Sufi Kabob: Hello Corpus Christi!

Restaurant: Sufi Kabob
Address: 7150 S Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas
Buffet or a-la-carte: a-la-carte
Date of visit: 9/30/19

Background:

Salam/hey guys! Today I will be writing about my experience at a spot not in Houston, but in Corpus Christi! This place is called Sufi Kabob. I was in Corpus Christi on a work trip. For those outside Texas reading, Corpus Christi is a city along the Gulf Coast that is about 215 miles south of Houston. I originally thought of going to Kuzina, but they were closed until Wednesday. So using a quick Google search, I found this place. After checking into my hotel, I went and checked it out.



Let The Experience Begin!
Sufi Kabob is located at the intersection of S Padre Island Drive (aka TX 358 feeder) and Rodd Field Rd next to the Wingate by Wyndham. It's not too far from Texas A&M Corpus Christi, as well as the main mosque of Corpus Christi. The interior was nice. There was classical Bollywood music playing along with a TV showing the Monday Night game between the Bengals and Steelers. You order at the counter, pay, then sit down.



Let's Eat!
I ordered a custom plate. It's basically a combo of two kababs served with rice, salad, and naan. THe two kababs I got were their sufi kafta (beef kafta) and their chicken kafta. The total price? $14.99 + tax. You get sauces on the side of your dish. The sauces are: tzatziki sauce, red hot sauce (which was muhammara), and a mint chutney sauce. The waiting time was not bad at 9 minutes and 30 seconds.



Menu: https://orders.cake.net/11102080

The menu is basically on a website for online ordering/delivery. It is mainly Mediterranean, with some Indian/Pakistani options to choose from. They have a skewer of vegetarian kabab, which is basically a skewer of vegetables grilled. They also have their take on the popular chicken over rice dish that has taken America by storm for the past decade.

Custom Plate

Custom Plate

The Verdict:
Despite the price being high, the food was delicious. Out of the two kababs, the sufi one was better. It had more flavor. The sauces were also good. The tzatziki and mint chutney were on point. It was perfectly made. The muhammara had a kick (as expected). The food was washed down with a glass of water. According to the folks working there, everything is halal. No issues with the service.



Conclusion:
Sufi Kabob is definitely a spot to check out if you are planning a trip to Corpus Christi. It's not only far from the mosque, it's also not far from the Battleship and the beach.



Grading:
Food: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Total: 16/20 = 80% (B)
Pricing: $$$ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information:
Sufi Kabob
7150 S Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas
Phone: (361) 356-6715
Website: https://orders.cake.net/11102080 (This actually is the link for the menu)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Indian-Restaurant/Sufi-Kabob-175677819750993/
Timings: Mon - Sat: 11 AM - 10 PM; Sun: 12 PM - 8 PM
Caters: yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Earl's Kitchen and Bar: A More Affordable Halal Steakhouse

Restaurant: Earl's Kitchen and Bar

Address: 1538 N Clyborn Avenue, Chicago, IL
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit: 11/23/18



Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be talking about my experience at a place where you can get halal steak in Chicago. The place is called Earl's. Earl's is a steakhouse chain that is based in Canada. I first heard about Earl's after seeing someone post about how they use Creekstone Farms beef (100% halal btw) at their restaurants. It turns out that they use Creekstone Farms beef at their US locations (I don't know about Canada locations). I looked up hoping that there would be a location in Houston, but there's one in Plano, near Dallas. Hopefully they'll expand to Houston in the future.
Originally, I was not supposed to go here. When I was planning my trip, I did polls for a few days leading up to the trip to determine which places I would try when I spend the day in downtown Chicago on the 23rd. I was originally going to Epic Burger and Tahoora, but that was for if I was going myself. I was in fact spending the day with my cousin from Cleveland. His favorite food item is steak, and he isn't a burger fan. So I thought of going to Prime and Provisions in downtown, but for some reason they were not open for lunch since it was Black Friday. I looked on Yelp and zabihah.com for places that had halal steak. I then saw that they had an Earl's in Chicago, so I reserved a table for two. After Friday prayers in downtown, we took an Uber to the restaurant .


Let The Experience Begin!
While the address mentions N Clyborn Avenue, the actual entrance is located on the northeast side of a roundabout that is to the right of the intersection of N Halsted Street and W Blackhawk Street. After confirming the reservation that I made, we were helped to the table by the friendly host. After taking a few minutes to read the menu, I was ready to order.



Let's Eat!
I decided to be adventurous and order the beef bibimbap. Bibimbap is a Korean dish that consists of rice, sesame chili sauce, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, and a soft boiled egg served in a hot stone bowl. I ordered it because I never had a proper Korean dish in Houston (Coreanos is a fusion of Mexican and Korean; Bento Hut in Atlanta, which had chicken bulgogi, closed down), and that there's no halal Korean BBQ spot (though it's the highest in demand after BBQ and steakhouse). I am also confident that this location uses the Creekstone beef since there is no mention of any other beef supplier in their menu. The price was $17 + tax. My cousin got the 6 oz steak frites. It's a 6 oz sirloin steak that comes with fries and garlic bread. I decided to teach him the finer points of steak eating by making him order it medium rare. The price? $17.50 + tax. To wait, I watched UH get their butts kicked by Memphis.

Menu: https://earls.ca/locations/lincoln-park/menu/kitchen
The menu of Earl's is one of huge variety. At one end you have Asian food items like the bibimbap. At another end, you have pizzas, and at one end, you have steaks. As mentioned, Earl's uses Creekstone beef for its US locations. But this location also uses halal chicken from Crescent. I found out a few days after the actual trip there. I don't know if they also use the halal chicken at the other locations. When ordering, just mention to them that you want it cooked separately and that the grill would be cleaned, and they would be happy to help.

Now in order to eat the bibimbap, read through the captions underneath each picture.

Step 1: This is how the dish comes. The red stuff on the left is the sesame chili sauce.

Step 2: pour the sesame chili sauce into the bowl

Step 3: Mix it. This is what the result should be like. Do not eat before mixing.

The Verdict:
For someone who's having a proper Korean dish for the first time ever, I thought the food was good. The spice level was adequate, and the food quality was high. My cousin really enjoyed his steak frites. He said that the steak had a lot of flavor.
The service was wonderful. The folks there are really friendly and really accommodating. They always had a smile on their face when talking with customers. 

