I've never had a long wait here but we are always sure to come as early as we can because seats can…read morefill up fast in this cozy retreat! The ambiance as soon as you walk in is welcoming, inviting, and intimate. Even if you dine outside, you are sure to feel cozy like a meal in your own home. The hostess always makes you feel invited. Any waiter we have had here has given GREAT recommendations so it helps us break free of ordering the same thing over and over. We have never had a single day of bad service here so we have become regulars anytime we travel into the inner loop of Houston for business or fun. The flavors? My goodness the flavor here in every dish truly speaks to whoever is cooking these incredible dishes! We've even wanted to ask what we can do to even get our dishes at home this amazing! Their bang bang sauce is something you can rave about if you like a little kick to your broccoli. Yum! Luckily a lot of the appetizers are family style but we all still end up battling to finish the last bite before our main dish comes along! My husband has never been a vegetable eater and thanks to the Ginger Mule, we are changing up our dishes at home too! Whatever they are doing here, I hope they keep it up because we absolutely LOVE the food here!! Thank you to everyone here and we can't wait to be back!!!!

My experience at the Ginger Mule was delightful! I had always been curious to try it and I happen…read moreto have an optometrist appointment nearby and decided to give it a go! Friendly staff, cute ambience, and the food, while simple was fresh and so tasty! I was pleasantly surprised and the best part was that I didn't feel gross, icky or full after eating. Albeit, I got a breakfast sandwich and didn't eat all the sourdough. I thought the sourdough was a bit dry, so I opted to just eat the eggs and veggies! Either way, I'd definitely come back. The beet juice was a 3.5/5 in my book. I enjoyed the food more than my juice. And I felt the juice was a bit overpriced. Great vibes and a great choice for healthy, clean eating!

I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a little while now and since I had training in The…read moreHeights for work. I had my opportunity to. Parking is on the opposite side of the temple. The grounds of the temple is well manicured and neat with flowers. A big red sign read, "Govinda" was positioned so that I wouldn't miss it. As soon as I walked in at lunch time, the restaurant was damn near empty with only two families. The host immediately sat me at a table front of the buffet line. There was a strong lingering smell of pine-sol and Mr. Clean in the air. Of course, that indication told me that the restaurant was clean. The items on the buffet line was plenty, but limited. I got the rice, tofu curry, chaat marsala, and some vegetables. Everything except for the chaat was bland. It wasn't very easy to eat while the smell of cleaning supplies was in the air. It reminded me of sitting in a bucket of cleaning chemicals while eating a meal. The tofu curry tasted only like turmeric, but no salt or pepper or anything. The rice was super bland. The chaat marsala was very tasty and well seasoned. I finished off with desserts which both options were tasty. I hope to return to try their holiday menu, but I think today was a bad day for the cooks.

Nut allergy warning: I can't recommend eating here if you have a severe allergy. Although dishes…read moreare clearly labeled with ingredients, I still had an allergic reaction with a dish. Since the dishes are different every day, there's really no guarantee that you'll be safe, and cross contamination is a possibility since it's a buffet line. I tried to email ahead of time but never got a reply. We arrived around noon on a Wednesday and there was plenty of seating inside. There is a lot directly across the street for Govinda's customers. Cafeteria buffet-style line. Don't overcrowd your plate, just go back for seconds. Since the menu changes daily, I don't think there's much of a point to review specific dishes. I will say that there's a nice variety of salad, soup, and homemade feeling Indian dishes that everyone really liked. I particularly enjoyed the salad dressing (an avocado cream), the veggie lentil soup, and the spinach potato dish. Unfortunately, the special of the day or a dish near it (the soya Manchurian? Or the curry?) triggered some kind of inflammatory allergic reaction for me, so I had to stop eating. I did try some of the mango cake, which had a great soft and moist texture that I'd definitely have again. -1 star because of the allergic reaction but overall, everyone I went with really enjoyed the food and the service was welcoming and attentive for a buffet. The ambiance is great and it's a lovely setting all around.

I will say it took awhile for me to find what i love here as some things have been a miss…read morepersonally. but then, tiktok put me onto the super yummy mac and cheese?! my favorite mac and cheese ever!!

I really loved this place when it first opened, but it seems like the food options have changed,…read moreand the overall experience feels like it's in decline. During my first few visits, I could always count on fresh, creative sides like the Kung Pao cauliflower, but now there are very few vegetable side options. After my most recent visit, I don't think I'll be rushing back. I may give it another try after a seasonal menu update or if they make some changes, but for now, there are better options elsewhere...Also parking is always crowded and hard to find...

