I had 4 tickets to tonight's Astros game fall in my lap the other day, so my wife and I are going to the game tonight and we invited a good friend of mine and his wife from Austin to come down for the game as well. They stayed at a hotel in the Galleria area last night. Before the game we'd like to go out to eat somewhere good between the Galleria and Minute Maid... not a formal fine-dining joint, but definitely not cheap eats. Everyone here seems to rave about Fogo de Chao, and I definitely want to go ... but wasn't sure if an hour and a half to two hours before an Astros game gave you a chance to fully enjoy that experience. Any suggestions on a good place you would take someone to when visiting Houston? Always great advice posted here so thanks in advance.
Clutch- Fogo de Chao is a great resteraunt, two hours should be enough to have a very nice sit down meal. Fogo does have seating times (not sure what time they start) but you would definitely have to call and see when the earliest seating time is. Also look at Benjy's in the village, they also have a lounge upstairs in case ya'll want to catch some drinks before the game.
Fogo's is good, but nowhere near MMP. Have you been to Vic & Anthony's yet? Their food is damn good for a Steakhouse. What I do is tape a flask to my leg for ballgames, spend $30 at V&A's per person, and $6 for a coke when I get there. (get the portobello appetizer) I can have a fantastic meal and get hammered for less than $50 a pop. Considering Fogo's is right at that threshold just for food... I leave it to you. However, if you are truly looking for a fantastic place on a budget, you can't go wrong at Christian's Tailgate. One of the best burgers in Houston, with some damn good catfish, to boot.
Here ya go bro..... First off, one thing I love to do for Astros games is eat at the original Ninfa's on Navigation in the 2nd ward, because you can leave your car in their parking lot after you are done and they will shuttle you back and forth to the game for free. The food is classic Houston TexMex, where Tacos al Carbon got it's mojo, and potent margaritas. It's at 2704 Navigation Blvd, and the phone number is 713-228-1175. If you aren't into that, here are some places in the neighborhoods & price range you suggested (in no particular order)....they are all in between formal dining and cheap eats...entrees in the $7-$15 range. Kenny & Ziggy's - great NY deli in the Galleria area Bayou City Seafood & Pasta - nice Cajun place on Richmond just inside the loop Cafe Montrose - Belgian place (best mussels in town) in Montrose Dolce Vita Pizzeria - pizza/italian tapas in Montrose Mykonos Island - very good Greek food on Richmond at Greenbriar Raven Grill - nice American food grill on Bissonnet east of Shepherd
I went to Fogo last week and I didn't think it was possible, but the place has actually gotten better. The ribeye, top sirloin, lamb chops just melt in your mouth. I'm going to Americas today and that is IMO the best restaurant in Houston.
It may not be as nice as you're looking for, but I take everyone to Goode Co. BBQ when they visit Houston. Star Pizza's pretty good too.
I live over by the Galleria, and I always make it a point to take out of town friends to Goode Company BBQ. But if you're thinking of Fogo de Chao, maybe Goode Company is too low brow. (eating on wooden benches outside) El Tiempo is a great Mexican place nearby on Richmond. Can't go wrong there. Those are my suggestions. FYI, I don't think Fogo de Chao is exceptionally better than the Rodizio Grill in Trolley Square, or for that matter Tucano's.
I hear ya, but it's just such a great thing to do for Astros games that it's always my first choice. Plus, I gorge out at Ninfa's and have a couple of margs so I don't have to buy any Minute Maid Park food or beer. All I buy at MMP is a big soda (or coke or pop, depending on where you are from!) It still pisses me off that MMP won't let you take food into the ballpark like you could at the Dome....or can at Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, etc. etc.
You can bring in food to those places? Wow. My family used to bring our own popcorn in paper bags in the dome in the '70s. And cokes wrapped in foil. You could still do that in the '90s at the dome?
My suggestion was also going to be Ninfa's on Navigation. Close to the game, and a Houston classic. Good food, good ritas, good price. The atmosphere is always pretty lively at this location as well. If you want something more in between, El Tiempo is my favorite Tex Mex in the world, it's also a product of the Ninfa family. The food and margaritas are top notch, and you can expect to pay around $9-$15 per person. You can't go wrong at the location on Washington. Ninfa's on Navigation El Tiempo
I wouldn't do Fogo de Chao if you plan on going to an event afterwards. It's the type of place where you eat until very full (because you will want to sample everything) and it's best to go chill somewhere afterwards. Americas is very good. Get the tres leches for dessert.
I believe you could still bring food into the Dome in the 1990s, but I don't know for sure since I was living in Los Angeles. My Dad split Astros season tickets with a group of people from about 1977 through 1986 (cool seats...second row in the mezzanine (2nd level) behind the Astros dugout on the 1st base side. Pretty much each and every game I went to, me and whoever I was with would stop at Antone's on OST for red wraps, bags of chips, and cans of soda, and we would bring them in and eat while watching batting practice. It truly sucks that MMP does not allow you to do this. The food inside MMP is overpriced and disgusting. When I went to Fenway Park, there were vendors selling gi-normous bags of fresh roasted peanuts for $3 that you could buy outside and bring inside. I was at Yankee Stadium in the bleachers in 2000 and there was a group of drunk Seton Hall kids behind me with a huge Igloo cooler filled with sub sandwiches that they had bought on their way from New Jersey to the Bronx.
Hey Clutch, there is another churrascaria similar to Fogo's that's on Montrose and Richmond. 59 is right there of course and it's between the Galleria and MMP. It's called Nelore and we took my brother there for his birthday last year. It's kind of small, you might want to call ahead before you go. http://www.nelorechurrascaria.com/
if youre tired of tex-mex, and want something more 'authentic', theres Hugo's or how about some 'americanized' indian food -- Indika both are on westheimer near montrose
Man, you guys absolutely rule. Huge help. Because of the shuttle I really like the Ninfa's idea -- I've heard good things about their food before. Thank you Rocketman Tex - very helpful (I never would have known about the shuttle). We plan on having more out-of-town guests this summer so I'd like to try some of these other places. Thank you guys for the great suggestions.
