I think it closed down already, but former Harlem Globetrotter had a restaurant in Magnolia called Vivian's Southern Cuisine. I took my daughter's Y-basketball team there and he was gracious enough to take photos and sign autographs for the girls. I hate to say, his food was just OK and service left a lot to be desired (really slow, he told us it was "cooked to order" but I think they had to go out and catch the catfish) and it doesn't surprise me that it didn't survive. But again, it was really cool that he took time out to meet with the girls.
Like someone said, Mel's in Tomball is good, but the last time I went there, I got sick. I think it was from the okra. I took my now-wife (then-girlfriend) there when we were last down for a visit, to show her some good old-fashioned southern style food. I've never been there, but from what I've heard, the end-all-be-all of chicken fried steak is at Goodson's in Tomball. I don't know how in the world I never went there...
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylepoff/1046541805/" title="southern comfort bottle by kyledpoff, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1127/1046541805_e80714aad7.jpg" width="500" height="479" alt="southern comfort bottle" /></a>
The CFS at Goodson's in Tomball is horrible. I've had it on a couple different occasions when we lived not far from there in cypress because they promote it as "worlds best." The batter was greasy and the steak was tough both times. Twice I had to stop eating it and later that night it was bad news if you know what I mean. Go to Pappy's on I-10 at Cambell for the best CFS in Houston (or Austin for that matter).
breakfast klub is expensive. any other answer than luby's is crazy, however downtown there are three locations of a spot called Treebeards. and they are opening a fourth in the Houston Center
It *was* at 5405 FM 1488 Road. I linked to an article from the Chronicle about the place and guy... http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/tomball/news/6208410.html
I don't know if CFS necessarily means southern food, but while most folks I know rave about Goodsons in Tomball, I like Wunsche Bros in Old Spring and even better, Wrangler Steak House in Navasota. I have yet to try out Mel's though...
Does anyone else feel like Houston is kind of lacking in the badass southern food restaurant game? Is there not enough of a market for it?
Just built one in Kingwood. I hadn't eaten at one since I was a kid, so we tried it out. The chicken dumplings tasted like watery balls of dough. I put about a pound of salt and pepper on them to try and bring out what little flavor they had to no avail. Seriously, what's the big deal about this place? Is there a specific dish I should try, because I wasn't impressed at all and I'm not exactly the world's most picky eater.
