Incredibly beautiful dining experience. I came here on a Thursday afternoon for a rep dinner and we were treated to a tasting menu. We went over to Ishita next door due to the size of our party, but the small amount of time I was at Eculent, I was floored by the ambiance and decor. Highlights of the meal included the edible-looking garden (dehydrated BLT), pork belly cotton candy, and the duck. I have been to many omakases in the past, but be wary: this dining experience lasted almost 3 hours before we even headed for dessert. I was getting pretty tired with average 20-30 min wait between each courses, but perhaps this was because it was a private event and not the typical speed of his tasting menus? Parking was also a bit challenging as there is no big sign or indication of where the restaurant is. I look forward to being back at another time when the wait in between courses may be less. Otherwise, the meal is beautifully presented and very thought-provoking. read more

The atmosphere was so fun. I felt like I was in an Alice and Wonderland book. We had the 13 course tasting and every bite was delicious (aside from one that neither one of us liked)! The staff was very friendly. My only complaint was that we spent over $300 and still went home and ate pizza. I understand that a lot of it the experience, and we had a really great time, but I don't want to go home with an empty wallet AND an empty belly. If there were bigger portions or more "courses" (I'm not counting a single bite as a course) we would go back. read more

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We went for Valentine's Day dinner and it was an absolute shit show. The service was mid as well as the fixed menu. It's cute place but you basically eat on end tables or coffee tables. We weren't able to order whatever cocktails we wanted and were limited to about 4 options only. Lastly, they were so slow that night that the reservations after the first sitting was so behind that people were stacked up at the door for at least 40 minutes. Very disappointed, was not a nearly $500 experience at all. Would not recommend. read more

This place was beyond all expectation from the moment you walk in the decor is something out of a fairytale, and the food will blow your mind. If you are into a culinary experience this is a spot for you. I recommend highly the pig in a cloud which is an appetizer that combines childhood nostalgia of cotton candy and savory pork belly to create one of the most original appetizers I've ever had. I also recommend the Beef bourguignon it was simply the most well balanced cooked piece of beef. I've had in a long time He will be completely satisfied with your dining experience on all levels here can't wait to go back oh, and by the way did I mention the service the service was also top-notch. They were all so very attentive and welcoming and ready to explain any questions we might have on the menu five stars does not do this place justice read more

An absolutely exquisite, scrumptious journey of delightful delicacies descending onto my tastebuds.

Atmosphere was really cool - staff was friendly. Cool vibes- however- it was unseasonably cold the weekend we went and the server told us she had just arrived and it was 50 degrees in there... we froze the entire service. The food was beautiful and mostly tasty. The drinks were fun- watch out for the bourbon- it's made in house and is 112 proof/ 2 drinks were too many to drive safely. They advertise a very personalized experience but that was not our experience. However, we enjoyed our time. For us it was a one time visit. read more

Eculent - Ambiance - New American Near Me - Kemah, Texas

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What an exceptional experience this was!!! We came for one of the very last seatings for Eculent and it was such an honor to be able to share that moment with Chef David Skinner! I've been meaning to try Eculent for so long and can't believe it's been opened for 10 years and I just now made it there. I was taking my friend for her bday and she ended up sick the weekend we were suppose to go, they were gracious enough to work with us to reschedule, even though they only seat about 12 people a night! And when we rescheduled, my friend ended up having a few dietary restrictions due to her illness and was lactose intolerant as well as alcohol intolerant for a few months. Eculent did everything in their control to make her experience so delightful. She felt included in each course and they went above and beyond to create a sampling menu catered to her restrictions. Thank you! It made her birthday dinner a meal she will never forgot, not just cause of the food but the story Chef Skinner tells during the evening.. it was theatrical, intimate and the details were so intricate.. we left very very happy and light at the end of the night, though quite full! Some highlights cause I couldn't possibly remember all the courses: - Percebes aka Spanish/Goose Barnacles, apparently people dive off the slide of the cliffs of Italy for these things and they are a delicacy! One of the most expensive seafood in the world! You peel them and eat them! Didn't expect that but we enjoyed it, albeit how weird they looked - Meat Pie - Chef was able to cook with Julia Childs as a teenager! He made this meat pie with her and it was oh so amazing! I could eat 5 more of these if he had them for purchase ala carte! Delicious! - Stained glass pasta! Did you know that each pasta is handmade and that each color was a different flavor? The intricacy of this one bite was beautiful! Everything from the scented forks to the details of each morsel of food. We were so amazed by the stories it told. The dehydrated salad and that bite of tomato that tasted like a whole BLT! To the desserts opening right up from under the table at the end of the night with a book each guest had signed sitting where you are over the course of 10 years! My heart was warm from the massages, my belly happy and full.. my friend had desserts made of coconut milk just for her! And that amazing cart of fresh/hot sour dough bread! Kudos to Chef Skinner for a decade of serving such amazing meals! I can't wait for what this next decade will hold with the opening of Ishtia, his new concept! We have reservations already and I'm looking forward to what's up his sleeves! read more

