Market Square Bar & Grill – downtown, conveniently across from Market Square – has long been one of my favorite spots for a burger or a hot sandwich and a beer or two, especially before an Astros game. It is about a ten- to twelve-minute walk to the ballpark. It deservedly does good business during lunch during the week; I would recommend nearly everything I have ever had there. Even the salads are quite commendable, and a step above what you will find for a similar price elsewhere.
One of my favorite items is the Pete’s Philly, named after the former employee who invented it. The warm sandwich features thinly shaved rib-eye cooked on the flat grill and served with grilled slices of fresh jalapeño and crumbles on blue cheese on a light, crusty small baguette. The delicious high-quality beef meshes wonderfully with the tanginess of the mild blue cheese, which in turn complements the spice and flavor of the jalapeño. These peppers, along with the crust of the bread, provide a nice textural contrast to the tender meat and melted cheese. It is a terrific sandwich.
Despite its Philly moniker, it reflects our locality quite well. Beef is still the preferred protein in Texas by a wide margin. Chile peppers, especially jalapeños, are a Houston habit. And, the baguette is a local Vietnamese version of a short French baguette; the type used for banh mi. The blue cheese might not particularly reflect our locale, but it certainly works well in the sandwich, like the oddball that happens to mix well with those around.
Market Square Bar & Grill
311 Travis (between Prairie and Preston), 77002, (713) 224-0567
marketsquaregrill.com
Comments