Conclusion:
Earl's is a good spot to try if you want halal steak and/or Asian fare in Chicago without having to pay a lot at places like Prime and Provisions or Roka Akor (Chicago locations only have halal and not the Houston location 😒). The really friendly folks will definitely take care of you. I'll head to their Plano location, hopefully during my next trip to Dallas, and try their steak.

Grading:
Service: 9/10
Food: 8/10
Total: 17/20 = 85% (B)
Pricing: $$$ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

Earl's Kitchen and Bar

Address: 1538 N Clyborn Avenue, Chicago, IL
Phone: (312) 929-3952
Website: https://earls.ca/locations/lincoln-park
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earlslincolnpark/
Timings: Mon-Thu: 11:30 AM - 10 PM; Friday: 11:30 AM - Midnight; Sat: 10 AM - Midnight. Sun: 10 AM - 10 PM
Caters: Yes

Reservations accepted

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or email me!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Pinkerton's BBQ: The First Sit-Down Halal BBQ Spot in Texas

Restaurant: Pinkerton's BBQ
Address: 1504 Airline Drive, Houston, TX
Buffet or a-la-carte: neither
Date of visit: 10/22/2017

UPDATE 3/19/18: They smoke separately and can cut separately as well on all days!

Background:
Salam/hey guys! Welcome to my latest review. This one is a special one. I am pleased to announce that we finally have a sit down BBQ spot in Houston after a 4 year wait. And this one was big. One closed down (now they reopened and do catering only), and the others do on specific days or catering events. This is a place where you can bring your family and friends, sit down, and eat BBQ. The place is in question is called Pinkerton's BBQ. Believe it or not, this place is regarded to have some of the best BBQ in the Houston area. This place was even considered to be in the top 100 restaurants in Houston by Houston Chronicle food critic Alison cook. Unreal stuff.
So how did all of this start? I got a notification from zabihah.com that Pinkerton's uses halal brisket from Creekstone about a few months ago. I messaged them, and they said that they were working on it. Since then, I was in contact with the owner. I wanted to go in the summer, but a roadblock hit. Prices at Creekstone went up significantly, and the owner wanted to wait until they came down to get the beef. Fast forward to last week, and my best friend shows me a message from one of his friends about Pinkerton's. It now said that you needed at least 24 hours notice. I message him and he said it would be best to come to the restaurant for separately smoked brisket on the weekends, and also early as they tend to run out! Amazing how they're willing to accommodate Muslim customers yet two other BBQ spots in the states said it was not possible to do! Hopefully, the wait would be worth it.



Let The Experience Begin!
Pinkerton's in located in the middle of the Heights on Airline Drive. It's located more to I-45 than it is to 610. I went twice so that I would get the idea of what to expect. So one day I went myself and the next day I brought a group of friends. On Saturday, it was packed! I had to wait for about 5 minutes for parking, but inside the line was thankfully not that long. I met the owner, who said that I was good regarding the smoked brisket! Afterwards, I went in line.
In the second day, I guided my friends in what to do (which is literally just get in line LOL)



Let's Eat!
The way it works is that you get in line and you get your sides and condiments first. They have onions, pickles, and jalapenos. You then have the option of getting sides. I got a potato salad. Then comes the main attraction: the meats. On the first day, I went for a half pound of some nice, fatty brisket. That's where I learned that you have to mention to the cutters that you want halal. They then bring out a freshly smoked brisket onto a clean cutting board with a clean knife. On the second day, I got the brisket as well, but then I learned that ALL their beef is halal (and has been verified many times). Wow. Just wow. So I got myself a chopped beef sandwich. How about that for a comeback after 4 years. There's no waiting time. They listen to what you want, and they give it to you. Definitely something needed since the line can be REALLY long.



Menu: http://www.pinkertonsbarbecue.com/menu/
Prices are literally like EVERY OTHER POPULAR TEXAS BBQ SPOT. I capitalized because the lack of understanding of the fact that BBQ prices are pretty high is one of the major reasons why halal Texas BBQ has failed in Houston. I honestly hope that this one will reverse that. I have provided the links of two popular BBQ spots (Franklin's in Austin and Killen's in Pearland), where you can click on the menu and see what the prices are (note that both use Creekstone, but DO NOT smoke separately from the pork).

Franklin's --> https://franklinbbq.com/menu

Killen's --> https://www.killensbarbecue.com/#menu


The food at Pinkerton's is literally like the ones are the above places. Just pick your sides and meats, and you're good to go! Just remember that only the beef is halal, and you must mention halal when getting your meats. Plenty of people have called them up and confirmed with them that the beef is halal, and everyone in my group asked them about halal and then got the meat.

Brisket cut in half. Pink doesn't mean blood. 

One pound of brisket with potato salad for two

Chopped Beef

The Verdict:
The four year wait was well worth it. The meat was so juicy and tasty. There was so much flavor in the moist brisket. The BBQ sauce was exceptional also. This was on both trips by the way. The majority of the folks with me really liked it (the folks who didn't like it were not beef fans), The food was washed down with a nice bottle of Mexican Coke.
Service was great. The people, including the owner, were incredibly nice.



Conclusion:
One of the top spots for Texas BBQ in Houston AND uses halal meat? You got yourself a customer! I'll definitely be back and I'll definitely bring my friends and family here. You guys should give this place a try if you want a taste of what Texas BBQ is!



Grading:
Food: 9/10
Service: 9/10
Total: 18/20 = 90% (A)
Pricing: $$$ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information
Pinkerton's BBQ
1504 Airline Drive, Houston, Texas
Phone: (713) 802-2000
Website: http://www.pinkertonsbarbecue.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pinkertonsbarbecue/
Instagram: pinkertonsbbq
Timings: Mon-Tue: closed; Wed-Thu & Sun: 11 AM - 9 PM; Fri-Sat: 11 AM - 10 PM. I however suggest you guys go early on weekends since they tend to sell out!
Caters: yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Quick Review: Mai Colachi: Hits and Misses Amidst the Ambiance

Restaurant: Mai Colachi
Address: 13849 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, Texas
Buffet or a-la-carte: a-la-carte
Date of visit: 10/29/16

Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be talking about my experience at a high end Pakistani restaurant called Mai Colachi. This is actually the second high end Pakistani place that I have visited since moving from Saudi. I wanted to try this place because I wanted to see if it was able to be like the ones that I used to enjoy in Saudi. What also got me interested was that the chef of the original Kolachi restaurant moved right here to the Houston area to become the executive chef at Mai Colachi. The time came for me to try the place when my family was invited to a party. This wasn't food catered specifically for the party. It was just a large gathering at the restaurant.



