Dosi Restaurant & Soju Bar

Dosi

restaurant & soju bar

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This little stylish korean-inspired restaurant located in S. Shepherd impressed us! As soon as we walked in, the darkness of the restaurant with a bright kitchen at the end bought us.

 

With a gorgeous deco and the soft touch of lights, Dosi gave us a cozy feeling while walking to our table. However, once we sat, we noticed the coldness of the ambience because of the dining room’s set up. The tables are too closed to each other that we could easily hear every word coming from the people who were sitting next to us.

 

Starting from the hostesses to the busboys, the service was impeccable. Even though we had our waitress, any waiter/ess would be available for us and for the other tables at any time. They totally worked as a team.

 

If you have not been at Dosi, we totally recommend it to you. Keep in mind that the portions of the dishes are literally “shareable plates”. We will definitely come back to this fusion spot, but next time we would request the community table or one of the round tables next to the wall.

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Service: 5/5

Ambience: 3.7/5

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Kale Tapioca Chips

roasted with sesame, black pepper & garlic

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We loved the presentation of this appetizer and it was easy to share.  The kale chips were very interesting, fresh and crunchy but a little oily.

 

The sour aftertaste of the dip did not pair well with the chips. We preferred to enjoy the chips with no dip

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Dish: 3/5

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Duck Breast

smoked & roasted with charred onion, beet, plum & kohlrabi

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We felt in love with the delicate presentation of the duck.

 

The duck had a strong and rich flavor. We totally enjoyed the combination of the smoky duck and the sweetness of the plums.  

However, the only reason we do not give it 5 moons, it is because the duck was just a little over cooked. We would prefer the duck to be medium to enjoy its juice.

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Dish: 4.3/5

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Black Beans Noodles

oxtail, maitake mushrooms, cucumber & mung bean roots

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We felt that we had to order noodles at this place, so we did!

 

The texture of the noodles were incredible chewy which worked perfectly with the oxtail and beans. The oxtail was fatty and rich without being overwhelming. 

The portion of oxtail they added to the noodles was large enough for all of us.

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Dish: 4.3/5

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Special Of The Day

Braised Octopus

with scallion mushrooms, chilies (green & red) & rice tortillas

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If you are into spicy dishes, then you should definitely order the octopus at Dosi.

They have not added it to their menu, but probably by next month they will be offering it.

 

This appetizer was a recommendation from our waitress and she nailed it. It was easy to share and pretty enjoyable.

 

The tortillas and the octopus were correctly warm. The tortillas were small since it was a “sharable dish”, but a proper quantity of tortillas (6). The octopus was cooked very well. It was tender and delicious.

 

We totally loved it.

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Dish: 5/5

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Andes Cafe

Andes Café

south american kitchen

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With an interesting interior space and a casual concept, Chef Guerrero brings to Houston a diverse menu of flavors with a home cooked touch from several countries of South America.

 

In our visit, one thing that called our attention was the lack of customer service. Even though their employees were kind and friendly, they missed some important details about customer service such as: taking orders once we sat, refilling the water glasses and other details that made it looked like “everyone’s first day at work”.

 

When we walked in, the ambience was exactly what we could assume from a Café. Andes Café was fairly cozy and casual, definitely what we were looking for a breakfast catch up.  However, once we sat and started chatting, we noticed that the music was too loud. We barely could have a conversation without asking plenty of time “what did you say?”

 

If you are in the area and you are craving some latin food, we recommend you to stop by Andes Café, but keep in mind those issues.

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Service: 2/5

Ambience: 4/5

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Tequenos

bread dough sticks lled with queso palmita chesse. Served with guasacaca avocado relish

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We did not expect the tequenos to come out that good. The temperature was just right. The tequenos were cheesy, warm, and perfect to eat right away. We did not have to wait for them to cool down.  

 

We recommend you to order this appetizer, but keep in mind that it is only 4 tequenos per order.

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Dish: 5/5

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Platano Maduro

with cheese and sofrito

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Perfect appetizer to start our breakfast!

 

The plaintain was baked/cooked perfectly. Its sweetness worked well with the spicy sofrito which consisted of aromatic ingredients cut into small pieces.

 

We totally enjoy spicy dishes, but if you are not a fan of spicy, we do not recommend you to order this appetizer.

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Dish: 5/5

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Cachapa

fresh sweet corn pancake stuffed with “queso de mano” chesse.

Carne mechada (braised shredded beef)

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Cachapa is a traditional venezuelan dish made from corn which has a thick and lumpy contexture. The cheese filling plays and important role in this dish.

