Whatever the reason for your visit — whether it’s coffee, a quick lunch, to-go pastries or a midday juice — Eado’s new cafe, bakery and coffeehouse Tout Suite will serve it up “right away.”
Tout Suite, the sister concept to Sweet bakery in CityCentre, opened in September and has been filling a much-needed cafe/bakery void in Houston’s Eado (“east of downtown”) area. Owners Anne Le and Sandy Tran have transformed the warehouse at 2001 Commerce St. that once housed a, um, questionable nightclub into an expansive, multi-level cafe with a chic industrial atmosphere.
The 7,000 square-foot space has lofty exposed ceilings as well as exposed brick walls and plenty of metallic accents. The wood caramel-colored chairs and barstools as well as the cushioned benches adorned with plush gray pillows add a touch of warmth to this urban space.
We stopped in for a late lunch on Thursday afternoon and cozied up in a corner with lattes (beans provided by Greenway Coffee), sandwiches and a big bowl of the soup de jour. The lunch menu offers salads, sandwiches, soups and snacks as well as a create-your-own entree option featuring a choice of one protein, starch and vegetable.
The cream-based corn soup was velvety and sweet, and surprising warm spices made this the perfect cold-weather treat. On other days you might find the day’s soup to be chicken tortilla or creamy butternut squash — or whatever is seasonal and suits the weather.
One of the two sandwiches we ordered was the 44 Farms flank steak sandwich (photo above) with caramelized onions, provolone and a house garlic aioli on a pretzel hoagie. Simply, this carefully-crafted sandwich is a gourmet take on a Philly cheesesteak, and the pretzel hoagie holds up quite well to the rich, melting ingredients.
The tarragon chicken salad sandwich (photo below) on challah is forwardly herbaceous with the classic sweet bites you’d expect in a chicken salad. The chicken was moist, and the slightly sweet bread was the perfect vehicle.
To the right of the ordering counter and the barista bar is Tout Suite’s dessert boutique that has an array of sweets and pastries on offer, from macarons and cupcakes to eclairs and mini desserts like key lime pie and tarts. I chose to keep a lens between me and the tempting sweets, instead admiring the beautiful craftsmanship. On our next visit, we’ll explore the breakfast menu that’s available 7 to 11 am (to 2 pm on the weekends).
Tout Suite, 2001 Commerce, 713-227-8688, toutsuite.co