Flora & Muse
Houston
Enter one door: quaint patisserie and cafe, with a florist shop tossed in for good measure. Enter the other: handsome European bistro. In fine weather, the sweeping bar opens to the terrace for a truly not-in-Houston feel. We relaxed over cocktails, then noshed on flatbread pizza, well paired with a creamy roasted-pepper-and-tomato soup. A niçoise salad was impressively upscale with seared ahi, traditional haricots verts, and a quail egg, while wild mushroom ravioli proved warmly comforting. Sunday brunch is a wonderful indulgence, especially if you sit on the cafe side amid a profusion of flowers. (Here’s a tip on finding the place—it’s actually on Town and Country, between Queensbury and CityCentre Way.) Bar. CityCentre shopping complex, 12860 Queensbury Ln (713-463-6873). Open Sun–Wed 7 a.m.–midnight, Thur 7–1 a.m., Fri & Sat 7–2 a.m. $–$$ W+
Zimm’s Little Deck
Houston
Houston has had a slew of interesting openings lately. This self-proclaimed “fancy icehouse,” run by the Zimmerman clan of La Colombe d’Or, is handsome and cozy, with walls papered in French posters and doors opening onto patio seating (how that translates to an “icehouse” is beyond us, but c’est la vie). We grazed on ceviche, grilled Louisiana oysters, and chicken-and-sausage gumbo (the only downer, as an oil slick marred the otherwise perfectly spiced brew). We also tried one of the “rich boys,” whose high-toned ingredients (such as duck confit and merguez) distinguished them from the “poor boys” (crawfish tails and, no joke, “boring chicken”). The Casablanca offered slow-roasted lamb with arugula and a spunky harissa aioli. Bar. 601 Richmond Ave (713-527-8328). Open Mon 4–midnight, Tue–Thur & Sun 11–midnight, Fri & Sat 11–2 a.m. $ W+
