A New French Restaurant Will Replace Taverna in River Oaks

Bisou, a new French-themed restaurant, will debut this fall in the former Taverna space after the Italian River Oaks eatery shuttered suddenly late last week.

French for the word “kiss,” the new eatery from the minds behind clubs Clé and Spire will serve continental fare at its forthcoming 4444 Westheimer Road outpost. The 5,500-square-foot space will offer views of the River Oaks District and Westheimer from the restaurant’s al fresco patio areas. Plus, a contemporary dining room accented with white stone and brass will seat 200 diners.

Cuisine will be lead by Chef Frédéric Perrier, a native of Lyon, France who was inducted to the exclusive Maitres des Cuisiniers as a Master Chef in 2015. He started his career at the age of 15 as an apprentice to renowned chef Georges Blanc, before pursuing his education at Paul Bocuse on the Cote d’Azur. Chef Perrier logged time at the critically acclaimed La Cité in NYC before moving to Houston and opening Grille 5115, Café Perrier, and AURA Brasserie in Sugar Land.

At Bisou, diners can look forward to Chef Perrier’s brunch, lunch, and dinner dishes with showy presentations like arancini-wrapped escargot in spicy butter sauce, whole roasted chicken, and crispy crabmeat mac & cheese, to name a few. A robust beverage program features classic cocktails, an extensive wine list, and extra-large champagne bottles.

Bisou will be open Monday and Tuesday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m, Wednesday through Saturday until 12 a.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. when it opens this fall. Stay tuned for more information on an exact date.

• River Oaks Italian Restaurant Taverna Closes [EHOU]