Philippe Restaurant + Lounge

The chef has a complete lack of customer skills. His food is mediocre at best. Have tried it twice. Had the chef serve us what he thought was his 5 best dishes. While the bouillabaisse broth was delicious, the seafood was so over cooked it was like eating rubber. The other dished were not of the caliber of what I expected of this class of restaurant. I won’t be going back. I live in the area and am a regular at Tonys, Masraff’s, RGD, Mark’s, pappas Steakhouse, DaMarco’s etc. Eat there. You’ll be pleased.

Went here for dinner while visiting some friends in Houston. The food was amazing. We each ordered our own entrée and then tasted everything. Delicious. I wasn’t initially overly crazy about my steak — there was an orange glaze to it that took a little getting used to, but once I did, great. The fried truffle Mac and cheese was amazing. And the regular truffle Mac and cheese side was literally to die for. I’m not a dessert guy so I can’t comment on that
My only real complaint was the downstairs bar. I may have caught them on a bad night but we were sitting at the bar waiting on our table and I couldn’t get a drink. When I did get the attention of a bartender it could take upwards of five minutes for a whiskey on the rocks. Bad bar times

This is only for the HH menu/​drinks. It’s really a solid 3.5 stars.
We decided to choose Philippe for the Happy Hour menu for our team Holiday get together. We got here fairly early around 430, and the place was already fairly busy, as I think they open at 4. Unfortunately, there was only one bartender, which made service SUPER slow. During the holidays, they should easily have two. We ordered drinks (Winston Churchill, Bitter Pill, Blessing, and a whiskey) Their hh menu has $ 6 specialty cocktails, which is a great price, and $ 7 pizzas. Also had the beef sliders, which were forgettable. The pizza was nothing special, but the calamari were VERY good. My bitter pill, had more soda than anything, but my co workers blessing cocktail was nice. They have an extensive wine list, and several bottles were ½ off. The atmosphere was nice, as the bar/​lounge area is located downstairs, and the upstairs is the dining room. All in all, it was solid, but again to get our check it took 15 minutes. I had to walk up to the bar to get the bartender, as I did to actually order. I would like to come back and give the dinner menu a full shot, but for HH I was on the fence.

Husband wanted to try Philippe’s for his birthday so his wish was granted. Food was very good. We started with a antipasto selection — which was delicious. I had the Margret Duck for my main and it was very very good. I was extremely impressed with the food and service was good. Philippe even came out himself to greet us and make sure we were satisfied with our dishes at the end of our meal.
I have to take a star away, however, because I had called and told the hostess that this reservation was for a birthday and requested to have a desert ready. It was not. I had to ask our server for it in front of my husband — not cool. I did not appreciate that he was defensive about either. Just a simple apology would have been fine, but instead he tried deflect blame. Secondly, I confirmed a table next to the window so we could overlook whatever skyline was available from the second floor of Philippe. I did not want to get stuck in the back corner of the restaurant with my husband for his birthday because he enjoys his views. WELL, we got stuck in the back of the restaurant. It seems that the hostess was not on top of her game that night– minus one star especially since it was a birthday night.
Would definitely come again for the food. :)

Whoua!
The executive chef is leaving… well so what! The sous chef is terrific and the mixologist is crafting beautiful cocktails.
Tartare: a beautifully sliced beef tartare with capers and topped with a quail egg. Flip the quail egg upside down and start incorporating it to the chopped meat. It was well balance in both seasoning and dressing. Nice!
Duck confit tamales: Two massive tamales stuffed with duck confit and topped with a cabbage slaw. The tamales were smooth and not grainy at all. The duck confit was not dry and infused the entire tamale with its juice. The wrapping of the tamale was a little to tight and made it difficult to open.
Crème Brûlée: a classic dessert has to be executed to perfection to avoid customer’s anger. A hard caramel top to be broken with the back of a spoon, real vanilla beans, balance between milk and egg ratio, low sugar are the requirements. The chef in the kitchen met all of them and added some liquor infused blackberries on top.
Perfect fusion between freshen classics and modern American makes me want to go back! Too bad I am in LA.

