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Categories: British, Modern European [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Fourth Ward, MontroseMon., Wed-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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Definitely a place to check out at least once.
Girlfriend and I went to Feast after reading mostly positive reviews online. Although I don't believe that reviews such as "best new restaurant of 2009", and other hyperboles apply, it's definitely a great restaurant. It has very well prepared food, novel cuisine, high quality ingredients, great atmosphere, and excellent wait staff.
The first thing you find is that the place is set up in an older house. It feels as if you're walking into someones home; wooden floors, family pictures on the wall, and classical music (could just have been that night).
When you're presented with the menu you'll notice that half of it changes daily, and the other half is what they've found has been well received by their clients. This is a great idea.
That being said, the food can be hit or miss because of this. We decided to try something from the "new" side of the menu: breast of boar, and the gnocchi with mushroom ragú. The boar was terrible. It was fatty, insipid, and had a grainy texture. The gnocchi were amazing!
As in most restaurants, the waitress came to check on us again, and asked about the plat of uneaten boar. And, as always, I said exactly what we thought. Immediately she said that she would take it off the bill, stating that "if you don't like it, you don't pay for it", and it's part of the risk (also, for $18 gnocchi, which is probably the cheapest meal to make, they have their margins secured ;) jk, but had to say it; oh, and did not mind paying that at all).
We had to take a look at the dessert menu, which was great. It had all kinds of things we'd never had before, and most sounded delicious. We decided to try the sticky taffy pudding. Wow. Just amazing. Best part of the meal hands down. Perfect flavor, and had a side of clotted cream.
All in all, I'll be back and start trying items from the favorites menu, as well as a repeat of the pudding.
I like Feast. My mom raised us to eat whatever she put on the table so brains, feet, belly and all other animal parts are not strange as far as im concerned.
My favorite Feast dishes are the Dandelion Salad, the Pork Belly and the Sticky Toffee Pudding. Ive had other dishes but im the type who has steady favorites across the restaurants I go to.
Ive always been pleased with the service at Feast. On our first time there, the lady who served us proved to be very knowledgeable about the menu and had very helpful suggestions for first timers. We have been back several times, the most recent being during HRW - and inspite of the fact that it was a very busy night, service was great.
They have traditional English roast on every 2nd and 4th Sundays at lunchtime -- that was pretty good too.
Feast! Even the name feels satisfying rolling off my tongue. The "rustic European fare" concept for this restaurant has fascinated me for just about as long as it's been open. Even when I merely saw the sign on Westheimer, with its woodcut pig logo, I knew this was going to be a special type of dining experience, despite not knowing all that much about traditional English food or having that much experience in consuming entrails or tails.
I came to Feast for dinner as part of Houston Restaurant Week earlier this month. (Fantastic deals encourage eating at fantastic restaurants, I've found.) Walking in, I felt like giving the craftsman-style house in which Feast resides a gigantic hug, and that the house was embracing me back. The architectural details are really quite stunning, which include stained glass windows and dark wood moulding. This is another one of those restaurants that just wouldn't work in a slick, modern setting. The warmth of the interior perfectly matches the honesty and earthiness of the food being served inside this lovely house. I would recommend going with a small group, however, if not just a table for two. Although our party of eight (well, almost) was accomodated, I'm not sure how we would have fit had our UYE been any bigger.
After studying the fixed menu, I decided to go semi-adventurous and chose the fish soup as the starter, the fish and scallop pie as my main course (sensing a theme here?) and the sticky toffee pudding for dessert. I allowed Eva L. to be REALLY adventurous in choosing the pig tails--y'know, don't want to steal her thunder. Every course arrived in good time for our group, and although it wasn't out of the kitchen lickety-split, I like this European method of eating. It allowed our group to linger, enjoy the good company and discuss the food.
My fish soup was definitely different from what I was expecting. I'm honestly not sure WHAT I was expecting--perhaps a fish head complete with dead, accusatory eye staring up at me? Though it was definitely fragrant with the smell of seafood, the soup had the texture of a smoother version of eating tuna straight from the can. I know that doesn't sound particularly appetizing, but paired with a tomato base and crusty bread dipped in a delicious remoulade of some sort, it combined nicely to create a really yummy, savory flavor. However, it was REALLY heavy, as is most of the fare here, so when my fish and scallop pie arrived, I was already stuffed.
Tony H. offered me some of his black pudding, and since I'd never had any of the stuff, I decided to take a chance. It has a consistency like sausage, and what makes Feast's version so delicious is the mint that they include alongside. It provided a nice zingy counterpoint to the saltiness of the black pudding.
My fish and scallop pie was fantastic. It's like a seafood version of a shepherd's pie, so there isn't any crust. The potatoes, cheese and onions baked on top were marvelous, and the inside was just as good. It was served extremely hot out of the oven, so it took quite a bit to cool down, and once I'd picked through it enough to say I'd had some, I had it packaged to take home to my garbage-disposal of a boyfriend, though this was definitely not anything close to being garbage.
Ever since my wine flight at Salt in Vancouver, I've discovered I love sherry, and when I saw it was offered on Feast's menu, I knew what I had to have. I selected a fantastic glass of sherry with my meal that tasted vaguely like figs. I thought the serving I received for $8 was a tiny bit scanty, but as sherry is definitely a "sip not guzzle" drink, my tumbler of wine kept me company for most of my meal.
The sticky toffee pudding was decadent. Served warm with caramel dripping over the sides and a small dollop of clotted cream, it was so rich and I was so stuffed I ended up taking half of it to go as well. After hearing raves about this dessert from a friend who declared it the best sweet she'd ever had, I was slightly disappointed. I'd had a similarly rich cake just about a month ago, although it had a slightly more scandalous name (the "Better than Sex" cake). Very, very delicious, though I think I would've liked the spotted dick better (that's what she said).
I'm leaving off one star because although the foods at Feast are rich and delicious, they're a bit too heavy for the summer. I can guarantee, though, that I'll be turning up at Feast later, for dinner on one of the rare crisp, cold nights that Houston has to offer. This restaurant has "winter" written all over it, and I'm looking forward to enjoying it then.
Heaven on a plate. We have been visiting Feast since shortly after it opened. The staff are kind and welcoming. The food is incredible. From the housemade bread to the sticky toffee pudding and everything in between, it's delicious. The only mis-step we have run into was pickled liver (even my husband couldn't quite stomach it). The cassoulet is perhaps the best thing on the menu, but don't limit yourself. They work wonders with a scallop and have incredible fish if you are looking for something lighter. Go with a group and share. It's food that is intended to be savored - it's full of love. I would imagine Fergus Henderson is proud!
