Caracol
Unit #160
2200 Post Oak Boulevard
Greater Uptown
Houston
Texas 77056
United States Of America

https://www.caracol.net/

Churros Rellenos Y Chocolate Caliente (USD $16)

The Original Ninfa's
2704 Navigation Boulevard
Second Ward
Houston
Texas 77003
United States Of America

1700 Post Oak Boulevard #1-190
Greater Uptown
Houston
Texas 77056
United States Of America

https://ninfas.com/

Chili Con Queso (USD $13)

Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria
2626 Sage Road
Greater Uptown
Houston
Texas 77056
United States Of America

https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/hourg-hyatt-regency-houston-galleria


Convenient & Comfortable Stay In The City

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Visited: Dec-2024
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 6
Value for Money: 6
Budget about USD $970 / SGD $1,320 per person.
- $1,320 Accommodation 6D5N


Nearby Attractions: Houston Space Center, Downtown Aquarium, San Jacinto Museum, The Museum Of Fine Arts, Kemah Boardwalk, Bayou Bend, Buffalo Bayou Park, Hermann Park, Houston Zoo, Houston Museum Of Natural Science, Old Town Spring, Children's Museum Houston, The Menil Collection, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, The Health Museum, Lone Star Flight Museum, Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, Discovery Green, Memorial Park, Houston Botanic Garden, Lake Houston, Houston Center For Photography, Houston Arboretum And Nature Center, Houston Museum Of African American Culture, John C. Freeman Weather Museum, El Jardin Beach, Hurricane Harbor Splashtown, Beer Can House


Hotel Facilities: Free Wi-Fi, Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Terrace Sun Deck, 1 Restaurant (Urban Star Restaurant), 1 Cafe (Grab & Go Cafe & Market), 2 Bars (Urban Star Bar, Ranch Water Pool Bar), 1 Lounge (Lobby Lounge), Cable Television, Business Centre, Meeting Rooms, Laundry Service, On-Site Valet Parking (USD $49 Per Day), Electric Vehicle Charging, Refreshment Pantry, Currency Exchange Service


Hotel Activities: Internet Surfing, Meetings, Exercising, Swimming, Shopping


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Introduction
Located about 30 minutes drive away from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, United States Of America, the Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria is a 4-star hotel is near many of the city's attractions, including being right next to The Galleria, the largest shopping mall in Texas. Positioned for business travellers, leisure travellers, and families, Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria is also within walking distance to several good restaurants.


Ambience
Ambience at Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria is modern, spacious, open, and elegant. The high ceiling at the lobby, with ample natural light and plush lounge chairs, lend a welcoming feel. Chandeliers resembling wagon wheels, lit by warm lights, hang overhead. A grand staircase leads up to the meeting rooms. There is a sense of luxury here.


Room
Rooms at Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria are comfortable and spacious. I stayed at the King Room, and was glad for the large comfortable bed and sofa with marble-topped desk. The bathroom has the shower and toilet on either sides, with doors. The in-room wi-fi was fast and stable, and the cable television offered a decent range of channels.


Food
Food at Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria is available for casual dining and takeaway at the Grab & Go Cafe & Market, for casual dine-in at the Urban Star Restaurant, or for in-room dining. The menu options are focused but sufficient, featuring American cuisine. While quality of dishes is decent enough, there's ample restaurants surrounding the hotel.


Service
Service at Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria is hit and miss. I commend the hardworking efficiency of the housekeeping staff and valets, and tipped them well. The reception was polite and thorough during check-in and check-out. However, I had unsatisfactory service at Urban Star Restaurant, having waited 45 minutes for our order on one occasion, while we did not receive our order on another occasion.


Facilities & Activities
The facilities and activities at Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria are well maintained. The gymnasium has a good range of exercise machines, while the swimming pool is a decent size, surrounded by a terrace sun deck and pool bar. The meeting rooms are large and spacious, though the business centre is tiny. The lobby lounge around the Urban Star Bar are great for relaxing. With The Galleria shopping mall just opposite, there's also much to do at the Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria.


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The Urban Star Restaurant is the in-house restaurant of Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria. Ambience is bright and comfortable, with functional furnishings. The buffet display is neatly lined up. Service is lacklustre, with extremely long waiting times for ordered food, and we didn't receive our order on an occasion. Food is American cuisine, quality of dishes is above average. Was glad for the sustenance, as they were open on Christmas Day. We had the buffet breakfast included in the cost of our stay here.

Urban Star Restaurant Seating

Decorative Lamps

A strong cup of Coffee Brewed, thin with toasty earthy flavour. Nice morning pick-me-up. I like the Coffee Brewed here, and had several cups each morning. Good!

Coffee Brewed

The Bourbon Garrison Brothers Honeydew (USD $17) is a bourbon whisky, brewed by the Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Blanco County, Texas, United States Of America. It has a light copper brown colour, with aromas and tastes of hibiscus flowers, vanilla, honey, cloves, toasted oak wood, plum, and elderberry flowers. The body is creamy, rich, and smooth, with floral earthy fruity sweet honeyed spice woody flavour, with a lingering velvety finish. Pleasing and inviting, so nice.

