Chroma is an all-day cafe open in The Menil Collection. (Courtesy Rebecca Wright)
Featuring globally inspired comfort fare, a new restaurant by chef Claire Smith has officially opened inside The Menil Collection. The all-day cafe is called Chrôma.
What we know
Chrôma will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktail hour and weekend brunch, according to a June 30 news release.
The menu will feature items that bring a sense of comfort, officials said, such as coffee and fresh pastries, as well as lunch and dinner options like chicken flautas, ratatouille, red snapper and the Campechana, which is made with shrimp, crab and summer gazpacho. Salads, shareables and desserts will also be available.
The restaurant will be open Sunday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
What they're saying
"I'm honored by the trust the Menil Foundation has placed in me," Smith said in the release. "Chrôma will be a space that reflects the creativity and warmth of the Menil community—a place where visitors, neighbors and art lovers can gather, dine and connect."
The cafe will serve traditional cafe items in the morning, including coffee and fresh pastries. (Courtesy Rebecca Wright)
One more thing
Chrôma is designed by architect Dillon Kyle. Per the release, the 2,900-square-foot space showcases a 30-foot sculptural bar crafted from seven varieties of marble, a wood ceiling layered with hundreds of bright orange felt leaves and a smaller patio that overlooks the Menil Collection's iconic Jack sculpture by artist Jim Love.
"The space is an allegorical landscape," Kyle said. "We have created a light and airy space that brings in the existing nature and landscape, aiming for a casualness that is comfortable to all.”