To Feast or not to Feast? I say not. After reading all the glowing reviews not to mention all the press generated by this small little restaurant, I had extremely high expectations, which FEAST failed miserably at meeting.
We booked a party of 10 for a friend's birthday and were seated at a long table. We were assigned one (1) server who was slow and couldn't care less about the service she gave us since the tip was going to be automatically added to bill.
There were a few redeemable appetizers - the mussels and the chicken hearts, but other than that the entire meal (for everyone at the table) fell flat and hard. Also, the chicken hearts were overcooked (even if they were flavorful).
The pork belly was too fatty and tasteless. The fish soup (described to me as similar to a bouillabaisse) looked at tasted like some sort of car grease and I had to send it back. The rack of lamb was extremely gamey. The spotted dick looked like a dirty soap sponge (and tasted equally nasty). The shepherd's fish pie was served with burnt brussel sprouts and tasted like frozen pot pie. The bill for 10 came out to be $600inclusive of tax and tip. Way overpriced for what we received (we were there during restaurant week for their $35 prix-fixe). The waitress finally smiled when I paid her in cash - since we rounded up and ended up giving her a bit more than what was automatically included on the bill.
After this thoroughly disappointing meal, how could we ever consider going back? We won't. Skip feast, the weird stuff doesn't taste good. The ambience is sparse at best, you have to valet, and the service couldn't get any worse.
Feast!
Lets start out with the usual buzz. Feast has been given great reviews by the NY Times, GQ and was nominated for best new restaurant by the James Beard Foundation. If you don't even know what Nose to Tail eating is or who Fergus Henderson is, it doesn't matter, the food is still very well done and incredibly unique in Houston.
Feast serves what they call "rustic european" food which in reality is a combination of British/Scottish cuisine (with a very small French influence) with a very large helping of items which most WASPS in America consider offal (that is the weird leftover bits like kidneys, tongues hearts, trotters). If you grew up in an Asian or African American household these ingredients aren't actually that unfamiliar because those cuisines have a long tradition of organ meats and undesirable cuts of animals in their food. If you're not then Feast might be a little intimidating at first blush.
In general Feast is a polarizing restaurant. There will be some people (read foodies, gourmands, adventure eaters) who will absolutely adore Feast. There will be a certain type of person that thinks it's all hype and they will not enjoy their food at feast. To me this isn't really a reflection of the restaurant but of the cuisine. In general I don't think British Food is quite as spicy or elaborate as the Tex Mex and Asian dishes that most Houstonians have come to expect from dining out. So inevitably some people will be dissapointed in the food served here.
I think the best dishes at Feast tend to be the ones that highlight the offal cuts that are generally ignored in American cuisine because its refreshingly unique and because they are smartly done by the two chef owners. So my recommendation would be to go for the Pork Cheeks, Livers and Kidneys, and the weird seafood items.
The non offal dishes like the Pork Chop, the Braised Chicken, meatballs, etc. are well done but are nothing particularly special and may be a little on the bland side because of the British seasonings and style of cooking. I mean Pork Chops and home made mashed potatoes? I can get a pretty decent version at the local Black Eyed Pea. Thats not something I would drive all the way downtown for.
The menu at Feast changes daily, so I recommend going to their website to see if anything on the menu perks your interest. The menu changes because like most ultra fine dining restaurants the chefs only serve what they feel are the best items from the butcher/fish monger/grocer that day. Feast is basically as far from chain/industrial food production as you can get.
For first timers I really recommend going to lunch first and trying their lunch special of 2 items for 12.99 or 3 items for 15.99. First this a very economical way of trying out their food but second its a great way to sample alot of their menu items because you can do 2 appetizers, no desert for the 3 course lunch.
The restaurant itself is in an old house with interesting decor and as one eater said, "this is a pretty cool space" to be in. The wine list is pretty good but definitely not the best. But on the plus side prices are reasonable.
I've been to Feast maybe 4 times in the past month and I have yet to have a bad meal there.
Restaurant Week here is great because they're serving some great things from their favorites menu. The selection is actually larger than what's listed online, so come in and enjoy the choices.
The restaurant was very, very crowded on a Thursday. I made my reservations almost a week in advance. The restaurant itself is very, very noisy. I had to yell at my date across the 2 person table to be heard. Wine is served in tumblers, which I really felt detracted from the taste of the wine, especially the whites.
Service was wonderful. Atmosphere is super casual.
Food was superb. Black pudding smells like trash, but if you can get past the awful aroma, you'll be well-rewarded. It's earthy and savory, and well balanced with sweetness from the bed of green peas. The fried egg on tops make it a little more hearty and decadent. The pork rilletes is tasty and salty. A great, light appetizer to go with either your wine or beer. It's described as a pate, but I'd compare it to more of a dry seasoned pulled pork dish.
Roasted pork belly is perfectly crispy and accompanied by the right amount of pork fat. The mashed potatoes were literally heaven on a plate. I am amazed as to how they made them so fluffy and delicate, but toasted/slightly burnt the top layer to give the potatoes more substance. Lamb shank was actually bland, though tender. The accompanied roasted potatoes and greens were delicious enough to make me forgive the lamb shank... or maybe that was my date's roasted pork belly that did that.
Dessert included spotted dick, which was wonderfully sweet and bready. However, the sticky toffee pudding overshadowed the spotted dick. It was rich and decadent, similar to a bread pudding. Be careful: my date mistook the scoop of butter for....... ice cream. After he had placed a full scoop of it in his mouth.
A wonderful culinary experience, but bring your sporting game voice if you plan on going on a busy night. I'm looking forward to a return visit.
Back again for HRW #8 and cant give this place enough stars !!!
The food was great, The service was great, the atmosphere was great. I cant say enough good things.
Started with the blood pudding which tasted like black sausage but sounded cooler as blood pudding. The peas, mint, and over easy egg were all a nice touch.
For the Main course i tried the Crispy Roasted Pork Belly. OH MAN this thing was so good it was sinful. the pork was perfect the crispy skin was amazing the potatoes were great as well. The only thing i can say is that if you are with a date you may want to pass on the cabbage and apples b/c they can cause extreme gas.
For dessert i had the Sticky toffee pudding which was more like a warm coffee cake with caramel topping with clotted cream(sweet butter). It was superb.
I think i am going to go here one more time b/c Feast has agreed to extend their HRW menu until Aug 30 !!
Rustic European Fare..
I could not agree more. Feast was all that and more. I went for lunch on…
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Sunday night my friend Michael and I went to Feast for our B-Day Dinner.
We went to taste the "restaurant week menu". I guess i have to go back to better judge the food. Our choice of starters were Chicken liver pate and seafood soup. Thumbs up on the pate! The soup on the other hand was a watery and un- appetizing broth that was off to my taste buds.
We continued with the lamb shank and the roasted pork shoulder!
The shank lacked of salt .The pork dish was tasty but i found the roasted potatoes to taste too much of lard.
Finally the sticky toffee pudding and the spotted dick were outstanding!
I have to mention that the bread and the service was superb.
It's good ... its really good. The problem? It's very heavy ... in fact after eatting this heavy meal and walking out in to 99 degree weather I had the urge to vomit. But vomit very good food.
So I will go back! But not till October.
Another helpful tip! Go for lunch ... 3 courses for around $15 great deal. And you will not be hungry for the rest of the day ... win win.
Loved Feast. I am so grateful for the opportunity to try Feast during Restaurant Week. Thank you Feast for participating!
The service was absolutely wonderful. I asked question after question about the menu, and our waiter never expressed any annoyance with me for it. I'm glad I asked, too, because 80% of the time, my assumption about what a dish consisted of was completely wrong. So don't be afraid to ask!
I had the crispy pork belly, and the best way I can describe it is that it is very similar to the roasted pork that Asians are accustomed to eating. As a result, the entree was not as novel to me as it might be to others, but I was nonetheless impressed, since the pork skin was cooked perfectly crispy.
If anyone is heading there for Restaurant Week (one week left!), I would highly recommend the sticky toffee pudding for dessert. It. Was. Awesome.
Anybody who's had UK food knows that the quality of the kitchen will make or break the meal. It's so easy to screw up, which is largely why it's constantly abused by food critics and even comedians (think Dennis Leary's bit on "Irish Cuisine").
Thank God for the chefs at Feast, who clearly know what they're doing. Not one dish at our table came out bland, and the entire meal was a fantastic experience.
We went during restaurant week, so the menu offered was much more tame than what I walked in expecting to see (this place is famous for offering the plates heaping with the scariest parts of your favorite barnyard animals). But the black pudding was on it; not too salty, and with a slightly Spanish flavor (smoked paprika?). The pork belly: excellent hunk of meat, and not unfamiliar to a child of the south, used to barbecue and cracklins.
But actually, and please don't let this come across as a slight to the rest of the meal, the best part was dessert. The sticky toffee pudding was OUTSTANDING. So rich and sweet, but the kind of thing that you just have to keep eating despite how full it's making you feel.
True, the place, just as the Brits do, clearly stretches the definition of the word "pudding." (I had sausage and I had cake, but the menu insists they were both "pudding.")
Honest, simple dishes, well done. You can't ask for more. I'll certainly be back.
I had Spotted Dick and I liked it, that's right I'm comfortable in my manliness that I can make this announcement. The wife and I had one of our most memorable meals ever at Feast. We had a chance to visit Feast during Houston Restaurant Week. The whole nose-to-tail concept of cooking and eating does not appeal to the wife, but somehow with a prix fixe 3 course meal reasonably priced she was willing to give it a shot. I was very thankful.
First off, I have never been to the English countryside, but this is what I imagine it would look like. Walking into this restaurant, the rustic English countryside semblance to it won me over right away. It had a warm welcoming feel to it. We had a 7:30 reservation and as soon as we walked in we were seated promptly, imagine that.
The wife started out with a bowl of lentil soup, which was a safe selection for her. I started out with Black Pudding, Fried Egg, Peas and Mint. This was just the kind of food I was looking to peak my senses. My bowl consisted of a sunny side up fried egg sitting on Spanish Blood Sausage. The sausage tasted like a Spanish Chorizo only more intense and darker. The sausage was sitting on a bed of flash sauteed peas and mint. The yoke of the egg running over the sausage and peas was great. I loved my starter dish, and the wife's soup was good. Now on to the main course. My wife went with the Fish and Scallop Pie and I decided to do Crispy Roasted Pork Belly. The Fish and Scallop Pie was delicious, a bowl of fish and scallops swimming in a thick potato soup, topped off with a Leek crusted mash. My crispy pork belly was phenomenal, a pork belly seared crispy then roasted sitting on seared mash potato and braised cabbage and granny smith apples. I don't know what process gave that pork belly it's great flavor, but it was delicious. The meat of the pork belly was moist and when combined with the cabbage and apples it was perfect. Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, then they brought dessert to the table. I thought the pork belly would have stolen the whole show, but my wife's Sticky Toffee Pudding was heavenly. It had the consistency of bread pudding, so if your a fan I highly recommend it. I went with The Spotted Dick. To my surprise it wasn't what I was expecting. The Spot is referring to raisins and the Dick was bread pudding and it was sitting in a vanilla custard sauce. The Spotted Dick was delicious, but the Sticky Pudding was the best thing on our table that evening. We washed all this down with a few Hefeweizens.
The whole experience was great. The service I thought could have been more informative, as someone who has never experienced this type of food or restaurant I would have liked to be more informed on the menu items. At first it wasn't a big deal, but as tables were seated around us we could hear the waiters explaining the food and the concept to their patrons. I felt I had to ask for the information, but as I had never experienced anything like this the questions were difficult to come by. I didn't let take away from my dinner. I will be back and recommend anyone who reads this review should pay Feast a visit.
My cousin, Dr. Bhutani (can't believe he is indeed a full fledge dr., time flies) wrote and said that I would love this place. I read the articles in all the newspapers and the media attention this place was getting.
I trust his taste. I read about the 2 course - 12.95 and the 3 course - 15.95 meal options. This is for lunch of course, no idea what the dinner menu is.
We walked in on a friday and the menu read something like this:
Chicken/veg soup
Salad
Grouper and lentil salad
Welsh rarebit
Pork rillettes
*********
Crispy Roasted Pork Belly, Potato Cake and Red cabbage with apple
Cullen Skink and Nettles: Smoked Fish stew and Onions and Potatoes
Harira: Spiced lamb stew with dates
Whole Sand trout
Curried Lentil and Eggplant Tart with Spinach and Yogurt.
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I was pleasantly surprised. The Welsh Rarebit was amazing even though I am not a big fan of mustard. The Pork rillettes was rich, all the juices were squeezed out with a cheese cloth and it looked string but did not feel heavy (well not at the time I was eating)
I had the Pork Belly (what did you expect?), It was perfectly crispy on one side and the meat was tender. Ok! The portion was enough for 2 people. I actually left 20% of the dish on the table.
The mashed potatoes were crispy on one side and that is thanks to butterrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Man that was a lot of butter in one dish.
That was too much pork for one sitting and I knew I was having pork that night as well.
I think this place is going to do well but they will have to keep introducing some amazing dishes.
I liked everything, the food taste spoke for the lack of presentation.
Recommend: Y
Will I go back: Y, look forward to trying this again.
Romantic: maybe, depends upon your dates taste.
