4 Rain-Friendly Restaurants to Try This Weekend in Houston: April 25

Rainy day options from ramen and comforting goulash to an intimate date-night spot

Although Houston’s weather is often unpredictable, the forecast for the weekend predicts cloudy skies followed by rain. Here are some recommendations for places where you can hide out and stay dry while enjoying a great meal.

For warming ramen on a gray day: Mensho

9889 Bellaire Boulevard, Suite C308, Dunhuang Plaza, Bellaire’s Asiatown

When I first heard last fall that this Tokyo-based chain (with a Michelin-recommended outpost in San Francisco) had landed in Houston, I had to see if it lived up to its reputation. The hype is real, so much so that its lines were wrapping around the corner during my first visit. Because I felt like I needed to take advantage of actually scoring a seat, I ordered not one but two bowls of ramen in one sitting: The Toripaitan has housemade noodles in a creamy chicken broth topped with ajitama, crispy burdock root for texture, and smoked Texas brisket and pork that’s sliced thinly, which helps achieve a manageable bite of meat and noodle. I overdid it by also ordering the Duck Matcha, a bowl of ramen with sliced smoked duck in its signature broth with matcha. There are other dishes, like rice bowls and a couple of sushi rolls, but what stands out most about Mensho is that everything in the bowl shines. I was as excited about slurping down the springy noodles and sinking my teeth into the ajitama and meat as I was about drinking down every drop of the broth. My second time, I stuck to ramen. There’s no alcohol here, but the sodas, particularly the flowery peach, are a refreshing contrast to the warmth of the ramen.

Pro tips: The ramen shop has recently added new lunch hours, but if you’re trying to get in for dinner, arrive early. The space only accommodates around 30 people, and diners begin lining up at least an hour before it opens. It’s also kind of fun to get glimpses of the staff preparing the restaurant before the doors open. Also, don’t go with the intention of ordering takeout. When I asked for a bowl to go, a server told me the ramen is best eaten hot, and so takeout is discouraged. Mensho’s to-go box containers are only suitable for smaller items, not the ramen they’re known for.

Brittany Britto Garley

For Eastern European comfort food: Blue Tuba

350 West 19th Street, Suite E, 2nd Floor, Heights

This Euro-Tex restaurant, which replaced Harold’s, puts a Texas spin on iconic European dishes, such as French duck confit and Spanish paella, but its strongest suit lies in the Hungarian and Slovak cuisines. I’d guess that most people will go for the schnitzel, which is undoubtedly a menu standout, but it was the Hungarian goulash that felt like a warm hug to me. The hearty stew, composed of beef braised in wine with spices, onions, peppers, and spaetzle (German egg noodles), was comforting and nostalgia-inducing, reminding me of some of my family’s best homemade soups. The same spaetzle used in the goulash is also used in the chicken paprikash, another remarkable stew, and its creamy Slovak macaroni and cheese, which is now one of my favorite versions of that dish to date. Pair it with a cold Czechvar beer, a Czech pilsner, which goes with nearly everything on the menu.

For a celebratory night out: Milton’s

5117 Kelvin Drive, Suite 200, Rice Village

You certainly don’t need to be on a date to visit this Italian restaurant, but something about Milton’s feels pretty intimate, so bring someone you really like. Pictures of owner Benjy Levitt’s family line the walls as you walk up the stairs to what feels like a secret hideaway in Rice Village. There are several gorgeous booths enveloped in blue-jewel-toned velvet, but most of the tables are designed for two. The menu also encourages sharing, with Sicilian Tar Tar made with a combination of raw tuna, salmon, and scallops; the Tigelle platter, an extravagant snack plate filled with antipasti, which can be loaded onto the warm, aromatic, ampersand-imprinted flatbread; slices of 100-layer lasagna, and the most phenomenal chicken parmesan and spaghetti. Another crowd-pleaser is the cresta di gallo, a pasta dish revived by Chef Seth Siegel-Gardner from the now-closed Pass & Provisions, made with tangy toasted yeast, pickled mushrooms, and a Parmesan cream sauce. Diners can indulge in Milton’s wine selection or sneak into the adjoining cocktail bar, Lee’s, for a nightcap.

Brittany Britto Garley

For sweets with a view: Pondicheri

2800 Kirby Drive, B132, Upper Kirby

Helmed by talented chef Anita Jaisinghani, this Indian restaurant is especially cozy on a rainy day, thanks to its sweet treats and warm cups of chai, made from big batches prepared fresh daily. Diners can settle into the dining room, with its windows that will give glimpses into the Shops at Arrive River Oaks, or take their laptop and plug in at the bar to work with some company. On a gloomy day, find a seat upstairs in Pondicheri’s Bake Lab + Shop, where sweet treats abound, such as rose cream doughnuts, Pondi bars, lemon squares, and the most irresistible chocolate chip chili cookies for a sweet pick-me-up with a spicy kick.