Home and hungry for pho but wanted a good rich broth and came across the Bun Bo Hue on the Moon…read moreRabbit menu. It was WOW, rich and tasty. Not your average broth! Heavy meaty with a splash of fish broth. Sounds odd but iYKYK! The only thing I would do differently is ask for more slaw mix, but it hit the spot and enough for 2. We added lemongrass pork which was also wonderful. Now the Fried Garlic Shrimp was out of this world with its pepper Lemon dipping sauce! Oh My! I got for lunch the next day but no, we ate it up fast! The fried shrimp skins were perfectly fried and so lightly battered, the shrimp fresh and tasty! I will making this a regular on rotation. Door dash delivery!

Yum yum yum First of all the food exceeded my expectations…read more The soy wings were delicious and crispy. My dinner was the garlic butter shrimp rice bowl and I ate everything. My husband got the shaking beef and the beef was juicy and tender. For dessert we tried the bread pudding and it was just ok.. wouldn't order again but it wasn't bad. I recommend doing a reservation. We went without one and had to wait 40 min. The place isn't not too small but not big. I will be back to try more items.

Great service and staff Marco, food was delicious as always. Totally recommend this place for…read morerelation and bring your pet.

This is my regular go to spot !!! I come here regularly to…read morepick up their grilled chicken sandwich when I don't feel like cooking or need a quick meal . I always try to eat healthier whenever I can, and this grilled chicken sandwich is usually my go-to option. I also ask for the sauce on the side because sauces can make anything unhealthy really fast . This is by far my favorite grilled chicken sandwich! Usually when I go to other places, the grilled chicken doesn't always taste very authentic or fresh but this one consistently stands out. That's one of the reasons I keep coming back. Not only do I enjoy the food, but I also really like the atmosphere. The staff is always super nice ! & The outdoor seating feels relaxing, almost like you're sitting in a family member's backyard, very casual . I usually like coming later in the evening once the sun starts going down. Of course, you still get the Houston heat and humidity, but the fans help keep things comfortable enough to enjoy being outside. Another thing I like is that they have several different sauce options. When you order you can always swap out your sauce if you want to try something different, but I usually stick with the original aioli Their sweet potato fries are really good as well, and whenever I'm in the mood to treat myself, I love getting an Oreo milkshake. Overall, this has become one of those dependable places that I can always count on. The food is consistent, the atmosphere is relaxing, and it's a spot I find myself coming back to again and again. BONUS : If you come here often , I recommend getting the app so you can earn points . Points = $

Fantastic flavors all around. The chicken was well seasoned, and the fish was grilled nicely. It's…read moreimpressive how much flavor they get from simple ingredients -- the cilantro added a really nice freshness. The chips and queso are a must every time -- fresh chips with that cheesy queso, what a hit! The churros were also great and paired perfectly with the chocolate sauce. Overall, this is definitely becoming a regular spot.

The Taco Stand has a great location in the Heights, but unfortunately the tacos just don't really…read morehold up to all the competition around it. This part of Shepherd is packed with taco options, with Velvet Taco across the street, Little Taco Shop down the road, Torchy's nearby, and plenty of taco trucks around the neighborhood. With that much competition, "meh" tacos just aren't really good enough, and that's how I'd describe the tacos here. I've tried the burritos too, and those are a little better, but still just okay. Everything else about the place is pretty solid. The staff has always been friendly, the service is quick, the menu is large, and the prices are reasonable. They also have a drive-through, a decent amount of parking, a small indoor dining area, and a nice outdoor patio. Just keep in mind that the inside is pretty small and the patio can get very hot during a Houston summer. I really want to like this place because the location and setup are great, but the food, especially the tacos, could use some improvement. With so many really good taco places nearby, I'd have a hard time choosing The Taco Stand over most of the other options in the area.

This would be the 'hidden gem' I'd love to share with friends (or perhaps just gatekeep). The…read moreselection is quite varied, and has a lot of favorites, mostly Chinese/East Asian cuisine. Even though everything is vegan, there's plenty of saucy and spicy flavors to make it quite delicious! The sauteed green beans, salt & pepper tofu, hot & sour soup were my favorites. There's also dessert of coconut, fruit, and jelly (I ate so many bowls of it!). The staff were so sweet, and picked up our used plates fairly quickly. The pricing for the buffet is quite fair, at $16.50 per adult and $8.50 for kids under 4 feet. Hours are good, though there is a gap between 3pm and 6pm Mon-Thu, so keep that in mind. Also, you can order a la carte! They have quite a few delivery orders come in while we were there! My only note is to come closer to the busier hours. I think we came a little too early so the food wasn't quite as fresh, but they replenish the food throughout! I'm so glad I get to live so close to this place! Being across the street from Costco makes this quite dangerous for my wallet, but at least it's healthy!

