UPDATED REVIEW:  JANUARY 2007 --

The place was packed on a recent Friday night and, although we were told the wait was 30-45 minutes, it wasn't more than 15.  Barely time to find a seat at the crowded bar and get the attention of the harried, not-particularly-knowledgeable-about-the wine-list bartenders.   (Colonel Klink-see review below-was still there!)   Notwithstanding the seeming lack of knowledge and time for discussion, we did get a recommendation for a good red Italian wine (Palazzo was somewhere in the name -- what can we say, two of us drank a bottle) priced in the $40 range.

After our last experience of the food coming too quickly, this time around we paced our order.  We tried a couple of the marinated vegetable starters -- beets with walnuts, and mushrooms encircled with rosa ricotta.  Both were fabulous.  We wanted to try a few of the other marinated vegetables but moved on to the warm appetizer special -- grilled calamari stuffed with pancetta, leeks and ricotta in a spicy tomato sauce.  It was also delicious.  We had thought we'd have room for one of the famous pizzas, but we were too full at that point.  Should have eaten less of the fabulous grilled flat bread. 

Our experience was much better this time around, and we'll definitely be back.   We've taken it out of the Disappointments category.


INITIAL REVIEW:  JUNE 2006 --

We tried this place within a month or so after it opened.  We'd heard the hype and really wanted to like it.  Our experience wasn't horrible, but we weren't enticed to go back.  We liked the somewhat ramshackle old house.  We didn't mind the wait at the bar, although the service started out quite shaky as a person-behind-the-bar who didn't appear to be a bus person knew nothing about the specialty drinks or any of the food that was available at the bar.  After we got past Colonel Klink, the real Bartender was helpful, albeit harried.  Upon being seated, the service was quite timely  -- actually too much so.  The meat balls and pizza that we ordered arrived (literally) within 3 minutes of placing the order.  So much for envisioning our pizza being made to order and popped into the famous oven.  In fairness, the food was quite good -- the meatballs (without any sauce) were moist and flavorful and the pizza (covered in prosciutto) was tasty, although it didn't send us into the raptures of many commentators such that we had to run out and book a trip to Italy.  We didn't try any of the multitude of appetizers (marinated/grilled vegetables, cold meats, and cheeses), which appeared to work best if you ordered a number of them and shared among a large table.  We also didn't try the pasta which looked pretty good based on the dishes being eaten at the table next to ours.  Other than the appetizers, pasta, and many interesting (i.e., ranging from innovative to just plain wierd) pizza selections, there was one daily entree special.

500 Westheimer
713/520-8222