Houston's

Houston's Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: Even though it has been a popular chain restaurant in New Orleans for some time, Houston's has been raising prices so that the place is a bit prohibitive for some people. The food is always good, but with so much competition on busy St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District, you may find a better dollar value just steps away. Still, it does a nice job for what it offers. Seconds after you've entered the large, split-level dining room, with its fern-bar feel, a perky server will appear.

Food & Drinks: In a few minutes you might be digging into a thick, creamy spinach-and-artichoke dip or munching on a juicy double-cut pork chop. Hickory-grilled burgers are a cut or two above average, as are the chili, the hand-cut fries, and the apple-walnut cobbler. Houston's wine list is limited to covering all necessary bases. Pricey or not, you'll still have to cool your heels until a beeper on your belt signals that your table is ready.