The Cottage Grocery is a really nice little gourmet market/café in the River Oaks area. It's hard…read moreto put into one category because it's part grocery store, part coffee shop, part bakery, and part grab-and-go lunch and prepared-meal spot. I believe it used to be called Tres Market. The store itself is beautiful and very well styled. It has that polished River Oaks feel that reminds me a little of places like Tiny Boxwoods and Tiny's Milk & Cookies. There's some indoor and outdoor seating, a coffee bar, plenty of baked goods and treats, and a refrigerated section full of prepared meals that you can take home and heat up. They also have cakes, pies, cookies, cheeses, specialty snacks, chips, and quite a few products you don't normally see at a regular grocery store. We picked up one of their chicken pot pies to make at home. It was fine, but probably not something I'd get again. It had snap peas and celery in it, which weren't my favorite additions to a chicken pot pie, and there wasn't a bottom crust. It was also noticeably more expensive than something similar from H-E-B, Central Market, or Whole Foods, although this is definitely more of a specialty, high-end market. We've also tried some of the drinks. The vanilla latte was good, while the matcha latte was just okay. The staff was very friendly, and there's a small parking lot attached, which makes stopping in pretty easy. Overall, I think The Cottage Grocery is especially good if you want to grab a nice box of cookies or dessert to bring to someone's house, pick up an easy dinner to heat at home, or just stop in for a coffee and a treat. It's definitely on the expensive side, but the store is beautiful, the selection is interesting, and it feels like a neighborhood staple.

Absolutely loved this spot, but the only reason I took away a star is because we dined inside and…read moreit was so warm! Granted it was a hot Houston day outside, but the AC inside just wasn't doing it for us. That being said, this was my first visit to Cottage Grocery and I was pleasantly surprised! Everything sounded so delicious it was hard to choose! We split a summer salad and pretzel bun ham and Swiss sandwich (both of which were delicious) and had Teddy graham lattes (YUM). The coffee and pastry shop inside was so cute! And they had so many great to-go fresh meal options. Will definitely try to come back another time!

Central Market is such a fun grocery store and easily one of the best places in Houston for finding…read moreinteresting, unusual products. I feel like every time I go, I discover something new that I didn't even know existed. The selection is incredible, the store feels very upscale, and the staff is always extremely friendly and helpful. That said, Houston desperately needs another two or three Central Markets because this one is almost always a madhouse. The parking lot is crowded, the store is crowded, and the sandwich line at lunch can be ridiculous. The layout is also basically a maze designed to make you walk past every department before you find what you're looking for. Somehow, though, wandering through the maze is part of the fun. I do wish the Central Market app worked more like the regular H-E-B app. You can search for an item and see what section it's in, but it doesn't give you a useful store map showing where that section actually is. In a store this complicated, that would be incredibly helpful. It's definitely expensive, and if you fall in love with some small niche product, I wouldn't necessarily count on it being there forever. But overall, I really enjoy shopping here. Even when I only need a couple of things, I inevitably end up wandering around just to see what interesting new products I can find.

I've been here several times each time to get different things and have a different experience…read moreeverytime always great This is like the ultimate grocery store especially if you wanna prepare a specialized meal. I love the floral section and the olive bar. Also, the sandwich, soup and salad are phenomenal. They have many dry spices and seasonings to take home and you can get just as much though as little as you need. I really enjoy the store. They have alot of samples on the weekend and it's a cooking class (scheduled) upstairs They have an extensive wine and champagne selection. Everyone is very knowledgeable and helpful a lot this place so much highly recommended.

Herbert's Specialty Meat Market is such a great Houston spot for Cajun food. They have a huge…read moreselection of easy meals to take home, including deboned chickens stuffed with rice, crawfish, or shrimp, along with gumbo, étouffée, boudin balls, and plenty more. Everything I've tried has been excellent. It's especially great for stocking the freezer with something you can pull out later in the week for an easy dinner that still feels like a real meal. Everyone I've recommended it to has loved what they've tried as well. This location is great, although one thing to know is that it doesn't serve hot prepared meals like their other location does, where you can get a full plate with things like chicken, étouffée, collard greens, and other sides. I do wish they offered that here too. For Cajun food in Houston, especially something you can take home and cook yourself, this is one of my favorite places. I recommend it all the time and would go back in a heartbeat. It really feels like a local staple, and I'm glad we have it in Houston.

As someone with deep Creole roots from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, I don't take Cajun and Creole food…read morelightly--it's in my blood. Herbert's Specialty Meats on Richmond near the Galleria instantly took me back home. The moment you walk in, the number of items from Louisiana is delightful Their boudin, seasonings, and prepared items reminded me so much of my grandmother's gumbo, boudin, and rich, slow-cooked stews--comfort food that warms your soul. You can taste the authenticity and love in everything they make. This is the kind of place that understands balance, spice, and tradition. Customer service was excellent--friendly, patient, and genuinely happy to help you find exactly what you're craving. There are tons of choices, whether you're stocking up for a cookout or just grabbing something to satisfy that Cajun craving. For anyone missing Louisiana flavors or wanting the real deal in Houston, Herbert's is a must-stop. It feels like a little piece of "The Boot"

Great pizza! Delivered with door dash hot and fresh. Highly recommend to anyone who loves a thin…read morecrispy crust with the perfect about of chew to the crust!

