I've been here countless times for brunch and always have amazing food and service. I enjoy sitting…read moreboth inside and outside. Inside has a small bar area, some booths, and tables. Outside has fans and is covered. They can get pretty full so it's best to have a reservation through open table. I've tried and enjoyed both the bubbly and margarita flights. Each time I go for brunch I either get the Huevas à la Mexicana or the French toast which could have different toppings with the season. The beans are also super flavorful and the French toast always done well and never soggy. I still haven't gone for dinner yet, but will try one day soon. Just a warning if you ever visit: please utilize valet! There are signs to remind you and some people still ignore it and end up getting towed from parking across the street.

Everything was absolutely AMAZING. Complimentary valet, we had no reservation but walked in for…read moresunday brunch and were seated immediately, superb staff/service and delicious food!! Hugeee portions for the price too Our favorite was definitely the korean fried rice though. It was so, so flavorful and the meat was so tender 10/10 Huevos a la mexicana was solid but a little simple 7/10 We also got the japanese mushroom toast but i didnt get a pic. It was hugee and pretty good but again kinda simple 7/10 And the ube pancakes were sooooo good and fluffy but crispy on the bottom. Not too much ube flavor but it comes with a nice coconut cream sauce! Would get again 8.5/10 Overall ambiance was amazing too. Nice outdoor seating and good vibes all around. Loved it all, would come back!

We came back for more! It feels like an escape from Houston…read more Service is helpful. Pluses A. Free bread and butter great to begin with 1. Outdoor patio with fans is great and the music selection is much improved and a good volume so you can hear your dining companion 2. Bolognese pasta is still great 3. New lamb dish is delish, meat is juicy 4. Gelato trio nice to end in a refreshing cool note 5. Filled beignets always wins especially when there is strawberry filling 6. Carajillo yummy Areas to improve 1. Leeks appetizer was a huge disappointment- not that tasty and had a big gob of dressing on the side 2. I don't eat raw or caviar so I wish they had more appetizers It's great dining for special occasions, highly recommended!

Went to celebrate Valentine's Day!…read more The ambiance is very cozy and intimate for dinner time and they have some outdoor sittings as well as bar sittings. The food was phenomenal. Everything was delicious and would love to come back again. The staff were very professional and cordial as well!

Is this the most overrated restaurant in Houston?…read more After being on my "To Try" list for an unacceptable amount of time, I finally made my way over to Nancy's Hustle. I was lucky enough to snag a seat at the bar with no reservation. I arrived about 30 minutes into open and there was already a wait list. I suggest getting there early or making a reservation if you're not a solo diner. The interior is nice and intimate, with low lighting that doesn't work well for photos but definitely for a cozy dinner. The set up and music reminded me a little bit of 93 Til due to the decor. I started with the duck dumplings and the Nancy cakes. I wasn't expecting it but they offer half orders which is great for a solo diner who wants to try multiple things. Both items were delicious. The dumplings had a nice savory sauce with some texture from the peanuts. These were great but probably my bottom of the list which is saying something. I would only say this because they reminded me a lot of the hot oil wontons from duck and bao so at that price point, you might as well get more. The Nancy cakes were pillowy and savory and made a great vessel for honey butter and roe. I even used a bit to dunk into the leftover dumpling sauce. I suggest eating these as soon as they hit your table. I was trying to savor my bites but the cakes benefit a lot from being nice and hot. It's not the most ground breaking dish in the world but it's done well and I would definitely call it a must order. I could have eating a full order of it alone. My main dishes is where my mind was blown. I went with the roast chicken and half order of the gem lettuce salad and fries. This might be the best roast chicken I've ever had in Houston. Chicken can be a hit or a miss because sometimes, there just isn't much flavor. This was absolutely not the case here. The chicken was juicy and seasoned to the core. It even heated up well as left overs without being dry. The chili sauce on the bottom was flavor intensified and as I swiped my chicken through the pools of sauce, I thought to myself "overrated where?!". The gem salad caught me by surprise. I'm not one to stay away from a salad at a restaurant because they typically do them better than you can make at home . Nancy's Hustle solidified this opinion. The salad was wonderfully briney and savory. The lettuce was crisp and covered in the herby shallot dressing that grabbed my taste buds. Topped with anchovies and pancetta for a nice salty touch. So so good. The fries were the perfect side, crisp and not too potatoey (yes this is a thing). I traded in the aoli for some ketchup because that's just my thing. I concluded this wonderful dining experience with a dessert. Buttermilk ice cream with cornflakes, black berries and honey butter cookie. This dessert was a lesson in balance. Every component was present , sweet, salty, crunchy, cool. Each bite had something new to offer and combined into a perfectly executed dessert. As a cocktail, I tried their tropical drink. I don't remember what it was called but I know I could have drank about 7 of those. This was a great dining experience. I think when things get popular, sometimes we feel the need to be contrarians with our experiences. That wasn't the case for me. Nancy's Hustle has earned its popularity and I'll definitely be back

