Chef Tai put one on the menu at Paolo's briefly. The recipe was from his friend, the late Mike Yamada (a CA native who knew cioppino). I can attest that it was very good. Might hit up Chec Tai for the recipe.
Local Restaurant Review / Discussion (2026)
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Last: 11 hrs ago by maroon barchetta
we hit up Nova Eatery tonight. it was very, very good. quite a few people there as well. we will be going again before the kids take over the town. It's a nice quaint place. Food is very unique to this area (that I know of).
I had the seafood casserole. It's in a nice red curry sauce. I have been craving cioppino all week. This was basically a different version of it. It was incredible! The chef came out and greeted everyone's table. She's awesome. Very creative.
I had the seafood casserole. It's in a nice red curry sauce. I have been craving cioppino all week. This was basically a different version of it. It was incredible! The chef came out and greeted everyone's table. She's awesome. Very creative.
I hope I did not offend anybody with this post. If I did, please come see me at my address in my profile so we can talk.
FlyRod said:
Chef Tai put one on the menu at Paolo's briefly. The recipe was from his friend, the late Mike Yamada (a CA native who knew cioppino). I can attest that it was very good. Might hit up Chec Tai for the recipe.
thanks!
I hope I did not offend anybody with this post. If I did, please come see me at my address in my profile so we can talk.
Went to Portifino's soft opening this evening. It's the new wine and cocktail bar in downtown Navasota. I wasn't too thrilled with the wine selection; there were several from Threshold (which I love but the options seemed to be overpriced) and a lot of Messina Hoff (not of fan of their wines). The cocktail selection was fine .
The apps were fantastic and the tuna tartare was the star. The portion size was huge and the Calabrian chili sauce was a great addition. I will go back specifically for that. The stuffed dates and Tuscan bruschetta were delicious as well.
Navasota is doing a great job with its downtown. I like it better than downtown Bryan and it's the same distance for me.
The apps were fantastic and the tuna tartare was the star. The portion size was huge and the Calabrian chili sauce was a great addition. I will go back specifically for that. The stuffed dates and Tuscan bruschetta were delicious as well.
Navasota is doing a great job with its downtown. I like it better than downtown Bryan and it's the same distance for me.
MiMi said:TyHolden said:
Has anyone tried Nova Eatery's Mussels Marinara? Looks kinda like cioppino (seafood stew). I love that stuff.
1860 has a very good, and spicy, cioppino. But looking forward to check out Nova's menu.
The first time I had it a couple of years ago, it was so spicy that it was inedible. I can handle spicy but this was something else--like a mistake. Like someone tried to add red pepper flakes that they bought from Costco and the cap fell off. I had my friends try it and they thought it was inedible too. I've had it a couple times since and they've toned down the spiciness but IMHO, still detracts from the flavor and limits who can eat it.
Quote:
we hit up Nova Eatery tonight. it was very, very good. quite a few people there as well. we will be going again before the kids take over the town. It's a nice quaint place. Food is very unique to this area (that I know of).
I had the seafood casserole. It's in a nice red curry sauce. I have been craving cioppino all week. This was basically a different version of it. It was incredible! The chef came out and greeted everyone's table. She's awesome. Very creative.
I was there last night as well. Agree with all your points. Solid seafood option in a town with not a lot of them.
If they want to make it, they are going to have to spend a little money letting people know who and where they are. It's very hidden.
bushytailed said:
Went to Portifino's soft opening this evening. It's the new wine and cocktail bar in downtown Navasota. I wasn't too thrilled with the wine selection; there were several from Threshold (which I love but the options seemed to be overpriced) and a lot of Messina Hoff (not of fan of their wines). The cocktail selection was fine .
The apps were fantastic and the tuna tartare was the star. The portion size was huge and the Calabrian chili sauce was a great addition. I will go back specifically for that. The stuffed dates and Tuscan bruschetta were delicious as well.
Navasota is doing a great job with its downtown. I like it better than downtown Bryan and it's the same distance for me.
Totally agree. I like where downtown Navasota is going and I do not like at all where downtown Bryan is going.
FlyRod said:bushytailed said:
Went to Portifino's soft opening this evening. It's the new wine and cocktail bar in downtown Navasota. I wasn't too thrilled with the wine selection; there were several from Threshold (which I love but the options seemed to be overpriced) and a lot of Messina Hoff (not of fan of their wines). The cocktail selection was fine .
The apps were fantastic and the tuna tartare was the star. The portion size was huge and the Calabrian chili sauce was a great addition. I will go back specifically for that. The stuffed dates and Tuscan bruschetta were delicious as well.
