It's a homecoming for Chef Dominick Lee, as he announces his return to Houston to open a new ‘progressive Creole’ eatery called Augustine’s this fall, which will find its home inside the forthcoming Hotel King David in the city’s Third Ward, the Eater Houston reports. Best known for Poitín Bar & Kitchen, which closed during the pandemic, Lee has since expanded his culinary horizons in Europe and offered a taste of New Orleans at Alligator Pear in New York City.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Lee's Augustine’s will feature a blend of European, African, and Indigenous influences, reflecting the chef’s latest deep dive into the roots of Creole cooking—showcasing a menu that although still under wraps, is expected to include New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp and bananas foster and seafood pasta dishes. Lee, in his mid-30s, intends to harness his experiences to forge a "progressive Creole" cuisine that pays homage to the multicultural tapestry of his New Orleans heritage.
Houston and its culinary scene have been staple steps in Lee's career, as he first cut his teeth at the now-shuttered Johnny Sanchez in New Orleans, then further honed his skills in Houston's culinary institutions such as Kiran’s and the Bay Oaks Country Club, and now the chef-cum-restaurateur is poised to stir the pot of fine dining in Houston once again. "Houston always embraced me as my second home," Lee told the Houston Chronicle, crediting the city for significantly shaping his culinary perspective.
Patrons eager for a preview of Lee's Creole inventions won't have to wait until fall, Augustine’s is slated to serve a taste of its menu during exclusive preview dinners celebrating Mardi Gras and Black History Month this February, per the Eater Houston. The restaurant's intimate setting aims to serve about 40 to 50 guests, ensuring a “really high-quality experience”—as Lee predicts, and with the early gastronomic showcases on the horizon, Lee's vision for a new wave of Creole cuisine seems ready to simmer into fruition.
The story of Augustine's resonates with Lee’s own, sharing the name with a Black family from Cannes, France who migrated to Louisiana and then Texas, paralleling Lee's journey back to Houston—as a blend of heritage and inspiration on the plate. "The people of [Houston] helped me hone my culinary perspective," Lee said in the already cited Houston Eater interview, and with his imminent return, Lee is set to bring his enhanced and traveled culinary repertoire back to his adoptive culinary haven.
