E2 = Excellent Eats

Submitted by Jonathan Nassar

Fall is finally here! Well, what passes in Houston for Fall, anyway. This is one of my favorite times of the year, and certainly a lot of people are going outside to enjoy the weather. At local restaurants, the outdoor seating will start to fill up before the indoor seating. I think any Houstonian knows to enjoy these precious weeks before it starts to get a little too cool to sit outside, and before our schedules get overly packed with holiday obligations. There are a lot of great options, but I thought I would share some places my family is looking forward to visiting.

One of my family’s favorite kid-friendly options is Cottonwood on Shepherd, north of 34th. Aside from their well-known burgers, sandwiches, and snacks, they also serve brunch and have plenty of space for roaming kids. One of Cottonwood’s key perks, though, is the gate that goes to the adjacent park. After their meals, the kids can burn off that extra energy at a playground before you have to rush off to the next activity.

For a less playground-focused experience, there is also the patio at Karbach Brewery on Dacoma near Mangum. The restaurant has a good variety of tasty dishes (my kids devour the soft pretzels) and a large, laid-back outdoor space. There is still plenty of space for kids, but the brewery also offers tours of the facility.

Brand new to the neighborhood is Preslee’s on 18th and 19th (where the road splits off). They are still new and have a large menu, so be a little wary of kitchen delays as they work out kinks in their system, though the place was packed with people watching the Astros game when we went. Still, we will be back to enjoy the patio, which is filled with swings, ping pong tables, a giant chair, and various ways for kids to occupy themselves while waiting for their food.

Not that anyone needs an extra reason to go to Rainbow Lodge on Ella and TC Jester, but their backyard patio would make a great date night - or brunch date - choice. I have always had excellent meals and service at Rainbow Lodge, but the quiet and secluded feeling patio is unmatched in Houston.

Have a great holiday season!