I came here for HRW with 2 of my cousins who rarely ever go out to eat. They are sheltered who only eat homecooked food (which isn’t a bad thing!) but they wanted to try something that they possibly can never eat if they were with their parents. Let’s go with a bang and try French cuisine!
My sister and I wanted to make this a great experience for them, so somewhere nicer and not too classy where they would feel uncomfortable. This was a great spot, it’s loud enough where you know people aren’t eavesdropping, but not too loud where it’s nothing for romantic dates around us.
The dinner menu was completely divine! I thought the selections were «different» enough to allow everyone to try something different from their usual palate, but not to out of the ordinary where they would completely hate it. We all ordered something different. The Warm Goat Cheese cake was a fresh, light appetizer. The stuffed mussels were very savory, honestly, a little too filling! I loved the broth, I would make sure to drizzle it over each mussel before I ate it. The duck pithiviers was a melt-​in-​your-​mouth feeling, definitely something I would order again!
For entrée, the salmon baked with crab was a little dry, but once you hit near the middle where the crab and shrimp mousse was located, it was moist. The sauce covering the plate added good moisture to each bite. The roasted pork terderloin was a huge plate. This was my sister’s plate and I should have ordered this because it looked it good feed me for the next day’s lunch also. It had so many different flavors which mixed so well, the sweet apricots, the sweet grape sauce (but not too sweet) and the pork was so delicious. I ordered the filet because since no one else wanted to order it, I figured someone had to try it! It was good! I love steak, so I didn’t mind, the steak was perfectly cook medium rare and I finished my plate quite quickly. Who doesn’t appreciate steak and potatoes?!
The dessert, lemon crêpe was quite sweet! Don’t mix all of the fruits and the lemon curd just yet! Taste each and make sure you know how much you want of each, because I just took a fork-​full and I had to finish all of my water, but with just the right amount, you are good! The Nougat Glacé was so delicious. this was crunchy and sweet you want at the end of a meal. The smores chocolate was a love for my cousin, she thought it was right up her alley for a dessert.
We also ordered the truffle oil mac and cheese, which I thought was okay, honestly maybe mac and cheese isn’t something to make «new» because mac and cheese tastes the same to me no matter what, unless you add some bacon.
Definitely coming back for next year!

While visiting an old friend in Houston, she had recommended Philippe Restaurant. Because I have a broad palate, but one that indulges non-​American food, I am rather difficult to satisfy. Her suggestion that we go to Philippe was not a bad idea.
It was American food with a hint of French.
Aside from there being pork in the soup I had — absolute murder since I’m a pescatarian — I ate it without complaint. (I noticed that pork seems like a primary ingredient in recipes at restaurants in Houston.) I had a seafood dish that I can’t remember. I recall it having a formation like that of a fillet mignon, but it was fish. I’m thinking whiting or trout — something like that. Nevertheless, it was the highlight of the dining experience.
The server was really great, considering my friend beckoned him for one thing or the other every time he passed the table. He was definitely knowledgeable enough to make a wine recommendation for the dish that I had and I was very appreciative of his suggestion. The ambience is big box, which is commonplace at most restaurants in Houston. Of all the restaurants I tried while I was visiting Houston, Philippe Restaurant would be the one I would return to.

