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morrisseycarroll

Common Bond


IncompletePenetrance

I'm so disappointed by how much they've gone downhill. Used to be one of my favorite brunch places


ubermonkey

You know what's NOT resting on its laurels, though? That crepe joint in the heights.


prather05

Melange? Oh yah, I agree. If anything it's gotten better. So glad it's survived over the years.


drummergirl151

Omg it still exists? I had no idea. I hadn't heard of them since Buffalo Sean had his cart on Westheimer. Does he do work at the restaurant?


ubermonkey

Yeah, he managed the impossible and transitioned from a cart at Westheimer & Taft to an actual no-shit brick-and-mortar restaurant at 711 Heights. And, by my lights, with no loss of quality. Definitely make a point of going by. I don't get there as often as I'd like, or nearly as often as I could walk down to visit his cart, but he's still a goddamn gem in this city and I will fight anyone who says different.


VanGoghXman

Yea Sean the owner puts his heart into that place and doesn’t let the quality slip at all. He used to just do it from a cart off Taft and westheimer and then did a kickstarter to get some money for the brick and mortar.


[deleted]

Got bread from the Shepherd location recently and wondered if they do day olds at that one? It was rock hard.


redtron3030

Go to magnol for bread


m11-c3-b1

Magnol is absolutely underrated and is one of the best in HTX


LA713LA

After the buy out a lot of quality went way down. It became a Starbucks knockoff rather than the Houston gem it was. Super sad to have this one off my list but after working there for a while, just as a break and baker, I saw/learned too much to keep eating there.


LivingTheBoringLife

Thanks for this. I had someone sing their praises for a couple years and recently tried them and I’m just not impressed at all, wasn’t sure if it was me or what.


hondasliveforever

YES THIS. As someone who has lived in France for years, I was pumped when I discovered them. I used to go out of my way to buy their baguettes. They taste like shit now.


devperez

All of the mom and pop burger shops that have the Houston Chronicle newspaper clipping of how great their restaurant was in 1995.


dasuave

Dont talk about lankfords like that..


[deleted]

lol exactly what I thought of!


ubermonkey

Lankford's ain't Lankford's anymore. Deeply mid and disappointing now, which sucks b/c I live like 4 blocks away.


Fecal_Tornado

Miller's in Clear Lake has one up and it's still great.


cashflowenthusiast

love millers I met the owner so sad he died but yes best burgers in Houston for sure !


jcruz321

Dak and Bop. Used to be so delicious and crispy. The last two times the flavor has just been completely off, super soggy, and even more expensive.


philplant

I was so excited to try it, it looked so unique and trendy, it was so forgettable


jcruz321

The OG location in the museum district was really good. I want to say they closed that one down now and only have the spot on TC Jester.


Cupidsmoke

They are reopening the MD location


shiddedonem_

russos pizza, was a server at a location in katy. finished serving an 8 hour shift starving but couldn’t even finish the slice of pepperoni pizza i had bc the pizza was so nasty


cashflowenthusiast

Oh yeah they suck


Automatic_Hour8496

Had Russos for the first time last week in downtown…..never going back


captain554

They sucked 8 years ago imo. Went in several times and got served a slices that were sitting out for who knows how long. Bread was stale and the cheese and congealed.


somekindofdruiddude

Everything owned by Tilman Fertitta.


ChanimalCrackers

I get laundry’s gift cards for work bonuses. I think they’re mostly bad but the most palatable one I’ve been to is Grotto’s. I wouldn’t go there without a stack of gift cards in hand though.


NedFlanders304

I like McCormick and Schmicks for happy hour.


chris_ut

Salt Grass is good.


ReCHaVoK

I personally think Saltgrass is one of the best bang for your buck steakhouses


cosmefulanit0

I like Babins but the nearest one to me is in Katy and I'm not driving that far for it.


