The area off of Grant road could use a few grown-up hangouts. There are a couple of
I took my family one early Friday evening to see what the new restaurant had to offer and also to see what changes had been made. I was a fan of the English pub decor at Kilburn’s. The more prints of horses and dogs the better. The R&R Crafthouse Grill has replaced the hunting prints with black and white photographs of Cypress over the years, a great way to showcase the local vibe of the bar.
The attractive brick wall is still there, but the new decor is mostly gray, which is a bit too minimalistic for my taste, but it seems to have become a trend. There were also the wire light fixtures and Edison bulbs that adorn nearly every new restaurant and bar in town. I like them. I want some for my house.
We
Our waiter came over almost immediately and was very friendly. My husband ordered a pint of Aunt Rose Red Helles Lager ($7) from Bearded Fox Brewing out of Tomball and I ordered a Frose, to see what their version was like. It was a dollar off for happy hour, but the specials for beer seemed pretty limited, restricted to domestic pints. Considering this is a place that sells craft beers, I would have expected some happy hour pricing on the local brews.
They also have craft sodas from Real Sugar Soda, so my daughter ordered the Mandarina, which is made with cane sugar. She liked it
My
We ordered the Big Rings, a basket of fried onion rings ($5.95) for a starter. The serving was very generous and the batter was light and crispy, perfect for the sweet onion inside. Even my onion-hating daughter liked them, probably because they were fried and served with buttermilk ranch dressing.
More local folks were starting to wander in and it was a mix of middle-aged couples and a few young families. There
My husband ordered the Philly Cheesesteak, which he felt was overwhelmed by
My daughter had the soft pretzel appetizer and a side of fries. She liked the chipotle mayo that accompanied the pretzel and the fries were hand-cut, with just a little skin left on. They had a good flavor, but they could have used thirty seconds longer in the fryer.
My thirteen-year-old son had the Italian sandwich which was basically chicken parmesan on a hoagie. The tomato sauce was flavorful and the chicken was thick and juicy, but like the fries, it could have used a little extra crisp on it.
I ordered the Bubba
The Bubba Burger was $11.95 and did not come with fries. Everyone else’s sandwiches were served with fries and my daughter’s side of fries was big enough for us to share. Still, for a nickel under twelve dollars, a handful of fries on the side would have been nice.
My husband and I split a 23 ounce Oso Bueno ($7) made by 11 Below Brewing. It was served cold in a tall pilsner glass. The
There are salads, tacos, fish entrees and steaks available as well as the sandwich and burger offerings. The from-scratch menu could benefit from a little more seasoning and a few tweaks to the dishes.
The locally-owned grill offers family-friendly dining but also a pleasant bar area for adults. It’s a welcome addition to a neighborhood that could use more dining and drinking options.
The owner came over and talked to us, and our server was attentive and friendly. The atmosphere was casual and comfortable. The large, back patio, which faces a green space rather than a parking lot, will make a great destination for the early days of fall.
And those cooler days are coming. We promise.