Ruby Tuesday upgrades...still too many other options here to bother

November 9, 10:37 AMHouston Cheap Eats ExaminerMike Riccetti

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Barnaby's on Shepherd - one of the many good moderately priced restaurants in the area.
www.barnabyscafe.com

There was an article in Saturday's New York Times about the upgrades that the national restaurant chain Ruby Tuesday has made in order to attract a higher-spending clientele. Their average entrée price is now just over $13.

Ruby Tuesday has nearly 900 restaurants worldwide, but only two in the Houston area. And, both of those are in the distant suburbs. The fact that this chain does not have much of a presence in Houston, and that this city is tough on national chains in general, speaks volumes for the quality of fare expected by local diners. The vast majority of diners here expect a quality of food and dining experience that cannot be offered by a mid-priced national chain.

Here are ten local options profiled in Houston Dining on the Cheap that, like Ruby Tuesday, offer full service, broadly American cuisine, and moderate prices. These are far better, of course:

Baba Yega
2607 Grant (east of Montrose), 77006, (713) 522-0042
www.babayega.com

Barbecue Inn
116 W. Crosstimbers (west of N. Main), 77018, (713) 695-8112

Barnaby's Café
604 Fairview (between Taft and Montrose), 77006, (713) 522-0106
1701 S. Shepherd (between San Felipe and W. Gray), 77019, (713) 520-5131
414 W. Gray (between Taft and Montrose), 77019, (713) 522-8898
5750 Woodway (at Chimney Rock), 77057, (713) 266-0046
www.barnabyscafe.com

Café Mezza & Grille
6100 Westheimer (between Fountain View and Voss), 77057, (713) 334-2000
www.cafemezza.net

Café Red Onion
1111 Eldridge Parkway (south of Memorial), 77077, (281) 293-7500
12440 Northwest Freeway (betwwen W. 43rd and Bingle), 77092, (713) 957-0957
3910 Kirby (between Richmond and the Southwest Freeway), 77098, (713) 807-1122
www.caferedonion.com

Dot Coffee Shop
7006 Gulf Freeway (south of 610 S.), 77087, (713) 644-7669

Hobbit Café
2243 Richmond (between Greenbriar and Kirby), 77098, (713) 526-5460
www.thehobbitcafe.com

Kenny & Ziggy's
2327 Post Oak Boulevard (just north of Westheimer), 77056, (713) 871-8883
www.kennyandziggys.com

Mama's Café
6019 Westheimer (between Fountain View and Voss), 77057, (713) 266-8514
www.mamas.net

The Memorial Grill
14510 Memorial (between Tully and Dairy Ashford), 77079, (281) 496-1780