• The Grove: Tranquilly situated in Discovery Green, The Grove focuses on American Rustic cuisine. Operated by the Schiller Del Grande Restaurant Group, the menu was designed by The Grove’s Executive Chef Ryan Pera and famed chef Robert Del Grande. Try the ceviche or the duck balls with mustard sauce. How about a skirt steak with The Grove’s own take on chili cheese fries? In addition to the excellent wine list, the restaurant’s inventive cocktails are not to be missed. Ginger Margarita anyone?
• Bells & Whistles Cafe: Just a block away from Minute Maid Park, Bells & Whistles Cafe is a great place to grab lunch or a bite to eat before a day game. Enjoy classic burgers along with Southern favorites like peach tea and fried catfish. Don’t forget to sample the cobbler of the day.
• Ponte Vecchio: Named after a famous medieval bridge in Florence, Ponte Vecchio may sound like pricey fine dining but it’s actually a perfect place for a quick, delicious and affordable lunch. The food is served cafeteria style, but Ponte Vecchio’s gourmet fare is anything but cafeteria food. Everything is prepared from scratch by Florentine chef Dante Calzini using high quality ingredients to create delicious and healthy Italian cuisine.
• Zig’s New York Deli: Have a craving for New York deli food? Satisfy it at Zig’s New York Deli at The Shops at Houston Center. Maybe a Hot Reuben Sandwich or Gabilla’s Coney Island Potato Knish? Order a Dr. Brown’s Cream Soda with your meal don’t forget do grab some Black and White cookies for dessert. Zig’s is an offshoot of Kenny and Ziggy’s, so you know the food will be great.
• Reserve 101: Sample an expertly chosen selection of wines in Reserve 101 Wine Bar’s elegant but unpretentious atmosphere. The bar also offers an unparalleled collection of hand-selected scotches and an assortment of exotic martinis.
• The Lake House: Discovery Green’s second restaurant, another innovative Schiller Del Grande project, opens in mid April. The Lakehouse is a fabulous setting for a casual, relaxing lunch. Spend a warm spring day gazing out at Kinder Lake while enjoying a crisp salad or juicy burger.
• Shula’s Steak House: As a part of their 35 million dollar makeover, this April the Hyatt Regency is opening a Shula’s fine dining steakhouse. Founded by Coach Don Shula, Shula’s steaks are held to standards higher than that of USDA Prime - and they’re big enough to satisfy an NFL linebacker.

Coming soon:

• Black-Tie Desserts: From rich chocolate decadence to warm sugary churros, from crème brûlée to fried ice cream, if you can’t find something you crave at Black-Tie Desserts, you don’t have a sweet tooth in your head. Opening soon at 914 Main.

Also...

• Chef Jamie Zelko of The Lancaster Hotel’s Bistro Lancaster was named “Up-and-Coming Chef of the Year” at My Table Magazine’s 2007 Houston Culinary Awards—congrats!
• We’re happy to hear that Randy Rucker is back downtown as Executive Chef of Artista, located in the Hobby Center. Randy provided a cutting edge dining experience at his former downtown restaurant, LaidBack Manor, that had a short-lived by notable existence. It will be interesting to see how Randy’s visions impact Artista’s menu!
• Chef Wesley Morton has been named Executive Chef of Alden-Houston’s award-winning restaurant *17 and Chef Jami Kling has been named Executive Pastry Chef. Chef Morton comes to *17 from the prestigious NAVIO Restaurant at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, California, a Mobil AAA Five Diamond restaurant. Chef Kling was previously at Houston’s Bistro Moderne and has worked for Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud Palm Beach.