Heights’ Revival Market opened for dinner service in May 2015…..a “Preservation” Kitchen sources ingredients from local farms to create a modern American Menu with a Gulf Coast Texas farm-to-plate sensibility.
About Revival Market
The original concept opened its doors in March, 2011, was conceived as the owners, Ryan Pera of Coltivare and Morgan Weber’s, 21st Century rendition of the traditional neighborhood grocery, (something I totally get as I was raised in one of those!). It stocked its shelves and fresh foods sourced from local family farms and artisanal products from across the country. It boasts and acclaimed charcuterie program and other noteworthy products that include house made condiments, sauces and jams plus so much more!
Then came the Revival Market Café
Originally serving breakfast and lunch daily, Revival Market added seating and dinner in May of 2015 to serve to their many customers who were part Coltivare (sister restaurant) hangers-by or for those in the market that after looking and possibly purchasing wanted to have a seat and dine in this warm, neighborly atmosphere.
Grocery shelves still stock the house made condiments, sauces and pickles that the Market is known for as well as a curated selection of artisanal food products and located sourced staples like bread, milk and eggs. (manager, Lanye Chapman Cruz)
The gleaming butcher and charcuterie cases remain, and the coffee bar (soon to be expanded to a spirits bar as well). All of this remains in front of the old Charcuterie aging room and many of the old elements of its original grocery have remained since it opened back in 2011.
Our Dining Experience
After looking at the menu, myself, hubby and our friends, fellow-foodies, the Soefers, decided that ordering plates to share was the way to go. We asked a lot of questions and got quite a cross-section of flavors and food categories to taste and there was nothing, literally, that we tried that we did not love!!! That says a lot!
Cured Plate: head cheese, pepperoni, salami mugano, coppa, chicharron, whipped lardo (yes, flavored LARD that was divine), sour cucumber and buttermilk ricotta. Those beige crispy items in the lower left were pork rinds……have not had in years and many of the younger set have never had……i could have eaten them all!!!
Summer Sqash: heirloom tomatoes, pole beans, pecans, chilis, country ham, tamarind!!!
Texas watermelon: cherry tomato, rosted corn, french feta, basil, preserved lemon (so fresh and for someone like me, that can eat watermelon three times a day, it was purely a touch of heaven!
Broccoli: topped with chili agriodolce, horseradish. Gave broccoli just the right amount of kick that I loved…..can’t wait to try this one at home!
Desserts: Laney suggested we try several…the lemon vanilla panna cotta was wonderful but hands-down favorite for us was this buttermilk pie, with luxardo gastric, peaches and cream….lightly divine; good thing we only had one for four of us!
Please be warned: Revival Market is open for dinner and working on its private club liquor licensing which should come along any day…..until then BYOB. It will be worth the wait, as Morgan Weber’s drinks will be using naturally fermented mixes. Also, note that the market will remain open during dinner hours so if you love something, there’s a good chance you can buy it right then.
In conclusion, this is a sampling of what we dined on plus there were many other great choices that will just make us go back, as our decision by committee, was that there was nothing that we didn’t love and would order again! Way to go Ryan Pera and Vincent Huynh!
A few Details: location: 550 Heights Blvd. at White Oak; phone: 713-880-8463; Open 7 days/week for Breakfast, Lunch and new, Dinner (dinner tues.-sunday only)
Visit website: www.revivalmarket.com for more on their menu options and to check specific hours by day.
photos courtesy of MyRedGlasses