Since moving to Houston we have found our second home! This place is excellent, the only downside is that they are not open on Monday's and Tuesday's, but I guess everyone needs a break. The setting feels like Chicago, NYC or SFO and the food is well prepared by Chef Martin who is extremely knowledgable. Also the cask wines are a must try for value and taste!! If I didn't have botox you would see my joyful expression every time I eat there! Cheer and just GO already. read more

The food was ok. Not great. Priced right The venue I love. Great parking, Menil steps away and the outdoor seating is very sweet. Third visit Wine? Chateau les Valentine Nice Rose. Retail $19 their price $58 Our waiter? Another story. Maybe a little more shhh read more

Our waiter and the hostess were very good. The bus boys kept bumping my chair even though there was plenty of space to go around. I moved. The menu looks more interesting than it is. Everything was far too salty. My Julia Child soft scrambled eggs....weren't. The price for scrambled eggs and a little of cheap caviar was ridiculous. The ham on the pancetta eggs benedict was too tough to eat and all one could taste was salt. The eggplant fries were salty and otherwise tasteless. The breading was too much. read more

Food was to die for what a treat great location excellent unique food. a little noisy worth the trip read more

Not impressed. Actually, quite disappointing. The service left much to be desired. Waiters have an attitude, rather condescending. The food was bland, the octopus was a major letdown. I was very much looking forward to it, but did not live up to the expectations. I didn't like the spices they use. The ribs were tasty, but it actually consisted of a small piece with lots of fat. Expensive for what you get. Desserts were decent. I doubt that I'll come here again. read more

I highly recommend this spot! If you're planning to have brunch here on a Saturday or Sunday, then be sure to make reservations in advance. There is an adjacent parking lot with ample spots, but street parking is also available. The food is delicious...especially their dessert :). read more

Open, charming atmosphere with distinctive touches with their dishes. Truly enjoyable lunch place!

Had brunch with a group of 8. The food was okay. The service was subpar. Our server, Daniel was not very attentive and did not check on us often. Then when he made a mistake on our bill he wrote me off and refused to correct it. They will overcharge your and ignore you when you bring it to their attention. He was extremely rude. And I'm very turned off by the whole situation. read more

Wonderful, lovely, amazing. The ambiance, the food and the service are all exemplary. A very special dining experience . read more

Bistro Menil - Holiday lunch at the heavenly Bistro Menil! - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 AM-2 PM. I decided to stick with water today to support my pregnant friend. It was a good idea for me since I was at the Rodeo the night before. We started off brunch with a bread service served with a delicious herbed butter. We requested seconds because of the butter. It was an amazing blend of Italian herbs, and I wish we had more of it. For entrees, I selected the 3 egg omelet with duck confit and gruyere. Jomel went for the crab omelet. All egg dishes are served with a small side salad. Jomel really enjoyed her crab omelet. For $20, there was a fair amount of crab meat and it satisfied her pregnant cravings. I wasn't too impressed with the duck confit omelet. I would have liked more duck confit, and the omelet was extremely oily. I know this could have been from either the duck or gruyere, but it left a large oily residue on my plate. It was nice having the salad to balance it out, but it was not the best omelet I've ever had. The service was also ok. Our waiter took a while to take our order, and we had to request a refill for water a few times. Overall, I loved the ambiance because it's right across the street from the Menil Collection. Together, they share a parking lot in the front. Parking can also be found on the street, but look out for no parking signs (park behind the restaurant since you can't park on West Alabama). After brunch, we checked out the Menil Collection and walked around the area since it was a nice day out. The Menil Collection bookstore is also open Wednesday-Sunday 11 AM-7 PM. read more

Great food, lovely atmosphere - amazing location. Best of all, an intimate and caring staff who took wonderful care of our special group. THANK YOU for helping all of us feel welcome and included! We loved the experience! Anne Marie CDO Vita-Living, Inc. facebook.com/vitalivinghouston read more

It's a real pretty restaurant. Close to the Menil and modern, clean, crisp, lots of natural sun light, very light filled, lots of white, almost even gallery like. I ordered a simple arugula salad, some parm cheese, add chicken. It was pretty simple, light, it was alright. Cecilia got the cheese plate and I was just glad they didn't have blue cheese, but it was actually a very good selection of cheeses, sottocenere, manchego, goat, and a brie. Complimentary bread was provided but was not great, at all. It was better than cardboard and it was complimentary, so that was nice. The little spread it came with made it much more edible. Super nice spot for a long girl lunch or a lunch to impress, not a bad restaurant, but I would like to try it again for some real food. For photos visit my blog! read more

