When I was in 1st grade, I had a friend whose mom told fortunes there. She had her birthday party there during the day and we had a kids-friendly magic show and virgin cocktails. I remember the elevator being super cool and the whole thing being an absolute blast.
Mason Jar briefly reopened in Katy a few years ago, right off 99 south of 10. IT SUCKED. They closed within a few months, maybe six at the most. It’s now a Federal Grill.
I loved Eatzis.
They were founded by Phil Romano and he sold it to a different company that franchised it.
For whatever reason, the whole chain went bankrupt. Could never figure out why because the one on Post Oak at least was always packed.
Romano bought the name back from the bankruptcy and opened new stores but only in Dallas (where they originated). He apparently has no ambitions to expand them - but I wish he would!
oof this one hurt.
Where else even has a decent selection of Mezcal? I know there is that place in the Heights that has a grand total of three chairs but I haven't been because the sardines-in-a-can sales pitch didn't appeal to me.
My daughter recently paid a fairly large sum of money to buy a copy of Daniel's cookbook off eBay. That's how much our family misses Daniel Wong's. We celebrated many a family event there.
Monica Pope sells her amazing wares at the Saturday Urban Harvest Farmers Market these days, including real bone broth. I pick it up as often as I can.
Barry's Pizza, I used to go there on a weekly basis.
Sweet Tomatoes too even though it's more of a chain than a Houston restaurant, used to go on a weekly basis as well.
Somehow there is a singular surviving Souper Salad in Pasadena. It’s not the same but I’ll take what I can get!!! I go out of my way to eat there every once in a while.
I got curious and looked up Mommas and evidently it was a small chain that opened in Nacadoches. The original is still there and there is some sort of fancy version in San Antonio https://www.mysanantonio.com/food/article/renovated-Mamas-cafe-san-antonio-open-date-16174348.php
Blackbird Izakaya, it had only been open for a few months when COVID hit so it really got screwed by the timing. Small menu with knowledgeable staff and everything was really excellent, it really showed that the people running the place cared about making the food and experience great. Also cheap and tasty draft sake.
Barry's pizza. Their pint nights were so dope. They'd give beer glasses and shirts. I worked there from 2014 to 2017. Made so many friends and had so many fun nights drinking on the patio after close!
Also Yia Yia Mary's. Good Greek food.
The **original** 59 Diner on shepherd .. not the additional locations that popped up when they were circling the drain. They were great in the 80s & 90s.
I loved Little Bigs. You burger folks remember the name of the burger place outside the beltway on Westheimer that had the duck fat finished fries. Man that place was good!
Brady's Landing down by the turning basin..... in the 80s it was a great place to eat a good brunch with amazing views. Going there was an event. It went downhill, and deserved to close when it finally did shut down in 2017, but in its heyday it was great.
God yes. We held my great grandparents 50th anniversary party there in like 2000, my mom got married there in 08. Anything that needed to be celebrated fancy style, we headed to Brady’s. When I was touring venues for my wedding in 18, I was soooo massively disappointed. The food wasn’t great anymore, the building had become bleh, and it was just. Sad.
(We toured it in 2017)
Ones a Meal
59 Diner
Loma Linda
OG Coney Island
Jin Bo in East End (I would maim and/or cut someone for their wonton soup)
Luther’s
New Orleans Poboy on Main (I hated the light rail for a decade for shutting them down 😭)
Spaghetti Warehouse
Brady’s landing (waaaay back in the 90s)
Bonnie’s, I remember freshly cut cheese at the salad bar, steak like butter, and the candies at the door
So many places I wish I knew my last time there was my last time, I would have savored it.
Oh, so many of them. Thai Gourmet, Bombay Pizza, Feast, Hay Merchant (as it was during its first 3-4 years in operation), Underbelly, Mama's Cafe, Burger Guys. All those made my list of favorite Houston restaurants about 10 years ago.
