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Straits Restaurant Houston – Brunch Singapore Style

July 14, 2013 by Emilee Evans

Our meal was provided at no cost by Straits Restaurant Houston during the GoHouston! Travel Campaign hosted by New Creative Writing and Social Media Marketing, home to Money Saving Parent.com. All opinions are my own.

After we checked out of Hotel Sorella on the last day of our mini vacation we headed to brunch at Straits Restaurant Houston. They are located just downstairs of Hotel Sorella in CityCentre Houston. We had reservations for their opening time at 11am, but we arrived a little early. They weren’t ready for us, but they still welcomed us and invited us to sit down in a comfortable waiting area while they got everything prepared.
Once they were ready we were asked where we wanted to sit, and we chose to sit in the comfortable seating under the cabanas outside. I had been eyeing them since we had passed by them many times while walking around the CityCentre plaza! The ambience is really nice, and the seats were very comfortable. It was nice to be under the cabana and out of the hot sun yet able to enjoy being outside.
We were given a Lunch menu as well as a Brunch menu. Since this was our first time at a Singapore Restaurant it took us a long time to decide. Luckily, most of the other GoHouston! Travel Bloggers had visited Straits and recommended the Singapore Satay Sticks, so we had an appetizer to get us started! After looking at the menus all but our oldest son decided on the same thing – the Mango Butter Pancakes. Maybe a strange choice following Satay Sticks, but they sounded so good! If you are thinking we should try something more exotic at a Singapore restaurant I assure you their Mango Butter Pancakes are not made like our American pancakes. They are fluffy and have a naturally sweet taste, and the mango butter really adds to the flavor! My husband and I got the full brunch which includes fruit and bacon, and we got an extra side of pancakes for our younger two kids.

Our oldest son wanted to try noodles, but I wasn’t sure what would be best for him since he is our most picky eater of the three. When he thought of noodles he was thinking of something much different (like spaghetti). I chose garlic noodles for him believing that would be the best choice. It turned out to be too spicy for him, but the good news we liked them! Plus, we had plenty of pancakes to go around. The Garlic noodles had wok fired noodles, thai basil, tomatoes, and shiitake mushrooms. They actually aren’t that spicy, but he is very particular about flavors, and the noodles do have a lot of flavor. This is actually a good thing for most of us! It has just the right amount of each flavor to where not one flavor is overwhelming but they compliment each other nicely! I was glad to get to try one of their lunch dishes as well as enjoy my mango butter pancakes.

Our server was extremely friendly and helpful and made sure we had plenty of plates as well as boxes when we were ready to leave. He also offered to let us take drinks to go for the kids, but since we knew we were on our way to a movie next we decided not to take any drinks with us. We were able to take our time and enjoy the nice breeze under the cabana and not feel rushed while we ate. I would definitely recommend visiting Straits for Brunch when you get the chance. I have heard their dinner is as equally amazing and just as kid friendly!
Straits Restaurant Houston is an OpenTable Diners’ Choice Winner 2013. To make your reservations head over to their website! While there sign up for their VIP Exclusives to receive great deals!

The Bistro CityCentre Elegant Dining: Review

July 13, 2013 by Emilee Evans

Our meal was provided at no cost by The Bistro at Hotel Sorella during the GoHouston! Travel Campaign hosted by New Creative Writing and Social Media Marketing, home to Money Saving Parent.com. All opinions are my own.

