There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love wine and those who love food. Luckily for Houston diners, chef Greg Martin, owner of Bistro Menil, is both. His love for regional European food and wine comes through in the excitement of his voice when he talks about his restaurant and in the thoughtfully curated dishes at Bistro Menil.
Located steps away from the famed Menil Collection, the European-inspired bistro is casual and friendly. Martin, a veteran of the Houston food scene for over 25 years, dishes up a seasonal menu that pairs nicely with carefully selected wines.
“What I am excited about this fall are the new 2019 rosés coming out of France,” said the chef. “We have five of them on the menu, and they are perfect for fall in Houston because it is still so warm here.”
Guests can enjoy goat cheese fondue, grilled octopus in a light, delicate sauce, as well as classics like crisp duck confit and 12-hour braised beef short rib. Diners with gluten or soy allergies need not worry, Bistro Menil has taken special care to eliminate almost all gluten and soy from their menus.
“We are one of the only restaurants in town that have gluten-free gourmet food. If people are allowed to have something that is gluten-free and tastes good – they will take the opportunity every time,” said Martin.
Martin has also debuted a new online ordering system that makes it easy for guests to order and pay online for curbside pickup. “People still want to go out to eat without actually having to go out, and we try to make that as easy as possible for our guests,” said Martin. “Our to-go menus are value-driven with delicious food, and of course, there is always a great bottle of wine to go with them.”
Chef Greg Martin’s Picks for Fall Rosé
Les Vignobles Gueissard, Bondol Rosé (2019)
Château La Mascaronne, Côtes de provence Rosé (2019)
Domaine Fankck Millet, Sancerre Rosé (2019)
Domaine Rouge-Bleu, Dentelle Rosé (2019)
Otella, RosésRosés Rosato Alto Mincio (2019)
