Photos by Troy Fields

Bocca Deli is just one of a handful of restaurants that's reinvigorating the sleepy Northside as the City of Houston finishes laying the tracks for a light rail line that will eventually run through this quiet area north of downtown.

A few blocks away on Fulton, Radical Eats is challenging carnivores to rethink Tex-Mex by offering vegan versions of old favorites like tacos and tamales. Taqueria La Macro is putting a bright, shiny new face on traditional taqueria fare over on North Main. And on Irvington at Cavalcade, Bocca Deli is serving the Lindale Park neighborhood freshly-made sandwiches, from-scratch soups, brownies a la mode and coffee to go with its free Wi-Fi.

It's the simple things -- the simple restaurants -- that are making an impact here.

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Photo by Joshua Justice

Trent Brooks, pitmaster and owner of Brooks Place BBQ, earned a well-deserved spot on the list.

The last time Texas Monthly released its list of the 50 best barbecue joints in Texas was 2008. During that five-year interim, a lot has changed. Namely, the Austin-based magazine now boasts its very own barbecue editor -- the only publication anywhere to have a single person devoted to the cuisine.

That barbecue editor is Daniel Vaughn, the much-discussed and highly respected former barbecue blogger who's noted for two fairly amazing accomplishments as of late: First is his book, The Prophets of Smoked Meat, which is the debut title under Anthony Bourdain's line of books for publishing company Ecco.

The second accomplishment is driving more than 10,000 miles for that book as well as for Texas Monthly's latest barbecue guide. Indeed, between Vaughn and longtime food editor Pat Sharpe, the team covered an accumulated 33,168 miles and visited 658 places across the state before deciding on the final 50.

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Photos by Troy Fields

A little more than two years ago, I had dinner at a Heights-area restaurant serving Italian-Mexican fusion cuisine and endured a less than appealing meal with two friends. The saving grace of La Casa de Frida was our sweet server, a jovial man who treated us like family.

So when I kept hearing buzz for another Heights-area restaurant serving Italian-Mexican fusion cuisine, I wasn't exactly beating the door down. In retrospect, I feel foolish for having judged one by the other. Not every French brasserie is the same, not every Korean-Mexican food truck is exactly the same and -- as it turns out -- not Italian-Mexican trattoria is the same.

As a result, it took me far too long to discover the jewel that is Bellissimo, the subject of this week's cafe review.

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Mai's bo luc lac is perfect every time.

It starts out innocently enough. With a long day spent squinting at a computer screen behind us and the glistening sun beckoning us to one of Houston's many patios, we find ourselves letting loose at a happy hour with friends. Fast-forward a few buckets of beer and a handful of increasingly sloppy games of bags later, and we realize we've gotten a little too loose and have completely "forgotten" dinner once again. Enter Mai's -- the land of post-party misfits in dire need of some grub.

And excellent grub at that. While some may have their woes with the midtown Vietnamese restaurant, I love it each and every time I visit (and yes, that includes non-intoxicated meals). Perhaps, though, that's because I know what I like -- and I get it every single time.

You probably should, too, because it's freaking fantastic.

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Solid crust? Check. Inventive toppings? Check. Wine by the glass and bottle, plus a casual atmosphere? Check. What else could you really ask for in a pizza place?

They certainly have all of that at Reginelli's Pizzeria, now open in Memorial City -- the first Houston location of the New Orleans chain with nine locations in Louisiana. After a recent visit, however, I can't say I'm sold on the place just yet. But that's not to say it doesn't have potential.

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Le moules marinière

My first experience at Étoile Cuisine et Bar happened a few months ago, my girlfriends and I chose a new restaurant at random and went in without any expectations or preconceived notions. We left that dinner enamored of the space, the front-of- house service by Monique Bui, and the simple yet elegant menu of traditional French fare cooked by Bui's husband, chef Philippe Verpiand.

Bui and Verpiand recently moved to Houston from San Diego to open Étoile, drawn here by Bui's family ties, the growing food scene and the city's strong economy. The food, although traditional, it also draws from the light and fresh ideals of California cuisine.

My second visit didn't happen soon enough but I eventually made my way back. This time, it was to experience lunch outside on Étoile's front patio, enjoying one of those beautiful spring days our fair city throws our way every so often.