The Bistro is located in the upscale Hotel Sorella in CityCentre Houston. It is open to all guests, though, and not just guests of Hotel Sorella. It offers an elegant dining experience that we found to still be family-friendly. We enjoyed our dinner at The Bistro earlier in the evening on the 4th of July before many of the other guests arrived. We were seated in a very large booth, so the kids had plenty of room to stretch out and not disturb others either and were given cups with lids, which is always helpful.
When we placed our order I was surprised how accommodating they were. Our kids made special, random requests, but they were very accommodating. One request was even made by our oldest son later in the meal, and they simply filled the request without any fuss. They also brought out extra plates so we could divide the food up between the kids since there was plenty in two servings for all three of them. I was very impressed by the service. Our server also checked on us often to make sure everything was OK.
They had such an amazing variety of natural foods on their menu. It was so hard for my husband and I to decide what to order. I was so impressed with many of the ingredients. One example is the calamari. It was dusted in rice flour instead of a flour with wheat, which is great for those of us that either need to or try to avoid wheat. Eventually my husband and I decided on the two main entrees we wanted to try and agreed to share them. My husband chose the Prime New York Strip, and I chose the Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast. The presentation of the meals is wonderful, and the taste was just as pleasant. My husband’s Prime New York strip was served with loaded mashed potatoes and butter braised brussel sprouts. My Duck Breast was served with pearl barley risotto, arugula, foie gras fondue, seared foie gras, cranberry demi glace, and a quail egg.

Yes, it really was as delicious as it looks!
We didn’t have a chance to try dessert because we were already full and a little tired from our drive still, but I have seen their dessert, and it looks amazing!
The Bistro really is elegant and unique. If you do plan on making it a family event I suggest going earlier in the day or having dinner earlier like we did. It would also be perfect restaurant for a date night or a night out with friends. With its perfect location in CityCentre Houston you could plan a full day of shopping and fun or a full night of fun and enjoy a meal at The Bistro. They are open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. To make your reservations visit The Bistro Website.

Smashburger Houston Review

July 13, 2013 by Emilee Evans

Our family received complementary passes for Smashburger during the GoHouston! Travel Campaign hosted by New Creative Writing and Social Media Marketing, home to Money Saving Parent.com. All opinions are my own.
While experiencing all that CityCentre Houston has to offer we traveled a few blocks over to enjoy lunch at Smashburger Town and Country. It was our first time experiencing Smashburger. When we walked in we were greeted right away. We explained it was our first time here, and they were very patient while we looked at the menu.

Smashburger offers a lot of variety on their menu. They also have kids meals with four options that includes fries and a drink. Because we were first time guests they even included our drinks for free! You can choose from their variety of burgers or build your own from the bun to the toppings. If burgers aren’t your preference choose from many other options. They have a variety of chicken sandwiches and an option to build your own chicken sandwich as well. Even if you prefer meat-free dining you can enjoy a black bean burger styled any way you like it! They also have salads, a large variety of sides, a variety of beverages, and Häagen-Dazs® shakes. View the full Smashburger menu to see all the amazing options. (Note: menus are regional.)
I had the Classic Smash, and it was delicious. I love a good burger, and Smashburger really delivered. My husband is VERY particular with food and only eats a burger plain with bacon – yes, just a burger, bacon, and bun. They had no problem making that for him! Since most places don’t let you build your own he usually has to order a burger that is closest to what he wants. It usually has a lot of condiments and cheese, so he has to explain he doesn’t want ANY of that. Most of the time they get it wrong and have to make it again, so what a relief to be able to order it exactly how he likes it instead of trying to explain what he doesn’t want on it.
Our kids all had separate kids meals, but after we sat down and looked at all the food we realized we probably could have gotten less. We did end up taking some with us to go, and they were very helpful to provide boxes to make it easier. Overall, for a family of 5 we could have eaten for under $30 and probably still would have some left over! We didn’t get milkshakes, though, which I hear are fantastic, and I definitely would love to try them next time. The friendly staff, the fun wire baskets, menu variety, and relaxed family-friendly atmosphere made our experience at Smashburger really enjoyable.

Smashburger Town and Country is just a short walk from where we were staying at Hotel Sorella CityCentre and definitely is a must visit! I was also happy to discover we have a Smashburger in the city next to us currently to hold us over until we finally move to Houston! If Smashburger looks good to you be sure to visit their website for more information. While you are there sign up for their Smashclub to get tasty specials delivered to your inbox!