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I cannot begin to describe the experience Eculent provides. They're not serving food, they're serving an experience deep rooted in true traditional cultures. It goes without saying some of the best ingredients and impressive culinary techniques are definitely used, but in an educational and respectful way to the food and the diners. This is probably the most welcoming, kind, and interactive (without being overheating) service and food experience I have ever had. I have been itching to go back again and try their new concepts. You really can't go wrong with anything Chef Skinner does. Everything is spectacular! read more

I loved this place. Went there for my birthday in 2022 and the experience was great, the food was a visual feast, combining flavor with creative design. The menu is presented in three acts, has a whimsical feel to it, tastes great and their team is very friendly and fun. Great for a special occasion. read more

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Where do I begin? We'd been wanting to try eculent for over a year and, when we learned tonight's dinner would be the very last for this iteration, we simply had to book it. So yeah, it's in Kemah! Quite the trek for me, but this meal was special. Each course (30 dishes in total) was whimsical, delicious, and an interesting story in itself. The entire staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and they did an excellent job addressing food substitutions. The space is tiny, which made for a cozy, intimate setting. Looking forward to Chef's next concept! read more

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My husband and I came here four years ago before the pandemic started. I was able to avail a Groupon that was worth $200 something per person but the meal was worth $450. It was very much worth it!! The 10+ course dinner was great and filled with entertaining gastronomique way of presenting food. I had my doubts but the food was delicious! Reservations need to be made a month prior to your planned dinner. It is located in Kemah and there is construction going on in this area right now so it might be challenging to get to the restaurant. We also met the chef David Skinner and he toured us in his little lab. He was very welcoming! Overall, it may be pricey but I highly recommend this place because it's an experience! read more

Definitely not your typical high-end restaurant experience, and that's truly what makes this place unique. I also love that they accommodate only a small group of people which makes things a bit more special. If you think 30 course (small bite) won't make you full, we'll think again. We left there feeling full and content! And not to add the sorcery of food experience that we will never forget. 3-4 hours for the entire dining experience. It started at 6:30pm and ended nearly at 10pm. They only do one dinner in one night. I had some amazing dish and some that were okay. But to be honest, that's what is tasting is all about right? Experiencing variety of flavors and some that would totally blow you away. Overall experience was unique and one of a kind and I thank the chef for that. $250 per person plus $59 for classic wine pairing and $130 for the chef special. Not including service fee and gratuity so definitely expect to pay $600+ for two. A must try for all the foodies. read more

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Eculent is what I would call a once in a lifetime experience. And the reason for that is because once you try it one time there is no reason to return. The experience is very similar to March in terms of style, but the execution is certainly subpar to that of March. The quaint setting for the restaurant and lounge are an interesting touch, but for the prices paid there seem to be a lot of gaps present that just made the experience feel unfulfilling. The first few courses were offered at the lounge, which was very rustic in style, mismatched tables and chairs, and to be frank the flavor of the dishes served there were fairly interesting and gave us the notion that we were up for a major treat in the subsequent courses. Overall, the presentation of the dishes was in general, very appealing, in particular the one dish that was brought in with the smoking sage. The native American details in the dishes was also very interesting, but to be frank none of the dishes of the 20 that were served stood out as an unforgettable palate experience. We ordered the old world wines to pair with our dishes, but bear in mind this does not mean 20 different kinds of wine for each dish. In reality, it's about four different kinds of wine for all the dishes, but they will refill as necessary. For two people plus tip plus old world wine pairings the bill came to about $900. We left satisfied in terms of appetite, but I must admit we were not delighted by what we had eaten. I must admit Eculent is one of the more unique culinary experiences in the Houston area as far as style and set up, but the food quality is not something to rave about, but rather very decent. This is the reason why I call it a once in a lifetime experience. You're not gonna hate yourself for going there and spending all that money but you feel like you've crossed out a unique restaurant in a bucket list. Done and over with. read more

