Provisions

My wife, son and I came to Provisions to send my son off to return to work in China. I had heard for months that the Pass and Provisions Is /​are one of the top culinary destinations in Houston and I was eager to see for myself.
I will cut to the chase: we were very satisfied with all aspects of our meal, so I will spend my review reflecting on what made the experience a pleasant one.
To begin with, we appreciated the attentive and informed service we received. Our waiter was able to answer all our questions promptly and with authority. It is always edifying when the waiter’s information and suggestions become a part of the dining experience.
As for the food, we ordered the brussels sprouts, the mushroom-​truffle pizza and the smoked-​veal cappelletti. All of them were delicious: Roasted brussels sprouts with a chili glaze and flavored with black sesame; a mushroom-​truffle pizza on a fire-​charred crust, and my favorite, the smoked veal cappellets, tent-​shaped pasta dumplings served with crispy sweetbreads, Swiss chard and a butternut squash purée. Brussels sprouts, pizza and pasta, what is specialisthe intersting combinations of flavors which cause you to linger over every bite.
A word about portion size: At these prices, one can be forgiven for being appehensive about being served portions that seem skimpy. The mystery is that a dinner of three modest-​sized dishes can leave you full at the end, unable to eat another bite.
Finally, a tribute to the dessert: At the waiter’s suggeston, we tried the «pistachio Financier» sort of a crusted pistachio cheesecake with «prune armagnac» and a yogurt Ice Cream with bitter chocolate. Kudos to the waiter for this suggestion. The combination of flavors was remarkable — I’m now a big fan of prune armagnac.
BTW, for history buffs, the restaurant occupies the site of original Antone’s, the Middle East Food Importer famous for their po-​boys.
All in all, The Pass and Provisions lives up to its destination status.

I’ve tried time and time again to love this place, but I guess I’m just not a fan of the super creative foods. At the end of the day, it still has to taste good.
Small shareable plates with a constantly changing menu. Nice décor, loud ambiance, great to catch up with friends. I’d definitely drink here and grab a bite, especially their pizzas. Their pizzas are the only reason why I’d give it 3 stars. Fantastic every time. Amazing rich flavors on every single pizza and the dough for the crust is out of this world, cooked to perfection. I’ve tried Provisions 4 times each time ordering 4 – 5 different plates, nothing is worthy of me writing about. Just go have a pizza and drink a delicious old fashioned!

Atmosphere is very nice– modern industrial with the kitchen open to the dining area. Menu is unique but somewhat confusing and rigid (i.e. Breads are paired with spreads and with cheeses. Variations of pairings were frowned upon by the waiter). We had to pay for two pairings to get the stuff we wanted to eat and discard the other stuff.
No real good looking salads on the menu. Lots of pates etc. We ordered the roasted Brussel sprouts but they got sent to another table then finally came out at an awkward time. They were good however.
The only Chardonnay by the glass was $ 20/​glass or $ 80/​bottle. Come on now… That’s just ridiculous.
Some at our table had the fish dish which one person loved it and the other wasn’t so excited about it and said that the fish was not hot. I had the ribeye and it was very good with a nice presentation.
Steep bill. Ok experience.

Good food /​experience, but with a real service snaffoo at the end. (Would have been 4 or 5 stars without out the issue).
We enjoyed this place — the food was pretty great (Cresta di Gallo/​Hen of The Woods/​Roasted Yeast/​Parmesan was my favourite, Whole Grain Mustard Pretzel was really good, Ham ‘O Day/​Mustard/​Rye super tasty, Mushroom-​Truffle/​Black Trumpets/​Sottocenere = yummy), and the service was really good throughout the meal.
BUT, as we were wrapping up, we were essentially kicked out of the restaurant. No confrontation /​nothing went wrong — as we paid the bill, they just asked us for our valet ticket so they could bring the car around, and when it came they came over and asked to walk us to the car. I was pretty appalled — I’ve never experienced anything like that. It was clear they wanted to get us out so they could re-​seat the table.

I was at provisions just last night with a friend. We were sat at the chef’s counter which was AMAZING! The chef took our orders, talked to us through out the meal, asked us how we felt about the meal. It was honestly such a good experience. I got the hen of the wood pasta (I don’t even like pasta but y’all raved about it so had to get it), it was delicious! And I also got the cucumber/​red oak salad (honestly this was the star of the meal), my friend got the short ribs and the Brussels sprouts and he wouldn’t stop raving about it!
Everyone was very nice and accommodating! Will definitely be coming back. Plus the head chef with tattoos is so hot!

