12 Dishes To Seek Out In Montrose This Fall

The cooler weather is rolling in, Thanksgiving is mere weeks away and the days are shorter. It’s officially time to go into hibernation mode, which means bulking up on delicious food and drink during the winter (in moderation of course). With so many options in Montrose, it was hard to narrow down, but here’s a list to get you started. Some dishes are seasonal while others will warm you from the inside when the temps outside start to drop.

Mushroom Tartine at Backstreet Cafe / 1103 S. Shepherd Dr.

This French-style open-faced sandwich on Backstreet’s seasonal mushroom menu is topped with roasted mushrooms, mushroom pate, caramelized onions and other goodness. But don’t suggest it to your vegetarian friends just yet — there’s crisp bacon on top to keep things even more interesting. It’s available for a limited time only.

Gumbo at Danton’s / 4611 Montrose Blvd.

There’s not much a good, dark, authentically Cajun roux can cure, in which case the gumbo from Danton’s should have some pretty intense healing powers. Ok, so maybe that’s an exaggeration, but it is the cure for a craving for gumbo that would make a Louisiana resident proud (which is surprisingly hard to find in Houston). Choose from seafood or chicken and sausage.

Red Beans and Rice at BB’s Cafe / 2710 Montrose Blvd.

It’s simple, it’s hearty and it’s comfort food to warm you up. This straightforward dish is hefty, with red beans that have simmered all day served up with the classic andouille sausage, served over rice. Goes down nicely with a tall beer at the end of the day.

Chicken Avgolemono at Niko Niko’s / 2520 Montrose Blvd.

If you have a cold, don’t settle for just any chicken soup, pick up some chicken avgolemono from Niko Niko’s. This traditional Greek soup takes chicken soup to another level with the addition of lemon juice added to the normal ingredients of rice, chicken and vegetables. It’s like a big hug in a bowl.

Oysters at Pappas Seafood Kitchen / 3001 S. Shepherd Dr.

It’s officially oyster season, which means you’ll find them fresh on the half shell in many Houston restaurants. Belly up to the bar at Pappas Seafood house for a dozen and grab a drink during happy hour. There’s no better way to spend a weekday after work.

Baked Mac N’ Cheese at Brooklyn Athletic Club / 601 Richmond Ave.

The baked mac ’n’ cheese at Brooklyn Athletic Club is no joke. This isn’t your typical elbow macaroni and cheese sauce, it’s a whole meal unto itself. Taking it to another level are the braised short ribs, roasted peppers and mushrooms, combination of cheeses and the herbed breadcrumb crust to give it just the right amount of texture. It’s never a bad idea to share this one with a friend.

Braised Lamb Shank at Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine / 912 Westheimer Rd.

Yet another stick-to-your-ribs meal to get you through the colder days is the braised lamb shank at Aladdin. It’s the Mediterranean answer to the Southern tradition of a meat and three (a blue plate special essentially), only with more olive oil and hummus as a choice of side. Anything you get here will be satisfying and served in generous portions.

Shepherd’s Pie at The Black Labrador / 4100 Montrose Blvd.

Meat and potatoes are the base for this dish made famous in the UK. Here in Texas, it’s just nice to find a good version of the classic pub dish when the mood strikes. Black Labrador makes theirs with ground chuck, carrots, onion, celery and of course, those traditional mashed potatoes to top it all off, but then a bonus of melted cheddar gilds the English lily.

Grilled Cheese and Soup at Bowl Cafe / 607 Richmond Ave.

Revert to your carefree days as a child with the comforting combination of grilled cheese sandwiches paired with soup. You can get the original — made with American cheese — if you’re feeling truly nostalgic, but there are more grown-up versions like the brie with spicy roasted bell peppers and crushed pistachios or the Caprese with buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and more. Tomato basil soup is one soup option, though you can spice things up with vegetable chicken chipotle.

Butternut Squash & Chicken Liver Risotto at Vinoteca Poscol / 1609 Westheimer Rd.

Don’t be frightened away by the chicken liver. First, it’s not in the risotto, it’s little fried pieces on top (so if you’re a fan of risotto, but not liver, bring a friend who is), second it’s so delicious it’s hard to believe anyone wouldn’t like it. In any case, the risotto — with butternut squash — underneath is just as rich and creamy as any and you’ll be dreaming about it for days to come.

Choucroute D’Alsace at Mockingbird Bistro / 1985 Welch St.

The perfect date night meal on a cold evening can be found at Mockingbird Bistro. The choucroute d’Alsace is a combination of roasted pork loin, boudin blanc (sausage) and pork belly are served with tangy sauerkraut with sides of green beans and confit potatoes. The lamb shank, bouillabaisse and butternut risotto are close runner-ups.

Pumpkin Pie at Roost / 1972 Fairview St.

It wouldn’t be a proper November without a slice of the timeless classic, pumpkin pie. On the menu for a limited time only, this version comes with spiked bourbon ice cream and cherry cola syrup. Get it while the gettin’s good.