There's a lot of hype about this place. Maybe it was cool pre-COVID when you could check out "the lab" and/or pre-renovations. Currently, in 2022, I'd say the overall experience is underwhelming, not worth the price and a waste of time. I started the night with a red wine at their winery which was pretty good. When we sat at the table, I tried to order another one and was told by the owner that they were all out. Weird. The first dish was day old bread with jams that were presented on a tree. Not sure the connection there and it was difficult to get the spreads onto the bread. The following dish was cotton candy with "27 spices" that made people gag from the spiciness. Maybe it would make sense if they were served together to represent "eating around a campfire". This theme seemed to carry through the night. There was no cohesiveness, the music felt strange and the lighting changes for every dish left me feeling confused. Based on the photos over the years it seems the owner hasn't come up with very many new dishes. Which would be OK if they were all stellar, but a majority of the dishes could be improved. If you do end up going, I'd avoid the wine-pairing. They only provided 3 different wines (sparkling, rose, port) which didn't seem to tie into the dishes at all. The following night we went to Potente in downtown Houston. Half the price and 10x the quality. read more

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Unless you don't want a once in a lifetime dining experience, you better plan on reserving a place(s) at this exceptional local table!!!! Best in the USA read more

Food and ambiance were unique. Numerous courses large and small some were top notch, a few were interesting but not to the level of the top dishes. (With like 20 Course they can't all be home runs) The mushroom based dishes stole the show. Definitely recommend this overall experience read more

Just a great experience in dining. Been several times and enjoyed each event! It is an event; pleasant and appealing.

A must try!!!! Don't think about it just do it. Each dish was exquisite and transported you to the destination where the ingredients came from. The ambiance felt private but entertaining at the same time. Truly a great experience. read more

Eculent - New American Near Me - Kemah, Texas

Truly remarkable and once in a lifetime meal. Chef David Skinner is a master at what he does and I can't speak highly enough about our experience. The ambiance was intimate, the dinner was thoughtful and new and I can't wait to go again. I hate to share too much as a part of the fun is the mystery of the meal! We all left talking about how stellar everything was and we feel so lucky to have such a gem tucked away here in Houston. read more

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This restaurant is truly one of a kind. Everything is impeccable down to the tiniest details on the forks. There are many more pics since it's 25-30 courses! We've been numerous times and will definitely continue going. read more

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Eclectic experience with incredible food and wine pairings. Each food item was creatively presented. Service was intimate and awesome. Chef was nice enough to talk about the dishes and you could see his pride in them. The bartender and servers were great but did get busy and missed out on refilling our beverages ambiance was intimate and sexy. read more

This was definitely an experience that I believe everyone should try at least once! Think of the movie, The Menu. The decadence, the underground vibe, the decadent meal art... well minus the bloodshed like the movie. My husband and I would absolutely visit again! By extending our palates beyond our comfort zones, we discovered some incredible tastes we may never have tried otherwise! read more

It's gonna take me a bit to translate into words what my mind and palate experienced tonight. I will post some pictures and my overall thoughts but I don't want my post to be a spoiler alert and ruin what I think is one of the top allures of this restaurant which is the mystery and secrecy of the menu / courses. It is truly an adventure and food experience that I have never been on before in all my travels. This quaint, little restaurant that has been quietly tucked away in my backyard for years is just so hard to fathom. (Okay, it has been on my radar for 3 years but I just popped my cherry) If you can just imagine throwing creativity, unique ingredients, science, passion and personal service into a blender, bake and serve. Then you might just begin to open up your mind and understand what you're in for if you dine there. read more

Eculent - Pretzels and Percebes. Gooseneck barnacles and Kimchi Butter. - New American Near Me - Kemah, Texas

30 courses of Amuse Bouche style creativity. Clever ambiance, very personal level of service in this small room restaurant. The wine pairing was not amazing, but we did choose the basic level, still I was much more impressed by the food and service than the wine. I was disappointed not to have a tour of the food lab, which was described by several of the reviews I read. Still the experience was three hours of delicious new experiences. Our favorite being the Picnic Basket. With Dehydrated Caesar Salad, an onion bomb of soup, a BLT inside a Cherry Tomato, a fried chicken stuffed cracker and an ambrosia salad in a crunchy slice of mandarin orange! read more

