I had the pleasure of dining at the Houston brothers newest venture in Hollywood last night. Their first restaurant and 8th venue, Butchers and Barbers is everything you would expect it to be and more. The one room, candlelit, Speakeasy style (of course, why would it be anything else), mahogany and tiled throwback, exudes luxury and time lost. Reservations seem rare, and only booked online, lending to the exclusivity factor for which the Houston Brothers are known [a la No Vacancy– which is right next door].
The menu is divided into three main sections; The Garden, The Ranch, and The Sea. Everything was to die for, and the attention to detail on each plate was extraordinary. It truly felt like the dish was made specifically for you, and that the chef had gone out of his way to make it perfect.
B&B really makes you aware of what fine American dining consists, by incorporating all elements from other cultures and cuisine but still basing it in American style ingredients. Fresh market carrots and radishes in a Tahini sauce that was like none I have ever tasted. Steak tartar that seemed to melt in your mouth, on a huge toasted crostini that complimented the juicy steak with a smokey flavor. The cauliflower with sheep cheese was so rich and light, while also being crispy, how do they do it? No flavor was too overpowering, and I usually find there is a tendency to overkill with garlic in many of these types of dishes which would give it a clear Italian nod, but these plates were so well prepared, each was literally a breath of fresh air. The drinks were amazing and unusual as well, and the host and servers were sweeter than your grandma at Christmas.
Houston Hospitality is real. Check it out for yourself.
