When you think of Houston, Texas the image of an environmentally city may not be what you envision. And, well you’d be correct. It’s true Houston is well-known for big hair, big houses and  big oil;  Plus in my experience residents don’t walk anywhere (one exception may be across the popular Galleria mall) and recycling bins in public areas are somewhat scarce.

Haven Restaurant – Houston, Texas

But enough Houston criticizing – for today 😉  While visiting the city recently I found a restaurant gem I had to share. Haven restaurant is all about seasonal fare and inventive dishes. The atmosphere is polished yet earthy and formal enough for a special occasion but not too stuffy for a slightly boozy brunch. Plus, it’s a green certified restaurant.

Haven restaurant’s produce, herbs, and honey are grown and harvested from their organic garden located on the property. They rely on local sources for the other ingredients on the menu. “What the restaurant does not produce itself is meticulously sourced from Texas farmers, boatmen, ranchers and artisans so that its cheeses, meats, seafood, eggs and vegetables all have a claim to the state. The menu proudly lists more than a dozen Texas sources for its carefully selected purchases.”

Haven Restaurant – Brunch

Here’s what my friends and I sampled off of Haven restaurant’s brunch menu: To start we enjoyed delicious, dessert-like brioche french toast, a refreshing strawberry arugula salad, and gumbo z’herbes (a yummy vegetarian braised greens stew.) Then we moved on to garden vegetables with peanut crusted tofu (much more exciting than it sounds!), fried green tomatoes and awesome house made tator tots. My dining companions also tried the farm egg frittata and the green chicken enchiladas and gave them both rave reviews.

If you find yourself in steamy Houston I definitely recommend a bite at Haven Restaurant.

Another Houston hot spot for residents and tourists alike? The Recycled Beer Can House is a must see. (Julie and I have separately hit it up and both had great experiences!)

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Beth is a Health and Wellness expert who believes sustainability goes hand-in-hand with self care. She’s the girl whipping up kombucha cocktails at parties, and extolling the benefits of canning vegetables to anyone who will listen. View all posts by Beth Funari