I wished I had time to enjoy more items; however, I was traveling. The restaurant is cute. There is…read morea buffet that has a variety of items. I wish I had gotten that. You are allowed to select it as an option to go. The service was friendly and helpful. I will be visiting again. Being in Texas, meat is life For us vegans, I'm glad I found a great option.

The food , service and ambiance are all top tier. I know the 2 tacos and a drink for $10.00 is a…read moregreat deal

Hmm... haven't been to this location for Velvet Taco and finally went for a late lunch. It was ok…read more The place wasn't too busy, food still took a little while to come out and quality was quite average. I got the rotisserie chicken taco (kinda wet and fell apart) and chicken n waffle. The chips to queso ratio was off and chips were close to stale. Overall, price point not bad but quality reflected.

The interior is very cozy and community-centered, just like its mission. The furniture is very…read moreantique-like and there are couches, high chairs by the window, and small square tables. It would be really great for a study spot! The coffee menu has a good amount of specialty drinks. I got the pistachio latte, which is ground pistachio with cardamom, and I got it with vanilla syrup. Every first Tuesday of the month (don't quote me on this, check their instagram!) they have free drinks covered by Frost Bank, which is very nice. Lines can get long though so come quick, right at 8!

Doshi House is a popular coffee shop and cafe located on Emancipation Ave. I finally got the chance…read moreto stop by in the morning for a coffee before work and was surprised to find it almost completely full, many of the customers being students. Not quite sure what to expect, I was pleased to see that it's completely plant-based including the pastries and no extra plus charge for alternative milks (praise!) I ended up ordering their pistachio latte which had a really rich, bold espresso note and a sweet cardamom finish at the bottom of the cup. I would definitely get this again but might try to stir it before drinking for a more even flavor distribution. In terms of the setting, there's lots of small tables and couches to work and study with either a small group or alone. They also have a back patio with additional seating, board games, and even a printer which can be hard to find in this day and age. Overall the vibe is relaxed and casual. Finally, while I had to wait about 30 minutes to order and receive my drink, I had some time to watch their workflow and would offer some suggestions for improvement to speed up their service. The staff all clearly put a lot of care into preparing each drink and were doing the best they could to move quickly, but the layout of the back counter area is fairly inefficient. To start, the ice well for cold drinks is on the complete opposite side of the register away from their espresso machines. This added a lot of steps for the staff to prepare iced coffee drinks. Secondly, the straws were also quite a reach for the staff across the counter, also by the ice well. Finally, the order retrieval process is not the best. There are no names written on the cups and customers are sometimes in the bathroom or outside on the back patio when their order is ready. It can be hard for the staff to locate the right customer or if the drink gets left on the counter, it's hard to know what it is and who it is for. Overall, a pleasant (plant-based!) discovery but hoping they might consider a few steps (pun intended) to reduce the strain on their staff.

I finally had a chance to try Coltivare, ever since I heard of them back in 2014 , not sure why it…read moretook this long. Anyhoo, Houston Restaurant Week (Month?) brought me to them finally, and the quest was finally completed. Reservations are a bit difficult for the weekend, at least for HRW, but I managed to snag a 5pm spot. We had to find parking in the neighborhood. We got seated immediately. The tables are a little close to each other but I don't think I could really catch conversations too easily. The food was quite excellent. For the first course, we had the corn ribs and calamari spiedino, both were fantastic, with lots of flavor. 5/5 for both. For the second course, we got the pan-roasted trout and bucatini. The fiancee liked her trout, as they got the skin nice and crispy. The bucatini was tasty, perhaps could be a little more al dente, but pretty yummy. I would say 4.5/5 for both. As for the dessert, we both got the fig leaf panna cotta, 5/5, solid. Overall assessment, food was very good, seems very chef-driven, local, and seasonal. Good flavor, and good use of veggies and herbs. Pricing is pretty fair for the type of restaurant. I would expect a non-HRW dinner to cost $30-50pp for appetizers and mains. One miss I have for the restaurant was the use of their space. The ice and silverware station(s) are way too close to guests, we were 3 tables away and the clinking sounds are loud and travels given the floors are basically concrete, fairly unpleasant to hear those sounds constantly throughout our meal. That said, we'll be back! Hopefully, it won't be in 2038!

EXTREMELY loud. Tables are close together. Wine list is large, but not impressive. The marinated…read moreolives have a slight bitter after taste. The mix drinks all have issues. Maybe stick with the lackluster wine list. The prosciutto with cheese appetizer is good. This place is highly overrated - not to mention they had a few flies buzzing around the tables.