Kris Bistro & Wine Lounge

Was told about this by a friend and their cheese plate, absolutely breathtaking in its deliciousness. After arriving and meeting the lovely staff and owner I foresee a new standard for all my dishes. The days I spend not eating this will be more sour with the memory or the amazing food and and wine! I will recommend this to anyone who will listen.

I was APPALLED by the service at Kris Bistro.
Their phone line was down, and their credit card machine wasn’t working. I understand; things happen. BUT, the manager’s response was to ask us to drive around to find an ATM. When you’re paying $ 150 for your meal, that’s unacceptable. On top of that, their menu explicitly states that they don’t take cash, and wandering around that neighborhood late at night may not be a great idea (you have to go through a security door to get to the restaurant). I understand things like that happen, but the manager’s response was not appropriate.
Before that interesting event, we thought the food was good but perhaps a bit too expensive for what you get. The chicken dish that I ordered was flavorful but maybe not worth $ 28. The same for the sirloin – while nice, it wasn’t out of this world and wasn’t worth the $$$. And, the first two items I tried to order either weren’t available any more or were only being offered as a variation from what was on the menu.

Kris bistro never disappoints. The neighborhood is super sketchy, but with a full time parking lot guard that’s not a concern. This was my 4^th time to dine here and the food/​service is always impeccable. I had the stuffed figs to start. The presentation was great and a bit of a spicy zest really completed the taste. For my main course I had the duck. It was stewed for 19 hours and simply melted off of the bone. It was served as a do it yourself pot pie: the flaky crust, creamy soup, mushrooms, and potatoes went really well together. I had the suggested pino wine pairing and it completed the meal. For dessert I had a free Unilocal coupon and got the chocolate mousse and lime sorbet. The presentation was again great, the mousse was a bit rich fit my taste but the sorbet was spot on.
We capped off our evening with a kitchen tour with a really personable outstanding staff. Thanks Kris bistro for making my mom’s birthday a success!

Ate here 2-​11-​2016 and was very disappointed. As soon as you walked into the front doors of the school there was a very bad smell. Yes, I said school as you walk through the hallways to get to Kris Bistro the smell continued. We sat down ordered our food the app course was favor less then main course was ok not good but ok. Then to top it off they could not even get desert right. I was so disappointed the bill was $ 130 for food that had no flavor poor presentation. I just expecting something a little better. I will say that the servers were very friendly and service was good.

I just had the charcuterie a la maison and it was delicious I couldn’t finish it off and I also got the fries and the curry ketchup is amazing and the fries are so crisp and I’m about to try the dessert the LeNotre hope it’s good!

Everyone is super friendly and accommodating. Cool dining experience for foodies, exotic choices are delivered by the chefs. Went for a friends birthday and not only did they give us the chefs table without having enough people in our party, but they also gave the birthday guest a tour of the kitchens… They really wanted to make sure it was special, even though we had some guests show up an hour late for the reservation they didn’t mind and were very understanding. The oysters Martinique and Sea Bass is outstanding!

I really liked it. The staff tries extra hard to please the customers and all the food was presented in a very nice fancy way. I ordered a duck French dish that I never tried before (so I was a little nervous), and it was delicious, from the appetizer to the desserts everything was very good.
Romantic quiet scene.

The food is quite good, but the price is high and the location is less than ideal. Compared to other restaurants in the same price range this one falls short.
The first time I came here I had a student waiter who was trying very hard to be perfect which made up for some of the missteps by the kitchen. This last time it was a «professional» waiter who didn’t really care which just made the missteps all the more pronounced.
Gritty scallops and uninspired desserts solidified the 3 star rating. I would raise the rating to 4 stars if this place was cheaper, but at the current price level it doesn’t compare to its competitors.

