I make very regular use of the Houston Public Library, and I made what could be my final trip there for a while yesterday. The libraries in New York and Los Angeles have just closed and Houston could soon follow suit. While strolling the food- and restaurant-related aisles at the Central Library downtown, I noticed a familiar title that I was a bit surprised to still see on the shelves: the third and final edition of my Houston Dining on the Cheap – A Guide to the Best Inexpensive Restaurants in Houston.
Published in July 2007, it is somewhat dated. That information is almost thirteen years old, after all. Given the thankful longevity of that many of the city’s best inexpensive restaurants have had, two-thirds of the places recommended in it might still be open. Quite possibly less than that. Though proud of the effort, I haven’t really recommended the title to anyone in a while as the distance from the publication date has lengthened. Good material fairly well rendered, but not so fresh, I believe. In addition to the local libraries, the book is still available on Amazon, and it still sells in drips and drabs. The book works as a historical document of Houston dining, at the very least. And it’s pretty cheap, too.
Published in July 2007, it is somewhat dated. That information is almost thirteen years old, after all. Given the thankful longevity of that many of the city’s best inexpensive restaurants have had, two-thirds of the places recommended in it might still be open. Quite possibly less than that. Though proud of the effort, I haven’t really recommended the title to anyone in a while as the distance from the publication date has lengthened. Good material fairly well rendered, but not so fresh, I believe. In addition to the local libraries, the book is still available on Amazon, and it still sells in drips and drabs. The book works as a historical document of Houston dining, at the very least. And it’s pretty cheap, too.
