I went to Phoenicia Specialty foods for the first time ever and realized I have wasted the last 8…read moreyears since I moved to Houston having never been here before, because wow! I mean my pocket book is probably better for it because I want to buy the whole store but honestly I've been missing out. The place is cute and welcoming from the corner sign on the building to the moment you step in- bright, inviting, great displays so you know where to go. You can't get lost in here with the signage, but you can't definitely get lost in the aisles with all the great, unique choices. The ready food display has so many Mediterranean treats, some I've had before some I've never heard of and everything I tried was amazing. We got the cabbage rolls and Armenian veggie dolmas. Great flavor, both specific items I haven't had before. Nice citrus, spiced flavor to these. I'd say they're have to try items. Not only found jarred tomato paste, which I've been on the hunt for but they had choices in this category and that's another first for me. Will have to go back and try the others. Also got the cured Serrano ham -amazing. And I thought the prices were going to be insane having a spot right in the middle of the city and nope- pleasantly surprised for my goodies, great prices even less than some of the other stores I frequent in the suburbs. I'll be back again and again and again until I try the whole store lol. Definitely give them a try, you won't regret it

My niece and I checked out Phoenicia's for lunch, which was surprisingly delicious…read more My niece has simplistic tastes, so she opted for the chicken burger, which I tried of course. Perfectly seasoned, crispy exterior. The sweet potato fries were equally delicious. I got the Hill Country salad. Same tender but crispy chicken on a bed of greens with berries. So good. Definitely bookmarked as a return option.

Royal Roastery is a roastery offering freshly roasted nuts, baklava, Turkish delight, ice cream,…read moreknafeh, desserts, Arab drinks, juices, and shakes. When I stopped by on a weekday evening at 9pm it was packed. They had stations setup throughout the store to order different goods, which helped to alleviate the rush. Knafeh ($6) - They offered 2 types of knafeh, one with cheese and one with custard. I went with the one made with Nabulsi cheese and topped with shredded phyllo, and soaked in sugar syrup. It was warm, crispy and delicious! Karak tea ($5) - This milk tea drink was made with aromatic spices, primarily cardamom, cloves, ginger and cloves. I was happy to see they used whole milk instead of evaporated milk. The drink was incredibly rich and creamy and tasted great. Turkish delight ($18 / lb.) - This was extremely fresh, soft and chewy, made with cornstarch, sugar, nuts. Some of the varieties I tried had chocolate and/or fruits. The baklava here was fresh made with layers of phyllo dough, chopped nuts, and held together with some honey. The nut offerings here included, almonds, walnuts, peanuts and a few more. Overall I was impressed with everything they offered here with the exception of the nuts, which I thought were just ok. I'd definitely return if I was in the area.

The desserts here are fun, unique, and very different from what you find at most places. My only…read morecomplaint is the lack of labeling for many of the products. For example, with the Turkish delights and ice cream selections, only a few items are labeled. For most of them, you have to guess the flavor or ingredients. When I asked questions, there was a language barrier, and the staff member behind the counter was unable to clearly explain what the items were in English. This can be especially frustrating for customers with food allergies or dietary restrictions. In the U.S., I would expect all flavors and ingredients to be clearly labeled so customers can make informed choices. Even if staff members are not fluent in English, having accurate labels for flavors and ingredients would greatly improve the customer experience. The desserts themselves are excellent, but better product labeling would make the experience much more enjoyable and accessible for everyone.

R-C Ranch is a local butcher shop located inside the Houston Farmer's Market specializing in Wagyu…read morebeef. It's definitely on the pricier side, but the quality of the meat makes it worth it. They also carry prepackaged frozen soups made with their wagyu beef, which is a nice bonus. Service is always friendly and efficient. I've had good experiences every time I've gone, and I'm hoping to try their tomahawk one day for a special occasion!

RC Ranch is always fantastic! We appreciate the partnership with HLSR! We just recently ordered…read moreonline & had it shipped! It came packaged perfect & the freshness was 's!!

The Cottage Grocery is such a gem. It's this cozy little spot on Joanel where you can grab coffee,…read morea breakfast taco, a fully prepared dinner to take home, a bottle of wine, and a box of cookies all in one stop. Basically if you want to look like you cooked but didn't, this is your place. The chicken salad is famous for a reason. It sells out constantly and I get why. The pastries and cookies are fantastic, the soups and casseroles actually taste homemade (better than homemade, honestly), and everything is made fresh in-house daily. I've grabbed their chicken tetrazzini for lazy weeknights more times than I'd like to admit. Staff is sweet, the space is adorable, and the wine selection is surprisingly solid for such a small shop. Great for dinner parties, host gifts, a quick lunch, or just treating yourself.

Absolutely loved this spot, but the only reason I took away a star is because we dined inside and…read moreit was so warm! Granted it was a hot Houston day outside, but the AC inside just wasn't doing it for us. That being said, this was my first visit to Cottage Grocery and I was pleasantly surprised! Everything sounded so delicious it was hard to choose! We split a summer salad and pretzel bun ham and Swiss sandwich (both of which were delicious) and had Teddy graham lattes (YUM). The coffee and pastry shop inside was so cute! And they had so many great to-go fresh meal options. Will definitely try to come back another time!

