Saturday, March 2, 2013

Chicago Italian Beef

Location:  Airline at 20th Street/Cavalcade.  Northeast Houston/Heights. 

Type of Food:  Chicago classics.  Deepdish pizza, hotdogs, burgers, and Italian beef sandwiches.

Summary:  Today, I decided to try out Chicago Italian Beef on Airline.  I have been wanting to visit this restaurant for years.  I am an Italian Beef snob.  I know how to make it in addition to know I understand what it is supposed to taste like.  The Italian Beef at this location tastes like a glorified French dip sandwich without flavor.  It didn't have the right seasonings or correct type of peppers.  Additionally there was not enough juice. 

Final Thoughts:  I think that I will try to wait for the real food in Chicago or try making it myself. My version may not taste exactly like the real thing, but it tastes a heck of a lot more like the real thing than Chicago Italian Beef's version.  Maybe I will go back and try their deep dish. Maybe, but I fear it may be like Star Pizza's version which is NOT CHICAGO DEEP DISH!!!


Kublai Khan

Location:  Milam in Midtown

Types of Food:  Mongolian Stirfry and Traveling Sushi

Summary:  On Friday, I decided to go to Kublai Khan for lunch.  I ordered the stir-fry where I given a bowl and traveled through the food line to handpick protein, vegetables, spices, and sauces.  The cooks fried it up and delivered it to my table along with a starch of my choosing (white rice, brown rice, fried rice, noodles).  I decided to go with all fish since it was a Friday during Lent.  While waiting for my food, I chose a few sushi dishes traveling on the conveyor belt.  All the food was complemented by the great hot tea.  My server was very nice.  You could tell that the restaurant was new and they were working some of the kinks out of the business. 

Final Thoughts:  I will be back.  I love stir-fry and athough, it wasn't perfect, I really, really like stirfry. 

Van Loc

Location:  Milam in Midtown section of Houston

Type of Food:  Vietnamese

Summary:  On the last Sunday of Chinese New Year's, I went with my friend, Isabel, to Van Loc.  Isabel had been to Van Loc many times over the year  I hadn't been there at all.We ordered small order of Gỏi Cuốn (Spring Rolls - Shrimp and pork rolled with fresh lettuce, vermicelli in rice paper), Com Tôm Xào  (Steamed rice with shrimp and vegetables), and Bún Chả Gìo (Imperial egg rolls with vermicelli).  
The food was really good.  The service was a bit off.  Also, we didn't like the atmosphere as much (it was a lot plainer than it was previously).  

Final Thoughts:  It is good food overall.




The places that we were sad to see go...

Feast (located on Elgin on edge of Midtown/Montrose area):  This was an awesome restaurant with a great Chef's Table.   Kris and I ate the Chef's Table which included 3 appetizers, 5 entrees (it was supposed to be 4, but there was a mistake), and 3 desserts for her birthday back in July 2012.  One of the best meals we had ever tasted in Houston area. 

Big Mamou (located on Studewood between White Oak and 11th):  It was a cajun style restaurant/bar.  They closed within the last week.  They supposedly had great beignets.

Stella Sola (Located on Studewood near 9th in the Heights):  When they closed over a year ago, I was in tears.  I had one of my best all-time meals there less than a year before they closed. They had great food and service in addition to a drink menu that I would have drank anything off of.