Bradley's Fine Diner [Photos: Henry V. Thiel]
Fine dining might not typically be associated with the word "diner," but venerated chef Bradley Ogden is looking to change that with just opened Bradley's Fine Diner. The James Beard Award winner opened this new restaurant intending to merge his decades-long training in classical cuisine and the experience he gained at Lark Creek Inn with the influence of his son Bryan Ogden's "new-age techniques." Bradley told Eater back in December that this place would be a "Midwestern approach to my California style of food." The confluence of these cooking styles and backgrounds come in the form of bone marrow toast, Yukon gold potato perogies, seared Maine diver scallops with Nueske's bacon, and a Caesar salad served with an egg-topped chive pancake. Other menu highlights include the "Eggs & Toast" which is caviar and fried quail eggs on brioche, popcorn rock shrimp served with chili-lime aioli, and the rhubarb glazed pork belly served with grits, charred scallions and hickory nuts. (See the dinner and dessert menus below.) Bryan, who like his father is a Culinary Institute of America grad, will lead the kitchen as executive chef with fellow CIA grad Matthew B. Cooper as his executive sous chef.
This 90-seat upscale dining establishment offers a high-end lounge atmosphere and features La Colombe d'Or's former general manager Sebastien J. Laval at the front of the house. Sommelier Rob Ortiz has crafted an American-driven wine list to accompany Bryan's Americana menu, and craft cocktails include some Texas-made vodka drinks; that menu will average out at just under $10 per cocktail.
Bradley's Fine Diner is now open for dinner and will launch Sunday brunch April 20 and lunch services April 21. This is the second Houston establishment for Bradley, who came to Houston planning three total establishments. His first was Funky Chicken—which has been open for four months in the same strip center that houses Bradley's Fine Diner—and his next project in town will be Ogden Pour Society, which is expected to open in Gateway Memorial City later this spring.
· Bradley's Fine Diner [Twitter]
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