Village Draft House   

The quaint little boutiques and hip restaurants of Cameron Village have added a much more casual spot to the mix. When you just want a relaxed bar-and-grill feel complete with beer and burgers, head over to the Village Draft House. Take a seat at the long bar or grab a booth. Although this isn't a sports bar, most seats are in view of at least one television, making this a great place to see your favorite team in action. Begin with one of the house's signature appetizers -- fried pickle chip with ranch dressing -- or with something more standard, such as beer-battered cheese fries, spicy steamed shrimp or chili. All burgers and chicken breasts here are half-pounders, and you can have either prepared one of 16 different ways. Options include the Manhattan, with sauerkraut, swiss and Thousand Island dressing; the New Orleans, with bearnaise sauce; or the Black & Blue, which is blackened with blue cheese crumbles. If a burger isn't your thing, try one of the place's blue plate specials, such as shrimp and grits, meatloaf, grilled tuna or a steak. A good number of sandwiches and salads are also available. -- Erica Hinton