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El Meson Restaurant has been serving its signature Latin cuisine for more than four decades at their location in the Rice Village shopping district near Houston’s Rice University. Chef Pedro’s menu blends Spanish and Cuban influences, offering a variety of grilled and roasted meats, seafood and tapas such as piquillo peppers stuffed with lamb, raisins and pine nuts, seared foie gras with caramelized apple and pear, and bacon-wrapped dates with Riojano sausage and blue cheese. The menu also features a list of Paellas and rice dishes made with the finest golden thread Saffron from Valencia and the authentic Bomba rice from Calasparra.
El Meson’s award winning wine list focuses on the wines from Spain to pair with its Spanish inspired menu, as well as outstanding wines from California and other regions from around the world. El Meson is recognized by Wine Spectator Magazine as one of the top restaurants in the United States to focus on Spanish wines and is the recipient of the Best of Award of Excellence. Visit El Meson and enjoy the casual warmth of Spain in Rice Village.
Chef Pedro Angel Garcia
Chef Pedro Angel Garcia was born in Cuba and grew up in New York City where he worked in his father’s restaurant, Los Parados, as a short order cook. There he learned the basics of chopping vegetables, cutting meat, and making coffee. Garcia moved to Houston and opened El Meson Restaurant with his father in 1981. He learned about food and wine the old fashioned way, buying, selling, cooking and tasting. He took the helm of the family business after his father passed away in 1992 and began turning out regular Spanish wine dinners winning recognition and acclaim.
Jessica Garcia
Wine Director, graduated with a Bachelor of the Arts from St. John’s Collage in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She later went to California where she worked for Pisoni Vineyards and Hahn Family Wines, as well as Lawson Dry Hills in Marlborough, New Zealand. She also worked as sommelier at the Casanova Restaurant in Carmel. She returned to Houston in 2015 immediately raising the bar for the El Meson wine program. Under her supervision El Meson earned Wine Spectator’s designation as Best of Award of Excellence since 2016.
Regina Garcia
Grande Dame of El Meson, delights guests with her charm and abilities adding to the wonderful family atmosphere for which El Meson is known. Regina has served as President of BikeHouston, and has received the National Education Award from the League of American Bicyclists for her work in promoting bike safety and training instructors. She is captain of the El Meson Bike Team which has participated in the MS 150 since 1999.Her passion is to create a safe environment for people to walk and bicycle in Houston.