Let The Experience Begin!
Mai Colachi is located near the 59 and Sugar Creek/Dairy Ashford Drive intersection. The inside was pretty fancy and very dark as well. The ambiance was really nice. After everyone was seated, it was time to eat!



Let's Eat!
The host ordered for us a variety of dishes. We got khatti daal, karahi mutton, karahi chicken (both of which I am assuming to be the Colachi karahi), naan, and keemari jeengha karahi. To wait, we just sat and talked.



Menu: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Colachi.US/menu/?p_ref=pa
Pretty fancy if you ask me. This isn't your typical hole-in-the-wall or mom-and-pop Pakistani places. Prices are pretty high compared to the other Pakistani places, but it's a higher end place. They have steak as well (though I wonder if they would do any other temperature than well done), and interestingly Jujeh kabab.

Clockwise from top left: Colachi chicken karahi, khate daal, Colachi muttom karahi, keemari jeengha karahi, and naan

The Verdict:

I really liked how the food was presented. They bring the pan that is used to cook the food. Anyways, out of the food items, I enjoyed the shrimp, mutton, and naan. Lots of flavor in the karahis and the naan was nice and fluffy. The daal was just ok, but the chicken was the least favorite. There was little to no salt in the chicken karahi. All the food was washed with water, and there were no complaints of the service.

Conclusion:

Despite the chicken and daal failing to impress, I certainly wouldn't mind coming and trying these items again as well as trying their tikka and kabab. This is a pretty good place for you guys to go to if it's a special occasion or just want to try some high end Pakistani food.

Grading:

Food: 7.5/10

Service: 8/10

Total: 15.5/20 = 77.5% (C)

Pricing: $$$ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

Mai Colachi
13849 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, Texas
Phone: (281) 240-0786
Website:  none
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Colachi.US/
Timings: Mon-Thu & Sun: 11:30 AM - 10 PM; Fri-Sat: 11:30 AM - 11 PM
Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Olivit: A full Service Arab Restaurant in the heart of Klein

Restaurant: Olivit
Address: 7316 Louetta Road, Spring, Texas (Opposite Klein High School)
Buffet or a-la-carte: a-la-carte
Date of visit: 3/24/16



Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be writing my review about a place that I had wanted to go to for a while. The place is called Olivit. I first heard about this place from my friend who attends the same masjid as me, all the way back in the summer of last year. I was actually surprised that there was another Arab place in the northside because there was already Zamani and Kababi Zaytoon, two already known Arab places in the northside. I had been wanting to go since the end of last Ramadan, but I had to push back the trip because something or the other would come up, thus forcing me to either go somewhere else or don't go and review a place at all. The time came for me to try came that Thursday. I had no class until 3:30 PM that day. So I decided to go there from Cypress to finally try it out.
Based on the other reviews that I had read, Olivit seemed to be a really good place that had some good Arab food. I heard nothing but praise for that place. I didn't even know that it had existed until my friend had told me about it.



Let The Experience Begin!
Olivit is located directly across Klein High School, next to the Jimmy John's. I think I was the first customer there that day (I went at 11 AM). The inside was very nice. It was very nicely decorated. There was a TV on one side of the restaurant, and there was Arab music playing throughout the restaurant. A guy came and helped me and gave the menu. After reading it a bit, I was ready to order.



Let's Eat!
I ordered the mix grill lunch special. I got the zenga soup, which was recommended by my friend as the other item. I'm just really thankful that like other Arab places, Olivit gives free bread (Indian/Pakistani places need to do this). I paid a total of $11.90 (tax included). The waiting time was 12 minutes and 34 seconds.



Menu: http://www.olivitgrill.com/
The reason I posted the website is because if you click on it, you have to click on either "LUNCH MENU" or "DINNER MENU". The menus have the usual kebabs, sandwiches, shawarmas, and combos, alongside some items like Dawood Basha (Syrian meatballs), and Quallaya (sauteed dish) that you rarely see at an Arab restaurant. You even have pastas and salads. Now regarding the dinner items, the entrees are more pricey than Sayad! That's because they give more than one skewer. But in their platters, it's one skewer of either a combo of two kababs or one whole skewer of a specific kabab, and it's slightly less pricier than Sayad. Finally like Sayad, they have a chicken tikka kabab, which I wonder why. Based on the menu description, my guess would be that it's like an Arab version of chicken tikka masala (someone who is familiar with it please help me out in the comments :) )

The bread

The Mix Grill

Zenga Soup

The Verdict:

I got the zenga first, and boy it was wonderful! This is now one of my favorite soups to have, alongside the Turkish lentil soup. The soup came very fresh and was packed with a lot of flavor. Everything was cooked perfectly. The mix grill had some hits and misses however. When I got it, I noticed how stingy they were when it came when it came to the meat. Other places would give an individual skewer of each kabab. I was really disappointed in the presentation of the plate. The mix grill came with grilled vegetables, tahini sauce and garlic sauce. The chicken could have been better to be honest. It wasn't really that tasty. The kafta kabab was absolutely delicious. It had a huge amount of flavors. The food was washed down with a glass of water.

Service was OK. The waiter was moody however, but not to the point of being downright condescending or rude for me to take a lot of points off (he didn't shout, make snide remarks, or take away my food).

Conclusion:

Overall, Olivit is a decent find in the northside area. I'll definitely be getting the zenga soup and the kafta kabab. I'll also won't mind trying the chicken tikka and seeing how it's different than the Indian chicken tikka masala. A couple of suggestions that I would have for the restaurant would be to 

put some more meat in the mix grill, and to cheer up when serving customers.

Grading: 

Service: 7/10

Food: 7.5/10

Total: 14.5/20 = 72.5% (C)

Pricing: $$$ out of $$$$ 

Restaurant Information:

Olivit
7316 Louetta Road, Spring, Texas
Phone: (281) 257-4445
Website: http://www.olivitgrill.com/
Timings: Mon-Sun 11 AM - 10 PM; Lunch Mon-Fri: 11 AM - 3 PM
Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

CLOSED: TG's Cravings- A New Halal Burger Place In Sugar Land

Restaurant: TG's Cravings
Address: 16338 Kensington Drive, Sugar Land, Texas 77479
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit: 3/14/15

Photo Credit: http://s3-media2.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/-GDuHiqy8fkWCTyeDr8FxA/ls.jpg

UPDATE 3/19/18: This place has closed down

UPDATE 8/21/17: This place definitely took this review and others seriously! Burgers are still excellent, and they now have halal Texas BBQ! Been here on a few visits, and I also took friends and family and they all liked it! Overall, the marks for the food now is a solid 8.5/10.

