As the NFL and the sportsbusiness industry descend upon Houston for Super Bowl XXXVIII, The Sports Business Daily staff writer Joe Oliver spoke withTexans senior vice president and chief sales and marketing officer Jamey Rootes, CBS Sports' Jim Nantz and Harris County-Houston Sports Authority chief executive Oliver Luck, among many other prominent Houstonians, todetermine the best that Space City USA has to offer. Click here to open the map of Houston that corresponds with the numbers/letters below.
| BREAKFAST The Buffalo Grille
• 3116 Bissonnet (713) 661-3663
• 1301 South Voss Road(713) 784-3663 Avalon Diner
• 2417 Westheimer(713) 527-8900
• 3285 Southwest Freeway(713) 838-2500
• 12810 Southwest Freeway(281) 240-0213 LUNCH Daily Review Café
3412 West Lamar
(713) 520-9217 Massa's
1160 Smith
(713) 650-0837 Massa's Seafood Grill
1331 Lamar
(713) 655-9100 Treebeards
315 Travis
(713) 228-2622
Zydeco/Cajun cuisine Kim Son
2001 Jefferson
(713) 222-2461
Vietnamese cuisine DINNER La Griglia
2002 West Gray St.
(713) 526-4700
Italian cuisine El Tiempo
3130 Richmond Ave.
(713) 807-1600 Willie G's
1605 Post Oak Blvd.
(713) 840-7190 Nitnoi
2426 Bolsover
(713) 524-8114
Thai cuisine Café Annie
1728 Post Oak Blvd.
(713) 840-1111 Pesce
3029 Kirby Drive
(713) 522-4858 Tony's
1801 Post Oak Blvd.
(713) 622-6778 Aquarium
410 Bagby
(713) 223-3474 Texas barbecue Goode Co. Barbeque
5109 Kirby Drive
(713) 522-2530 Otto's
5502 Memorial Drive
(713) 864-2573 Mexican Pappasito's Cantina
2515 South Loop West
(713) 668-5756 Lupe Tortilla's
2414 Southwest Freeway
(713) 522-4420 Steakhouses Vic & Anthony's
1510 Texas
(713) 228-1111 Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
5839 Westheimer
(713) 780-7352 NIGHTLIFE McGonigel's Mucky Duck
2425 Norfolk
(713) 528-5999 Mercury Room
1008 Prairie
(713) 225-6372 The Gallant Knight
2337 West Holcombe Blvd.
(713) 665-9762 State Bar & Lounge
909 Texas
(713) 229-8888 Laff Stop
1952 West Gray
(713) 524-2333 THEATERS Alley Theatre
615 Texas Ave.
(713) 228-8421
"Proof" by David Auburn
Ticket prices: $37-$52
Multiple showtimes Houston Symphony
615 Louisiana
(713) 224-7575
"Wild Wild West" (Jan. 29-31)
Riders in the Sky joins symphony
Ticket prices: $26-$85 Theater Under The Stars
800 Bagby
(713) 558-8887
"Flower Drum Song"
Ticket prices: $25-$68
Multiple showtimes ATTRACTIONS The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
1001 Bissonnet
(713) 639-7300
Admission: $7
Admission is free on Thursdays Downtown Aquarium
410 Bagby at Memorial Drive
(713) 233-3474
Admission: $7.50 Wildcat Golf Club
12000 Almeda Road
(713) 413-3400
36 holes — Highlands and Lakes Courses
Greens fees: $57-$69 The Galleria
Intersection of Westheimer and Post Oak Boulevard(just off Loop 610)
Monday through Saturday:10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. NFL Experience
George R. Brown Convention Center
(866) 849-4635
Jan. 29-30 — 3-10 p.m.
Jan. 31 — 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Feb. 1 — 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: $15 adults;$10 children under 12 DOWNTOWN HOTELS Hilton Americas (NFL)
1600 Lamar
(713) 739-8000 Four Seasons Houston
1300 Lamar
(713) 650-1300 Hyatt Regency Houston
1200 Louisiana
(713) 654-1234 The Sam Houston Hotel
1117 Prairie
(832) 200-8800 Crowne Plaza Houston
1700 Smith
(713) 739-8800 The Magnolia Hotel
1100 Texas
(713) 221-0011 TRANSPORTATION Taxis
• Liberty — (713) 695-6700
• United — (713) 699-0000
• Yellow — (713) 236-1111 Limos
• Lane Towne Car & Limo (281) 353-2055
• A-Arrow Limo(713) 779-0002
• Gulf Coast LimousineServices(281) 320-0005 Metro
• Light rail opened Jan. 1
• Runs north-south from downtown to ReliantStadium every 12 minutes (more frequently on game day)
• Main Street Square and Preston stations will cover hotel area, Theater District and most listed bars. Stadium stop is called Reliant Park.
• Fare: $1 per ride or $2 fora 24-hour pass |
1. The Buffalo Grill
Rootes calls The Buffalo Grille a "very authentically Houston breakfast spot," recommends the cinnamon coffee and says the migas (an egg-tortilla dish) are "hard to beat." Luck concurs, "The cinnamon coffee is out of this world." Rockets executive Tad Brown adds, "Huge pancakes and great Southwestern fare."
2. Avalon Diner
Also referred to as the Avalon Drug Store. The Rockets' George Postolos and baseball agent Alan Hendricks recommend any of Avalon Diner's three locations. Serving Houston since 1938, Avalon dishes breakfast all day.
