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  • The best of Houston dining
    • Best Values
    • Breakfast
    • Chinese
    • Cocktails
    • Fajitas
    • Hamburgers
    • The Heights
    • Italian
    • Indian / Pakistani
    • Mexican
    • Middle Eastern
    • Pizzerias
    • Sandwiches
    • Splurge-Worthy
    • Steakhouses
    • Sushi
    • Tacos
    • Tex-Mex
    • To Take Visitors
  • Musings on Houston Dining
    • The best new restaurants to open in 2023
    • Houston's Italian restaurant history
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    • The top 10 new restaurants of 2021
  • The margherita pizza project
  • The martini project
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MIKE RICCETTI

Mostly food and drink...

...and mostly set in Houston

Who was Mark Portugal of The Mark Portugal sandwich at the Mucky Duck?

10/27/2023

1 Comment

 
After three full days of mourning following the sudden end to the Astros season, I’m finally able to think about something Astros-related, at least obliquely.
 
The Mucky Duck or the Duck, as McGonigel's Mucky Duck is always abbreviated, in addition to being a great place to catch live music in an intimate setting, has had a really good kitchen since its inception over three decades ago. It’s long been the best spot for pub grub in Houston, in my opinion. It begins with noticeably high quality ingredients – grass-fed Akaushi HeartBrand beef, for example – for all its preparations, both British-inspired and those more locally popular, including sandwiches. Its “number one selling sandwich,” a unique and delicious one, is The Mark Portugal. Turkey and avocado slices are topped with melted Muenster cheese and then large, thick strips of excellent bacon that is served warm on an open-faced, crusty French roll from Slow Dough.  An order comes with crisp and tasty fries and a length of a pickle, nice complements.
 
Fairly hefty and caloric, it appropriately takes the name – and was actually created under the inspired direction, I believe – of the festively plump, beer-loving former Astros starting pitcher who was a regular at the Mucky Duck while he played for the Astros for five years in the 1990s, a tenure that included an 18-win season. Not just Portugal, but a few other Astros, including a couple of future Hall of Famers, frequented the Duck back then for good beer and good food when the team played down Kirby at the Dome. And another future Hall of Famer, Dusty Baker, was seen just before the start of spring training.
 
McGonigel's Mucky Duck
2425 Norfolk (just east of Kirby), 77098, (713) 528-5999
mcgonigels.com
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1 Comment
Pam Canfield Underwood
10/28/2023 11:59:32 am

The Duck is a great place for food, beverages & fellowship! The owners are wonderful folks & the food , especially the Mark Portugal, is fantadtic! The fish & chips are a fave also! It's a great, intimate place to relax & enjoy good music & great entertainment!

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    Mike Riccetti is a longtime Houston-based food writer and former editor for Zagat, and not incidentally the author of three editions of Houston Dining on the Cheap.

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