La Brocante is a small french restaurant located on Houston ’s west side in the Royal Oaks area. The inside has an early 20th century Frech look which is surprising since it is located in a small strip mall – which is very common in Houston . The restaurant is run by well known local chef Chef George Guy and his wife; she serves as both hostess and head server. The food is presented daily on a chalkboard, with a few off the board dishes.

We were there for lunch on a Friday afternoon. Surprisingly there was only 1 other table occupied, which seems a shame since I felt like all this good food was waiting for somebody to eat it. We started with the ritelle (a sort of duck confit hash) and pate canard, which was done ia a force-meat style. I am not sure where they source their baguettes, but I would like to know; they are delicious. The ritelle was tender with nice hints of juniper berries, but think I’d pass on the pate, which was bland in taste. I ordered the duck confit, which is served with thinly sliced potatoes, rather than the traditional cassoulet. The potatoes are almost like potato chips, very crispy but tender and al dente inside. The duck confit had a thin layer of cracker meal breading on it which could have been left off. I like my duck confit with crispy skin. You know the kind that is salty, crispy, and melts in your mouth.

My companions had a duck confit and goat cheese salad and the salmon grantinee. The duck confit and goat cheese salad is a salad with an herbed vinegrette and a phyllo dough purse containing duck confit meat and soft goat cheese. The goat cheese is creamy and slightly sweet, which helps to balance the cured saltiness of the duck. Presentation and taste wise, this is a better entree to replace the duck confit.

The salmon gratinee was the star of the day. It is served cooked with potatoes, swiss cheese, and freshly house smoked salmon chunks. It is creamy but not too much so. Hints of cumin provided a delicious earthy taste which prevented the dish from taking off into the French supercream sky.

The restaurant will not thrill non-French food eaters, but could very well keep a good croud of those over 30.

La Brocante

2825 S Kirkwood Rd
Houston, TX 77082

(281) 556-0606