SPARROW Bar + Cookshop
3701 Travis St., Houston, TX 77002

http://sparrowhouston.com/

Burpette Writes: 

Where to go on a cloudy Saturday morning for breakfasty lunch?  Sparrow will do just fine.  With famed local restauranteur Monica Pope at the helm, Sparrow is a cozy spot to roost. 

After disdainfully viewing the snaky line around the Breakfast Klub next door, we were extremely pleased to walk in and be seated immediately.  The interior is charming with its exposed brick walls, well-stocked bar, and intimate seating.  The brunch menu is delightful with a mix of tasty items, and the wine and cocktail list is tempting.

My eye was immediately drawn to the Roasted Garlic Bulb with Goat Cheese and Seeded Boule.  YUM!  We could not keep ourselves from squeezing the aromatic roasted bulb til it oozed its delectable oil all over the plate.  No dainty eaters are we!  The goat cheese was creamy goodness, and we were happy to find out that it is sourced from the Houston Dairymaids.  Just slather it all over that warm, seeded boule.  How great is that?

I opted for the Biscuits and Red Onion Gravy with lamb sausage, local honey and scrambled egg.  DELICIOUS!  The biscuit was light and heavenly, smothered in thick, peppery cream gravy.  The egg was scrambled perfectly and sat atop the house made lamb sausage like a fluffy, eggy cloud.  Just the hint of the lightly sweet local honey shone through.

Big Burp chose the burger, since he read the Alison Cook write up in the Houston Chronicle, which rated it an A+.  While Burp agrees that the burger topped with fried onions is exciting, he gives it an A.  At first, he thought that perhaps it was a bit over cooked, since he prefers that pink band that denotes a medium cooked patty, but was soon pleased to find that it was in fact cooked perfectly.  You can smear your buns with an array of condiments that come separately and include a house made Sparrow Sauce with a tiny bit of kick.

Our waiter, replete in a leather apron, was knowledgeable about the wine list,  and apparently holds some clout with the Houston Dairymaids.  All in all, it was a delicious repast.  We will definitely fly back to Sparrow for dinner in the near future!


Big Burp says:
"Only really glanced at the wine list.  Immediately saw just a 50% mark up on The Prisoner."

BURP FACTOR - Excellent! 

Welcome to Burp Houston!

Outsiders most likely associate Houston with big hair, big boots and big accents.  However, as most Houstonians know, the city has much to offer beyond hair spray, cow flops and Southern drawls.  Houston's changing landscape has become a mecca for transplants from all over the world, flocking to the city for jobs and affordable housing.  Along with the boom in population, has come a boom in restaurants, food trucks and bars.  Eating establishments are popping all over the city, and it's becoming difficult to sample all of the wares.

This blog ain't about chain restaurants and Budweisers, we'll leave that to the 'burbs.  This blog is dedicated to the ever-evolving food and drink scene in Houston.  Big Burp, a Houston transplant from Michigan and Burpette, a native Houstonian are inner-loopers who love to eat, drink and take in the arts around town.   

The "snob factor" is low, the "cheese factor" can be high.  Good wine doesn't have to cost more than $10 a bottle, and a satisfying meal doesn't have to break the bank.  It's about what is enjoyable and makes your mouth happy.

Join us as we eat and drink our way around Houston!

Cheers!  Ya'll come back now, you here!