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TONY MANDOLA’S
1212 Waugh Dr
(713-528-3474)
Open Mon–Thur 11–10, Fri & Sat 11–11, Sun 5–9.
web site | map | latest review | access ++ |  add to library |
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Italian |
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(From January 2012) In spacious, pleasantly contemporary new digs, Tony Mandola’s is still packing in the older River Oaks crowd as well as Montrose-area locals. Our recent meal started with lovely oysters on the half shell and a lively Sicilian salad with red cabbage and artichoke hearts. One of us went with the Fusilli Philly, a nice combination of pasta, grilled chicken, and a sweet cherry tomato sauce. The other struck it rich with the Salmon Sophia: grilled wild salmon, perfectly moist, topped with lump crab and an avocado-dill relish. |
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TRATTORIA IL MULINO
Westin Houston Memorial City, 945 Gessner Rd
(832-358-0600)
Dinner Sun–Wed 6:30–10, Thur–Sat 6:30–11. Reservations recommended.
map | latest review | access ++ | add to library |
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$$-$$$ |
Italian |
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(From July 2011)
New York’s celebrated Il Mulino has opened a trattoria-style outpost, attracting a respectable crowd to the spanking new Westin hotel in Memorial City. The ambience is tailored and crisp, softened by an amber glow from the backlit bar and the overhead lamps. From the classic Italian menu we enjoyed a lovely meal of mussels in white wine garlic sauce, hearty cavatelli with nutty ricotta salata, and rustic risotto with clams, scallops, and squid. Nice touches included complimentary antipasti, to start, and grappa, to end. Bar.
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VINOTECA POSCOL
1609 Westheimer Rd.
(713-529-2797)
Dinner Tue–Thur 5–10 (light food until 11), Fri & Sat 5–11 (light food until midnight), Sun 5–10. Closed Mon.
map | latest review | photo | access ++ | add to library |
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Italian |
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(From January 2011) Ultra-casual Poscol invites noshing and sampling from the wine list in the company of good friends, and we did just that, our bruschette and impressive array of meats and cheeses setting off our rich red wines perfectly. Unfortunately the rest of the meal proved less successful; we liked our braised pork in a red wine–plum sauce with goat cheese mashed potatoes, but tripletail with shrimp, artichokes, and rapini was bland. And our romaine, walnut, and pecorino salad had only a trace of dressing. Beer & wine. |
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