Olivette

name of restaurant :: Olivette
address :: 111 N Post Oak Ln Houston, TX 77024-7703
hours :: Weekdays 6:30 am - 10:00 pm, Weekends 7:00 am -10:00 pm
meals served :: B, L and D
prices :: $$$
dress code :: dressy-casual
reservations :: recommended
website :: www.houstonian.com/Olivette.aspx
review :: Went in for restaurant week:

The dining environment at The Houstonian was serene. We were seated by the window where the lushly (and abnormally green) manicured lawn of The Houstonian contrasted sharply with the gray rain clouds. It was 6:30pm so there was still plenty of light through the thick clouds. It was a nice setting - felt like I was in Seattle.

First course: Little Neck Clams in Garlic, Parsley, Butter, Grilled Ciabatta. I love clams and my favorite place to go to for clams (Trulucks) does not carry them right now because they are "out of season." I've had them many a times since finding this out but Trulucks may have it right because the clams have been small in size and lacks the plumpness of a perfect clam (hopefully you lasted this long without snickering). But as you can see the clams are in a butter garlic bath so you just can't go wrong with that. Not bad but didn't blow me away.

Second Course: Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Ratatouille, Potato Croquettes, Basil. Perfect medium rare steak with flavorful hints of seasoned bell peppers, zucchini, pearl onions and carrots. My fellow foodie, Sarah, loved the pearl and little purple onions. Very good and well done in presentation and flavor.

Third Course: Chocolate Pudding Cake accompanied with Fudge Sauce, Hazelnut Ice Cream, Hazelnut Tuile. This one is interesting. The chocolate pudding cake has the consistency between mousse and barely cooked chocolate cake batter. The chocolate pudding cake was rich so I went back and forth from the cake to the hazelnut ice cream to balance out the cavity-loving richness. The sugar hazelnut garnish was a nice crunchy finish to the dessert.

Olivette was nice. Didn't really blow me away but it would be a nice place to go for celebrating occasions.
rating :: 4 forks
reviewed by :: spankypants