by Sandra Crittenden

 I wrote an article for Houston Food Finder listing nine of the best patios that I have been dining at this summer. I have eaten at most of these several times to find the best time to enjoy the shade and to ensure that safety precautions are being followed.  I have been to many others that did not make the cut. From excessive insect issues to compulsive mask touching by servers, I have tried to weed out the worst and share only the best both with Houston Food Finder and, here, in this blog. My search is continuing as I still feel safer dining al fresco so stay tuned for more recommendations. In the meantime, read 9 Shaded and Socially Distanced Houston Restaurant Patios to Enjoy Now in Houston Food Finder and see some more of my pictures of these restaurants below. Find more of my top Houston patios by clicking Houston's Best Patios

Patio dining in Houston in the summer can be brutally hot, however, I have found that if you choose your time frame wisely and dress for the weather, it is possible to stay reasonably cool. Though I have dined inside at a few places during the Covid-19 pandemic, I still feel safest outside on the patio during these uncertain times. If you are looking to beat the heat while enjoying al fresco dining at responsible and delicious places, stay tuned! I will be posting on more of the restaurants that I enjoy most. Eunice at 11:00 am on Tuesday:   Upon arrival to this Upper Kirby area restaurant, I could see about seven well-spaced seated tables inside and no one opting for a patio table outside. This remained true for the duration that my daughter and I were there. I've eaten at this restaurant numerous times but I had never eaten outside before. What we discovered was that the large oak trees that line Buffalo Speedway kept us well-shaded throughout our meal. We sat along the ...

I first got to feast at Star Fish  in June when a media friend made me her +1 to an early evening tasting event. Due to travel, I hadn't had time to write about that experience yet or return for another visit but I had not forgotten how delicious it had been. When my husband said he wanted seafood on Saturday evening, I quickly recommended this Heights area restaurant. Planning a last minute dinner meant that we were not able to get a reservation for a table but we were able to secure two seats at the oyster bar. This dinner was part of a weeklong celebration of my husband's birthday so we started with a bottle of Ruinart Rosé Champagne, a smoking deal on the Star Fish wine list at $84 especially when you consider that Spec's retails it for $86 . We started off with some of the Raw Bar offerings, oysters on the half-shell from Prince Edward Island and a salmon crudo with sushi bar inspired seasonings. Due to our seats and our interest, we also were given some small samp...

I went to Lucille's  last week for a wine dinner which featured Austrian and Balkan wines. Executive Chef, Chris Williams, was the U.S. Culinary Cultural Ambassador during a 25 day tour of the Balkans in 2015 and he has wanted to showcase what he learned during his travels ever since. Finding available Balkan wines in our market proved to be somewhat difficult which caused the year long delay on this dinner. Certified Sommelier, Rodney Willis, was on hand to introduce each wine to the full house and to provide diners with the opportunity to purchase their favorites that evening. The Menu: Guests were welcomed with a glass of Austrian Loimer "Lois" Gruner Veltliner and 3 Day Feta with pumpkin oil and fresh bread. 1st Course - Scallop crudo with citrus oil, dried petals and sumac paired with Szigeti Sparkling Brut Gruner Veltliner also from Austria. 2nd Course - Braised pork belly with arugula, compressed melon and smoked paprika vinaigrette served with Loim...

Scenes from opening weekend at Potente, downtown Houston's hot new destination for modern Italian cuisine!