I hear that they have introduced a few dishes that attract the larger pool of eaters. I would have loved to see some more dishes using innards.
Thanks SB for the lunch.
A relative newcomer on the Houston fine cuisine scene when compared to some of the storied establishments, Feast has quickly cemented itself in the upper echelon of gourmet restaurants. I first visited with a friend from a local magazine not long after it opened, and I was immediately struck by the warm feel of a cottage in the English countryside. The echo of the wooden floors, the inviting hearth - all set the table for a memorable meal. We saw a 5-course chef's special on the chalkboard and thought that would give us a fuller experience. With some well-paired wine, we eagerly tucked into exotic dishes like chicken hearts on toast that were completely delectable. I say exotic, and it seems that way, but in reality these are salt-of-the-earth traditional British and European dishes, and the whole "snout-to-tail" culinary concept that Feast embraces may give prospective patrons pause. But please don't let that keep you away. I was recently able to convince one reluctant diner to sit down with a couple of friends during Houston's Restaurant Week, and I think she was the richer for it. Rich... we'll come back to that.
The Restaurant Week menu featured 3 courses for $35, but really, you could have chosen from the main menu for just about the same price. The menu itself is of the small, paper variety - temporary, reflecting the chef's fresh market purchases, and really contributes to the evening supper atmosphere. I didn't want to play it safe, and with a Scotsman at the table, I had to go with the black pudding to start. He ordered the same, and upon tasting, his first words were, "Oh, this is fancy black pudding." And that was befitting of the entire evening. The black pudding was exquisite, paired with a small fried egg on a bed of peas and mint. For the second course, most of our table opted for the crispy pork belly, a rich, tender cut of pork with a thick fatty layer and skin crispy to the point of "crackling" - a hard, brittle treat often snacked upon while a meal is cooking. Our fourth chose a hearty fish soup with vegetables cooked with almost a souffle on top - he was well pleased. For dessert, the sticky toffee pudding was fantastic, and a reason to visit Feast in and of itself, but I had to try the spotted dick - a bread pudding with raisins usually served with a custard, but this was sitting in a delicious vanilla cream, almost like melted homeade ice cream. In all honesty, there weren't enough spots on my dick, a shortcoming I'm willing to overlook in a thoroughly magnificent meal. So rich in fact, that we all decided to head back home, fully sated.
Feast also boasts a rather lengthy drink list, with imported beers, cocktails like Pimm's or Old Fashioned's, and white wines all on the front, with the back completely stocked with reds. And with the moderate prices on the menu - what's stopping you from heading to Feast?
My boyfriend and I spent our first night in Houston at Feast. He was looking forward to this for at least a month, and our experience definitely lived up to all of our expectations.
The space was beautiful. I felt like I was enjoying dinner at someone's house in the English countryside. Really.
We went with the tasting menu for $49 a person. I was expecting 3 or 4 courses, MAYBE 5, but we ended up getting 9! Definitely a steal for what we paid.
Bread- The bread was very tasty, but I had a feeling that we had a TON of food coming our way so I only had a little bit. I'm glad I did.
Drink- The Pimm's was perfectly refreshing. Gin + sprite + cucumber = amazing. Try this drink! We had two others after dinner but we were so stuffed that I don't remember what they were.
1- Beet and Cumin Soup with Yoghurt. Delicious, and not at all what I expected.
2- Stuffed Pigskin with Orange and Radish Salad. Ok, but the texture was kind of weird for me.
3- Brandade of Cod. This was like garlicky mashed potatoes with cod spread on a piece of toast. So good. One of my favorites.
4- Veal Heart with Carrot and Coriander Salad. My boyfriend loved this. I just liked it. I couldn't get over the "heart" part. I know, I'm crazy.
5- Crispy Roasted Pork Belly, Potato Cake and Red Cabbage. So, so, SO good. This was a full plate of food, definitely not what I would expect to get in a tasting. The pork belly was perfectly crispy and the potato cake and cabbage complimented it perfectly.
6- Roasted whole Rosebud with Kale and Mashed Potato. I wish I could have seen our faces when this course was brought out. I was glad that there weren't any other tables seated around us for this one, because I bet watching me take this little guy apart was pretty funny. (I added a picture of this one)
7- Beef Tongue and Lentils. Another big serving. Also very good, but by this course I was so incredibly full that I couldn't eat as much as I would have liked.
-8 Lemon Sorbet. Perfect dessert after all of the other heavy courses. It reminded me of Italian ice on a hot summer day.
-9 Cake and Clotted Cream. I forgot what kind of cake this was. I actually don't remember much about this dessert other than I don't really like clotted cream. I was hoping we'd get a Sticky Toffee Pudding or Spotted Dick instead. Oh well.
We were at Feast for a good 3 hours, and during that time there were only 5 other tables in the whole restaurant. Why, Houston? You all better get your butts to Feast before you lose a good thing.
Feast- If it doesn't work out in Houston, come to Chicago. I'm sure our dining scene will embrace you with open arms. That is, if you can deal with our crazy winters.
After eating the prix fixe lunch at Feast, I felt much like my old cocker spaniel must have felt after my dad asked his bachelor friend to watch her for a week. Instead of feeding her every day, he just poured a bag of food out on the garage floor, figured it would last her for a week, and she literally ate the whole thing in one sitting. Yep, I felt about that full.
I had the fish & scallop pie and the pork rillettes for my two courses, and my friend had the crispy pork belly and the Welsh rarebit. The rillettes & rarebit both involve spreading things on bread: rillettes is pulled pork that is almost the consistency of pate, the rarebit topping is a combo of cheese & worstershire sauce. Both were good, but the rarebit won the battle. For the main course, the fish & scallop pie trumped the pork belly. According to my friend, the pork belly was better the week before because it was thicker & less dry. The pie is a shepherd's pie, and it was both excellent and ridiculously filling.
Other notable points: nice old house = comfortable surroundings; bread is out of this world...eat every bit of it; forced valet ain't cool at lunch. There was also a baby opossum running around outside while I was waiting for my car - adorable factor = five stars.
Feast is incredibly creative, and there's nothing like it in town. While the heaviness of the food doesn't particularly appeal to me, I do hope it becomes a Houston institution.
Got the chance to go to Feast tonite with a new British friend, Tony... fantastic place! I had read various reviews talkin about the wonderful decor... can't say I agree with them about how awesome the interior was - but I can agree the food and service were marvelous.
We had the Black Pudding, w/ Fried Eggs & Peas for an appetizer with the rabbit too -- dlish... never thought blood would taste so good - tastes like sausage!
My entree was the Crispy Roasted Pork Belly - and a side of Bubble & Squeak and Baba Ghanoush [side note, Tony says back home you only eat Bubbles & Squeak on Mondays...] -- very tasty with the perfect crispy texture... never imagined British food to be so good. Dessert we had the Pimm's and Cucumber Sorbet... umm that receives my lowest rating of about a 3 - flavor was just not to my liking.