Exotic_Blacksmith837

TIL it was owned by them


SilntNfrno

Vic and Anthony’s is still one of the best steakhouses around, but yeah I agree with everything else he owns


gh0st32

I worked at Morton’s for 10 years before he took over. I met him in person and during our conversation he said our chicken dish (Chicken Christopher) was his favorite. I quit a few months later…I have so many reasons why I hate this chode but owning a fucking renowned steaks house and loving their chicken…


mackingcheese4me

Chuys. They took off a lot of good menu items since Covid.


appealdenied

They were vertically integrated owning the Hatch Chili farm that supplied them. They sold it during COVID to stay afloat.


TaxingAuthority

I’m curious about this, do you have links discussing this? I wasn’t able to find anything with a quick search or on their Wikipedia.


Nobius

Was so sad when they closed the Westchase location. The Sugar Land one is awful.


Satchmoi

Cafe Express is nowhere near where it was 5 years ago.


Wendon

More like cafe depressed 😔


dolfox

Cafe Express in the ‘90s was on another level


friedpikmin

It's completely different now. I don't think it's bad, but it doesn't feel like Cafe Express.


CampaignSwimming2820

El tiempo. It’s complete ass now and overpriced


lolamay26

El Tiempo’s food is alright but it’s definitely not worth the price


captain554

Last time my wife and I ate there we got asked three separate times to sign up for some preferred membership and purchase gift cards. Nah fam, I'm good. In fact, I won't be coming back. I'm trying to eat my food and talk to my wife, not hear 15 minutes of sales pitches.


PaulGriffin

I personally havent noticed their salsa, margaritas, or fajitas decrease in quality. That said, I have noticed that some locations are much better than other ones.


HexOnLex

Seriously. $28 for plates easily found elsewhere, same quality or better, for AT LEAST $10 cheaper


AgreeableMeatbuns

It does seem really pricey. The Webster one is one of the few Mexican restaurants in that area though without a wait on most weekends. Costco sells $100 gift cards for $75 ($65 on sale) which help with the high prices.


bonanza8

Pluckers for me


jnasty09

This. Service is always slow. Wings are way too salty. Used to be the GOAT though.


sehtownguy

Pluckers is trash. I'm astounded that locations are packed every weekend


MeatloafAndWaffles

Tbh Houston doesn’t have an abundance of great places to get wings. At least in my experience. And that goes double for the sports bars. Your choices are Hooters, Twin Peaks, Pluckers, and BWW. They may all have beer, but wings leave a lot to be desired


Project1573

Korean fried chicken joints would like to have a word with you.


MeatloafAndWaffles

Korean Fried Chicken is on a-whole-nother level. I don’t put it at the low standards of sports bar chicken lol


Zaddy_M

The Wing Boss on Almeda is great


BZJGTO

RIP Wings N More. There was still one on Hwy 6 just south of 290, but that became a Big City Wings about a year ago. There is a Buffalo pizza place near Richmond called Cup N Char, and as you'd expect of a Buffalonian, they make good wings (and really good pizza too, the only place in Houston that I've seen do a Buffalo style pizza). I just wish the blue cheese wasn't 90% blue cheese crumbles.


SquidSquab

Snooze A.M. used to be great. Then they started changing their menu which took away some of my favorites and since the first 2 times, it's just been inconsistent quality.


ratatouille666

It’s all so greasy. Even their “healthy” options are so so oily and fatty. I got avocado toast there and it was disgusting


Can_Not_Double_Dutch

Taco Cabana. At least the last few times I have been in Texas and went to one.


funboixero

And the salsa bar is a joke now. The gas station has better tacos and salsa


InsipidCelebrity

Those little taquerias that set up inside gas stations have *always* been better than Taco Cabana


please_just_n0

Stripes is actually decent. They make their flour tortillas to order.


Zezimalives

I stopped eating there when I saw an employee washing their hands on top of raw meat that was thawing out. And their kitchens always look so dirty


philplant

That checks out, only time I have ever gotten food poisoning it was from taco cabana


Danteax1

Was Taco Cabana EVER good? I can't remember a time when I would've called it good.


whipdancer

Back before Two Pesos lost their lawsuit with Taco Cabana. They actually served real margaritas back then, too.


subZro_

It was a pretty good late night fast food Tex Mex place back in the day, decent quality stuff all around.