First and foremost, the service is what you would expect from an establishment like this, excellent. Secondly the menu is fixed, so while most the dishes should be amazing there is a probability that one dish may not be to your liking, it was like that for us and the duck. What I would like to note is that the wine pairings where perfect, I was impressed, each wine was perfectly matched to the dish.
I would suggest this restaurant to anyone for a good date night or a special occadion, it’s a bit to expensive for most to do on a whim.

I really enjoy this place for its casual-​upscale atmosphere, delicious cocktail recipes, and fabulous small-​plate menu. It’s so near where I live but I still don’t get a chance to stop in very often. It’s one of my favorites in Houston, and I love that I can either meet for business or have a fun evening with friends here and not worry about anything. Sometimes service can be slower than you need on a time crunch, so if you want something delicious from the kitchen, don’t expect to stop in for half an hour and get on your way each and every time if you are heading to a show or just want to grab a bite before heading to an evening event. You can definitely do so for drink though!
It’s worth coming here over most other places in the area whether you are a local looking for a great place to frequent or entertain friends, or if you are a visitor looking to enjoy some of Houston’s best!

Amazing — I have nothing but good things to say about Provisions. The restaurant was definitely busy on a Saturday night, but we made reservations because this is just one of those places where you’d probably need one.
Complimentary valet. Menus serve as the tablecloth — very cool. Beautiful restaurant and attentive staff. Cloth towels in the bathroom, because who uses paper towels anymore?
My friends and I ordered a couple cocktails, then shared the roasted brussel sprouts, pulled pork sandwich, and caramelized onion pizza (Scamorza). The Brussels have a chili glaze on them that gives it so much flavor, and you’re being healthy because it’s a vegetable, right? The pulled pork sandwich is sized more like a burger; the meat is very tender, and I loved the tomato jam. But my favorite was the pizza!!! The perfect amount of savory cheese, super fresh ingredients, and doughy but crisp crust exactly how I like it! Delicious food and a simply wonderful experience.

Service is top notch but I felt that the food was overpriced for what it was. The dishes here are made to be shared with the table which was a unique.
We decided to try one of their $ 9 bread pairings to start our meal. After the server’s recommendation, we ordered the Laminated Squash Bread which was accompanied by Roasted Pepper Relish and Leonora (Goat Cheese). Although this bread was very good (probably my favorite part of the meal), I would not recommend sharing it with more than one person because it is a very small portion.
For the main entrée, we decided to share the Duck Confit Pizza and their Calamari Pasta. The pizza had a very unique taste to it which might have been a little too adventurous for me. I think it came from the «Mustard-​Crème Fraiche» which I am not entirely sure what that is. Aside from that, the duck confit/​kale combination was an intriguing concept. On the other hand, the Calamari Pasta turned out to be very good! The sauce was flavorful and even had a nice spice to it. My only gripe was that for $ 25 I did not find enough calamari to keep me satisfied.
In conclusion, the food wasn’t bad but I expected a lot more given the rave. Parking is complimentary which is nice because I wouldn’t have known where else to park!

We had the hen of the woods pasta (5 stars, out of this world delicious!), artichoke dip (it could have used less parsley, but the baguette and spread were nice), and the brussels sprouts (which were tasty but REALLY undercooked). The cocktails were fantastic, and service was great. On the expensive side, with entrees in the $ 20s+, but well worth it. The food was overall amazing.

I can’t rave enough about Provisions. I’ve dined here seven total times, twice for brunch, and it remains my restaurant of choice to introduce out-​of-​towners to Houston’s vastly underrated food scene. You’ll want to make a reservation, especially on weekends, as it can be tough to accommodate parties greater than 5 – 6 without due notice. There is valet, but you can also park just down the street in front of the Fed.
Provisions is the more affordable but still incredibly trendy sibling of the adjacent Pass, which regularly tops rankings of Houston’s finest restaurants. The external façade is nondescript, save for a large neon-​blue ampersand. Push through the door into a contemporary, industrial chic space with long wooden tables, thick metal pipes running across the ceiling, and walls of alternating wood panels and red brick.
The seasonal, small-​to-​medium courses are all designed to be shared family-​style, so order accordingly. At least one pizza is a must for a group larger than 3. Be warned: unless you are a chef or have a passion for unorthodox ingredients and preparations, the menu will require extensive googling. Do not hesitate to ask the knowledgeable and friendly waitstaff what on earth guanciale, sorrel, or huitlachoche are.
While the menu changes often, there are a few standouts that have seemingly secured permanence. I never come here without ordering the Scamorza pizza or Cresta di Gallo pasta. The wood-​fired Scamorza is sensational, with savory cured pork and caramelized onions accenting the relatively mild cheese; it tastes a bit like a smoky BBQ chicken pizza on steroids. The decadent, earthy Cresta di Gallo is hands-​down my favorite dish. I occasionally have dreams about the thick pasta, crisp hen-​of-​the-​woods mushrooms, and impossibly rich yeast-​parmesan sauce. Get the large– you wont regret it. Beyond those two, other items that have blown me away are the savory-​sweet duck confit pizza (topped with mustard and pickled currants), the juicy rib-​eye, pork belly, and the buttery hay-​smoked hamachi served cold. In general, Provisions truly shines in its meat-​based preparations that showcase extraordinarily rich, ambitious flavors.
The restaurant is not without its drawbacks, however. For one, a menu as experimental as this yields the occasional flop; the bland, tough cobia and a strange orange-​curry wild boar pasta come to mind. The cocktails are all pretty darn expensive as well, although if you must, give the spicy but refreshing Betsy Collins #2 a try. All things considered though, Provisions is one of my top 5 favorite Houston restaurants and a must for any serious food-​lover.
P. S. Provisions has one of the dopest restrooms I’ve ever seen. Fresh towels, private stalls, Julia Child on speaker, the works.