 

Andes Café’s cachapa was tateful, but it was not what we expected. When they brough it to our table, this cachapa did not look like the one from their pictures. For us, this one was pretty thin, and poor of cheese. The side of carne mechada was an upgrade, and it was enough for the side of this cachapa.

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Dish: 2.3/5

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The Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen

The Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen

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Queen Vic's is a British-Indian pub located in the Upper Kirby area and is loved by many of its neighbors. It is easily missed when driving by Richmond Ave. however a must in houston dining. 

Valet is available every night except on Sundays which is important because this establishment on top of always being packed, has a small parking lot.

People of all ages frequent this pub and enjoy the variety of flavorful dishes. The owner is Portuguese and has definitely set the example for charm and service as each waiter is attentive, knowledgable, and timely. Our waiter gave great recommendations and was often checking on us. 

We will definitely return.

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Service: 4/5

Ambience: 5/5

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Balchão Curry w/ Coconut 

Basmati & Crab Kofta

crispy coconut basmati rice croquettes filled with spiced lumb crab and served over goan spicy red curry. Topped with boondi raita

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A staple appetizer at Queen Vic's, this curry dish has received National recognition for its taste. 

The large croquettes are filled with spiced lump crab which are covered with spicy red curry. 

This appetizer is definitely for someone who has a spicy palette, however the warm and puffy naan is perfect to neutralize the spice of the curry.

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Dish: 4.7/5

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Cassava Bombas

yucca croquette filled with panner cheese and serrano chilies. Served with tomato-sweet neem chutney.

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Flaky oily dough. Not finger friendly. 

There is not too much to say about this appetizer. The yuccas' taste itself were pretty simple, the entire flavor came from the spicy sauce on the side. 

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Dish: 2/5

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Beef Wellington

6oz beef tenderloin seared and topped with lamb kebob sausage, mushroom duxelle and sautéed spinach. Wrapped in puff pastry and baked to order with madeira wine demi-glace. Served with olive oil whipped potatoes and veg of the day.

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This may be one of the best dishes at Queen Vic's. 

We were pleasantly surprised when the puff pastry stuffed with a 6 oz piece of beef, lamb kabob, and sautéed mushrooms arrived to the table. 

The perfectly tender beef puff was accompanied by mashed potatoes and the veggie of the day. 

Each bite was full of flavor and the puff melted in our mouths.

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Dish: 5/5

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Anvil Bar & Refuge

Anvil Bar & Refuge

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Located in the heard of Montrose, there is Anvil; the progenitor of Houston’s craft cocktail movement. Anvil offers over 100 drinks on their menu that highlights different specialties

 

The mixologists were incredibly skilled. They always nail it with their recommendations. The service was slow. It took us around 15-20 minutes to order/get our drinks, but it’s due to the volume of customers they had during that night, and also because all the preps for the drinks were made at the moment. That’s why those cocktails are always fresh and amazingly good.  However, this is the only place we would dare wait so long for a drink. We had to give them 4 moons because even the wait can't turn us away.

 

There was a mix in the crowd (like always). There are days that this bar gets way too crowded, but this time, people came in and out the entire night, so there was always space to walk around. The volume of the music was adequate. We could have a conversation and at the same time enjoyed the background music.  The only thing we do not enjoy about this area in Montrose, it is the parking situation. They have two valet parking companies, which we recommend you to use instead of parking on the streets (the level of vehicle towing is high in this area)

 

Anvil is definitely one of our favorite places in Houston to go for fresh craft cocktails. The cocktails may look a little bit pricy, but their distinct and unique tastings make each penny valuable. 

 

If you have missed this little trendy bar, we suggest you to stop by during the weekend and enjoy one of their magic cocktails. 

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Service: 4/5

Ambience: 5/5

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South side

dry gin, lemon, mint

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This cocktail was a recommendation from one of the mixologist and we liked it, but it did not buy us 100% because of its strong taste.

 

This cocktail was complex, strong and refreshing. A little too strong for us, but if you are into gin, we recommend it to you.

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Drink: 4.3/5

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Pimm’s Cup

pimm’s N 1, lemon, dry gin, cucumber, soda

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Everytime we visit Anvil, Pimm’s cup is always a must. Going to this bar without ordering this cocktail is a waste.

 

A delicious drink which had a fresh end thanks to the cucumber. The level of alcohol of the Pimm’s Cup was perfectly hidden by the soda, cucumber and lemon that made us order this cocktail constantly.  

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Drink: 5/5

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Sur Latin Peruvian Cuisine

Sur Latin Peruvian Cuisine

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Sur Latin, a peruvian concept in the katy area. Located in a small strip mall, Sur latin conveyed us a cozy and peaceful vibe to dine in. As you see on the picture this place is more like a cafe. They have a limited amount of food options, and fresh options of natural juices. 

We visited this place for a late lunch (around 3:00 pm). There were only 2 tables occupied by the time we arrived. In other words, It was quiet, but with an enjoyable latin background music. 

The service was stupendous. Our waiter was kind, polite, helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. The 2 waiters were always paying attention to us, making sure we were enjoying our dishes. 

Before you visit this cozy restaurant, keep in mind that their prices and portions are relative to a regular restaurant. Even though seafood is usually pricy, we noticed that a lot of items were overpriced. We did not expect those prices when we walked into this cafe/restaurant. 

The only reason we do not give them a full 5/5 for ambience is because of their price. 

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Service: 5/5

Ambience: 4/5

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Ceviche De Pescado

market fresh fish marinated and cooked in lime juice, garlic, onions, peruvian chile & cilantro 

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When we read Peruvian Cuisine, we instantly linked it with ceviche. Unfortunately, they only have one ceviche option on their menu.

The portion was pretty fulfill. It was chill, fresh and tasty. However, it was pretty simple at the same time, but the waiter fixed it by bringing some rocoto (hot pepper) to the table. He nailed it! 

The mix of the freshness of the fish, the sweetness of the sweet potatoes and the spicy of the pepper was a blast in our mouthes. 

This ceviche deserves almost 4 because the rococo was the component that played the biggest roll on this dish. Instead of the ceviche itself.

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Dish: 3.7/5

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Causa Limeña 

peruvian speciality of cold smashed potatoes, peruvian chile peppers, stuffed with lemon based seasoned & shredded chicken

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Causa is like ceviche. It is a must to order when we visit a peruvian restaurant. 

With a neat and clean presentation, this appetizer was beyond delightful. The smashed potatoes was smooth, perfect quantitive of mayo in the mix and enjoyable temperature of the appetizer in general.

Even though they only offer one type of cause (same issue with the ceviche) we would easily go back to Sur Latin just to eat their causa. 

Highly recommended! 

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Dish: 5/5

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Pescado A Lo Macho

grilled or fried fish with a seafood cream (scallops, shrimp, squid) based whitewine sauce mixed with onion & tomatoes, served with white rice and yucca 

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Fish topped with seafood... Yes please! 

The fried fish was crispy in the outside and soft in the inside. The scallops, shrimps and squids were cooked absolutely perfectly. The integrated thick sauce made with aji amarillo was delicious.

The only reason we do not give it a 5/5 is because we expected the fish to be bigger.

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Dish: 4.5/5

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Lomo Saltado

filet mignon sautéed with red onions, tossed with ripe tomatoes, and french fries potatoes, herbs white rice

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Honestly, we were expecting more from this dish. 

On one side the lomo was very tasty. On the other one, It was a little over cooked, and we expected the filet mignon to be more tender than what it was. 

The vegetables were cut in big pieces. Normally, this kind of dish call for vegetables to be julienne cut. 

If you have in mind to order this dish, we recomend you to let them know how you would like your lomo to be cooked. (Ideal: medium rare) 

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Dish: 3/5

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Passion Fruit Juice

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Drink: 5/5

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Fish And The Knife

Fish And The Knife

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As soon as we entered to the restaurant we found its spacious bar and lounge area with a lively vibe. Something that we always find interesting about a restaurant is the mix of ages among the guests, and that was exactly what we noticed as soon as we walked into its extensive main dining room which had plenty of tables with different set ups. The ambience in the dining room was good enough, unfortunately, there was no background music in the dinning room. We only got a noise from people chatting and laughing.

The service was average. The hostesses were nice, but nothing special. One of us came later, and they this foodie was not walked to the table. The manager never came to our table or to any of the table around us to make sure if the service or the food was satisfactory.  About our waiter… he was friendly, he was very knowledgeable about the menu and he approached our table plenty of times to check if we needed anything. He was really nice and professional.

However, the only negative thing we could say about the waiter is that at least two times we forgot to bring the orders to the table. In two of the opportunities he visited the table to ask us if we needed anything, we had to asked about the orders he forgot to bring us (maybe he forgot to sent the request to the kitchen or he just forgot to pick them up when they were ready) Maybe those inconveniences did not bother us that much because we were not in a rush or starving, but maybe in a different occasions they would. Beside those two inconveniences, the customer service from our waiter was excellent.  

Fish and The knife is an interesting place to visit if you have not had the opportunity to go. We more likely recommend you this place for bites in the bar area. Sadly, this place is not one of our first options for a sit down dinner, but we will be back soon. We really want to try their happy hours options.