I hate to give a negative review to this place, considering all the positive ones, and maybe we just caught them on a bad night, but we had far more negatives than positives when dining there last night.
The positives: (1) service is very good; (2) plating/​presentation is outstanding; (3) the desserts are beautiful and delicious; (4) self-​parking in a private (although unguarded lot in a bad neighborhood); and (5) the fact that the restaurant allows you to bring your own wine and only charges $ 10/​bottle corkage is great!
The negatives: (1) location is about as bad as you could get; (2) food was consistently over-​salted; (3) a salad was described as having a «sous vide» egg – when served, the egg was hard-​boiled. Our expectation was for a soft-​boiled egg, and thought a simple description would have been more accurate; (4) the fried oyster appetizer had minuscule oysters and was fairly tasteless; (5) the octopus appetizer was overcooked to the point of being very tough, and had no flavor (although presentation was beautiful).
Chef Kris Jacob has announced his departure soon (12/​12/​15?) from this location to open his own restaurant in the Friendswood area. We wish both the lounge and Chef Kris the very best, and, based on all the positive reviews, wonder if we didn’t just catch them on an off-​night?

This place is amazing! Very… Pretty flavored food with an impeccable service! From the dining sallon you have a full vision to the kitchen which is actually a culinary school.
I reccomend 100 times!

We picked this location for my brother’s birthday because of the awesome charcuterie app. Before I talk about that, let me just say a few things about Kris Bistro.
It is gorgeous inside. The setting is kinda cool, to be in a culinary school. We dined in the evening on a Saturday night, so we didn’t get to watch the chefs in action, though that would’ve been cool and odd at the same time. Like a culinary zoo.
The menu was amazing, the service was amazing and the food was great. With 8 people we tried to select each of the main entrees. Mom and I had the sirloin… not bad. Dad had the duck which looked like it was a duck pot pie… a bit salty for him and he likes salt. My brother had a pot of mussels, and he liked it. My guy had the swordfish and loooooved it. My sister had the prime tip and for $ 55 she wasn’t too thrilled. Neither was her professional BBQ’er husband.
The food was good overall but the service, amazing. Back to the charcuterie app… the presentation was cute but sparse. I felt weird ordering one when there wasn’t enough for everyone to try. It was more presentation than anything… and unfortunately it was why we came to Kris in the first place. If you have a fan of smoked meats at your table, allow that person to order this appetizer for themselves. It still won’t be a lot but at least they’ll have some to try.
For $ 400+ it was about $ 50 per person for the apps, meals and wine. My brother enjoyed his birthday… for the food and for the company. Having his whole family there was just as important.

Absolutely loved this place from the food to the service. I took a star our because the place is kind of tacky and the location is sketch. Service is amazing I though, everyone was super nice and attentive & waiter was very knowledgeable. We got the duck confit which was rich and delicious, the meat was done very well and the pastry was light and fluffy. The akaushi sirloin was on point as well, high quality beef along with with great ingredients. The crème brûlée trio was decent, nothing great but still worthwhile. Wine section was pretty good as well.

