The Houston Zoo offers a diverse and sustainable food menu, catering to the diverse tastes of its visitors. From the Cypress Circle Café to the Twiga Café, the zoo’s dining options feature locally-sourced ingredients, seasonal items, and a commitment to environmental responsibility.
Cypress Circle Café: A Culinary Oasis
The Cypress Circle Café is the main dining destination at the Houston Zoo, offering a wide range of menu items that cater to various dietary preferences and budgets. From protein-packed meals to delectable sweet treats, the café’s offerings are designed to fuel visitors’ adventures.
Protein-Packed Meals
The Protein Pack, Salad Pack, and Deli Pack provide hearty and nutritious options for those seeking a balanced meal. These packs are priced at $7 each, making them an affordable and satisfying choice.
Kids’ Menu
The Houston Zoo understands the importance of catering to families, and the Cypress Circle Café’s Kids’ Menu reflects this. With options like Cheese Quesadillas, Chicken Tenders, and Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, the menu caters to the tastes of younger visitors while ensuring they receive a well-rounded meal.
Beverages
The Cypress Circle Café offers a variety of beverage options, including souvenir cups, house-made lemonade, fountain drinks, and even craft and domestic draft beers. Prices range from $4 for a bottle of water to $7 for a souvenir cup refill.
Locally-Sourced and Seasonal Offerings
The Cypress Circle Café takes pride in its commitment to sustainability and local sourcing. The menu features ingredients and products sourced from within a 200-mile radius of Houston, ensuring freshness and supporting the local economy. Additionally, the café offers seasonal items that are harvested and produced at the peak of freshness, coinciding with the surrounding seasons.
Texas Pride Chef’s Station
The Texas Pride Chef’s Station at the Cypress Circle Café promotes local food and traditional cooking in a sustainable atmosphere, providing visitors with a unique and authentic dining experience.
From the Grill and Brick Oven
The Cypress Circle Café’s From the Grill and Brick Oven sections offer a variety of delectable options, including burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas. Highlights include the Impossible Burger Basket, Blackened Chicken Torta, and Seasonal Pizza.
Market Fresh
The Market Fresh section of the Cypress Circle Café menu features fresh and flavorful options, such as the Cajun Cobb Salad, Seasonal Salad, Seasonal Bowl, Hand-Carved Muffuletta, and Turkey Bacon Club.
Twiga Café: A Casual Dining Experience
The Twiga Café, located within the zoo, offers a more casual dining experience with a menu that includes pizza, gourmet grilled cheese, boneless wings, and mac and cheese. Visitors can also enjoy fresh fruit, cookies, trail mix, and Saint Arnold Brewing Company beer.
Albert & Ethel Herzstein Trading Post: Snacks and Refreshments
The Albert & Ethel Herzstein Trading Post caters to visitors’ snack and refreshment needs, offering Dole Whips, cookies, large pretzels, popcorn, and a variety of beverages, including soda, juice, and Saint Arnold beer.
Craft Fine Foods Truck: Gourmet Treats
The Craft Fine Foods Truck, located within the zoo, serves up gourmet funnel fries and Dippin’ Dots, providing a unique and indulgent dining experience.
Sustainability Efforts
The Houston Zoo is committed to sustainability, and this commitment is reflected in its food service operations. The zoo uses 100% sustainable palm oil, recycles cooking oil into bio-diesel, and exclusively uses compostable flatware and paper products. Additionally, the zoo encourages the use of refillable water bottles and has eliminated plastic straws.
Online Ordering and Catering
For added convenience, the Houston Zoo offers online ordering for quick and easy pick-up at the Cypress Circle Café. The zoo also provides catering services, including corporate packages with breakfast, lunch, snacks, and all-day beverages.
Conclusion
The Houston Zoo’s food menu is a testament to the zoo’s commitment to sustainability, local sourcing, and providing a diverse dining experience for its visitors. From the Cypress Circle Café’s extensive offerings to the casual Twiga Café and the snack-focused Albert & Ethel Herzstein Trading Post, the zoo’s dining options cater to a wide range of tastes and dietary preferences. Whether you’re looking for a hearty meal, a refreshing snack, or a unique culinary experience, the Houston Zoo’s food menu has something to satisfy every palate.
References
- https://www.houstonzoo.org/files/Cypress-Circle-Cafe-Menu.pdf
- https://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/dining-shopping/
- https://map.houstonzoo.org/places/1369-twiga-caf
- https://www.houstonzoo.org/files/ZOO_Daytime_V4_menu.pdf
- https://www.houstonzoo.org/blog/tasty-new-food-options-houston-zoo/