THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Underbelly

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Underbelly Restaurant Review:

If you want to experience the breadth of Houston’s culinary scene --- and only have one meal in which to do it --- then Underbelly is the restaurant for you. The rehabbed building, designed by Collaborative Projects, evokes an elegant farmhouse with walls made from old barn doors, handcrafted walnut tables and mismatched chairs. Chris Shepherd offers a daily menu featuring fresh local produce, seafood and in-house butchered meats. A community table fronts the open kitchen behind which Shepherd and his team work. Dishes range from familiar comfort foods to those that are Asian- and South Asian-inspired. Evening specials include family-style servings of butcher shop cuts: braised lamb’s neck with farro salad, or a whole goat rack with broccoli rice casserole. Individual selections might be seared Gulf white shrimp with pimento cheese grits or lamb meatballs slicked in a spicy vindaloo. Butter biscuits and rabbit gravy is a Texas delicacy, as is the slow-roasted Akaushi beef. Craft cocktails and a wine list composed of bottles from family-owned and -operated wineries add to the dining experience. The wine bar stays open late every night and presents a limited menu of light bites. You won’t want to skip the strawberry fried pie to finish. And on your way out, you can opt to leave with a jar of pickled vegetables, jams or jellies, all house-made.