Hubcap Grill

So in the spirit of continuing our quest for the best restaurant in Houston we decided to go to Hubcap Grill - a burger joint I had read about in the paper a couple of weeks ago. They have weird/limited hours (11am-3pm M-F and 11am-2pm Sat) so when I glanced at my watch at 1:30pm we ran out the door. Good thing too because since it was Labor Day they decided to close at 2pm instead of 3pm. We found the place without too much trouble and parking was easy - I think because of the holiday and the hurricane force rain that was about to drop. We stepped inside to a tiny hole in the wall with two tables (filled) in the main part and a man (owner??) taking orders behind a counter. He looked grumpy so I made Chris hurry his order. They only take cash and the drinks are in cans or bottles. The water is in a gross yellowed dispenser - luckily I had brought a water bottle from home for that same reason. Chris ordered a Mexican coke and we got a mushroom swiss burger and sweet potato fries. We went to go to the outside covered seating - a narrow row with tables smashed together but it was full so we were forced to sit along the wall at a low bar thing next to the bathrooms and the extra onions and chip bags. Atmosphere at this point is a -5. They do a lot of to-go orders so a guy got up from the high top table that was against a wall so I grabbed it and we sat there for a bit waiting. The top was peeling off and it was not that comfortable. Finally a 3 top got up and so we grabbed that seat in the inside. You basically are sitting on top of your neighbors something I am not a huge fan of at restaurants. The food takes awhile I think because its fresh and the kitchen I am assuming is very small. Regardless it was really good. The fires were piping hot and delicious and the burger was fine. Chris liked it a lot so being that I am not a huge burger fan I would go off of his comments. If you are looking for a good burger to grab on the go I would definitely recommend it. I would not take the elderly or impatient to this location and I would not go at any time that might seem remotely busy. It is definitely a place where you go to eat a good old-fashioned burger not a place to relax and socialize. The prices are good too. The fries were $2 and the regular burger is $3.99. You can also add onions and mushrooms for like $0.20. Deal. Its worth the calories and worth the money. I wouldn't rush back but would definitely recommend it. Chris is giving 3 stars (out of 5). I am giving 6 out of 10.

Avalon Diner

So we finally went to Avalon Diner. Buffalo Grille is our primary stop for breakfast/brunch related food items and I have rarely been disappointed. However I had heard about Avalon Diner being just as good if not better than Buffalo Grille so we (I) finally got up enough courage to try something different. I am a firm believer of don't mess up a good thing which has really gotten me into a restaurant rut. But I don't like wasting money or calories on food when I know I could have eaten something way better. I think that they call those kinds of people boring. Regardless, we went.
I am sad to report that I was very disappointed with Avalon Diner. I would give it a 3 out of 10. Chris is giving it a 3 out of 5.
The Experience: Well we walked in and there was no sign that said "seat yourself." There was a cashier at the front checking out 2 ladies so I figured at that point that you would take your check up to her to pay. We finally got her attention and asked if we seat yourself. Yes in fact you do. So we found an empty booth (there were only about 3 empty tables including 2 at the front of the restaurant which you would not want). The table was clean as was the booth but the restaurant needs improvement and updating. Its very tired and it has those memorabilia like old coke dispensers etc but its just not cute. After about 4 minutes of us sitting there a couple sat down at the table next to us and about 1 minute later a waitress gave them menus and took their drink order. We were still waiting for menus when the same waitress came back with their drinks and took their order. Finally after probably waiting 15 minutes a lady dropped off two menus and that was it. So we looked it over since it is pretty extensive. She came back later and took our drink order. I ordered water and Chris - a coffee. Then she left so we kept looking. When she brought our drinks back she once again dumped them at our table and left. When she finally came back we got to order. I ordered the western omelet with hashbrowns and a biscuit and Chris had the Cook's Hash or something (with no cheese) and toast. Oh I almost forgot - when Chris got his coffee his mug had ladies' lipstick on it from the previous sipper. But we decided that it would be easier to keep the dirty cup and clean it ourselves than notify our waitress who seemed like the type to not care and spit in it behind the counter. Anyways our order came out at an average pace and it was nothing special. My omelet which was $6.95 had pace salsa in the middle and on top of it. Nothing special at all. Chris' meal look a little more exciting and he said he enjoyed it. Anyways - I decided that Avalon Diner is not a place I will go back to again. They do serve milkshakes and burgers but I don't think that they would be anything special. So in my opinion save your money and your calories and go to Buffalo Grille.

Restaurants to Try

Amazon Grill
Americas
Amerigo's Grille
Antica Osteria
Aquarium
Baba Yega
Baby Barnaby's
Backstreet Cafe
Beaver's Ice House
Becks Prime
Bellaire Broiler Burger
Berryhill Baja Grill
Bistro Don Camillo
Bistro Provence
Blake's BBQ
The Breakfast Klub
Bubba's Texas Burger Shack
Brenner's Steakhouse
Buffalo Grille
Cabo's
Cadillac Bar
Cafe Adobe
Cafe Benedicte
Café Rabelais
Capriccio Tapas
Carrabba's Italian Grill
Catalan
Chez Nous
The Chocolate Bar
Christian's Totem
Churrascos
Cullen's Upscale American Grill
Daily Review Cafe
Da Marco

Damian's
Dolce Vita
Dry Creek Cafe
El Rey
El Tiempo
Empire Cafe
Escalante's Mexican Grill
Feast
Floyd's Cajun Seafood
Frenchy's Chicken
Fu's Garden
Fuzzy's Pizza
Gigi's Asian Bistro and Dumpling Bar
Gilhooley's
Glass Wall
Goode Company Hamburgers & Taqueria
Goode Company Barbecue
Goode Company Seafood
Gumbo Bar
House of Pies
Hubcap Burger Grill
Indika
Irma’s
Jasper's
Kenny & Ziggy's New York Delicatessen
Kim Son
Kraftsmen Baking
La Guadalupana Bakery and Café
Landry's Seafood
Lankford Grocery and Market

Little Big's
Mardi Gras Grill
Max's Wine Dive
Mi Luna
Molina's Cantina
Mytiburger
Original Ninfa’s on Navigation
Otto's
Pappas Barbecue
Pappasitos
Pink's Pizza
Ragin' Cajun
Rainbow Lodge
Raven Grill
Reef
Rio Ranch
Shade
Spanish Flowers
Star Pizza
Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen
Tacos A Go-Go
Taquerias Arandas
Tel-Wink Grill
Textile
Thai Spice
Thelma's
This Is It
Vic & Anthony's
Virgie's BBQ
Yao Restaurant & Bar