Bourbon Garrison Brothers Honeydew (USD $17)

Bourbon Garrison Brothers Honeydew

Bourbon Garrison Brothers Honeydew

The Cocktail Lonestar (USD $16) is made with a blend of Woodford Reserve orange bitters, water, white sugar, cinnamon, and Don Julio añejo tequila, served over the rocks with a cinnamon stick stirrer and orange peel garnish. This has bright and strong fruity sour zesty tangy sweet bitter spice boozy flavour, nicely warming.

Cocktail Lonestar (USD $16)

Cocktail Lonestar

Cocktail Lonestar

Helped ourselves to some Toast With Salami, Cheese, Butter. The thick slice of multigrain bread toast has a crisp crunch to texture, with smoky bready grainy sweet flavour. The tender pork salami has meaty salty savoury spice flavour, while the soft cubes of cheddar cheese were cheesy salty in taste. Loved the creamy knob of butter, with its decadent buttery milky salty sweet flavour. Good!

Toast With Salami, Cheese, Butter

Toast With Salami, Cheese, Butter

The Biscuits And Gravy are among the better renditions I've had. The biscuits have a soft crumbly texture with buttery honeyed floral sweet savoury flavour, while the sausage gravy is creamy thick with milky savoury salty sweet flavour. Good!

Biscuits And Gravy

Biscuits And Gravy

Biscuits And Gravy

Enjoyed the Full American Breakfast / Scrambled Eggs Breakfast. This features crispy pork streaky bacon rashers with smoky meaty salty savoury fatty flavour, fluffy soft scrambled eggs with milky eggy sweet flavour, snappy juicy grilled pork sausages with smoky meaty savoury salty herbal flavour, tender roasted potatoes with starchy salty savoury flavour, and crisp fresh mesclun salad (purple cabbage, rocket leaves / arugula, baby spinach) with vegetal bitter herbal earthy sweet flavour. Good!

Full American Breakfast / Scrambled Eggs Breakfast

Full American Breakfast / Scrambled Eggs Breakfast

Full American Breakfast / Scrambled Eggs Breakfast

Enjoyed the Egg Omelette. This features fillings of crisp sautéed spinach, tender pork ham, and gooey cheddar cheese, wrapped within the fluffy gooey egg omelette. Combined, it has eggy sweet savoury salty cheesy peppery spice flavour. Served with a side of juicy fresh fruits (orange and strawberry) which lends fruity sweet flavour. Good!

Egg Omelette

Egg Omelette

Egg Omelette

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Houston Street Food - Part 3


More Houston Street Food that I've tried during other visits to Houston, Texas, United States Of America, continuing from Part 1, and Part 2.

Pescado Zarandeado

Houston Street Food - Part 2


More Houston Street Food that I've tried during other visits to Houston, Texas, United States Of America, continuing from Part 1.

Smoked Beef Brisket

Pappas Bar-B-Q
1217 Pierce Street
Downtown Houston
Houston
Texas 77002
United States Of America

https://pappasbbq.com/

Barnaby's Cafe
1701 South Shepherd Drive
River Oaks
Houston
Texas 77019
United States Of America

604 Fairview Street
Montrose
Houston
Texas 77006
United States Of America

https://www.barnabyscafe.com/

Chili Dog (USD $17)

Backstreet Cafe
1103 South Shepherd Drive
River Oaks
Houston
Texas 77019
United States Of America

1201 South Shepherd Drive
River Oaks
Houston
Texas 77019
United States Of America

https://www.backstreetcafe.net/

Gulf Shrimp And Stone-Ground Cheese Grits (USD $32)

Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District
5701 Main Street
Museum District
Houston
Texas 77005
United States Of America

https://www.hotelzaza.com/houston-museum-district


Luxurious, Cultured Stay

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Visited: Dec-2024
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 8
Value for Money: 6
Budget about USD $790 / SGD $1,090 per person.
- $1,090 Accommodation 4D3N


Nearby Attractions: Houston Space Center, Downtown Aquarium, San Jacinto Museum, The Museum Of Fine Arts, Kemah Boardwalk, Bayou Bend, Buffalo Bayou Park, Hermann Park, Houston Zoo, Houston Museum Of Natural Science, Old Town Spring, Children's Museum Houston, The Menil Collection, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, The Health Museum, Lone Star Flight Museum, Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, Discovery Green, Memorial Park, Houston Botanic Garden, Lake Houston, Houston Center For Photography, Houston Arboretum And Nature Center, Houston Museum Of African American Culture, John C. Freeman Weather Museum, El Jardin Beach, Hurricane Harbor Splashtown, Beer Can House


Hotel Facilities: Free Wi-Fi, Gymnasium, 1 Spa (ZaSpa), Sauna, Swimming Pool, Terrace Sun Deck, 1 Restaurant (Monarch), 3 Lounges (Lobby Lounge, Piano Man Pre-Function Lounge, Phantom Pre-Function Lounge), Cable Television, Business Centre, Meeting Rooms, Laundry Service, Off-Site Valet Parking (USD $59 Per Day), Morning Butler Pantry, Complimentary Shuttle Service, Currency Exchange Service


Hotel Activities: Internet Surfing, Meetings, Business Parties, Exercising, Swimming, Spa, Sauna, Massage, Art Viewing


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Introduction
Located about 30 minutes drive away from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, United States Of America, the Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District is a modern 4-star boutique hotel that channels the cultural spirit of the area. Within walking distance to many highly rated museums and attractions, Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District served as a comfortable and convenient base when I visited and explored the area across several days, though the prices it commands are premium.


