Cheap Eats
Low-Cost Takes on High-End Houston Favorites
Inexpensive caviar? Yes, and more.

A plate of baby beef liver and onions, plus mac 'n' cheese, green beans, cornbread, carrot-raisin salad, a Dr Pepper and a slice of chess pie, all for $10 at Dinner Bell.
Image: Katharine Shilcutt
Whether your favorite fashion-mag section is the Splurge vs. Save spread, or you’re simply saving up for that $295 Bling Burger you read about in Esquire, you’ll appreciate these low-cost takes on high-end Houston favorites.
Homemade Pasta
High-end: Lobster bolognese at Tony's, $28
Low-cost: Fettuccine bolognese at Luisa's Pasta, $7.75
Steak Frites
High-end: Filet de boeuf au poivre at Étoile Cuisine et Bar, $38
Low-cost: Hickory-grilled sirloin with fries, salad and pita at Eats Mesquite Grill, $11.95
Surf-and-Turf
High-end: Turf-and-surf plate at Trulucks, $65
Low-cost: Combinación mar y tierra at Taqueria el Rodeo de Jalisco, $9.99
Raw Oysters
High-end: Half-dozen Naked Cowboy oysters at State of Grace, $20.70
Low-cost: Half-dozen Gulf oysters at TY Seafood Kitchen, $5.99
Liver
High-end: Foie gras breakfast at Triniti, $26
Low-cost: Baby beef liver and onions at Dinner Bell, $7.55
Caviar
High-end: Ossetra with tempered egg and blini at Restaurant CINQ, market price
Low-cost: Red caviar puffs at Rosinka Wine & Tea House, $8