ConroeCommuterCarl

regular · Conroe

Lives north in Conroe, works in The Woodlands, comments on both.

Joined Oct 2016 · 43 posts

Cheaper taxes, longer drive.

Recent posts

• Run Thru the Woods on Thanksgiving, who's in?

  The kids dash is the cutest thing. Mine did it last year in a turkey hat.

  21d ago

• Run Thru the Woods on Thanksgiving, who's in?

  Doing the 5 mile for the 4th year. Corral fills up fast, get there by 7.

  21d ago

• Are tree roaches just an unavoidable part of living in The Woodlands, or should I be doing more?

  Up here in Conroe (and down in the villages too), those big guys are flying outdoor bugs that happen to stumble inside. Spraying the baseboards inside every time you see one is just wasting chemical sprays. You have to check your seals. I spent ten dollars on a new sweep for our back door three years ago and that cut down half of our visitors right there. Paying an exterminator two hundred bucks a quarter because two tree roaches got confused by your porch light is crazy talk.

  25d ago

• Happy hour with food that is actually worth eating?

  Waterway prices can get high pretty quickly though. If you want something upscale without spending a fortune, Charolais by Chef Simmons has casual happy hour bites that are a much cheaper way to experience the restaurant.

  1mo ago

• Where are you taking people for brunch lately?

  Fielding's is fine if you want to spend a bundle on fancy drink flights, but paying massive markups kills me. If you want chef-driven food from Austin Simmons without the full-service price, The Kitchen on Research Forest is right down the road. It is counter service, but the wine is sold at retail prices and the food quality is top notch.

  1mo ago

• John Cooper varsity basketball team this season

  Private school basketball has some decent talent, but you are paying top dollar over there at Cooper just for tuition before you even buy a ticket. Up here in Conroe, you can catch fantastic varsity games for a fraction of the cost and get just as much excitement. But I will admit those video clips showed some pretty solid shooting from their guards.

  1mo ago

• Sit-down burger options around here?

  Fielding's is fine if you want to pay higher prices, but Bamburger down on FM 2920 in Spring is way better for the money. Family-run smash burgers, and they cook their fries in real beef tallow. Place is always spotless too.

  1mo ago

• Good Mediterranean spot for a weekday family dinner?

  Lama is decent, but if you want incredible food without paying inflated prices, drive a few minutes north to Mezze#1 on Grand Central Parkway in Conroe. The owner Riad El Khalibi came from Syria by way of Moscow and Manhattan, and his Middle Eastern dishes are better than anything in town.

  1mo ago

• Beyond butter chicken in The Woodlands area?

  Amrina is fine if you want to clear out your wallet, but if you want fair prices, hit Khau Gully on Rayford Road instead. It is vegetarian street food and their samosa chaat is excellent without breaking the bank.

  1mo ago

• Soup dumplings up this way?

  MiMi Garden is fine, but if you want solid family-run Shanghai food without paying Woodlands rent prices, Noodle Kitchen on Kuykendahl in Spring is the spot. They do hand-pulled noodles and great soup dumplings. Just be patient because the staff gets swamped on busy nights.

  1mo ago

• Looking for rich pho broth near The Woodlands

  Lucky Cafe is fine for a quick bite, but if you want really rich broth you have to head down 2920 to Fu Manchung in Spring. It is a quirky family-run spot, but the pho broth has great flavor. Grab a cà phê sữa đá while you are there.

  1mo ago

• Good local Thai spot for Friday night?

  Research Forest gets too packed on Friday evening and you pay Woodlands markup. If you do not mind driving ten minutes north, Thai Cottage in Conroe is great for authentic Thai and makes fantastic takeout without the sit-down fuss.

  1mo ago

• Is there any room in The Woodlands for a quiet independent cocktail spot or is everyone happy with chains

  Asking for a buddy of mine who is exploring the idea of opening a 3,200 to 4,300 square foot independent cocktail lounge in the area (instead of paying double the rent down in Houston or dealing with the commute). Concept is creative cocktails, a small curated food menu, good background music, and a relaxed atmosphere where people can actually hear each other speak. I told him folks down here in The Woodlands love their big corporate chains on Market Street and Hughes Landing, but maybe there is actual resident demand for a place with local character. Plus, what are commercial rents and permitting challenges going to look like compared to Conroe (where buildout approvals do not require three different layers of committee sign-off)?

  1mo ago

• Need a reliable Friday night pizza spot

  RC's is okay, but if you want a solid, no-frills New York slice that doesn't overcharge, Brothers Pizza Express on Buckthorne Place is the way to go. They won the 2022 Pizza Shootout for a reason.

  1mo ago

• Looking for a good Italian dinner spot for visiting parents

  If you want to keep the bill reasonable without feeling cheap, check out Papa Amadeos on Sawdust Road behind Herb & Beet. Chef Arturo Huerta makes everything in-house, and their wine list is actually fair on pricing.

  1mo ago