Food boards aren’t a new trend, but they’re clearly here to stay. No longer reserved for cured meats and cheeses—though you can never go wrong with a classic charcuterie spread—Houston restaurants have taken the concept to the next level. From boards showcasing premium steak cuts to sweet-and-savory breakfast spreads and fully indulgent dessert displays, just about everything tastes better served on a board.
Here’s where to seek out the city’s most noteworthy food boards right now.
Traveler’s Table
This globally-inspired eatery in Montrose has a menu that spans flavors from Brazil to Thailand, and everything in between. At brunch, even the most indecisive diner can get a little bit of everything with the breakfast board. The charcuterie-inspired board allows you to pick and choose between items like huevos a la Mexicana, two eggs any style, chicken and sage sausage, applewood-smoked bacon, parmesan-brie grits, crispy breakfast potatoes, guava empanadas and home-made biscuits. 520 Westheimer Rd., Houston, travlerstable.com
The Board Room
This spot in the CityCentre is a wine bar, café, event space and retail concept all in one. And the name says it all—charcuterie boards sized for an intimate date night or fit for a group are featured on the menu alongside salads, flatbreads and entrees of pasta and fish. Choose a board like the signature that includes salami, prosciutto, a selection of cheese, grapes, berries, fig jam, green olives, and fresh honeycomb, and let the experts recommend a wine pairing. Those with a sweet tooth can indulge in a dessert board with an array of chocolate-covered goodies, cookies, wafers and fresh berries. 800 Sorella Ct., Houston, theboardroomhtx.com
Hamsa
Doris Metropolitan’s sister restaurant in Rice Village takes traditional Middle Eastern food and gives it a modern spin. The dishes here are meant to be shared, and building your own board makes it easy. Start with skewers like mushroom and ribeye, add octopus and lamb lollipops, and make it the ultimate family style meal with the whole shebang of salatim, a variety of small servings of spreads, dips, slaws, and salads.5555 Morningside Dr., Houston, hamsahtx.com
On the Kirb
Sports bars aren’t often associated with organic, chef-driven food and craft cocktails, but On the Kirb is the exception. The local mini chain has five locations around town that provide a more elevated experience than your average sports bar with brick oven pizzas, organic burgers, tacos, wraps, and surf and turf platters. The Kirb Cheese Board with a chef’s choice of cheeses, quince, honey, almonds, pepperoni, and prosciutto makes for a great shareable starter. During happy hour, a board and a bottle of house wine is just $28. Multiple locations, onthekirb.com
Georgia James
At one time, the Baller Boards at Georgia James were the worst kept secret in town—an off the menu experience for those in the know—but today, the boards are a highlight at this modern steakhouse in Regent Square. Choose between the GJ Board, which serves up to six, or the Chef’s Board, which serves up to eight. Various cuts of beef, such as a long bone ribeye, chateaubriand, and porterhouse are laid out on a board so large that it must be rolled out to the table. It’s not just for show— the quality of the food is well worth the fanfare. 3503 West Dallas St., Houston, georgiajameshouston.com
Daily Gather
Located in CityCentre, this family-friendly American eatery has an extensive menu that spans brunch, lunch, and dinner. Brunch starts early on the weekends and offers comforting classics such as omelets, shrimp and grits, and biscuits and gravy. If dining with a hungry group, the Ultimate Brunch Board is the way to go—featuring scrambled eggs, bacon, country sausage, breakfast potatoes, crispy chicken tenders, French toast bites, and seasonal fruit with maple butter and chipotle honey. Add the Social Mosa and make it a boozy brunch with two bottles of bubbles and two juices of your choice. 800 Sorella Ct., Houston, dailygather.com
Doris Metropolitan
While you won’t see meat boards listed on the menu of this Israeli-inspired steakhouse, if you order multiple cuts of meat to share, your meal will arrive in style. The cuts of dry-aged, perfectly cooked meats are laid out on a carving board accompanied by bone marrow, finishing salt and flaming sage. It’s quite the display, especially when served along with some of the Mediterranean-influenced sides not often seen at traditional steakhouses. 2815 South Shepherd Dr., Houston, dorismetropolitan.com
Montrose Cheese & Wine
This cozy cheese shop, wine bar, and market is an obvious destination for a beautifully curated charcuterie board paired with a thoughtfully selected bottle of wine—but the real insider move is the conserva board. Build your own spread from artisanal tinned seafood like sardines in tomato sauce, spiced mussels, or tuna in olive oil, then enjoy it with classic accompaniments including cornichons, grape tomatoes, cultured butter, lemon, and sliced baguette. 1618 Westheimer Rd., Houston, montrosecheeseandwine.com
Butcher’s Grille
This family owned and operated Lebanese American restaurant prides itself on quality cuts of halal beef served with Middle Eastern flavors. The Butcher’s Board offers a way to experience the best of this fusion. Your choice of grilled protein (ribeye, chicken or salmon) is served in a skillet with the signature Café du Liban—a play on the classic French butter-based sauce—and is paired with fries, house salad with lemon vinaigrette, and baguette slices. 5740 San Felipe St., Houston, butchersgrille.com
Homestead Kitchen & Bar
Those craving breakfast for dinner will find it at this no-frills spot located at MKT Heights. The breakfast board is a hefty display of hearty comfort food that will feed the whole family and then some. It comes with six eggs, cooked in any style, andouille sausage, crispy bacon, a buttermilk waffle, four cheddar scallion biscuits, four stuffed biscuits, mixed fruit, Homestead signature buttermilk syrup, bacon gravy, and four house mimosas. A walk on the trail that runs through MKT is a good plan for after the meal. 600 North Shepherd Dr., Houston, homesteadkitchenandbar.com
Heights & Co
This Heights patio and cocktail bar pairs a breezy neighborhood vibe with a menu that runs from burgers to cacio e pepe. A cheese and charcuterie board complements the small but thoughtfully curated wine list, making it an easy choice for lingering over drinks. For dessert, lean into nostalgia with the S’mores Board, complete with a tabletop live flame, house-made ganache, torched marshmallow cream, marshmallows, cinnamon, chocolate, and classic graham crackers. 1343 Yale St., Houston, heightsandco.com
Best Regards
This stylish Heights area bar and lounge is the perfect setting for a vibey brunch. There are potent signature cocktails, a live DJ and a menu that includes a shareable bruschetta board. Customize your board with options like smoked salmon topped with fresh dill, red onion, and capers; stuffed French toast with maple sausage and cheddar cheese; or hot honey chicken layered with Southern-style slaw. 222 W. 11thSt., Houston, bestregardshou.com
