Vin [Closed]
This entry was posted on 6/16/2007 8:10 AM and is filed under New American Casual, New Openings, Casual Chic - Jeans Allowed, closed.
CLOSED SPRING 2008 --We were excited to hear that a new restaurant had opened in the Bayou Place in the Theater District. For many of us that enjoy Houston's cultural offerings in the area, Vin (pronounced "vine") could be the answer to our hunger pangs. Unfortunately, judging by the empty room following a recent Saturday night ballet performance, apparently, ballet goers (and the rest of Houston) either eat early or haven't discovered this place. And they should. Vin has a lot going for it.
We understand that Vin is owned by the same people that own Bayou Place. They certainly spent some money on the design and decor. The sleek, contemporary setting is bathed in warm tones. Definitely an upscale atmosphere, although dressing up isn't required. Techno dance music played quietly (yes, you could hear yourself talk) in the background, although one senses that, if there was more of a bar crowd (and the bar area features prominently in the dining room), the music would likely be louder. Our waiter was somewhat quirky, but the service was fine.
What really impressed was the food. Every dish we tried was unique and beautifully presented. We had three appetizers, a salad, and dessert. We started with the wild mushroom gratin, a gooey mix of mushrooms and spinach served with grilled flatbread. Very tasty, likely to please most everyone, but probably the least impressive of the four dishes we tried. We moved on to the Tartare Diablo -- spicy tuna tartare that was delicious. What was really unique and made the dish a standout was the brilliant side of cucumber sorbet, a perfect foil for the spicy tuna. We order tuna tartare frequently, and this was definitely one of the best presentations we've seen. We then tried the Grilled Calamari, which was served with a wonderful panzanella (bread salad). We finished with the Asparagus Salad--asparagus with tiny pieces of tasso ham, served over dressed field greens, topped with a poached egg and bearnaise sauce. This may sound odd, but it was very good. We didn't lick the plate as our waiter suggested others had, but we enjoyed the dish nonetheless. We applaud the dessert menu. Billed as "the world's tiniest dessert menu," it is a small card listing a number of two to three bite desserts, each for $3. We enjoyed a raspberry and peach crumble with goat cheese ice cream. What a great way to end the meal when you want just a taste of something sweet.
We really hope that Vin gets the diners it deserves. Perhaps we were just there on an off night. It's been receiving great reviews from every publication, so, hopefully, the crowds will follow. The pampered Houston dining crowd may be deterred by the location or the parking situation (valet at the front of Bayou Place or the underground lot). We'll certainly consider Vin next time we're in the Theater District. Maybe sooner.
530 Texas Avenue (in Bayou Place)
713/237-9600
http://www.vinhouston.com/index2.html
