DINE WRITE | march 2010
SIMPLY DELICIOUS | THE CHELSEA MARKET
Tucked into The Chelsea Market, this “casual upscale” grill will have you reconsidering your idea of counter service. Counter service and consistency are not usually associated. The Chelsea Grill defies that notion.
The décor is modern with black and deep red accents and golden lighting. This alone differentiates this grill from others that offer the same ordering system. No kitschy, bright whimsy around. Just clean, modern, simple décor so the only detail you focus on is the star, the food.
With ingredients like shiitake mushrooms, chipotle aioli and balsamic onions to name a few, deciding what to order will take longer than a hot second. I stared at the menu a good 10 minutes after ordering the Hummus and Grilled Pita to start.
With so many delicious choices, I figured if we get the Hummus first, I could taste it and let my taste buds be my guide. Sure enough, the Hummus and Grilled Pita was on spot. I’ve never had the pita grilled before and this one small detail makes a huge difference – oh, the aroma of it! I could “taste” the toasted goodness before I dipped into a generous amount of hummus. The hummus is simple, not doctored or over garlicky. (I wasn’t feeling the after effects hours later. A delightful first to be honest.)
Having hurdled over the starter with flying colors, I imagined I was safe ordering just about anything. American dishes sit alongside Italian and Tex-Mex, so ordering is just deciding what you’re in the mood for. We ordered the Grilled Buffalo Burger and the 3 Cheese Lasagna with Meat.
While waiting on our order we had the chance to taste the Sweet Potato Won Tons. They were as delicious as aesthetically pleasing. Filled with ricotta cheese, pecans, sage, honey and served with a balsamic reduction and chili oil, I wasn’t sure what flavor to expect. A sweet but savory and spicy, crunchy combo is what I got. If you’re looking to taste something unique, this has it all.
The moment I set eyes on the grilled buffalo burger, I thought “whoa!” The burger is served open so you see the balsamic red onions and grilled green tomatoes a op the buffalo patty and the fat-free green chile mayo slathered on the top bun. It’s impressive. The buffalo meat is tender and juicy; the flavor of the onions and slight crunch of the tomato is brightened up with the chile mayo.
A mountain of crispy sweet potato/shoe string potato mixture is served on the side. They’re hard to resist.
The 3 Cheese Lasagna with Meat left me giddy with delight. You would think you can’t mess up this classic but it’s been done. Usually, I find places try to doctor the marinara and that alone annoys me. There’s no need to mess with a good thing. Just take fresh ingredients and make it classic. This grill does just that! Ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella are sandwiched between layers of pasta and ground meat smothered in a roasted tomato marinara. The flavors are classic. It’s simple and that makes it delicious. I boxed up my leftovers and it even tastes awesome after reheating.
My meal left me excited to have found another go-to place for dining in or taking out. The ingredients are fresh. And just like the simple décor, the food is simple but the quality at The Chelsea Grill is unparalleled compared to other counter service counterparts.
sample menu selections
SALADS
• Grilled Shrimp and Spinach Salad Served with Shaved Fennel and Manchego Cheese, Black Olives, Orange Segments, Pink Peppercorn Vinaigrette.
• Grilled Chicken and Spinach Salad with Sugared Spice Pecans, Apples, Goat Cheese Pin Wheels with an Apple Cider Vinaigrette.
SANDWICH/BURGERS
• Mahi Mahi Fish Sandwich with Cabbage Slaw and a Chipotle Aioli.
• Mozzarella Arugula Sandwich with warm Buffalo Mozzarella, Grilled Tomato with Fresh Basil Pesto.
ENTREE
• Grilled Snapper Filet with White Wine Cream Sauce topped with Avocados. Served with Grilled Vegetables.
• Chelsea Fried Chicken Breast with Roasted Garlic Black Pepper Gravy served with Green Beans and Mashed Potatoes.
• Hickory Smoked Baby Back Ribs BBQ Pork Ribs Smoked for 4-5 Hours and served with Shoe String Potato Mixture and Red Onion Rings.
THE CHELSEA GRILL
4621 Montrose Blvd. In the Chelsea Market
Houston, TX 77006| 713.942.9857
Hours: Monday – Friday – 11am-9pm | Saturday – 9am-9pm (brunch 9am-noon) | Sunday – 9am-5pm (brunch 9am-5pm)
By Beatrice Valencia | Photography by Kim Coffman