Eculent - Picnic basket - New American Near Me - Kemah, Texas

TLDR: An immersive food experience that offers a variety of different gastro techniques that made for a fun and playful experience. Visit: Weekday (NYE) Order: Tasting Menu Service/venue: 7.9/10 Small staff, friendly, and the chef explained each course. A bit tight in such a small space, a lengthy 2 1/2 hour service, and a chilly temp inside left a little to be desired. Food tasting menu: 8.1/10 Interesting concepts, impressive techniques at times, but a bit redundant at others. Eculent was a mixed bag for me. On one hand it was a lot of food that had a creatively fun, gastronomy forward, immersive take on a dining experience. On the other, I felt like the fusion of technique and flavor was a bit off. With such intricate use of gastronomic artistry, it would have been better complimented by a more aggressive approach to flavor profiles and transitions between courses. Some of the food ended up being a little too similar, and somewhat basic. There were some standouts, like the cotton candied pork belly, but the same ideas circled back in other dishes that left me wanting for different combinations. All in all, we still enjoyed the visit and appreciated what the chef has going on. It's a bit pricey, approximately $250-300... so, this might be a special occasion destination in the area. read more

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The food and experience are top notch!! Best restaurant in the Houston/Galveston area read more

Eculent - Delish! - New American Near Me - Kemah, Texas

Everything was beyond my wildest dreams, literally blew my mind! From the light changes, the small intimate setting to the staff! Service was superb! Evie was a gem to speak with, not to mention the chef himself! The food OMG! In the realm of infinite possibilities, I hope everyone chooses to try the place at least once! Stained glass pasta?!? Beehive style desert with popping center, the three sisters course....EVERYTHING!!! read more

Eculent - New American Near Me - Kemah, Texas

The food here is creative and fun, however I found some of the courses to be redundant. There was a cotton candy campfire but also a cotton candy pork belly. Two courses used the same plastic test tube. Multiple courses were freeze dried or desiccated. The service was stilted and forced. It was awkward at the end as the chef went to each seating to settle the bill. Everyone just sat there and waited for him to come over. It's a good experience if you've never been to a molecular gastronomy restaurant. But overall it feels tired and the chef stoped trying. The menu repeats dishes from years ago. Highlights: -soup, salad and sandwich course -pork belly cotton candy Pop rocks cereal was creative Misses: Main beef course: beef was too salty and carrot was hard to cut Chocolate soup: extremely sweet - most diners did not finish this and said it was too sweet read more

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Some time in 2019, I happened across a Houstonia Magazine article on Eculent with the subtitle "Down in Kemah, a mad genius is serving up the experience of a lifetime." Naturally, I was intrigued. An avant-garde fine-dining establishment generating national attention near Houston? Turns out that David Skinner, the chef-mastermind behind the concept, is a former oil & gas consultant/executive and did not undergo rigorous training in some of legendary kitchen. In fact, he has no formal culinary training to speak of. Go figure. Getting a reservation is a bit of an ordeal, as they open on the 1st of each month on Tock for the *following* month. Make sure you have a plan prior to booking because the openings go fast and there is a non-refundable $25 per-head fee. We arrived at the site, which resembles a summery west-coast villa, an hour or so early with the intention of having a pre-dinner drink at jointly owned Clear Creek Vineyard winery. An elevator took us up to the spacious wine room. The wine itself was OK, but we very much enjoyed sitting in the piano room, adorned with old-fashioned portraits and other antique furnishings. Just as the sun was setting, we made our way down to Eculent's main dining room, which was dark with flashy trinkets and multi-colored lights that bathed the room in blue, then red, then green. We were seated at the bar as one of about 30 or so people in the room, some seated at smaller tables around the periphery. The evening stretched across ~2.5 hours and was as much a magic show and performance as it was dinner. It featured probably 30+ small courses that were a bite or two each, designed to subvert your expectations and evoke specific emotions, followed by a handful of more traditional and substantial courses at the end. There was a clear focus on rare international ingredients and most of the dishes had a specific story or theme in mind. It very much felt like an intimate meal with your companion(s), but simultaneously a collective experience as part of the broader audience. Chef Skinner was present throughout, briefly explaining the inspiration for each bite and meticulously conducting the orchestra. Overall, I give the internationally-inspired food a 4/5 and the experience a 5/5 - it is truly one like any other in the region. If you are a veteran of fine dining, some of the molecular gastronomy-oriented parlor tricks (pea flower tea that changes colors, freeze-dried foods, perfumed smoke, etc.) and off-the-beaten-path ingredients (percebes, morels, escargot) may not wow you, and the service is not as polished as you'll find in Michelin-star settings. Some of the dishes struck me as prioritizing aesthetic or shock-value over taste, but others were refreshingly creative and outright delicious. With two a la carte drinks each, the total bill (sans wine pairing) totaled upwards of $600, which is reasonable given the thoughtfully sourced ingredients, carefully designed dishes, and diversity of elaborate techniques on display. If you can afford it and are interested in this type of provocative dining, Eculent is absolutely worth visiting and I would caution against looking through the attached photos in order to preserve the surprise. read more

