Restaurant Cinq

This was my first fine dining experience, and it was excellent. The service, food, and atmosphere made a comfortable, inviting and romantic evening for my fiance and me. The biggest surprise were the large portions. I worried we would leave hungry, but it was quite the opposite. We were stuffed.

I would like to suggest to all the gentlemen out there that this would be a wonderful one night getaway for you and your significant other. Just reserve a room, have dinner and enjoy life.

Restaurant Cinq is located just minutes from downtown Houston inside the beautiful La Colombe d’Or Hotel, a historic mansion built in 1923. Originally built as the private residence of the founder of Humble Oil, this elegant building later housed the local Red Cross office. This landmark property, centrally located and close to the Texas Medical Center, Rice University, downtown, River Oaks and Greenway Plaza, now serves as a boutique hotel, a fine dining establishment and a gateway to the Houston Museum District. The public areas in this stately manor are unique and bring you back to a time when things were much simpler. The library is a great place to enjoy conversation during happy hour or as you wait for the rest of your group to arrive. I suggest you take the time to walk around a bit and check things out.

The dining areas at Restaurant Cinq are absolutely gorgeous. There are a number of different rooms to accommodate groups of different sizes. Stop by the classic bar and have drinks before dinner, as we did, for a sensational start to an incredible culinary experience. The restaurant has a wonderful array of specialty cocktails. We ordered a L.C.D Old Fashioned (bourbon, muddled cherry, orange bitters and triple sec) and a French Texan (Texas vodka, St-Germain, lime juice and a twist). I particularly enjoyed the French Texan – it was wonderful! I’ve said this before, but I will say it again: to get the most out of the experience when dining at a fine restaurant, I suggest you allow the chef to choose your courses and wine pairings. The chef is highly-trained professional when it comes to taste combinations, plus he has inside knowledge on what is freshest and “au point” that evening. We left the selection of our plates to the chef and were not disappointed.

The first course, a Crispy Foie Gras, was simply divine. The fatty duck liver topped with Berries Marmalade and Balsamic Vinaigrette went perfectly with the Gerard Bertrand with which it was paired. This original rosé had a very pale pink color along with some gray and whitish tints and the bouquet revealed delightful red berry scents. What a fabulous start to a wonderful evening!

The next course was an amazing presentation of Smoked Octopus, Saffron Custard, and maple sugar accented with toast and coffee. The octopus, paired with Acrobat Pinot Gris 2012, was smoked to perfection. It had just the right flavors and texture as you can imagine as you look at the photography.

Next up was one of my favorite dishes of the evening, the Heirloom Tomato Mélange with Pesto & Fresh Mozzarella paired with a fresh, crisp French Sauvignon Blanc. The mozzarella and tomatoes were so fresh and delightful; every bite had me chasing for another! Once again, the Chef had this small plate paired perfectly; the Henri Bourgeois Petit Bourgeois Sauvignon Blanc 2012 had herbal notes, some grassiness and no discernible oak flavor. It was a superb accompaniment to this vegetarian dish.

And now for the famous Restaurant Cinq entrees I have heard so many great things about. First, we enjoyed the Pan-Seared Gulf Red Snapper; a fresh and perfectly cooked fish topped with wild-caught lump crab and Beurre Blanc, it was my favorite dish of the night. It was unbelievably delicious with flavors that go on for days! The cherry on top was the Beurre Blanc (French for “white butter”) a rich and creamy sauce similar to a Hollandaise. Simply a wonderful dish which pairs beautifully with a Chardonnay. For our final entrée, we enjoyed the Roasted Rack of Prime Colorado Lamb served with spinach, carrots and mint sauce. Now, I must admit that lamb is not my favorite dish, and doubt I would have ordered it if I were doing the choosing. But, since I let the chef choose my dinner menu course by course, I had the pleasure of savoring the lamb here at Restaurant Cinq – and it was amazing! The lamb was paired with a La Colombe d’Or label Merlot 2012, a vintage which was deeply rich with berry and oak flavor.

And last, but definitely not least, came my favorite course, dessert! Chocolate Mousse: a smooth, sweet, light mass made from whipped cream and beaten egg white and flavored with both white and dark chocolate and assorted berries. Wow! What a delight! It was paired with Champagne: La Colombe d’Or Private Lable Brut NV. You must save room as the dessert here is well worth it. Restaurant Cinq lived up to the hype and more. It’s a great place to enjoy a delicious meal with friends or family. And it’s “the” place to go to share an intimate evening with that special someone. For your meal selection, I urge you to go with the Chef’s recommendation. And, after a fine meal, why not spend the night in one of the mansion’s elegantly-decorated rooms? All in all, this was a feast for the senses and one you must experience for yourself!

Liked it, didn't love it.. I had heard glowing reviews of Restaurant Cinq, so I went in with high expectations. The food was good, but not exceptional. The meats were nicely done, but the portions accompanying vegetables were very small, and seemed to be there mostly for appearance. The only outstanding dish was the Truffle Mac & Cheese.

My only real culinary complaint is that Red wines should be served at around 65 degrees, not 80. The concept of serving a red wine at room temperature came from cooler climates.

The service was generally good, until it came time to get our check. It took about a half hour to get our check and pay.

Would I go back? I'm not sure. There are a number of very good restaurants in that area, and Restaurant Cinq, seems to be in the middle of the pack.

Romantic to the extreme! The artwork, chandeliers, historic wooden floors, and molding all come together to create a charming atmosphere. The service is impeccable and at the same time personable. The food is exquisite, and so beautifully presented. A great dining experience.

Guys take notice….If you want a true Romantic setting for dinner combined with some of the most delectable food in the city, then go here. There is a story behind the restaurant's opening 38 yrs ago that I will let the staff tell you about. This place will knock your date's socks off!The beautiful art covering the walls & impeccable table service are a huge plus. There is even an art gallery upstairs!! We were at this place celebrating our 12th anniversary and we had the entire restaurant and all it's art and ambience all to ourselves. 1 more star this place deserves 6

I was so full. I look forward to a return trip. The place has an awesome atmosphere. I see why this place has so many good reviews.