Website
3300 Smith St
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 522-9711
Showing posts with label Seafood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seafood. Show all posts
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The Oceanaire
2 out of 5 Stars
Website
5061 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77056
(832) 487-8862
NOTE: This is a review of the BAR menu only.
After many failed attempts to hit up Oceanaire for a celebratory meal, my friend and I finally sampled its fare by way of the bar menu. I'm on a budget and if I'm going to splurge, it's not going to be on a ho-hum Thursday night. Almost everything on the bar menu was under $10, so I figured it was a great way to sample Oceanaire's "way" with the creatures from the sea.
I will review our selections from best to worst.
Oceanaire offers tuna, crab cake, and cheeseburger sliders (who doesn't these days??).
Ironically, the cheeseburger was the winner. They managed to cook the burger medium rare which is pretty amazing considering the size of the patty - juicy and succulent and topped with the sweetest caramelized onions.
The crab cake slider was meh and the the tuna was not ordered.
Next up......we began a lustful affair with the fish and chips. Let me explain. At first bite, the fish was great! The golden batter was just right (sweet and crispy) and still allowed you to enjoy the fish. It went downhill from there. I quickly realized the dish had no real substance (IE - I got bored with the flavor). I didn't even attempt to finish my portion. The "chips" were perfection as I prefer them fine and salty.
And then there was the "chopped" salad with shrimp and crab meat. Frankly, they should feel embarrassed to bring this out to a paying customer. Claiming the salad was chopped was a blatant lie. They topped the (not wedge salad) with shrimp the size of my toenail and crab meat that tasted like water. If there was dressing on the salad, it was not memorable. This was a big fail.
Needless to say, the meal was mediocre at best. What was memorable was the service - top notch even at the bar. Our waiter was very attentive. Along with excellent bread, they give you olives to nosh on while your order is being prepared.
As a seafood fan, I was sad to see the burger, bread and service as the highlight of my experience at Oceanaire. Perhaps the bar menu was not the way to go. Regardless, I will not be returning to Oceanaire (at least on my dime).
Website
5061 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77056
(832) 487-8862
NOTE: This is a review of the BAR menu only.
After many failed attempts to hit up Oceanaire for a celebratory meal, my friend and I finally sampled its fare by way of the bar menu. I'm on a budget and if I'm going to splurge, it's not going to be on a ho-hum Thursday night. Almost everything on the bar menu was under $10, so I figured it was a great way to sample Oceanaire's "way" with the creatures from the sea.
I will review our selections from best to worst.
Oceanaire offers tuna, crab cake, and cheeseburger sliders (who doesn't these days??).
Ironically, the cheeseburger was the winner. They managed to cook the burger medium rare which is pretty amazing considering the size of the patty - juicy and succulent and topped with the sweetest caramelized onions.
The crab cake slider was meh and the the tuna was not ordered.
Next up......we began a lustful affair with the fish and chips. Let me explain. At first bite, the fish was great! The golden batter was just right (sweet and crispy) and still allowed you to enjoy the fish. It went downhill from there. I quickly realized the dish had no real substance (IE - I got bored with the flavor). I didn't even attempt to finish my portion. The "chips" were perfection as I prefer them fine and salty.
And then there was the "chopped" salad with shrimp and crab meat. Frankly, they should feel embarrassed to bring this out to a paying customer. Claiming the salad was chopped was a blatant lie. They topped the (not wedge salad) with shrimp the size of my toenail and crab meat that tasted like water. If there was dressing on the salad, it was not memorable. This was a big fail.
Needless to say, the meal was mediocre at best. What was memorable was the service - top notch even at the bar. Our waiter was very attentive. Along with excellent bread, they give you olives to nosh on while your order is being prepared.
As a seafood fan, I was sad to see the burger, bread and service as the highlight of my experience at Oceanaire. Perhaps the bar menu was not the way to go. Regardless, I will not be returning to Oceanaire (at least on my dime).
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Remember that awesome scene from Beauty and the Beast, where all the inanimate objects show off their hospitality skills to sweet lil Belle?
That's exactly what dining at Brenna's feels like. This is a perfect celebratory restaurant - as they take care of everything starting with setting the mood....
Come to Brennan's expecting the highest class in service, without feeling like you have to point your nose in the air (you are getting a taste of NOLA after all).
I was welcomed to the restaurant for SUNDAY BRUNCH by the nicest staff of valet drivers EVER and was seated immediately due to our reservation.
The meal kicked off with complimentary, "fresh from the oven" muffins and biscuits (I preferred the fluffy biscuit). I enjoyed my light bites as I perused the "how do you choose - it all looks so good" menu.
When I dine for celebratory purpose, I don't mind splurging a little. You definitely get the best bang for your buck splurging at Brennan's for brunch. You can't walk out of here for less than $50 per person but you WILL walk out with a FULL and satisfied belly.
Their brunch menu is typically 3 courses of your choice: starter, entree and dessert (including tableside banana's foster!) averaging at $35 a meal (plus tax, tip, and a libation if you like to party at brunch like me). Don't be cynical, my fair yelper - each course is of the up-most quality AND quantity - TRUST.
The starters ranged from soups, salads and other NOLA inspired apps. Seeing as though I have commitment issues when it comes to food, I highly recommend the "1-1-1" which is a sampling of every soup on their menu including their famous Turtle Soup. My brother has claimed to almost drive to NOLA for this soup alone before Brennan's reopened post fire.
The turtle soup was delicious and surprisingly reminiscent of a great fire roasted tortilla soup, however I prefered the creamy corn and crab soup. Gumbo was featured as the third soup, which was also fabulous (even though I'm not generally a gumbo gal). Overall, the trio of soup (served in 3 miniature tea cups) was excellent without being overwhelming.
Good luck picking an entree - as they ALL read AMAZING. I finally selected the craw-fish cakes with poached eggs as this seemed the most unique. The dish was served on a bed of chopped sausage and roasted sliced peppers with two cakes (think crab cakes made of craw-fish instead) topped with the most perfectly poached eggs. I wish I took video of me cutting into the poached eggs and watching the yolk dance (yes dance) so elegantly over the cakes. Meanwhile the craw-fish cakes were crispy on the outside and moist, meaty and savory on the inside - a pleasure (although I could only eat half).
I also tasted my mom's shrimp and grits which were awesome and my brother's gulf coast fish encrusted with pecans - perfection. I wanted to try the blue crab scramble with caviar and their egg's benedict dishes that kept appearing at neighboring tables-excellent.
I can't believe I have not even started on the service - what really takes Brennan's to 5 stars - they treat you like royalty. Prime example: when our 5 entrees came out, 5 waiters brought each plate out to us simultaneously. Meanwhile, a NOLA style quartet complete with horns would walk around the dining room playing jazz for the guests - did I wake up in the French Quarter?
There are a number of STUNNING dining rooms to be seated in, each unique with its own decor and design. My table happened to be in the front room to the left donning hard woods, brick walls, dramatic curtains hung around HUGE windows and the most comfortable / plush and gorgeous chairs. I would sleep in this room if I could - BEAUTIFUL.
I hope everyone reading this has a chance to be Brennan's guest for brunch - a delightful experience.
Don't run out to the valet (yes it's mandatory - but what's another $5 when you are swanking it up already) before picking up a few pralines by the door "for someone else". You will get that joke when you read the napkin you fold your pralines in.....
....so make your reservation and go already! You can always find an excuse to celebrate - like reading my 100th review!