UPDATE 1/17/17: Their new address is 16510 FM 529. Went for a couple of visits and noticed that the food improved significantly. They now use brioche buns as standard.

UPDATE 8/13/16: I tried their chimichanga back in March. It was decent, but definitely better than the chicken fried steak I had. Unfortuanely, their store was severely damaged from the Tax Day floods. However, they are opening up their second location in Cypress. There is no timetable on when the Sugar Land location will open again.

UPDATE 12/29/15: I went a few weeks back and tried their newest item: the chicken fried steak. I was disappointed this time. The chicken fried steak came with a baked potato, and I got mashed potatoes and biscuits as sides. The biscuit was cold in the interior. The chicken fried steak was just ok. The mashed and baked potatoes were the only good parts.
I'll come again and try the burger items and see if they improved from the first visit. But their Tex-Mex and wings are by far the best things there.

UPDATE 6/1/15: They now have chimichangs and enchiladas! I had their beef enchiladas in late May. It was pretty good, even though their meat is ground beef rather than chopped beef, and they use salsa instead of usual enchilada sauce. Nice of them to improve after the first visit. 

=============================ORIGINAL POST==============================

Background:
Salam/hey guys! Hope you all are having a wonderful Spring Break! Today I will be reviewing a new American/Tex-Mex restaurant that opened up in Sugar Land. I first heard about this place from a Muslim Group on Facebook. It was a great feeling because for once there was a new place that had steak and Tex-Mex options. The people that were actually setting up the business had to continuously confirm their halal status, because certain people on that group would not stop worrying about whether the food was halal, even though the person clearly said that it was going to be zabiha halal. Another issue was that it was all the way in Sugar Land. It was far from where I lived (Cypress) and UH. Everything other people said about this place was nothing but praise. Some have raved about how high quality their food is, and how they would make this their go-to place. The time came to try when I went paintballing with my friends at Brookshire in Waller County. We had just gotten off from college since it was Spring Break. All of us had eagerly wanted to try the place out. Heck, one of my good friends wanted to come as well even though he didn't come to paintball. The drive there was very long. We had to go through nearly all of Fort Bend County just to reach Sugar Land. To make matters worse, we had to take a detour in Fulshear, which added on even more time. We were completely covered in paint and mud, since the majority of the time we had to walk through an area that was completely saturated and full of mud. It was so bad that I nearly slipped plenty of times, and we only got to play two games of 5 minutes even after paying $30 just to paintball. While walking, the water/mud mixture had nearly reached my knees. We then decided to take a break at Maryam Masjid, pray, change our clothes, and then head to the restaurant. What was supposed to be a 45 minute ride turned out to be a 90 minute ride.



Let The Experience Begin!
TG's Cravings is located at the very end of Kensington Drive. From the place, you can see Patel Brothers and the Sugar Land location of Tempura. The ambiance was really nice. There were tables and chairs for both kids and adults. The Cricket World Cup was playing on the TV. They had just finished their soft opening a few weeks ago before we came here, so it was busy with people trying to adjust before they do their grand opening and make their way up the already large and competitive halal food scene in the Houston area. It was definitely packed, as EVERYONE was really excited about this place opening up. The really nice waiter got my group a table, and we had waited for our other friend to come.



Let's Eat!
We were then handed out menus. Unfortunately, the other friend came much later than me and my other friend, so we couldn't make our final orders. While we were waiting, we ordered buffalo wings that were on sale for $3.99+ tax. To drink, I got a Coke while he got water. Once the other friend arrived, we finally got the entrees ordered. My friend and I ordered the Mamu burger, which is basically a burger stuffed with cheddar cheese and topped with American cheese, mayo, ketchup, and mustard. The only differences is that I got the beef bacon add-on (yes there are places in town with halal turkey and beef bacon), while he made it super spicy. My other friend, who is obsessed about being buff, just ordered a chicken quesadilla. We split the bill, and I eventually paid $17.67 (tax included) The waiting time was really long: 5 minutes for the wings, and 27 minutes for the entrees. For every other person with me, I add 5 minutes to the maximum tolerance waiting time of 20 minutes. Since they are still trying to adjust, I will not deduct points based on how long it took for the food to come out.



Menu: http://tgscravings.com/menu/
Absolutely impressive. They have so many varieties of burgers. And I can bet you that one day, I will attempt the tower burger challenge and succeed in it. I hope to avenge the two failures I had with the 2 lb burger from Famous Hamburger in Dearborn back in 2013. I like the idea of having loaded fries and nachos, as I am a huge fan of chili cheese fries dating back to the days I used to eat at M&M Grill. Steak fries is basically another name for the regular french fries. They are also another restaurant with steak. What I really like is that there is a steak option FOR UNDER $20!! This is only the second time I have ever seen a halal restaurant have a legitimate cut of steak under $20. The last time was the lunch special at Bonsai, where you get two meats for $14 and 3 meats for $17. Even the steaks are under $20 individually at lunch time, but not at dinner. The last time I had tried steak at a new halal place was at Winetopia (now closed), I had to pay $25.96, despite the website saying that it was much cheaper. After that, I made a promise to myself to never go back unless I either had a lot of money or for a special occasion. The burgers are decently priced. They are also the first place to legitimately have halal non-Desi breakfast options on their menu. M&M Grill had breakfast options for a few months back in 2013, but it was discontinued after a run of few months. Most of the halal breakfasts in Houston consists of Halwa Puri (deep fried Indian bread with chickpeas curry and halwa) served as brunch on weekends at many of the Desi restaurants. Believe it or not, I have never in my entire lifetime had an omelette with meat. I used to always hope that one day I would actually have an omelette with meat inside, just like how they would do at IHOP or Denny's. Their Tex-Mex is standard. They sell popular Tex-Mex food like burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. I sure hope that their fajita platter would come in a sizzler. The only issue I have on the menu is the price of the Philly Cheesesteak. Let's be honest, Paying $12.99+ tax for a Philly cheesesteak for a Philly Chicken is just flat-out RIDICULOUS. Their kids meal is decently priced though. Now you would expect these things to be done by non-Desi people right? WRONG! This place is owned by Desi people! It is very nice to see Desi people starting to serve American favorites here in Houston

Top: Mamu burger with beef bacon. Comes with curly fries. Bottom left: Buffalo wings. Bottom right: Chicken quesadilla