I saved the best for my last Houston Restaurant Week at Kris Bistro & Wine Lounge located inside Culinary Institute LeNôtre. It does look sketchy outside but don’t be fooled by the building.
The private parking lot has about 20 spaces, which is plenty for this small restaurant. As soon as we were greeted and checked in, we were guided into the restaurant which is located somewhat in the far right of the building. You notice a glass wall on the right with several students concocting a meat dish in one of the kitchens. Restaurant is quaint and quiet — fabulous for dates. It has a classy feel without being pretentious.
Our waiter was personable and knowledgeable. It seems though the other servers help out whenever they notice something, except this one point when this one waiter saw my friend finish her wine and didn’t come to pour another glass. If I could change something, I would want a little history about the school when the waiter first greets us. It would be pleasant to hear about how the school started and how it is run. Otherwise, no complains with service.
Food:
FRENCH CRÊPE VEAL SWEETBREAD EGGROLLS (3/​5, rolled crêpes filled with black truffle, veal sweetbreads, sautéed in sauternes, sesame oil, vietnamese slaw): This was an interesting appetizer. Veal sweetbread with the vietnamese slaw was different but worked. Vietnamese slaw seemed like sweet and sour sauce. This appetizer was one of those «had a few bites and I’m good» kind of dish though. I’m not sure if I would order this again, just different from what I have had before.
GINGERSNAP FOIE GRAS CRÈME BRÛLÉE (4/​5, rich foie gras custard, backyard garden greens, gingersnap croutons, medjool date dressing): Now, this was pretty interesting mix with the crème brûlée. My companions were arguing whether the gingersnap enhanced or overpowered the appetizer. I personally thought it overpowered the foie gras. I’d probably have a smaller bite of the gingersnap croûton while enjoying the crème brûlée.
KIMCHI SNAPPER (2/​5, pan-​seared snapper crusted with dill bread crumbs, served with sauce vin blanc and sautéed kimchi): This was probably my least favorite dish out of the night. Snapper was full of flavor, but something was lacking aside from the «eh» presentation. I give props for them trying to incorporate kimchi into the dish because adding kimchi can be hard. I believe the sauce didn’t mix well with the kimchi.
SOUTH AMERICAN-​STYLE TAMARIND GRILLED AKAUSHI SIRLOIN (5/​5, sous vide tamarind-​glazed sirloin, grilled sweet and marble potato, okra, corn, mixed ancient grains, garlic, parsley, red pepper, oil infusion chimichurri): My friend ordered this. I had to try her dish when it arrived. From the presentation to taste, it was probably the best thing from my dining experience here. I had one bite of the sirloin and okra… just melted in my mouth. You really did not need a knife for this.
LEMON CHICKEN PAILLARD (pan-​fried lemon-​breaded farm-​raised chicken breast, horseradish, apple and celery root salad, sauce sauternes finished with foie gras and black summer truffles): I didn’t really get to try this. I had one bite and was not that memorable to me. My friend mentioned that the chicken was dry to him though.
TROPICAL MOUSSE PASSION FRUIT CHOCOLATE (5/​5, choose one of our tropical mousse selections: passion fruit chocolate, lychee pistachio, or chocolate-​covered strawberry, paired with your choice of ice cream or sorbet): Oh my gosh. One of the best desserts ever, and I’m not a big dessert person. The passion fruit chocolate mousse was so, so smooth, and the sorbet was magical. I would definitely recommend ordering this if Kris Bistro serves it. I’d probably try the lychee pistachio next time.
CHOCOLAT LIME CHARLOTTE (3/​5, chocolate mousse, lime mousse, lime dacquoise, berry compote, and lime sablé, served with lemon and lime sorbet): Presentation was nice but it was decent taste-​wise. Lime and lemon sorbet complimented with the chocolate and berry compote.
Kris Bistro, in my opinion, had the best Houston Restaurant Week 2015 menu with its extensive options compared to the typical 3 items per course that other restaurants offer. Kris Bistro offered at least 5 items that were unique for each of the 3 courses. Kris Bistro is definitely a hidden gem!!! I highly recommend you try this place, maybe even for happy hour!

Unusual location, fantastic food experience and great staff. Quality cusine without a Michelin 2 star cost. Laid back yet classy, great for a romantic dinner.
You can’t go wrong on any of the dishes, from flavor to presentation everything is top notch. Will go there again

Came here for HRW. This restaurant is fancy despite how it looks on outside. Each food presentation was unique. Our server Kris was very knowledgeable and helpful about the menu.
Appetizers:
Charcuteries Maison — I didn’t really like it. I found the meat to be very salty. But the presentation was creative.
Oysters Martinique-​Style — This has got to be my favorite appetizer. It was so good and had lots of flavors.
Grilled Octopus Salad — This one was just okay. I liked the dressing that came with it.
Entrée:
South American-​Style Tamarind Grilled Akaushi Sirloin — This tasted amazing. Probably my favorite out of all the things I ate. The meat was soft and tender. You didn’t even need to use a knife, unless you wanted to cut your meat smaller.
Dessert:
Passion fruit Chocolate w/​Peach Sorbet — The mousse was very tart. I liked the peach sorbet. It was light and refreshing.
Trio of Crème Brûlée — The flavors we got were mango, passion fruit and raspberry. The mango was okay. The passion fruit my favorite out of the three. Raspberry was too sour for my liking.
Chocolat Noisette — This was pretty good. The vanilla (bourbon) ice cream was okay. I didn’t really taste the bourbon in it though.