I am finally writing a review for Philippe restaurant since I have been to Phil’s Wine Lounge a few times but never made it upstairs. Let me start with the downstairs: you walk through the extra tall metal doors into a swanky dim lit lounge with a feel of Paris mixed with some Texas accents. There are a few large wrap around couches with festive animal hide pillows as well as some small tables off to either side of the staircase that leads upstairs to the restaurant. The bar has seating as well with a few televisions and a great array of options to drink.
Their cocktail menu is easily my favorite because Phil’s does them RIGHT! I’ve had the Method to Her Madness, featuring absinthe, gin, Riesling, the Garden Variety, a must-​try with habanero vodka, lemongrass, cucumber, as well as the Blessing, which is currently my favorite, featuring strawberry/​pomegranate/​vodka/​lime juice. Sample some of their 80+ wines while you’re here; I’ve tried a few types of rosé as well as a few bottles of prosecco. The bartenders are very friendly, and very quick, but mainly just great at their jobs. Special shout out to Dennis who has the memory of an elephant!
While you’re here, you can grab some tasty morsels off the lounge menu or even order entrees to enjoy in the lounge. Anything you order downstairs will transfer to the bill upstairs, which seems like common sense but I find than many places do separate checks; silly, I know.
So now, for the upstairs: it is truly an elegant experience dining at Philippe. The décor is chic and the lighting fixture on the ceiling is truly stunning. It has a very intimate, romantic feel as it is a smaller dining area with a view of the kitchen. I came here to celebrate my birthday so of course I had to go all out. We were even blessed with the presence of sous chef Wright and Philippe himself! Everyone ordered from the HRW menu but we ordered a plethora of «extras» to share. I will review the food as a list for convenience:
Crab + avocado emulsion with lime & cilantro (A culinary explosion of awesomeness that you MUST TRY)
Spicy Duck Confit Tamales (Had a whole one to myself = to die for)
House made fries with spicy ketchup (nice comfort snacks)
Goat Cheese Wraps (found out I don’t like goat cheese haha but I’m sure they’re good)
Parisian Gnocchi (fun little snack)
Escargot (Vol au Vent’s were delicious, first time trying escargot so admittedly tasted very earthy to me, almost like soil haha but interesting)
Truffle Mac & Cheese Fries (SO FUN! wish they were creamier in the center with more robust flavor, I dont play around with my mac & cheese ;) but definitely loved these)
Black Forest Cake (Holy S*&T was this delicious)
French Cowboy Churros (Delicious, fun little desserts)
Peach Cobbler type dessert (don’t know what it was called but it was served in a glass & was my favorite of the night)
Sweet Bites (reccommend for a group treat)
There was also some avocado/​strawberry little pie dessert that was really mouthwatering.
Chorizo stuffed mussels were quite enjoyable, ordered the petite filets which were smothered in a gingerbread sauce (not particularly my taste), mini baked potatoes were very good, nougat glacé was heart stopping: D
Hopefully I’ve included enough delicious details to get you to give Philippe a try. It’s pricey but worth every penny.

I came here Friday night for dinner & cocktails. I’ve been here a few times before and the atmosphere was exactly what we had in mind. Downstairs has a cool lounge/​bar setting, while upstairs is for dining. However, you do have the option to dine downstairs as well. Reservations recommended. They have valet outside but I normally park in the back parking lot just cause I hate waiting for my car.
The drinks are great there, they have a habenro/​cucumber martini there that is awesome if you’re into that sort of concoction. I downed about three of those suckers on this particular occasion. :-P
The last time I visited I really enjoyed the food but my visit this time was really disappointing. We started off with the coconut ahi tuna. The presentation was great, the tartare came inside a coconut shell, at first bite I was not crazy about it. It was really lacking flavor. My cousin ordered from the Houston restaurant menu and her app which was the pastry puff filled with duck meat was excellent. For entrees, we chose the steak medallion, blackened fish (I don’t remember which fish), roasted chicken. My fish and my cousin’s steak was bland. We were extremely disappointed. The dish I got came with what appears to be pureed peas, I felt like I was baby food/​sick person’s meal at the hospital. The dish itself was all around bland & lacking flavor. Surprisingly, my bf’s roasted chicken turned out to be the best dish that night. It was moist and flavorful.
Although I was disappointed with my meal our dessert and cocktails made up for it. The black forest cake there is awesome.
I will return to Phillipe’s because I love the cocktails and ambiance. I’ve been there quite a few times & enjoyed the food so I won’t let this one mediocre dinner experience prevent me from coming back.
Our waiter was great that night and chef came by to say hi, we just didn’t have the heart to tell him how we really felt about my dinner that night, lol.
P. S. dishes I do enjoy here are the tamales as an app & their duck under the entrée selection is wonderful!

