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Peach Wood Grilled Oysters with garlic , lemon and butter photographed at Liberty Kitchen.: Karen Warren/Chronicle
Give me Liberty…
No, seriously. Give me Liberty Kitchen & Oyster Bar’s burger on a Slow Dough bun; a skillet of mac & cheese loaded with cheddar, shrimp, sausage, bacon and chiles; wood-fire grilled Alabama catfish with remoulade; or a hefty porterhouse steak with herb butter. And bring on a platter of some of the briniest oysters in town.
I want it all from this newcomer in the Heights conceived by the team that gave us BRC Gastropub. “EAT” shouts the tall sign marking this casual, fresh-faced eatery. We don’t need to be told twice, especially since there are so many craveables that chef Lance Fegen has stuffed into the menu that suggests a New England oyster bar with a huge crush on the Gulf Coast and a frequent flyer’s lust for travel.
Double Double Liberty Burger and fries at Liberty Kitchen.: Karen Warren/Chronicle
Breakfast, served Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., features brisket and potato hash; English muffin sandwiches; chicken sliders with cream gravy; chicken-fried steak with local hen eggs; fried oyster omelet; and mini breakfast donuts. Daily lunch and dinner offerings include fresh and charcoal grilled oysters; oyster stew and crab gumbo; grilled skirt steak Cobb salad; grilled fresh fish; grilled steaks; burgers (using daily-ground beef); fried shrimp and catfish sandwiches; My Dee Dee’s pies and soft-serve vanilla custard.
Fegen, who grew up in New Jersey said he blended an East Coast seafood house aesthetic with his love for Southern food (emphasis on the Gulf) and his passion for travel (you’ll see Hawaiian tuna poke on the menu) when he created Liberty with partners Lee Ellis, Carl Eaves and Will Davis. “It’s global coastal seafood with American sensibilities and comfort,” Fegen said. “It’s part of a lifelong process of what I think a really good seafood restaurant is, which is not limited just to our region.”
The menu bears out that seafood love: oysters from East and West coasts; Texas Gulf shrimp cocktails; Chesapeake crab balls; Seattle cured salmon; freshwater trout and local fish. There’s a smart, casual vibe to the selections but Fegen also knows how to lay on the luxe: a Crab Louis salad heaped with blue crab; a ribeye steak drenched in herb butter; and a grilled Maine lobster drenched in whiskey butter.
The Creole Shrimp Gumbo with fried oysters and okra photographed at Liberty Kitchen.: Karen Warren/Chronicle
Even more seafood indulgences are being planned. Fegen says he’s hoping to soon offer a greater variety of oysters, Hawaiian fish, specials with crawfish tails and banana leaf-wrapped fish.
That poses even more liberty in menu choices. Which is what Fegen said inspired the restaurant’s name. “We wanted to give the menu liberty. Eat what you want to eat. So it stuck.”
We’re sure Liberty will too.
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Liberty Kitchen & Oyster Bar, 1050 Studewood, 713-802-0533; libertykitchenoysterbar.com
Interior Liberty Kitchen.: Karen Warren/Chronicle
Interior Liberty Kitchen.: Karen Warren/Chronicle
$2.50 for a single egg. $1.80 for a CAN of coke. 12 bucks for that mac and cheese. And $14.50 for that burger. Yeah, it better be awesome. Are those the new casual eatery prices nowadays?
Yep, after looking at the menu I think I will get my burgers across the street at Someburger.
Yep...if it's in one of the hottest real estate areas in town. Want cheap? Drive to Tomball.
The menu selections sound delicious and the visual appearance is encouraging
If the chef uses fresh local veggies, seafood and serves nice portions the price point will draw it's share of foodies
Running daily specials are necessary to keep the tables full
Good Luck Liberty
Are the prices really that high??? I wanted to try this spot...But I don't like being ripped off!!!!
Then stay in Pearland and go to Applebees where you belong.
Then stay in Pearland and go to Applebees where you belong.
The prices are appropriate for the quality of the food. This is not Luby's. The chef started Glass Wall and RBC. While there is getting to be a bit of a glut of nicer restaurants serving "southern inspired comfort food", Liberty Kitchen does have an original touch and very good food. I actually find places like Liberty Kitchen to be a good value as the food is on par with more expensive places, but the portion sizes are better and more filling so that an entree and a starter is more than enough.
prices are appropriate for the quality of food? i just checked the menu; if i chose to simply get three eggs, toast, and coffee, it would cost $12.50 (not including tax and tip). i guess i should stick to "luby's," considering i do not feel like that's a good value...
prices are to steep for me , how about a place for the Woking Class to go and enjoy
http://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Gilhooley-s-1846710.php
This is an upscale, trendy "casual" place. Prices are on par with other fancy-pants bistro-style comfort food restaurants around the city. Whether such pricing is, in general, too high is another argument altogether. The pricing is all available on the online menu, so if you think it's too steep then don't try it.
Those prices are a little much. You can find food just as good for better prices.
I was very impressed by the attentiveness and customer service on my visit to Liberty Kitchen. When my entree had some glitches, the waitstaff took care of the problem professionally and courteously. First class waitstaff here.
Hey people. quit complaining about prices. i mean who REALLY cares about an extra 3bucks at dinner! If you would, then you wouldnt belong at a place like Liberty, or any other place where people consider dinner an event, rather than "feedin time". I look forward to dinner. I can FEED anywhere, but I'd rather go somewhere nice.... with likeminded people like myself.
if any of you have doubts, try getting a parking spot here sometime between 6-9pm.
losers.
Price are high. Ate there last night and dinner tab for 2 (no drinks) was $45.50 before tax & tip. I had the $12 hamburger, and hubby had the simple grilled speckled trout and ordered 1 extra side since that 'special' only came with 1 side. Hamburger was very good, but not worth $12. Fish was very fresh, but certainly not worth $28. Waited about 40 minutes for a table for 2. Not sure we'll be going back. Plenty of parking, but many who were lingering over drinks. At those prices, guess they figured they bought the table.
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