The Full Menu from Houston Matters

It only takes the smallest drop in temperature and a couple of days into October to get us dreaming of autumn and savoring any sign of cozy, cooler days ahead.

From pho and menudo, to warm, comforting dishes featuring root vegetables, in this month's installment of The Full Menu, our gaggle of foodies digs into spots serving up fall favorites -- if only to help us pretend it’s 60 degrees outside.

In the audio above, we hear from freelance food writer and editor David Leftwich, Michelle Wallace, chef and owner of B’tween Sandwich Co., and Katharine Shilcutt of Rice University.

Establishments Mentioned in this Edition:

Huynh Restaurant
Kim Tài
El Toro Mexican Cafe
Taquería Buey y Vaca
Puebla's Mexican Kitchen
Doña Maria Mexican Cafe
Tacos La Bala
La Guadalupana Montrose
Alamo Tamales
Momma's Tamales
Cochinita & co.
Roegels Barbecue Co.
Gatlin's BBQ
Viola and Agnes
Goode Co.
Padre's Wine Bar
Lucille's
Rainbow Lodge
Coltivare
Giacomo's
The Audrey
House of Pies
Kefita Coffee
Tenfold Coffee Company

In this month's installment of The Full Menu, foodies dish on their favorite places for breakfast and brunch in Greater Houston.

In the audio above, we hear from Felice Sloan of the Swanky Maven lifestyle blog, freelance food writer and editor David Leftwich, and Michelle Wallace, chef and owner of B'tween Sandwich Co.

Establishments Mentioned in this Edition:
Avalon Diner
Dot Coffee Shop
The Breakfast Klub
CasaEma
Gerardo's Dive-In
B'tween Sandwich Co.
Starr Bakery
Koffeteria
TelWink Grill
Frank's Grill
The Buffalo Grille
Don Pepe
Cucharita
Traveler's Table
Maximo
Hugo's
Squable
Kolache Shoppe
Kin Dee
Magnol French Baking

Houston Restaurant Weeks is underway during the month of August and runs through Sept. 7. The event raises funds for the Houston Food Bank. In this month's installment of The Full Menu, food writers talk about what dishes local restaurants are offering this year and what they're looking forward to sampling.

In the audio above, we hear from Felice Sloan of the Swanky Maven lifestyle blog, and chef and pitmaster Michelle Wallace, and Katharine Shilcutt of Rice University (and an original contributor on The Full Menu in her previous life as a food writer).

Establishments Mentioned in this Edition:

Bludorn
BCN Taste & Tradition
MAD Houston
Barbacana Restaurant
The Green Room Restaurant
Kitchen Rumors
Caribbean Jerk Palace
Eunice Restaurant
The Blind Goat
Brennan's of Houston
Rainbow Lodge
Craft Pita
Street to Kitchen
Eculent
The Chef's Table
Marvino's Italian Steakhouse

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In this month's installment of The Full Menu, Houston foodies dish on their favorite cool patios and refreshing options for the summer heat.

In the audio above, we hear from chef and pitmaster Michelle Wallace and freelance food writer and editor David Leftwich.

Establishments Mentioned in this Edition:

In this month's installment of The Full Menu, food writers discuss some of their favorite restaurants around Houston to take a date or to have a date night with someone you love.

In the audio above, we hear from Eric Sandler of CultureMap Houston, Felice Sloan of the Swanky Maven lifestyle blog, and freelance food writer and editor David Leftwich.

Establishments Mentioned in this Edition:

Bludorn
Poison Girl Bar
Lola's Depot
Drake's Hollywood
Doc's Jazz Club
Le Jardinier
Cafe Leonelli
Nancy's Hustle
Street to Kitchen
Lee's
Milton’s Coastline Artisan Pizzeria
Hypsi at Hotel Daphne
Navy Blue Perseid
Augustine Lounge
West Alabama Ice House
Tacos Tierra Caliente
Central Market
Weights + Measures
93' Til
The Marigold Club
Late August
Tatemó
POST Houston

In this month's installment of The Full Menu, food writers discuss some of their favorite new restaurants that have opened in the past year.

In the audio above, we hear from Eric Sandler of CultureMap Houston, Felice Sloan of the Swanky Maven lifestyle blog, and freelance food writer and editor David Leftwich.

