b&b butchers is located on washington ave., just a few minutes from downtown and a few blocks off i-10. you can't miss the building that shouts out "meat me" to passers-by. it reminds me of what the entrance to a meat-themed amusement park would look like. what a wonderful concept by benjamin berg, who turned this historic building into what i would call a "grown man's disneyland!"
first stop - the dining area on the first floor. the beautiful restoration job in this almost century-old building is remarkable - the cosmetics are a very enjoyable part of the experience and set the tone for the cuisine. the bar area is a perfect place to have a drink while waiting to be seated. a classy wine rack separates the bar area from the formal dining room.
then, once we got upstairs, it literally took my breath away! i am used to seeing beautiful views of the pacific, but the houstonian/texan in me has to admit this view of my favorite city skyline is worth the price of admission to this culinary theme park! you get a beautiful view of downtown, as you can see in the photography. i had to put my hand over my heart. it isgoodto be in texas!
we started off with jumbo lump crab cakes on a whole grain mustard cream sauce. the extremely large chunks of crab were lightly breaded to perfection and provided a wonderful texture to go along with the sweet taste of the crab. the whole grain mustard was what really put this app over the top, and it goes on my must-try list!
next up was the most recommended item on the list - besides the steaks, of course. chef tommy's bacon roquefort with truffle infused honey / pork belly. if you like pork belly, you will love this appetizer! sweet and savory with just the right bite from the roquefort. i read where a critic claimed it was too fatty. well, it's from the belly of a pig... what do you expect?
another amazing appetizer we enjoyed (notice a pattern?), was the carpet-bagger on the half shell - a beautifully-designed nugget of love straight from the kitchen here at b&b butchers. the fried oyster is strategically perched on top of bacon, a filet tip, blue cheese and their house-made hot sauce. does that sound like something you would be interested in? if you enjoyed reading that, just think about what it tastes like. short answer... good!
we decided to run the gamut and try a bit of everything, starting with a bone-in chopped steak with sautéed organic mushrooms & madeira. seriously, bone-in - just check the photography and see for yourself. an awesome entrée and beautifully presented.
my favorite cut of steak is rib-eye and the bone-in dry-aged rib-eye was just what the doctor ordered. this 22-oz. steak was a perfectly-prepared medium-rare with a flavor asgoodas any steak i have ever enjoyed. that is a long list of wonderful steaks, i assure you. although this is my go-to steak, i have heardgoodthings about them all, so pick the cut you like most. by the way, you can pick them up to serve at home at the butcher shop downstairs - how cool is that?
for my side, i decided to go with the b&b mac & cheese - which is not your everyday mac & cheese. this side has truffles! it kind of speaks for itself... ya know?
another favorite of mine here is the 10-oz filet mignon... carpet-bagger style! this is the first time i have had it this way and would definitely order it again and again. unique flavors combine to please the palate: a delightful combo of bacon, filet mignon, fried oyster and blue cheese drizzled with a house-made hot sauce. amazing... simply amazing.
and to change it up even more, we went for the wasabi crusted tuna on the next round. this beautiful coriander-crusted tuna sat neatly around the edge of the plate next to a wakame & shiitake salad with ponzu and miso vinaigrette. this piece of art was one of the most beautiful photographs i took on this adventure. everything about this dish was specifically planned and served its purpose - not only appealing to the eye, but a flavor your taste buds won't soon forget.
the chocolate cake is just as silky-smooth and creamy as it looks. so rich and chocolaty, with the berries providing that juicy sweetness only a berry can. this was my favorite dessert of the three - and that is saying something!
the new york cheesecake is so fitting after eating such a well-crafted meal. and, this cheesecake is one you want to try. i recommend you share a couple of desserts with the table so you can taste at least a couple. ya know?
nowadays, i get really excited about an evening out with friends, experimenting with new-found tastes, enjoying craft beer and cocktails. even more, i enjoy sharing what i find out with others. to sum it all up in one sentence " b&b butchers is an experience you want to have in houston." and you can quote me on that. enjoy!