Randomly went on a Sunday and of course i didn't make a reservation. However, there was great seating at the window that was a connection to the bar. The menu was great with different options for brunch along with some options for adult Sunday beverages! I had the salmon crepe and it was divine! The salmon was perfectly cooked and served with a small amount of cream on top. I did add a pouched egg as well which made all the difference. This place was a great addition to my Sunday. read more

We came 2 times for brunch on sunday. The choice on the menu is quite short and the service so-so... When we arrived the A/C was about 66 which is really cold and we had an unclever justification: "oh it's really hot outside so we can't increase a bit the A/C"... well because it's hot outside, so we have to wear a jacket inside? read more

Great service and food. very nice atmosphere. Had appetizer lunch and dessert. Everything was delicious. read more

Bistro Menil - Belgium waffles with chicken - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

We had a few hours in the neighborhood to walk around, grab a bite, enjoy the sun, and look at incredible art. This is a beautiful place, modern interior, walkable area, close to art galleries. The best brunch and lunch menu. Wonderful service! read more

OMG THIS PLACE IS SO LOUD! I would give it 4 stars for the excellent food, but I just cannot get over how insanely loud it is in there for lunch. A conversation across a table is impossible. I can see that they tacked up some felt on one wall, in a feeble attempt to mitigate the sound problem, but I'm pretty sure it's not helping. I swear I've been to concerts less loud. If the weather is nice, sit outside and save yourself. The food was delicious tho. Here's what I had: Duck Rillette: A perfect ratio of duck, to toasties, to musterd to cornichons. Eggplant Fries: Omg where have these been all my life?! Served with a not too heavy and perfectly seasoned aioli. Chocolate Pot de crème: I thought this dessert was way too big and the Orange notes were not my fave, but it was still quite good. Only minus on the service was that water was not served right away. I shouldn't have to ask for water, especially when glasses are on the table. But that's just one (ok one of many) pet peeve of mine. I would definitely go back and sit outside. I would only dine inside again if someone assured me that the noise level had been significantly brought down. Lol, I sound like a geezer. Get off my lawn! read more

Bistro Menil has a very nice interior and an amazing patio and obviously the setting helps with the overall ambience. I came here for brunch recently and was underwhelmed for the price. I had the pancetta and eggs which were tasty but the pancetta might be better served cut into pieces as it is quite tough and the first time I cut into it I almost slid it and the bread beneath it off the plate. So I was pleased with the food although I think it was a bit pricey at $14. I ordered a Bloody Mary which was a real disappointment. Not very strong, but more importantly, way too thin. I am spoiled as I only get Bloody Marys at a couple of places where they are spectacular. This one was totally not worth it. Service was average. One of the people in our party didn't like the tea they brought, so they brought her something else, but charged her for both drinks. Not good. I might come back here, but not dying to. read more

This bistro has an excellent menu, great ambience, and a well-curated wine list. We visited on a Friday night and it was busy, but not crowded. I think it's an under-appreciated restaurant. read more

Totally underwhelmed. Here is why? Food: 3 out of 5 besides the fact that our fresh cut fries had a hair in them the food was overall mediocre. The eggplant fries however where exceptional. Service: 3 out of 5 friendly server but got my order wrong as I clearly said dairy-free and my omelet was doused in cheese. Cost for value: 1 out of 5 overpriced for the lack of quality of food. Menu: 2 out of 5 the menu has a ton of variety but for someone who is dairy-free my options were limited to 2 dished out of like 50. Ambience: 5 out of 5 the small dining room is charming with a cool art installation on the wall and the beautiful views outside. Bottom line you are better off skipping the restaurant and headed straight to the gallery. I much preferred the art. read more

Great service & delicious food. Menu is extensive and nice drink list including beer on tap. Service was great & waiter personable. read more

Bistro Menil - Hunter's stew, delicious. Venison & duck in a nice broth - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I took my Sister-in law here for the high tea for her birthday. It was really lame and overpriced for what it was. Pay a little more and go to St. Regis instead! I called a week ahead and to make sure we would get a table with a good view since this is the main reason she requested this place. The person on the phone assured me that not only would the table be nice, but that she would provide a birthday cupcake at the end of the tea as a surprise. Neither happened. Instead we were lead to corner booth inside where we were crammed next to another person. It felt like a diner. We asked what happened to the area we had asked for before, and she said there is a private party. So we sat outside as a compromise. It was hot and the high tea bites and desserts were disappointing. Basically did not feel the ambiance or anything special in its execution/presentation. read more