Hotel Sorella CityCentre Review

July 11, 2013 by Emilee Evans

I was provided with a complementary stay at the Hotel Sorella during the GoHouston! Travel Campaign hosted by New Creative Writing and Social Media Marketing, home to Money Saving Parent.com. All opinions are my own.
My husband was born and raised in a suburb of Houston, and I lived there for a few years, which is where I met him. What I remember of what is now CityCentre is that there was nothing there! So, when we had a chance to take a mini vacation over the 4th of July holiday weekend to Houston and experience this “new to us” area we were very excited. We had accommodations at the luxurious Hotel Sorella CityCentre, which is conveniently located within walking distance to many shops, dining, and Studio Movie Grill. Hotel Sorella CityCentre also features dining options within at The Bistro and a complimentary continental breakfast with some amazing pastries and fruit.
Hotel Sorella CityCentre also features many views of the beautiful CityCentre plaza and their living waters, which is amazing to view at night when the fires are lit. Because our visit was over the 4th of July weekend, we also got to experience the CityCentre fireworks – right from our room! Our room had a wonderful view of the plaza where the fireworks display and entertainment was located. This was an extra bonus for us because we had one child down for the count before the fireworks began! Plus, we got to stay nice and comfortable in the air conditioned room. Even if it wasn’t a holiday, I would still request a view of the plaza if available because it really is beautiful especially at night.

In addition to the beautiful view, our room was beautiful as well. We had two double beds as well as a swivel chair and large ottoman. We found it very easy to get comfortable. There was a large closet that easily fit all of our bags so we could enjoy the space and a gorgeous bathroom with sliding door. The bathtub/shower had a large shower head, which I absolutely love, and was very spacious. There is something great about a good shower after being in the car for a few hours, and an inviting shower is just what I needed. I was also very impressed to see that they provide eco-friendly toiletries. Between the shower, toiletries, fluffy towels, and robe (provided in the closet), I felt completely relaxed. Add the flat-screen TV with cable, iPod clock radio, Wi-fi access and provided magazines for entertainment, and we were all set to wind down for the night after the fireworks!

There are snacks as well as drinks available in the room and mini fridge for an additional cost, which is convenient if you prefer not to leave your room. You can order entire meals to be brought to your rooms as well until 10pm. I was extremely impressed with their room service menu as well as the other details they provide about their services. They also provided helpful information about other services in the area.
Hotel Sorella CityCentre also has a swimming pool with shaded areas, terraces overlooking the plaza, and a fitness facility for their guests. The fitness facility also has a joint spa area if guests would like to schedule a massage or other spa service for additional pampering. It is recommended to book your service 24 hours in advance.
The fitness facility is located on the 3rd floor and is accessed by your room key, so you can access it at any time. It has a view of the CityCentre plaza, so guests can enjoy the scenery while you are working out. Guests can also watch the televisions provided in front of the cardio machines. In addition to treadmills, ellipticals, and a stationary bike there are also free weights. There is a bathroom in the fitness facility so you don’t have to go find one if needed! A water machine and apples are provided. If you decide you need a little more exercise during your stay at Hotel Sorella you can purchase day passes to Life Time Athletic at the front desk.

Some other features we really enjoyed at Hotel Sorella CityCentre were: the family friendly staff, the elegant decor, easy access from the parking garage (though valet parking is available as well), computers connected to the internet with a printer, the large cow seats on the first level, and the location. We really enjoyed CityCentre. I never would have guessed what I remember as nothing developed into this classy area full of life and entertainment! We enjoyed the ambience, location, and people! Everyone was so friendly and social. Plus many of the shops offered organic and eco-friendly products, which is a definite bonus for us. Hotel Sorella CityCentre is right there in the middle of it all.

Are you ready for a luxury experience that is also family friendly? Visit Hotel Sorella CityCentre to book your room! Also be sure to check out their Hotel Sorella Specials and Packages!

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