I've dined at Riel twice. Both visits were good, however the first visit was better. Riel's has an…read moreelevated menu with a laid back vibe (I was feeling the 90s tunes that were playing during my second visit). 1st Visit: My friends and I had dinner during HRW 2024. We arrived before 6:30pm which meant we were able to order from the HH menu. I had a signature cocktail called So Fresh So Clean (love the Outkast reference). This cucumber based cocktail was very refreshing! I also had a Clover Club which I enjoyed (I love the egg white)! Fried Deviled Egg - I opted to add caviar for an additional $8. It was good, but I just really prefer traditional deviled eggs without breading on them. Market Fish - Absolutely delicious! The fish was tender and flaky, seasoned well, and the tomato bacon broth was soooo good! My only complaint was the small portion. Bees Knees - Delicious! Caviar Tots - Compliments of Chef, Ryan (thank you)! 2nd Visit: I came back for dinner. Our server was Chris and he was really nice. We ordered a bunch of items for the table to share. Drinks: I did a So Fresh So Clean because I'm predictable and I loved it the first time. I also had a Negroni and it was really good. Butter Burgers: It normally comes with two, but Chris was nice and brought out a 3rd burger so that we could each have one. I enjoyed the French onion flavor in the beef, but the burger was too buttery for my taste. Crispy Potatoes - Very good with great flavor. Mushroom Empanada - I didn't try any, but my friends enjoyed them. Hanger Steak - It took 40 minutes for the steak to be brought out and unfortunately, one steak was overcooked while the other was undercooked. I tried a bite of the overcooked steak and the flavor was there. The steak was tender enough for my preference. Market Fish - Red Snapper. It was a larger portion, but the flavor wasn't as good as the first time. Additionally, my fish came out about 10 minutes before the steak and it got cold because I was waiting on the steak to be brought out. I read an article on Culture Map that Riel is closing down at the end of August. If Riel is on your list to try, go now before it's too late.

One of Houstons best small restaurants. Tonight's dinner was spectacular as always…read more However bittersweet. I have heard that they're closing. I can't wait to see what Ryan does next.

Wholly crepe is such a good place. Their food is very traditional for Russians and is delicious…read more Their decor is also amazing and I love their crepes and how they have so many options for crepes. Also their service is very good. When they first serve they speak in Russian and if you speak in English they speak in English. They also have so many drinks. I just love this place so much. It has the best food and decor and great service. If you're looking for a place with unique food and popular food like crepes then this is the place!!! Wholly Crepe!!

Wholly Crepe!! Russian Bistro - Tomball…read more What does authentic Russian hospitality look like? It looks less like a restaurant and more like a small doorway into someone's home -- a place where food is not rushed, and conversation is part of the meal. EXTERIOR: At first glance the building is modest, almost shy. A few outdoor seats, a quiet frontage, and public parking just around the corner. The kind of place you could easily pass -- and shouldn't. INTERIOR: Once you go up the steps, open the door, and the Northwest Houston surroundings fall away. The room feels lifted from a Russian village house, ( ): warm wood floors, wooden window frames, and intimate spacing. If you've ever been to Russia or watched any of the Russian movies or cartoons, this space will be familiar. Four tables and sixteen chairs, sit to the left; to the right, a narrow staircase evokes a country dacha, (). Larger tables gather families together, even a few small chairs waiting for children. Main room offers unique, (in glass shelves) Lomonosov Porcelain 1744 dishes, from St. Petersburg. As well as, carved wooden dishes, hand-painted details. Ask Mila and Bill for details. RUSSIAN HOSPITALITY: Arriving shortly after opening, Bill greeted me with a smile. Conversation came naturally and without agenda, as if we've known each other a long time. Mila, came out shortly after from the kitchen and I was able to converse with her in Russian and English. Both shared their meet story and how they decided to start this adorable business, May 2015. The story feels better heard from them directly. I set down to look at their abundant menu options. Meals here require patience. Many dishes are prepared from scratch. Part of Russian Hospitality is to welcome you in to their home, sit you down, spike up a genuine conversation and make a delicious home cooked meal. The rhythm slows; the outside schedule becomes irrelevant. I decided to order four of their popular dishes; #7 Tvorog Crepe, #24 Smoked Salmon Crepe, Siberian Pelmeni Bowl, and Cheburek. Let's go over each dish briefly. Gordon Ramsay once said - The way to know when something is cooked from scratch or microwaved is by the amount of steam or sizzling coming from the plate. #7 Tvorog Crepe - $12 Homemade Ricotta Cheese, Choice of Berries, Condensed Milk or Honey. I ordered mine with mixed berries, white powder and condensed milk. Something about taking each bite dipped in condensed milk with all the toppings makes your taste buds dance. Generous portions. #24 Smoked Salmon Crepe - $16 Tvorog Cheese, Salmon, Cherry Tomato, Green Onion, Salted Dill. As someone that adores a good salmon dish, clean flavors and a proper texture contrast -- delicate fish against warm crepe. The pairing works and generous portion. Siberian Pelmeni Bowl (24ct) - $17 Handmade dumplings in butter with your choice of dipping sauce. True Russian Hospitality - dish ware presentation along with the cuisine. The three-layered, brown color bowl looked presentable. Pelmeni looked freshly made and the steam coming from the bowl would make Gordon Ramsay smile. A slightly meatier filling would improve the ratio, but the flavor remains familiar and nostalgic. Cheburek - $9.50 Handmade Fried Meat Pie filled with Ground Beef & Onion. Served with your choice of dipping sauce. Good presentation and the taste was a good pairing combination with sour cream. Exterior texture was crispy, while the interior was soft. A fuller filling would strengthen it. OVERALL EXPERIENCE: While photographing the dishes, some cooled before I could eat them. Mila noticed and worried -- a small moment can be explained. If you've been around a Russian woman, you know they want nothing but the best for you when it comes to food. Wholly Crepe!! Offers some of the most unique and delicious cuisines for those who crave something different. Everything is made to order, from scratch, in small batches preserving authenticity and flavor. Come prepared to pause. The reward is a meal that feels cooked for you, not merely served to you.