Former Bistro Provence Revealed as Freshly Redesigned Bistro 555 in Memorial

Just a little over a month after closing Bistro Provence at 13616 Memorial, thus concluding a 22-year run, owner Genevieve Guy has unveiled her brand-new restaurant concept in the same location, Bistro 555. The setting has a refreshed and updated look, sporting deep, sky blue walls that nicely set off many paintings of French landscapes, as well as menus that date back as far as the 1920s from restaurants founded in Alsace by Guy’s grandparents and great-grandparents.

Gone is the old black-and-white checkered floor, revealing the concrete underneath which has been stained to a glossy auburn gold. For now, the new wood plank table tops are exposed for admiration, but once the coronavirus threat passes, tablecloths will be pressed into service (so to speak) for dinnertime.

Bistro 555 dining room
The freshly remodeled dining room housing new restaurant Bistro 555. Photo by Paula Murphy.

While Bistro Provence’s menu was focused on the classic dishes of its namesake region, Guy’s culinary perspective is now expanded to include modern cuisine from her Alsace homeland. Located in eastern France, Alsace’s dishes are also influenced by neighboring Germany.

Bistro 555’s name refers to the five daily choices in each of three categories on the menu: entrée, main course and dessert. The dishes are seasonally driven based on what is fresh and available, and therefore will change regularly. That said, appetizers on the inaugural menu includes Artichauts Barigoule, or artichokes with bacon and white wine and Charcuteries Maison (the house charcuterie platter with rillettes and hazelnut paté).

Bistro 555 owner Genevieve Guy
Bistro 555 owner Genevieve Guy. Photo by Paula Murphy.

Among the entrée selections: Quenelle de Saumon Haeberlin (wild salmon filet, snapper mousse and white wine shallot sauce), Côte de Porc Marinée aux Herbes, an herb-and-olive oil-marinated pork chop and Cuisse de lapin à la moutarde (rabbit leg with an oregano mustard sauce).

Even though Bistro 555’s menu leans more to modern France, that doesn’t mean classic dishes won’t appear, such as the ever-popular Escargots Maison in garlic butter with parsley, which takes advantage of the wood-burning oven held over from Bistro Provence and Salade Lyonnaise with frisée, bacon bits, croutons and a poached egg. Desserts also lean distinctly towards the familiar, with current selections that include Pavlova Meringue with fresh fruits, Crème Brulée and Chocolate Mousse with Hazelnuts.

One thing that hasn’t changed from Bistro Provence: there’s still an extensive collection of French wines, available by the glass and bottle.

Bistro 555 is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for dinner on Mondays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner Tuesdays through Thursdays,  11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner on Fridays and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner only on Saturdays. The restaurant is closed on Sundays. Make reservations by calling (713) 827-8008 or sending an email.

 

Disclosure: Bistro 555 is a valued Houston Food Finder sponsor that makes our articles possible. 

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