The eatery will open on the ground floor of a new commercial building at 4411 San Felipe St., Houston. It is being launched by a new Houston-based hospitality group, Le Ciel Hospitality, run by entrepreneurs Ryan Henry, Adel Sadek and Fasl Ty.
The concept is inspired by the summertime scene along the coastline of the Côte d’Azur in the French Riviera, according to a Dec. 14 press release. With 8,000 square feet of space, the venue will feature a 240-seat main dining room with imported Italian porcelain floors, a 360-degree Barrisol Mirror ceiling fixture and a statue of Zeus designed and hand-painted by Mexican artist Karla de Lara.
An elevated lounge off the front entrance will feature a 35-foot white marble slab bar that seats 14 people. The venue will also include a thousand-bottle wine cellar and a private dining space that can seat up to 40 guests. A 140-seat, open-air patio is slated to open in the spring, according to the release.
“We painstakingly selected every detail in the interior to create a space built for unstuffy fine dining with exceptional cuisine, stylish presentations and beautiful art not found anywhere else in the city that will feel like a portal to a glamorous, fun-filled European getaway," Sadek said in a statement.
The food menu focuses on "inventive" French and Japanese dishes with fresh fish imported daily from Japan and New Zealand, according to the release. In addition, diners will find prime steak cuts sourced from a local grass fed farms, non-GMO caviar, sushi and raw bar staples.
The kitchen will be lead by Executive Chef Joseph Geiskopf, whose past work includes the three-star Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark. He will be joined by Chef de Cuisine Frank Hernandez and Pastry Chef Micaela Victoria.
The beverage program, also inspired by the French Riviera with a Japanese twist, includes house cocktails 150 wine options, champagne, sake and dessert wines.
A live DJ will provide music during the evenings on Wednesdays through Sundays, and the owners said they plan to bring in other pop-up entertainment.
713-832-2435. www.cielhtx.com
