For some of us, sitting down to a nice restaurant lunch is a perk of the job. But for folks who work on their feet or out of their car, a relaxing lunch is an infrequent luxury. Recently, establishments like Relish Fine Foods, Central Market and Whole Foods have made quick lunches a bit more luxurious, with thoughtful grab-and-go meals featuring fresh ingredients, big flavor and convenience. And now hungry Houstonians have a new option. Borgo Food Station, located on West Alabama at Timmons, is a small European-style market emphasizing local and imported ingredients in dishes that are pre-prepared and ready to go.
Co-owners Monica Fallone and Luis Mancera, who operate restaurant concepts in Venezuela and Miami, have brought their gastro-market concept to Houston. Borgo opens at 7 am, ready to serve the neighborhood espresso, fresh aquitas (juices) and pastries. Lunchtime offers quick meals for rushed workers, and for dinner, pick up one of their pre-made family meals. There are a few tables if you’d like to dine in, but the packaged food and layout of the space is designed to get you on your way quickly.
Walk into the market, and to your left are coolers full of packaged foods ready for grab-and-go or take-and-bake. There’s a “ready to eat” cooler with salads, juices and a daily selection of Borgo balls (house-made croquettes served in mason jars) and other items meant for diners loading up on ready-made lunch items and jetting off with their goodies. We selected a goat cheese salad ($7.50) with mixed greens, walnut-crusted goat cheese, roasted strips of beets, chopped green apples and honey Dijon dressing. All of the mixings are compartmentalized in a plastic container atop of the greens – no soggy salad here. Simply dump everything together in the large container, mix and eat.
We grabbed a jar of Borgo balls, too. The chicken de Provence balls ($9.99, photo above), which come four to an order, are made with ricotta and tarragon, served over quinoa salad and a balsamic sauce. You’re paying a bit for the packaging, but it keeps the fresh ingredients, well, fresh. Take a few bites and save the rest for later. While compact in size and precious in packaging, it is enough to satisfy you for lunch.
The cooler immediately to the right, labeled “take & bake,” is stocked with family meals (three to six portions) and smaller meals (two to three portions) ready to finish in the oven. There are also single meals ready to heat in the microwave. Expect things like rigatoni bolognese, spaghetti and meatballs, pot roast, salmon and different preparations of chicken served with different sides. Entrée options are updated multiple times a week.
Freshly-made sandwiches are available at the counter. Turkey and Swiss, grilled chicken and chicken salad sandwiches are fancied up with specialty mayos and sauces. Take the chicken Cobb salad croissant sandwich ($6.99, photo above), mixed with celery, green apples and walnuts that’s dressed up with a subtle blue cheese mayo.
Borgo Food Station may have a name that lacks sex appeal, but the owners picked an ideal location to sell freshly made, ready-to-go food to area residents. If you’re looking for an under-$10 lunch that is packed well and thoughtfully curated, that you can easily eat at your desk – check out this little European eatery on West Alabama.
PS – Borgo Food Station is a huge improvement over the grotty convenience store that used to be in this location.
Borgo Food Station, 3641 West Alabama, 832-940-2126, borgofoodstation.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7:30 am-7 pm and Sat. 8 am-6 pm