Culinary Institute LeNôtre

Who says quality French food has to come at a high cost? Located inside the Culinary Institute LeNotre just off N. I-45, Kris Bistro & Wine Lounge is making modern French dishes accessible with most entrees coming in well under $20.
 
Kris Bistro is a collaboration between Chef Kristopher Jakob and owner/instructor Alain LeNotre that spotlights local growers and ranchers and features Chef Kris’ own house-cured meats. The teaching restaurant offers a friendly yet contemporary atmosphere with a wall of windows looking into the kitchen. Students at the school staff this bistro, crafting dishes such as hanger steak with Bordelaise sauce, hunters-style Belgian Ardennes meatloaf and country ragout of beef with glazed mushrooms and bacon lardons. Rich? Yes. But you still won’t want to miss dessert with options such as chocolate noir with cream ganache and caramelized almond tuiles and the crème brulee trio.

And since French cuisine almost demands wine, there’s an extensive, reasonably priced wine list.