Cafe Adobe   

2111 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77098
713-528-1468

Directions   Email   Send to Cell  

In a town full of Tex-Mex restaurants, this pink palace has outlived better and worse competitors. The colorful walls and clunky Mexican furnishings add to its charm, but the tropical outdoor patios, as well as the climate-controlled sun rooms, are what bring people back. Upstairs, on the bar deck, things are even livelier. The food can be hit-or-miss, but always a hit is the sinful Avocado Adobe. The original recipe called for a deep-fried avocado stuffed with cheese and stewed chicken, and drowned in ranchero sauce (we recommend the sauce on the side). Updated versions offer choices of ground beef, as well as fajita beef and chicken. Those not up for quite so many fat grams can feast on the Tex-Mex light menu of shrimp and taco salads, chalupas and tacos. These, like the rest of the basic Tex-Mex menu, are, well, basic. From the nachos to the rice-and-beans sides, this is standard fare -- with one exception. Cafe Adobe turns out a good enchilada -- especially the sour cream-chicken version. That's not on the lunch menu, but decent cheese enchiladas, as well as a variety of other dishes, can be found for as little as $5.99. All this may leave visitors to Cafe Adobe in a quandary -- lively happy hour or cheap lunch? Some darn good margaritas and a scenic atmosphere in which to soak them up may sway you in the direction of the former.