NYC 2 BIG D: Hearsay Gastro Lounge

Cyberspace: www.hearsayhouston.com

Where to Find It: 218 Travis Street, Houston, TX 77002

Food Group: American, Gastro Pub

How Much to Fork Over: $$

The Grade: A+

Faves: Cocktails, The Byrd, Mac and Cheese

Peeves: Why don't we have one of these in Dallas?

The Jibba Jab:

Time-Honored Sophistication. If I were to create a fictional scene of how my grandparents met, Hearsay would be the location in which I would film it. The building it resides in, which was built in 1860, could be a movie because of the history alone. It was a Confederate armory store owned by John Kennedy and was raided by the Confederacy after General Lee’s surrender, but the building was spared until 1888 when half of it burnt to the ground. Then the next year it was restored by Houston architect Eugene T. Heiner, which updated it to a 20^th century façade. With a little knowledge of the building’s history, simply sipping on a cocktail or enjoying a burger at this establishment now becomes an experience back in time. If you do actually come here, and I recommend it, and take in your surroundings then you will understand what I’m talking about.

Located in the heart of downtown Houston, our good friends, who live within minutes from Hearsay, took us here because they loved the food, and they were right! Now, their cocktails are just as old-timer as the building, but they also have a modern twist to them from the Good Bloody Mary and Halapeño Cocktail, which are both made with a very spicy vodka, to the La Rosette Champagne Cocktail and Lavish Collins. On the other hand, their gastro-lounge grub is anything but geezer-like. We began to please our empty bellies with an order of the Bacon and Chive Deviled Eggs. Yes, I know…..Deviled Eggs again? What can I say? We are fans, and these did not disappoint. We also started with the Jumbo Lump Crab Cocktail with Avocado. I have to say that was some of the freshest and sweetest crab meat I’ve tasted in quite some time, and it was a great take on a ceviche.

Good Bloody Mary and La Rosette

Halapeno Cocktail

For our mains, we just had to have The Byrd burger because A) It was suggested and B)It sounded quite amazing. Just read the following: Angus Beef, Applewood Bacon, Cheddar, Mozzarella, onions, jalapeños, fried egg, avocado, ketchup, mustard, mayo & tomato on a sweet bun served with mac and four cheese….ummm….See what I’m saying? We also had to try the Smoked BBQ Brisket Sandwich with rosemary fries because who doesn’t like brisket in Texas? Take into count that these two orders are going to feed 4 people. We were told that they were big enough to do just that, so we listened, and very glad that we did. The other table members ordered the Shrimp and Chicken Spring Rolls, Lamb Chop Pops, and the Stuffed Chicken Breast. When our Byrd came out with the Mac and Cheese, I was bouncing out of my seat with excitement. It was massive, looked amazing, and smelled even better! The Brisket Sandwich didn’t have the same dramatic entrance in my mind, but it was still quite large in size. I cut the Byrd and Brisket Sandwich in quarters, passed them around, while salivating at the mouth, and then finally dove into my portion. Wow, Wow and another Double Wow!! The Brisket was incredibly flavorful, and tangy, the Mac and Cheese was “bowl lickable” and the Byrd…..well…. sorry, I was entranced. Juicy, meaty, cheesy, spicy, yolky, bacony. I will have dreams about this burger! Sorry, MT.

Now the other dishes on the table looked delicious, but didn’t get a chance to try because I was basking in the glory of our own. At this point, you could come here for the great cocktails or to visit one of the oldest buildings in Houston, but if you really want an experience, then come here for The Byrd.