Navasota is doing a great job with its downtown. I like it better than downtown Bryan and it's the same distance for me.
Totally agree. I like where downtown Navasota is going and I do not like at all where downtown Bryan is going.
Where is downtown Bryan going?
Is this like when A&M went to the SEC and bxii caused us of leaving the state?
Has anyone tried javi yet?
Dr. Watr said:
Has anyone tried javi yet?
I couldn't get the chopper to land. Somebody alerted the po-po. They were literally waiting for me.
I hope I did not offend anybody with this post. If I did, please come see me at my address in my profile so we can talk.
Dr. Watr said:
Has anyone tried javi yet?
Went yesterday for dinner. Party of 6. Only a 15 minute wait. Service was good. Place looked nice. 3 of us ate for only $50.
Food was ok. Not bad. Not great. Chips didn't have much flavor. Salsa was meh. I had the ribeye enchiladas which were underwhelming. Lots of cheese with less meat than I was expecting covered with your choice of queso.
Wife had the fajitas which she really liked. But who sells fajitas without beans??
I'd give it another chance but there are better options for Mexican food.
How were you able to get there? There are folks on here saying there are no open roads to get there, no,helipads, etc.
Tried Casa Monarca for lunch, that place reminds me of the great Mexican you find in San Antonio. IMO, best Mexican in the area. Their margs (rocks) were very good. We asked to substitute the blanco with repesado, very good. Enchiladas verdes, charro beans/rice, incredible, Chips salsa & queso/pico were good as well.
Highly recommend...
Highly recommend...
AKA 13-0
I spent a couple weeks in Orlando recently. I was down at City Walk (near Universal Studios) and it appears Luke Comb's Category-10 honkeytonk/restaurant is going up there next to a Margaritaville. I hope we get one of these in BCS soon.
https://nashvilledowntown.com/go/category-10
https://nashvilledowntown.com/go/category-10
I hope I did not offend anybody with this post. If I did, please come see me at my address in my profile so we can talk.
Burn-It said:
Tried Casa Monarca for lunch, that place reminds me of the great Mexican you find in San Antonio. IMO, best Mexican in the area. Their margs (rocks) were very good. We asked to substitute the blanco with repesado, very good. Enchiladas verdes, charro beans/rice, incredible, Chips salsa & queso/pico were good as well.
Highly recommend...
Is that the one where Abuelo's used to be?
No. It's in downtown Bryan.
That's Casa Mangiare. And Italian restaurant.
No, it's where Downtown Uncorked was
Javi's is open now right?
I hope I did not offend anybody with this post. If I did, please come see me at my address in my profile so we can talk.
Yes. Planning to take the family for dinner there this evening.
We tried Javi's Saturday night. To summarize it, I wasn't very impressed.
The service was very sub-par, but I don't hold that against them too much knowing it is first weekend and they are working out the kinks.
I thought the food was very "okay." In my opinion, it's not even comparable to Gringo's. Wife enjoyed her enchiladas, but mine were very average. The Margarita was good, might have even had two if they ever came back around and asked if I wanted another (they did not).
The thing that I couldn't figure out is what demo they are trying to hit. The menu prices reflect a typical chain-restaurant experience ($15-$25/plate), but the decor, ambiance, staff attire, vibe they are trying to portray reflects a place that should be 30-$50/plate. The whole experience was odd to me, maybe it is something that works better in East Texas.
The largest turn off for us was the place just didn't feel "clean." Maybe it is the white floors where every crumb and table wipe-off shows up, but our experience wasn't conducive of us going back anytime soon. We might give it another shot later in the fall, but for now our allegiance will still be to Gringo's for sit-down Tex-Mex/Mexican food.
Hope others have a better experience though!
The service was very sub-par, but I don't hold that against them too much knowing it is first weekend and they are working out the kinks.
I thought the food was very "okay." In my opinion, it's not even comparable to Gringo's. Wife enjoyed her enchiladas, but mine were very average. The Margarita was good, might have even had two if they ever came back around and asked if I wanted another (they did not).
The thing that I couldn't figure out is what demo they are trying to hit. The menu prices reflect a typical chain-restaurant experience ($15-$25/plate), but the decor, ambiance, staff attire, vibe they are trying to portray reflects a place that should be 30-$50/plate. The whole experience was odd to me, maybe it is something that works better in East Texas.
The largest turn off for us was the place just didn't feel "clean." Maybe it is the white floors where every crumb and table wipe-off shows up, but our experience wasn't conducive of us going back anytime soon. We might give it another shot later in the fall, but for now our allegiance will still be to Gringo's for sit-down Tex-Mex/Mexican food.
