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Tucked away from it all — yet in the middle of Uptown and mere blocks from the Galleria — is The Houstonian Hotel, a best-kept secret for know-you-by-name service and a quiet bar and dining scene. The winding entrance and guarded gate make many believe the hotel is as private as its swanky club. But once inside, guests discover why the property, named the #1 Resort Hotel in Texas by Travel + Leisure, retains a loyal, local crowd.

At TRIBUTE restaurant, chefs from Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico — led by Executive Chef Neal Cox — cook dishes “Houstonians love to eat” from passed-down family recipes and favorites they’ve learned from other cooks and kitchens. They create variations on beef, poultry, and seasonal seafood dishes from places where they’ve lived and worked.

TRIBUTE’s new summer menu features the Sage ‘n’ Bloom Salad, which is as lovely to gaze upon as it is to eat thanks to splashes of edible marigolds and nasturtiums tossed with baby kale, caramelized grapes, goat feta, and hibiscus vinaigrette. Also new on the menu is a King Salmon entrée with rich romesco, lima bean fricassée, spring onions, and honey-thyme glaze; Blackened Redfish served over classic crawfish étouffée, with popcorn rice and spring onion aioli; and Crawfish Cake with maque choux, pickled okra, chicory and smoked bacon.

The signature TRIBUTE Dry Rub is used in-house on Post Oak wood-grilled meats and is available for guests to purchase for at-home grilling and seasoning vegetables with tastes of fresh chilis, spices, and ground ingredients.

(Editor’s note: The TRIBUTE Dry Rub has been a spice cabinet staple in my household for the past four or five years. I highly recommend it for seared steaks, vegetables, fried eggs and more. You can conveniently pick it up at The Houstonian gift shop. — Phaedra Cook) 

At dusk, The Bar & Patio turns lively with after-work locals and hotel guests on weekdays, and wedding parties and neighborhood guests on weekends. Signature cocktails such as the Raspberry Smash with Plantation 3 Star Rum, lemon juice, white crème de cacao, and fresh raspberries, The Bluebonnet with Express 1908 Gin, lime juice, cucumber, mint, basil, and blackberry syrup, and the Dobel-Loma with Maestro Dobel Houstonian Edition Tequila, guava, lime, and fresh grapefruit are new to the menu.

The Live Oak Revival, made with Noble Oak Rye, barrel-aged honey, orange bitters, orange peel and Luxardo cherry, is an old fashioned Houstonian-style, as Noble Oak plants a tree for every bottle sold. Delicious bar dishes such as Gulf Coast Shrimp & Crab Campechana, Crawfish Hand Pies, Nachos de Carne Asada and the famous TRIBUTE Burger are not to be missed.

The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa is welcoming guests this summer with three enticing offers that will run through Labor Day weekend. TRIBUTE restaurant and The Bar & Patio are located at The Houstonian Hotel at 111 North Post Oak Lane in Houston. Valet is complimentary for guests who dine at TRIBUTE. Go online for more information.

Weekly Specials at The Houstonian

Smokin’ Prime Rib Fridays at TRIBUTE 

TRIBUTE’s house-smoked Painted Hills Prime Rib Dinner is an ultimate beef-lover-upper-crust favorite. Painted Hills Ranch in Oregon pasture-raise cattle perfectly without the use of added hormones, antibiotics, or animal by-products. Each Friday, The Houstonian’s chefs smoke this heavenly beef early in the morning and serve it with red wine au jus, jalapeño potato gratin, creamed baby spinach, and housemade horseradish sauce. The cost for this memorable meal is $89 plus tax per person; available for dine-in only each Friday through Labor Day from 5 to 10 p.m. To make reservations for Prime Rib Fridays, call (713) 685-6713, or visit OpenTable to reserve online.

Summer Social Hour at The Bar & Patio 

Say cheers to summer nights with good friends and great cocktails at The Bar & Patio at The Houstonian. Enjoy one of the finest margaritas in Texas or sample other signature cocktails by Sommelier Eric Blokkum. Through Labor Day from 3 to 6 p.m., enjoy a signature cocktails or house wines for $10, or $5 draft beers.

Wine Wednesdays in TRIBUTE 

Escape to The Houstonian each Wednesday for half-priced bottles of wine at TRIBUTE restaurant. Enjoy the perfect pairing of a sommelier-picked red, white, or rosé to complement your dining experience. Half-priced bottles of wine are offered every Wednesday through Labor Day from 5 to 10 p.m. To make reservations for Wine Wednesdays, call 713-685-6713, or visit OpenTable to reserve online.

Seliece Womble

Seliece is the Director of Public Relations & Marketing for The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa. With over 30 years of experience in hospitality, tourism and sports, she says she’s had the best jobs in Houston, and the Sports Business Journal called her an “Off-the-Bench Executive to Watch”. Before joining The Houstonian, she worked as VP of Ticket Sales & Business Communications with the Houston Rockets where she packaged the team’s brand promise with high-end sales practices and the results were recognized with a “Best Practice” by the NBA.

Earlier in her career as Senior VP, Sales & Marketing with the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau she learned many lessons about the visitor experience while selling Houston as a destination. Seliece brings a unique perspective as a practitioner that has packaged and marketed to sports spectators, corporate sponsors, convention attendees, private club members, and corporate & leisure travelers.