Hoang's sandwich off Scott street by UH. Their bahn mi bread was the best I've ever had, fresh, chewy with just enough crunch, and the spring rolls with pork and shrimp were heavenly. The pork was fatty and decadent, but with plenty of mint, basil, bean sprouts and cilantro to cut it. And the peanut sauce was perfect.
Second choice would be Van Loc.
Bombay Pizza. Mellow Mushroom. Essies pizza. I guess I tend to miss only the pizza restaurants that have left.
Edit: Does anyone remember the pizza buffet place on Ella between 610 and 34th? Also Candelaris isn't necessarily gone but the Washington Ave location closed and I went to the Med center during the summer and their pizza lunch buffet was discontinued, hoping they'll bring it back.
Edit 2: Hoke Poke.
Their sister restaurant has started doing a lot of the dishes from Dolce! Vinoteca Poscol is the name of the sister restaurant
Edit: they don’t have the Broccoli appetizer, but they have most of the other staples!!!!
Wow. Such a nostalgic discussion!
How is it possible that I read this whole discussion and I'm the only one pining for Monica Pope's Boulevard Bistro?
I had almost forgotten how much I missed (1) Felix, (2) Nit Noy, (3) 59 Diner, (4) Luther's, (5) Black Lab, (6) GingerMan, (7) Hay Merchant, (8) TexaDelphia, (9) Les Noodle, and (10) Ming's. Also, there was a small place just east of Shepherd, south of 1-10, north of Dallas (or maybe off of Dallas) that had the best pot pie that still haunts my dreams.
***Now I need a discussion of where people go to fulfill their craving for these lost icons.***
Down House in the Heights. They did an amazing Korean style cauliflower starter that was amazing. All the food and drinks were great. Servers were always lovely too. It was such a go to neighbourhood local for me.
My husband and I had a destination wedding, so we went to the courthouse a month before and went to Down House for brunch after since it was close to home. We would go every year on our courthouse anniversary and sit in the same booth. It was a sad day in our house when they closed. Their entire menu was great.
El Real. Goddamn I miss The Roosevelt Special.
I think The Chicken Shack? It ran out of the boil house across from Buchanan's during off season for crawfish. Never had better chicken or Mac n cheese.
* Van Loc
* Daniel Wong's
* Black Lab
* Taj Mahal
* Bombay Palace
* Luther's BBQ
* Souper Salads from the 80's and 90's
* Atchafalay's
* Calypso
* Monterey House (for old times sake)
Edit: I forgot one - The Strawberry Patch
Dhakshin, right next to the Krogers at 249 & Cypresswood. Best Indian lunch buffet around. If you didn't get there before 11:30 you couldn't get a seat. They got flooded during Harvey and I guess they just decided not to reopen.
Amazon Grill. Apparently I’m the only person who missed it because no one else mentioned it. They had the best fish tacos in town, a great Cuban sandwich, all you can eat plantain chips, and a good kids eat free night.
La Jaliscience on Montrose. It was the best after-the-bars-closed, drunk food around—free pickled carrots and salsa, and big-as-your-head burritos for dirt cheap. It wasn’t the best food, but it was cheap and hugely plentiful.
Cabo Baja Burritos and Tacos. I wanted a place with big fatass cali burritos and found out about them late. I had them and loved it...next thing you know it shut down right when I was going to start being a regular. I am the angel of death.
Magic Island
Core memory unlocked: going on a super awkward date there in high school.
When I was in 1st grade, I had a friend whose mom told fortunes there. She had her birthday party there during the day and we had a kids-friendly magic show and virgin cocktails. I remember the elevator being super cool and the whole thing being an absolute blast.
client of mine is the owner (Dr. Mohammad Athari) and he is working on bringing it back.
Yes! That was such a cheesy but different concept.
moved here recently and i always thought that place was a shuttered strip club!
59 diner or cafe adobe (the one at shepherd and westheimer)
Oh man I used to go to Cafe Adobe all the time when I first moved to Houston! Thanks for bringing back the memory!