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Let's begin with Chef is the Willy Wonka of the culinary world. I say that very respectfully. We joined him on a Saturday night two weeks ago for a 12 seating meal. FYI, there is only one seating per night. This truly is an experience you will not forget. We began with a make your own cocktail with test tubes and beakers. How interactive and fun! Next we head to The Lab for a tour of his mad science where you hear about their 3D printer and how they are helping NASA improve food quality during space travel. Really? And I haven't even tasted more than a cocktail? Next we are introduced to a freeze dried Caesar's salad and French onion soup truffle. Oh, it's on now. Then we move back to the dining room for a 15+ course meal that travels though a variety of accomplished techniques. I'll stop here but if you love food and the experience of well-done molecular gastronomy then take a drive to Kemah for this unique, Houston food experience. It's tasting menu pricing so expect $200+/person. Wine pairing is inexpensive and from the attached, affiliated winery that uses California juice finished locally. Wine was ok, but worked with the food and kept the cost below comparable NYC or SF pricing. I'll go back. You should. read more

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While the price is nothing to balk at, the experience was worth it, in my opinion. Very intimate setting, and small "audience," which helped since Chef Skinner explained every course brought to the tables. The entire staff was genuine and explained everything anyone had a question about, and very jovial while doing so. We left very full and very satisfied. read more

Truly unique experience with exceptional food!!! The courses kept coming with surprises and each course was excellent! read more

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This was our first time to dine at Eculent and we had a great time. We chose the wine pairing and it flowed pretty well. The wines and some of the foods were from Spain and France. The food was tasty and the presentation was wonderful. The chef came out and explained each of the 30 courses and they were all unique and nothing like I have ever seen or experienced before. This is a great date night with other couples as well. It's a little pricey so be prepared. It was about $600 a couple but would make a great anniversary or birthday date. read more

Let's start with, this place is the fun of fun and unique dining. Chef was like the Willy Wonka merged with Sweet Pete of foods! The food was outstanding, unique, and delightful. This place deserves a Michelin star at a minimum. read more

When they call it a "Gastronomic Expedition", they are not kidding! This is an expedition through food, and really, all the senses. It is fine dining meets ultimate science experience. Definitely not one of the fine dining establishments that finds you needing more food afterwards. Incredible is the only thing I can say. Each course has music and lighting to go with it; each has a story. They hit the balance between sweet, salty, savory, rich, umami with the entire meal. One of the best, if not the best, meal of my life. read more

Amazing meal. Every course was unique and delicious. I can't eat gluten but the chef was generous enough to adapt every course so I could enjoy it. The service was intimate and everything about the environment - from the presentation to lighting - enhanced the meal. read more

Amazing experience! As a vegetarian, it's usually pasta or just veggies offered to me as an alternative to the what's offered to others...not here. I was able to have similar meals to others, but with slight differences. Such as, onion soup was prepared with without beef broth, I had a salad with Italian dressing, instead of Cesar, and mushroom risotto, instead of steak. Some courses were already vegetarian. Many of the guests enjoyed their meal, but stated, next time, I'll have to be vegetarian. :) read more

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Great experience. Every course is a journey though flavor and I recommend it for anyone who enjoys good food

Absolutely love this place it's so neat! Everything was so delicious. Definitely recommend

What a wonderful experience. The food was fantastic. Cleverly presented. I enjoyed having chef skinner explain the dishes and how they were inspired. Well definitely visit again. read more