Favorite Restaurants in The Woodlands

Happy Sunday! I hope everyone is having a great weekend. We made a great dinner at home last night, so that was a lot of fun. It’s always interesting to try something new.

As many of you know, Houston Restaurant Weeks is happening the entire month of August, so I thought it would be a fun time to share some of my favorite restaurants! The other day, I shared my favorite restaurants in Houston, but I didn’t include any of the restaurants in The Woodlands. Today, I want to share all of my favorite restaurants that are closer to home! I have been to each one of these restaurants several times, so they are tried and true places for us.

Broken Barrel (NOW CLOSED)
- If you are looking for a great atmosphere and even better food, you have to try Broken Barrel. It is located at Hughes Landing and they have a prime location overlooking Lake Woodlands. I love their menu concept where everything is meant to share.
- We haven’t had anything bad here, so I would try it all! We love getting the meat and cheese board and the tostones. I don’t know what kind of seasoning they use, but their pork is so good! In terms of drinks, they have a great wine selection and they also offer a wide variety of cocktails. I always start with their tanqueray & tonic because they serve it in a cute mason jar with the botanicals from the gin!
The Republic
- If you are looking for a restaurant with a good variety of dishes, I would try The Republic. I haven’t had a bad meal here, so I am convinced they do everything well. I’ve had their gumbo, salads and even a couple of their chicken dishes. Everything is always so delicious!
- Their most popular dish is the Chicken Fried Steak, so if you are in need of a big plate of comfort food, this is your place! I think the prices are pretty reasonable and they offer a wine discount on Wednesday. If you order a bottle of wine on Wednesday, it is half off.
- Overall, this is a great place to take the family, and it is a great place for a casual date night. Give it a try if you are looking for something new and delicious!
El Chapparo
- We discovered El Chapparo because it is so close to our house and several people in our neighborhood had been raving about it. It is definitely the neighborhood “watering hole” and people love to stop in for a jumbo margarita!
- We are completely obsessed and go at least once a week. I always order the Fajitas Mexicana because it has just the right amount of spice. Whatever sauce they use on these fajitas is amazing! Alex loves ordering the tacos camperos. Of course, we always have to get our jumbo margaritas to go with our dinner. Also, the drinks are super cheap on happy hour, so make sure to go before 6 PM to get the deal!
TRIS (formerly known as Hubbell and Hudson Bistro)
- If you are looking for a good date night restaurant, I would give Hubbell and Hudson a try. I love this place because it is a smaller restaurant which makes it feel a little more intimate. It isn’t super loud like most restaurants around the area.
- Their menu offers a wide-variety of dishes including seafood, aged steaks and some amazing pastas. They are always changing the menu, so it is nice to see they are coming up with new, innovative ideas! My favorite dish is the patagonian toothfish (seabass) – it is always cooked to perfection. You also need to try a side of their brussels sprouts.
Truluck’s
- We don’t go to Truluck’s that often because it is expensive, but when we go, it is such a treat! Their service is amazing and they have an excellent wine selection. My favorite thing to order on the menu is the miso-glazed seabass with crab fried rice. It is so good!
- They actually have a really good happy hour offered in the bar from 4:30 – 7 PM. You can get oysters at a discount and cocktails for only $7! I think it’s a pretty good deal. They also have a live pianist in the bar, so the ambiance is great.
Black Walnut
- The Black Walnut is an amazing fast-casual restaurant. They have a great breakfast and brunch, so we typically like going on a Saturday morning. It does get really crowded on the weekends, though!
- We also love their salads and a couple other pasta dishes. It is a great place for lunch and dinner, too. If you work from home, this is a great option because they have free wifi! I have sat here for 4-5 hours before because it is so comfortable to work here.
Crú Wine Bar
- One of my favorite restaurants in Market Street is Crú Wine Bar. We have been here for both brunch and dinner. I love this place because you can order wine flights. This is really helpful if you aren’t sure what wine you want to order with dinner. They have a really good wine list if you are looking for a nice bottle for a special occasion.
- One of my favorite deals here is the half off champagne on Thursday. Every Thursday, you get half off and entire bottle of sparkling wine! Now, who doesn’t love that?!