We can’t all book a trip during the spring and summer months, but stopping in at a chic Houston hotel for drinks and dinner might stoke some vacation vibes. Over at Royal Sonesta off the West Loop in The Galleria area, chef Robert Graham has launched a new restaurant and bar bite menu that feels like a bit of a getaway.
Graham came to the Royal Sonesta in September after leaving his position as executive chef at the private El Dorado Golf & Beach Club in San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico. Past positions also include stints as executive chef of The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, Isleworth Country Club and The Club at The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe. Now at Royal Sonesta, Graham oversees the culinary direction for Ara Restaurant, Axis Lounge, the grab-and-go cafe Launch and 24-hour in-room dining and banquet service.
We were invited in last week to check out Graham’s new Axis Lounge menu, available daily from noon to 1 am. The menu officially launches tomorrow, May 10.
You’ll want to bring a friend, because the menu in Axis Lounge features small plates that are ideal for sharing. Example: the charred shishito peppers tossed in soy, ginger and garlic and dotted with sesame seeds ($12, photo above). The grilled ciabatta toasts ($12) are also fun to share. There are three flavor combinations – chickpea and rosemary, tomato and tapenade, and ricotta, avocado and bacon (photo below). The smokey, crisp peppers and an order of the creamy avocado toast is a winning combination.
The quesadillas ($15, photo below) are also noteworthy. You may be tempted to order yours with chicken or steak, but give the shrimp a chance. Each bite of the tender shrimp pops with sweetness, a nice balance to the tangy pico and salsa.
Graham is smart to include a tuna tartar on the menu with the recent poke craze that has hit Houston. His combines tuna with avocado, radish, cucumber, cilantro, pickled red onion and creamy chipotle mayo ($17). It’s a lighter option, but it’s served with a few wonton crisps for those who enjoy another layer of texture.
Of course not everyone is looking for a lighter option, and if that’s your case, go with the 44 Farms barbecue brisket and mac and cheese nachos ($14, photo above), which the culinary team served at Rodeo’s Best Bites competition. Brisket, mac and cheese, guajillo, blue cheese and scallions all find their way onto a pile of tortilla chips. It’s big and it’s bold, but, hey, this is your vacation after all.
Royal Sonesta, 2222 West Loop, 713627-7600, sonesta.com/us/texas/houston/royal-sonesta-houston-galleria