WHERE DO I GO FOR A QUICK & TASTY LUNCH DOWNTOWN?

Unless it's Friday, downtown lunchers generally don't have time to go off campus. Here are some quick, consistently good downtown lunch spots:

1. Doozo Dumplings & Noodles

This is my absolute, all-time favorite downtown lunch spot. I am literally obsessed with these dumplings. About once a week, I walk approximately 15 blocks from my building to the Park Shops just for these dumplings (I even leave a pair of flats in my desk to change into just for the walk). Doozo is famous for its tasty dumplings served by the Dumpling Lady -- a terrifying woman who is about 95 lbs soaking wet, affectionately know as Houston's own Soup Nazi (for more info on the Dumpling Lady, check out Lords of the Loop blogger Ed Wrath's post:

http://lordsoftheloop.blogspot.com/2009/06/houstons-own-soup-nazi-dumpling-lady.html).

Because the Dumpling Lady expects the line to move efficiently, it is important to know how to order at Doozo. First, you have to decide what kind of dumplings (made fresh everyday) you want: pork, chicken, veggie, or fish. Hands down, the crowd favorite are the pork dumplings -- they are extremely flavorful and packed with a mixture of pork and spinach. Her veggie dumplings are universally regarded as the best veggie dumplings in town (and are my personal favorite). She stuffs them full of fresh spinach and a little bit of tofu. While the chicken are my least favorite, they are also good -- they have a sweet kick to them. I don't even really acknowledge the fact that she serves fish dumplings, so I will just move on. You can place a full order (1o dumplings) of any kind, a combo (5 and 5) of any two kinds, or a half order (5) of one kind.

Second, you have to specify which sauce you want: mild, spicy, or extra spicy. The sauce is similar to a soy or ponzu sauce. I always go for extra spicy, but if you don't like spicy things, get the mild sauce because even it has a little kick. Doozo also serves a couple Asian soups, soft spring rolls, and some dubious sushi rolls. Personally, I avoid everything but the dumplings -- some of my friends get the soft spring rolls, which are passable but not great. If you want more food than just a full order of dumplings, get 1.5 orders instead of wasting your time with the spring roll or anything else for that matter.

Whatever you decide, make up your mind before you get to the front of the line, and boldly state your order when you are greeted by the Dumpling Lady. Historically, the Dumpling Lady only accepted cash, but since she upgraded her Park Shops' space, she now accepts credit cards, which is a drag because it slows down the super long line. To avoid a stern talking to, I advise bringing cash: it is $6 for a full order of 10 steamed dumplings. If you are wondering why I am spending so much time instructing you on how to make it through the Doozo process, go ahead and ignore my advice: stumble through a decision about which dumplings to order and give her a credit card...let me know how it goes.

2. Droubi's Brothers Mediterranean

This Mediterranean spot is consistently good and reasonably priced. My favorite dish is the chicken kebab plate -- I substitute hummus for the rice because Droubi's has some of the best hummus in town. The chicken is juicy and flavorful but still a lean cut. If you are into sandwiches and wraps, I recommend the chicken kebab sandwich or the chicken shawarma sandwich. They are essentially about the same thing -- the kebab pieces are bigger, almost cube-like while the shawarma pieces are in small strips. If you aren't into sauces covering your sandwich, ask for the sauce on the side -- it is great for dipping. The vegetarian platter is also impressive: it comes with hummus, tabouli, grape leaves, and falafel, and Droubi's does all of those items well. Droubi's also serves great gyros and salads -- in short, you can't go wrong at Droubi's.

http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/reviews/rsv1151.asp



3. Corner Bakery Cafe

If you are looking for a quick, light lunch, Corner Bakery Cafe (1000 Main) is a solid choice. It has excellent signature sandwiches (e.g., Turkey Frisco and Tomato Mozzarella), tasty paninis (e.g., Chicken Pomodoro and California Grille), and a variety of entree salads (e.g., Harvest Salad and Chopped Salad). I know this review is not at all descriptive, but there really isn't anything unique to say about these sandwiches and salads. I could go on and on about all of the great veggies in the California Grille panini or ramble about the different ingredients in the Chopped Salad, but why waste your time? You know what you like in a sandwich or salad, so check it out for yourselves. You won't be disappointed.

