Inside My Table #84 | Restaurant listings
Espresso Yourself!
This issue of My Table magazine is dedicated to the pursuit of caffeine — a substance Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder once described as “the gateway drug.” We spent the winter and early spring sipping our way across Houston. Some of our old favorite coffeehouses are still brewing, but they’ve been joined by several new ones — who says Starbucks rules the universe? — as well as a new generation of tea shops. There’s some great hot chocolate out there, too. Here are 15 of our favorite spots.
ANTIDOTE COFFEE, 729 Studewood St. at 8th St., 713-861-7400. Low-slung furniture, records spinning and friendly staff makes this Heights-area newcomer pure cure for all that frazzles. Regulars swear by the Velvet Tea made of chocolate, organic rooibos and mint leaves. Adventurous types should try the Cajeta Latte, made with caramelized goat’s milk. As for snacks: Only the baker knows the precise ingredients in those habit-forming brownies. Free WiFi with purchase.
CAFE ARTISTE, 1601 W. Main St. at Mandell, 713-528-3704. The best part of waking up is choosing from the 30 different kinds of coffees and 15 teas at this comfortable cafe. Pastries, pancakes as big as the plates they’re served on and migas also are big with the breakfast crowds. Each cup of specialty drip coffee is brewed individually. Free WiFi with purchase.
CAFE BRASIL, 2604 Dunlavy St. at Westheimer , 713-528-1993. Long the artsy haunt for the stylish and smart, Cafe Brasil is the patriarch of Montrose-area coffee shops. But is it getting crotchety? Word has it that lingering too long over lattes on the lovely patio could get you the heave-ho. But don’t hit the curb before trying the Chocolate Mousse Cake or Almond Tart. The coffeehouse includes a full-service kitchen, beer and wine.
CATALINA COFFEE, 2201 Washington Ave. at Studemont, 713-861-8448. You won’t find 31 fanciful flavors at this serious coffee shop in the original 1928 A&P Trading Post building. It’s an espresso aficionado’s paradise. Don’t pass up the Cubano, strong espresso with sugar and half-and-half so beautifully foamed it’s a feathery masterpiece. The hot chocolate, made with milk, chocolate syrup and a hint of vanilla is a pleaser, too. “Cupping 101” courses are periodically offered. Free WiFi with purchase.
THE CHOCOLATE BAR, 1835 W. Alabama St. at Driscoll St., 713-520-8599. Couples, college friends and young families melt at this novelty candy store/hangout. The European Hot Chocolate is the stuff of dreams. Served in winter months, the rich sipping chocolate is topped with whipped cream and dark chocolate sprinkles. Or try the Chocolatta, frozen “hot chocolate” served year-round. Specialty beverages beg trying, including Night and Day, made of espresso, steamed milk and dark and white chocolate.
THE COFFEE GROUNDZ, 2109 State Highway 6 at U.S. Highway 59, 281-313-2007. Sugar Land is a little sweeter with this shop, fashioned after European cafes. There’s something for every palate —espresso drinks, freezes, paninis, wraps, 16 flavors of gelato, teas and pastries. The Caramella Crème and Buttered Toffee lattes are signature drinks. Try a gelato “Affogato” style, meaning it’s topped with a shot of espresso or liqueur. (There’s also a Midtown site at 2503 Bagby). Free WiFi.
DOSEY DOE, 25911 Interstate 45 N., at Woodlands Parkway, 281-367-3774. If you like a little Merle Haggard with your macchiato, then away you go to this family hangout in The Woodlands. The dining hall is a 150-year-old barn from Kentucky that was disassembled and shipped to Texas. Children are welcome in the coffeehouse/restaurant/live-music venue, where staff is saintly patient with grits-slinging toddlers. Try the Texas-sized Chocolate-Raspberry Truffle Torte with a cappuccino. Breakfast, lunch and dinners of Southern comfort foods are served with a twist.
EMPIRE CAFE, 1732 Westheimer at Elmen, 713-528-5282. If this coffee shop seeks imperial authority, then let us eat cake by the towering slice. The coffee culture here is more hectic than laid back, but if you thrive on that kind of buzz, this is your spot. Frittatas and gingerbread waffles are nicely made. Espressos are properly prepared with a lemon twist. It’s fun to sit outside, flush up against Westheimer Road, and watch the traffic flow by and antique shoppers stroll from store to store.
INVERSION COFFEE HOUSE, 1953 Montrose Blvd. at West Gray 713-523-4866. Brush and brew meld at this newcomer that has twisted the city’s coffee and art scene upside down. Located at the Art League of Houston, the shop displays work by local artists. The 30-foot-ceilings, metal chairs and tables lend to an industrial loft feel. Copious amounts of plain good Joe are consumed here. But the lattes, like the Butterscotch Brouja made of coconut and half-and-half or the Chocolate Cherry Bomb, are masterpieces. Free WiFi with purchase.
JAVA’S 213, 213 23rd Street at Mechanic Street in Galveston, 409 762-5282. Familiar and foreign is the feel at the oldest coffee house in the seaport city. Cruise-ship workers from around the world come here for connections, human and wireless. The cappuccino is served Italian style, in small porcelain cups. When the damp sea fog rolls in, ask for hot cocoa of steamed milk and chocolate syrup. Ice and frozen concoctions sell briskly in the summer season. The smoker-friendly shop offers outdoor seating. Free WiFi with purchase.
MOD COFFEE AND TEA HOUSE, 2126 Post Office St. at 22nd St. in Galveston, 409-765-5659. Sidewalk seats often are scarce as patrons vie for views of grand architecture along the tree-lined street at this popular island spot. Espresso drinks, hot teas and yerba mate (tea native to South America) are popular. Try the Carrot Cake Cookie with cream cheese icing and espresso brownies. Hot chocolate made with mocha syrup, vanilla and steamed milk warms the heart. Free WiFi.
MOJO RISIN,’ 1600 Shepherd Drive at Eigel Street, 713-426-1505. You say you want a revolution? The “Mom” and “Pop” aprons donned by the owners let you know there’s nothing corporate about this hippie haven. Cappuccinos and the Instant Karma espresso are good, but try the “White Rabbit” macchiato and the “Revolution,” the shop’s version of café mocha. The spinach feta quiche has a perfect consistency and is made from a family recipe. Free WiFi with purchase.
THE PATH OF TEA, 2340 West Alabama at Kirby, 713-252-4473. Let your nose be your guide at this elegantly appointed, all-organic tea house, which includes a sniffing bar stocked with 120 organic teas. Staff at this Zen refuge serves tea in glass vessels warmed by candles. Try Organic Fire, with spicy notes of cinnamon, black pepper and orange zest. All desserts are tea-infused, including lemon bars.
SERENITEA, 4352 Westheimer at Mid Lane, 713-961-9171. If it’s been too long since you’ve had oolong, then this boutique is your cup of tea. Japanese influences, from bamboo shoots to decorative fans, make for a calm and serene scene. Green Tropical tea, with low caffeine content, includes pineapple bits and gets bows of gratitude. The African Nectar, a rooibos tea made of exotic fruits and flowers, is caffeine-free and a favorite. Pair it with a scone of dried apricots and walnuts.
TÉ HOUSE OF TEA, 1927 Fairview at Woodhead, 713-522-8868. European and Asian sensibilities marry to make this house smooth and clean. Blonde woods, jazz tunes, light meals and quality teas blend for a sophisticated feel. Indulge in delicate Dolce Vita tea of lavender and rose or the exotic African Night (Congo mango, coconut). Feeling proper? Try the Victorian menu of dainty sandwiches, tea cookies or scones with jam and clotted cream.
