It’s a little easier to schedule a meal at one of the city’s hottest new restaurants. Navy Blue has started serving lunch.

Photo by Caroline Fontenot

Have a grouper sandwich for lunch.

Open since November, Navy Blue is the seafood restaurant from Bludorn partners Aaron Bludorn, Victoria Pappas Bludorn, and Cherif Mbodji. The kitchen is led by chef Jerrod Zifchak, who worked with both chef Bludorn and Mbodji at New York’s celebrated Cafe Boulud.

Navy Blue’s lunch service joins other nearby restaurants that offer a midday meal that appeals to area shoppers and takes advantage of Rice Village’s proximity to both Rice University and the Texas Medical Center. Served Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 am - 2 pm, the lunch menu mostly consists of a condensed version of the dinner menu with a few lunch-specific dishes that are a little lighter than what’s served at dinner.

“Diners will see some of their favorite dishes from the dinner menu along with some fun new playful items exclusive to the lunch menu,” Bludorn said. “Much like the dinner menu, it is approachable and lends itself to be the perfect location for guests to have a quick business lunch or to enjoy a leisurely lunch that carries into the afternoon.”

Familiar items include the grouper sandwich, blackened snapper, and crab cake. The dinner menus starters — including oysters three ways, shrimp three ways, tuna crudo, and baked clams — are also available at lunch.

New to the lunch menu are dishes such as an omelet, chicken milanese, and market salad. Another lunch menu exclusive is the ability to add proteins such as salmon, shrimp, or chicken to the Caesar salad.

“We are excited to extend our hours and offer lunch,” Mbodji added. “Lunch was always something we thought would work well for this concept given the location and walkability of Rice Village.”