20 Terrific Houston Restaurants for Eating Healthy While Staying Social
Down House
Photo by Troy Fields Down House pleases all palates.
Shrimp and grits, a kimchi burger with a fried egg, or crispy pork belly -- all options for your non-dieting friends. For you, there's a tasty selection dishes like grilled or baked fish, seared scallops, pickled shrimp salad and a lentil soup with pickled apricots.
Hummus made with edamame, grilled fish tacos, buffalo burgers and an indulgent spinach-artichoke dip that's served with cucumbers -- these are for you. Bacon-and-caramelized onion pizzas, cheesesteaks and stuffed meat loaf -- these are for your friends.
While it used to be that only crunchy hippie-types ate here, the Hobbit Cafe has greatly expanded its menu and become a beloved Houston institution. These days, you can get jalapeño poppers and bacon-cheeseburgers. But you can still find the classic sandwiches like my favorite, the Thorin Oakenshield (tabbouleh and mushrooms, hold the cheese), and that old standby, the Valinor: steamed veggies on a mountain of black beans and brown rice.
La Fisheria
Photo by Troy Fields Light, tasty dishes at La Fisheria can be lifesavers. (Har, har, har.)
The red beet and lobster risotto is tough to resist here. But it's equally easy to keep it light with equally delicious dishes like the signature ceviches, shrimp cocktails, tiraditos and seared yellowfin tuna over lentils and nopales.
A comforting plate of roasted chicken with a huge, crispy Greek salad on the side is an easy pick for healthy dining, but don't overlook the equally tasty Turulu Turulu, a Greek vegetable stew of zucchini, squash, eggplant, onion, parsley, tomato and garlic. Meanwhile, let your friends pig out on spanakopita and moussaka.
While it's tremendously tough to pass up Paulie's housemade pastas, stick with its dishes like grilled vegetables, roasted salmon, gazpacho and wide array of salads (just go easy on the meat and cheese found in most of them). The summer salad with arugula, pickled tomatoes and cucumber tossed in olive oil and lemon with a side of ripe melon is a personal favorite.
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