Bistro Alex
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Bistro Alex dining room rendering |
800 West Sam Houston Parkway, Building 9, 77024
www.hotelsorella-citycentre.com
Brennan’s of Houston is a name recognizable to locals, as well as visitors from around the world. For more than 40 years, guests have joined in a culinary journey that has stayed true to the Louisiana roots and unrivaled service traditions of the Brennan’s family, while infusing a stream of innovations from the kitchen. The result is a signature Texas Creole cuisine and experience that bridges generations with exciting and noteworthy dishes and a welcoming ambience.
When a tragic fire nearly destroyed the restaurant’s landmark home in September 2008 during Hurricane Ike, the city mourned. However, loyalists of Brennan’s brand of Texas Creole won’t have to wait until rebuilding of the institution is complete.
Alex Brennan-Martin will open a modern bistro—Bistro Alex—mixing Brennan's of Houston favorites with premium lighter fare in a sleek, design-forward fine dining setting.
The 160-seat, 4,000-square-foot restaurant will open in fall 2009 in tandem with the formal opening of Hotel Sorella, an inspired hospitality concept from Houston-based Valencia Group.
Open for lunch and dinner as well as Sunday brunch, the contemporary/traditional juxtaposition of Bistro Alex will be reflected in all aspects of the restaurant. Patrons will have access through the lobby of Hotel Sorella or Café Rosé, which will be located directly below.
Designed by Atlanta based The Johnson Studio, a design firm responsible for Fearing’s in Dallas and Commander’s Palace in Destin FL, great care was taken to conceptualize a space that would accomplish one primary purpose: complement the sophisticated hotel interior design while creating a distinct identity for the Brennan’s family of restaurants. As a departure from the Brennan’s flagship, Bistro Alex takes its inspiration from nature and balances contemporary design elements with comfort through a color palette of brown, blue and green. The design is centered on an open kitchen which features stainless steel accents, a blue tiled oven and a graphic tile wall mimicking foliage. The sleek design elements of the kitchen are balanced with materials native to Texas such as rough hewn mesquite lumber on the walls and ceiling which become the central feature of the dining space.
The ambience, however, will resonate with the original, honoring the impeccable service standards that are a Brennan’s family hallmark. Classic dishes will welcome traditionalists, but as in all Brennan’s family restaurants, cutting-edge cuisine will delight the ‘foodies’ with creative dishes and wine pairings. An array of roasted selections, as well as creative entrée salads for those wanting something lighter, will be Bistro Alex signatures. While pricing will be on par with Brennan’s of Houston, Brennan-Martin aims to provide good value both in wine pricing and menu items. Many entrees will be paired with tastes of three to four seasonal sides. At this time, no chef candidates have been named.
