Skip to main content

Houston Patio Dining Now - Caracol




Caracol is one of my favorite restaurants in Houston, I have been four times this summer since they reopened. It is part of the H-Town Restaurant Group, which is owned by Executive Chef Hugo Ortega and his wife Tracy Vaught. Ortega is the winner of the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2017. I also frequently eat at both Hugo's and Backstreet Cafe, two other restaurants in the group. As I thought about which restaurants in Houston have great food, nice patios and good ethics for safety protocol, these were some of the first restaurants to come to mind and I have not been disappointed. I've only opted to go to Caracol on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, thus far, arriving as early as 4pm and as late as 7:30pm. I make reservations in advance and request a shady table on the patio at that time.


I like the fact that guests have the ability to not walk through the restaurant to access the patio. You can just open the door and let the hostess know you have arrived and then go to the patio without going in. They have hand sanitizer available at the host stand. They have both scannable QR codes and single use menus. Servers wear both masks and gloves. Many of the surrounding office building are still not operating with a full staff so the usually crowded Happy Hour is not seeing its normal crowds right now. 

The menu has a fantastic selection of seafood making it easy to enjoy a light summer meal. My favorites include the entire crudo menu, both the raw and roasted oysters, the fire roasted shrimp, and the lobster tacos. More filling choices are the pork taquitos, grilled fish and the pan roasted duck. The freshly made chips and guacamole are always a good way to start.









The patio at this Uptown area eatery has more limited shade so dress in light weight clothes to be comfortable. A table with an umbrella near the fountain is a good choice on a clear evening while under cover along the restaurant front is better if there are rain concerns. Avoid being too close to the greenery covered wall as it may block any breeze. Guests can find an array of beverages to help beat the heat curated by Sommelier/Beverage Director Sean Beck. While cerveza and margaritas are classic, consider trying a chilled bottle of Casa Madero rosé, it pairs beautifully  with the Mexican coastal cuisine and it is made by the oldest winery in the Americas. Salud!



Follow the link to see my selections for Houston's Best Patios


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sculpted in Steel - A Luxury Automobile Showcase from the Art Deco Era

Whether you are visiting the city of Houston or live here full time, if you are a car lover, there is one thing to do this spring that is a must-do.  Visit the Museum of Fine Arts Houston to check out the temporary luxury art deco automobile exhibit, Sculpted in Steel .  I toured the display recently and was impressed by the array.  This collection is   a showcase of seventeen cars and motorcycles designed between 1929 -1940. These vehicles are more than art cars or show cars, they are true art deco masterpieces. The museum has great information about the period and designers throughout the exhibit.  Go sooner rather than later, they will only be on display until May 30, 2016.
20 comments
Read more

Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows - Santa Monica

Refreshment on the patio of the Lobby Lounge My husband and I stayed at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows with our adult daughter this summer after her graduation from a Masters program at Claremont Graduate University. We wanted to be near the beach but still be able to easily get into Los Angeles to visit some of the tourist attractions. This was our first time to stay at a Fairmont Hotel . I chose the Miramar for its ocean views and its proximity to the Santa Monica Pier and the beach. It has a long history with a Hollywood connection, it has been a destination of the stars for almost a century. After looking over the various room options, I decided that the Palisade King Suite would easily accommodate us. My husband and I shared a private bedroom and our daughter got the fold out couch in the living room. The six story Palisades wing which housed our room is a historic part of the property that was built in 1924. For a more luxe experience, you can also book a pool
5 comments
Read more

Mixology Class with Susi Zivanovic

Susi Zivanovic I had a fantastic experience this week learning about the cocktail program at Perry's Steakhouse & Grille with beverage director, Susi Zivanovic.  In addition to selecting the wines for the restaurants, Zivanovic creates all the cocktail recipes that guests enjoy at the many Perry’s locations.  Zivanovic shared with the group that her philosophy for mixology involves high quality ingredients masterfully blended into well-balanced deliciously drinkable cocktails.  She said that when she creates the different recipes, she chooses only premium ingredients - most importantly, she makes sure that there are no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. Invitees to this event started the evening with the Perry's Hog-Hatten. This drink was prepared by the true professionals behind the bar.  This  Manhattan-based cocktail is elevated with spicier Redemption Rye Whiskey instead of the more traditional Bourbon. This is combined with Vya Vermouth and is compleme
Post a Comment
Read more