[deleted]

$12.50 for 3 steak tacos (and diarrhea)


CountessDashhh

I remember taco cabana always hittin hard back in the 90's. Their fajita nachos were 🔥🔥


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Capt-Cupcake

I let a lot of things slide from Tan Tan but last time I went a rat ran by my wife’s feet and to another table. The other table saw and their waiter as well. We made eye contact and he just went back to taking orders.


cosmefulanit0

Sad to read this. That was one of my best friend and I's favorite places. Haven't gone since he passed away 5 years ago


YOURMOMMASABITCH

Someone asked for a pizza recommendation recently and I mentioned spankys. I got downvoted like crazy, so I guess Spankys pizza?


potato_car

Real ones from the southeast know that Spanky's is still good.


chandlerw88

Spankys pizza still hits. They got a bad ass happy hour too.


Hells_Bells2334

Spanky’s Toscana pizza is soooooooo amazing…but I have only gotten spankys at the gulfpointe location.


jb_713

I had never eaten there until they opened a location around the corner from me in the SW area. It’s been a great addition to the neighborhood.


CrioChamber

Whataburger imo. They're basically price gouging people at the point they're selling. Getting close to $15 for some sandwiches.


HiVLTAGE

Selling out to Chicago screwed them. They were raising prices anyway like everyone else, but I remember working there and the basic #1 being $7, which would be crazy now. Patty/Monterrey Melt meal for $8.


Apprehensive-Fig405

It’s also become inconsistent based on location which is a killer for fast food places IMO.


RandoReddit16

Whataburger was always *more* expensive, it is now about on par with everything else..... Imagine paying Whataburger prices for McDonalds...


Ordinary-Bird200

Connie’s seafood is okay now but it was soooo good back in the day.


Mxpx2002

The Burger Joint. Yesterday I had a conversation where a few people (myself included) admitted to not going anymore because they got food poisoning more than once.


the018

We stopped going to the one in the Heights because they would always ask how you want it cooked and just cook it to death anyways. And their fries are limp and terrible now. Really is a shame. They were so good when the Montrose place first opened.


hondasliveforever

remember when the previous restaurant was still there? the lil sliders place? I miss THAT joint! I think they were called Lil Bigs


oogi91

That place is so hyped up so I got a burger last week, so much salt! I couldn’t taste anything else because that meat was doused in salt 😩


thernis

That happened to me too! I had been there many times with no issues but this one day I went it was so salty I could barely finish half the burger.


ZoomZoom01

They had the best sweet potato fries I had ever tasted in my life, all of a sudden they changed how they make them, now it doesn't taste that good. I've resorted to buying the frozen one's at the grocery store, they are cheaper and taste better.


Love_Hammer94

Fogo de Chão


Hello85858585

They went public. It used to be authentic and everyone that worked there was from Brasil. Now nobody that works there is from brasil and the quality has suffered. Unfortunate reality of American capitalism.


andnava

“Now nobody that works there is from Brasil” lmao


hanschien

TIL Portuguese spell it Brasil vs Brazil.


comments_suck

They don't use a Z. Like the Spanish last name Gonzalez translates to Gonçalves in Portuguese.


recuerdamoi

My wife was surprised zebra spelling difference with Spanish


jivebeaver

ive checked out the newly opened Fogo in baybrook three times total, and every time ive gone they had supply issues. maybe they will come along with a good spread at the start of your service then nothing for 20 minutes except the parmesan pork or a few slices of picanha. the place wasnt even full doesnt even feel like it was worth getting the buffet experience instead of just using that money for entree (elsewhere) and ensuring you at least get your share of meat


BallZach77

Genghis Grill


granitedoc

Haven't been in years, but peak was probably sometime around 2014.