This was such a lovely spot for lunch, with a wide array of offerings! Everything from the rich burrata appetizer to the tasty personal gourmet pizzas, to a fantastic vegetarian quiche, and finally my dish (which I think was the best!) a scrumptious crab and mushroom crepe. All main entrees come with TWO sides and I must say, mine were the best roasted veggies I've had. I will most definitely be returning! read more

Second time here. Same exact issue as the first time. Ordered a pizza with no cheese and of course it came with cheese. On second try they also forgot the truffle oil. Took two tries to get it right. Same as first time. The person who delivered it the first time was not very pleasant. Our original waiter was also missing in action throughout the entire meal. Quality of food is good but service is lacking. read more

I love the space, but on the day we visited, the windows were open and there were maintenance crews operating leaf-blowers just outside for the entire meal. Wouldn't you think that a museum and restaurant that are closed for two entire weekdays every week could coordinate their landscaping maintenance with the times that they're closed? The food was very good, but the service was sparse and quirky. Our waiter didn't bother to write down the order, and then had to immediately ask for clarification, because he'd forgotten the first item we'd requested. Then he came back five minutes later to ask for clarification again. Why do some servers think that diners are impressed by the ability to take an order without writing it down, especially if they lack the memory or focus to do so? read more

I got the Chicken and Artichoke Crepe. The food is just good. Service is nice. The portion is small for how pricy the place is. Ice is not served with their water. The water they served me was not completely clean. I had to ask for another but still looked fishy. Their bread and butter appetizer is pretty fine. The place is pretty fine for a short sit down and a small bite if yo don't care about the price. I would not recommend anyone here. read more

I want to love this place, like I love the Menil Collection, but they make it hard to! The space is beautiful and modern, and the patio is great. I also like their cask wines sold by 1/4 and 1/2 a bottle. The service was nothing to brag about, they took care of our needs, but they weren't super friendly, nor did they really check on us. The food was not great. We had calimari and the crepes. The calimari was very rubbery, and was probably from a frozen bag, because the breading was not made in-house. My boyfriend ordered the crab and mushroom crepes, but got chicken, and the server never checked back on food or drinks. He only came to take our plates at the end of the meal, and came back ten minutes later, to see if we needed anything else. He could have asked that when he took our plates, or immediately after. If the server doesn't ask after a couple of bites/minutes if the food is okay, they can't correct issues. Also, guests shouldn't have to wait for the server, because if they are busy, that is when combining steps of service are important. read more

This review is only for their afternoon tea. I've been to a few tea services in Houston and am usually pleasantly surprised, this was the exception. When we made our reservations, we received a call informing us that we needed a credit card to reserve tea service and a 20% service charge was automatically added. We didn't feel like this was a big deal so we agreed but later we realized why. When we arrived we were seated and waited at least ten minutes for anyone to come to our table. The waiter then came over and brought us the glasses of champagne and explained the menu. At this point I thought it was a bit strange that nobody brought us glasses of water but assumed it was an oversight. He did not ask about any food allergies until he brought the soup of the day and as an afterthought mentioned that it had almonds in case we had food allergies. Someone finally brought us water around the time our tea tray arrived and we had to ask the waiter to take our tea order. Some of the tea sandwiches and offerings were unique and inventive but others were overly greasy. When our tea came, we were not offered honey or sugar as is customary with tea service. I was also surprised to see that the tea was a bagged tea and not loose leaf tea like most other tea services. We tried to get our server's attention but like most of the rest of our service, he was nowhere to be found. This was especially frustrating because of the mandatory 20% gratuity for tea. I would suggest to Bistro Menil that better service would yield the same outcome in terms of gratuity. I would suggest to Yelpers that the St Regis has an outstanding tea service. read more

My 2-star review is mostly based on service and the experience my group had. The food tasted fine and looked lovely, while a bit on the expensive side for what was presented. We had a group, with a reservation ahead of time. No where in the reservation process did the staff tell the person making the reservation that no separate checks would be allowed. No where in the ordering of food and drink did the waiter tell us that no separate checks would be allowed. It was only after food was already brought out to half of our group that the waiter happened to casually mention to me (not the person who make the reservation) that it would be on one check and nothing to be separated. The majority of us did not have cash on hand to pay the person responsible for the reservation, and those of us who had cash did not have enough to cover our portion. Some of us only had drinks and a starter, some of us had full meals, so the suggestion we just split it equally was not quite fair either. Nor could we. One person was told to leave by their waitress since they did not order food, but was in our group. While I adore the Menil, I do not adore the Bistro and cannot recommend it to anyone visiting the area. read more

Great ambiance, good service, and the food is pretty good too. Perfect place to go on a nice day and sit outside!

