The 10 Best Restaurants to Eat With a Third Tier Friend 2024 - Houston - The Infatuation

"Nothing says, “I care about you as a person,” more than a plate of fried lasagna bites. Mandola’s Deli, an old school Italian restaurant in the East End, not only can provide you with steamy herb-crusted lasagna cubes, but also enough dishes slathered in red sauce to bring down a small horse. The Houston sports team memorabilia and family photos plastering the walls makes everyone feel like they’re a part of something special, even if it is just a reluctant small-talk-filled lunch date. Make sure to grab a few quarts of sauce or a dozen cannolis to-go, mostly because that will give you a solid excuse to skip dessert and leave." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene