Houston’s walkable garden district, the iconic Rice Village, hosts a tapestry of oak-lined streets bustling with local boutiques and national brands, community experiences from farmers' markets to live music, and buzzy bars and restaurants, including chef Aaron Bludorn’s Navy Blue.

Big oyster fan? We suggest starting with some at chef and next-gen restaurateur Aaron Bludorn’s Navy Blue—a sophisticated Gulf seafood siren set in the heart of Rice Village. With nearly two years under its belt, the casual fine dining spot has become a fixture in the garden and leisure district. Bludorn loves Rice Village for its sophisticated urban vibe and prime location to surrounding neighborhoods, including Bellaire, West University, the Museum District, and more.

“I love that Rice Village is so walkable. You could be shopping and stop in for Navy Blue for lunch and then go to Van Leeuwen for ice cream or just kind of stroll around and window shop. I think that's really cool and that totally attracted me to this neighborhood.”

–Aaron Bludorn

But back to those oysters; each rugged, briny pearl of the Gulf is bestowed the attention it deserves, served three ways: raw, fried, and baked. You’ll feel at ease slurping them up in the restaurant’s pristine, ocean-inspired dining room or at the al fresco tables that straddle its front entrance off Times Boulevard (and you can feel good about it, too, as the bivalves are recycled to help restore oyster reefs with the help of partner and conservation nonprofit, the Galveston Bay Foundation).

The essential starter shines alongside an array of other noteworthy dishes. Chef Bludorn, with executive chef Jerrod Zifchak at his side, takes inspiration from the amazing sustainable seafood from the Gulf and beyond to craft a fully luxurious, yet approachable menu that evolves throughout the seasons. Dishes play to Houston’s melting pot culture, with influences from Viet-Cajun, West African, French, and more worldly flavors.

“That’s the beauty of being in the Gulf Coast…Gulf Coast cuisine draws from so many different regional cuisines…everywhere from New Orleans Choctaw to Indian populations and West African, French, and now when you add in Houston, there’s Viet-Cajun. All of that coming together is a lot of fun to explore.”

–Aaron Bludorn

Swordfish Au Poivre; Raw Clams, Baked Clams and Clam Fritters; and a decadent Crawfish Risotto made with the restaurant’s seafood gumbo broth are some of the kitchen’s signatures ( you may have to order that last one, as the Creole-style risotto is chef Bludorn’s top pick, a dish he says perfectly expresses Navy Blue’s mantra of melding culinary technique with punch-packing Gulf flavors.

As with each of chef Bludorn’s restaurant concepts (Bludorn, Bar Bludorn), Navy Blue’s powerhouse hospitality team strives to provide an exceptional guest experience, one that meets fine dining standards in a more comfortable way and creates an unstuffy environment where guests feel taken care of.

The roughly 160-bottle wine list, cherry-picked by mastermind sommelier Molly Austad, becomes approachable with the hand of your server; and you can totally relax as you pick your poison from the playful cocktail list, which rocks a must-try martini program and punny drinks like the passionfruit–kissed ”Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza.” End your meal on a high note with excellent desserts from executive pastry chef Marie Riddle. Chocolate Coulant with salted caramel and Scotch ice cream, anyone?

The restaurant's weekly specials and chef collaborations are also something to look out for, including Monday and Tuesday’s Seafood Paella special, Wednesday’s Lobster Thermidor, and festive holiday happenings from Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve to a fun New Year’s Eve bash. Later this month, Bludorn will team up with chef Philip Speer of Austin’s Comedor for a collaborative four-course dinner menu paired with zero-proof cocktails, with proceeds directly benefiting Ben’s Friends and its mission to provide a sober community to hospitality workers who struggle with substance abuse and addiction. Guests can secure seats for the October 24 dinner for $80 per person via OpenTable.

Whether you are lunching on Shrimp & Oyster Po’ Boys or Green Curry Moules-Frites, lingering over the epic Cinnamon Rolls and Crab Benedict at brunch before hitting the myriad of Rice Village shops, or making a Resy to wine and dine at one of the hottest dinner tickets in Houston, Navy Blue is here to bring you a reimagined taste of the Gulf.

Navy Blue offers free valet service and street parking meter validation for dining in the evening, and there are surrounding garages in Rice Village with free parking for up to two hours.

Navy Blue
2445 Times Boulevard
713-347-7727