Hope others have a better experience though!
Gringos sets a high bar.
The left cannot kill the Spirit of Charlie Kirk.
No.
Maaaaybe 30 years ago they did
ag979 said:
We tried Javi's Saturday night. To summarize it, I wasn't very impressed.
The service was very sub-par, but I don't hold that against them too much knowing it is first weekend and they are working out the kinks.
I thought the food was very "okay." In my opinion, it's not even comparable to Gringo's. Wife enjoyed her enchiladas, but mine were very average. The Margarita was good, might have even had two if they ever came back around and asked if I wanted another (they did not).
The thing that I couldn't figure out is what demo they are trying to hit. The menu prices reflect a typical chain-restaurant experience ($15-$25/plate), but the decor, ambiance, staff attire, vibe they are trying to portray reflects a place that should be 30-$50/plate. The whole experience was odd to me, maybe it is something that works better in East Texas.
The largest turn off for us was the place just didn't feel "clean." Maybe it is the white floors where every crumb and table wipe-off shows up, but our experience wasn't conducive of us going back anytime soon. We might give it another shot later in the fall, but for now our allegiance will still be to Gringo's for sit-down Tex-Mex/Mexican food.
Hope others have a better experience though!
It's a Mexican food restaurant from NE Texas, how good could it really be? Might as well be from Dallas
Dallas has some pretty good Mexican food. Come on down Anamias!
El Phoenix was good back in the day. Haven't been in forever though.MsDoubleD81 said:
Dallas has some pretty good Mexican food. Come on down Anamias!
The left cannot kill the Spirit of Charlie Kirk.
My gripe about Gringos is the Cilantro in everything. I can't stand it… Hubby Loves it. I miss Los Nortenos!
ag979 said:
We tried Javi's Saturday night. To summarize it, I wasn't very impressed.
The service was very sub-par, but I don't hold that against them too much knowing it is first weekend and they are working out the kinks.
I thought the food was very "okay." In my opinion, it's not even comparable to Gringo's. Wife enjoyed her enchiladas, but mine were very average. The Margarita was good, might have even had two if they ever came back around and asked if I wanted another (they did not).
The thing that I couldn't figure out is what demo they are trying to hit. The menu prices reflect a typical chain-restaurant experience ($15-$25/plate), but the decor, ambiance, staff attire, vibe they are trying to portray reflects a place that should be 30-$50/plate. The whole experience was odd to me, maybe it is something that works better in East Texas.
The largest turn off for us was the place just didn't feel "clean." Maybe it is the white floors where every crumb and table wipe-off shows up, but our experience wasn't conducive of us going back anytime soon. We might give it another shot later in the fall, but for now our allegiance will still be to Gringo's for sit-down Tex-Mex/Mexican food.
Hope others have a better experience though!
Thanks for the detailed update! Gonna stick with Frida's for the time being. Always. preferred Mex-Mex to Tex-Mex but I do miss Ninfa's.
trouble said:
Maaaaybe 30 years ago they did
And in Pearland
TXAG 05 said:ag979 said:
We tried Javi's Saturday night. To summarize it, I wasn't very impressed.
The service was very sub-par, but I don't hold that against them too much knowing it is first weekend and they are working out the kinks.
I thought the food was very "okay." In my opinion, it's not even comparable to Gringo's. Wife enjoyed her enchiladas, but mine were very average. The Margarita was good, might have even had two if they ever came back around and asked if I wanted another (they did not).
The thing that I couldn't figure out is what demo they are trying to hit. The menu prices reflect a typical chain-restaurant experience ($15-$25/plate), but the decor, ambiance, staff attire, vibe they are trying to portray reflects a place that should be 30-$50/plate. The whole experience was odd to me, maybe it is something that works better in East Texas.
The largest turn off for us was the place just didn't feel "clean." Maybe it is the white floors where every crumb and table wipe-off shows up, but our experience wasn't conducive of us going back anytime soon. We might give it another shot later in the fall, but for now our allegiance will still be to Gringo's for sit-down Tex-Mex/Mexican food.
Hope others have a better experience though!
It's a Mexican food restaurant from NE Texas, how good could it really be? Might as well be from Dallas
This. Those folks in Tyler put squeeze butter in their salsa…
Hornbeck said:trouble said:
Maaaaybe 30 years ago they did
And in Pearland
The original location was fantastic
Indeed. Late 90s, that and Esteban's in League City were my go-tos.