Where to eat in Eado | Indianola, Agricole Hospitality’s Newest East Downtown Gem | EaDo Houston

EaDo Houston has evolved into it a mini food metropolis, seemingly over night. A few years ago places like Huynh, Around The Corner and District 7 were your only options for a decent meal. That has completely changed. Most recently Agricole Hospitality opened three new concepts, making EaDo one of Houston’s popular dining destinations.

During a recent lunch outing some friends and I dined at Indianola. We quickly realized that it was not an Indian restaurant, but a beautiful, modern space dedicated to highlighting the diverse cuisine of Indianola, Texas. If you’re looking to try something fresh and new in EaDo Houston, add Indianola to your list.

About Indianola

Indianola is a ghost town located on Matagorda Bay in Calhoun County, Texas. The community, once the county seat of Calhoun County, is a part of Victoria, Texas. In 1875, the city had a population of 5,000, but on September 15 of that year, a powerful hurricane struck, killing between 150 and 300 and almost entirely destroying the town. Indianola was rebuilt, only to be wiped out on August 19, 1886, by another intense hurricane, which was followed by a devastating fire.

At its peak, Indianola was a major port for French, German and Korean immigrants. The menu at Indianola highlights classic interpretations of their culinary contributions and influence.

The Space

Indianola’s nude banquette style seating creates a comfortable environment for all party sizes. I thought the positioning of the bar, and open kitchen was a nice touch. Our server made the afternoon memorable with her knowledge of the restaurants history. We were also greeted by the pastry chef, Natasha Douglas who answered our questions about the somewhat savory Basque Cheesecake, and the background story on its key ingredients.

The Food

The lunch menu offers a variety of snacks, small plates, salads, sandwiches and lunch plates. All of which range from $6 – $18 dollars. My goal when visiting a new place is to order items that are unique to the restaurant. I opted for the daily special, Duck Fried Rice. A mini cast iron dutch oven of perfectly cooked arborio rice, topped with pulled duck wings, an over easy egg and a delicious tamarind sauce. A sprinkling of spicy peanuts, green onions and sesame seeds finished the dish. My lunch companions order the Wagyu Burger, Shtimp Caesar Salad and Sweet Potato soup. They raved over their dishes, specifically the fall flavors of the soup and juiciness of the burger.

The quote “leave no stone unturned” is how I live my life when it comes to food. Closing a meal with out trying dessert is typically not how I roll. Again, our server came to the rescue with her suggestion of the Basque Cheesecake. Its base, a naturally smoked Idiazabal cheese, totally threw my palate for a loop. Of course I was expecting the typical graham cracker crust topped with a decadently sweet mix of butter, sugar, sour cream and cream cheese. The Basque Cheesecake at Indianola was not that at all. Here, you get a more savory cheesecake topped with the sweet yet bitter, cider based isastegi caramel, membrillo and walnut crisps. If your looking for a unique spin on cheesecake or something not overly sweet to pair with a coffee, try this.

Closing

Although this was a lunch visit, we walked away pleased. Word on the street is they have a pretty smashing cocktail program that is worth a second visit. Indianola is open for lunch Monday – Friday from 11 am – 4 pm and for dinner Sunday – Thursday 4 pm – 10 pm (11 pm Friday & Saturday) Follow them on social media for updates regarding their breakfast and brunch offerings of which will be updated soon!

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