I couldn’t have had a better b’day dinner than at Kris. Food was yummylicious. Oysters Martinique style was a blend of amazing flavors. Akaushi sirloin was one of the best I’ve had. Dessert trio almost gave me food coma. They’ve good choice of wines and service was great. It is definitely my new favorite French restaurant in town. Had a great b’day dinner and can’t wait to be back.

I recently had dinner at Kris Bistro & Lounge with my bf and some friends. The unassuming fine dining spot is located just north of the loop in a nondescript building. Blink and you’ll miss the Culinary Institue LeNôtre, which houses Kris Bistro. Walk into the building with the harsh industrial façade, meander through the hallways that peek into different, expansive kitchens, and enter the dark, intimate, luxorious dining room where you’ll be given the utmost of excellent service and cuisine.
The fancy menu offers a 3-​course option for a decent price (yours truly has no idea what price, #badfoodblogger), so my fellow diners all took that option. I also had 3 courses, but since all of my courses were vegetarian, they were less expensive. #cheapdate
I spotted the roasted cauliflower listed under the appetizers, so I asked our super attentive server about it. «It’s great, but I must warn you… it’s an entire head of cauliflower.»
Sometimes you just need a big olé’ head of cauliflower in your life.
(with a knife stuck in the middle)
(for dramatic effect)
Served with a side of creamy, tart, sheep’s milk feta dip, this was a wonderful appetizer.
(an appetizer which is actually an entire meal)
(if you’re anyone but me)
The cauliflower is steamed in aromatics and white wine, then roasted in olive oil. The crispy, beautiful, herbed exterior was lovely. The cauliflower overall was subtle, and heightened by the goat cheese dip. If you love cauliflower, I definitely recommend this.
(if you’re hungry)
(which let’s be honest, you are)
The menu is pretty small so my only vegetarian entrée option was the caramelized polenta. The green onion polenta is topped off with Danish blue cheese, roasted walnuts, pickled grapes, and sliced apples. Due to its solid form and crispy exterior, I believe the polenta was baked. Or fried. Or… fr… aked? (don’t hate me)
The interior was soft with whole pieces of sweet corn shining through every now and then. The grapes and apples combined with the blue cheese were wonderful contrasting accents. I always enjoy polenta, and this unique take on it was no exception.
I do wish, however, that the polenta would have been a smaller portion and paired with a side of greens of some sort. The polenta itself was quite large (no, I didn’t spoil my appetite on cauliflower, WHY DO YOU ASK?) and pretty filling.
My bf ordered the Moroccan grilled akaushi sirloin, and I lost him to a blissful oblivion. One friend ordered the diver scallop and declared it one of the best meals she’s had in a long time. The other friend had the duck confit gumbo, and while he really enjoyed the combination of duck, sausage, okra, tomato, green onion, and dirty rice, he felt the dish as a whole would have benefited more without the inclusion of crab, shrimp, and oysters — He said it was almost overwhelming.
I ordered the chocolate toffee piedmont for dessert. First of all, the presentation was gorgeous. Second of all, it was pretty darn good. The dessert consists of layers of toffee, chocolate ganache, hazelnut sponge, Praline, and coconut feuillantine, with a side of LeNôtre salted caramel ice cream. FYI– feuillantine is basically a French method (?) of using leaf-​like layers to construct a dessert (and no I didn’t just google «what is feuillantine»…). This hearty dessert was rich and filling. The salted caramel ice cream gave it some lightness, though overall it was a bit heavy, and I was not able to finish it.
The bf ordered the chocolate noisette, which was also a tad too rich, though beautiful and delicious.
My friend chose the opéra for her dessert (7 layers of joconde biscuit, coffee buttercream, and chocolate ganache, with LeNôtre vanilla ice cream), and hers was the fan favorite of the three desserts. The opéra was much lighter than the other two desserts, and the chocolate ganache combined with the coffee buttercream and fluffly, moist biscuit was fantastic.
While the vegetarian options at Kris weren’t extensive or completely mindblowing, they were still very enjoyable. My meat-​eating dining companions however were completely blown away by their courses. The attentive service, carefully executed food, and intimate fine dining environment make Kris Bistro & Wine Lounge a wonderful place to have a special dinner in Houston.

