Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, chocolate covered everything, ice cream — and even wines by the glass — indeed make every adult feel like a kid in a candy store. The new brand also has a sleek new look thanks to the design by Sean Garrison and Levi Lemaster of Garrison Design Office. The 1,800-square-foot space with gleaming shelves of confections offers comfy indoor and shaded outdoor seating.
Let’s start with what everyone has on their mind in August: ice cream! We were pleasantly surprised to see dozens of flavors available by the cup, pint or quart. Guest favorites gear toward the decadent like Let’s Go Oreo, Brownie Supreme, Junkyard ice cream, and C is for Cookie ice cream. Sophisticated selections worth stopping for include Coconut Bliss, Lemon Velvet, Cherry Amaretto, and Toffee Coffee Time. Don’t do dairy? Strawberry daiquiri, dark chocolate, or mango sorbet will do you right during this heat wave.
Both locations, including The Chocolate Bar in Rice Village, which kept its original name, offer gorgeous cakes whole or by the slice — and they don’t just star chocolate. Signature flavors include the towering Aunt Etta (four layers of chocolate cake with double-fudge icing); strawberry cake (two layers of cream cheese buttercream icing made with fresh strawberries) and Oreo cheesecake topped with dark chocolate ganache, to name a few. There are also chocolate and vanilla tres leches as well as tiramisu. Denizens have been dropping in for an impromptu dessert paired with a specialty coffee or wine. Some chocoholics rely on the new location for their go-to chocolate chip cookies and take-home brownies.
Great for a sweet last-minute gift, Winfield’s touts truffles in dozens of flavors sourced with the best chocolate, seasonal specials (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter), and chocolate munchies galore. Expect pecan or peanut butter bars, chocolate dipped pretzels, rice crispy treats, cherry bombs, chocolate popcorn, s’mores, double stuffed Oreos, and Texas Frito Brittle — literally Fritos dipped in chocolate. When a celebration is in order, pick up a solid chocolate Champagne bottle, a baby bottle, a cell phone, a cat, or puppies.
Speaking of man’s best friend, Winfield’s has pet-friendly “chocolate” dipped dog bone shaped treats.
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Transitioning this weekend, the restaurant will become an upscale, "cosmopolitan," and experience-driven spot, led by the same chef, Erick Anaya. His new menu touts prime wet-aged steaks, decadent seafood towers, truffle-butter-topped Cajun ribeyes, and more. Expect also fabulous starters like deviled eggs with fried shrimp and bacon jam, and fried lobster tail with sweet chili sauce. General manager and sommelier Patrick Smith joins the team from Morton's Steakhouse in the Galleria, where he worked for 24 years.
As for the interior, much will remain the same, like the cobalt blue and gold accents, and the plush banquettes. But change comes in the form of live music, hookah, day parties on the patio, and more, signifying a shift to Vegas-style "vibe dining," one of the hottest restaurant trends in H-Town right now. Down the block on West Gray, Middle Eastern newcomer Albi is a surprise-filled scene, with belly dancers and DJs until 2am. And in River Oaks, festive Japanese-French resto Ciel is still pouring bubbly and lighting sparklers nightly.
Back at Ocean 12, the grand opening brings lively brunch and dinner parties all weekend long. The restaurant will be open for dinner nightly, and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
“We are really proud of our entire team, who has been working tirelessly on every detail to capture the essence of our vision for Ocean 12," said Smith in a statement. "We think our guests will be blown away by the impressive culinary and beverage offerings, signature ambiance, and the exceptional level of service we’ve created.”
Fried lobster tail
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