Rice University’s Student Newspaper — Since 1916

Friday, March 29, 2024 — Houston, TX

Jordan Davis




NEWS 10/30/08 7:00pm

Eats and treats abound at Ruggles in the Village

Wandering aimlessly down Rice Blvd. will lead you in either of two directions: into Hermann Park, or to a place where great food, wine and class meet: Ruggles Café and Bakery in the Rice Village. Quite a popular establishment, especially with the Rice cross-country and track teams, Ruggles offers some of the best food in Houston and uses the finest and freshest ingredients.The downside of its popularity is that the line is often out the door. Luckily, superb service makes the daunting wait fly by with a quick and accurate cashier staff and a simply amazing cooking staff that turns out orders quickly. On days when the line is doable and the weather is beautiful, customers can take the patio seating and even bring their own wine. The café will provide glasses for free.


NEWS 10/9/08 7:00pm

Amy's: Sushi ice cream ! !

When all that is good and holy in this world comes to a tragic end, the thought that Amy's Ice Cream is still delicious is comforting. This, however, is no longer the case. The once reputable ice cream joint, located at 3816 Farnham St., does not live up to its historic hype anymore.Ask any student who knows anything about ice cream. It's always Amy's this and Amy's that, except when Ben and Jerry's has Free Scoop Day. Sadly, in their recent years of being considered the number one ice cream joint in the Rice community, their fame has gone to their head. Serving mediocre ice cream, offering disappointing flavors and creating flavor combinations that taste of sushi and soy sauce cannot possibly be good for business. Here are some selections to stay away from: Belgian Chocolate, Atomic Blaster and Coffee White Chocolate.


NEWS 9/25/08 7:00pm

HedgeHopper Week 4: Reggae Hut Café

The new Reggae Hut Café, located at 4814 Almeda Rd., right after Southmore Blvd. and right before Blodgett St., is the closest to Jamaica that Houstonians can get without actually traveling there; in addition, it offers the Rice community a 15-percent discount with the HedgeHopper card.Before 4 p.m. cars can park in front of the establishment; after that, parking is located behind the shopping strip. Live entertainment on Tuesday nights and free wireless Internet draw people to this intriguing café. The fact that their staff is beyond friendly and their portions are more Texas-sized than those of any other restaurant in the Village should also help draw more people from the Rice community this year. Opening at 11 a.m. for lunch Monday through Saturday, it is a welcome change from barbeque, Tex-Mex and Thai. Soft reggae and essences of irie riddims gently serenade entering customers, while the smells of amazing dishes encircle them.


NEWS 9/18/08 7:00pm

HedgeHopper Week 3: Winds are calm, but yogurt is Swirll

Swirll Frozen Yogurt, located at the corner of University Blvd. and Kirby Dr., right next door to Half Price Books, is a dainty little hole-in-the-wall frozen yogurt shop that captures the eyes of Village pedestrians. Despite its unimposing exterior, its interior boasts wireless Internet and two huge plasma-screen TVs. One screen displays all of Swirll's flavors, offered on rotation only a few at a time with favorites like green tea and original available permanently, while the other is locked on premier products like smoothies, available in flavors such as blueberry, blackberry, café latte and cappuccino.Go with your friends or go alone; Swirll will accommodate any group size with room to stretch out. In fact, while the ambiance is good, it feels a bit cavernous. If the weather is beautiful, the patio provides another place to kick up feet. Customers can pick something up to go or bring their own board games to kill time. People who have work to do should not hesitate to bring it with them.


NEWS 9/11/08 7:00pm

HedgeHopper Week 3: Pasha preview

Pasha Turkish Restaurant is a cozy little house that has been converted into a restaurant to cater to the surrounding Rice community. Located on University Blvd. between Greenbriar Dr. and Morningside Dr., Pasha caters to a variety of tastes and wallet sizes. Recommended by publications like Zagat, Texas Monthly, the Houston Chronicle and My Table, Pasha is open only for lunch and dinner, with a menu for each.The lunch menu caters to those stopping by to get a quick bite to eat. Menu items are downgraded slightly in size and are less expensive than at dinner. Try the creamy mashed chickpeas, tahini and garlic hummus as an appetizer to go along with a free order of unlimited, freshly-baked brick oven bread and olive oil infused with rosemary and ground black pepper. Also delicious are the Dolmas, delicacies of fresh white rice, crushed pine nuts, chopped onions and Turkish spices stuffed inside a rolled grape leaf.


NEWS 8/28/08 7:00pm

Starring: Rice, tortillas, cilantro and your tastebuds

The Rice Student Association's HedgeHopper program will soon provide the campus community with discounts at sixteen Houston restaurants by way of the revamped HedgeHopper card. Soon to be distributed to undergrads and made available to Rice faculty and staff, the card will serve as a permanent coupon for the 2008-2009 school year. In support of this program, the Thresher has embarked upon a journey to review its sponsors. This week: Mission Burrito in the Rice Village.A good burrito is now closer than ever. With its new location on Morningside Dr. between Times Blvd. and University Blvd. across from Brian O'Neill's, Mission Burrito has created quite a fervor among the Rice population.


NEWS 8/21/08 7:00pm

HedgeHopper Week One: Swirll Frozen Yogurt

In response to the Student Association's revamped HedgeHopper program, providing discounts for Rice students at 16 restaurants around Houston, the Thresher embarks upon a journey to review participating establishments. This week: Swirll Frozen Yogurt in the Rice Village. which now provides a 15 percent discount for Rice students.Swirll, located at the corner of University Blvd. and Kirby Dr., right next door to Half Price Books, is a dainty little hole-in-the-wall frozen yogurt shop that captures the eyes of people passing by. Despite its unimposing appearance, it boasts wireless Internet and two huge plasma-screen TVs. One screen displays all of the items Swirll offers, while the other is locked on premier products. For an outing, the atmosphere is a four out of five, because while the ambiance is good, it feels a bit cavernous. Go in a group or go alone, as Swirll will accommodate any group size with room to stretch out. If the weather is beautiful, the patio provides another place to kick up feet. Customers can pick something up to go or bring their own board games to kill time, and people who have work to do should not hesitate to bring it. Walking or taking a bike from campus is appropriate transportation to a health-conscious place like Swirll, which claims that all of its frozen yogurts are 25 calories per ounce with zero grams of fat, without sacrificing taste - quite the temptation for those who are watching their figures. Cone and cup sizes are five, 14 and 28 ounces, and Swirll offers free samples of all of its flavors. With a Rice discount of 15 percent on top of the already student-affordable prices, Swirll is almost giving away all of that delicious frozen yogurt. Tried all of the flavors before? Why not add some mixings? Play it conservative by adding cereal, granola or fruit to an order, or take a note from the reviewer's book and go with chocolate chips, coconut, gummy bears, M&Ms or Oreos. Experi-menting is definitely worth it. Swirll is a welcome alternative for on-campus kids tired of Smoothie King, and if Jamba Juice is not satisfying anymore, a trip to Swirll provides that smoothie fix. While it has a much smaller variety of smoothie flavors - with only blueberry, blackberry, cafe latte and cappuccino - Swirll makes up for it in quality taste.