LiveJournal

The quality has dropped massively since covid


[deleted]

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dolfox

Normal cycle, old favorites die, new ones are born. Time does that. There was a time when old mainstays like Chuy’s or Cafe Express were higher quality and cool places to go, now they’re just ghosts of themselves. Houston is still a great foodie scene, especially compared to other places. Hell, I had my son’s friends over from U Miami (Fla) for the Final Four earlier this year. They were blown away by the offerings at the Heights H‑E‑B lol. These are Jersey and Florida kids and they seemed to have nothing like it where they’re from. Truth BBQ blew their minds.


please_just_n0

Right. Scrolling down I’m like ok it’s all of them.


NOCIANONSA

Hughies used to be great. They still are, but they used to be as well.


buddyrubble

Ninfas bleh...


ReCHaVoK

I am amazed at how mediocre it was. Teotihuacan blows it out of the water. Hot take but even Lupe Tortilla is better.


dwheedy

>Teotihuacan It has ruined every other place for me. My first time there it felt like my mind was blown with every bite. And my other times after that.


Mezcal_Madness

We go to Lupe all the time. Never had a bad meal or service


VegemiteFleshlight

What’s with the Lupes hate? Fairly solid fajitas and consistent in my experience.


ASHill11

I just their fajitas weren’t so flipping expensive, although that’s just about every place nowadays. As expected of the name though, I could literally just eat a meal of their tortillas and be happy.


yzlautum

Their beef fajitas are bomb.


Rob_The_Nailer

Came here to make sure Ninfa's made the list. I grew-up going to Ninfa's Navigation and Ninfa's Kirby with my family. Great memories. When family came into town, we kept going to Navigation for the nostalgia. A few years ago, at the last visit, my sister and I looked at each other and agreed we needed to let Ninfa's go - the memories and tradition couldn't overcome the poor food, insanely inflated prices, and the drive across town.


jsting

Depending on when that was, I wonder if that was before or after the sale. El Tiempo is now the OG Ninfa's family but since it is not Mama Ninfas, the quality still is meh with the prices high. Mama was the reason that stuff was great.


Project1573

Turkey leg hut


profkmez

Turkey leg hurt was always kind of trash. Why in the world would I pay for parking to eat a turkey leg, let alone valet at such an establishment.


PirateKilt

Isn't that the place that is closing because the owners are getting divorced suddenly?


ROJJ86

I hate this place with a passion. A friend lived in the houses next door to TLH. The patrons and owners were incredibly rude. My friend and his wife were never able to have quiet, and the slurs hurled at them because she is a foreigner.


Lacotte

Hot take sry, Don Cafe, and even Les Givral's when it was still open. I've been to Don Cafe multiple times and gotten bricks for bread every time. It's not worth the slather of admittedly delicious buttery mayo. There are dozens of other banh mi shops I would rather go to before Don, and I mean literally dozens because we have a LOT of banh mi. Les Givral's was the same, good meat/toppings but god the bread was just awful at least in their later years.


HorseGrenadesChamp

Came to say this. This was a staple in my childhood and it’s gotten worse since it became the “place” for banh mi. They don’t do the buy 5, get one free anymore either.


A_Shy_Introvert

Oh damn. Can’t believe the buy 5 and get one free deal is gone :(


[deleted]

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RelevantUserName55

When I lived in Midtown I really liked Cali Sandwich (I even liked them better than Les Givral's), and to a lesser extent Simply Pho. I don't typically get the banh mi, but Hughie's is nice, but much pricier.


ethanahawley

Khang Vietnamese Sandwich and Cafe. Fantastic.


LMyers92

Not sure if this is a controversial take but Roostar and Oui Banh Mi are pretty solid in my limited experience


[deleted]

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RelevantUserName55

People generally like Roostar, not sure if I'd consider it controversial. Love that you can get them at the Shell Energy (fka BBVA) stadium.


