I’m the ultimate girly-girl. I wear my hair long, I love wearing dresses. I wore high heels in college when everyone else kicked around in sneakers. So the first time I visited Flora & Muse, I was more than charmed.

The European hobo-chic décor, accented in the pastry-cum-coffee shop area by a large wooden wagon of colorful flowers, captivated my girlish sensibilities. The question was, would love at first sight translate into love at first bite?

It helps that the chef himself, David Luna, offered suggestions on what to order. His Turkish pide breads, made fresh in-house and shaped like a long flat football with fillings like chicken, mushroom and gruyère, are excellent. And I liked the small window through which you can watch the dough being made and the breads being placed in the oven.

The pides are a solid choice if you’re ordering to share. For lunch, I prefer to opt for something lighter, like the crab and Ruby Red grapefruit salad (pictured) with butter lettuce and light citrus dressing.

The creamy chicken and mushroom crêpe, a classic French adaptation recommended to me by their staff, was delicious if a bit dense in calories. Likewise, the thin apple tart, served à la mode and liberally swathed in caramel sauce, is a must-not-miss if you want to indulge in dessert.

I mention calories because Flora & Muse seems to be very popular with ladies who lunch (and simultaneously watch their waistlines). There’s also a nice cross-section of young hipsters, business people, young families and dating couples. Since it’s a popular place, expect to wait if you want to snag one of their velvet green half-moon booths during the lunch hour. If you’re pressed for time, do as I do and grab a seat at the bar, which on sunny days can open up to the patio for a lovely indoor/outdoor feel.

According to bristly postings online and comments from friends, Flora & Muse has had some trouble with consistent service. I wonder if the cleverly decorated U-shaped space makes it difficult for servers to figure out where they were supposed to be. Personally, I didn’t experience any problems on this score, but then again I’m one of those people who’s so busy catching up with whoever I’m with, I may not have noticed the service delays that others have experienced.

I always enjoy my lunches here, even if people may think it’s a bit pricey for midday fare. My last lunch – consisting of two cocktails, two entrées, a shared dessert and coffee – ran $75, inclusive of tax and tip. It’s not a bargain, but you get what you pay for: fresh, skillfully created chef’s prepared food, charming décor and ambience, and the luxury to linger over a cup of coffee without feeling rushed.

FLORA & MUSE, 12860 Queensbury Lane in Houston CityCentre, 713-463-6873, www.floraandmuse.com