A tapas platter, unlike a government secret or Hootie and the Blowfish's discography, is intended to be shared freely. Taste the kinder side of dining with today's Groupon: for $15, you get $30 worth of contemporary American tapas and wine at Temper Grille in Granger.
Self-taught cook Chef Sean leads a culinary troupe in cooking up savory treats from land and sea into sharable small plates. Diners can roust appetites with the cheese plate ($9), a variety of gourmet cheeses, garnished with pita, white-wine salami, and jam that, like the slowest county-fair ferris wheel ever, rotates seasonally. Heartier entrees include lobster knuckles plunged into creamy mac 'n' cheese ($20), and four skewers of blackened, spice-rubbed lamb splashing in a Cajun mint cream sauce ($18). Pair small plates with a bold glass of Californian cabernet sauvignon ($10), or with a half bottle of aromatic chardonnay ($18). Dine indoors in a naturally lit loft space amid contemporary paintings, or venture outdoors to dine on Temper's patio.
Temper Grille
After years working as a sous chef and executive chef, Sean Kelley decided to found his own restaurant, where the rich colors and textures of tapas-style dishes are matched with vibrant decor. In the dining room, guests bite into lamb pops and sip hoppy craft beers from the beer list at booths underneath unearthly artwork. Wine bottles stand half-empty on the bright-red bar nearby as guests savor sharp whites and speak in arch tones about the declining quality of the Aquaman monthly series. Temper Grille recently underwent renovations and is celebrating its five year anniversary along with brand new weekly features to compliment the celebratory changes.