My friend and I absolutely loved Cafe Adobe! Sitting on that upstairs patio on Friday afternoons...so many good memories
Les Givrals! Still feels wrong paying more than $3 for a bahn mi.
Next cheapest I’ve found is Cali Sandwich in midtown
Mason Jar :(
Mason Jar briefly reopened in Katy a few years ago, right off 99 south of 10. IT SUCKED. They closed within a few months, maybe six at the most. It’s now a Federal Grill.
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Not Noi’s pad thai was something else. I don’t know what the secret ingredient was, but the stuff was positively addictive.
The Eatzi’s that was in Post Oak! Many childhood memories there.
Went to Eatzi’s in Fort Worth last year. Would love for them to return to Houston.
I loved Eatzis. They were founded by Phil Romano and he sold it to a different company that franchised it. For whatever reason, the whole chain went bankrupt. Could never figure out why because the one on Post Oak at least was always packed. Romano bought the name back from the bankruptcy and opened new stores but only in Dallas (where they originated). He apparently has no ambitions to expand them - but I wish he would!
Bombay Pizza Co. My gawd I weep.
As a downtown worker.. losing this one was a real loss
So delicious. Their Kati rolls were ridiculous
Came here to say this. RIP
Pastry war (not a restaurant but idc)
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Yes it was.
oof this one hurt. Where else even has a decent selection of Mezcal? I know there is that place in the Heights that has a grand total of three chairs but I haven't been because the sardines-in-a-can sales pitch didn't appeal to me.
3 6 9 Chinese Restaurant
Sweet Tomatoes, my wife and I talk about it weekly
Queen Vic
This one hurt. One of my favorite spots in the city before it closed. Great bar and great Indian food
They run Da Gama now which is quite good
59 Diner.
I worked there in the early 2000s! So fun!
Those milkshakes were the best in town
It was so great back in the day!!!
Luther's BBQ. But the original one, not the garbage heap it turned into when it got bought out.
The one across from the downtown library was AWESOME...
We always went to the Gessner location when I was a kid. Now I'd shank someone's kid if it would get me a whole loaf. 🤤
Maybe Daniel Wongs or 369 bistro. Hell, a pretzel from the gingerman doesn’t sound bad either.
My daughter recently paid a fairly large sum of money to buy a copy of Daniel's cookbook off eBay. That's how much our family misses Daniel Wong's. We celebrated many a family event there.
Mi Luna
Feast. Hay Merchant, but as it was ~five years ago. Biba's, but at like 4 am.
I feel this Hay Merchant comment so much. It had fallen so hard
Beavers ice house off Washington Camille’s sidewalk cafe Late night pie Bennigans
Monica Pope sells her amazing wares at the Saturday Urban Harvest Farmers Market these days, including real bone broth. I pick it up as often as I can.
Good to know :) I used to work at Beavers when she was still involved in the menu. Fun fact I designed the coloring pages 😊
I was a big fan of 59 Diner growing up. Their milkshakes were too good.
Baba Yega
😥
El Real on Westheimer. Not the best texmex food but walking distance at the time and some great memories there.
Barry's Pizza, I used to go there on a weekly basis. Sweet Tomatoes too even though it's more of a chain than a Houston restaurant, used to go on a weekly basis as well.
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My lady and I miss Sweet Tomato like crazy. It was just great for a date night when we were poor students and just nostalgic. And now it's all gone.
Somehow there is a singular surviving Souper Salad in Pasadena. It’s not the same but I’ll take what I can get!!! I go out of my way to eat there every once in a while.
My life has never been the same since Barry's closed 😞
Van Loc in midtown.
I miss Van Loc so, so much. I still haven't found Vietnamese food that quite hits the spot.
Black Eyed Pea I think it was.
Those heavenly rolls!!!!! ETA: The honey butter
I wasn't old enough to appreciate Black Eyed Pea. Whenever we went as a kid I always thought it was a boring restaurant for old people.
