Schilleci's New Orleans Kitchen recently relocated to 2501 Research Forest Drive, and from the first bite, it's clear this place knows exactly what it is: French Quarter-style, Louisiana all the way through, and it is a fantastic spot to get your Creole on.
I went in for a late lunch and ordered the half fried shrimp po-boy with a bowl of the seafood gumbo. That was a full meal. The gumbo is dark and rich, built on a proper roux, a perfect mix of rice, and a taste that slows you down to enjoy and pay attention to the flavors. The po-boy had good crunch on the shrimp, dressed the way it should be, with Crystal hot sauce on the side.
The menu goes well beyond lunch. Fresh fish, steaks, lamb chops, and bread pudding for dessert. This is a dinner spot, the kind of room that earns a reservation without requiring one.
The dining room makes the case on its own: exposed brick hung with black-and-white photographs of the French Quarter and St. Louis Cathedral, warm Edison pendants overhead, a wine display visible through an archway in the back, upholstered banquettes, proper place settings. Intimate without being cramped.
The bar is set up well: full liquor wall, marble-top counter, the kind of setup that tells you cocktails are taken seriously. It works for a pre-dinner drink or a proper happy hour.
There's also a shaded outdoor patio alongside the building, ivy-covered wall on one side, a mature tree overhead, a deck with plenty of tables. Worth requesting before the full Texas heat shuts that option down for the season.
Make a reservation, especially on weekends. Hours are Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. Parking is direct in front of the suite.
The Woodlands dining scene has real anchors. I've written about why Escalante's on Lake Woodlands keeps earning repeat visits, and Avila Coffee Shop's evolution is its own story. Schilleci's occupies a different lane entirely: Louisiana cooking, done with care, in a room that respects the cuisine. That's not common out here, and it matters.
We've built something real in The Woodlands, and Schilleci's is the kind of opening that proves it. Start with the gumbo. Order the bread pudding. Come back for the lamb chops.
Schilleci's New Orleans Kitchen
2501 Research Forest Drive, Suite B, The Woodlands, TX
(281) 800-8782
Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–9 p.m. | Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Reservations available.