Two restaurants share a single location in Katy

In terms of Italian food, business partners Jeff Miller and Fauna Miller have a reputation of offering diverse, yet traditional fare to their patrons.

After founding the well-known Hasta la Pasta concept, the Millers, along with their nephew Jason, opened Bistro 829 off Mason Road in 2002 to bring a gourmet Texas twist to popular American cuisine.

"I became personally interested in this concept after going to some of the [restaurants] in Austin," Jeff Miller said. "We wanted to offer gourmet food, but with a Texas influence. We call it Hill Country gourmet."

Shortly after closing the Bistro in 2009, the Millers teamed up with long-time friend Austin Bauer to open 3 Olives Italian Restaurant, bringing their classic pastas, seafood, steaks and chops up to their new gourmet standards. The restaurant features upscale dcor, artwork and furnishings, but the owners were careful to provide a casual, family friendly atmosphere, Miller said.

The corner of Westheimer Parkway and Peek Road is flush with dining options, but the Millers keep customers coming through their door because of their upscale-casual atmosphere, diverse menu offerings and a variety of services ranging from bar service to catering to private parties, Miller said.

"The menu is really what makes us different," he said.

Menu items include the lobster ravioli ($19) stuffed with crab meat, shrimp and lobster in a pink Suga Rosa sauce, and the Veal Saltimbocca ($17), an Italian classic featuring veal stuffed with bacon, mushrooms and Provolone cheese served in a sweet sherry sauce over angel hair pasta.

To the delight of their customers, the owners also brought in several guest favorites from the former Bistro 829, such as the chicken fried prime rib ($23), a thick-cut prime rib breaded and topped with a bacon-poblano cream gravy.

After receiving several comments from diners regarding the former Bistro 829 location, Miller decided to dedicate a portion of the 3 Olives restaurant space to house the new Bistro 829 in 2010. However, while 3 Olives is flourishing in the community, Bistro 829 has not yet recaptured the client base it once had.

"We decided to reopen the Bistro just from the comments received from our customers," Miller said. "They would ask, 'Where has the Bistro gone?' Perhaps because the Bistro was closed for a year and a half, we haven't been able to build it up to that previous level, but we live here, we go to church here, we go shopping here. I think customers appreciate the fact that we are local to Katy. There's a little bit of that personal touch."

Owner's Recommendations

• Crab Cake Made with colossal lump crab meat and baked, served with a black bean relish and creamy remoulade. ($9)
• Chicken Fried Prime Rib An item distinctive of Bistro 829, a thick cut prime rib slow cooked and breaded finished in the oven and topped with a bacon and poblano pepper cream gravy. Served with mashed potatoes and green beans. ($23)
• Roquefort Crusted Snapper Mild red snapper pan seared and lightly breaded topped with a basil Buerre Blanc. Served with spinach risotto and sauteed vegetables. ($22)
• Croissant Bread Pudding Traditional pudding served warm with a hot bourbon sauce. ($6)

Special Features

• Happy Hour is offered Sunday–Thursday from 3–7 p.m. for guests in the bar area.
• Although the space is too small for live music, the restaurants participate in the community Sip 'N Stroll and often use the patio to host events during the warmer months.

3 Olives Italian Restaurant

• 22764 Westheimer Parkway, Katy
• 832-437-4062
• www.3oliveskaty.com
• Mon.–Thur. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Sun. 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.

Bistro 829

• 22764 Westheimer Parkway, Katy
• 281-646-0829
• www.bistrokaty.com
• Lunch: Tues.–Fri. 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Dinner: Mon.–Thur. 5–9:30 p.m.
• Fri.–Sat. 5–10:30 p.m.
• Sun. 5–8 p.m.