Olivier Ciesielski

L'ots to L'ove on L'Olivier's New Spring Menu

Here are three things I like: French food, trying new restaurants, and French food. I said "French food" twice because I really, really like it. It is so unlike the home-style, Italian-American fare I grew up on, and yet there is something so familiar and comforting about it. That I will be a tall, ... More >>

Upcoming Events: Cinco de Malo and a Wine Dinner at a Gastropub

L'Olivier, the subject of a very recent (and mostly glowing) cafe review, is celebrating its one-year anniversary this coming Tuesday, April 23. In honor of that milestone, the restaurant is hosting its inaugural Soiree de Printemps -- a springtime soiree -- with an all-day happy hour menu, live mus ... More >>

Gloriously Gallic at L'Olivier

L’Olivier stays grounded in French bistro territory while still managing the occasional surprise.

Upcoming Events: Somm-vasion at Phil's Wine Lounge and More

The brand-new Phil's Wine Lounge downstairs at Philippe is breaking in its boots by launching a Guest Sommelier Series starting February 6. Hosted by Vanessa Trevino Boyd -- resident sommelier at Philippe and last year's Best of Houston® winner for Best Sommelier -- the series will feature intimate ... More >>

Underdogs and Juggernauts

The 10 best new restaurants of 2012.

The 10 Best New Houston Restaurants of 2012

If I had to pick one word to describe the mad, exciting rush of restaurant activity that's defined 2012, it would be this: exhilarating. Followed closely by: exhausting. Trying to keep up with every single new restaurant that's flung open its doors exuberance -- welcoming the city's burgeoning food ... More >>

10 Dishes We're Excited About on Houston Restaurants' New Fall Menus

Roost Bistro is one of the restaurants with an exciting fall menu. Fall means looking forward to more than just oyster season, chili cook-offs and pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks. It means that plenty of our favorite restaurants (and, yes, bars too) across the city are issuing new seasonal menus ... More >>

Openings & Closings: Adieu, Chez Roux et Bonjour, L'Olivier

When one French door closes, another opens. Case in point: L'Olivier, the much anticipated restaurant from former Tony's executive chef Olivier Ciesielski, had its soft opening last night. At the same time, news hit that Chez Roux -- the fine dining destination restaurant at La Toretta del Lago's re ... More >>

Openings & Closings: L'Olivier Is Landing

First, chef Junnajet Hurrapan's new hotspot Blu opens up in Sugar Land's Town Square. Now, the development is getting another interesting addition. According to the weekly B4-U-Eat newsletter: The Japaneiro's people are opening Guru Burgers & Crepes at Sugar Land Town Square in May. It will serve g ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 1: Kevin Bryant of The Capitol at St. Germain

Photo by Mai PhamKevin Bryant, Executive Chef at The Capitol at St. Germain​Kevin Bryant epitomizes Southern charm. There's just something about him that puts you at ease immediately, so for our chat, I felt like I catching up with an old friend. Maybe it's the fact that he loves dogs. Alth ... More >>

Upcoming Events: Welcome Back, Brownstone Cafe and An Historic Pub Crawl

Photo by Alex GreggChris Frankel will be shaking things up once again at Giacomo's.​Ghost hunters and professional drinkers, you'll want to sign up for tonight's Historic Pub Crawl starting at the Lancaster Hotel. The tour will take you through five area pubs (with half-off happy hour fare at ... More >>

Openings & Closings: Familiar Faces Edition

Hubcap Grill's new fence outside its soon-to-be-open restaurant on 19th Street.​Some familiar faces will soon be popping up around town, from the Heights to Montrose and back again, starting with the news that Olivier Ciesielski -- the former executive chef at Tony's -- will be opening his ver ... More >>

Openings & Closings: The Chock Full o'Nuts Edition

Yeah, I don't understand this either.​Remember last week, when we blithely reported that it had been such a wonderful week of good news? Prepare yourself for a mixed bag this week -- and it's a big bag -- starting with the ugly stuff. After Caffe Bello's abrupt closure, there were rumors that ... More >>

A New Tony's Order

A Houston mainstay becomes a destination for culinary thrill-seekers

Chefs' Defection

Diner's Notebook

Restaurant Stew

French Paradox

Part bistro, part fine restaurant, L'aventure Cafe is off to a flying start