For Bar Bludorn, Chef Aaron Bludorn and his wife Victoria Pappas Bludorn set out to create a restaurant concept that was elevated yet approachable and reflected the duo and business partner Cherif Mbodji while fitting into its neighborhood. The resulting concept, located in Houston, is a modern American bistro menu with distinctly Houstonian touches: Gulf seafood riches, cornmeal-crusted salmon, and fried chicken, for instance, grace the menu. As such, the design, carried out by Gensler, is geographically contextual.

The nearly 5,000-square-foot space is akin to tavern with its mixture of woods, from the slatted ceiling to the walnut paneling and wooden furniture. A brown color palette continues the aesthetic. Custom hunter green banquettes and more earthy colors invite guests to cozy up in the corner nooks, tying in the menu’s approachable and neighborhood-specific focus.

On the floors, terrazzo nods to the building’s past as previous local favorite, Jonathan’s the Rub. They’re given an upscale feel alongside the clean linearity that permeates the space, mostly apparent in the slatted ceiling and paneling along the walls. More luxury touches come through in the details, the intricately carved branding on the back of each dining chair, subtly connect guests to the restaurant’s identity.

On the walls of the dining room and bar, paintings and prints spotlight local artists, curated by Bludorn in conjunction with Matt Reeves of Reeves Fine Art. The artworks include three pieces by Texas-born David Adickes. It’s another small yet impactful details that turns this restaurant into a neighborhood friendly place for a reliably good meal.