The Houston food scene fans will be the judge as PostScript, a new concept by famed chef Bryan Caswell, opens its doors in the Shops at Arrive River Oaks. Caswell, noted for putting Houston's cuisine on the map with a James Beard nod and Food & Wine's Best New Chef accolade, is back in the kitchen with a menu that's creating buzz for more than just its Instagrammable plating.
According to Houston Chronicle, PostScript, is a spectrum of pinks, complemented by an array of artistic flourishes from metallic butterflies to a gleaming "press-for-champagne" button at each booth. Still, co-owner Veeral Rathod insists, "We’re not here to be an Instagram restaurant. It’s about food and people coming together to spend their time with us." Diners can find themselves enveloped in this pink haven, feasting on offerings like a Shipley-like doughnut sporting ghost pepper caviar, which Caswell has personally finessed.
As per CultureMap Houston, the menu teems with "upbeat modern American food." Expect dishes such as various renditions of oysters, a double smoked pork chop reminiscent of Caswell’s former haunt Reef, and a domestic wagyu filet that's destined for hashtag fame. "The menu is supposed to be entertaining but also technically difficult and executed correctly,” Caswell shared with CultureMap Houston.
The extravagant restaurant, formerly the location of a Del Frisco’s Grille, tucks a chic speakeasy behind a door covered with an image of Roger Moore as James Bond. Here, privacy and poured libations reign supreme. It's this marriage of flair and flavor that has the gastronomic gurus pondering if PostScript will indeed rival the likes of Sketch in London, which has become a social media darling. Rathod, in conversation with the Houston Chronicle, specifies, "We like the bright colors, but we didn’t want it to look too Barbie dollhouse."
The establishment kicks off its service catering to night owls with dinner from 5-11 p.m., with plans to expand into lunch and brunch territories. And for those interested in the finer things, a gilded champagne button adds a touch of opulence to the experience. With a pink piano strategically placed for ambiance, Rathod and his team appear to have carved a niche that's as much about the culinary craft as it is about the 'gram.