http://www.cornerbakerycafe.com/



4. Beck's Prime

If your craving a burger for lunch, go to Beck's (910 Travis in the tunnel). Beck's serves its burgers on a very tasty egg bun (you can ask for wheat if you prefer), and offers eleven different burger options. In my judgment, you can never go wrong with a bacon cheeseburger, and that is certainly the case at Beck's. The bacon isn't overwhelming, and the cheddar cheese is melted just right. But since I'm usually trying to eat healthy at lunch, my favorite thing to order is the Ahi Tuna Sandwich. It comes on a wheat bun with feta, cucumber, red onion, and tomato. Ask for the Ginger Wasabi Spread on the side, otherwise it takes over the sandwich (plus, you keep down the calories this way, especially if you use mustard instead). You can order any of Beck's sandwiches as a basket with fries, which are well-seasoned and very tasty (in fact, it's hard to stop once you start, so I usually opt for a side salad instead). And one of my favorite things about Beck's is that it serves Diet Dr. Pepper, which is my favorite soft drink!

http://www.becksprime.com/



5. Otto's Barbecue & Hamburgers

Most people know about the Otto's on Memorial because it is George H. Bush's favorite BBQ spot. But Otto's has another location at 500 Dallas in the Allen Center Tunnel, which is a great place to go for lunch and avoid the unbearable summer heat. Otto's serves great, traditional BBQ, such as brisket and sausage. But I like to go to Otto's for its turkey sandwich. Otto's turkey meat is lean but still flavorful, and I ask for no butter on the bun. I load up on BBQ sauce, onions, and jalapenos, and I've got myself a healthy, tasty lunch (with Baked Lays). If you are a burger person, I really like Otto's burgers too. They aren't as thick as the ones at Beck's but are equally flavorful.

http://www.b4-u-eat.com/houston/restaurants/reviews/rsv0085.asp

WHERE DO I GOT FOR A CASUAL, INEXPENSIVE BYOB DINNER?

First, let me apologize for going radio silent for a couple months...things got a little crazy for me. But K-Ham is back! Now, onto the important stuff...it seems like everyone is looking to save a few bucks in the current economic climate, so I thought a post on great, inexpensive BYOB restaurants would be fitting.

1. Collina's Italian Cafe

If you haven't been to Collina's, you should try it this weekend. There are two locations inside the loop (Heights & Greenway Plaza) and one outside the loop. Pizza is my favorite thing to eat at Collina's. The pizzas are thin crust, and you can even get whole wheat crust to make yourself feel better about eating the pizza -- I personally think the whole wheat crust is better than the original. I recommend the Margherita and Greca pizzas, but my favorite is what I call the "Shelbs Special" (my friend's go-to pizza at Collina's): pepperoni, onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms on whole wheat. It is a little slice of heaven! Pair a 12" Shelbs Special with a bottle of Ravenswood Red Zinfandel, and you have yourself a solid meal for two under $30 total (as a side note, instead of hosing you with an expensive corkage fee for each bottle of wine, Collina's charges $1.00 for each wine glass at the table).

