LOCAL Houston | The City Guide March 2018 | Page 28

FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE
OPEN
By Carlos Brandon
OUI EATS: INSIDE THE GALLERIA
CUISINE: VIETNAMESE
5085 Westheimer Rd. #K125, Houston, TX 77056
832.940.2163 | www.ouieats.com
You may not know Linh Ly by name, but if you
know anything about good Vietnamese food in
Houston, you probably know her first restaurant,
Les Givral’s. The extremely popular, cash-only,
Midtown banh mi shop and cafe has been
serving Vietnamese sandwiches and coffee
since before hanging out in Midtown was any-
thing to be proud of. Her culinary empire has
been steadily growing since, with a second Les
Givral’s location on Washington, and a Oui
Beef Sandwich
Banh Mi drive-thru in Montrose. Most recently, Ly opened her fourth
eatery, Oui Eats, in the Galleria shopping mall, adjacent to the first
floor food court and ice-skating rink.
Oui Eats presents a more simplistic version of Les Givral’s larger
menu, but, in my opinion, improves on those aspects while adding
a layer of urban convenience. The kiosk-style diner has only a few
tables, mostly operating as a counter service grab-and-go restau-
rant. Which, for the Galleria’s busy shoppers, is perfect. Wait times
are almost nonexistent, but the food quality is outstanding. Bahn mis
are always a solid choice, but usually have a reputation for being
small, cheap snacks. The sandwiches at Oui Eats are on the heftier
side, with fresh, well-prepared ingredients. Just one is enough for
lunch. Of course, for those of us who just can’t help ourselves, an
order of vermicelli is a no brainer. Long rice noodles on a bed of
lettuce and sprouts, grated carrots, ground peanuts, your choice of
meat and Vietnamese dipping sauce to pour over it all. Sure, one
bowl is enough for a meal plus leftovers, and maybe you already
had a sandwich, but damnit you only live once. Of course, you
could always just come back for more the next day.
THE TIPPING POINT: HOTEL ZAZA MEMORIAL CITY
CUISINE: SOUTHERN
9787 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024 | 713.986.9800
Memorial City is making a solid argument as
one of Houston’s most appealing and exciting
neighborhoods. Last year I wrote about the
reopening of Ciro’s Italian Grill, part of Met-
roNational’s massive development plans for
the area. Ciro’s, which happens to be one of
Houston’s best Italian kitchens, sits comfortably
in the shadow of what has long been the crux
of those plans. The second Houston location
of the fascinating boutique hotel, ZaZa. The
new Hotel ZaZa is bigger, bolder and shinier
than its Museum District older sibling. As such,
knowledge of wine, but also his pas-
sion for craft cocktails and spirits. I was
delighted by the house Old Fashioned:
Bulleit rye, spiced syrup, angostura and
orange bitters, poured over a glacier
sized ice cube. With a menu and an
ambiance as refined as this, The Tip-
ping Point does more than match the
boldness of the hotel – it elevates it.
| www.hotelzaza.com/memorial-city/dining
its lobby restaurant was designed to match
its bold personality. The Tipping Point is part
speakeasy, part culinary experience, all style.
Chef Jonathan Wicks designed his French
and Southern-inspired menu to be hyper local,
sourcing everything from his beef to his grits
as close to home as possible. As a starter I
would strongly advise one to order the Third
Coast Campechana, Wick’s modern take on
the classic Mexican seafood cocktail. This dish
is a mountain of lump blue crab, Gulf shrimp,
shaved radishes, cilantro and sliced serrano
peppers, plated beautifully alongside a streak
of avocado mousse. For a heartier entrée, con-
sider the 8oz filet, atop of a bed of creamy
Central Texas grits, and served beside one of
the more creative uses of vegetables I have
ever seen in a dish, a blood red beet molasses
sauce that is both sweet and tangy.
One of the hotel’s proudest new additions is
the bar at the Tipping Point. Sommelier Chris-
topher Fleischman brings not only his love and
Short Rib
THE MIDDLE SPOON
CUISINE: DESSERT/BAR
15911 City Walk, Sugar Land, TX 77478
281.491.0053
www.themiddlespoon.com/houston-tx
Dessert and booze; the perfect pair. It’s a wonder
why more bars don’t serve peach cobbler. And why
won’t the corner bakery in my neighborhood mix me
a mojito? Bad business if you ask me. At the Middle
Spoon in Sugar Land Town Square, these kinds of
requests are not met with weird looks nor refusals. It’s
all part of the business model at the newly reopened
desserterie and bar. The Sugar Land location is the
first south of the border venture for this popular Cana-
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dian concept that mixes craft cocktails with decadent desserts and
mouthwatering light fare.
The decor inside the MIddle Spoon matches the menu. Chic and
a little flashy, while still comfortable, almost cozy. The dining room
is half upscale living room, half trendy uptown bar. I would venture
to say that the aesthetic is more aimed towards the fairer sex, but
not so much that a guy can’t enjoy a whiskey drink with his cheese-
cake. Though I wouldn’t recommend this for a guys night, it’s a
top choice for date night. The cocktail list at the Middle Spoon is
as thoughtfully curated as the dessert menu. Fresh squeezed juices
and infused syrups mix with top shelf spirits for drinks as enticing
as the Convict: a bourbon cocktail with blueberry and lemon juice,
fig syrup and cardamom bitters. Refreshing, bright, and soulful, it
pairs perfectly with the incredibly decadent peanut butter pie. My
second favorite pairing was the best-selling sticky toffee pudding
with the impeccably complex, Germain Sour. Gin, elderflower li-
queur, fresh lime, simple syrup, cucumber and egg white. A light
and refreshing drink, perfect alongside the warm silky richness of
the toffee pudding.
Not to be overlooked, the light fare at the Middle Spoon makes for
a perfectly light and savory lunch. And while we’re on the subject
of perfect pairs, the cheesy chicken, a panini grilled chicken and
cheese sandwich, pairs outstandingly with a cup of tomato soup.
And, hey, have a beer with that lunch. You deserve it.
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