4 Stars for Killen's Barbecue; Inconsistent Food at Hughie's

The Chron's Alison Cook heads to Killen's Barbecue: She gives Ronnie Killen's Pearland destination an impressive four stars. (Note: It's not often that a 'cue place gets so much love from a revered critic.) Cook attributes the stellar rating to Killen's attention to detail, like the "precise slicing of the meats" to using parchment "that breathes, rather than in aluminum foil that sweats." All in all, Cook sums it up this way: "While I've been impressed with the quality of the food from top to bottom, from side dishes even unto dessert, I've had singular barbecue moments here that will inform my standards for the rest of my life." If the line was long before, prepare yourselves for an even longer wait at this young smoked meat mecca.

The Press goes to Hughie's: Kaitlin Steinberg remarks on the inconsistent food but "extensive craft beer list." She notes that the Vietnamese-meets-Southern food spot's prices "are its most redeeming quality" but that it is still "winning over Houstonians with sheer charm and a sincerity not often found in the cutthroat restaurant industry."

More reviews: Mai Pham reports that the popular spot formerly known as Nara is now Nara Sushi and Korean Kitchen. She writes that some new menu options like the "Texas-sized Sharing Plates" are a new addition that includes a pre-sliced Tomahawk Wagyu, perfect for a table of friends. Urban Swank heads to Montrose standby Paulie's and recommends "having dinner at the restaurant proper then heading to Camerata until the wee hours." The Gastronaut's Katharine Shilcutt heads to La Guitarra con Sazón: Chef Walter Arredondo's West Oaks restaurant opened in April and is serving classic Peruvian fare, which brings fresh seafood just in time for summer. The Press goes to Pico's for "exceptional" food and recommends asking for the secret sauces.