Under new ownership since November, Signature Bistro has been completely renovated inside and out. With a fresh new look and an updated menu, the cozy, converted house is the perfect place to wine and dine. With live music on the weekends and low lights in the evenings, the Bistro provides a truly intimate experience. Top it all off with extraordinary chef-prepared dishes and a sophisticated selection of fine wines, and you’ve got yourself a fine dining destination – without the long drive.
The time, effort and service put in by the staff at Signature Bistro is inspiring. Sisters, Elizabeth Grella and Melissa Baccus own the restaurant; but are often seen bar-tending and serving food. Executive chef, Bradley Hamil, greets guests whenever possible, garnering feedback on his signature dishes. Patrons feel more like family than customers and there’s a welcoming spirit unparalleled with most establishments due to the quaint, homelike layout and small scale of the restaurant.
Family-owned and operated restaurants are simply tradition for these two sisters. Their great-grandparents, Sam and Jean Grella, owned the famous Scampi Miramar located both in Boynton Beach, Florida, and Port Washington, Long Island, where high society and famous celebrities would dine in the 1940s and ’50s. As the name implies, the restaurant was responsible for creating and popularizing shrimp scampi. The sisters’ father (also named Sam) and mother, Jan, owned a restaurant in Houston coincidentally called The Bistro, and later played a prominent role in bringing live Maine lobsters to Houston by building the largest live holding system in the Southwest United States. Currently, he is a producer and importer of fresh and frozen seafood which helps in sourcing product for Signature Bistro!
The sisters continue the inventive tradition by creating unique and savory dishes with the help of chef Hamil. Graduating at the top of his class at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin and previously working at Brennan’s of Houston, Hamil specializes in fresh, quality cuisine with a modern focus on presentation and design. Ingredients are of the highest quality and sourced locally whenever possible, ensuring less travel time from farm to plate.
The Bistro specializes in seafood, with dinner entrees such as lobster ravioli and linguine pescatore, and farm-raised fish, such as Texas striped bass and salmon. Seasonal specials include lobster stuffed with a delectable crab stuffing on Fridays and Saturdays (while supplies last) and a new featured fish each week. Past featured fish include amberjack, black drum, snapper and red fish. In addition to fresh seafood, the restaurant also features fine dining regular dishes such as stuffed quail, lamb chops, pork chop and filet mignon. Quality appetizers, soups and salads are provided to accompany entrees – I, personally, recommend the Turtle Soup – along with a variety of spectacular desserts.
Lunch at The Bistro consists of lighter versions of the dinner menu, along with a variety of pastas and the mouthwatering Texas Kobe burger. Look out for the Reuben, Cuban, muffuletta and club sandwiches starting this month!
The Bistro, now open Sundays, welcomes guests for brunch with delicacies such as stuffed French toast topped with Cointreau berry compote and crab Benedict (poached eggs atop potato crusted crab cakes, topped with a spicy beurre blanc sauce). Happy hour crowds will be especially pleased with the bar menu. Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Signature Bistro’s full bar features tapas such as Texas Kobe beef sliders and tournedos topped with herb goat cheese and wild mushrooms – all under $5!
With a sophisticated variety of fine wine grapes ranging from Cabernets, Pinots and Merlots, but also including Carménères, Malbecs, and Muscadelles, Signature Bistro is fit for business meetings and wine tastings as well. Reserve your spot now for the July 28th Wine Social―a great way to meet and greet other wine aficionados, sample hors d’oeuvres, and talk about the various wines.
In addition to fine dining, guests enjoy a wide range of romantic soft-rock classics and blues with David Scwope and his 12-string guitar on Fridays and a variety of musicians on Saturdays. Several outdoor patio tables and seating in the bar area are provide a comfortable environment for the casual diner.
Come be a part of the family at Signature Bistro, located at 1918 NASA Parkway in Seabrook. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch, Tuesday through Friday and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner, Tuesday through Saturday, with the bar open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please call 281-474-4455 or visit the website for a full menu at www.signaturebistro.com; and be sure to become a fan on Facebook with updates, specials and lots of pictures!
Originally published in The SCENE Magazine – July 2010
Filed under: Food, SCENE Magazine
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