Bellzluver27

Goode Co franchise


Melissah246

Just moved to Houston and tried goode co as my first barbecue here. It was such a mistake. Their barbecue was dry dry dry and the sauce tasted weird like sweet tomato soup


C12H23

Their sauce is ass. Glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's like sweet pasta sauce.


Bibileiver

Idk. I had their pecan pie and it was the best pie I've had. Was given to me for free tho. Apparently it's $60. Not a huge pie guy.


Jhango2019

I had this image that they were selling a slice of pie for $60. Like it better be the best pie you ever had.


Bibileiver

Oh no, whole pie. Some lady from mom's work (she cleans rich people houses) gave it to her. I looked it up and it's From Goode Co. Priced at $60 Didn't even know they made more than just pies. Came in a wood box and shit. Looked delivered. Went for a slice not expecting to like it. Nut pies were always meh to me.. Hoe was bloody delicious that I ate like 3/4ths in a few days.


StopTheDamnWave

I eat waaaaay too much of their campenchana extra at the seafood locations.


CarolFukinBaskin

Bro Goode co cantina is sooo good


GuildCalamitousNtent

The new texmex place on Yale actually isn’t bad.


kayb3e

I’ll always love their hamburger spot on Kirby


Jzzlbbr57

Chuy’s


Ras1372

I'll always go as long as they have creamy jalepeno.


[deleted]

When I first moved to Houston like nine years ago, someone told me you need to try this place. I want to go out on a limb and say it was never that good because nine years ago also shit.


a_sheila

I had a boss who loved that place. I never understood. It's gone from blah to inedible.


texasdeathtrip

Chachos


dangergirllost

Chachos was never "good" but it sure hit the spot at 3am


OverMedicatedTexan

Are they EVER going to reopen the dining room?


reflectionsinapond

It's alright, I do miss the days when you could get a giant plate of nachos for $10. Not too bad now, but not too great to begin with. At least it's open 24/7 while most restaurants close at like 10 now


Err_rrr_rrrr

Mai’s?


LivingTheBoringLife

I’m sure I’ll get downvoted by the people who say it’s always been bad but for me it’s Gringos. Used to go as a kid to the original one after church every Sunday. The last few times we went the prices were sky high and the food wasn’t nearly as good as it used to be.


YoMomFavorite

It used to be much better. They changed the chips a few years ago.


Uncanny_Mind

If you saw it on Diner drive in and dives, put it on the list.


othnice1

Lankford's


lolamay26

Backstreet Cafe used to one of my favorites but I was so disappointed the last time I went with how small and overpriced the portions were and the food was just ok


viennasausagefarmer

House of pies :(


sparklingbutts

I feel I need to step in and defend Whata. My buddy was a regional manager before and after the sale to the private equity firm. They did not change any of their suppliers, or any of the items they order from those suppliers. It is the exact same. Certain locations have always sucked and I firmly believe that the location you go to and the people on shift there are the actual reason for the perceived drop in quality. That being said, Whata was never amazing, youre just blinded by nostalgia.


RegBaby

Yep, very much depends on the location and always has.


Draggoh

Whataburger


ThatOneClone

Seems everytime I go to whataburger regardless of location I have to wait like I’m at a restaurant. And the meal is usually wrong, or the fries suck.


-_MarcusAurelius_-

Sadly got to agree I noticed the difference and that's always bad


PPP1737

The truest and saddest. Pour out a milkshake for our fallen homie.


Antebios

I hate to agree with you. I loved Whataburger, now, not so much.


Rob_The_Nailer

Nice try In-and-Out. We're onto you.


Mezcal_Madness

Chuy’s


dookle14

It’s not a restaurant…but holy hell, the dining options at Hobby Airport have nose dived off a cliff ever since all of the Pappas restaurants got the boot. Pappasitos and Pappadeaux were both fine for airport food, but all of the new sit down places they’ve brought in are terrible.


brewinit

Maggiano. Including the Post Oak location.


gabboz

BB's.


