Hole-in-the-wall but authentic restaurants? Italian and Greek, please. (Houston, West: theater, live)

[robertpolyglot]

I love food, but not all food. I inhale Italian and Greek food and could it eat every day of my life.

So, in big H-city, which has a reputation for good eats, are there are family-style, not too expensive, authentic and unpretentious eateries that throw down slabs of awesome Italian and Greek food?

And when it's authentic, it's Italian food...when it's wanna-be, it's Eye-talian. LOL. Also, when Middle Easterners do the Greek restaurant thing, it tends to be more Lebanese/Middle Eastern...and that's a slightly different taste and presentation...so, then, authentic Greek.

Any suggestions for when I come to town to check it out?

[Mom2Feebs]

I personally LOVE Collina's and Michelangelo's for italian. I also really like Ciro's over on I-10. Really good stuff! I don't know how "hole-in-the-wall" they are, but they're pretty authentic IMHO! Unfortunately my favorite, Pino's, is gone.

Niko Niko's makes the best gyros I have ever had.

[DJboutit]

Prima Pasta Kriby @ Holcomb 1 block south Holcomb

[poodlestix]

You have GOT to try Franca's on Nasa Road One for Italian. When I first saw the place, I thought it looked kind of cheesy. My husband asked if I wanted to try it, and I almost said no. Boy, am I glad that I decided to try it. Their food is all very fresh & homemade. After eating their fresh pasta, Olive Garden has never tasted as good to me. For dessert, you must get their Tira Misu. Their garlic rolls are also made fresh daily. The owner was Franco, but he passed ownership on to his daughter some years back (Francesca, nicknamed "Franca"). All the statues and the fountain inside were handmade by Franco. The family is very nice & genuinely concerned with you having a great experience. They also have a little dinner theater some nights, although I haven't tried that aspect yet.

[tsstanfi]

Niko Niko's is great Greek food! It's on Montrose just north of Westheimer, but if you go at a busy time of night parking is tough to find. Huge Greek salads, good gyros, all kinds of dessert and tons of other options.

[modster]

I would second Niko Niko's. For Italian try Patranelli's on I think Jackson Hill, right off of Washington.

[houstoner]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

I love food, but not all food. I inhale Italian and Greek food and could it eat every day of my life.

So, in big H-city, which has a reputation for good eats, are there are family-style, not too expensive, authentic and unpretentious eateries that throw down slabs of awesome Italian and Greek food?

And when it's authentic, it's Italian food...when it's wanna-be, it's Eye-talian. LOL. Also, when Middle Easterners do the Greek restaurant thing, it tends to be more Lebanese/Middle Eastern...and that's a slightly different taste and presentation...so, then, authentic Greek.

Any suggestions for when I come to town to check it out?

Fourthing (? lol) Niko Niko's. Another one to try is Bibas One's-a-Meal on West Gray, but it's more of the Lebanese/Middle Eastern variety of Greek food you're talking about, according to my Persian friend. I think there's another location on Memorial Drive? They're open 24 hours, which is part of the appeal.

And it's H-town. If you're gonna live here, gotta get it right.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by houstoner

And it's H-town. If you're gonna live here, gotta get it right.

My slip up...interchanged it with Space City and Bayou City, sorry.

[Mr. Krinkle]

Try Prego in the Rice Village for Italian.

[houstoner]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

My slip up...interchanged it with Space City and Bayou City, sorry.

Yes, Houston has too many monikers.

You can check out restaurant reviews here B4-U-EAT - Houston Texas Restaurant & Dining Guide