Cheap Eat$
Crunch time here on campus has arrived. Papers, projects, exams and preparations for next semester are keeping students, faculty and staff moving at a dizzying pace. All of the work might be driving you to the breaking point.
With that in mind, I've compiled a little Cheap Eat$ cheat sheet. Go ahead. Tear it out; take it to class; hide it in the inside cover of your notebook. Just don't let your professor catch you. The jolly academic just might confiscate it for personal use.
Craving Tex-Mex?
Seems like every time I talk Cheap Eat$ with strangers or friends, they tell me, "I know this great place." At which point they proceed to wax enchilada about some charming taqueria. It takes much restraint not to write about a different Tex-Mex joint every week. But two local favorites did make it into this column.
Tapatia Taqueria, 1749 Richmond, serves up some of the tastiest Tex-Mex in a festive environment. Tapatia stays open late enough so you can pop by after the library closes or even after many nightclubs show you the door. Whatever you do, don't miss the yummy rice, excellent enchiladas or tantalizing tortas.
Visit La Carreta, 208 E. 20th St. in the Heights, for a daytime dose of Tex-Mex. This diner pulls no punches, decoratively or otherwise. Take in the chicken enchiladas and the salsa, which has a pleasant, delayed impact.
Darling Deli
Zinnante's turns the sometimes boring realm of deli fare on its head, with rousing results. There are so many choices here one could visit daily for a couple of months and never order the same meal twice. Must-tries are the club sandwich and the zesty Zia Mia hoagie. The cozy mom-and-pop feel of this operation makes it even more worthy of your patronage.
Cool cafes to kick back at
Cosmos Cafe, 69 Heights Blvd., offers many menu items within broke college types' reach. Don't miss the daily soup or gleefully greasy quesadillas.
Pot Pie Pizzeria, 1525 Westheimer, boasts a deck, not to mention one heck of a daily special. Unlimited spaghetti and garlic bread will set you back a mere $4.99. A must-visit for the cash and carbohydrate challenged.
Make all your friends happy and eat well, too!
Wraps International Gourmet Burritos has locations in Meyerland Plaza and South Shepherd. The variety of offerings, like the chicken teriyaki, veggie and goat cheese and Thai shrimp wraps, will make a happy camper of most any diner.
Carribbean Cool
Reggae Cafe, 6100 Westheimer, provides a soothing tropical escape and steamy, smartly spiced food.
Jammin' Jamaican cuisine at relatively reasonable prices (if you order creatively and carefully). Cool off with the jerk chicken salad and the tangy Sorrel drink. Fill up with the scrumptious rice and peas and the substantial fish soup.
Close to campus and comforting, too
Pelican State Restaurant, 1608 Calhoun, offers plate lunches, sandwiches and Cajun cuisine at cut-rate prices.
The baked chicken will bring you home, and the burger and fries are higher quality and lower-priced than similar combos at fast food outlets.
Just desserts
Amy's Ice Creams and Coffees, 3816 Farnham in Shepherd Plaza, serves up some of the best ice cream in town. Flavors include Girl Scout Cookie thin mint and sweet cream. Yummy yogurts, void of sugar and fat, are offered in flavors like Dreamsicle and blueberry cheesecake.