Private Social

Opened Sept. 24, 2011.

This Uptown restaurant driven by chef and "Top Chef" star Tiffany Derry mingles casual and upscale. "Social" refers to the informal lounge, which will serve shareable small plates; "private" refers to the dining room. I haven't seen the Social menu yet, but the Private menu looks pretty appealing: starters like sweetbreads with braised radishes and smokey ham broth; "Top Chef" pork buns; and pastrami-cured hamachi with tomato jam, coriander vinaigrette and pickled chile, and main courses such as white sturgeon with blue crab chowder, pancetta and licorice (!); braised beef cheek with pepperoni sauce and cheese grits; and smoked venison with Texas creamer "cassoulet."
-Kim Pierce / Eats blog