I apologize for the low quality pictures but, everything was so good I couldn't wait to eat…read more Nancy cakes are a MUST TRY! The ricotta cavatelli was light and zesty and the shrimp was cooked to perfection. A phenomenal spring/ summer pasta parmesan & pancetta croquettes were crisp to perfection and are a must try if you're a cheese lover like me. Not pictured was their cocktail the green flag which was a 10/10! Service was out of this world. Our waitress was so kind and gave great recommendations! We got seated out in the patio and they have fans they can bring to the table if it gets too hot in this Houston heat but, the vibes were perfect for date night once the sun went down and the small table lamp turned on.

Lovveeee anything Bludorn…read more Chose to revisit Bludorn for the start of my bday weekend and it did not disappoint. Service - top notch. Best service in Houston hands down. Food - you really can't go wrong with anything you order here. This time the highlights were definitely the duck and the rice. I could have eaten the rice as a meal and been very happy. Drinks - wine and cocktails 10/10 Parking - you might get lucky w self parking in the back of the restaurant otherwise it's valet for $8 right now. Make a reservation and wear something nice. Definitely a must try in Houston for an upscale experience.

Came here for my wife's birthday. Made the reservation using Resy/Opentable indicating occasion,…read moreand when we arrived, there was no indication from staff that they were aware. We weren't drinking so we did mocktails. Their selection is solid. I recommend the Million Dollar Baby and the New Madness. For the oysters, we did 2 of each: fried, smoked and roasted. I would low key just come back for oysters next time. They were that damn good. I was let down by the dry-aged burger. Even though I ordered the burger as medium, it was pretty dry. I've had better burgers from joints around town. Not worth $24. The Chicken entree was an absolute let down. I won't even elaborate. Some of our favorite entrees were the carrot soup and crab rice. Both were out of this world. For me the food was 3/5, service (aside from staff forgetting occasion of visit) 5/5, value 3/5. Also valet parking is $8. I'm still undecided if I'll be back. Need to recover from spending $275 on a single dinner. Ouch.

One of the best gumbos I have had at a restaurant! There was seafood or protein in every bite it…read morewas so delicious. This gumbo had crab, sausage, shrimp, crawfish 10/10. Elegant spot in downtown, great service and great variety of food. It does get very busy during lunch hour so reservations are needed. What I ordered: Daring Daisy cocktail Queso with steak Sweet corn ravioli Gumbo *must try* Choclate chip cookies

They are located in my office building, and I've heard great things about their original Denver…read morelocation. Unfortunately, I've been consistently underwhelmed, especially considering the prices. Today, the bill was approximately $65 for two hamburgers, fries, an iced tea, and a Coke (and they even charge for Coke refills--my friend had two). Beyond the cost, they seem to treat ketchup like it's a luxury item. For two burgers and fries, they brought out a single small ramekin, and it always feels like you have to ask repeatedly for more. Another frustration is their attitude toward reservations. Every time I've visited, they've made a point of mentioning that I didn't have one. This time, I specifically made a reservation through OpenTable, only to later see it marked as canceled. I'm not sure why, but it certainly left a bad impression. Overall, the food is fine, but the combination of high prices, nickel-and-diming on basics, and the overall customer experience means this won't be one of my preferred lunch spots going forward.