Establishments Mentioned in this Edition:

Camaraderie
Agnes and Sherman
Boo's Burgers
Yiayia's Greek Kitchen
Silk Road
Fielding's
Latuli
Turan Uygher Kitchen
Good God, Nadine's
Kaisen Sushi
Berwick's Bird of Paradise
Jonathan's the Rub

(L-R) Eric Sandler of CultureMap Houston, Felice Sloan of the Swanky Maven lifestyle blog, and freelance food writer and editor David Leftwich discuss the local restaurant scene on The Full Menu.

Maybe you’re like Kevin McCallister’s family in Home Alone, and this holiday season you’ll be jetting off to Europe. If so, enjoy the sights and the food (and make sure all your kids actually get on the plane and, of course, be on the lookout for Joe Pesci).

However, if you are not headed to Europe anytime soon but still want to sample the wonderful cuisine the continent has to offer (over the holidays or year-round), our food writers share some of their favorite places to get European dishes closer to home in this month's edition of The Full Menu.

In the audio above, we hear from Eric Sandler of CultureMap Houston, Felice Sloan of the Swanky Maven lifestyle blog, and Sofia Gonzalez, food and travel editor for Houstonia.

Establishments Mentioned in this Edition:

Brasserie 19
Toulouse Cafe and Bar
Chardon
BCN Taste & Tradition
Le Jardinier
Baso
Annabelle Brasserie
Camaraderie
Squable
Mi Luna
MAD
Costa Brava Bistro
Blue Tuba
Kenny and Ziggy's
Barcelona Wine Bar
Fish & Chips Houston
The Red Lion Houston
Cafe Brussels
Cafe Adel
Istanbul Grill

Dining out has been getting more expensive these days. So, we turn to our gaggle of foodies and seek their suggestions for the best low-cost eating options around town on this month's edition of The Full Menu.

In the audio above, we hear from Eric Sandler of CultureMap Houston, Felice Sloan of the Swanky Maven lifestyle blog, and freelance food writer and editor David Leftwich.

Establishments Mentioned in this Edition:

Burger Bodega
Narwhal Jousting Club
Cantina Barba
Monkey's Tail
burger-chan
Someburger
Champ Burger
Dot Coffee Shop
Tacos Doña Lena
Frank's Pizza
Home Slice Pizza
Star Pizza
Coastline Pizzeria
Pizaro's Pizza
Olive Branch
AL Quick Stop
Aladdin
Oishii
Huynh
Alma
Thien Ân Sandwiches
Feges BBQ
Gatlin's BBQ
Shawarma King
The Brisket House
CasaEma
Central Market
Treebeards

In this month's installment of The Full Menu, food writers discuss some of their favorite places to get sandwiches these days in Houston and debunk the notion that we're not a great sandwich city.

In the audio above, we hear from Eric Sandler of CultureMap Houston, freelance food writer and editor David Leftwich, and guest contributor, restaurateur Raffi Nasr.

Establishments Mentioned in this Edition:

Craft Pita
Phoenicia Specialty Foods
Stuffed Belly and Agnes and Sherman
Winnie's
Bas's Cheesesteak Window
Philly Jawn Cheesesteaks (pop-up by Dawn Burrell)
Bayou Butchers
Burger Bodega
B'Tween Sandwich Co.
Stuffed Belly
Alpha Bakery & Deli
Roostar
Les Ba'get
Moon Rabbit
Tortas Perronas
El Rey
Josephine's Gulf Coast Tradition
Yuma HTX
Truth BBQ
Blood Bros. BBQ
Roegels Barbecue Co.
LuLoo's Day & Night
Local Foods
Central Market
Homeslice Pizza
CasaEma
Puebla's Mexican Kitchen

RELATED: Exploring H-Town one bite at a time to create the ultimate Houston sandwich

In this month's installment of The Full Menu, Houston food writers discuss their favorite area restaurants that they should have told you about sooner — the ones that maybe defy any category but deserve a little attention.

In the audio above, we hear from Eric Sandler of CultureMap Houston, Felice Sloan of the Swanky Maven lifestyle blog, and freelance food writer and editor David Leftwich.

Establishments Mentioned in this Edition:

Gino's Italian Joint
Romano's Pizza
Little Kitchen HTX
Yiayia's Pappas Greek Kitchen
Thien An Sandwiches
Thiên Thanh
Little Rey
Pappas Burger
Tío Trompo
Boo's Burgers
J-Bar-M BBQ
Ploughman's Deli
Koffeteria
Roostar
Beck's Prime
Josephine's Gulf Coast Tradition
Kenny & Ziggy's
Sao Lao Thai Café
Butter Funk Kitchen