Foodie Friday: Baguettes, Best Rated Breakfast and a Little Oyster Bar are Why Houston Should Be Your Next Culinary Destination

by Martin Ramirez on January 12, 2024 in Food+Drink,
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Over 12,000 restaurants have established roots in Houston,  each proud to serve the most populous city in Texas and the  4th most diverse city in the US. And when you consider the sheer never-ending gastronomic options available, each have to standout to present to guests a culinary experience that is unique, representative of their identity, and unforgettable. Luckily, the three options featured in this Foodie Friday have masterfully done so.

 

Annabelle Brasserie

Annabelle Brasserie’s colorful backdrop and lively décor sets the stage for a memorable experience. Photo Jacob Powers.

Beautiful. Chic. Elegant. This Autry Park hotspot offers some of the best French cuisine this side of the Atlantic. You cannot go wrong here with their plentiful options of food and drink, each expertly crafted and plated to perfection by Executive Chef Russell Kirkham.

The restaurant’s staff provides knowledgeable insight into all the options available. Photo Brian Kennedy.

For starters, go with the Baguette with Raclette. You simply haven’t lived until you’ve seen this hot cheese poured slowly from a toasted baguette, scraped off, and then smoothed out right in front of you. There’s no shame in finishing this beauty between you and your better half. Just be sure to leave room for a main. Entrée options like the Goldie Lox, Duck Confit Hash and Maine Lobster Salad will leave a memorable impression on your palate.

The Maine Lobster Salad is a local favorite and a satisfying option to this French cuisine. Photo Brian Kennedy.

What further makes Annabelle Brasserie such an unforgettable experience are the visuals that surround you. From the handsomely colorful plating to the hanging décor, Annabelle is the ideal place for a date, a birthday or a reunion, simply because love pours out from every detail. And for a particularly seasonal experience, be sure to visit again around Christmas. During this time, festive red, gold and green ornaments strung from the top and laid all around enable the most picturesque photo opportunities.

Christmas at Annabelle Brasserie is a one-of-a-kind experience. Photo Kirsten Gilliam.

Little’s Oyster Bar

Little’s Oyster Bar is the hottest take on Gulf Coast cuisine. Photo Casey Giltner.

Just walking into Little’s Oyster Bar brings a sense of joy and excitement. The chatter, close tables, clinking of silverware and cocktails being vigorously shaken will let you know that good times and good food are ahead. And if the smiles of nearby patrons don’t convince you right away, get started with a deliciously crafted drink like the Sloe Going. Made with El Dorado 12 Year Rum, Plymouth Sloe Gin, Campari and Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, this social lubricant is just one of many unique libations that Litte’s offers. Or clash a glass of wine recommended by the on-staff Certified Sommelier, Omar Velasquez, who like the rest of the staff is more than happy to make you feel welcome in this new Houstonian hotspot.

An assortment of fresh seafood greet you as you enter Little’s. Photo Casey Giltner.

Executive Chef Jason Ryczek brings his West Coast flare and sustainable consciousness to create a unique take on Gulf Coast cuisine. And it’s working. Winning the #1 spot on Houston Chronicle’s Top 100 restaurants of 2023, his menu brings fresh oysters paired with mignonette, horseradish, and citrus; Wild Gulf Shrimp; and Crab Croquettes with avocado, tamarind, and serrano. And these local delights are just the starters to a truly memorable experience.

The Crab Croquettes are a local favorite and a unique take on traditional crab cakes. Photo Casey Giltner.

Main options include the Texas Redfish, made with a castelvetrano olive salsa verde, and the King Salmon with beet puree, grapes and sage. Pair these savory options with a side of Delicata Squash, which expertly balances a mild sweetness with pepitas, queso fresco and hatch chili.

Seasonal entrees at Little’s highlight the Gulf Coast’s local flare. Photo Casey Giltner.

Dessert options are plentiful at Little’s and can be paired with an assortment of dessert wines. For the most interesting and unique use of carrots in a dessert, try the Spiced-Carrot Blonde Brownie with Cream Cheese Gelato. This crowd favorite features carrots several ways to include a salted carrot caramel.

Little’s dessert options are an exceptional indulgence and ending to your culinary experience. Photo Martin Ramirez.

Dandelion Café

Sarah Lieberman originally opened the Dandelion Café in 2016 as a coffee shop. But through the love from her community, the Cafe quickly grew to become a full restaurant, earning national recognition and accolades along the way. Along with a feature on ABC’s Good Morning America, the Café was soon named as one of the Best Breakfast restaurants in Houston. And after one look at the restaurant and menu, it’s easy to see why.

With chilaquiles, blueberry lemon curd French toasts and pancakes, it’s easy to see why Dandelion Café was rated best breakfast in Houston. Photo Martin Ramirez.

The Dandelion Café brings a vibrant atmosphere of garden-inspired art, premium coffee, and a menu skillfully crafted by part owner and chef, J.C. Ricks. Among his local favorites are the chilaquiles, which delightfully combine crispy tortillas, eggs and a lip-tingling salsa with a colorful medley of cubed avocados, crema, tomatoes and cilantro. This hearty option makes a strong statement for why breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

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Cover photo Casey Giltner

Martin Ramirez is a brisket-eating, Shiner-loving, road-tripping enthusiast of all things Texas. This Dallas-born writer / adventurer is ready to take his ‘78 El Camino to find the best in food, fun, and fitness throughout the Lone Star State.