Can't say I'd go back again and again, but for an every now and then treat, this is the place to go - especially if you have some British friends missing food from back home!
We went to Feast on a Saturday night with another 8 Brits and Australians. All of us were totally disappointed.
The food was mediocre to say the least. My Sea Bass consist of half a head of boiled broccoli, huge lump of mashed potato, and a piece of over cooked sea bass filet, which must have been frozen judging by the flavor and texture, to top it off, it was covered in a brownish gravy kind of sauce. It was totally over priced at $28.
I asked my fellow Brits and Australians who all had their fair share of experiences globally in terms of fine dining, sadly, no one praised for the food.
Don't think any of us are going to give it another try.
I can't believe this can be a Top 10 or Top 5 Houston restaurant or James Beard recognized. It's good enough, but not spectacular.
I dined with two others and each of our different dishes were "swimming" in a huge amount of gravy or soup - is that British? My lamb shank seemed rather plain and a bit dried out, the lemon and anchovies in the kale didn't particularly enliven the surrounding broth. One of my dinner companions remarked that the brisket looked like corned beef, and I don't think that was a compliment. The scallop starter wasn't impressive either: three small scallops on the shell covered with cheese. Well, the scallops were smothered and turned out poached and watery.
I don't see this as what many would term a "fine dining" experience. While it is typical for American servers to ask whether a diner is finished with their meal and their plates can be removed, that is not behaviour I expected from a British or European restaurant. Europeans and certainly Brits will place their cutlery in the middle of their plates to indicate that they are done with the meal. When it was time for dessert, two of our spoons were placed on the left had side of the diners, which is not the hand one would use for that serving.
I'm puzzled. I think the meal was acceptable - no disasters either on the plate or with service; nothing objectionable. Perhaps my expectations were too high after reading various reviews, but I just wasn't impressed by the experience. I wouldn't have been disappointed if I thought I was going to the local pub... but then I would expect lower prices.
The Prix Fixe lunch is a great deal. 2 courses for $12.95 or 3 courses for $15.95. The full menu of Feast favorites and other dishes are also available to order. We thought this was a great way to try this place out without committing to a pricey dinner.
Right when you walk in, you're hit with an delicious aroma. The place is tastefully decorated -- lots of dark wood. It feels rustic, classy, cozy and comfortable at the same time.
Highlights of the meal for me were the Blood Sausage, Fried Egg, Peas and Mint dish and the Pork Cheek and Dandelion Salad dish.
Pass on the Wild Hog's Head Terrine, it was pretty bland and favorless. I wish I had gotten the Chicken Liver Pate instead. The Hake cooked in paper was very fresh and tender (actually all the ingredients were). The polenta that came with it was delicious.
The husband got the pork belly which was pretty good and wasn't as fatty as we were expecting.
It's a nice dining experience, pretty quiet and casual for a Saturday morning. The pace was leisurely -- maybe a bit slow, but every dish came out piping hot and fresh which I think is worth the tradeoff. The waitstaff was very friendly and fairly attentive.
Will definitely be back! There are so many other dishes I want to try. The portions are pretty generous so order wisely!
Who would have ever thought that British food could be the basis for high art in kitchen? Really appreciate the attention to quality, fresh local ingredients and a distinctive menu. For appetizers, we had the French fish soup and the scallops with cheese, both great. We are big fans of Chinese roast pork so my wife had the Feast's roast pork belly. Excellent crispy crust and delicious. I had the pork confit pastry, and we shared an order of bubble and squeak. Again, delicious. Why did I never try bubble and squeak before? Maybe the name scared me off, but the idea of being more creative with mashed potatoes and vegetables is so natural and delicious that it is amazing the dish has not become more popular in this country. Portions are generous, you won't go away hungry.
Why four stars and not five? The waitress was cheerful and generally provided good service, but she had some significant gaps in her knowledge of the menu. Specifically, Feast offers a tasting menu, but our answer to what was on it was "There are nine dishes. Three or four are appetizers, no wait, I am not really sure..." I mean seriously folks, a tasting menu is the chef's highest art, total control of the meal from beginning to end. If a restaurant is going to offer a tasting menu, they should at least be able to describe what is involved! Also I don't figure on dropping $100 on dinner for two in a place where the staff wear blue jeans. The chairs are rustic but not particularly comfortable, and the lighting needs work.
Having said all of that, I am still very enthusiastic about Feast. Excellent food, good ambiance and a good value.
I'm almost certain that the glowing praise for Feast was written by restaurant staff and their families. Even the fabled Houston "foodie" couldn't be that confused. I tried three dishes, and the highest praise I could lavish on the food is that one dish proved edible (pork rillettes). I also tried the ox heart with carrots. It was like an amalgam of wet cigarettes, crotch sweat, and burnt pencil erasers. It was a musky cut of meat even the Vietnamese would be reluctant to put in a soup. For an entrée, I tried the pork belly, which is usually a favorite dish of mine. However, instead of the delightful searing that is sometimes present on pork belly, there was something more akin to armor on one side providing the crispness. Another misstep is that pork belly is not suited to be an entrée, at least in the hands of the cook at Feast. It is necessarily fatty, but the pork belly here was far too oily. I tried very hard to like the food, but I could tolerate no more than five bites or so, and I regret taking those. Although the service was polite, I thought it was not proper to charge me full price when so much of the food was uneaten and obviously unenjoyed.
Great three course prix fixe lunch with excellent service in a cozy room. Started with the chicken and vegetable soup which was in a rich yet bright stock with perfectly cooked carrot, fresh parsley and I think leeks? And the crusty bread and butter on the side may have been the best bread I have had in a while.
Chicken and beef tongue pot pie was also in a very rich beef stock. At a place like this I had to try a meat I wouldn't normally get elsewhere so the tongue was very good and really flavorful in the pot pie. The topping tasted like a wheat bread and really complemented the filling with had nice peppery finish to it.
Last I really wanted the bread pudding which sounded awesome but after heavier first two course I went for lighter lemon sorbet and was not disappointed ( I will be back for the bread pudding!). I have a thing for lemon desserts and this really hit the spot and cut through some of the earlier richness nicely.
I will be back, hopefully soon.
A vegetarian at Feast !?
I took my meat eating boyfriend here for his birthday and definitely plan on going back!
to sum it up:
-I can really respect what they do at Feast, not much goes to waste!
