Brasserie Max & Julie
This entry was posted on 8/10/2007 11:33 AM and is filed under french, Casual Chic - Jeans Allowed.
The owners of Cafe Rabelais in the Village have likely hit a home run with this new endeavor. Located in the former Aries/Pic spot on Montrose and open only about two weeks, Brasserie Max & Julie was hopping on a recent weekday evening. With more space than Rabelais, the Paul's have brought us another piece of France, only this time, with a more extensive, regular menu of French treats. Good news for those with vision issues -- the menu isn't on a blackboard. And many of our favorites from Rabelais (the sweetbreads and cassoulet) show up as entree items. The only missing dish is Rabelais' deservedly lauded mussels. And the wine list, all French, didn't seem as extensive as Rabelais' award winning selections.
We tried the foie gras, a velvety hunk of cold goose liver served with a lightly dressed salad and onion chutney. Yum. We moved on to the aforementioned sweetbreads, hot and crispy, served with mushrooms in a Madeira sauce. And then a great steak tartare with frites. For those who don't want to eat raw egg (but are otherwise comfortable with raw beef), an egg shell containing a raw yolk was perched on top of the tartare. Dump it all over that wonderful capery pink stuff and dig in for an Atkins' devotee's nirvana. The skinny crispy frites provide a nice foil for the meat if a few carbs are on your diet.
The menu offers a mix of authentic French dishes, such as sausage with sauerkraut and boeuf bourginnone, as well as simply grilled items with a selection of sauces. They even have the seafood platters that are mainstays of French brasseries. Trust us, even if you think you don't like French food, there are plenty of choices. Service was very good. A nice touch was the chilled water bottle on the table, so you didn't have to keep asking for water.
They don't plan to take reservations except for large parties. Although, if you call the day of your visit with the time and number in your party, they'll put you on a priority wait list. If you have to wait, there's a cozy bar area and, when the weather cools off, tables on the front patio.
As a final note, don't get caught up with French nomenclature as to what constitutes a brasserie (versus a bistro or cafe). You're in Houston, Texas -- just go and enjoy.
4315 Montrose
713/524-0070
