Danhole, I live west of 610 Loop but know the town pretty well. I'm not necessarily looking for a dive bar, I already have a favorite dive bar, just something with character & its own special authenticity. Can even be upscale. For example, I used to enjoy the Carlyle, Harold Farb's old watering hole where he played and sang at his piano. Got a cougar bar?

Anyone got a favorite long-established retro bar? (not a new contrivance) I like Martini Club & Raffles in San Antonio, Vernon's in Corpus.

Yeah, I used ot pay $3.50 for a Luann too but times have changed. I still like Lubys and hope they make it. The one place I never get tired of.

Kloesel's in Moulton, an oasis in a desert.

I live in Houston but have a ranch near Yoakum so I eat there quite often. The only decent restaurants are Fat Albert's BBQ and H&H Cafe. The Rusty Rooster is OK for fried chicken on the run. Kloesels Steak House in Moulton is excellent, especially the prime rib.

Best dive bar in a town full of dive bars is Lerma's on Zarzamora just south of Culebra. Very best music in town too.

Best Mexican in town is El Mirador on St. Mary's in King William historic district south of downtown. Great booz too. Don't know about seafood.

Pack a lunch.

Well, my wife & I live in Houston and get our share of TexMex which I know isn't the same as Southwestern but we thought the fare was pretty decent at Maria's, especially the Margaritas. We're probably the drunk tourists you are referring to. We also enjoyed Garcia's and Church Street Cafe in Albuquerque. To Hell with the high-end places.

Where would you go in Houston for good cheap oysters on the half shell? Thanks.