the menu for $2.95 per glass. 

Cin Cin!!! and Do not forget to pair it with a delish Pizza

-------------------------------------------

Photo Credit: Piola

Pax Americana

Pax Americana

american restaurant

-------------------------------------------

Pax America finally opened its doors and obviously, we were there to give you all the details. Pax Americana is certainly part of our HotCoco selections! 

This lovely place had been packed on its first week, and even though we had a reservation for dinner, we had to wait 45 min to be seated because our table was not ready. However, we really enjoyed the standing wait (there were not even available chairs at the bar section and it is not that big). The bar offers a decent selection of drinks and wines. 

In general the place has a really nice vibe, dim light and simple decoration which makes you feel at home. Some people may find this place a bit loud, however some others actually enjoy the life this may bring to a restaurant. The plates are designed to share, so do not feel guilty about ordering several from the menu. The service was not exceptional due to the number of tables our waiter was serving, however, every time he approached the table he was really nice and professional. At the end of the dinner, he gave us as courtesy of the Restaurant  Sanguinaccio Fritters Dessert what some of us though it was the best taste of the night.

We totally recommend you to try this new restaurant and do not forget to ask about a secret menu Pax Americana offers, or the new items which are not part of the regular menu. They are even thinking on asking for a secret password in order to be able to access the secret menu, how cool is that?!

-------------------------------------------

Service:  4/5

Ambience:  4.5/5

Beef Tartare

pickles, horseradish, chervil, cultured cream, tonnato sauce, mesquite corn sourdough

-------------------------------------------

This meat dish made from finely chopped raw beef was impressive. It is served with a delicious crispy bread from Common Bond. We all enjoyed the combination of the beef tartare's flavors, and what we liked the most was that we could easily enjoyed the raw beef itself instead of the sauce. 

-------------------------------------------

Dish:  5/5

Pork Belly

fermented brussels, grilled japanese eggplant, pecan romesco sauce

-------------------------------------------

This dish is about quality not quantity. Do not expect a big plate; the portion is very small. The pork belly was outstanding, flavoursome and beautiful soft flesh. It was our favorite entree at Pax Americana. Actually, we wanted to re-order it, but we preferred to order other entrees to try them out. 

The pork belly is a must at this restaurant.

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 5/5

Lamb Shoulder

confit leeks, carrot citrus puree, radish, vadouvan sabayon

-------------------------------------------

Lamb and smoke? Yes, please. If you enjoy the smoky taste on a piece of meat, you have to order the lamb shoulder at Pax Americana. The meat was so tender that it easily pulled apart. With each bite, we could taste the smokiness from the oak wood which magnified the flavor of the final product. 

However, the smokiness on this dish is pretty accented that if you are not use to this taste, you will probably not enjoy it the first time.

-------------------------------------------

Dish:  4/5

Gulf MKT Fish

oyster and chanterelle mushrooms, fennel, gnocchi alla romana

-------------------------------------------

After having a great aftertaste from the last dishes, we were expecting something similar from this seafood option. Usually, you never go wrong with gnocchi, but there is always a first time. This dish was our least favorite of the night. The fish came out a little be cold, and the gnocchi were not tasteful at all. The spicy touch of this dish did not go well with the gnocchi. On our next visit to Pax Americana, we will probably try the huge gulf shrimp, instead of the gnocchi.

-------------------------------------------

Dish:  1.3/5

Julep

Julep

Southern Cocktail Bar

-------------------------------------------

Clumsy Butcher Team scored again.

Julep! With a subtle feminine touch by co-owned Alba Huerta, this new bar on the lower Washington corridor offers a sophisticated vibe and different variations of Southern cocktails in addition to a limited #beer selection.

If you are familiar with Clumsy Butcher ( HayMerchant, Anvil, PastryWar, Okra ) you already know what to expect... Julep gives you the same relaxed and #chill vibe. The wait for a drink is the same as Anvil or Pastry war  since the drinks are made with fresh ingredients. However, the service was faster than we thought. 

If our CocoDrinkers are in the mood of crafted cocktails and a laid back night, we totally recommend you to stop at this new spot on Washington ave.

-------------------------------------------

Service: 4.5/5

Ambience:  4.7/5

Creole Crusta

short and sour with el dorado 5yr rum, red pepper infused clement creole shrub, lemon and burdock & dandelion bitters

--------------------------------------------

Since two of us were in the mood of sweet drinks, the mixologist recommended us this beautiful craft cocktail of rum .

This drink was complex, strong and delicate at the same time. Each sip was enjoyable and full of flavor .

However, it had a high end of sweetness , so probably a drink or 2 might be enough if you are not in the mood for sugary drinks. 

--------------------------------------------

Drink: 4.7/5

Sparkling Julep

sparkling 100 gamay wine, pierre ferrand 1840 cognac, mint and turbinado

--------------------------------------------

If you are into cognac you will fall in love with this drink like 2 of us did. With a strong infusion of cognac and hints of fresh mint and lime, this drink is definitely the best option to soothe your cravings of a well made summer drink.

--------------------------------------------

Drink:  4/5

Uchi

Uchi

Contemporary Japanese Dining & Sushi

-------------------------------------------

Quality and innovation has made it to Houston. Uchi is by far on of the best restaurants in H-town. If you are not concerned about spending a fair amount of money for one dinner , this place is a must. 

The best way to enjoy a meal at Uchi is by allowing your waiter to order for you. We have done this many times and have never been disappointed. We consider this restaurant as part of our FancyCoco selections. A good tip for those on a CocoBudget, this place offers an incredible HappyHour Monday to Friday from 5 to 6:30pm with prices up to one third off their regular price! If you plan on going to happy hour, try to arrive early for a huge queue is formed on the street even before the doors open. 

Uchi reserves some of their tables for walk-ins but most tables are for reservations (which usually are also gone very fast, so try to call in advance). In the past we have had to wait 50 minutes on a week night to even score a spot at the bar, yet the wait is more than worth it. 

Upscale atmosphere, rustic decoration, young people, and exceptional service make for an extraordinary experience.

-------------------------------------------

Service: 4.7/5

Ambience: 5/5

Zero Sen Roll

yellotail, avocado, shallot, cilantro, tobiko, yuzu

--------------------------------------------

There is nothing zero about this cocodijon favorite. An exquisite roll featuring raw fish and a distinctively delicious citrus flavor is highly suggested by the staff and now by us as well. The freshness and pureness of this roll is one to enjoy without soy sauce. The rolls at Uchi are cut into delicately small pieces making it easy to eat while enjoying a burst of flavor. 

It is no wonder we continue to order this dish every time we have the pleasure of dining in this distinguished establishment.

-------------------------------------------

Dish: 5/5

Ham and Eggs Roll

katsu pork belly, yolk custard, espelette

-------------------------------------------

Unique and exotic, this roll is for anyone who does not like fish . The roll consists of delicately tender pork combined with sweet gravy for a mouth-watering taste 

Every dish here is rather amazing; we insist you try more than what is featured here. We highly suggest you end your gastronomical experience with the delicious Fried Milk, a dish offering chocolate and condensed milk flavors in a exceptional presentation.
-------------------------------------------

Dish:  4.7/5