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The crisp calamari fries are no joke.

Stepping foot into newly opened Local Pour, you wouldn't recognize the space as that of the late Sherlock's Baker St. Pub. The revamped bar and restaurant is now more -- in a word -- open.

The walls between the old front and back bars have been torn down, making way for a beautiful open-air front dining area and a long, handsome bar that runs down the length of the restaurant, boasting taps all the while. Where there was once a stage in the back left corner, there's now a bustling open kitchen. A funky blue-lit stage, where live music plays Friday and Saturday nights, replaces the dark back corner where the darts used to be. And gone is the mystery bookshelf wall that was actually a door to the bathrooms; instead you'll see a hallway with two bathroom doors that you can actually find without pushing on random walls and looking like an idiot.

"'Excellent!' I cried. 'Elementary,' said he."

The upscale industrial space is a welcome change from the dusky pub that was Sherlock's (although I, for one, will miss the $1 drink specials). The bar and restaurant, under the same ownership as the former tenant, is hoping to better cater to patrons of the River Oaks/Montrose neighborhood in which it resides...and I'd say the plan is working.

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Photo by Brooke Viggiano

There's nothing like the sheen of General Tso's chicken on a cold, dark night...

There are tons of amazing restaurants in our city, but sometimes I want nothing more than some good old-fashioned (Americanized) Chinese food. When you're craving an egg roll, you're craving an egg roll; you know what I mean?

On a recent Friday night, my fiancé and I needed a quick spot to grab dinner before a Dave Attell show at the Comedy Improv...and I was not eating at Red Robin or Dave & Buster's -- mainly because I am not 15 and my parents did not just drop me off at the mall to troll for boys. Since I'm always looking for new Chinese takeout spots, we decided to try out Golden Hunan on the way to the show -- and I am happy to say that we've found a new addition to our lazy-night takeout rotation.

No, the menu isn't particularly adventurous, but the restaurant manages to do the classics right. We started with steamed dumplings ($5.99 for eight) and ordered two combination platters to split: the chicken & broccoli ($9.99) and General Tso's ($10.99). And since it was only 99 cents (and you can sell me mostly anything for under $1), we each added on a wonton soup.

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Photo by Brooke Viggiano

Sundays are made for mimosas. The weekend is nearly over and you can feel your freedom fading faster than a Houston winter. It all seems to be going downhill. That is, until you remember you have the holy grail of weekend activities summoning you from the cocoon of blankets you've so delicately wrapped yourself in: the forever-sacred Sunday Brunch.

Recently, still feeling the remnants of a particularly fun Saturday night, I tried Royal Oak Bar & Grill for the first time...and even with a wee bit of a hangover, I was pleasantly surprised.

After parking around the corner (you can also deal with the lot across the street or valet), we sat ourselves on the patio out front, where the fans were humming and the music was cooing just loud enough to bury the sounds of the Westheimer traffic. The relaxing atmosphere and promise of $7 pitchers of mimosa were enough for me to let go of my post-Saturday anxiety.

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Love at first sight...

When it comes time for date night, I want two things and two things only: good food and flowing wine. Okay, fine -- I guess my fiancé, too. So, three things and three things only...

Follow me as I chronicle the magic of a good date night (and not in a creepy way like that totally sounds)...

See also:

Patio Dining: Date Night at Grappino di Nino

Date Night at Dolce Vita Pizzeria & Enoteca

Date Night at Ibiza Food & Wine Bar

Last Friday, the man and I finally checked out Coppa Risorante Italiano. The second we stepped into the romantic but still-funky chandelier-lit space (that was still completely packed at 9 p.m., by the way -- thank God they take reservations), I wished I had made a visit sooner. And we hadn't even peeked at a menu yet.

This place is perfection; it manages to be classy without being stuffy, has a warm and welcoming staff, and boasts a menu full of familiar Italian classics reimagined in a way that only a culinary mastermind can -- that night, Executive Chef Brandi Key herself made rounds to greet each and every smiling table.

And there was a clear reason for the joy quickly filling the room -- Key's food is delicate, well thought out and simply irresistible.

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