I might have just found one of my new favorite restaurants in Houston. What a great experience!…read more Recently, a good friend dined here and immediately called me to tell me how great it was. She then text our friends group and said we all had to come together and we did just that. She made reservations in advance as this place is popular thanks to recent Michelin Bib Gourmand awards as well as many other accolades. Walk ins are welcome as well. Our reservation was later in the evening so after a night of bar hopping, we ride shared in which I think is one of the best options as parking is limited here or you have to find street parking in the neighborhood. This place is literally a house turned into a restaurant. Inside is just multiple rooms with a couple of tables. It makes for a unique, intimate dining experience, perfect for a date night. In our case, we were a group of nine so we got patio seating. The patio is spacious and well kept, and if the weather cooperates, a great place to hang. One thing that really stood out to me is the amazing ambience of this place. I was told that the bartenders pick the music for the night from the owners extensive vinyl collection. Once the album is in, they play it in it's entirety. The sound system was systeming and on top of the great company and food, we were totally vibing with the music. Customer service was amazing. Every staff member we came across was so friendly, especially our server. The menu here changes. There are some mainstays, but they like to change things up. Their website shows current menus daily. We were told that family style is the best way to experience this restaurant. I am one of those people that will always listen to the staff and go with their suggestions. Our group went through quite a bit of their menu from apps, entrees and desserts. I loved that our server and staff brought our food out one by one in what they thought was the best progression so we could take a culinary journey. We started off light with their popular Dilly Bread. Best bread I've had in awhile. Next was the Texas Tartare. It was my first ever tartare and it was delicious. We then moved on to Fingerlingin Good which was a crispy potato dish with chili crisp and mascarpone. It was potatoes elevated to the highest level and so so good. Next up was Beer Battered Sweet Tots. I didn't think sweet potatoes could be that good. Our first entree was a vegan dish called the Carroty Kid. I could seriously become a vegan if all dishes tasted like this. It was curried. A bowl of jasmine rice would've made it a complete meal. Next we tried another famous Nobie's dish called Nonno's Pasta. Handmade, perfectly cooked tagliatelle with a delicious bolognese. I wouldn't share this next time. Ok, I will, but it was that good. On to the heavier dishes. First up was the Jamon With Your Bad Self. This came highly recommended and it did not disappoint. It was favorite heavy entree. It was high quality, iberico pork steak with shaved brussels and all kinds of other tasty ingredients that when combined made such a tasty bite. We then went to the sea with the Drops of Grouperter. It was good, but not something I would order again. It was a little too smoky for my liking. Our biggest dish that came market priced was the Kick His Ass Seabass. This was a whole fish that was presented beautifully on a platter with all the accouterments to make your own elevated fish tacos. We left no morsel of fish behind. It was absolutely delicious. One of the things this place is really known for is their pies. This was the part I was most excited about. Just like their menu, their pies change up. We got all their offerings that night which they presented on one big platter of goodness. Their main stay and I believe always on the menu is the famous Olive Oil Cake. It's not a pie, but I can see why this is such a popular dessert. I can't even describe it, you just have to try it to understand. The pies we had were the Black Bottom Strawberry Pie, Banana Rum, and the Peanut Butter Pie. I would order all of them again. We all had a difference of opinion on which was the best, but my fave was the Banana Rum. Overall, I was highly impressed with this place and kind of mad at myself for waiting so long to make it here. It had made it's way to the top of my list of favorite restaurants in Houston. I will be back.

Flavors, flavors, flavors! This was another on our list of Michelin Bibendum spots to try, and we…read morethoroughly enjoyed the meal. We started with a dozen oysters 2 ways. The first were "natural" and nicely briny. The 2nd was pure genius: they said it would taste like a Big Mac, and they were spot on. Amazing! Steak Tartare - the steak and deviled egg mixture were satisfyingly velvety and the accompanying bread was buttery, chewy, and addictive; Puff Puff Pass - unique textures: crispy, chewy, smooth elements are married beautifully. Nonno's Pasta - this dish was my least favorite. I found the flavors to be too cheese forward with not enough acid; Jamon With Your Bad Self - while not much to look at, this dish was outstanding. The pork's texture was simply magical, and the flavors well-balanced. On the side, we had the Fingerlingin Good potatoes, and they lived up to their name: pleasantly crispy and bursting with savory goodness. Desserts: the Olive Oil Cake was a dream: incredibly moist and tender with vanilla richness and a kiss of lemon. The Black Bottom Pie was not my favorite. I would the salt to be too much and couldn't eat more than 2 bites because of it. Service: warm, gracious, attentive, and efficient. As for ambiance, this is where the restaurant misses the mark for me. It's in an old house, and when we walked in, that's exactly what I smelled: old house. Still, if you're looking for a unique, creative menu that delivers on flavors, add nobie's to your bingo card.