-Don't go expecting a menu comparable to anywhere else in Houston (check their web site for the dishes served that day or give em a call)
-If the kiddies are picky wait till you can get a sitter ;)
The menu errors on the side of carnivore but unless you just walk into the place without having read or heard anything about it you knew that ;)
I had a great lentil and root dish. I don't think I could find the dish anywhere else, maybe a special at Field of Greens but that would still be a long shot.
The place isn't too dressy but I'd prob. not wear my ripped jeans or baggy tshirt
Calfs liver, veal hearts, beef tongue, and rendered bacon. Thats just a taste of what Feast is about. Taken from our language sharing sisters Feast takes on a form of Rustic English Cookery or Snot to Tail cooking, made famous by England's St. John Restaurant. Which it reminds me of. Amazing food for the adventurous or a person wanting some tasty meat or seafood. The service is good and the wine list offers interesting pairings. One of the more unique restaurants in Houston. I look forward to trying the chefs tasting menu.
The first thing I messed up here was I didn't come dressed up in my 16th century gown (um hanging in my closet?) with a couple of surly pirate men. OK I'm making it sound like the Renaissance festival and its not...(they're missing the swords) but it IS definitely a place that warps you into another era. Seriously. The atmosphere is very simple- dark hardwoods and simple white walls with old British art and beautiful stained glass windows. Oh and lovely classical music. I went here for lunch yesterday with my mother and a friend and let's just say it was an event!
First of all we were the only ones in the entire restaurant. That was cool. The lovely hostess/waitress seated us in the main room and offered us some tea that come in a cool bottle that looked like they found in an old antique shop in London. I mean this place was interesting! Open your mind and senses!!
The menu is amazing- amazingly hard to decide what to order. If you want a plain dish or a burger do not come near here! My mother ordered the Pork and Red Cabbage Salad with Capers and Parsley and I had the Lamb Stuffed Zucchini. Both were delicious!
For the main course my mother had the Roast Pork Belly, Potato Cake and Red Cabbage with Apples. She loved the pork belly but didn't really like the apples. She said the pork belly tasted like a huge chicherron. Yum. I honestly prefer the pork belly from Catalan, but they are ENTIRELY different tastes. The amount of pork they serve in this place is unreal. I like it.
I had the Braised Oxtails with Cheese and Leek Mashed Potatoes and Carrot...definitely the BEST plate we ordered...ORDER THIS DISH! It's tender, juicy and the mashed potatoes were perfect.
My friend had the Chorizo Sausage dish. He really enjoyed it. it looked like paella minus the seafood, plus plus plus a lot of sausage. (again, oink! oink!)
For dessert we all tried the Honeyed Peaches with Almonds and the Blackberry Fool with Shortbread. Both good.
Overall the experience was really really fun and delicious. It's a great place for small groups. I wish I would have gone at night when I could drink some wine with all of the different tastes.
I'll definitely be back when it gets cold outside- I don't know why, but the place feels like you should dine there in the winter. The only thing I wish they had on the menu were those huge turkey legs from the Ren Festival..there I go again!
I have felt for a long time that Houston is trying steal Chicago's place as a top 5 restaurant city in the United States. The one impediment to world class culinary excitement (unless you are willing to dine in one of Houston's ethnic neighborhoods) is the lack of creative "edgy" chefs that put their reputation on the line and step up to the challenge of offal meats.
Enter Feast, and accept that Houston has become a culinary destination. From chicken hearts on toast, trotters and lambneck the chefs at feast give butchers left overs the haute food treatment. I for one think it takes more art and creativity as well as produces more enjoyment preparing foods like these than adding a distinctive sauce to filet mignon or wrapping lobster in a tortilla. I would love to say more about Feast, but I feel the flourishes should be left to the kitchen. Get there as soon as you can, life is too short to not experience food like this!
This place serves some funky food, but everything I've ever had has been delicious! It can be an adventurous evening, but it's so fun. The restaurant is cozy, the food is well priced for what you are getting, and the crowd has always been a fun mix of people when I've seen it. Yum!
I just got back from this restaurant for lunch and was blown away at the quality and preparation of the food. The menu of British - European food is a nice break from the ordinary lunch burger. The 3 course lunch menu for 15 dollars is well priced for the quantity of food you consume complemented with the good service.
Where do I begin, I guess with the first course that my mother and I ordered. First course, French Fish Soup with Rouille and Croutons and
Chicken and Vegetable Soup. The soup came not in a small cup that can be sipped in 3 spoons but in a heaping bowl. I must say the Fish soup was something I had never had but was excellent. The only thing I could compare it to is a gumbo in taste without the chunks of produce. My soup the chicken and veggies came in a mild stock and had a bold taste of lemon and mint in the soup which paired nicely.
Second course, Crispy Roasted Pork Belly, Potato Cake and Red Cabbage with Apples and Whole Roast Whiting with Stuffed Bell Peppers. The pork belly was fatty but I believe that is how it is supposed to come prepared. The meat was so tender and the potato cake were light and airy. The whiting fish came roasted to perfection with the head on in all its glory and the fish meat fell right off the bones. I love roasted red and green peppers and with the rice stuffing it made for a great side.
Third course, Lemon Sorbet and Bread and Butter Pudding. The Lemon sorbet was light and perfect after a big lunch. However, my mom said the bread pudding was the best she had ever had, and I can't debate her on this comment because it was out of this world. The pudding came hot right out of the oven and had just the right amount of cream and orange marmalade on top of the cloud tasting bread.
I must go back to this restaurant. The parking is pretty much valet only even though it was not crowded for a Monday lunch. The inside is humble and inviting with a lot of wood and oak and some soft european paintings. The wine list looked well above average for dinner. One of the best meal's I have had in a while and a great concept restaurant for Houston.
The concept is outstanding. I was ready to try some thing new when embarking on the menu at Feast. All the guests were intrigued by the fares listed but the food itself was mediocre. I thought it was bland, but then again I had the baked grouper so not much you could do with that. Others had the Beef and Shitake Pie and Crispy Roasted Pork Belly. For dessert we ordered the Molten Chocolate Cake, which was not sweet like a chocolate cake should be. I don't know if I would venture back here but I like the uniqueness of the venue.
Feast has received quite a bit of fanfare from people whose taste in food i greatly respect. While Incanto, in my neck of the woods (SF Bay Area) represents the Italian side of the 'nose to tail' movement, Feast stands as the lone outpost in the country for the British take on the movement. Allison Cook of the Houston Chronicle called Feast "...the most interesting food in Houston, in Texas, maybe even in America." As i began putting together a list of where i was going to eat on my homecoming trip to Houston, Feast was a lock as the top spot on my list. If i returned home without eating there, the trip would have been a failure.
Naturally, expectations were very high. We secured a reservation for monday night and the drive there from NASA (where i was conduction business, the point of the trip) had me arriving 15 minutes late. The parking sucks. Just be aware.