Stumbled on this spot and it looked like it would feed my hippie, with a interest in unique items,…read morespirit so I went in and browsed. The music was very relaxing and I was greeted. There isn't a huge variety of items for a gift shop but it's just enough to get lost in. I ended up purchasing immunity tea and am excited to try. It's a small shop which adds to the vibey intimate ambiance. The man who assisted me was very friendly and informative. I would definitely peek in here again and maybe get a plant next time.

Passed by this little shop several times over the past few months. I decided to pop in today to…read morecheck it out. I ended up spending a little over an hour in store having the most engaging conversation with the gentleman packaging my tea. The sheer amount of knowledge of the health benefits of each item I purchased was incredible. Additionally the general interaction with him was so engaging and I felt like a long time customer. I noticed how engaging he was with everyone that walked in, they have definitely gained a new long term customer! I initially was going to purchase 2 things and walked out with several ounces of different things to try. I can't wait to return and try more teas!

So I have visited Penzey's location years ago but now do all my spice shopping from Penzey's…read moreonline. Their spices are wonderful and have allowed me to venture into a whole new dimension of cooking. Particularly with curries. However my favorite spice that I buy repeatedly is their breakfast sausage seasoning. I use ground chicken or turkey and make my own breakfast sausage and it is delicious. They are prompt in shipping generally takes about a week. I usually order in bulk too as I have switched out most of my spices to Penzey's. The store is quite intoxicating if you love to cook so I suggest a visit there as well! Happy Spicing!

Penzey's used to be a good spice vendor, but has more and more become an ideology peddler. So, if…read moreyou can't figure out where you stand, you can go there, where the immature workers think they have the answers. To add injury to insult, their quality has deteriorated. When I got home with my Sunny Paris, it was already caking.

Alternative grocery stores and I have a complicated relationship. They often want me to believe…read morethat wilted vegetables with trust-issues are "more wholesome" than crisp, vibrant ones. So I arrived here armed with skepticism... and low expectations. But: surprise! Inside, the groceries look like they've actually slept well. Excellent cheeses, proud-looking meats and fish, frozen and fresh goods that feel properly curated -- a genuinely high-quality selection of vittles (yes, that's the word). There's also a second room full of charming nonprofit knick-knacks and refill stations for fancy soaps and detergents -- the kind that make you feel morally superior just by smelling them. Why not five stars? Personal chemistry. Something about the vibe still whispers, "We recycle more earnestly than you do." And maybe they're right -- but I don't need my groceries judging me. Still: great products, thoughtful assortment, friendly humans. A solid four stars -- even from someone who rarely bonds with co-ops.

It's a good feeling to support farmers; most of the fruits and vegetables are organic. I would…read morerecommend becoming a member and then you get a discount. I would not go there expecting to save money.

Came by to sample their weekly cheese rotation and somehow walked out with more than planned (zero…read moreregrets). We ended up leaving with the Salva Cremasco (my BF's pick) while I chose a random interesting-looking cheese called Screamer--because sometimes the mystery pick just calls to you. Half the fun here is getting to try cheeses you'd probably never think to bring home otherwise. The Salva Cremasco was surprisingly easy to love. Mild, buttery, and savory in a way that felt approachable rather than intimidating, with a smooth semi-firm texture that got creamier as you ate it. At first, it tasted very clean and milky with a light nuttiness, but the finish had this subtle earthy, almost mushroomy/vegetal note that kept things interesting without ever becoming funky or sharp. It felt like the kind of cheese you accidentally keep cutting "one more slice" of until suddenly... half of it is gone. We were also sold on trying the FLUFF Bake Bar cookies made with goat milk, which honestly felt very on-brand for the whole experience. Dangerous place for impulse purchases--but in the best possible way. What really keeps making this place memorable, though, is the people. I love the knowledgeable and warm welcome we always get from the staff. Even on a visit that barely lasted 15 minutes, they somehow still made the experience feel memorable--like you stopped by to chat with people who genuinely love what they do and want to share it with you.

I can't believe I've lived in Houston for this many years and never stopped by Houston Dairymaids…read more I learned that they're the backbones of many restaurants' cheese selections, and I had to trace it back to the origin. A small, discreet shop with a backyard-like parking lot, it's unassuming on the outside but full of character on the inside. Upon entering, you're welcomed with samples of the five cheeses of the week, generally going from soft to firmer and stronger. Their cheeses are displayed in a small fridge, but you can always request varietals ahead of time if you've got something in mind. We bought blue cheese they had on sample (the "Ewe Calf to be Kidding" from Wisconsin, a triple-milk (sheep, cow, and goat)) and the last of their Capricorn Goat Blue cheeses for about $10/piece. Since they rotate out their cheeses weekly, it may become a regular stop on our weekend grocery trips (they mention that many people do that). They also mentioned that their wines rotate out and they have a good relationship with local distributors to understand what pairs well with their cheeses. They also let you start an account so that you can keep a history of all the cheese you buy. You better bet that I signed up. They're celebrating their 20 year anniversary in Houston. I wish I had come earlier to experience some of those years. It's got to be a cornerstone of Houston cheese and probably the among the best cheesemongers in Houston.