I like here everything, absolutely everything!
Menu. There is always plenty dishes to choose. You can taste everything you want. The menu is constantly updated.
Food. Rarely it happens that it does not like, but usually there is always homemade delicious. There is really nice stuff and service.

Wonderful dinner! We enjoyed the bread and cheese pairing, the chef has it arranged in recommended pairs and it was spot on. Also, we had a pizza and the ham of the day. Everything was just the right size for sharing.
I love the green tea, it is loose leaf served in a pot so it taste fresh. I find it better than most Japanese restaurants tea.
What made the place stand out was our waiter and waitstaff. He was friendly, gave great recommendations, and always smiling. Everyone was prompt in taking care of us and seemed to enjoy what they did.
Will definitely return.

Good place to come, hang out with your friends, drink some wine and share some small bites.
Some things feel more overpriced than others, like the bread/​cheese pairing. But, do try their fried chicken tortelloni. That was pretty awesome.

I recently met up with some girlfriends for brunch at Provisions. We ordered the buttermilk biscuits with butter and honey to start.
These biscuits were OUTSTANDING. They were flaky, buttery, and light, with several pillow-​y layers of biscuit-​y goodness. Paired with the herbed butter — which we deduced was flavored with thyme — and the smooth, sweet honey, they were absolute heaven.
Because all three of us are food-​obsessed, we ordered a bunch of things to share.
Next up were the roasted shishito peppers with Thai soffrito and cilantro.
These were another hit! The pop-​able peppers were beautifully roasted with a hint of smokiness on the skin. The smooth inside of each pepper was a great contrast to the slightly tougher exterior, and the flavors were playful and satisfying.
After the peppers, we enjoyed what was far and away my favorite part of the meal — the wood oven baked eggs florentine with spinach, mushrooms, and parmesan.
Lordy these were incredible. The velvety roasted potatoes were intoxicating with the silky, garlicky spinach and fragrant parmesan swirled in. The bubbling baked eggs sent everything over the top in this Skillet of Wonder. Accompanied by fluffy, fresh toast, this dish was utterly sensational.
*drool*
Last up was the belgian waffle with smoked maple ice cream and banana caramel.
So, basically dessert. Fantastic, beautiful, brunch-​y dessert. Since I don’t really have a sweet tooth, I cannot tell you the last time I even ordered a waffle. But Nelly, was this good. The waffle itself was fluffy, yet wonderfully crispy on the outside. The mashed up banana/​caramel fosters-​esque situation was divine. And that maple ice cream was light, not too rich, and not too sweet. I’m no waffle expert, but I feel confident in saying this was an impressive and exceptional waffle!
My brunch experience at Provisions was a home run. We did hit a small bump in the beginning when we were given an incorrect menu from the previous week (the menu changes, so look alive people) and were disappointed to learn there would be no falafel hash browns. BUT the great service and amazing food we ended up with more than made up for it! Brunch at Provisions is lovely and affordable, and the quality of the food is outrageously awesome. I’m dying to go back to try their dinner menu soon!

I went with a friend for lunch. Parking was a bit odd but not difficult. When you first walk in you can really get a feel for the place. It’s casual but a little bit more upscale. It really makes you feel like you’re at a fine dining restaurant while remaining casual. Both the hostess and waitress that served us were a big help in explaining the menu and how it worked.
We each ordered the pork confit tortellini and orange curry tortellini. They were both delicious. Each dish was flavorful and perfectly cook. For dessert we had the strawberry panzanella which was also delectable. Well balanced and a nice finish to the meal.
Overall this place has definitely made it to my top place to go back to. Highly recommend for anyone who is looking for a more finesse dining experience without emptying out the wallet.

