Traditional Greek eats star at Anonymous Cafe.
Every Friday, Chron's food team shares a standout dish from their experiences dining out during the week. Follow along to see why we love these Houston eats.
Typically it's me sniffing out new restaurants and dragging my pals in for a first taste, but this week, it was my friend Paula who suggested a curious new spot that wasn't even on my radar. Anonymous, a coffee bar and Greek restaurant located on quiet Norfolk Street off of busy Kirby Drive, is an oasis within Upper Kirby. As soon as I stepped into the light-filled space, attractive with pristine white walls contrasted with dark exposed brick, and French country dining tables topped with fresh flowers, I knew I was going to like it.
The dining room at Anonymous Cafe is bright with natural light.
Memories of indulging in spanokopita (spinach pie) and tiropita (cheese pie) daily while visiting Greece before the pandemic hit came flooding back to me. On this day, I opted for a spinach-filled pie and the restaurant's daily special, a platter of baked phyllo flutes filled with tuna, celery and herbs. The special arrived with a hefty serving of risotto, pita triangles with a side of tzatziki, and a Greek salad—all for $14.95, a welcome alternative to my usual $15 salad from Salata or Barnaby's.
The phyllo flutes were tamale-sized, and a puncture in their flaky, golden exterior revealed the savory tuna filling. A ravaging of all components on the plate ensued, followed by an attempt at finishing the spiral-shaped spinach pie, which offered just the right balance of creamy spinach and doughy shell.
Anonymous Cafe is a hidden gem at Upper Kirby.
Beyond its traditional Greek eats, Anonymous also offers breakfast dishes available well into the afternoon, and an impressive selection of pastries. I didn't have room for dessert on this visit, as I wholly indulged on the phyllo flutes and the spinach pie (not to mention I had a slice of cake at the office before arriving), but I was wide-eyed at the restaurant's selection of pound cakes. An entire pastry case is devoted to showcasing iced loaves, non-iced loaves, chocolate, and nut-filled varieties. For this reason and more, I predict this Upper Kirby gem won't likely remain anonymous for long.
Find it: 3701 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098; (713) 515-6551 Hours: Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
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Megha McSwain is a food writer for Chron.
Prior to joining the Chron team in May 2022, Megha worked as a freelance journalist, contributing to Eater Houston, Houstonia Magazine, CultureMap and The Daily Meal. She previously served as the food editor for luxury lifestyle magazine Houston CityBook for three years, and hosted the food and drink podcast Sip & Savor.
Megha is an Indian-born American who migrated with her parents to Houston in the late '80s and has lived here ever since. She currently lives in Garden Oaks with her husband and rescue pup, and in addition to her work at Chron, she contributes nationally to foodnetwork.com.