The Room
Doris Metropolitan opened in Houston in 2014 — the third American outpost of the Doris Group's Israeli steakhouse concept (after Tel Aviv and New Orleans). The dining room runs Tel Aviv-style steakhouse cooking: dry-aged beef cured in-house, Mediterranean small-plate openings, an Israeli wine programme, and a service rhythm that draws on both the American steakhouse and the Tel Aviv tradition.
The Houston Press has held Doris Metropolitan in its top-Houston-restaurants list every year of operation. The room's dry-aging programme is one of the most-disciplined in Texas. The booking window has tightened to two weeks for weekend two-tops.
The Food
The dry-aged beef programme runs from a 30-day to a 90-day aging cellar visible from the dining room. The 60-day-aged ribeye is the menu's centrepiece. The Mediterranean small-plate opening — hummus, charred octopus, kibbeh, marinated vegetables — runs the antipasti programme. The whole-fish programme is the order for two.
Wine programme runs Israeli, Lebanese, Greek, and California Cabernet. Cocktails are aperitivi-led with an arak Negroni and a Champagne 75. Service is informed and warm, in the Tel Aviv-American steakhouse hybrid register.
Best Occasion Fit
Close a Deal: Doris Metropolitan is the Memorial deal-dinner alternative to a chain steakhouse. The Mediterranean opening is the conversation, the dry-aged beef is the centrepiece, and the Israeli wine programme is the closer.
Impress Clients: International visitors who recognise the Tel Aviv steakhouse tradition will recognise Doris immediately. For a Tel Aviv or London client whose interest in dining is steakhouse-led, Doris is one of the most-credible Houston answers.
Birthday: Birthdays at Doris Metropolitan are dry-aged-led, Mediterranean-friendly affairs the room handles with the practiced ease of a Doris Group operation.