Used the catering for an engagement party. The setup, service, and pizza went above my expectation…read more The guest raved about the pizza and loved seeing the brick oven. Highly recommend and would use again

Solid spot for fresh seafood…read more Pay attention to their hours since they close in the mid-afternoon. We showed up at 3 on Saturday (they close at 4) and they still had a good number of options available. There was a constant flow of foot traffic which is a good sign that the product is constantly moving. The fish looked great and seemed very fresh. Bought a nice piece of Arctic char. The staff threw some ice in the bag to ensure freshness -- much appreciated. They also had a nice selection of canned fish (sardines, etc.) and various condiments. Friendly employees. Plenty of parking in the adjacent lot.

This market rocks for seafood! The folks who work here are knowledgeable & they do have some…read moreuncommon items available. Ambiance is a clean Seafood Market, but it's very clean & has a nice feel to it.

This is an amazing flagship store- super clean and nice and the staff were great…read more I actually ended up enjoying the gelato than the actual chocolate. I was a little let down by the taste I'm not going to lie. The look of the chocolates were so beautiful and they even had cool ones for sale by the entrance but I haven't tried it yet so can't speak to the taste. They had samples to try of the chocolate strawberries and those were super pricey otherwise I would've definitely bought a box. That was delicious. I'd come back to try other items. Seems like you could take the gelato and have it made into a milkshake which sounded delicious. All in all a good experience, loved everything minus the mini painted truffles.

i've had cake from two different locations, two different types and i am just not a fan. i also do…read morenot really care for their truffles either. the service is definitely top tier, but i feel like there are way better chocolatiers in houston. if you decide to pop in, i would suggest the milk chocolate covered oranges. that is their saving grace . bonne appétit c.

As I am too young to drink I can not attest to the sake, however the chasu yakisoba is immaculate…read more Don't forget the chili oil if you enjoy a a good spicy.

For my own record: Purple yam fries-yes…read moreAnkimo-yes Top shell- yes Chikuwa- no Oropan tsukune-yes Beef tongue-yes Japanese scallop-yes Gizzard-yes but not grilled enough this time? Chicken wings- yes Shishito - meh Chicken thighs garlic- yes

amazing place check em out…read more vibes are great clean setting customer service top tier I appreciate much love greattttt

I went with my husband during Houston Restaurant Week, and maybe that was my mistake…read more We got the Thai ice tea and Thai jasmine green tea for drinks, squid and tofu for appetizers, the crying tiger and kua kling for entrees, and the sticky rice with mango and the coconut ice cream for desserts. I can confidently say that I was disappointed. There was not one dish that stood out or that I would recommend or come back for. I especially was sad that the crying tiger flavors really missed the mark. The sticky rice that came with it felt like it was reheated and some parts were hard. It also tasted like some of the vegetables (green beans and carrots) that come with the entrees were frozen, not fresh. The jasmine green tea tastes like a powder mix. Some of the squid tasted freezer burned. The kua kling was the most interesting and unique of the dishes, but not one that I would go out of my way to eat again. The sticky rice with mango was as expected. The coconut ice cream is probably pre-portioned and frozen so was rock solid when it came out. I did not find most of the toppings particularly good. It was a busy Friday and I know service was busy. The food did not take long to come out, but we definitely had dishes from previous courses that stacked up, and we had to ask them to be taken away. They do have a high chair for toddlers and brought a plastic plate/utensils, but there was not a changing table in the bathroom we used. We have had such great experiences at other Thai restaurants in Houston that I would not come back.

Wandering around Rice Village, an unexpected find. A Cheese Affair…read more What a delicious shop! A Cheese Affair is a French-style gourmet cheese shop filled with fromage from across the globe. The artisanal cheeses are so delicious. Nice to sample a few of the cheesemomger's favorites. They also have beautiful cheeseboards or make your own. They have a wide selection of crackers, jams and even French wines. Will definitely be back. Would make a great place for a Yelp event. Hint, hint.

The beautiful blue facade sets the stage for a memorable experience. From the moment you walk into…read moreA Cheese Affair, you know you've happened upon a rare, well curated, independent specialty retailers in Houston. The store is practically a museum to cheese. The selection is broad but not overwhelming. The owner and staff create an atmosphere that celebrates a genuine love for fine cheese. They offer an efficient education in cheese and can pinpoint a recommendation based on any way you describe a preference. A Cheese Affair is one of the many reasons Rice Village is a haven for unique, sole proprietor retailers, operated with passion.

I loveeeeeee Parlor Doughnuts because of how unique and versatile their menu is. I love that their…read moredoughnut sizes are enormous & i think it's cool that they offer both sweet, savory, keto and doughnuts for dogs! I also appreciate that they have other breakfast items such as sandwiches, avocado toast, açaí bowls, and breakfast tacos in case you want something heavier/ fulfilling and they have endless warm or iced drinks to help you wash down your order. To keep things even more fun and unique, they also offer seasonal doughnuts flavors!

We stopped by for some mini donuts and this has become our go-to spot since it's so close to home…read more Service was quick and friendly, especially since we were the only customers there at the time and there were two staff members working. We ordered a box of mini donuts -- I believe it comes with 10 pieces and you can choose your flavors. I usually go with the assorted option, which included flavors like coconut, plain, and raspberry, and I also picked up the maple dip on the side. The donuts are small, like donut holes, except they're square-shaped. They're flaky but a bit hard. I enjoyed the plain one since it wasn't overly sugary. Overall, a good spot for a quick sweet treat, and there's plenty of parking available too.