The Verdict:
The wings were very good. It was very nice and tender. The wings came in a pack of 6, so all of us were able to eat it. The sauce was not overpowering. My friend tried the quesadilla and really liked it. Parts of the burger patty were somewhat overcooked. In the picture, you can see that a lot of the patty is covered in black. But, the parts that weren't overcooked tasted great. The beef bacon was nice and crispy. The curly fries tasted wonderful as well.
The service was good, but could have some improvements. The good part was that the owner himself actually came to us and asked how the food is, and he even allowed us to give suggestions on how to improve. I have NEVER seen a Desi owner be open to constructive criticism, and accept the fact that improvements should be made until now. It clearly indicates that he wants the restaurant to be ready for the grand opening and that he wants the restaurant to succeed. Sadly, many people know about how rash Desi restaurant owners usually are. Customer service is usually close to none at many Desi restaurants. This is definitely a step in the right direction. I honestly hope that one day other Desi restaurants would follow suit. There are still things that they can improve on. First, they should remember in the future to put any add-ons a customer requests. My mamu burger was served to me, but I had to give it back to the waiter because they forgot to put the beef bacon on it. Also, while paying for the bill, they had charged us the full price for the wings, even though the waiter said that they were on sale for $3.99+tax.



Conclusion:
I will be nice and come back and try the different items, since they are still trying to get everything to click. The menu looks like the sort where I would try everything from this place. I will have higher expectations for the service after the grand opening occurs. But for now, I hope their business succeeds.



Grading:
Service: 7.5/10
Food: 8/10
Total: 15.5/20 = 77.5% (C)
Pricing: $$$ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information:
TG's Cravings
16338 Kensington Drive, Sugar Land, Texas 77479
Phone: (832) 500-3660
Website (currently under construction):http://www.tgscravings.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/TGs-Cravings/1376000619385526
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tgscravings
Timings: Tue: closed; Sun-Mon & Wed-Thu: 11 AM - 10 PM; Fri-Sat: 11 AM - Midnight
Caters: Not yet

Feel free to comment below, message me on Facebook, tweet me, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

CLOSED: Harvest Organic Grille: Halal Healthy Dining

Restaurant: Harvest Organic Grille

Address: 11681 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77077

Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte

Date of visit: 1/24/15

Photo Credit: http://znagroup.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/HARVEST_LOGO_PNG1.png

UPDATE 2/10/17: This place has closed down

Background:

Salam/hey guys! Welcome to my latest review. Today I will be reviewing a first: halal healthy food. Why is it healthy? Because this is organic food. The name of this place is Harvest Organic Grille. The day of the visit coincided with the Houston Auto Show. I was given money to spend on lunch, since I would be out the whole day with friends. I read about the halal status of this restaurant on Yelp. I called up this restaurant to see about their halal status, but the person on the phone didn't know what I was talking about. So I decided to go here and see for myself. Traffic wasn't that bad, so I reached just 20 minutes after leaving my house.

Let The Experience Begin!
Harvest Organic Grille is located next to a supermarket that bears the same name. When I entered, I immediately requested to speak to the owner. The owner wasn't there, but the general manager was. She then told me that she would go to the kitchen and see what halal items there are. I started to feel worried. Maybe the person on Yelp was lying. Maybe the restaurant changed meat suppliers without my knowledge. After 10 stressful minutes, I was relieved to hear that there WERE some halal items. The general manager then pointed on the menu what specific item was halal. Top marks for service. I then decided to sit down and eat.



Let's Eat!
I ordered something that I have always wanted to have: Kobe Burger. Kobe beef is one of the higher quality meats today. It came with fries with ketchup. To drink, I had water. All of this for a price of $12 and tax! The waiting time was 11 minutes and 2 seconds.



Menu: http://www.harvestgrille.com/
The website is different from other websites. Here, if you click on "Menu", it actually scrolls down to the menu itself! The best part is that they don't serve pork, but they do cook with alcohol. They do, however cook it separately when requested. Now this place is pretty expensive, especially the steaks (not halal) and the seafood. I actually have the conversation that I have with them on FB regarding the specific items that are halal

1st Part of my conversation

2nd Part of My Conversation

Kobe Beef Burger with fries

The Verdict:
So how did tasting a high quality beef go? Well, it was wonderful! The beef was cooked perfectly and was juicy. The vegetables are fresh. There was a good balance between the bun, meat and the condiments. The fries could have been much better. It was soggy. The ketchup did taste great.
The service was wonderful. The waiter took his time to explain what the halal items were and assured me that the food can be cooked separately. I wish other restaurants wouldn't get upset over someone asking about their halal food.



Conclusion:
Harvest Organic Grille is a good alternative to the regular fine dining place. I hope to try their other halal items, and I hope one day that they will have other halal items. I would recommend this place for both special occasions and just casual dining.



Grading: Starting from this review, I will be removing the "Waiting Time" and merging that into the "Service". For every minute after 20, it will be .5 points off.
Service: 10/10
Food: 8.5/10
Total: 18.5/20 = 92.5% (A)
Pricing: $$$ out of $$$$



Harvest Organic Grille
11681 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77077
Phone: (281) 597-0000
Website: http://www.harvestgrille.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarvestOrganicGrille
Timings: Sun-Thu: 11 AM - 10PM; Fri-Sat: 11 AM - 11 PM
Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below, send me an email, or message me on Facebook!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Empire Turkish Grill- Pricey but Delicious

Restaurant: Empire Turkish Grill
12448 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024
Buffet or a-la-carte: a-la-carte
Date of visit: 5/31/14

Photo Credit: http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/03/b5/fa/94/empire-turkish-grill.jpg

Background: 

Salam/hey guys! Today I will be reviewing another Turkish restaurant that is in the Houston area. This one is Empire Turkish Grill. Empire Turkish Grill has been in business long before I moved to Houston from Saudi Arabia. Restaurant critics, including the Houston Chronicle's Alison Cook, have praised this restaurant for being excellent in quality and taste. Another interesting fact is that this is the first Turkish restaurant that I am reviewing that is not in the Interstate 610 Loop! The time came while I had family over from Dallas. My uncle was really interested in trying Turkish food, since the majority of restaurants there are mainly Indian/Pakistani. Since this was the closest Turkish restaurant to my house, I decided to take him here. After driving in the horrible weather, I arrived at the restaurant.

Let The Experience Begin!

The restaurant from the outside looks like many buildings in Memorial: large and swanky. The inside was a lot like a fine dining restaurant. There was actually a wine cellar, and a waiting area when the dining area is full. Everything was properly laid. We both got a table then got the menu. After going through the menu, we were ready to order.

