River Oaks’ Buzziest Restaurant Adds New Menu Items — How Charles Clark is Working to Make Brasserie 19 Better

Since landing complete ownership of River Oaks’ buzzy Brasserie 19, chef/restaurateur Charles Clark has been on the scene day and night beaming in the spotlight that he previously held as chef extraordinaire at Ibiza and as partner in the now-defunct Clark Cooper Concepts.

The handsome man with the seductive smile has been working with chef Michael Hoffman, formerly his sous chef at Ibiza, in the creation of an array of people-pleasing additions to the menu. People pleasing is part of Clark’s DNA.

“Being back at B19 (as it is affectionately known) everyday has helped me connect with each and every one of our guests and figure out what is going help us exceed expectations when they dine with us,” Clark tells PaperCity. “We have already increased our wine selection by 15 percent and Chef Michael has done a great job creating more menu selections that we think our guests will love.”

New Brasserie 19 menu offerings include seared scallops with green gazpacho, charred cippolini onion and smoke almond; boulettes de viande (meatballs) with stewed peppers, chickpeas, arugula and horse radish; roasted salmon with preserved lemons; Sakura roasted pork chop with sumac glaze; yellowtail and uni crudo; and roasted duck breast.

And there is more to come.

“Chef Michael added 10 new items to menu like sweetbreads and salade Niçoise. We are looking to add a soufflé program and are now making all ice creams and sorbets in house,” Clark tells PaperCity.

And there is even more to come.

“We will be adding fresh seasonal truffle paired with risotto or handmade pastas and will be refreshing the brunch menu soon,” Clark says. “We know these little extra touches will keep guests coming back to B19 and it is really exciting for me to be a part of the daily operations and see new and old customers everyday.”

Regulars need not worry as staples of the menu including chips and caviar, crispy Gulf oysters with spinach, the French onion soup and the Brasserie 19 cheese remain.

Interestingly, B19 has never failed to attract a chichi clientele. But since Clark’s arrival, it’s standing room only most nights and on good days the patio tables overlooking West Gray are packed with the most fashionable of Houston denizens.