By Erika Bahr

Ruggles Green Review

I discovered Ruggles Green, a Houston gem when some friends recommended it as a place for us to meet up for dinner. They said it was a “healthy restaurant,” which made me slightly skeptical about how it would taste. However, my skepticism quickly faded as I walked into the packed casual-dining restaurant around dinnertime and saw how hard it was to find an open seat. I have since been to two of their locations many times (Sugarland and Citycentre) and their delectable, healthy food has become a personal favorite. Check out the short video sneak peek of Ruggles Green:

Their décor matches their green values—natural, modern, and lively—with a chalkboard menu boasting statements like “Healthy and Wholesome” and “Locally Farmed.”

Your first time going to Ruggles Green you may want to start out with the Organic Spinach Dip Appetizer. The blended organic spinach, artichoke hearts, cream cheese, Parmesan, goat cheese, white wine, and ricotta cheese dip is the perfect way to start a meal. The mix of cheeses is simply divine. The appetizer is served with Kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, cilantro and wood-fired flatbread or chips. It is a rich combination that wakes up your taste buds, getting them ready for the main course.

 

On my first visit, my friends recommended the Chicken Curry Salad, and I have found myself ordering it regularly ever since. The first thing I noticed about this salad was the incredible use of texture in addition to the flavor and overall experience of the dish. In every bite of mixed greens you get some jicama, raisins, shaved carrots, dried mango, toasted almond, or sliced orange, creating a satisfyingly slightly crunchy salad. The orange honey yogurt dressing made me almost forget I was eating something so healthy. The curry chicken isn’t overpowering, but it’s just enough to create the perfect combination of flavors. Even if you don’t normally pick salads when you go out to eat, I would recommend giving this one a try. It is filling, but when you scrape the last bit of salad off your plate, you may find yourself craving more of that unique taste and texture.

One of Ruggles Green’s claims to fame is their all-Natural Buffalo Beef burger. If you love hamburgers, this is the burger for you. This lean, all-natural buffalo burger is made with mixed greens, tomato, house-made pickles, red onion, and your choice of Swiss, Cheddar, or mozzarella cheese, all served on a whole grain bun. Unlike some other famous burger places I have eaten at, you don’t feel heavy after eating this hamburger, and yet the flavor of this burger does not suffer as do so many other burgers that attempt to be “healthy.” How they were able to combine the best of both sides, I don’t know, but I do know that you will not be disappointed if you indulge your palate with this burger. There is a reason it is famous among the locals. I also have had many sweet potato fries over the years, but the ones at Ruggles Green are by far my favorite. They taste freshly made, with a lightly salted, crispy outer layer. I could eat a whole plate of them alone.

As your meal comes to a close, I highly recommend finishing with the Domino cake: a moist dark chocolate cake with alternating layers of white and dark chocolate mousse, iced with a dark chocolate ganache. If that isn’t enough to make your taste buds tingle, it is served with a vanilla bean ice cream that you can dip your heavenly chocolate cake into, putting the finishing touches on an unforgettable casual dining experience.

Ruggles Green was founded in 2008 and boasts the distinction of being Houston’s first “Certified Green Restaurant,” meaning they follow a strict set of guidelines to ensure healthy, quality food and sustainable, environmentally-friendly business practices. They have five locations in the Houston area: Citycentre, the Heights, River Oaks, Sugar Land, and the Woodlands. You can find directions, their complete menu, and more on their website at rugglesgreen.com.

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