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Service: 3.3/5

Ambience: 4/5

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Tuna Tataki

thinly sliced torched tuna served with onion and ponzu sauce

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This light appetizer was the ideal one to start our meal.

The tuna was fresh and lightly seared. It was briefly marinated with ponzu sauce which gave it a citrus touch, and a magic end to each piece of tuna.

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Dish: 5/5

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Rainbow Roll

tuna, salmon, whitefish, avocado, snow crab

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Rainbow Roll is usually a California Roll (rice rolled around the mixture of avocado and the snow crab) with slices of tuna, salmon and whitefish on top.

The fish were thinly sliced and fresh. This colorful roll is always a great option to order since it is ideal to try a variety of fish in one roll. However, there was not nothing special on the flavor or taste of this roll in Fish and The Knife. Defenerely, this one is not their best roll.

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Dish: 3.3/5

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Flaming Volcano Roll

seared tuna, crabstick, tamago, shrimp, eel, spicy tuna, snow crab

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Served with an open flame that excites the senses before even having the first bite, the Volcano Roll is an eruption of flavours as only an item with such a name could claim.

This sushi roll finds just the right balance of spice and richness. A bit of a kick that complimented the tuna and the shrimps.

This item is a must-have for the heat lovers.

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Dish: 5/5

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Dragon Roll

Eel, cucumber, avocado, masago, eel sauce

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Usually the green layers of the avocado resemble the scales of a dragon, but not here as you can see in the picture.

This roll was literally amazing. The eel, the avocado and the freshness of the cucumber were noticed on each bite. The magic of this roll was the deliciousness of the masago on top of each roll and the eel sauce lightly showering the entire roll. 

We could think that the eel sauce could overshadow the avocado, the cucumber or the ell itself, but it did not happen.  All of the components of the dragon roll worked very well together.

We would totally order this roll again on our future visits to Fish and The Knife.

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Dish: 5/5

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Hendrick's Martini

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It's nearly impossible to mess up a Hendrick's Martini. Seriously, batch produced in Scotland, and infused with cucumber and rose petals, Hendrick's gin is already doing 90% of the work. Except when it is served lukewarm in a lowball glass. Then, one is simply dumbfounded. 

We were so sad and disappointed, we actually forgot to photograph it. Next?

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Drink: 2.3/5

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Lycheetini

vodka, soho lychee liqueur & fresh lychee

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I've always been a fan of a well crafted cocktail, and the lycheetini is one of my favourites. However, The Fish and The Knife left me wanting. It wasn't sweet enough, but it also wasn't strong enough. 

They needed to pump up the volume in this drink - more lychee, more vodka, and more lychee liquor. It was more like watered down fruit juice that a 16 year-old tried to spike at the homecoming dance.

Even the presentation was passé and unexciting. With such a disappointing cocktail, I'd much rather opt for one of their better Scottish whiskys.

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Drink: 5/5

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Rdg + Bar Annie

RDG

bar annie

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RDG + Bar Annie, which is the next evolution of the famous Cafe Annie, is located in Uptown Houston. With its gorgeous bar, beautiful terrace, and an elegant/upscale dining room, RDG was the perfect spot to go on a Thursday night. 

We have visited RDG + Bar Annie numerous times, and during our visits we have experienced exceptional customer service and an enjoyable ambience. The service is always amazing at RDG. The managers, sommelier, and the waiters are very attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. The impeccable service is the main reason we return to RDG again and again. 

The ambiance is truly variable, depending on what you are looking for or the day that you decide to dine in. The crowd is usually mixed, with everyone from young business men and women, to 20 something's out on the town, to middle aged couples. 

During happy hour, you will enjoy a fantastic and lively vibe after a busy day. If you are looking for a romantic dinner, we recommend the main dinning room, more specifically, one of the tables by the window. For big groups or for a dinner with friends, we recommend the tables at the bar, which always attracts a vibrant crowd. The booths in the dining room have universal appeal, because, from those booths, you have an excellent view of the entire restaurant. 

If the weather is nice in Houston, we suggest you have dessert outside on the terrace or start the night with one of their fantastic cocktails. 

We always thoroughly enjoy our visits to RDG!

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Service: 5/5

Ambience: 4/5

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Bar Annie Nachos

red chile beef, guacamole, crème fraîche

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Any stop at RDG requires a order of nachos. Known as it's number 1 appetizer, the hearty nachos are a great option to share. 

All you need is to pick up a perfectly dressed nacho and enjoy a bite of a crispy chip with meat, guacamole, and sour cream. 

