Baby Houston's (R&D Cafe) could be called PC Bistro
You don't even have to cross Preston to walk from Houston's to its new sibling, R&D Cafe. Just stroll across the parking lot to the new restaurant, which has been open a month. You could call it the Houston's overflow restaurant, but already it's got a wait of its own. The Hillstone Restaurant Group mothership in Los Angeles has actually patterned it off the Newport Beach R&D Cafe. When we dropped by recently, it was wall-to-wall Parkies.
No appetizers are offered - only salads, burgers, entrees and desserts. A Mediterranean salad with ahi tuna meant plenty of protein, with a deviled egg, plus lots of chunky vegetables, including green beans, avocado and unusually flavorful off-season tomatoes, in a barely-there dressing. And here, pots de creme means a coffee-cup-size portion of something more resembling gooey chocolate pudding.
But the must-have dish is shoestring potatoes: crisp, hot and addictive.
The new restaurant, ironically, has tables and chairs outside only, where a nice water feature separates diners from the parking lot. Inside, all seating is booths, counter service all the way around the long bar, or tall bar-type tables and stools.
I think a better name would Park Cities Bistro. Or Houston's Annex. Your thoughts?
Comments
BTW, the table seating outside is (short) bar stools, just like the bar tables inside. Why they had them set for lunch -- at 54 degrees today -- was beyond me.
'Cafe R&D' works just fine for us when it comes to Parkies... it's an acronym that stands for resist and destroy.
Posted by: Bill Kennedy | December 24, 2007 3:42 PM
I have eaten there at least 4 times now. I absolutely love it. They don't need appetizers, it is a cafe style restaurant. The portions are good and the service is better than any other restaurant I have seen. Everything is made fresh and is very healthy. I had a Tartare that was phenomenal!
Posted by: Matt | December 28, 2007 1:58 PM
Cafe R+D is for resist and destroy as in – resist the urge to re-visit and destroy any faith in the quality of what could have been a solid new spot. The food isn't worth the high dollar charge and the service was just dreadful. If you are going to pay top dollar for a salad or sandwich, then get the order right and make sure all the food ordered is served. Our server was clueless and never even thanked us. We are OK with lack of thanks because thankfully - we have a lot of better choices in the area.
Posted by: S-parkie | January 11, 2008 4:18 PM
I love cafe R and D! Beautiful interior design, service with a smile, and the eats are good as well. Welcome to Park Cities!
Posted by: Zachary | January 22, 2008 1:03 AM