By Jim Ayres Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not at Waffle House anymore! Well, if you, Dorothy, Toto or anyone else stumbles upon Taste Bar + Kitchen, a new restaurant in the former Sterling House where Montrose meets Midtown, you certainly won’t be. Here, waffles are elevated to Emerald City stature. At Taste Bar + Kitchen

By Jim Ayres Occasionally, I crave a burger. Imagine that! Most of the time, I head to Houston’s well-known burger joints such as Mia’s, Rodeo Goat, Bellaire Broiler Burger or, well, The Burger Joint. But I’ve found four restaurants that specialize in other types of cuisine — places where you might have to do a

By Jim Ayres I wasn’t particularly stressed when I went to dinner at Relish, located in that kind of Upper Kirby/River Oaks zone. Still, any agita I might have been carrying from the workday was swept away as I sat down. It’s funny, too, because I can’t say Relish has much intrigue inside. Subway tile

By Jim Ayres Stockyards have never been my thing. Fairground food annoys me. Houston’s steer wrestling and bull riding are certainly world-class, but TGRA is more fun and just as world-class, to boot. I really wanted to go to the Zedd concert, but my glow stick days are behind me. No, friends, I didn’t go

By Jim Ayres I love the food at Vibrant, the next-wave, labels-don’t-really-apply eatery on Fairview. I recommend that you try it at your earliest opportunity. When I hear of a new restaurant, I first check out its website. Not just to see the menu and get the hours and address. I also want a sense

By Jim Ayres Tartare presentations are passé these days. I haven’t seen tuna tartare on a menu in years. I thought beef tartare had passed its sell-by date, too, until a burger at Barnaby’s Shepherd location convinced me otherwise. Ordered medium, the meat was peony pink and bled rosé. A pretty palette, perhaps. But not

By Jim Ayres Like many MONTROSE STAR readers, I’ve visited Mexico many times. From Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo and Juarez to resorts like Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas and Cancun. But I’d never ventured to Mexico City. It had seemed impenetrable, being one of the world’s largest cities, but a polluted one with crowding and personal

By Jim Ayres I can confirm that Houston socialite extraordinaire Becca Cason Thrash is stunning in person, taller than I had guessed, and looks great in Alexander McQueen. How did I get to rub shoulders with such a luminary? It’s simple, darling! I recently enjoyed an evening at Annie. Café Annie, that is. Opening in

By Jim Ayres Last fall, I had a lovely lunch at Chapultepec Lupita with my good friend Carlos. I hadn’t visited in a while, and we enjoyed the fun same-as-it-ever-was front room peering out on Richmond. We reminisced about late nights there in the 1990s and loved our tacos and enchiladas. Heading back to my

By Jim Ayres Over the last couple of years, Houston “bear-tender” Aaron LaTour has been pleading with me to try Al Aseel, a Mediterranean restaurant at Richmond and Dunvale. LaTour promised delicious food, large portions and low prices. Finally, right before Christmas, the time came. I was driving aimlessly on that cold, gray day. I