Justin Yu, Chris Shepherd, Robert Del Grande and Hugo Ortega
Smoked brisket fritters by Seth Siegel-Gardner and Terrence Gallivan
Alexandra Pena and Aaron Bludorn (photo by Lauren Holub)
With Bar Bludorn, the unstoppable chef — who has successfully opened three restaurants in Houston in the last three years, and has his sights set on a fourth, at the Bunkhouse Group’s forthcoming Saint Augustine Hotel in Montrose — put the cooking in the hands of the beautiful and capable Alexandra Peña, who is easy to spot in the shiny open kitchen.
A visit to Bar Bludorn ushers in punchy flavors of mostly classics with some twists — like carrot-ginger soup with fresh and candied ginger, and a Wagyu short rib Rueben sandwich on housemade bread we would gladly eat daily. The surprise of green-pea hummus sings with fresh garlic (order extra pita bread — it’s that good!).
Expect a wide range of entrees, including a lovely Ora King salmon filet with yogurt-dill sauce; tender steak frites draped in au poivre vert; and roasted duck with mango and yam. Fried chicken gussied up with peanut-butter gravy, mashed potatoes and collard greens is a popular option, and of course there’s a towering tavern burger, served with a single slice of tomato as thick and juicy and indispensible as the patty itself.
But one of the best dishes is homemade tortellini: so perfectly al dente with a unique artichoke stuffing and garnish of bright tomato confit and lemon zest. Addictive.
As for dessert, the Lime in the Coconut is a textural dream. It’s like a deconstructed key-lime pie but better, and topped with crunchy clusters of coconut flakes.
The handsome, softly lit and intimate restaurant has a timeless clubby look, while still being everyday-comfy. It’s located in the nondescript, red-brick rectangular building previously home to Jonathan’s the Rub. Walls between the adjacent tenants were all knocked down, and Bar Bludorn is one giant open-concept space, flanked on either end by a bustling kitchen and a classic, tavern-style bar. One long wall is lined with half-circle-shaped booths that give a prime view of the whole room.
Planning to pop in without a reservation? The bar area typically fills up daily by 5:30pm, so advanced planning is recommended to snag a coveted dining-room table. Cheers!
Country Ham Beignets (photo by Caroline Fontenot)
Lemon Ricotta Ice Cream Sandwich (photo by Caroline Fontenot)
Dining Room_ (photo by Claudia Casbarian)
Spaghetti Carbonara (photo by Lauren Holub)
Smash burger at Malibu Barbie Cafe Miami (photo via Instagram)
Bucket Listers, a media-experience brand known for viral phenomena like Family Guy Experience and the Golden Girls Kitchen, teamed up with Mattel on the fast-casual fare and interactive experience, which channels the groovy, laidback and colorful energy of 1970s Malibu.
“Bucket Listers is honored to continue partnering with Mattel, bringing Malibu Barbie Cafe down to Houston after sold-out runs across the country,” said Bucket Listers President Derek Berry in a release. “Barbie has proven to be one of history’s ultimate icons; it means so much for us to bring exclusive experiences like this to life for our community. I cannot wait for the city to see what we have in store.”
Expect photo ops galore, creative cocktails, and activities including the slick and chic roller rink; skate rentals cost just $1, but all rental fees will be donated to Girls Inc. Special events like cupcake decorating classes and paint parties will be announced closer to the cafe's opening.
The Malibu Barbie Cafe will open Aug. 16 and run through mid-October. Tickets for admission are $25, but include credit for both food and merchandise.
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