DOWNTOWN. This chic hotel restaurant is a study of muted tones, sleek lines, and intermittent flashes of glitter and shine. Its menu is a similar amalgam, a successful juxtaposition of creativity and quality ingredients. Wonderful, assertive dishes include a navel orange and beet salad, Texas Hill Country venison chop, wild mushroom risotto, and braised short ribs. A five-course tasting menu is also a worthy alternative. Fruit-inspired desserts offer a refreshing cap to any offering. Great wine list, too.

RIVER OAKS. It's all casual at this appealing diner, which sits adjacent to a local drug store. Red-and-black checkered floors, vinyl-covered booths, counter seating, ceiling fans, and warm-hearted servers give it charm, and regulars can't get enough of the delicious food. Farm-fresh breakfasts and hot plate lunches have kept Avalon humming along since 1938, and there's no signs of its stopping. Cheeseburgers, milkshakes, and homemade lemonade are sublime, as are crisp-edged waffles, omelets, French toast, migas, huevos rancheros, and chicken-fried steak and eggs. Expect a crowd.

DOWNTOWN. A gorgeous former bank lobby rife with architectural character, soaring ceilings, and sensual fabrics gives initial indication of the refined feast that BANK has in store for guests. The menu scoops into its delicious sensibility a variety of influences from the American South and gives them new culinary life, courtesy of executive chef Michael Kramer. Keep an eye out for coffee-rubbed filet of beef, butter-poached Maine lobster, brioche-stuffed quail, and Alaskan halibut with truffle emulsion. An expensive but dazzling experience.

HOUSTON. This coffee shop with the colorful name specializes in Hawaiian coffees, which grow rich and flavorful on the islands' lush, rugged slopes. The shop itself has a tropical feel thanks to palm tree props and a six-foot-tall smoking volcano. Patrons hang out with steaming cups of java, anticipating the buzz that comes from high-quality Kona coffee. To sweeten the experience, order a pastry, a muffin, or biscotti. If you require more than that, Bad Ass offers a handful of breakfast and deli sandwiches.

RIVER OAKS. Named for Walter Berryhill, who made and hawked tamales locally during the early part of the century, this Houston-based chain capitalizes on his delicious recipes. The quaint restaurant is usually busy on weekends, but don't be put off by its numerous patrons. It's worth the wait! The signature tempura-fried fish taco is a menu favorite, and mouthwatering breakfast tacos get a flavor punch with pico de gallo, chorizo, and rice and beans. Weather permitting, you can also sit on the deck and people-watch with your breakfast.