I walked in and the place just felt British. Dark woods covered the interior of the place. Dim lighting, slightly uncomfortable chairs, and hardwood floors that had not been apologetically covered with rugs to mute the noise and provide a softer feel to the place certainly stood out, but in a way felt just right. Just like how the wine we ordered arrived with tumblers instead of traditional wine glasses.
We started with the tarragon marinated machego, which showed up with a piece of bread on the plate. The cheese itself was pretty standard manchego cheese, which is certainly one of my favorites, but the bread that came with it was great. It was soaked in olive oil and had a distinctly cheesy, manchego-y flavor to it. I found myself wondering how it was that the bread, the highlight of the dish for me, didn't even get mention on the menu.
Next up we had the pork and red cabbage salad with capers and parsley. The pork chowed up in sausage form and tasted great, perhaps some of the best, most intense sausage i've ever had. Some people equate flavor in sausage with heat, but this was certainly not the case here, it wasn't really spicy at all, just intensely flavored. However, as a whole, i didn't think the dish worked. I would have preferred to just have the sausage by itself instead of trying to dress it up as a salad. The cabbage really didn't do much for me on the dish.
Our first venture into the entres was the braised lamb shank with roasted potatoes and kale. I love braised meats. In fact, one of my favorite things to do on sundays in the winter is braise meat for dinner. While the lamb shank was fall apart tender, the sauce did a lot to mask that distinct lamb flavor that i love so much. This would have been okay if the sauce was really good, but i thought it was just decent. The potatoes were tasty, but unspectacular, and once again the kale didn't do a whole lot for me.
Our last entre was the pork cheeks, duchess potatoes, and red cabbage with apples. This dish was easily the best of the night. The pork cheeks were crispy on the outside, with a soft, gooey, intensely flavored interior. They were so good, but so rich that my small portion was about all i could eat. The potatoes were different from the ones in the other dish and had a perfectly crispy exterior. The sauce, along with the apples just brought everything together. It was truly a great dish.
For dessert we asked our waitress for a recommendation between the apple crumble with custard and the honeyed peaches with clotted cream and almonds. I was pulling for the peaches myself, but when she gave such an enthusiastic endorsement of the apple crumble, we decided on that. It was okay, but really pretty plain and uninteresting. Kind of like apple sauce with a crumble style top. It was good, but nothing special.
I left Feast feeling just a bit disappointed. I understood what they were going for and have immense respect for traveling in uncharted territory (especially for Houston), but it felt like in delivering one great dish out of five, that they didn't quite live up to my expectations.
Perhaps i caught them on a bad night, perhaps we should have been more adventurous with our ordering. The oxtails, livers, spleens, kidneys, hearts and testicles i was expecting to populate the menu were few and far between. I counted a total of 3 dishes on the menu the night we went that contained 'offal cuts'. Hopefully Feast isn't beginning to pull punches. My next trip to Houston will hopefully involve another trip to Feast. Maybe my adventurous Dad and I should break from my more conservative and squeamish mother and girlfriend.
Don't get me wrong, i really enjoyed Feast, and i really like what they're doing. They just fell slightly short of my sky high expectations. I'll certainly be back though.
Very well executed and flavorful English food with French influence. I really enjoyed the Cock-a-Leekie and the Crispy Pork Belly. The snails were decent, and the treacle Ice cream was fantastic. I recommend the basic dishes, however tread with caution into unknown areas such as back fat and pork cheeks.
Ok, so I'm cheating a bit by writing a review for a restaurant where I've never eaten, but I've eaten chef Richard Knight's food for years - even before he started Feast, and before his restaurant before this. He is the only person I would trust to feed me bone marrow, eel with alcohol-soaked prunes, duck salad served in orchids, and any number of other strange-sounding but delicious dishes. This man is pure genius: stuff you never thought you'd let near your mouth becomes the thing you're passing your date a forkful of and saying, "you HAVE to try this!"
It's important to note that Richard has a trained butcher helping him pursue his adventures in the kitchen. I'm not talking about the sort of guy who throws beef into a grinder at your local grocery store - I mean a *real* butcher. This is a dying art! How else can you have "pig's head salad," other than by buying a whole pig's head and knowing how to take the thing apart? Pig ears are not just for dogs, people. Those things are seriously tasty... as are the brains, cheeks, tongue, and whatever else they threw in.
Which is not to say that Richard doesn't make fabulous 'normal' food also... his shortribs will practically make your eyes pop out of their sockets in gastronomical delight (careful, or he might sautee them and serve them in his next dish), his rabbit is good enough to make me not give a damn about eating a cute animal, he somehow makes a simple piece of chicken look gourmet, his mashed potatoes are so marvelous on your tongue that you will hardly want to swallow them, his creme brulee is the only one I've ever had that was worth the calories, and I requested his bread pudding in lieu of cake for my 28th birthday party.
If I still lived in Houston, you could probably find me in Feast at least once a week. They have an ever-changing menu, and with Richard's imagination and fearlessness, it will always be a meal worth talking about.
Oh Feast, you made me very, very full. The kind of full that makes me want to run twenty miles before I come back next time...
My husband and I came here on a Sunday night, and while we had called ahead, we probably did not need to. There were about four other tables occupied when we arrived. The decor/ambience was as described in other reviews... dark wood, low lit, classical music playing in the background, and it all lends to a comfortable, cozy environment.
For starters we had the garlic snails on toast and the ox heart with carrot and coriander salad. I really enjoyed the snails, but I always love anything drenched in garlic sauce. The ox heart, well, let me just say, not for me, but mu husband enjoyed it. It was a little gamey for my tastes. For our entrees we had the pork belly and the borscht. The borscht was very rich, and good. The pork belly was my favorite with a mix of crispy outside with a soft fatty inside. My husband said it was kind of like biting into burnt bacon, but I like my bacon on the crispy side. For desert we had the apple crumble... excellent, it was sizzling, fresh out of the oven. Also, the wine and beer selections were very good.
I would say that the food was 4.5 stars, but the service and atmosphere were easily five... Just make sure you come ready to eat.
Disclaimer: I came here sick and only ordered the fish soup.
My group, however, had the pork belly salad, the ox tail, and a beef dish whose name escapes me at the moment.
The fish soup was tasty, but nothing to write home about. The rest of the group said they liked their dishes as well, but no one was completely blown away by a particular dish. Service was slow for a Sunday night.
I probably would not return.