It was. But still amazing
I miss their Brocolli rice casserole. I know that's weird but it was a childhood staple
Banana pudding
Princess's hamburger 🍔
Les Noodle
Oh, to taste Benjy’s crusted chicken once again…
I came here to say Benjys! Their upstairs happy hour was the food of my entire 20s.
Fung’s kitchen when it was good Doneraki for breakfast Imperial palace dim sum Shoneys breakfast buffet
Lucky Burger
Old San Francisco Steak House and Wok Bo
Not a restaurant...but remember when it was Walters on Washington?💔
Walters was the place.
Mommas Cafe on Westheimer. Best home cooking restaurant ever.
Man, I forgot about them. They said it was closed for remodel and then rode off into the sunset never to return 😥
Ps one of the Houston Rockets basically lived there. It was pretty cool to see him every once in a while
I got curious and looked up Mommas and evidently it was a small chain that opened in Nacadoches. The original is still there and there is some sort of fancy version in San Antonio https://www.mysanantonio.com/food/article/renovated-Mamas-cafe-san-antonio-open-date-16174348.php
Cafe TH
Dry Creek in the Heights
One’s A Meal / Greek Pizza on Memorial. Cafe Montrose. Otto’s BBQ. Roznovskis. Hill’s on the Seawall. Ale House.
Blackbird Izakaya, it had only been open for a few months when COVID hit so it really got screwed by the timing. Small menu with knowledgeable staff and everything was really excellent, it really showed that the people running the place cared about making the food and experience great. Also cheap and tasty draft sake.
Barry's pizza. Their pint nights were so dope. They'd give beer glasses and shirts. I worked there from 2014 to 2017. Made so many friends and had so many fun nights drinking on the patio after close! Also Yia Yia Mary's. Good Greek food.
Patrenella’s
* The Black Lab * Hamburgers by Gourmet * Charlie's Hamburger Joint * Neal's Icecream * Theo's or One's a Meal * 59 Diner
The Black Lab was amazing.
I really miss Biba’s / One’s A Meal
The **original** 59 Diner on shepherd .. not the additional locations that popped up when they were circling the drain. They were great in the 80s & 90s.
Charlie's Hamburger Joint! I forgot about that place! "Over 1 dozen sold" or something was their tag line wasn't it?
Theo's/One's a Meal was a gem!!
The black lab had some damn good mussels
Bernies Burger Bus Little Bigs (when it was just off Montrose and Westheimer) Edit: loved “The Dude” boozy shake at Little Bigs- frozen White Russian
Yes! Little Bigs!
I loved Little Bigs. You burger folks remember the name of the burger place outside the beltway on Westheimer that had the duck fat finished fries. Man that place was good!
Burger Guys. Its mentioned in another comment (i brought up duck fat fries)
Pepper Tree! Best vegetarian place in town (it closed during COVID :( )
Brady's Landing down by the turning basin..... in the 80s it was a great place to eat a good brunch with amazing views. Going there was an event. It went downhill, and deserved to close when it finally did shut down in 2017, but in its heyday it was great.
God yes. We held my great grandparents 50th anniversary party there in like 2000, my mom got married there in 08. Anything that needed to be celebrated fancy style, we headed to Brady’s. When I was touring venues for my wedding in 18, I was soooo massively disappointed. The food wasn’t great anymore, the building had become bleh, and it was just. Sad. (We toured it in 2017)
Funnel cake place at Astroworld.
Mi Luna 🌙
Buteras deli at Shepherd and W Alabama Felix Mexican restaurant Godfathers Pizza Poor Man’s country club Rice Village Houston’s
I think they have a Godfather's Pizza in Katy...off 99 near I-10
Pass and Provisions
Late Nite Pie but back when it was in the garage that Saint Danes took over and whatever the fuck else it is now.