I went for lunch and ordered the Master Chef lunch. Best three course lunch special I’ve found in Houston — delicious appetizer, entrée and dessert for $ 20 and the portion sizes were large. I went to Artisans last week and ordered the $ 25 Business lunch which also came with an appetizer, entrée and dessert. I enjoyed the lunch I had at Artisans but I liked my lunch at Philippe even more! The portion sizes weren’t tiny, the food was just as tasty, and the ambience and service were nice.
Our waiter brought us a basket of bread and the bread rolls were ok but the butter was perfect! I asked our waiter for recommendations for what to order and he recommended the Shrimp Salad, Salmon Scallopini and Blueberry Cheesecake Parfait. Two other people at my table also ordered the Blueberry Cheesecake Parfait so I ordered the Lemon Ice Box Pie so we could try both.
The Shrimp Salad was flavorful and had shrimp, mixed greens, coconut, mango, corn, avocado, and mint. The mint threw my taste buds off a little bit because I wasn’t used to it but I still enjoyed it overall. The salmon was cooked just the way I like it and came with two large salmon fillets on a bed of spinach and citrus sauce. The dessert was amazing. The Blueberry Cheesecake Parfait was my favorite — cheesecake ice cream, blueberries, and graham cracker crumbles. The first bite had me wishing I had ordered it but I enjoyed my Lemon Ice Box Pie as well.
There is plenty of parking behind the restaurant if you don’t want to valet your car. I would highly recommend this restaurant for lunch if you ever get a chance!

Started with a basket of warm bread, which, let’s face it, could have been brought out while I was waiting for the rest of my party to arrive, cause I contemplated eating the leather seats.
Diet coke had too much ice and not enough soda, but I got over it because… it was the BEST steak I’ve ever had! I had the NY strip off the lunch menu, the fries were delicious too, the peppercorn sauce could have been a bit thicker/​creamier, but it was a fantastic meal. I got to try the calamari appetizer that someone else at our table ordered — I don’t normally like it, but it was flavoured to perfection.
The apple tart thingy (can’t remember what they call it) was pretty darn good, but after tasting my friends soufflé, I wished I’d gotten that instead! LOL!
I’d go back here in a heartbeat, great food, great service, just totally delicious and a great atmosphere!

We joined another couple last night after already eating our meal elsewhere. My fiancée and I snacked on the charcuterie and drank martini”s while the other two enjoyed their dinner.
Charcuterie was very good although lacking my addiction, cheese. Also, I sampled the beef tartar which was excellent and presented with a quail egg that added to its wonderful palate. Other dishes I got to taste were the venison plate which was also excellent as well as Mac N Cheese fries… Hard to explain those, but I could have taken a large box of them home to stuff my face alone in shame for the rest of the night.
Very modern and trendy interior. Much of their light fixtures and other nuances change seasonally with the help of a decorator.
If you’re looking for modern French variation dishes and want to eat said dishes in a very trendy cool surrounding, head to Phillipe.

I have now visited Philippe twice over the past month, and I have not been disappointed EITHER visit. The first time was just with my fiancée and I. We went on a tuesday (still made a reservation) and were seated immediately. I ordered one of the speciality cocktails (The Garden Variety). This drink will seriously keep me coming back to Philippe, no joke!
For the meal we decided on the crab and shrimp ceviche (it comes in a neat little jar, great presentation) and the crispy salmon with pesto for the entrée. Both of these were really spectacular. Great flavor without being drowned in butter, fat or oil. The side was spagetti squash (which you can never go wrong with) and we also ordered some brocollini. All in all, we were very pleased with the meal.
I have since brought a group of friends, and we started in the downstairs lounge before dinner. Everyone in the group was happy with the drinks, food, and service.
I will be back to check out happy hour very soon!

My wife and I went here for date night. It was her turn to choose and we ended up here. Based on this selection, I will let her choose every time from this point forward. They have a second anniversary sampler and they were all amazing. The short rib and skate were incredible and every desert was fantastic. We had a bottle of wine that was middle of the road, at least to us, of $ 54 and they didn’t at all make us feel cheap. Service was great. The chef comes out to see how things are. I cannot wait to go back.

