Le Jardinier
Modern French restaurant · Museum District
5500 Main St Suite 122, Houston, TX 77004
Highlights
French fine dining with seasonal produce & accomplished sauces.
French fine dining with seasonal produce & accomplished sauces.
"Some would advise against ordering a burger at such a fancy place, but sometimes, rules are meant to be broken. Available at the bar or during lunch, this $32 juicy wagyu burger offers the most balanced combination of salt and fat, with a topping of Gruyere cheese, tartar sauce, and pickled onions. The included side of Le Jardinier’s pommes dauphine, pillowy piped mashed potatoes fried in choux pastry, is a must to complete this meal at one of the fanciest burgers in town. Pro-tip: For a post-museum dinner on a weekday, head to the bar between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. for $12 cocktails, $6 beers, and $12 glasses of wine." - Brittany Britto Garley
"With a name that means “the gardener” in French, MFAH’s restaurant oozes cultivation and seasonality in its menu and charming interior. Expansive windows illuminate the dining room with natural light by day, and a mirrored backdrop above the bar is one of the restaurant’s main attractions. Request one of its booths, which give a great view of the vibrant, multicolored hanging carpet mural of trees in the dining room, while also facing the windows that give glimpses into the Cullen Sculpture Garden. Go for the five-course Seasonal Expression tasting menu for a marvelous showcase of art you can eat, including a standout scallop crudo and Maine lobster vol au vent, or order a la carte. The Ora King salmon, served with white asparagus, saffron hollandaise, and confit kumquats, tastes like spring." - Marcy de Luna
"During a one-night tasting called Flavors in Bloom from chefs Felipe Botero and Alain Verzeroli, spring-forward dishes shone; standout courses included poached white asparagus brightened with citrus and confit kumquats (a noted favorite vegetable of the chef) and a Maine lobster served with peas and a creamy, vegetal mint emulsion with foam. The multi-course menu also featured highlights like cured hiramasa with Royal Kaluga Caviar and blackberries and a final Parrot Mango Bliss dessert with passion fruit cremeux, and many of these items appear on the restaurant’s spring menu." - Brittany Britto Garley
"Price: $$$$ Find beautiful, exhibit-worthy dishes at this Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant that’s tucked into the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Chef Felipe Botero creates an inventive menu that displays seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and locally sourced meats and seafood that are pleasing to both the eye and palate, like the Spanish rabbit tortellini served in a parmesan cream, pea ricotta ravioli, and roasted lamb chops served with a spring casserole. Looking for something quicker? Try the restaurant’s bar bites menu, which features smoked trout dip with potato chips and roe, its decadent wagyu burger topped with Gruyere, and an extensive cocktail menu (including nonalcoholic options). If you drive: The museum offers valet and garage parking, the most convenient option, at a reduced rate for those dining at Le Jardinier. Parking for MFAH members is free." - Brittany Britto Garley
"Make the most of Houston’s most temperate weather with a visit to Le Jardinier, the Michelin-starred French fine-dining restaurant situated within the Museum of Fine Arts: The restaurant has a picturesque patio overlooking the serene Cullen Sculpture Garden. Diners can enjoy elevated yet comforting dishes like the wagyu beef burger with Gruyère or the pillowy chestnut ricotta agnolotti with caramelized salsify." - Brittany Britto Garley
