Southern cooking served up at Cypress eatery

Since the summer of 2008, Paul Bellow Jr. has owned Cypress Station Grill, a family style restaurant that offers everything from southern comfort food to original cocktail recipes.

"This is very much a family business," Bellow said. "Most people think this is a chain when they see the size of our dining room and menu. We have an industrial kitchen and every category of food—steak, seafood, chicken, burgers and appetizers—but we provide the [quality] of a mom-and- pop restaurant."

The restaurant specializes in southern food, including certified Angus steaks, half-pound burgers and fried favorites, which are breaded to order using several of Bellow's own recipes. Appetizers include fried mushrooms ($4.99), queso and chips ($4.99), a guest favorite, and shrimp tampico ($8.99), which is a blend of tomatoes, chopped onions, cilantro and spices covered by bay shrimp. A few house favorites include blackened tilapia ($11.99) and fried shrimp ($10.99 for six, $14.99 for 10) lightly breaded in cracker meal.

The menu offers lighter alternatives, such as the apple pecan salad ($8.99), and various gluten free options such as the shrimp ixtapa, which is butterflied shrimp in garlic butter with pico de gallo wrapped and cooked over an open flame.

"I wanted to provide a throwback, family style atmosphere for several reasons," Bellow said. "The variety on our menu lets people come back two, maybe three times a week and always eat something different."

To go along with Bellow's custom recipes, bartenders and staff at Cypress Station Grill have come up with distinctive cocktail recipes for the menu that fit into the history of Cypress and the tastes of its residents.

"My father told me that if you're going to do something, you need to do it 100 percent," Bellow said.

Owner recommendations

• Shrimp Tampico: Shrimp mixed with pico de gallo in a spicy cocktail sauce and topped with avocado. Served with tortilla chips ($8.99)
• Apple Pecan Salad: Mixed greens with sliced granny smith apples, gorgonzola and spiced pecans ($8.99)
• Santa Fe Pork Burger: Breaded pork loin, Muenster cheese, grilled onions, poblano chilies, avocado and lettuce ($9.99)
• Blackened Tilapia: A mild white fish pan seared and seasoned with distinctive spices and served with two sides ($11.99)

Server dress-up

About two years ago, manager Shannon Bellow had the idea to have her servers dress up for special occasions. Now employees can vote on their favorite dress up themes. Past themes include:

• Go Texans Day: The first in the series, servers donned their best western wear and sauntered to their tables.
• Super heroes and villians: Employees battle evil or devise master plans as they take care of their guests.
• Jocks vs. geeks: Whether one of the cool kids or a bookworm, the waitstaff shows their colors.

Specialty cocktails

• CSG Train Wreck: Citrus vodka, Peach Schnapps, melon liqueur and pineapple juice
• Union Pacific Punch: Coconut rum, vodka, banana liqueur, pineapple juice and splash of orange juice
• Electric Lemonade: Vodka, Blue Curacao, lemonade and a splash of sprite
• Cranberry Margarita: Patron Silver, Cointreau, fresh lime juice and cranberry juice
• The Patriot: A layered red, white and blue margarita flavored with strawberry and a float of Blue Curacao

Cypress Station Grill, 26010 Hempstead Road, Cypress, 281-304-1290, www.cypresstationgrill.com

• Hours: Sun.–Thu. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m.