The Heights Restaurant And Bar Scene - More Coming

[heights_yankee]

Downhouse does it far more often than most dry restaurants. The whole restaurant row north of Dallas was dry and they never asked for my membership info there. I find it's hit or miss at any places with Club liscences. This doesn't make it right to not ask, but I guess a busy server/bartender might let a few slide in hopes none are TABC. Downhouse has recently started giving out a laminated card so that once you swipe your DL once and become a member, all you have to do is show the card to the server on any future visits.

[pschawe]

Not really Heights area, but Garden Oaks. New place called Cottonwood at 3422 North Shepherd, just north of the strip center with Pinks Pizza. Looks like another of the "creek" family of restaurants design style. Anyone know about this? Looks about to open any day. I heard soft opening this weekend.

[kylejack]

Bar with food from the Liberty Station guy, Charles Bishop. Opened yesterday. Open every day, 4P-2A.

Pics here: http://houston.eater.com/archives/2012/10/24/a-look-inside-cottonwood.php

Edited October 24, 2012 by kylejack

[SilverJK]

I've been looking forward to this as an Onion Creek alternative for friday nights... as OC has really started to get on my nerves lately.

[Brickfence]

I just finished the Papa Mo's Special at Papa Mo's deli on TC Jester between i-10 and the railroad tracks. It was excellent.

[west20th]

I just finished the Papa Mo's Special at Papa Mo's deli on TC Jester between i-10 and the railroad tracks. It was excellent.

Seen that place on the way to work. Have to give it a try.

[s3mh]

http://www.theleadernews.com/?p=3018

Never been to Union Station. My preference is always for something original, but this seems to fit the neighborhood. Way more excited about Coltivare. But, I have to give some credit to the developers for putting in ground floor retail when so many other developments going up in parts of town that just scream for ground floor retail and street life have blown off mixed use. I guess the Bikram Yoga studio is not happening.

[fwki]

Don't forget our new McDonalds!

[RedScare]

I guess the Bikram Yoga studio is not happening.

Boy, I'm really upset about that one.

[SilverJK]

retail and residential in one nice building.... utopian paradise, yet the ones who always push their distopian agenda still complained about this development. I'm very excited about this opening, I spend a good bit of my time in that immediate area (brazilian arts foundation), having another place to eat within walking distance will be great!

[fwki]

But, alas, no Bikram Yoga, and I am disappointed with the ommision. Bikram would be a great Houstonian capitalist, I mean, this guy tried to copyright yoga positions and sues the pants off any studio running the thermostat over 72F. And he had to rewrite his first book to remove all references to medical studies he didn't conduct. I think he is the Canadian behind Eme's Place.

[s3mh]

retail and residential in one nice building.... utopian paradise, yet the ones who always push their distopian agenda still complained about this development. I'm very excited about this opening, I spend a good bit of my time in that immediate area (brazilian arts foundation), having another place to eat within walking distance will be great!

I always gave them credit for at least having ground floor retail. There is absolutely nothing utopian about wanting mixed use developments. They are sprouting up like toad stools after a down poor in the Galleria area.

[RedScare]

I always gave them credit for at least having ground floor retail. There is absolutely nothing utopian about wanting mixed use developments. They are sprouting up like toad stools after a down poor in the Galleria area.

Down poor?

[SilverJK]

I always gave them credit for at least having ground floor retail. There is absolutely nothing utopian about wanting mixed use developments. They are sprouting up like toad stools after a down poor in the Galleria area.

so you do support walmart..?

there is a mcdonalds in walmart though so i guess it is also mixed use and is part of your "down poor" (emphasis on "poor")

[tanith27]

Anybody have knowledge of Distillery 2520? Not sure if its open anymore

[SilverJK]

it was open/crowded recently. I"ll double check when I drive by today. Everytime I went there it was a really weird vibe, but I still managed to have fun each time.

[rental me this]

Per the WH bulletin board, it's been bought by the owner(s) of Hearsay. Word is that it is being remodeled and will reopen as a "park-oriented walk-up/bike-up tavern." I don't have any independent confirmation of this besides the buzz on the bulletin board. I'm curious to see what happens, as it's right around the corner from me.

[SilverJK]

if that is true, that is amazing news.

[mcook2002]

it was open yesterday when i drove by after work.

the hearsay news would be interesting.

[s3mh]

http://www.29-95.com/restaurants/story/killen-craig-will-open-cks-steakhouse-w-19th

I actually like the sound of this much better than a super-highend stakehouse in the old Stella Sola building. Glad to see that Killen stayed with the area after things blew up on Studewood. As for the landlords of the old Stella Sola location, I hear that they might start serving crow soon if they do not get a tenant in their anytime soon.

[SilverJK]

Few questions... anybody have any more information regarding timelines for Torchy's, the Revival Market people's italian restaurant, the killen/hubcap place, Ruggles Green, or Union Kitchen?

Anything further known about distillery 2520 being replaced by Hearsay?

