Houston’s Newest Tasting Menu Destination Arrives This Week

Degust, a brand new tasting menu restaurant by helmed by chef Brandon Silva of the Kirby Group, is set to debut this week.

Located at 7202 Long Point Road in Spring Branch, Degust features chef’s table style-seating for 20 set around an open kitchen area that serves as the chef’s stage and work area. The restaurant will open this Thursday, January 14, with dinner service three nights a week, Thursday through Saturday. Three seatings will be offered per night, at 5:30pm, 8:15pm, and 11:15 pm. Reservations can be made through Resy (when it becomes available) or by calling the restaurant directly.

Since 2016, Silva has worked as the culinary director behind several Kirby Group eateries, including Wooster’s Garden, Worcester’s Annex, Heights Biergarten, Holman Draft Hall, and Pitch 25 Beer Park. A native Houstonian of Castilian and Mexican heritage who obtained a degree in Culinary Arts from the Art Institute of Houston, Silva has also worked in the kitchens of prominent Houston establishments such as Holley’s, Brennan’s and Uchi. His culinary career has also taken him across the world, with stints at places like Blackbird in Chicago, Relae in Copenhagen, and Central in Peru.

“Every young cook in that aspires in the culinary world wants to be a great cook, a great chef, and eventually own his own restaurant,” says Silva. “It’s been my goal to reach this place since I started cooking 15 years ago.”

The restaurant takes its name from the Spanish word for a small chef’s tasting menu, a perfect fit for Silva’s desired style of service. Priced at $75, guests will be able to choose between a carnivore menu or fully vegetarian tasting, with the option for various luxe ingredient upgrades like Beluga caviar, black winter truffles, and foie gras. A beverage pairing will be offered at $45, featuring a variety of cocktails, spirits, and wine. Much of the produce will be sourced from the Kirby Group’s own private gardens.

“Our food is a collage of Mexican/Spanish cuisine with a Japanese approach,” explains Silva. “This journey that I’ll take you on will have influences of my background and my heritage.”

Opening menu items include dishes such as gulf fish, shisito and satsuma ceviche; sliced venison with racado negro, salsa Jalisco, cilantro and blue corn; and a salsa flight served with duck carnitas, short rib, and pork al pastor, with red corn tortillas. Heirloom corn is nixtamalized into masa for tortillas and other dishes at the restaurant.

Rounding out the restaurant’s team is beverage director Steven Salazar, Maître D and sommelier Dale Ellington, and sous chefs Javier Becerra and Erico “Rico” Mackins.

“The idea behind Degust is that I’m welcoming you into my home,” says Silva. “Mi casa es su casa.”

Because the COVID-19 pandemic is definitely still a thing, Degust requires temperature checks at the door, and diners are asked to wear their masks at all times unless seated at the table. Social distancing guidelines will be enforced, and plexiglass barriers will be set up in between parties. The restaurant has also installed “electrostatic HEPA filtration units” throughout the dining room.

Degust is located at 7202 Long Point Road, and is taking reservations for dinner beginning Thursday, January 14.