Very cool space– high ceilings, light colored woods, clean lines and the bathroom, of all places, is definitely worth checking out with speakers piping in audio from Julia Child shows and farm style sinks. Definitely also appreciated the free valet parking, as the location is in a neighborhood where nearby street parking is a little hard to come by.
Our server was knowledgeable both about the menu items and the well thought out wine options. I loved the way that the white she helped me select paired with our meal. Didn’t love my cocktail, but I blame that on not paying attention to all the components listed on the menu rather than its preparation.
Bread and cheese: Lardo brioche with cherry tomato compote and Leonora (pasteurized goat cheese). The bread was buttery goodness with a nice, soft inside and crisp outside and paired beautifully with the sweet but tart compote and the smooth, rich cheese. Loved this combination and the individual components.
Pizza: Lamb sausage with English pea pesto, ricotta salata, and pea tendrils. A-​mazing. The crust was perfectly charred and crisp, the pesto was delicate, just the right amount of cheese, lamb was tender, and pea tendrils are the vegetable that I didn’t know I need to be eating all the time– this dish tasted so fresh and was really well balanced.
Pasta #1: Cresta de gallo, Hen of the Woods, Roasted Yeast, Parmesan: This dish is for lovers of earthy mushrooms– we found ourselves drinking the sauce at the end, no joke, and the yeast beautifully rounded out the flavor. Yum.
Pasta #2: Ramp bucatini, Clams, Guanciale, Parmesan: Well executed, the ramps were the stars of this dish, the clams nicely seasoned/​prepared, and the pasta was prepared al dente.
Fish: Cobia/​Fennel/​Leek/​Grapefruit: My least favorite dish of the evening. Well cooked in that there was a nice char on the outside of the fish, but it felt kind of «blah» after the above mentioned dishes.
Dessert: Strawberry panzanella, black pepper panna cotta, strawberry balsamic sorbet: This was a great way to end the meal. The sorbet had just the right amount of pucker, the panzanella was nicely caramelized, and the panna cotta had a hint of black pepper at the end. Again, expertly balanced.

Almost everything I’ve ever had here has been on point.
They really think outside the box with their dishes and I love how the menu is always changing.
I always order the ham O’day with a cheese/​bread board to start. This just really sets the tone with a nice cocktail or wine. I love their improved Moscow mule! It’s the best I’ve ever had. The ham O’day is thinly sliced cured meat. This time it was a prosciutto de parm and it literally melted in my mouth.
Then we had the truffle oil and mushroom pizza which was bomb! Probably one of the best pizza’s i’ve had in a while. Order! It won’t disappoint.
I ordered the uni toast which was not what I expected at all. It was uni and braesola literally just smeared on a piece of toast. It was slimy in texture and really threw me off guard. definitely the worst thing i’ve ever had here. but it did have a good taste.
If you plan in advance, I would highly recommend the other side of their restaurant, The Pass. I’ve eaten there 3 times and every time is a different experience. So much fun for special occasions. but definitely bring your appetite!

This was my most memorable meal of 2014 in Houston.
Scamorza (smoked Mozza), sweet onion, and guanciale pizza.
Uni fettuccini. Slightly salty but good flavors.
Beautiful snapper in shallow, smoky soup.
Arcodoro is my go-​to for simple cooked fish and Uchi for raw, but Provisions’ fish is the most flavorful fish dish I’ve had to date. The pizza wasn’t something to write home about, but this fish was outstanding.
The ambiance is created by the restructured warehouse look, furnished with large decors and cushy booths — a personal favorite, as it reminds me of Venice (California, not Italy).
I can’t wait to visit again.

I love going to a restaurant where you can’t really go wrong with whatever you order, and I think Provisions is one of them! (The worst thing in the world is ordering wrong at a restaurant and having food envy the whole time :() Everything at Provisions seems like it’s made in house, so it’s all fresh and delicious.
I’ve been here for dinner and brunch and both times, I’ve been impressed. The duck confit pizza was awesome, and even though I hate mustard, I could tolerate it in this pizza: P. I also liked the fresh bread and cheese with the ham o the day. Even though people rave about the cresta di gallo though, I thought it was just okay. The flavor was interesting but it was way too salty and the mushrooms were kind of sour? Portions here are pretty generous though!
For brunch, I had the smoked salmon sandwich made with in house smoked salmon and an everything bagel made in house too (I think). The bagel was toasty and crunchy, the salmon was tender and not too salty, and the pickled onion/​veggies complemented it nicely. I also tried the biscuits and of course, they were ah-​mazingly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I also really wanted to try the kolaches– next time! :p