Do you have favorite places to eat? I know I have. Over the years, I’ve been to many eateries. I don’t normally play favorites with things, but when it comes to restaurants, there have been plenty that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. Sometimes, I wish some of those restaurants were still around. Sadly, like most things in life, places to eat come and go. I can’t say I’ve had a favorite restaurant above others, but I’ll gladly share some of the places I’ve enjoyed over the years.
Restaurants growing up
I’m in my late 30s now, so I’ve been to quite a few places to eat in my time. Originally, I’m from Houston, TX, a city with some of the best places for steak and barbeque. As a kid, I didn’t think much of going out to eat, but as I grew older, I started to appreciate the charm and possibilities each restaurant offered. One of my favorite childhood restaurants was a steak house called The Stable. That place was awesome, I can remember just about every detail of it. True to the name, The Stable was made to look like a huge barn. When you went inside, you’d see a lobster tank, walk down the hall past a wooden Indian, and then sit down to eat in a dining hall. The Stable always served great steaks and would even have good toast points to appetize on beforehand.
Other Restaurants I’ve known
The Stable aside, there were plenty of other great places to eat all over town. One spot we frequented was a small Italian place in a strip center we simply knew as Fred’s. It was one of the first places I remember having pizza that wasn’t delivered, and I think it was also the place I fell in love with garlic bread. I can’t remember every restaurant we went to growing up, but some were unforgettable.
One such example is the Goode Company franchise. As far as I can remember, there’ve been at least three different Goode Company restaurants near where I used to live. My favorite of the three was the Goode Company Taqueria. I usually ordered a burger and seasoned fries, with a slice of creme pie for dessert, but the taqueria offers great atmosphere too. The inside is fine, but there’s also an outdoor seating area covered by a roof, and a lovely fountain outside to add to the scenery.
Another Goode Restaurant is Goode Company Seafood. I’ve never been into seafood myself, but the place serves good chicken and the same great fries as the taqueria. There was also a Goode Company BBQ, but that place was rebuilt into something else. I don’t remember the exact year, but at some point, right next to the BBQ, they built a huge armadillo, and it’s now the Armadillo Palace. Or maybe the palace just got built next to the BBQ; my memory is a bit fuzzy on the details.
Our Favorite Italian place
Of all the places I’ve been to eat over the years in Houston, one of my family’s favorites is D’Amico’s Italian Market Cafe. My family is good friends with the proprietor and some of the staff of D’Amico’s, and we’ve been going there for many years. The owner has actually been to Italy on more than one occasion, and walls inside of the cafe are plastered with posters and pictures taken from his trips. The main dish I get at D’Amico’s is veal parmesan, but I usually have them skip the marinara and cover everything in melted cheese. I’ve ordered that dish so many times, some of the staff just know to start making it when they see us at the table.
Houston Restaurants To-Go
Aside from all the great places to go and eat, takeout in Houston has always been plentiful. Fast-food joints have always been around for quick drive-thru service. There’s the McDonalds near my neighborhood all my life, a KFC next to it that later turned into a Whataburger, a Taco Bell on the other side, and a Burger King down the road. There may still be a Long John Silvers in town. One of the best barbeque restaurants with drive-thru is Pappa’s Bar-B-Que. Now THAT place knows how to cook a mean brisket. They also serve enormous fries in a box and possibly the best barbeque sauce anywhere, I could never get enough.
Restaurants For any Meal
I don’t really go out for breakfast all that much, and outside of traffic school, I never quite got the hang of driving in Houston. That aside, there are plenty of restaurants in Houston to go for any meal of the day. I remember an IHOP that used to be a Pizza hut, great pancakes. Another great place to get breakfast spot is Shipley Donuts; I practically grew up on those. A good place to find the best pigs in a blanket would be the Kolache Factory, I loved that place as a kid. And of course, lots of fast-food joints have something for any time of day.
Classy Places to Eat
There are, of course, plenty of places that offer a dining experience with some class. One such place, Houston’s, named after the city itself. I know from experience that it can take time to get a table there without a reservation. Luckily, while waiting, it’s fun to watch the chefs cook on the other side of a stone counter. They also leave your water pitcher with you so you can refill yourself. I don’t remember appetizers, but the main course more than makes up for it.
Another restaurant with style is Fuddruckers. That place has amazing displays, including a wax sculpture of the Blues Brothers. I’m not sure if they have the best hamburgers in the world as advertised, but they are really darn good. If you like seeing the food being cooked in front of you, you should check out Tokyo Hana, a Japanese-style hibachi restaurant. One last classy restaurant I can think of is in downtown Houston: The Houston Aquarium. I remember celebrating one of my late teen birthdays there. I don’t remember what I ate, but they brought an extra-special dessert for the occasion. It was amazing eating around all the aquatic displays, and there was even a white tiger exhibit.
Where I Eat Now
It’s been a few years now since my family moved to Rockport, TX. It’s really nice here, but I often find myself longing for some of the restaurants in Houston. Don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of great places to eat here. There are several donut shops in town, including the local bakery. Fast-food chains like Whataburger and Dairy Queen are also around. A few Mexican restaurants have made their mark too, like Las Comales and Jalisco’s. We used to have a Chilis, but that was turned into another Mexican joint a few years back.
Since Rockport is a coastal town, the neighboring area of Fulton has lots of places for seafood, like Charlotte Plummers. To add more diversity to the mix, an Irish Pub recently opened in Fulton as well. You may like that place, it can be a bit loud, but it has shuffleboard and karaoke. There’re also restaurants that specialize in Vietnamese cuisine, like Hu-Dat and Gno’s. Some gas stations even have a taco grill if you’re looking to eat on the go.
Conclusion
If you’ve been following, I’ve been to a good number of restaurants in my day. I honestly wish some of them were closer to where I live now. There are also restaurants I wish were still around, like The Stable or Fred’s. While I do miss those places, I’m glad to know that some of them are still around, and I can return to them when I visit Houston. In the meantime, I’m happy there are still good places to eat where I am. Why not try some of the spots I’ve mentioned for yourself and see how good the food is? Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m hungry.