Where Do You Want to Eat Tonight?

New Place That Just Opened

Zoe's Kitchen
3701 S Shepherd Drive
Houston, Texas 77098-4209
(713) 522-7447

Pros: Modern-casual decor. Super-fast takeout. Healthy options like slaw and potato salad without mayo. Friendly staff. Yummy fresh-made desserts. Wine and beer. Patio. Excellent chicken kebob plate, according to my carnivorous fiancé.

Cons: Smells a little odd when you walk in. The vegetarian items on the menu include a veggie pita pizza and Mediterranean tuna pita that are too salty, and spinach rollup that are not very flavorful.

Verdict: Good place for fast, easy, fairly healthy order-at-the-counter dining.


Place That Everyone Knows

El Rey Cuban-Mexican Taqueria
910 Shepherd Drive
Houston, Texas 77007-5302
(713) 802-9145

Pros: Absolutely fresh-squeezed orange juice. Great coffee. Fried plantains. Healthy options like whole-wheat tortillas.

Cons: Drive-through can be chaotic due to its awkward placement in the parking lot. They almost consistently forget something when you get takeout (like the sauce or the side you requested). Not very many vegetarian options.

Verdict: Great place for a quick, flavorful meal with options that are slightly different than the regular Mexican taqueria.

A Saturday morning trip to the Salvation Army

I just dropped off four bags of donation items at the Salvation Army drop-off area on Center Street. There were two other cars ahead of me in line and the place was bustling. Good to see so many people there giving to charity. One of the things I love about my West End neighborhood is the proximity of services should you want to donate or volunteer. In addition to the Salvation Army for humans, there are also charitable organizations for pets, including the Houston SPCA just across I-10, which is near and dear to my heart, as I take my lovely pup there for classes once a week. There's also the Spay-Neuter Assistance Clinic (SNAP) on Durham Dr. I have never been to SNAP so I can't speak for how good or not good their organization might be.

During the short drive back home from the Salvation Army down Center St., I marvelled at the diversity of environments one can find in this neighborhood. There are beautiful townhomes with little landscaped yards, urban apartment buildings, factories with a sort of gritty charm, older homes made of wood surrounded by chain-link or falling-apart wood fences. It's the kind of place where you feel like you're in an enclave but just moments from the busy city. I love it.