Don't count Collina's out for other Italian fare. Its meat lasagna is delicious with tons of cheese and a yummy meat sauce. But Collina's vegetable lasagna is truly decadent. Don't be fooled by its name on the menu ("grilled vegetable lasagna") because the crema rosa sauce is not light but is so freaking good that you won't be able to stop eating it. Collina's also has fresh, tasty salads -- I love the house vinaigrette, and the bread sticks are great dipped in olive oil and red pepper. In short, you won't be disappointed with anything you order.

http://www.collinas.com/

2. Thai Spice Asian Cuisine

Thai Spice is a consistent, reasonably-priced Thai restaurant with several locations throughout the city. What makes Thai Spice in the Heights so great is that it's BYOB, and the corkage fee is $1.50 per person per night, rather than by the bottle. Hands down, the best dish at Thai Spice is the Crystal Noodles (otherwise known in my circle as "crack noodles"), which are sauteed with egg batter, mushrooms, celery, onions, and tomatoes. Again, with this dish, you start out thinking you'll take half home and then wind up eating the whole thing. The good news is that for two people, you can get an appetizer and the Crystal Noodles and have enough food to fill you up.

Speaking of appetizers, I highly recommend the crispy spring rolls and soft summer rolls. The crispy spring rolls are small enough that the fried shell doesn't overwhelm you, and the soft summer rolls are refreshing in this summer heat. Any of Thai Spice's curry options are great, but the red and green seem to be the favorites among my curry-loving friends. If you are looking for a healthy, tasty option, the Grilled Lemongrass Chicken is great. It has a light fish oil sauce and comes with noodles, but there is enough chicken on your plate that you really don't have to eat the noodles to be full. For dessert, you have to try the Sweet Rice with Fresh Mango -- it is a delicious blend of sticky rice and mango. I know, it sounds weird, but you'll be hooked after one bite. As for what wine to bring, unless you are going heavy on the beef dishes, I'd bring a Gewurztraminer or a Sauvignon Blanc because both pair well with lighter but flavorful dishes. If your group doesn't do white wine, go with a Pinot Noir.

http://www.thaispice.com/

3. Ruggles Cafe Bakery

This casual spot in the Rice Village is Ruggles food at a reasonable price. So you order at the counter, and the presentation isn't quite as fancy as the original Ruggles -- but the quality of the food is still top-notch. My absolute favorite thing to eat at Ruggles is the Buffalo Burger with sweet potato fries or fruit, depending upon how healthy I want to be. The Buffalo Burger is a very lean cut and is topped with low-fat cheese. The Warm Baked Texas Goat Cheese Salad is also quite tasty -- the sundried tomato vinaigrette is light but flavorful. The Roasted Pork Loin Sandwich comes with caramelized onions and mozzarella cheese -- need I say more? The Ruggles Fish Tacos are also good -- but get the herbed aioli on the side because the tacos are drowned in it otherwise. And the Fettuccine with pepper chicken in a sweet garlic cream sauce is fantastic -- but definitely not light. Don't forget to save room for dessert -- I mean, it's a bakery after all. Ruggles even has low fat desserts (tres leches and bread pudding) that actually taste good. Your wine pairing for an evening at Ruggles will really depend on what the group orders, so I'll refer you to my April post about ordering a bottle of wine. But guess what? Ruggles has no corkage fee, so if you bring a bottle of wine from your house, it'll be cheaper for you to drink wine than iced tea!

http://www.rugglescafebakery.com/

4. Vietnam Restaurant

Vietnam Restaurant is an undiscovered treasure in the Heights. In my judgment, it serves among the very best Vietnamese cuisine in town (apart, of course, from homemade). Even if you're a calorie counter, you have to try the Imperial Rolls -- crispy rice paper, pork, vermicelli, mushroom & onion all piping hot, folded inside a cold piece of lettuce. It is truly remarkable. The soft-shell crab is also a must-order. While it's lightly battered, it is still not too greasy. The lemongrass grilled entrees -- beef or chicken -- are flavorful but not heavy. I honestly haven't tried too many other things because I keep going back to my favorites. The menu is consistent, and the servers are friendly. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but it is actually very nice on the inside. Give Vietnam Restaurant a try, and you be pleasantly surprised. (Wine pairings -- see Thai Spice entry above...Vietnam's corkage fee is also $1.50 per night per person).

http://s182363455.onlinehome.us/