Let's Eat!

We both ordered the $10.95 lunch specials. I got the filet mignon kebab with the lentil soup, while my uncle got the chicken kebab with shepard's salad and the lentil soup. All the kebabs came with vegetables and rice. I do not know how much the meal was as my uncle paid for it. The waiting time was 3 minutes and 24 seconds for the appetizers and 8 minutes for the entrees.

Regular Menu: http://www.empiretrgrill.com/menu.htm; Lunch special: http://www.empiretrgrill.com/LunchSpecials.pdf; Desserts: http://www.empiretrgrill.com/DessertMenu.pdf

Empire specials: http://www.empiretrgrill.com/EmpireSpecials.pdf

The menu is pricey! No kebab entrees are under $10! And there are no sandwiches offered in the restaurant. Heck, the mix grill is $26.95! I am thankful that they do the lunch specials, even on the weekend. Also, I like the idea of the meat combinations.

Turkish Bread

Lentil Soup

My uncle's chicken kebab

My filet mignon kebab

The Verdict:

So how did my uncle's first Turkish cuisine experience go? It went very well. He really liked the lentil soup, salad, and the chicken kebab. I really liked everything I had too. The filet mignon was cooked perfectly. The vegetables and rice were also very tasty. The food was washed down with a few glasses of water. Overall, two thumbs up.

The service was good too. The waitress we had was very helpful and very friendly. She confirmed that all the meat was halal to my uncle, since he was skeptical of it as the restaurant serves alcohol.

Conclusion:

Empire Turkish Grill is a great place to eat some authentic Turkish food. It may be expensive, but thankfully they have the nice affordable lunch special. No wonder all the food critics have nothing but praise for the restaurant. This place is ideal for anyone who wants to go for a special occasion. I would definitely come back if I crave for some Turkish food.

Grading: 

Service: 9/10

Food: 9/10

Waiting Time: 10/10
Overall: 28/30 = 93.3% (A)
Pricing: $$$ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information:
Empire Turkish Grill
12448 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024
Phone: (713) 827-7475
Website: http://www.empiretrgrill.com/
Facebook: No
Timings: Mon-Thu: 11 AM - 9:30 PM; Fri" 11 AM - 10 PM; Sat: 12 PM - 10 PM; Sun: 12 PM - 9 PM
Caters: Yes



Feel free to comment below, message me on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Fadi's Mediterranean Grill- Your school cafeteria outside your school

Restaurant- Fadi's Mediterranean Grill
8383 Westheimer Road suite 112, Houston, Texas 77063
Buffet or a-la-carte? A-la-carte
Date of visit: 10/18/13

Photo Credit: (http://www.fadiscuisine.com/images/fadi-logo.jpg)

Background:

Salam/hello guys! I hope your Eid went well! Today I am bringing to you a very well known restaurant in Houston: Fadi's Mediterranean Grill. Fadi's is well known here in Houston, with three locations in Houston, one location in Sugar Land, and two locations in Dallas. Normally, I would go out on Saturdays to try out a restaurant and review it, but today was a special occasion. I became part of a group called Muslim Youth of Bear Creek. The goal of this is to promote a feeling of community among the Muslims in the Bear Creek Area. They had a board meeting here, and I am a member of the board. We were going to discuss how to recruit people to join the group, how to raise funds for the group, and what events to plan for the community. The reason why the meeting was held here instead of a mosque was because they wanted a more social place. They wanted a place that was not quiet and could relax and not stress. As soon as our classes were finished, we went to the restaurant.

Let The Experience Begin!

Fadi's is located just before the intersection of Westheimer and Hillcroft Avenue. It is located at a normal strip mall. Inside the restaurant was very lively. The busboys were bustling around the restaurant, cleaning the mess that the customers left behind. There was a baker making fresh bread. And there were people behind the food counter waiting to serve people. The cashiers were busy helping the customers out with how much they had to pay. My friend and I were the first of our group to arrive. 15 minutes later, everyone else arrived. After everyone else arrived, we decided to start eating.

Let's Eat!

Now things are different here at Fadi's than at other restaurants. At Fadi's, it's more like a school cafeteria. The options are presented right in front of you. First you got the bread, then the vegetables, then the meat, then the desserts, and then the drinks. The people actually ask what you want and they serve it to you. It reminds me of my dark days of middle school, where all processed crap was being served by the cafeteria ladies everyday during lunch. There, the pizza was like half cooked tomato lasagna, and the fried were literally cardboard. You also have an option of ordering dishes that are not displayed. The way you pay for your food is also different. It basically a fair game. You see what you like, and you get it. However, you are at a risk of paying too much for it at the end. It's not that you just pay after you eat. You pay, eat, and if you want to take seconds, pay again! Just like the cafeterias in schools. For budget reasons, the other guys ordered shawarmas sandwiches and plates with juices and soda. Each paid around $10 each. I, on the other hand, had plenty to spend. I heard from other people that the cafeteria style food is worth eating. I ordered a Greek salad, bread, beef pide (Turkish pizza), potatoes, rice, lamb shank, and chicken. For this, I paid a ridiculous $22.50! Two vegetarian and two meat dishes with rice for that price is WAY too much. I could go to another restaurant and get a mixed grill AND a vegetarian dish AND an appetizer for LESS the price. Another annoying thing I saw was that juice was $4! Why so expensive? On the second helping, I got filet mignon kabab for $5.94! Now that's a wonderful deal! I wish they could charge that less for the cafeteria style food. The waiting time for the kabab was a modest 9 minutes and 16 seconds. To drink, I got Perrier sparkling water.

Menu: Regarding the cafeteria style dining, the menu changes and varies per restaurant. There is however a to-go menu:

Fadi's to go menu

First dish (counterclockwise: Lamb shank, rice, Greek salad, potatoes, sparkling water, pide, chicken, bread)

Filet Mignon Kabab with vegetables and tahini sauce

The Verdict:

The food had its ups and downs. The rice was delicious, and so were the potatoes, the chicken, bread, pide, and the salad. The lamb shank was very dry and had no flavor. The filet mignon kabab was also delicious. The tahini sauce was a perfect condiment to the kabab. There was also mixed reactions from the other guys. Some liked it, some didn't. All the food that I ordered were washed down by a bottle of Perrier sparkling water.

