The Woodlands Biotch

i’m sure i’ve mentioned on several  occasions now that we eat out a lot. so let me get right down to it.

sometimes, the places you avoid eating at really do turn out to be hidden gems. take for example two of our latest discoveries:

capri, in what used to be victor’s ox tail (a restaurant i had no interest whatsoever in trying just based on the name) has been our latest discovery in italian cuisine. barbara, the co-owner and head chef, is full-blooded italian and takes great pride in keeping her food authentic. this is easy to see in the free appetizer she serves everyone; a crusty hand-made italian bread with fresh marinara of excellent flavor. we talked with her for some time as we ate her lasagna and penne al pomodoro e basilico; an incredible meal that cost us less than $20. her lasagna was unique to our dining experience as it looks nothing like any i’ve ever seen. she explained – “my lasagna is the same as my mother made and what i make when i’m having friends over for dinner at home. i am from northern italy and this is very much what you would see on any dinner table around there.” hers was only about an inch tall, the pasta folded between the layers, not just stacked. it was also topped with a white cheese blended sauce – almost reminiscent of an alfredo, but thicker, heartier. and the portion was quite generous, covering half the plate. this also came with a small side salad of fresh vegetables and hand-made croutons. speaking of generous portions, my penne al pomodoro e basilico came in a huge, shallow bowl, enough for two (okay, three, but it was too good to wait!) meals. the basil was fresh and both blended in as well as a garnish.

the other place we finally ventured into lately was los 3 amigos over in oak ridge north. again, i’d avoided them for years. i mean, they’re wedged between a gas station and a barber shop in a crappy little shopping center that’s been there since the beginning of oak ridge north. but on the other hand, every time we go by there we see a crowd. so we bit the bullet. our theory was it had to be better than mariachi’s. ugh. and pleasantly, it was. juan, apparently the manager if not the owner, knows his regulars, but was kind enough to us despite our newcomer status. the restaurant, while in a crap location, is clean and inviting. the menu is extensive yet reasonably priced and runs the gamut of quesedillas to carne asada. despite this, we opted to split some fajitas. they arrived only about 10 minutes after we ordered and were sizzling on a bed of onions and bell pepper. let me pause to say “thank you” for including bell pepper. what is with the latest trend of onions only?  the chicken was tender and flavorful, the tortillas, while presumebly store-bought, were soft and pliable, both corn and flour. our water glasses never ran empty and we were checked on several times as we ate, but not harassed.

bottom line here? every once in a while, you really do have to visit the occasional hole in the wall. they aren’t all bad, really. and some turn out to be real treasures!