Aura Brasserie

For tonights Houston Restaurant menu selection we chose a French restaurant Aura Brasserie for $45 a person.

The inside area is modern and colorful with hand blown glass covering the wall. While the space is small I recommend setting a reservation before showing up just in case. The bar service was a little slow as it was a new bartender we where told, but the drinks where still really good.

While looking over the menu then brought out bread a selection of bread with a tomato mayo. The sauce is to die for it’s tomato paste mixed with mayo, as strange as it sounds it’s really really good. The bread is nice and warm too, which I loved.

For appetizers we got the Escargots (Served in Crocks with Parsley Butter) and Crab Beignets with Tabasco Remoulade. Both a delicious choice!

Next came the Intermezzo (Cauliflower Truffle Cappuccino). I happened to really enjoy this even though D said he would not order it again if ask. The texture was nice and smooth. I think it should have been a smaller serving and it may have been more enjoyable than a larger bowl.

For the second course we ordered Braised Beef Short Ribs (Bone-in, Served with Potato Gratin, Asparagus, Cabernet Reduction) and Ahi Tuna Migoise (Served with Crispy Shallots and Boquerones). We also ordered additional sides that where worth the splurge. The short ribs where so tender and the sauce, oh the sauce is melt in your mouth good. The tuna dish was good, I just didn’t care for the cold salad under it as well as the hunk of anchovy. The truffle mac and cheese I could eat all day on it’s own!

Third course we chose the Crème Brûlée and Chocolate Fondant (with Pistachio Ice Cream). Ok just so you know there is an order to eat these in. You have to eat the Chocolate Fondant first then the creme brulee otherwise your palate changes for the worst and the chocolate taste bitter. Both are delicious, but when ordered together beware.

As I’m eating the leftovers the next day it’s still amazing and I can’t wait to give this place a try on their regular menu.

Veritas Steak and Seafood

We happened to meet up with some friends out in the Sugar Land area to try out Veritas Steak and Seafood on the Houston Restaurant Week menu list. I have to say for 6pm on a Sunday with just a few couples in the restaurant the service was slow and lacking.

We started off with the Calamari $14 (choice of peppers + red onions + marinara or spicy Thai peanut sauce + peanuts). I think a little over priced at $14 but man that spicy peanut sauce is to die for!

For the First Course we ordered the lamb lollipops (normally $14 on the menu) with spicy hoisin sauce and shrimp bisque ($13 on menu). I forgot to take a final picture of the bisque since they pour it table side. Both dishes where a great start with lots of flavor.

Second Course we ordered the Red Snapper (topped with crawfish in a Cajun butter sauce and served with grilled vegetables & basmati rice) and 6 oz. Filet Mignon ($35 on regular menu) (with garlic mashed potatoes). On the snapper the dish was wonderful the rice however wasn’t really edible because the finished it off under a warmer and it made the rice hard and crispy. The lemon was rock hard so you couldn’t squeeze it on the fish, which would have been a nice touch, but not a deal breaker. Loved the spice on the fish and the crawfish cajun butter was really good. The filet really was one of the better ones we have had out. I was a little thrown off by the 1 asparagus which looked a little odd on the plate, but overall their steaks are a must try!

We also added additional sides for the table to share. The Brussel Sprouts with Bacon $10 has now made my hubby’s #2 spot for favorite brussel sprouts. I thought they where good, but not the best I’ve had. As for the Crab Mac & Cheese $19 it’s a little pricy, but OMG is it packed with lump crab and delish. I probably would have licked the bowl if we where not out to dinner with people.

For the dessert course we both ordered the Chocolate Cake (dolce leche, heath bar & chocolate ganache) I was a little sad the mango panna cotta wasn’t ready yet or they ran out one of the two. The cake was really thinly cut, which was ok since it was so rich.

Would I come back, yes, but hopefully service is better because their food really is good I would like to try some other dishes.

Mr. Peeples

I don’t know how I haven’t heard of this place before! Mr. Peeples is a cross between something out of Vegas and Miami with it’s unique flare almost night club feel. I really felt like I was on vacation walking into this place. We came across it on the Houston Restaurant Week menu and decided to give it a shot.

As our first restaurant of the season for the month I was excited already. Then they bring out these little pillows of pretzel heaven with the softest butter. I kid you not we each ate a basket before the appetizers came. I soooo need this recipe!

Since the lighting was low it’s hard to see the décor in the pictures, but it’s really a neat atmosphere.

We ordered drinks to start off I had a Lemon Drop and D had a Manhattan.