While not every single dish was perfect, I think this is still one of Houston’s star restaurants.
The DOWNSIDE:
— Crab & avocado appetizer with the olive oil emulsion was interesting — I can’t say it was the best, or near the best, but it was good. This tasted more like a guacamole from a Mexican restaurant than an appetizer, unfortunately. ($ 11.00 — not worth it)
— Duck confit was a bit greasy, and the flesh was a bit dry. The sides of the potatoes and mushrooms were exquisite, however. ($ 18.00 — not worth it)
— Pear Helene was okay — I felt that the pears could have been better roasted or maybe cooked in a better or more flavorful solution (red wine maybe?) and the accompanying ice cream was pretty standard but the concept was good and the nuts and chocolates were nice. (part of $ 20 three-​course lunch special — not worth it)
The UPSIDE:
— Tomato and goat cheese napoleon was tasty and refreshing — while very simple, it was a pleasure eating it (part of $ 20 three course lunch special — worth it)
— Seafood risotto was surprisingly AMAZING — considering that I’m not even a fan of risotto. The rice and sauce was a pleasure to eat, as were the fresh seafood (sea bass, salmon, mussels, scallops, and shrimps) (part of $ 20 three course lunch special — DO NOT MISS)
The service was flawless, and the quality of the ingredients were spectacular. The kitchen knows what they’re doing for the most part — so I have no reason to think that they won’t continue to improve their menu. And after having what I had, I have to say their weekday three-​course lunch special is the way to go.

Philippe was recently named Top Ten New Restaurants in Texas 2012 by Texas Monthly and the restaurant definitely lives up to its reputation and hype! Beautiful, intimate, romantic ‘French cowboy’ ambiance! I love the idea of having the lounge at the lower level and the restaurant, located upstairs to take full advantage of the lovely view of the city. The menu even adds to the ‘seductive’ French cowboy atmosphere with words such as «flirtations», «satisfaction guaranteed», etc. to describe menu items. My girlfriends and I ordered the Pearls of Wisdom martini, a blend of St. Germain, pomegranate seeds, and citrus and we loved it so much we had seconds!
Our server Ali was very attentive and professional and helped us with everything from food accommodations to after dinner cocktail recommendations. I felt pampered at Philippe! After my friend told Ali his filet mignon was not cooked to the correct temperature of medium rare +, the manager came over and politely spoke with our friend before and after they brought out the steak to make sure it was just right. The crab avocado jar was refreshingly delicious and since I do not live in Houston, I will attempt to make it at home ;)! The scallops were seared to perfection. Good food, lovely fusion of Frenchie meets American cowboy ambiance and food!

Over the years it seems that the Galleria area has lost some of its luster with all the latest and greatest restaurants opening up in Washington, upper Kirby, and City Center, but Post Oak is not taking a back seat and have come back with their own trendy and upscale restaurants like Philipe.
I have to admit that I’m more of a hole in the wall type of place, but was quite impressed by Philippe. The décor is very contemporary with edison bulbs and comfortable lounge tables downstairs. Upstairs is also very nice for dining. Everybody was very nice and the manager came up to us several times to make sure everything was ok.
I wish I could name all the delicious treats we had while at the bar area, but their mac n cheese and steak is great!
This won’t be a cheap place, but it seems like a great place for happy hour or a special dining occasion. They have valet in the front and plenty of free parking in the back with a well lit parking lot and security so the Galleria area is back!