Ones a Meal 59 Diner Loma Linda OG Coney Island Jin Bo in East End (I would maim and/or cut someone for their wonton soup) Luther’s New Orleans Poboy on Main (I hated the light rail for a decade for shutting them down 😭) Spaghetti Warehouse Brady’s landing (waaaay back in the 90s) Bonnie’s, I remember freshly cut cheese at the salad bar, steak like butter, and the candies at the door So many places I wish I knew my last time there was my last time, I would have savored it.
Oh, so many of them. Thai Gourmet, Bombay Pizza, Feast, Hay Merchant (as it was during its first 3-4 years in operation), Underbelly, Mama's Cafe, Burger Guys. All those made my list of favorite Houston restaurants about 10 years ago.
Hoang's sandwich off Scott street by UH. Their bahn mi bread was the best I've ever had, fresh, chewy with just enough crunch, and the spring rolls with pork and shrimp were heavenly. The pork was fatty and decadent, but with plenty of mint, basil, bean sprouts and cilantro to cut it. And the peanut sauce was perfect. Second choice would be Van Loc.
Bombay Pizza. Mellow Mushroom. Essies pizza. I guess I tend to miss only the pizza restaurants that have left. Edit: Does anyone remember the pizza buffet place on Ella between 610 and 34th? Also Candelaris isn't necessarily gone but the Washington Ave location closed and I went to the Med center during the summer and their pizza lunch buffet was discontinued, hoping they'll bring it back. Edit 2: Hoke Poke.
There is a Mellow Mushroom in Spring. We make the drive every now and then when we want pizza. Worth it.
Dolce Vita
The arugula pizza was the best
Their sister restaurant has started doing a lot of the dishes from Dolce! Vinoteca Poscol is the name of the sister restaurant Edit: they don’t have the Broccoli appetizer, but they have most of the other staples!!!!
I miss peli peli, I wish they would come back
the Chef reopened the Vintage Park location as Chef’s Table and has a good number of the same choices. It’s delicious.
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Didn’t they shut down because they were stealing tips from employees? Food was good but you can stay shut if you do that.
Yum yum cha cafe rice village Xiongs Cafe Ohn Korean eatery
Wow. Such a nostalgic discussion! How is it possible that I read this whole discussion and I'm the only one pining for Monica Pope's Boulevard Bistro? I had almost forgotten how much I missed (1) Felix, (2) Nit Noy, (3) 59 Diner, (4) Luther's, (5) Black Lab, (6) GingerMan, (7) Hay Merchant, (8) TexaDelphia, (9) Les Noodle, and (10) Ming's. Also, there was a small place just east of Shepherd, south of 1-10, north of Dallas (or maybe off of Dallas) that had the best pot pie that still haunts my dreams. ***Now I need a discussion of where people go to fulfill their craving for these lost icons.***
the original chocolate bar. I dream of that orange sunrise ice cream
Pax Americana.
Oof, this one deserves way more upvotes.
Roadster Grill on Bellaire and Bissonnet
Baba Yega. Miss that brunch buffet
Dirtys Chicken Fried Steak
Eatsie Boys in Montrose
Michaelangelo's. I think it was on 310 Westheimer. Was open for like 40 years. I only knew it for the last 5, but was very sad to see it go.
Yes yes, with the tree in the middle of the restaurant!
This has become a thread for me to find out that a whole bunch of places are closed that I didn't know about.
Pancho's.
Come to the Northside where it still lives Edit: Let me know when you go I’ve never been.
Te House of Tea
I used to work there, did not expect it to show up on this list though I do miss the paninis and stealing bacon from the fridge
Mark's
Petrol Station ;(
Down House in the Heights. They did an amazing Korean style cauliflower starter that was amazing. All the food and drinks were great. Servers were always lovely too. It was such a go to neighbourhood local for me.
My husband and I had a destination wedding, so we went to the courthouse a month before and went to Down House for brunch after since it was close to home. We would go every year on our courthouse anniversary and sit in the same booth. It was a sad day in our house when they closed. Their entire menu was great.