I really enjoyed my whole experience here. The vibe is unique for Houston. The building has a…read moreunique vibe and i'm obsessed with the front door. After entering, you are immediately greeted like family in a relaxing environment but with top notch food. It was my friend's bday so we celebrated with complimentary bubbles which was a nice touch. We enjoyed a large portion of their limited/rotating menu that did not disappoint. The tuna was my favorite. 10/10. A very extensive, higher end wine list complemented the meal nicely. Definitely need reservations -- book as early as possible. Seating is very limited especially for larger parties. Parking --- street parking around the block. Wasn't too difficult. Definitely a must try!

This place is interesting. We had heard about this restaurant for years, and finally made our way…read moreout on a Saturday night. We made reservations several days in advance and still were only able to get patio seats. The vibe of the place is so Houston. It's a really nice restaurant - inside is small and cozy, decorated beautifully. The patio only has 2 tables but it's elegant. And it looks out at the highway, billboards, downtown, and abandoned homeless encampments. During dinner, we had a bachelorette party bus park beside us and a couple shirtless guys come up from the bayou with fishing poles. But it works - that's Houston! Food itself was good, but not great. I'll give it 5/5 stars for originality - each dish was unlike anything I've had elsewhere. - ratatouille- 4/5 - it was interesting, and mostly loved that it was soaking in some delicious olive oil. - broth- 4/5 - a nice little spicy kick, but otherwise was just okay - Tuna sashimi - 5/5 - fish was fresh and tasty! Appreciated the crunch between the layers of tuna. - French cheese pancake - 4/5 - generally can't go wrong with bread and cheese. It's interesting, and I liked the green onions topping it. - Fried shrimp and shiso- 4/5 - didn't love the sauce this came with, but otherwise this almost tasted like a jalapeno popper with shrimp. - snapper - 3/5 - poached, and pretty bland. Came with a very fishy seaweed reduction on the side. - potatoes side - 2/5 - don't get these unless you're looking for just boiled potatoes. They're pretty flavorless. Overall, interesting food for a one time visit, but unlikely a place we'll return to.

When you're stuck in town but want to feel like you're in a tropical destination, The Toasted…read moreCoconut is where you need to come. The team behind the popular restaurant Nobie's opened up this tiki inspired restaurant. Tiki bars happen to be one of my favorite varieties of bars so I was more than excited to finally check it off my list. I had recently seen them on the Food Network as well. They share a lot with another popular dining spot so parking can be a little difficult in their lot. You can find street parking or park across the street in an overflow lot. Customer service was great from start to finish. We had just ate next door and our intentions were to come in here just for cocktails, but I couldn't leave without trying some of the popular items. I wanted the most tropical drink I could find on the menu so I started off with the Blue Hawaiian. I saw fire on the description so my extra self needed to have it. I'm a big rum guy so this drink was right up my alley and very boozy with two types of rum. It was very coconut forward with pineapple being the secondary flavor. One was enough for me to feel just right. Since we had just ate, we decided to share the World Famous Cheeseburger. This was a great burger. I don't know if they were going for the smash effect, but it had smash burger characteristics. It had all my favorite things that are musts on a burger like American cheese and red onions. It also had a very nice chili aioli that added great flavor to the burger. I came on another stop for a drink visit shortly after and tried the pork dumplings and popcorn chicken. These were also very good. If I lived in the area, this place would easily be a place I would frequent often. I will most definitely be back!

Absolutely AMAZING. No notes…read more The food was delicious and was prepared perfectly. The Bro Saam was perfection