Has anyone been to Sale-Sucre lately? I went there when they first opened and was less than wow'd. Wanted to wait until I heard positive reviews before going back.

[s3mh]

Ruggles Green found out that the building was in much worse shape than they anticipated and had to pretty much rebuild it. Things are moving pretty quickly now, with a new roof up. They originally wanted to be open now. Not sure when they will be finished, but they have a green light from the City and have a lot of work going on every day.

Torchy's just did some utility connections. I am not sure where they are on permitting. They will have a lot of work to do repurposing that building.

Killen said he thought it would take three months to build out his new restaurant. Pretty ambitious if they have yet to get the City to sign off on everything.

Sale Sucre serves excellent food, but they need to hire a manager who can get the service in line with customs and expectations for American restaurants. I suspect that the owners intend the restaurant to be like a neighborhood bistro in France, where you would go for a leisurely meal and get food that is very good, but not haute cuisine. They definitely have the food part right, although I have heard that they have had some trouble keeping a good sous chef. The service part has been an issue, although I have not had a problem whenever I went. They can have a slow kitchen and staff that is more European about service. I actually like dining in France when you have to flag down the waiter to get a check or some more wine. Snappy service is nice when you are on a schedule, but it can also make you feel like they want to get you the hell out of there so they can turn your table as soon as possible. I hope they figure it out because the food can be very good. And there are getting to be too many restaurants in the Heights doing variations on southern comfort food.

[Angostura]

Has anyone been to Sale-Sucre lately? I went there when they first opened and was less than wow'd. Wanted to wait until I heard positive reviews before going back.

I had kind of hoped that Salé-Sucré would be a place that does good, simple bistrot food. Steak-frites, frisee-aux-lardons, quiche, cassoulet, pan sauces made from proper stocks, mashed potatoes with embarrassing amounts of butter; you get the idea. I can't say I've been impressed with much of anything from the savory side of the menu.

Most disappointing example is the french onion soup. At it's best, this soup should have copious amounts of well-caramelized onions in a rich beef stock laced with a little cognac. It takes me two full days to make a good one at home, so it'd be nice to have a good restaurant version in the neighborhood. S-S's version is a weird-tasting, watery broth with some strips of sauteed onions and random bits of herbs floating in it.

And, yes, the service kind of sucks, too.

[s3mh]

Most disappointing example is the french onion soup.

That is interesting. I think French Onion Soup is a bit like gumbo. Everyone has their idea of what is the gold standard, but rarely will you find more than two people who have the same notion of what makes for a superior version. I am not a big French Onion soup guy, but went with friends who thought the French Onion soup was the best thing they had that evening. I have also heard stories of pretty wild swings in quality from the kitchen due to some turnover. Might be that you caught them on a down night.

I have generally been happy with the food I have had at Sale Sucre. You will never get truly French food in Houston because all the good ingredients are in France and French food inevitably has to be dumbed down a bit for American palates. But, I think if they hire a manager who can bring them up to the standards expected of restaurants in Houston, Sale Sucre will make it. Otherwise, I have heard that there is a family looking to lease space for an Indian restaurant.

[Angostura]

I am not a big French Onion soup guy, but went with friends who thought the French Onion soup was the best thing they had that evening. I have also heard stories of pretty wild swings in quality from the kitchen due to some turnover. Might be that you caught them on a down night.

It was probably the best thing I had, too. That says more about the rest of the menu than it does about the soup. (Maybe we caught them on an off day.)

I have generally been happy with the food I have had at Sale Sucre. You will never get truly French food in Houston because all the good ingredients are in France and French food inevitably has to be dumbed down a bit for American palates.

I disagree. It is absolutely possible to do good bistro/brasserie food in Houston. It just requires some attention to detail. No, you can't get poulet de Bresse or Charolais beef here, but you don't need them to make decent roast chicken or steak au poivre. A was hoping for a less formal version of, say, Brasserie 19. A version more suited to the Heights than River Oaks, but still doing faithful versions of standard bistro cuisine.

I'd like to see them ditch the crepes, edit the menu down to 3-5 starters and 3-5 mains, and just execute them very well.

[SilverJK]

So... Chicken and Dougnuts place going in next to Liberty Kitchen.... any timeline on that one?

[Jesse]

So... Chicken and Dougnuts place going in next to Liberty Kitchen.... any timeline on that one?

Not soon enough.

[heights_yankee]

Not soon enough.

I live right by there and have yet to see a stitch of work so it's not going to be too soon.

[s3mh]

http://www.29-95.com/restaurants/story/dessert-king-sal%C3%A9-sucr%C3%A9-french-bistro

It is a "first look" review. My last trip to Sale Sucre was to get desert pastries to go. They were fantastic.

[SilverJK]

I had some of their desert's recently... they were okay. not nearly as good as described in the Alison Cook's review. Sale Sucre has soo much potential and I want to like it so badly... but i'm just not impressed yet. I'm still hopefull for improvements.