If you eat here… service is non existent. Go to try the foods. Forgive the tremendous lack of service. Limited wines list.
We will come back because most of our meal was delicious.

Kris is a hidden gem in the middle of nowhere. Yes, you will have to drive out of city center; yes, it’s worth it. The best thing about Kris is the atmosphere and service. Because there are a lot of culinary students here, the atmosphere is very relaxed and welcoming. They even took us on a tour of the kitchen and let us chat with the chefs and students!
We came for HRW dinner ($ 35 per person), which I highly recommend because you get high quality food for less money out of your wallet. They started us off with complimentary bread, which was a warm, crusty baguette presented beautifully and served with butter. This was one of my favorite parts of the meal, and when I asked to take some of the leftover bread home, our waiter actually got a fresh loaf from the kitchen, wrapped it up in saran wrap, and bagged it up for us! Best. Service. Ever.
Unfortunately, the food didn’t amaze me, which is why I gave 4 stars instead of 5. Everything was pretty good, but just not the best. Portion sizes were pretty generous though! Out of the things we ordered, my favorites were the oysters martinique style (but how can you go wrong with fried oysters, really), and the tuna poke. The akaushi sirloin was okay, but the pan-​fried fish I got was not very good. It was served «deconstructed» style in a soup-​ish thing and everything was rather bland and weird because of the soup.
The presentation of the charcuteries is really awesome though, and maybe worth getting just because of the presentation. They’re hung like clothes drying on a line– it’s super cute! The meat itself was kind of hard, but there was a lot of variety, including duck!
The desserts (casino and opera) were pretty but the taste wasn’t anything really special.
We did enjoy our experience here, but I’m not sure we’ll be back unless it’s HRW again. I don’t think the menu changes much, since these are the dishes that the students practice making over and over again until they perfect them.

My date and I decided to try out Kris for HRW 2014. Kris is inside of the culinary school so as another review mentioned, we had to get buzzed into the restaurant. We got there a bit earlier than our reservations so we made a beeline towards the bar and I went straight for a glass of bordeaux. When we were seated, the waiter we initially started out with got switched with another waiter. Not sure what happened there but both were very attentive to us.
Appetizers: Charcuteries maison & the wild-​caught gravlax. I loved the presentation of the charcuteries maison. I was tickled by how I took the meat slices off of the clothes pins — it was so much fun to eat. There were a perfect array of palate cleansers to help me to transition to the next piece of meat. It was bacon-​esque meat heaven. The gravlax was so tasty — it literally melted in your mouth. However, the charcuteries maison definitely stole the show, especially the duck belly… So good.
Entrees: Scottish salmon & pork and the peach. My date is actually really particular about salmon preparation — he likes it perfectly crispy on the outside but soft and flakey on in the inside. He took his first bite and he was happy as a clam the rest of the evening. The pork and the peach entrée was HUGE. The double cut pork chop was the size of my face. and the corn polenta was fantastic. I think I finished the polenta before I finished the pork chop (with the help of my date being my food disposal). It was so good. I was tempted to ask for just an entire plate of the polenta.
Desserts: Casino & lemon tart. The sponge for the casino was so soft. It was really tasty and the portions were perfect because the appetizers and the entrees did a number on us. The lemon tart was fantastic and little toasted merengue balls were delicious little morsels that really complimented the tart.
Kris did a great HRW menu. I was really impressed by their delivery and am definitely considering coming back in the near future to try out their regular menu. After our meal, we asked for a tour of the culinary school. In many of the classrooms, you get to see the students’ sugar sculptures which is really neat. I definitely had a blast at Kris for date night! Although the two glasses of wine may have added to my enthusiasm.
What?! I’m a sucker for bordeaux. They have some awesome bordeaux selections