 

For the first course we chose the Crab Cakes (jumbo lump crab with cilantro aioli and dijon cream) (Normally $16 on the regular menu we saw on other plates they come with 4 instead of 2 and also include lobster). Bourbon Glazed Baby Back Ribs (GF) (tender pork baby back ribs grilled and basted with our bourbon glaze and garnished with a roasted corn salad). The crab cakes where really good and I would order them again if we get to go back. The baby back ribs where tender, but it wasn’t anything special. I really enjoyed the sauce they made while D enjoyed the corn salad under them more.

We also got an additional appetizer of Calamari $13 (Fried, fire roasted tomato salsa, chipotle aioli). While it was cooked perfectly and the sauces where good, it isn’t worth going out of your way to order.

We each ordered the same thing for the second course a bowl of Lobster & Crab Bisque $8 (finished with sherry essence). D said he’s had better, but I really liked this one and appreciated how thick it was compared to other watery ones we have had.

For the third course we ordered the Salmon ($26 on regular menu) (GF) (pan-seared salmon filet served on a bed of slowly braised cannellini beans with applewood smoked bacon and sautéed spinach) and 6 ounce Tenderloin Beef Filet ($28 on regular menu) (GF without the sauce) (with buttermilk mashed potato, sautéed haricots verts and cognac pepper sauce). The salmon was perfect all the way around and I could eat this everyday! The steak while very tender was salty

Additionally we ordered half orders at $5 each to try their Chipotle Mac and Cheese and Fried Brussels Sprouts. I would order both in a heartbeat again. Half order with the perfect amount for 2 people.

For dessert we Black Magic Cake (V) (with fresh raspberries and chocolate crunch) and Strawberry Cheesecake (GF) (V) (with a pecan crust and strawberries)> Normally I would complain I don’t think you could have sliced these little babies any thinner than they did, but I was so full I didn’t care it was the right size without being wasteful.

I can’t wait to go back and try some other dishes here. The service was fantastic and everything was delicious. For $45 on the HRW menu option you can’t beat the price for trying a new place.

Blue Corn Harvest

Upon heading up to the lake we came through Cedar Park around dinner time and decided to stop in at Blue Corn Harvest.

We ordered drinks from the bar while we waited for a table to be ready. The waitress also brought use some chips and salsa. The salsa was really good and had a nice chunky texture to it.

Mojito $6.50. Could have used some more mint otherwise it was ok, I would probably order a different drink next time. 

Chili con Queso with steak $5.99 (our signature queso, and organic ground ribeye with house pickeled jalapenos on the side) Really good and worth an order.

Top Shelf Margarita $7.50 No complaints it was really good.

They brought out some whipped butter and hot corn muffins which are to die for. We ate 3 baskets while we where there.

Blue Crab Stuffed Chicken $14.99 (Grilled chicken breast, stuffed with crab meat, jack cheese and sweet roasted peppers with Cajun cream sauce, cheddar seared potato cake and farm fresh vegetables.) I really enjoyed this dish and also that the vegetables where juliened instead of the usual sliced coins. I just wish it was a little larger chicken breast instead of being a small thin one.

Steak Enchiladas $12.99 (Seared beef tenderloin, carmelized onions and mixed cheese served with guacamole) D said it was good, but no better than any other restaurant he’s ever had.

We probably won’t be back since there are many places in the area to pick from, but it’s worth checking out since they have a nice variety of dishes.

Dish Society

I had high hopes for the new restaurant Dish Society that opened their second location in Houston. They have a Kentucky Derby vibe and everything is farm to table. 

We started with a few appetizers to share crispy pork belly bites $8.50 (crispy texas pork belly, pecans, maple syrup, marjoram). The syrup was a nice touch and the pork belly had a lot of flavor, but I thought it was a little fatty and could have been cooked down a little more.

We also ordered the fried Texas quail $13.50 [house favorite] (fried bandera, TX whole quail, seasoned cucumbers, jalapeno mint glaze, cilantro). While it was tasty I think the price is a little high for this when quail doesn’t have much meat to it.

One person at the table ordered the brisket stuffed sweet potato $10 [ house favorite ] (baked sweet potato stuffed with texas grass fed brisket, green onions, cheddar, & house BBQ sauce with cabbage slaw). Worth every penny and stuffed to the max with meat.

I ordered the shrimp and grits $15 [ house favorite ] (grilled gulf shrimp with smoked gouda bacon grits & Tabasco shallot butter) Holy Hell…when they say spicy Tabasco sauce they aren’t lying! It was almost too much heat to eat and I’m glad it was around the plate and not poured all over everything.

Sad to say I probably won’t go back unless someone else in our group wants to try this place.