My husband wanted to try a new French-style restaurant for my belated birthday dinner, and I told…read morehim it had better be good. We brought two of our three teenagers, both foodies who appreciate the full restaurant experience, so BeauSoleil was going to get a proper test.
First, the restaurant itself is intimate, cozy and charming. Tucked inside a converted house, the warm mahogany-toned walls, white tablecloths and smaller dining rooms give it an old-world feel. There's also a wonderful covered porch for outdoor dining. For longtime Houstonians, it reminded me a little of Just Dinner on Dunlavy, which I loved and still miss.
Our table wasn't quite ready, so we bellied up to the cozy bar before being seated. The boys had soft drinks while Hubs and I enjoyed something a little stronger.
I LOVE beautiful, eclectic glassware and china, and BeauSoleil had me. Against the white tablecloths are florals, gold trim, different patterns and even mismatched silverware. Nothing exactly matches, yet somehow it all belongs together. Each course arrives on another gorgeous serving piece. It feels a little like dinner in someone's charming home in France.
We considered the Houston Restaurant Weeks menu, but ultimately ordered from the regular menu so we could share and try more dishes.
We shared several appetizers instead. The East Coast oysters were fresh and very good.
My favorite appetizer was the mussels; tender, fresh PEI mussels in a white wine and tomato base with Spanish chorizo. The chorizo added a smoky, savory warmth and a little spice. I don't remember finding a single unopened shell!
The Burgundy Escargot was every bit as delicious as we've enjoyed in France. The Seared Foie Gras was my one miss. The brioche and blackberry compote were excellent, but for $24, I expected more foie gras.
The Bread Service was another showstopper. Their aptly named "Butter of the Gods" is an incredibly rich blend that includes foie gras, bone marrow, truffle and more. The first few bites were an explosion of flavor! It eventually became a little too rich for us, but it's absolutely worth experiencing once.
Service throughout dinner was wonderful. Our waiter took great care of us, and the host and manager also stopped by to check on us.
I ordered the Seared Scallops over polenta with broccolini and goat cheese foam. I've watched Hell's Kitchen since its inception, so I've become VERY judgmental about scallops. These were perfectly cooked, beautifully seared, plump, tender and melt-in-your-mouth. Honestly, they stole the show on my plate.
One son had the Branzino in lemon butter sauce with capers and broccolini. Light, flaky and not a morsel left on his plate.
My husband and other son ordered the Half Rack of Lamb with pomme purée and haricot verts. The chops were substantial, beautifully seared and perfectly cooked. They looked so good I almost regretted my scallops.
Thankfully, my husband shared one.
Oh. My. Goodness.
One of the best lamb chops I've had. Tender, perfectly cooked and that sauce! I tasted an almost coffee-like depth followed by a wonderful sweetness at the finish. Whatever the chef did, it worked.
My one other small wish is for a little more variety in white wines by the glass, particularly Chardonnay. They graciously let me taste two whites, but neither was quite to my taste. I stayed with the Dirty Aphrodite, not exactly a hardship. I'd just love a really good Chardonnay with those scallops next time.
At this point, any reasonable person would say we'd eaten enough.
We had teenagers with us.
So...dessert.
One son ordered the beautifully presented Crêpes Suzette and thoroughly enjoyed them, but didn't share! My husband ordered the Bourbon Caramel Bread Pudding with Chantilly cream and candied walnuts, and THAT I tried.
Bread pudding is about the only "wet bread" dessert I'll willingly eat, and this was SO good. Warm, rich and comforting without being overly sweet. After everything we'd eaten, I had no business taking more than one bite...but that didn't stop me.
We ended the evening by meeting the chef and giving her our compliments. We also met co-owners Miguel and his wife, Gayle, who were incredibly warm and welcoming. You can tell there's a lot of heart behind this restaurant.
BeauSoleil isn't just about the food, it's the whole experience: the intimate converted house, gorgeous china and glassware, beautiful presentation, wonderful service and, of course, the food.