I'm never disappointed - always a fabulous meal! The quality of ingredients and flavor are exquisite - every bite perfect! For us, dining here is a special treat. Not an inexpensive meal, but prices are very reasonable considering the quality/value. They've added tables outside for more al fresco dining. Chef Greg is a true delight! You can tell he loves his craft! read more

Fantastic cafe food with european influence. It does offer gluten free options and most of their foods are gluten free, but you MUST talk to a competent and knowledgeable manager first. I have eaten there several times as a Celiac and haven't gotten sick. Last week, I ate there and the waitress told me that a few of the items were definitely gluten free, and I ended up very sick. Their wait staff needs to be EDUCATED on Celiac and food allergies. read more

Great space and food. Eggs with pancetta on brioche- delicious! Great cocktail and desserts. Try the lemon pastry read more

Bistro Menil - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

The two salads (duck confit and niçoise) were delicious. The service was excellent. Nice place. read more

Bistro Menil - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Definitely mediocre. Not bad, but nothing to be excited about. Tried the duck salad - boring. Brownie - fine. Many better restaurant options to choose from. read more

Bistro Menil hands down is our favorite place to eat! Chef Greg is amazing! (Get the salmon- it's to die for!)

After passing by this house so many times on my way to the park, I finally popped in. It was about 10:30am and I had no reservation. We were the first ones there. The chef greeted us at the door and the staff was very welcoming. I am vegan so I was a little sad when the menu didn't have vegan options. I wished they had almond milk, soy milk, and coconut oil for my coffee. They only offered whole milk. They sat us outside and Erin, our waiter, was very attentive and helpful. Every dish is made from scratch so it was quite easy to eliminate cheese from most dishes to cater to my diet. I was pleased with their flexibility. Most restaurants don't like when the customer substitutes or manipulates the dishes, but they were happy to suggest options. I ended up having the butternut squash risotto and quinoa and kale dish. They were both delicious. I enjoyed the candied pecans in the salad. Overall, I had an amazing experience. I will be back and recommend to friends. I hope to be surprised by more vegan options next time. read more

Bistro Menil - A pause from the rain for some sunny patio fun - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Bistro Menil is a short walk from my house, so I want it to thrive. The location is great and they do a few things well on the food front (e.g. - pizza and eggplant fries). However, whenever I try something 'serious' I regret it. On a recent visit, the tuna steak was tough and way too fishy -as in not fresh. Left most of it on the plate. Another member of our party had the crab cakes. They had a slight fishy-ness and otherwise not too tasty. Others reported the salmon and chicken were quite good. But, no excuse for tough and fishy seafood. read more

The Bistro Menil is a wonderful new addition to the Montrose dining scene. I would describe the menu as "Contemporary French-Americane" Wonderful classic french dishes with an elegant modern twist are served in an open, yet cozy dining room with Houston's Menil Gallery as the backdrop. Amongst other things--we tried the Duck Confit Focaccia as an appetizer along with a delicious, perfectly seasoned beef tartare. Duck Confit is not an easy dish to prepare.. and they nailed it with finesse. I had a crab and mushroom crepe finished in authentic beurre-blanc. My guests enjoyed traditional Entrecôte as well well as sea scallops in a white wine butter reduction... Everything was just delicious. It was also hot, fresh, and tastefully presented. This Bistro features an extensive wine list.. including a vast selection of "cask" or "tap" wines... something that's showing up more and more in Houston... We tried a 2013 Sancerre in the bottle.. and then a Pouilly Fuisse out of the "tap" and presented in a full pitcher...--a lovely, and traditional Parisian method of enjoying wine. Both were excellent. For dessert we tried two items. A pear "upside down" tart....as well as clay pot of creamed chocolate mousse..... Regretfully... they had sold all of the Creme Brûlée .. The desserts were perfect. From the online reservation process, to the friendly reconfirmation telephone call I received, the staff here is professional, friendly, pleasant, and well trained. You'll received european style service in this venue. The Bistro Menil is quickly earning it's well deserved reputation for dining excellence and I look forward to returning again. Well done! read more

This is a very cool place. chef Greg has put together a nice tight menu. One of my favorites the char grilled octopus. Lots of flavor and very tasty. The wine selection is outstanding. The duck confit and crab cakes are second to none. Friendly knowledgeable staff. And a very fun art museum right next door. read more