The gentrifying near-East Side neighbourhood where Pastiche pours European cocktails from a 1920s cottage and the dining scene is still finding its feet.
Con Huevos Tacos on East Houston builds its menu around the egg, with fluffy breakfast tacos and migas served on the gentrifying near-East Side.
Order: Egg-forward breakfast tacos and migas.
Tip: Migas is the egg dish to get if you want something beyond a standard taco. Quick counter service.
The Cherrity Bar near downtown's east side pairs cocktails and comfort food with a charitable model, donating from every visit to local causes.
Order: Vegan and comfort-food plates, with a cocktail.
Tip: Proceeds support rotating local charities, so a meal here does double duty. The vegan plates are genuinely good.
Pastiche pours playful European-leaning cocktails from a 1920s cottage in Dignowity Hill, a quiet east-side bar with charcuterie boards and real charm.
Signature drink: Reimagined European classics
Food: Charcuterie and bistro snacks
Tip: The cottage setting on a quiet street is half the charm. Order a riff on a European classic and a charcuterie board.
The Cherrity Bar near downtown's east side pairs craft cocktails and comfort food with a charity model, donating proceeds to rotating local causes.
Signature drink: Cocktails that fund local causes
Food: Vegan and comfort plates
Tip: Your tab supports a different local charity each cycle. The vegan kitchen and live-music nights make it a full evening.
Burleson Yard Beer Garden is a big open east-side yard good for groups and dogs, pouring craft beer alongside whatever food truck is parked that day.
Signature drink: Craft beer in a converted yard
Food: Food-truck fare
Tip: Check which food truck is parked before you go. A big open yard that is good for groups and dogs.
Pollos Asados Los Norteños on the east side grills whole chickens over mesquite; order one with grilled onions and tortillas, and go early as the queue grows.
Try: Mesquite-grilled pollo asado
Tip: Order a whole chicken with the grilled onions and tortillas. The queue can be long; go early on weekends.
Alamo Beer Company is an east-side brewery whose biergarten under the historic Hays Street Bridge is the draw, with a German-style lager as the flagship pour.
Tip: The biergarten under the historic Hays Street Bridge is the draw. The German-style lager is the flagship pour.
Black Laboratory Brewing on East Houston is a dog-friendly east-side taproom named for the owners' Labradors, pouring an easy-drinking range of house beers.
Tip: It is dog-friendly and named for the owners' Labradors. A relaxed east-side taproom for an unfussy pint.
Pollos Asados Los Norteños grills whole mesquite chickens on Rigsby Avenue that feed a family for the price of one mid-range entree, a high-value cult spot.
Try: Mesquite-grilled chicken feeds a family
Tip: A whole grilled chicken with tortillas and onions feeds several people cheaply. Go early; the line builds fast.
Pastiche keeps its Dignowity Hill cottage open late for European-leaning cocktails and charcuterie, a quiet east-side nightcap away from the louder strips.
Try: Cocktails and charcuterie in a cottage
Tip: A calmer late-night option than the strips. Close out the night with a charcuterie board and a thoughtful cocktail.