Cafe Express is like a to-go order. You order and you go. Inside the restaurant are Carribbean-style colors and design that send the mind into a relaxing atmosphere.

There are salads, burgers, sandwiches, grilled and roasted; pastas, soups, and a menu for the kiddies. Desserts, sides, wine, and coffee can also be found in this tropical paradise.

This division of Houston’s Schiller Del Grande Restaurant Group (who also operate Houston’s upscale Café Annie) offers a menu of fancy sandwiches, salads, burgers, pastas, and grilled and roasted chicken entrees at reasonable prices in a quick service format. Café Express was a pioneer in developing the concept of serving sit-down restaurant-type food on real dishes in a counter-service restaurant, and has become one of Houston’s most popular places to eat. The food is consistently very good, and I have never ordered anything that I did not like. Personal recommendations of mine are the grilled chicken salad with bacon and pecans, turkey burger with Swiss cheese, grilled chicken sandwich with bacon and Swiss cheese, pasta amore, and grilled chicken with a side salad and baked potato. During the winter months an excellent cold-weather option is the turkey chili with cornbread and side salad. If you’re hungry for something sweet, the brownies, dream bars, and cakes are all very good. One unique feature of all Café Express locations is the Oasis Table, located in the center of the restaurant. In addition to a full slate of the usual condiments, an assortment of olives, sun dried tomatoes, croutons, pickles, capers, parmesan cheese, olive oils, Dijon mustards, and more are available to dress up your sandwich, salad, or pasta. Also on the Oasis table are yummy Italian-style thin crunchy breadsticks, which are great to munch on while you wait for your order to be prepared if you’re really hungry. A selection of wine by the glass and beer, as well as an espresso bar, is also available. Unlike other locations, the Museum District Café Express is closed on Mondays and is not open as late for dinner, as the restaurant follows the museum’s operating hours. One advantage of this location is its close proximity to Hermann Park; if the weather is nice consider ordering your meal to go and walking a few blocks (or catching METRORail to the Hermann Park/Rice University Station) and having a picnic in the park by the lake.