A highly recommended dish. 

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Dish: 5/5

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East Coast Oysters 

on the half shell w/ hushpupies

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Eat them just how they are!

With a briny and savory end each of those east coast oysters were beyond fresh.

The oyster liquor of each oyster had an amazing taste. Their natural juices were clear and precious.  

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Dish: 5/5

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Ceviche

daily fresh fish, tropical fruit, avocado, fresh tortilla chips

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A plate for the light eaters, the ceviche can be ordered with two other appetizers for a table of three. The ceviche has the refreshing taste of fish topped with mango. 

Definitely not the restaurant's best dish, but it's not bad. If you are a ceviche lover, this may not be the dish for you. It wasn't for us.

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Dish: 3.7/5

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Grilled Steak Salad

fingerlings, cippolinis, watercress, belgian endive, smoked cheddar dressing 

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A simple yet perfectly prepared salad featuring tenderly cooked meat. 

The magical taste of cippolines and smoked cheddar are unforgettable and frankly just addicting. 

However, we would have loved a larger portion of greens. 

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Dish: 4.7/5

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Adair Kitchen

Adair Kitchen

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Owned by 2 siblings Nick Adair and Katie Adair, Adair Kitchen offers to the Houstonians the type of home cooking food the 2 siblings enjoyed during their childhood. Adair is well know for being a neighborhood restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

As soon as we walked in, we fell in love with its big black pig on the wall. Its spacious dining room, its brightness and its casual vibe gave us the feeling of a cozy neighborhood café. During lunch, this place was packed with families and business people from the area. Even though it was busy for lunch, they still provided great customer service. They were very positive, knowledgable, and attentive all the time.

When we are in the area and we are in the mood for something light, healthy and fulfill with reasonable prices, Adair is one of our options to stop by. However, we have not had the opportunity to visit Adair for brunch, but we will. 

If you have not tried their tasteful diverse menu, we recommend you to make a stop one of this days, but be aware that it gets pretty busy for lunch.

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Service: 5/5

Ambience: 5/5

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Southwest Chicken 

grilled chicken on a bed of romaine with black beans, avocado, tomato and garnished with crispy tortilla strips.

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This was a great option! 

The salad had a great balance in flavors and portions. The ingredients were very fresh and the salad itself tasteful. 

Perfect to fill a hungry belly. 

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Dish: 5/5

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Honey Mustard + Avocado 

Chicken Sandwich

grilled chicken breast with avocado and honey mustard on the side

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This burger is exactly what you see on the picture. It was as big as in the picture. We are fan of avocadod, so whenever we see it on the menu, it is a must.

The chicken was cooked very well, and the bread was very tasty and soft enough. Since avocado was part of the name of this sandwich we though it would come with more than 2 slices. Sadly, we have to say that it dissapointed us.

About the side, We were not sure about which potatoes we should order, sweet or regular, we could not make up our minds. We suggested to have the guy at the register to pick for us... He gave us both! Thank you!!!

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Dish: 4.3/5

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Sweet Paris

Sweet Paris

crêperie & cafe

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We love coming to this adorable crêperie. This place is always our first option when we are in the mood for crepes because of its atmosphere and crepe variety.

Its delicate decoration gives a clean and peaceful vive which is simply charming. Their outdoor area, which you walk through to get to the door, is precious. Once you are inside, you walk staring into the main dining area, however the kitchen where you order the food is on the right side.

The service was friendly and fast. You order and pay at the counter and wait for your order at your table. The only headache here is the parking situation. Finding parking in Rice Village is often difficult. 

So cocoeaters, what are you waiting for? Your next outing should definitely be to try the variety of creeps at Sweet Paris .

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Service: 5/5

Ambience: 4.7/5

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Turkey, Grapes & Brie Crepe

roasted turkey, French brie, green grapes & walnuts

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Hungry? This crepe is for you. The salad that comes on the side and the crepe itself are pretty big and filling. We could taste the mix of flavors of the turkey , brie and grapes .

 All of the items mingle perfectly in this savory crepe. The turkey in it was perfectly cooked and had an enjoyable smoky grilled flavor.

If you are looking for something that tastes light but fills you up at the same time, we totally recommend you try this savory crepe.

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Dish: 5/5

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Nutella & Strawberries

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You can never go wrong with Nutella and strawberries . This crepe was very sweet , but we couldn't stop eating it. The fruits were fresh and the crepe was filled with a lot of Nutella. 

This crepe does not come with ice cream. If you would like to upgrade your crepe with some ice cream, you will have to request it as we did and can be seen in the picture.

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Dish: 5/5

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