If I could give this restaurant 6 stars, I would, seriously. I've been pitching this restaurant to my bf for the longest time, and finally he said yes. So we went, and were blown away. For starters, I recommend a reservation: this place can get packed, and the 1st time, we had to wait for several hours so we decided to better plan. Second time's the charm, I guess. Once you enter, be prepared for dark, heavy wood/stone furnishings. That aside, the atmosphere can be quite cozy. Service can be a bit frenetic, though. But on to the gastronomic part: we were first recommended a light-ish wine that was on the pricy side, but holy cow was it worth it: it's called Priorat, and the vines are old, supposedly tended by monks in the past. It goes down a bit too easy, I think. But I wouldn't hesitate to have it again! Next, looking at the menu, I felt a bit lost with all the terms but our server was happy to answer all our questions. We finally settled on rarebit--an ale-soaked cheesy toast, and tongue in the hole for starters, and cock-a-leekie for my bf's entree and crispy pork cheek with red cabbage, mashed potato and apples for mine.
The rarebit was average: we were warned you'd love it or hate it, but I thought it was just ok. The tongue in the hole, on the other hand, for all of its risque name, was amazing: beef tongue cut up and placed in a moist souffle/quiche concoction. It was melt-in-your-mouth good, with sauce on the side to make it even saucier and more flavorful.
Our entrees were pretty good, too. Bf's cock-a-leekie is basically cut-up chicken in a slightly creamy sauce with small skin-on potatoes, plums and grilled leeks and onions. It was pretty good. Mine was the crispy pork cheek with mashed potatoes, red cabbage, and apples. This dish was almost too rich for me. It was a hunk of crispy, tender pork, with vinegared cabbage and mashed potato and almost stewed green apple. The vegetables were my saving grace, as they off-set the intense richness of the pork. The mashed potato was moist and flavorful--this coming from someone who doesn't like potato! I ended up taking some home.
For dessert, we had a ginger and pear custard and that was good.
There are more on the menu I'm raring to try next time. Hopefully we'll be coming back here again.
I was extremely excited to find out that the revolutionary "Nose to tail" philosophy had reached the US and in my home town to boot. It also tickled me that I lived less than a mile from this culinary establishment of such a revolutionary powerhouse idea.
Upon hearing about it, I felt compelled to try it straight away. I arrived for lunch a bit uncertain as to what I was to do concerning parking. Upon entering, I was awed at the environment that had just instantly surrounded me and made my my jaw drop so suddenly, I had no time to concern myself with anything else. Dark woods, beautiful pictures upon the walls that reminded me of my British heritage, and a smiling hostess and chef welcoming me in. I felt at once at home. I communicated to the hostess that I was to be having lunch on my own today and she pointed me to a cozy four-top next to the fire place.
I obliged and then considered the three menus in front of me. First was the wine and beer list which I needed some help in deciding upon. I asked the hostess who was also my waitress, which beer offered was very stout as I have quite the fancy for such beers. She recommended to me the Leffe blonde and I trusted her judgement wholeheartedly. Next I set off to consider what appetizers and courses would grace me this first lunch at "Feast." I decided upon the Chicken hearts on Toast and the Bacon wrapped sweetbreads. Moments after placing my order the chef and my waitress came out of the kitchen apologizing that there were no sweetbreads in the house and that there was an error on today's menu. I took this information in stride and chose something else. I wasn't bothered in the least as there were so many things I wanted to try. I chose the cassoulet with duck confit which I expected great things from as the only other time I had experienced duck confit was when I had made it myself and it turned out to be the single most delicious thing I had ever tasted.
My beer came and I was very pleased with the ever present taste of hops and it's ability to refresh. Next came my chicken hearts on toast and I was instantly engulfed in the smell sweet smell of parsley and the gravy that had been reduced from the leftover heart juices in the pan. I first tasted the gravy by itself and my pallet was struck with such a powerful blow that it took everything I had to remain composed. I shut my eyes and was taken to the british country side where grandmothers were feeding their grandchildren such rich and love-filled dishes. I dug into the hearts and they had just the right combination of chewiness, tenderness, a bit of mild taste of organ which was complimented nicely with the bit of parsley chiffanod on top. Everything was laying atop of a slice of toasted white bread and covered in the heavenly gravy sauce. Upon finishing this dish I sent my compliments to the kitchen for the epiphany I had just received. The rest of my stay at "Feast", I had a big toothy smile that I could not get rid of if I tried.
Next came the Cassoulet with the Duck Confit. The chef brought this dish out himself and I was again awestruck and it was more than I could do to just sit there and watch the edges of the corning dish sizzle. I loved this dish. I can't explain the amount of joy I received from consuming the contents of this wonderful stewy casserole. It topped with browned bread crumbs and thyme and I sunk my spoon into it and was exposed to the all the goodness of life. A leg of duck, bone in, was exposed and married with beautiful white beans and it a flavor I cannot describe as it was more than I could expect. The flavor of the beans were so perfect and the ducked cooked perfectly and so tender. The bread crumbs were a nice compliment and as was the herby addition of the thyme. This dish was quite huge and I could not finish it as much as I wanted to. I took it home to feast upon it once fullness had left and the need for life's greatest satisfaction needed to be returned to me. After this dish I could have died and been happy with all that life had given to me because this dish inspired me in ways I knew not possible. This dish makes me love life.
Lastly, by now I had decided although there was no room for such a thing in my belly, that had to have dessert. I asked my lovely waitress what she recommended and she proposed that either the bread and butter pudding or the chocolate cake would put me on the moon. I ordered the bread and butter pudding as I grew up with such things and was so curious to see what spin the cooks at "Feast" would put on it. When it came out it was bubbling creamy goodness around the edges of a very hot plate and I could see orange and berry jam melting down the sides of a buttery bread browned on top in a broiler. This dish was too much for me and I could not help closing my eyes as I had the climax of my foodgasm. "Feast" was an utter joy and I will be dining there tonight for dinner. I can't get enough!
My Husband and I went to feast with another couple on Valentines Day. WE LOVED IT! Everyone at our table enjoyed there meal. The service was awesome even on Valentines Day. They weren't to pushy and in your face (which is something we don't require to have a good time). We all ordered different things and were blown away by our meals. Feast was great! Go there sucka.
We met a friend here for dinner and had a fantastic time. Loved the many unique options -- in one evening I had (or tried) blood pudding, pate, beef neck, ox heart, and backfat. I had a Pimm's, which was delicious and very refreshing, as well as a glass of Tempranillo that went well with the beef neck. The sticky toffee pudding was criminally good, and everyone else seemed to enjoy their entrees and desserts equally as much. I love the ambiance -- older, creaky house, dark wood floors and chairs -- it walks a great line between being nice but also laid-back. I love that Feast is carving out its own niche, and I think it's a great addition to the Houston restaurant scene. If you haven't been, you should go.
Neighborhood: West University
Category: French
Neighborhood: Fourth Ward
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Neighborhood: West University
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Neighborhood: Fourth Ward
Category: British
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