Introduction to Fall Flavors in Houston
The calendar says fall, but Houston hasn’t gotten the memo yet. Still, local restaurants are serving hearty dishes and cozy drinks that make it easy to savor the season — even without sweater weather. Here’s where to find a taste of autumn while we wait for cooler days.
Hearty Dishes for the Season
Those looking for a taste of fall can visit several local restaurants that offer seasonal dishes.
Bellagreen
Bellagreen offers dishes like pumpkin beef chili, pumpkin carbonara, seared salmon in a pumpkin sauce, and even a pumpkin cheesecake with a coconut hemp crust. For a lighter option, there’s the Nature’s Harvest Salad — roasted butternut squash, red beets, quinoa, and goat cheese in a fig balsamic dressing.
Belly of the Beast
At James Beard Award-winning chef Thomas Bille’s Spring restaurant, the autumn-inspired dishes are earthy and rich. Brown butter roasted grapes are paired with pistachios and grilled bread in the Uvas y Burrata. A potato gnocchi has seared scallops and black truffles, while That’s My Yam layers roasted sweet potato, almond salsa macha, chicken cracklings, and queso fresco into an intriguing bite.
Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Bar
Get a very early jump on holiday shopping at this restaurant’s attached retail space before settling down for a seasonal spread at Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Bar in The Woodlands. Available through mid-November, highlights include a sweet potato pierogi stuffed with braised cabbage, pecan wood-smoked bacon, brown butter, and caramelized apples, served with a chive crème fraîche.
Cozy Drinks to Warm Up
Several restaurants and cafes in Houston offer a variety of cozy drinks to warm up during the fall season.
Common Bond
On sweltering fall days, Common Bond has the solution with a bevy of cold beverage options. There’s the mandatory pumpkin spice latte (hot or iced) and a maple pecan cold brew. Add a touch of festivity with the pumpkin cream cold foam that pairs well with an iced matcha or cold brew.
Dandelion Cafe
The breakfast destination fully invests in specialty menus, and this fall is no exception. Pumpkin dominates the menu, showing up in pancakes, pastries, and more. The gourd continues to star in Dandelion’s beverage lineup, with pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin chai lattes, and pumpkin pie frappes.
Escalante
Now through November 16, stop by any of the seven locations of Escalante for fall specials. Toast to the cooler months with cocktails such as the Pumpkin Spice Tequila Iced Latte. The alcoholic twist on the seasonal favorite blends together Milagro Reposado, RumChata Pumpkin Spice, and Owen’s Nitro-Infused Espresso Mix.
Seasonal Cocktails and Desserts
Several restaurants in Houston offer seasonal cocktails and desserts to get into the fall spirit.
Fielding’s River Oaks
This River Oaks eatery is offering a trio of cocktails that capture the essence of the season. The Pecan Pie Espresso Martini nods to the holiday dessert with Stolichnaya vanilla vodka infused with pecans, RumChata, Kahlúa, house espresso, maple syrup, and a pecan garnish.
The Kid
Festive cocktails flow at The Kid, where a maple whiskey sour, pumpkin spice Old Fashioned, and apple cider margarita set the mood. Caffeine lovers can indulge in the fall espresso martini flight with pumpkin spice, peppermint, and salted caramel varieties.
Maven Coffee + Cocktails
At its Sawyer Yards and Thompson Hotel outposts, Maven is crafting comfort and blending its signature cold brew concentrate into beverages like a Pumpkin Spice Latte, a Butter Pecan Oat Milk Latte, and a Brown Sugar Oat Milk Latte.
More Fall Favorites
There are many more restaurants in Houston that offer fall favorites, including Relish, Slowpokes, and others.
Relish
Starting in October, Relish’s menu pays homage to the autumn season. Start the meal with the sweet-and-savory seasonal burrata layered with prosciutto, fig compote, arugula, saba, lemon zest, and hazelnuts.
Slowpokes
Local favorite Slowpokes updates the chain coffee stores’ seasonal standards with its own handcrafted favorites, such as a salted caramel latte and a pumpkin chai. The spicy ginger chai kicks things up with the addition of ginger, while the Punkin’ Pie Latte is the Houston-based coffee shop’s version of the PSL.
Conclusion
While Houston may not have cooler weather just yet, the city’s restaurants and cafes are already getting into the fall spirit with hearty dishes, cozy drinks, and seasonal cocktails and desserts. From pumpkin spice lattes to apple cider margaritas, there’s something for everyone to enjoy during this time of year. So why not head out and try some of these fall favorites for yourself?