Ambience
Ambience at Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District has a luxurious artsy chic vibe. A mix of fine art and pop culture pieces adorns the dimly lit lobby and sharply lit meeting spaces, while gleaming chandeliers and plush carpets exude extravagant opulence. Lift landings open to walls hung with quirky artwork or photographs, but the corridors leading to the rooms are muted.


Room
Rooms at Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District are spacious, clean, and comfortable. I stayed at the Standard Room With Balcony, which offered a view of the city. The bed was large and comfortable and clean, the working desk sturdy and spacious, the in-room wi-fi was fast and stable, and the pantry was well-stocked but expensive. The bathroom was large and clean, and I loved the powerful shower.


Food
Food at Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District is served at Monarch, a fine dining Modern American restaurant. The intimate vibe enhanced with quirky decor lends well to business meals or romantic occasions. Dishes are freshly prepared with quality ingredients, tagged with premium prices, but are utterly delicious and filling. Saw many groups celebrating the festive holidays here.


Service
Service at Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District is friendly and professional. Staff are quick to fulfil requests, and checking in or out is seamless and fast. Housekeeping is hardworking and efficient, with one at least being a kindly grandmother type. Of note are the valets; as there is no on-site parking, all cars have to be handed over for valet parking. They are quick to retrieve your vehicle when called as well.


Facilities & Activities
The facilities and activities at Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District are well maintained. The gymnasium has a good variety of exercise machines, while the meetings rooms are spacious. Saw several guests playing the piano too. The swimming pool, surrounded by the towering facade of the hotel, inspires awe. The business centre is small but functional, while quiet corners allow for private conversations. Overall, I enjoyed staying at Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District though it was expensive.


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The Monarch is the in-house restaurant of Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District. Ambience at Monarch carries the same luxurious artsy chic vibe, if not more so. The dim lighting is offset by quirky decorative pieces, such as a mounted faux zebra head. The lights themselves are reflected by shiny globules, casting shadows on the large but comfortable furnishings. The indoor space has a refined restaurant feel, while the outdoor terrace has a classy casual feel. Service at Monarch is attentive and personalised, with staff according good attention to diners. They work quickly, have decent product knowledge on the menu, and clean up tables fast. Food at Monarch is fine dining American cuisine, with each dish consistently well executed with premium ingredients and the greatest of care. Portions are large for individuals. Prices are high, budget about USD $87 per person.

Decorative Lights

Table Under Zebra

Seating

The Beer Karbach Hoplectic (USD $8) is an American West Coast India Pale Ale (IPA), brewed by the Karbach Brewing Company in Spring Branch East, Houston, Texas, United States Of America. It has a clear copper brown colour, with aromas and tastes of grapefruit, pine cones, honeydew melon, and grass. The body is sticky, thin, and light, with fruity earthy sour bitter sweet flavour, and a lingering finish.

Beer Karbach Hoplectic (USD $8)

Beer Karbach Hoplectic

The Deviled Eggs Trio (USD $16) is a good premium sharing appetizer, with the morsels perfectly portioned for 2 people. Each of the trio runs the gamut from the common to the luxurious, all with bouncy mushy soft textures. The Deviled Eggs Cajun (with paprika) has eggy sour sweet spice flavour, the Deviled Eggs Caviar (with sturgeon fish caviar) has eggy sour sweet briny salty fishy flavour, and the Deviled Eggs Prosciutto (with prosciutto cotto / cooked dry-cured ham) has eggy sour sweet meaty salty smoky flavour. Good!

Deviled Eggs Trio (USD $16)

Deviled Eggs Cajun

Deviled Eggs Cajun

Deviled Eggs Caviar

Deviled Eggs Caviar

Deviled Eggs Prosciutto

Deviled Eggs Prosciutto

Deviled Eggs Trio

Enjoyed the Surf & Surf (USD $48), as it showcases 2 luxurious seafood items. The duo of Crab Cake has a crisp golden exterior, a tender chunky interior, and enticing meaty sweet savoury briny salty herbal spice flavour. The 4 large Grilled Scallops are basted in lemon butter sauce, have a tender bouncy texture, and smoky meaty savoury salty sweet flavour. Served with crunchy grilled garlic broccolini with vegetal sweet bitter herbal spice salty flavour, crisp sautéed bell peppers / capsicum with smoky vegetal sweet sour flavour, and crisp potato shoestring fries with starchy salty savoury flavour. Condiments of a grilled lemon and rich tomato ketchup complete. Super filling, I packed the remainder for another meal. Highly recommended!

Surf & Surf (USD $48)

Surf & Surf

Crab Cake

Grilled Scallops

Surf & Surf

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