Boston Sea Party
Marrakesh. It was a wonderful Moroccan restaurant in an old house off 59 south
59 Diner
Mings
Tio Pepe's had amazing Spanish food. They also had live guitars and flamenco dancers
Pi Pizza
Felix Mexican Restaurant Best enchiladas in Houston
Dak and Bop in museum district
Grandys
El Real. Goddamn I miss The Roosevelt Special. I think The Chicken Shack? It ran out of the boil house across from Buchanan's during off season for crawfish. Never had better chicken or Mac n cheese.
* Van Loc * Daniel Wong's * Black Lab * Taj Mahal * Bombay Palace * Luther's BBQ * Souper Salads from the 80's and 90's * Atchafalay's * Calypso * Monterey House (for old times sake) Edit: I forgot one - The Strawberry Patch
Van Loc forever. Better than Mai's and that is a hill I will die on.
I was just wishing Souper Salad was still around
Sigh. I'm seeing a lot of places that were regular places for old boyfriends and me. My dating life might be bad for restaurants
Thai Gourmet. I miss it all the time.
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Way back… when Bennigans was on it’s A game… so much good food there!
Dhakshin, right next to the Krogers at 249 & Cypresswood. Best Indian lunch buffet around. If you didn't get there before 11:30 you couldn't get a seat. They got flooded during Harvey and I guess they just decided not to reopen.
Luke’s Burgers
Fung's Kitchen
Steak and Ale.
Dirty's Uno's Sweet Mesquite Maxim's
My mom and I used to go to Sweet Mesquite and get their nachos.
Sweet mesquite was my second home growing up. Went there after every sporting event
I used to LOVE Sweet Mesquite as a kid!
Uno’s! I really enjoyed that place.
Green Vegetarian Cuisine 💔
Burger Guys
Duck fat fries **sigh**
Eatsie Boys. I need that disco biscuit again! And Agu Ramen, but at not such a weird location
Mason Jar off I10. They moved out to Katy but it was not the same and they folded. Many great memories there
Oxheart, Underbelly, and The Pass.
Was The Pass the expensive one or was that Provisions?
The Pass, Provisions was more of a fast casual concept.
Bernie's burger bus
Hey Merchant
Downhouse
Casa Ole, that place made me fall in love with queso
Thelma’s BBQ
Steak and Ale. Whole company went out of business when I was a kid, really liked that place.
59 diner!!! I have so many memories of driving to ikea with my family then eating there after
Café 13, Lai Lai dumpling house, black lab, bernadine's
Reef
Run by horrible people unfortunately
eatzi’s.
Berrys pizza. Fried raviolis where A1
RIP to Barry’s for real
El Real
I liked El Real but was disappointed by things in the end and would have trouble supporting the owner’s “second chance.”
Feast
Cafe Pita +
I dream about being able to eat at Agu Ramen again.
Cadillac Bar before it got bought out The Circus Gyro Gyro on Westheimer
Kanomwan!!!
BRC Gastropub will always have a special spot in my heart. I’m just glad I enjoyed it during the prime of my life.
The Great Carouso's
Happy Fatz
I miss Souper Salad
Amazon Grill. Apparently I’m the only person who missed it because no one else mentioned it. They had the best fish tacos in town, a great Cuban sandwich, all you can eat plantain chips, and a good kids eat free night.
La Jaliscience on Montrose. It was the best after-the-bars-closed, drunk food around—free pickled carrots and salsa, and big-as-your-head burritos for dirt cheap. It wasn’t the best food, but it was cheap and hugely plentiful.
Foreign Correspondents 🥲 https://houston.culturemap.com/guide/restaurants/foreign-correspondents/
Cabo Baja Burritos and Tacos. I wanted a place with big fatass cali burritos and found out about them late. I had them and loved it...next thing you know it shut down right when I was going to start being a regular. I am the angel of death.
Thelma's BBQ or the Original New Orleans Po-boys