3. Massa's/Massa'sSeafood Grill
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| Luck |
Luck calls Massa's a "good spot to be seen," adding, "It's fairly quick with good solid food for the fish connoisseur." Massa's is near the Hyatt Regency, while the Seafood Grill is across the street from the Four Seasons.4. La Griglia
Serving Italian cuisine in the River Oaks area, La Griglia is the "swankiest joint in terms of the political and business elite," according to Luck. For those with work to do while in Houston, the Rockets' Tad Brown says the atmosphere is "conducive to business." Baseball agent Alan Hendricks rates the restaurant as the "best lunch" and "best spot to take a client to dinner."
5. El Tiempo
Rootes, who calls El Tiempo his "go-to restaurant," recommends the prime beef filet fajitas and calls the margaritas "absolutely awesome." Rootes boasts, "It's the best Tex-Mex food I've ever had. It takes the cuisine to a new level."
6. Café Annie
Nantz calls Café Annie "a very tough place to get reservations," though the restaurant's recently launched Bar Annie (pictured) takes orders off its distinct, more moderately priced menu until 11 p.m.
7. Tony's
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| Nantz |
Nantz broke the news of his wife's pregnancy to his parents over dinner at Tony's. Nantz: "It's as luxurious a dining experience as you'll find anywhere in the world. I'll put it up against the finest restaurants that you'll visit in any city."8. Aquarium
In a year in which "Finding Nemo" was the No. 1 film in the United States, a new concept restaurant in Houston generating a lot of buzz is Aquarium, where patrons actually dine alongside marine life. Nantz says of the concept: "It sounds tricked-up. You might think the food is secondary. It's not. The food is outstanding." Located next door is the actual Aquarium, with an admission price of $7.50.
9. Goode Co. Barbeque
Jim Goode has operated Goode Co. Barbeque since 1977, serving Texas barbecue cafeteria-style to visitors of the Kirby Drive establishment. Rootes calls it a "combination restaurant and happening" and says of the outdoor patio, "It's pretty cool to go out there on a nice night and hang out." Across the street is the BBQ Hall of Flame, which sells everything you need for a barbecue of your own, including Goode's signature mesquite wood.
10. Otto's
Serving barbecue and burgers since 1951 from adjoining restaurants, Otto's is a favorite of the Bush family. When asked about the best barbecue in the city, baseball agent Alan Hendricks says, "It's a slam dunk. Even former President Bush agrees." Nantz adds of the modest exterior, "It doesn't have major curb appeal, but you go inside and you get hooked on it." Of the lunchtime crowd, Luck says, "You'll see businessmen in there wiping sauce off their chins."
11. Vic & Anthony's
It's no surprise that Astros executive Pam Gardner favors Vic & Anthony's as the city's top steakhouse — it is within walking distance of her Minute Maid Park office. If the host committee's Robert Dale Morgan and a trio of Rockets execs also giving it top billing is indicative of the restaurant's popularity, get comfortable in the lounge (pictured). There may be a wait.
12. Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
Gallery Furniture's Jim McIngvale says of Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, "They do a wonderful job. The food is always excellent, which is kind of a given, but the service is always great, too." Rootes adds, "It's classy, but casual."
13. Nightlife
For a night out, the Rockets' George Postolos hits the Mercury Room, site of the ESPN The Magazine party and of a $10 nightly cover charge. For those looking for laughs, Astros VP of marketing Andrew Huang recommends Laff Stop, which features Ralphie May this week. Luck calls McGonigel's Mucky Duck a "little joint with a lot of Irish music and local blues, rockabilly type stuff." The Rockets' David Carlock recommends The Gallant Knight on Friday night to listen to the Klockwork Band. Astros executive Rosi Hernandez recommends the State Bar & Lounge in the Theater District.
14. NFL Experience
Now in its 13th year, the NFL Experience presented by America Online is an interactive theme park featuring games, autograph sessions, a football trading card show, NFL coaches chats, referee clinics and more.
15. Theater District
The Theater District offers "more seats than any city in the U.S. outside of New York," according to Rootes, who adds, "Everyone should be able to find something of interest." While your hotel concierge can help with others, listed below are three options from which you can choose.
16. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
While admittedly biased because of Robert Clark's exhibit "First Down Houston: The Birth of an NFL Franchise," Rootes says of the museum, "I would strongly encourage anybody coming in for the Super Bowl to go see The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Whatever your perception of Houston is when you walk into town, it's going to go up a notch after visiting the museum."
17. Wildcat Golf Club
Located 10 minutes from downtown Houston, Wildcat Golf Club offers 36 holes, including views of Reliant Stadium from the Highlands Course. Tee times are recommended and can be reserved by calling the pro shop at (713) 413-3400.
18. The Galleria
Nearly everyone recommends The Galleria as the best shopping area in Houston. As the fifth-largest mall in the United States with 2.4 million square feet of retail space and more than 350 stores and restaurants, an ice rink and two Westin hotels, the shopping complex features Neiman Marcus, Cartier, Gucci, Macy's, Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, a flagship Foley's and Houston's only Nordstrom. Rootes says, "If you're a shopper and you go to The Galleria, I can't imagine that you wouldn't walk away exhausted." Luck adds, "If you can't buy it there, I'm not sure it exists."
H. Reliant Stadium
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