El Tiempo (Richmond)

El Tiempo was Part II of Mama Ninfa's Friday and I was really really full on Mama Ninfa's Friday night.  My family always orders a combination of the following dishes at this restaurant, so I am not qualified to review anything but 

• carnitas
• veggie fajitas
• brisket flautas
• any given combo of shrimp and bacon

That being said, everything at this restaurant is top-notch.  The carnitas are the best in town, no doubt.  There is no other restaurant in the world that will give you as much variety of charry veggies that come with the veggie fajitas.  The brisket flautas have nothing to do with Mexico, but man are they Texas.  

For a review of the guac, see Ninfa's on Navigation.  It's the same, and it's delicious.  Ditto on the ritas.

I love this place, although last summer the valet crashed my dad's car.  

Ninfa's on Navigation

When you walk in to this place, the original Ninfa's, you are immediately struck by two things: a large beautiful oil painting portrait of Mama Ninfa (the owner) and the tortilla station where three women are rolling out flour tortillas.  Both of these things are very nostalgic for me, as I went to Ninfa's on Richmond almost every Friday when I was between the ages of five and ten.  I used to see Mama Ninfa herself more Fridays than not, and every Friday those nice ladies at the tortilla station and would give me a ball of tortilla dough in the shape of a swan.  So when I walk in to Ninfa's on Navigation, my heart swells a little.

Start with guacamole.  Do it because you won't be sorry.  This is the only place in Houston (the world?), with the exception of other Mama Ninfa joints, where you get to mix your own guacamole.  You get a big plate of mashed avocado and tomato and then you decide how to mix in the onions, jalapenos, cilantro and garlic.  It's fun, and it's good.

Then just order anything on the menu that you like: enchiladas, fajitas, whatever.  It's all good.  The rice and beans are just average, but by the time your attention falls on them, you should be hella full anyways.

The rest of the Ninfa's in town (the world?) are not like this Ninfa's.  Go to this one.  It's just east of downtown.  It has a patio.  It is what all the other Ninfa's should be.

Ruchi's

Special Edition: Hurricane Ike 

Ruchi's was the first restaurant we went to after that son-of-a blew through town, and it was great.  We waited outside the restaurant -- velvet rope style -- to be let in.  Then we snatched up a table for seven and ordered a round of eight drinks.  My dad said this was all very New Orleans, which I believed and relished. 

One of our dining companions claims Ruchi's green sauce is the BEST salsa in town.  For my part, I'll claim that Ruchi's has the best bang for your barbacoa buck.  I had a barbacoa torta and I ate the whole thing.  Sure, afterwards I felt pregnant with regret, but I'd do it all again.

Bottom line on Ruchi's: Cheap, delicious, and you can drink there when you're under 21

Pico's

Chiles en nogada translated literally means fucking delicious.  It is a poblano pepper stuffed with pork (or rice if you are a vegetarian aka carb freak) in a creamy walnut sauce with almonds and raisins, topped with dried cranberries.  What else can I say?

Cost was $9 on the lunch menu and it came with a random salad with iceberg lettuce and a cilantro dressing which I ignored.  But, speaking of cilantro! the red salsa at this place is loaded with cilantro: thumbs up! 

Also, I was tempted by but did not partake in $2.75 margaritas at lunch.  The reasons for this abstention are both frivolous and serious.  My dining partner was achin' from a bachelor party last night so he was no fun, but more importantly, these margaritas are potent and this restaurant is out in Bellaire.  And I don't know anyone who lives there anymore, so if I had gotten hammered (see El Pueblito), I would have had no one's house to walk to.  Jaime said that's why I should go on dates: so that my date can drive my ass around drunk.  Sounds like a recipe for date rape, I say.  

All in all: great Mex-Mex.  Some say the BEST in town.  Well well, let the games begin.

This is David now. I hacked in.... let me just show you.... this is a human head next to an out-of-this-world gianormous 'medium' margarita.

El Pueblito

David and I accidentally ordered a pitcher of margaritas for just the two of us.  A pitcher is enough to get four people hammered, so I don't know how accurate my review of the food is.  

I love this place for the elephants outside and for the pineapple salsa.

I ordered vegetarian enchiladas, I think 3 came? it could have been 2.  I was hammered.

David had shrimp fajitas, he would recommend it: "for $12, it was cheap."  It smelled good, as I recall.

The patio is really nice, but we were in a spot that was pretty loud.  

Something to consider: Midnight happy hour on Fridays and Saturdays