Conclusion:
Well if you want to come in here, come here for special occasions. Why? Because it is so darn expensive. Why is it so expensive? $4 for juice, and the risk of paying too much because the food that you see is so interesting that you want to try them all. Also, I would recommend that you order directly instead of going cafeteria style because there is a bigger chance that the food will taste better. And more importantly, you will save money.

Grading:
Service: 7.5/10

Food: 8/10

Waiting Time: 10/10

Total: 25.5/30 = 85% (B)

Pricing: $$$ out of $$$$

Restaurant information:

Fadi's Mediterranean Grill

8383 Westheimer Road Suite 112, Houston, Texas 77063

Phone: (713) 532-0666

Fax: (713) 532-0677

Website: http://www.fadiscuisine.com/index.htm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fadis-Mediterranean-Grill/176297506688

Timings: Mon-Sat: 11 AM - 10 PM; Sun: 11 AM - 8 PM

Caters? Yes

Feel free to comment below!

Cheers!

Zain Mohammed

Pasha Turkish Restaurant- A petite restaurant near Rice University

Restaurant- Pasha Restaurant
2325 University Boulevard Houston, Texas 77005
Buffet or a-la-carte? a-la-carte
Date of visit: 10/5/2013

Photo Credit: (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CWrSdvcHkug/T96FSxcRcSI/AAAAAAAAFOs/e1ke8LSw0xM/s250-c-k-no/Pasha%2BRestaurant)

Background:

Salam/Hello guys! Today I will be reviewing Pasha restaurant, a Turkish restaurant that is opposite Rice University. Pasha is frequently populated by Rice Students. It is a petite restaurant, which is common in that area of Houston. I was craving for something that would fill me up. The Chemistry lab today was so long that we had to stay until 2:30 just to finish it up. Thus I had little time to eat and come back to finish my homework. With the Galleria area ruled out, I only had the choice of Pasha, or going vegetarian. Of course, the anti-vegetarian me went here. Getting here was very difficult. Driving around the Rice University area is very challenging. Most roads are single lanes, and you have to watch out for cars that are parallel parked or backing out. The roads are not marked properly, so look out for any cars coming near you. When you turn left into a shop or house, you end up causing the whole road to stop just so you could turn. To top it off, the roads were in poor conditions. My car (2013 Camry SE) was susceptible to scratches on its bumper because of all the surprising ditches. Unlike most models, the SE is lower to give it the sporty feeling. When turning to the parking lot of the restaurant. There was another surprise ditch >.< Now back to the restaurant. Pasha has been awarded many times by food review companies, most notably Zagat. Now having a Zagat is something to brag about because it reviews restaurants worldwide and gives recommendations to those who stand out. So after parking my car and checking for damage (Thankfully there wasn't any), I went in.

Let The Experience Begin:

Inside Pasha is very dark. it seems like the lights were not on. on the walls were pictures of famous landmarks in Turkey. There were also pictures with the Turkey tourism logo seal with it. There was also Turkish music playing. It actually reminded me of my trip to Turkey during senior year of High School, eating delicious kafta kababs in front of the Maiden's Tower in Istanbul on a chilly sunny day. Or eating a delicious buffet at a ski resort near Mount Erciyus in the central city of Kayseri. Or eating at a restaurant frequented by government officials in Ankara, the capital city. In reality, I was eating with a view of Rice University, big houses, and trees. The waitress noticed me and helped me to a table. After skimming through the menu, I proceeded to order.

Let's Eat!

After seeing the menu, I had decided to strike out the things that I have had during my trip to Turkey and the Turkish restaurant in Pittsburgh. This included doner (gyro), adana, shish, and kafta. Now don't get me wrong, I love Turkish food. I went to a school run by Turkish Muslims, where they have invited me to their homes and fed us really delicious food. And in Turkey, it was like Man vs. Food FOR 10 CONSECUTIVE DAYS! Constantly being stuffed down with Turkish delicacies like Kayseri dumplings and Iskender (gyro with yogurt and tomato paste). I have tried everything from pide (turkish pizza) to lahmacun (minced meat on top of bread) to dolma (rice and meat stuffed in grape leaves). There was only one thing I didn't try, the Beyti Kabab. Beyti kabab is basically beef and lamb kabab that is packed in a special Anatolian flatbread called lavash. It's actually named after the world famous chef at the famous Beyti restaurant in Istanbul. It's actually the most popular item in that same place where celebrities, politicians and other notable people have dined in. Along with it came vegetables, rice, and yogurt sauce. Along with that, I got free water. While waiting, the waitress gave me free bread to eat while waiting. A nice touch. The waiting time was a modest 10 minutes and 32 seconds. The price was quite expensive at $15.70 (tax included). After paying the bill, you get free Turkish tea! Another nice touch.

Menu: This restaurant has separate menus for lunch and dinner. It even has one dedicated to dessert and Turkish pizzas. Also, alcohol is served but not used in cooking.

Lunch Appetizers

Lunch Main Courses

Dinner Appetizers

Dinner Main Courses

Turkish Pizzas

Desserts

Bread and water (don't know what that sauce is)

Beyti Kabab

Turkish Tea

The Verdict:

The food definitely reminded me of the Turkey trip. It was fantastic. It was like being there again and feasting on the food. The lavash was very tasty, but the kabab was the best. The rice was well cooked, the vegetables were fresh, and the yogurt sauce was a perfect condiment. The bread at the beginning was very tasty, and the Turkish tea was absolutely phenomenal. All it needed was one sugar cube and it did the trick. The food was drained by a much needed bottle of water. One area of improvement can be the portion size. There could be some more rice and vegetables because they are perfect accompaniments with the kabab. A couple more pieces of kabab would also be nice. The reason why I am saying is because the $15 I am paying for to eat the food should be filling. In Turkey, I only had to pay around $13 at the kabab place in front of the Maiden's Tower to get some nice filling kafta kabab. Taste wise, they are spot on, but the portions can be a little bigger.

Conclusion:

No doubt Turkish home cooked food is better, but between this and Kebab Factory in Pittsburgh, this one takes the cake for being closest to it. Kebab factory may have bigger portions, but this one is definitely better in taste. And you get free stuff too. I cannot however determine whether it is the best Turkish restaurant in this area of Houston. This is because in a 10 mile radius, there are 6 other Turkish restaurants, half of which are near Rice University. So until I try out the other Turkish restaurants, I can't decide. But I can say that Pasha sets a high standard for Turkish restaurants here, and that I would definitely dine here again.

