http://www.mytravelguide.com/restaur...staurants.html gives the impresison of a pretty grim choice of places, especially if, as I assume, you're relying on taxis and shuttles to get around (I certainly wouldn't rent a car or pay the taxi fare into downtown just for a quick meal; don't know about the bus mentioned above, especially with a very early flight). You might "luck out" by being at a hotel with a good restaurant (we did at the SeaTac Airport Hilton). Or maybe the hotel will have suggestions. If you're flying Houston-based Continental, your in-flight magazine may have ads for Houston restaurants. My wife said she had a very good meal at the Marriott inside IAH (in CK's Revolving Restaurant), but it was courtesy of the airline. Her review may have been different if she'd had to pay.

BTW, Fogão de Chao is a large chain of Brazilian-style "churrascarias" (all-you-can eat meat place), found in several states.