Retail Roundup: Delwood Area Shopping, Dining and Entertainment

Delwood has long had an enviable selection of local shops, restaurants, and entertainment in the neighborhood. The nearby Mueller redevelopment has just multiplied those options by adding many new exciting establishments.

From Delwood’s central location, the entire city is convenient for shopping. Closer to the neighborhood, locals enjoy the Target at Capital Plaza less than 5 minutes away. Next-door, the Mueller development already has many newly opened retailers including Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, and PetSmart — and more opening all the time. Mueller also has a variety of locally owned and well-loved restaurants such as Tino’s Greek Café and Verts Kebap.

Grocery shopping could not be more convenient, with a Fiesta Supermarket adjacent to the neighborhood, a huge HEB and Sears at nearby Hancock Center, and a brand new HEB in the Mueller development.

Excellent Sandwiches, Award-Winning Burgers and Much More at the Cherrywood Coffee House

Among neighborhood hot spots is the locally-owned Cherrywood Coffee House. The location has been home to a number of dining establishments that failed to take hold, but since Cherrywood opened its doors in 2009, business has been brisk — and growing. The only drawback is that its popularity can make finding parking a bit tricky, but as its loyal diners will attest, Cherrywood is worth it.

The kitchen serves everything from breakfast to dinner and all the snacks in between. On the menu, diners can find an inviting assortment of breakfast tacos, fresh salads, hearty sandwiches, delicious burgers, a terrific selection of beer, and a respectable assortment of wines. And, of course, Cherrywood serves standout coffees and coffee drinks brewed with locally roasted Ruta Maya Fair Trade coffee.

Cherrywood serves breakfast all day long, and the weekend brunch is wildly popular. Among the offerings for breakfast, in addition to baked goods, are a variety of breakfast tacos.  Unlike some other places, the options aren’t limited to the standard egg, bean or potato, bacon or sausage and cheese. The Terra Taco is generously stuffed with eggs, fried tofu, potatoes, cheese, avocado and green onions. The popular Sol taco is stuffed with a hearty portion of eggs, delicious black beans, both sausage and crisp bacon, cheese, crisp hashbrowns, and green onion. A Sol taco is so hearty, many may find it satisfying enough even at dinner.

Lunch, Dinner and Live Music on the Patio

The lunch and dinner menu reveal the owners’ Louisiana roots in a seafood platters and seafood po’boys, each with a choice of fried or grilled catfish or shrimp, or fried oysters all served with tangy, tasty homemade rémoulade, and the mouthwatering, and a traditional muffaletta sandwich.

That’s the real substance of the menu: excellent sandwiches and award-winning hamburgers. The hamburgers are hearty — even the smaller of the two sizes is large and satisfying. They’re also consistently flavorful, juicy, and topped with crisp, fresh lettuce and ripe tomatoes. And, as the rest of the delicious menu would suggest, care is taken to produce some really excellent French fries that complement the burgers perfectly.

In addition, Cherrywood has both indoor and outdoor seating, live music nights, a comedy open mic night, “Italian Night” Dinner Specials, and weekend events for kids.

Another Delicious Foodie Favorite

Another place for a delicious, satisfying meal, Hoover’s Cooking (on a neighborhood-adjacent strip of Manor that now boasts several excellent restaurants) serves down-home southern meals, including chicken-fried steak, BBQ chicken, and pork ribs, as well as sandwiches, salads, and made-from-scratch desserts.

But this isn’t just another pretender to the crown for authentic, delicious comfort food. Hoover’s sets itself apart with inspired seasoning, perfectly executed proteins, and scrumptious desserts.

Hoover’s delivers on outstanding comfort food that is deliciously authentic. While the chicken-fried steak is a must, other dishes on the menu are also excellent. The meatloaf is juicy, well seasoned, and full of flavor. Side dishes such as cheese grits are satisfyingly cheesy, and most of the beans and greens are studded generously with pork. For anyone who hankers for comfort food that rises above the rest, Hoover’s excellent homecooking is the answer.