Grading:

Service: 9/10

Food: 9/10

Waiting Time: 10/10

Total: 28/30 = 93.3% (A)

Pricing: $$$ out of $$$$ (Dinner is expensive)

Restaurant Information

Pasha Restaurant

2325 University Boulevard Houston, Texas 77005

Phone: (713) 592-0020

Website:  http://www.epasha.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pasha-Restaurant/654485167905437

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PashaHouston

Timings: Sun-Thu: 11 AM - 10 PM; Fri-Sat: 11 AM - 11 PM; Mon: Closed

Caters: Yes

Party Room available

Feel free to comment below!

Cheers!

Zain Mohammed

Lucy Ethiopian Restaurant and Lounge- A Unique Experience

Restaurant: Lucy Ethiopian Restaurant & Lounge
6800 SW Freeway Houston, Texas 77074
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit: 8/31/2013

Photo Credit (http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/Lucy%20022.jpg)

Background: 

Salam/Hello everyone. Welcome to another unique review! Today I will be reviewing Lucy Ethiopian Restaurant and Lounge. This is, in fact, the first time I am trying any sort of African food. Classes at the University of Houston began last Monday and I was at my Chemistry Lab class. With no food with me from home, I immediately thought about going to here, since I couldn't the last time I was at UH for some work earlier this month. Ethiopian cuisine is very similar to Indian cuisine, except that their spice level was completely different. They have a similar type of curry called "Wat", except that it is cooked completely differently than the normal curry. First, chopped onions are slowly cooked until its moisture goes away. Then the fat, the herbs and spices, and finally the meat are added and slowly cooked in a pot. Another similarity is the bread they eat. Indians mainly eat naan bread, and its Ethiopian counterpart is called "injera". Injera is like a flatbread but made from a Ethiopian millet or teff. It is very spongy compared to naan because it is yeast-risen. Very interesting to be honest. So finally after waiting for a while, I finally head off to the restaurant.

Let The Experience Begin!
Lucy is located right after the intersection of US 59 and Hillcroft Ave. It has a very dark setting. Outside, it is all black windows, but inside, there are tables, a bar, 3 TVs, and a traditional sitting area. Most of the light inside the restaurant came from the Sun. I also noticed a disco bar on the roof, so I am guessing that at night there are parties. Not the best place to go for Muslims for dinner because there would be a lot of drunk people there. There is also Ethiopian music playing in the background, and some of the songs were catchy. The waitress noticed me, and politely greeted me. She then directed me to the table, and gave me the menu with free water. I told her that this was my first time eating Ethiopian food, so she was happy and had told me to take my time ordering.



Let's Eat!

I ordered the Alitcha Wat, which is, according to the menu is "Chopped beef and ribs, simmered in a mild and flavorful onion, garlic, ginger and herb sauce." It comes with enjera and salad. Quite interesting to be honest. I did not order soda, as I did not feel like it. So I stuck to the water. While waiting for the food, I was watching the A&M-Rice Game. I noticed that the waitress was the only one that was waiting the tables, and there were people sitting at other tables. Despite that, she did a very good job making sure that the customers get their food and are satisfied. It isn't easy to have one waiter/waitress working with more than one table occupied. For example, at the table opposite me, one of the customers had requested something on her meal. With a smile, she said yes and did the work, and that made the customer really happy. She even helped one of the customers stand up and give her the crutches because the customer had a broken leg. The wait for the food was the longest out of all the restaurants I have reviews on this the blog: 19 minutes and 30 seconds! I ended up paying around $16.18 (tax included) and tipped. Anyways, the food came and I began to dig in. 

Menu: Quite interesting to be honest. There is a lot of really interesting things to try. One thing that I do not like is that the qintot (combo) plates are $26.95 each! Why so expensive???? (Ethiopian cuisine experts- please help me out!) This restaurant is also vegetarian and vegan friendly. Alcohol is served, but not used in cooking. Link: http://www.lucyhouston.com/ordereze/Menu/0/Menus.aspx

Alitcha Watt with Enjera, Salad, and Water

The Verdict:

While the service was really good, the food had its ups and downs. I took a bite of the injera and it felt sour. I didn't know bread could be sour. I always thought that bread, regardless of type, would be in between sweet and sour. But then again, I am new to this cuisine. The Alitcha wat, however, was delicious! The beef was very tender and had flavor. The accompanying sauce was flavorful and fitted perfectly with the beef. When I took the wat with the injera, the taste was completely different. The sauce had made the injera turn from sour to delicious! I soon learned that the injera is supposed to be eaten with the wat, NOT by itself. The salad, however, was very disappointing. There was too much dressing on the salad. I couldn't taste the lettuce and tomato. at all. All was washed down with a glass of water.

Conclusion:

Lucy is a decent place to eat. Their injera might be sour, but it is meant to be eaten with the wat. Their wat is simply amazing, with the right spice level and quality. I will only advice you to avoid the salad and get just the injera. A word of caution. This place is best during lunch on all days and dinner on weeknights. This is because during Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, it turns into a party place. It mostly resembles a club. Do not stay away from this restaurant however. Lunchtime is functions as a proper restaurant, and you can also reserve the restaurant for a special occasion where there would be no alcohol or clubbing, like a graduation party or a wedding reception. Now I know there would be some religious person out that will bash me about how I am "doing haram by eating at a restaurant that serves alcohol". The truth is that the quote that I just typed is completely false. In Islam, if you are at a table with halal stuff being served, and another table with people that you do not know has alcohol on it, then you are not sinning. Plus, the owners are non-Muslim, so they have no restrictions on serving alcohol. Also, it is absolutely OK for non-Muslims to serve halal meat. Regardless of the presence of alcohol, I will come back and try new things. If you want to try something that is unique and not normal like the food you get at home, then this place should be considered.

Grading:

Service: 10/10 (Hardworking, friendly waitress = impressive) 

Food: 8.5/10 (Everything was good except the salad. I will not deduct points for the injera)

Waiting Time: 10/10 (19 minutes 30 seconds. Longest so far, but still within the time limit)

Total: 28.5/30 = 95% (A)

Pricing: $$$ out of $$$$ (The extra $ is for the $26.95 qintots)

Restaurant Information:

Lucy Ethiopian Restaurant & Lounge
6800 SW Freeway Houston, Texas 77074
Phone: (713) 334-0000
Website: http://www.lucyhouston.com/ordereze/default.aspx
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ILoveLucys123
Timings --> Mon: Closed; Tue-Thu & Sun: 11 AM - 11 PM; Fri-Sat: 11 AM - 2 AM
Caters: Yes

Feel Free to Comment Below!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed