[title type="h3"]
Former Houston's In Metairie Back Open, But Something Else.[/title]
Few developments on the restaurant front caused as much of a stir as did the closing of Houston's in Metairie a few months ago. One of the national chain's two local restaurants (the other one is at 1755 St. Charles Avenue, and is still open), the Metairie Houston's was one of the oldest and was immensely popular, such that waiting for a table was likely for most customers. I thought it was better than most chain "dinner houses" (as the industry calls restaurant like this), but I never found it interesting enough to draw me there unless my wife and daughter--both big fans of Houston's--wanted me to take them there.
But the closing will likely not be a disaster for most of Houston's Metairie customers. It has reopened as Boulevard American Bistro, with Robert Hardie as manager and partner. Hardie, who was on my radio show a few weeks ago to discuss all this, was the boss of Houston's on St. Charles. He gave me the distinct impression that the things most liked by Houston's customers will persist at Boulevard.
The actual owners of the revised restaurant is the locally-owned Creole Cuisine , whose other restaurants include Broussard's, Kingfish, Maspero's, Royal House, and the Bombay Club. They give this as an opening menu for the old/new place:
[title type="h6"]Deviled eggs with sweet pickle relish
Wood-fired artichokes
Boulevard oysters (probably a la Drago)
Grilled chicken salad, honey citrus vinaigrette, Thai-peanut sauce
Seared tuna salad
Wedge salad with Maytag blue cheese dressing
Hamburgers
Gulf fish sandwich
Prime rib sandwich
Lobster roll
Rotisserie chicken
Slow roasted pork chop
Cedar plank salmon
Seared sea scallops
Prime rib
Filet mignon
Crab cakes
Barbecue ribs
[/title]
Yep, sounds familiar to me, too.
I still don't know why Houston's closed this place. It surely was very profitable. What I heard was that the owners thought the concept had played out. I also hear that they may reopen further up Veterans in a bigger location.
