Eat in Rice Village / Upper Kirby, Houston

Pondicheri ★ 4.2

Pondicheri in Houston is Anita Jaisinghani's modern Indian room at WestAve on Kirby Drive since 2011, with masala omelette breakfasts, thali plates.

OrderMasala omelette with roti at breakfast. The thali plate at dinner.

TipBreakfast (7am to 11am) is the lesser-known peak. The thali changes daily; ask what is on it before you order.

Pondicheri ★ 4.5

Pondicheri in Houston is Anita Jaisinghani's modern Indian room at WestAve on Kirby Drive since 2011, with masala omelette breakfasts, thali plates.

OrderMasala omelette and roti at breakfast. The thali plate at dinner. The Bake Lab's chai bun for the road.

TipBreakfast (7am to 11am) is the lesser-known peak. The thali changes daily; ask first.

Tiny Boxwoods ★ 4.4

Tiny Boxwoods in Houston is the garden-cafe on West Alabama in the Thompson + Hanson nursery, with a chocolate chip cookie that became a Houston object.

OrderThe chocolate chip cookie warm with milk. Whichever pizza is on. Salad of the day at lunch.

TipBrunch on weekends draws a 90-minute line. Weekday lunch is the move. Order an extra dozen cookies for home.

Goode Company Barbeque ★ 4.3

Goode Company Barbeque on Kirby Drive in Houston is Jim Goode's 1977 mesquite-smoked barbecue room, the city's introduction to commercial Texas barbecue.

OrderBrisket and a jalapeno pork sausage link. Jambalaya. Pecan pie to close.

TipMultiple Goode Company locations across Houston exist. The Kirby flagship is the original and the only one with the screened porch.

McGonigel's Mucky Duck ★ 4.7

McGonigel's Mucky Duck on Norfolk Street has run Houston's Americana and folk circuit since 1990. Most nights bring two seated sets at an Irish-themed.

TipClosed Sunday. Shows run four to five nights a week, with two sets most evenings; the early set seats first, late set walk-up.