And we’re back! After a long hiatus from review writing, I’m kicking off HRW 2011 with Philippe, and what a way to start!
SWANKY was my first impression. A fabulous wall behind the bar held shelves of (fake) candles and lent great atmosphere. I loved all the lighting; from the candles to the chandeliers, to the sculpture-​like ruffles in the ceiling. The lounge downstairs looks like a great place to relax with friends while noshing and people watching. Upstairs the dining room is bright and wall painting/​appliques remind me of a french boudoir. Everything was just beautiful enough and just comfortable enough.
Note: there are 2 host stands, one downstairs and one up in the actual dining room, so just go upstairs if you are there for dinner. Service was excellent throughout; our waitress, bussers, runners, management, and Chef Philippe himself came by to check on all the guests.
While we went in with the intention of ordering off the HRW menu, after scanning their regular offerings we were easily enticed into ordering off the menu. They also have a nice wine list.
And now the food!
Drunken foie gras: duck liver terrine marinated in Sauternes + Armagnac: I don’t think there are words to describe this amazing deliciousness in a jar. The accompanying toasted brioche was just right.
From HRW menu: Terrine of local Pork ‘Country Pâté Style’ with foie gras, pickled vegetable salad, Fallot walnut Dijon mustard, Jamis toasted bread: As if the terrine itself wasn’t creamy and flavorful enough, the mustard put it just over the top with a perfect amount of acidity and bite.
The classic: beef tartare with quail egg yolk, capers, onions: the beef maintained good texture and the egg yolk provided just a bit of extra richness; a great rendition.
The philippe: salmon tartare with blue cheese, olive oil, walnuts: who would put these flavors together? Philippe would, and that’s why he’s amazing. Instead of everyone’s typical Asian influenced salmon tartare, Philippe’s heads off in another direction entirely, with the slight pungency of blue cheese woven into creamy salmon with walnuts for texture.
Lobster bisque with poached cod quenelles: frothy, rich, and surprisingly lighter than expected. The quenelle was a nice surprise as well, having a texture like a light fish meatball.
Burgundy beef cheeks, pearl onion, bacon + mushrooms with macaroni + cheese: O.M.G. the beef disintegrates in your mouth while coating your tongue in a bit of beef fat and that ah-​maze-​ing burgundy sauce. It has such richness and depth of flavor. To help break up all that beefiness, a mélange of baby carrots, mushrooms, unbelievably sweet pearl onions, and lardons of bacon. And just in case that isn’t heavy enough for you, a side of perfectly truffled (not hit-​you-​in-​the-​face) mac & cheese. This is the kind of food I dream about.
Strawberry margarita shortcake «undone» lime-​scented shortcake, vanilla panna cotta, strawberry margarita sauce: Another unique creation! The small cubes of shortcake were light, atop piped lines of panna cotta, tiny scoops of the best strawberry sorbet ever, and a margarita sauce to tie it all together. Fresh, bright, and not overly sweet.
Raspberry sorbet: Deep raspberry flavor without being too tart or too sweet. Unlike most raspberry sorbets, there was a creaminess and no grittiness of seeds for a lovely texture.
Can’t wait for a return visit! Might have to wait until after the rest of HRW though ;)

Houston Restaurant Weeks means that I have an excuse to try a bunch of new places and Philippe Restaurant was one of those places. I came here for a Friday lunch and was pleased at how everyone is treated the same, regular or HRW customers. Service was very good and quick. We never felt rushed once. I liked the décor and ambiance.
The shrimp appetizer was pretty good but not really my thing. The coq au vin was good, a large portion, and very rich. I loved the mashed potatoes that it came with. The brown butter financier dessert was fabulous. I only wish it was ten times bigger because I couldn’t get enough! I tried my friend’s key lime pie and it was very good. Our food was very good and all of this for $ 20 plus tax and tip.
I am excited to go back after HRW is over. I want to try both the lunch and dinner menus. Next time I’ll park in the parking garage in the back. It may be picky of me, but I don’t think you should have to pay for valet parking at a nice restaurant. It should be complimentary.

Took my bf here for his birthday, the restaurant seemed like they were pretty busy for a Tuesday night so I would suggest making reservations on open table if you want to come here. Parking is valet for $ 5 so make sure you have cash.
Overall we had a pretty good experience here, we enjoyed the atmosphere and the people who work there were very friendly! There were a few things that were disappointing but for the most part dinner was great.
I wish they had a better selection of French wine because the $ 50 bottle of wine we got was not very good. Seeing as how we were at a French restaurant my mind was set on getting wine that was from France. We were hoping it would taste like the bottle of wine we had tried at le mistral that was fantastic but this did not match up at all.
For appetizer we had the crab n avocado decadence which was delicious and we also had the duck tamales which tasted ok to me, the duck was kind of over cooked. Then I had the chicken which was not bad but not great, the white meat was a little dry but the mashed potatoes was really good. I should have gotten the salmon instead. My bf got the beef cheeks which he said was really tender and juicy but he thought the sauce was a little weird. For dessert we got the jasmine crème brûlée which was awesome, I actually wish I could have some of that right now!
Our dinner ended up being around $ 140 for two, so beware it can definitely get pricey!