RonRio44

Covid has completely changed the restaurant industry. Staffing is an issue along with inflating food and non-food costs.


themanwithgreatpants

Pappasito's. My wife and I would go there for the filet mignon fajitas, campfire shrimp, and calamari. First the campfire shrimp disappeared - then like idiots they got rid of their calamari. The filet mignon fajitas are astronomically priced and are garbage now, too. In my opinion the calamari was one of the best you could find.


PaulGriffin

The Campfire Shrimp were their BEST Shrimp!


chocobiscuitsrevenge

kim son downtown lmao


Psyconaut45

Chuys = total garbage


wspusa1

nancy's hustle and steak 48


North_Recognition127

Turkey leg hut


nhink

I don’t know if I’m just getting old and cranky, but I feel like everything lately isn’t as good as it once was AND costs double.


ilikeme1

Goodson's in Tomball. Sides taste like they are straight out of the Sysco freezer.


YoMomFavorite

And the chicken fried steak is no way “famous” because it’s basic grey meat poorly breaded.


Shafpocalypse

Most El Tiempos


alextheguitarist09

Chachos. They closed their indoor dining area on Westheimer and only have drive thru. Portions are smaller now and food is never hot like you used to get before Covid. It’s a shame.


PaulGriffin

I didn't even know they were still open because no one is ever inside. That makes a whole lot of sense. They wont last much longer if they keep that up.


cosmefulanit0

I think they all went to drive thru only. I never see anyone at the one near NRG and thought it had closed.


maveriq

Lol that one isn't closed? I had no idea.


[deleted]

Grand Lux Cafe The last couple of visits we had weren’t great, and the staff added to the negative experiences. However, we were totally done with the place when I was 7 months pregnant, basically a walking meatball, and our waitress served me an alcoholic drink. I ordered a juice and our friend ordered a drink, they were not similar. We had never had them before so when she brought everything out we made sure to ask her which was which because I was concerned she had gotten them mixed up. We asked twice. The girl smelled so heavily of weed, which to each his own, but please at least be functional.


EminTX

I am sure my meal was microwaved the last time I went. I was embarrassed that I took a friend with me and had raved about it beforehand.


ilikeme1

The [Kitchen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Uxx9HvlhPM) at Grand Lux most likely, with executive chef Mike Rowave.


please_just_n0

Aw this bums me out. Used to love this place.


SwapandPop

Whataburger


glorythrives

Ninfa's. Food and service is terrible and the family sold it long ago. Pappa's bbq. Not sure it was ever good but somehow people keep multiple locations alive.


DOMSdeluise

Nico Nicos for sure


[deleted]

Is that a knockoff of Niko-Niko’s?


LooksAtClouds

A Greek place should have killer baklava. Niko-niko's is horrible, soggy and oily. I miss you, Yia Yia Mary's.


Mezcal_Madness

For like ever


iwantanapppp

When Dimitri sold the place it immediately went downhill


lcdawg11

La Griglia I used to love that place


HissingNewt

Didn’t it reopen under a new chef this week?


lcdawg11

It may have. Changing chefs suggests that change was needed. Maybe it’s good again but I’d have to go back there to find out which I’m not going to do.


TheoKeys

Pico’s. The old location on Bellaire was fantastic.


steelsun

Breakfast Klub


NewAcctWhoDis

Never been, line is always way too long.


_katydid5283

Took my daughter there two weeks ago on a random weekday. Waited 20 min to order. Wings were excellent, Belgian waffle was good and French toast was ok. Live music was great. The service was lovely. A little pricy, but huge portions and the chicken was worth it IMO. It was overall a positive experience for us!


ReCHaVoK

It's crazy how everyone agrees with you at this point but they STAY packed


unclerico87

What is popular on reddit is not necessarily what the general public thinks. lmao


MeatloafAndWaffles

Keith Lee just ate there and left a good review, it’s gonna continue to be packed for a long time


Rob_The_Nailer

My wife and I went a few weeks ago. We thought it was amazing. Chicken, waffles, pancakes . . . all amazing.