A gluten free paradise. I've NEVER had a GF croquette in a restaurant- I was thrilled to have it on the menu. Same with the eggplant fries. Then had the duck salad and ended with a gluten free brownie!! Everything was good and the only reason it's not 5 stars is because everything and every bite was good - not OMG best bite ever. I would definitely return if back in town and am so appreciative for the immense choices!!! read more

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We came for brunch. Cute restaurant in a great location. The avocado toast I had with salmon was very good, as was the blood orange mimosa and the Bellini. Service was good - our waiter was very attentive. read more

Bistro Menil - Blood orange mimosa - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Went for lunch during HRW. Loved the crab cake with sides and creme brûlée for dessert. Street parking is available right around opening time, but not sure how packed it would be for the dinner rush. Ample tables and seating and the wall to wall windows crated a nice open atmosphere. read more

Bistro Menil - Creme brûlée and cheesecake - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

A real disappointment. Menil has always been a favorite, usually reliable with good food at a reasonable price point. However this time, we were seated and waited 15 minutes with no service. Waiters walked by us several times without stopping to take out orders. It was moderately busy, Saturday night (6:30). In fact a couple tables came after we were seated and they were serviced. Finally we just left without dinner. DISAPPOINTED! read more

Great food and cool location! We all got confused with the parking, the restaurant is located by the red artwork behind the parking lot. Only issues with the restaurant is that it was absolutely FREEZING in the room we dined in and, not the restaurant's fault by any means, the worst behaved toddler with oblivious parents took over our side. Server was super nice and staff was attentive. For an 11am brunch they also allowed ordering off the lunch menu. Their specialty brunch cocktails are also worth trying, impressed. I got the crab and mushroom crepes. Most people may not agree with my sentiment here, but it was packed with crab and I was wanting more mushrooms and a bit more sauce. As the side I got the ratatouille and it was AMAZING. Friends all seemed to like their plates as well, the quiche was nice and fluffy and the Eggs Lyonnaise did well. read more

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The Menil Bistro was a total surprise and a pleasant one at that. After a long search for antiques at the Guild Shop we looked for decent places to eat in the neighbourhood and this showed up. It is right across the Menil museum and pretty upscale. In Fact the area around Menil is like a little cute town in itself. There is a Museum with interesting art collections, there is a book store, an open area where I saw plenty of picnics on the grass, some metal outdoor art pieces which the kids were just enjoying climbing on to, huge trees and unbelievably quite even with so many people and so much going on. There is plenty of outdoor seating which was well suited for a perfect day like today, but there is artsy indoor seating too. It was pretty busy saturday noon, but we were shown to our table fairly quickly. The menu had starters, entrees, brunch specials and lunch specials. To drink they have plenty of options in wines, beers, and cocktails, also on the menu is ice tea and different types of coffee. We got the ice tea, roasted cauliflower, the Eggs Lyonnaise, a blood orange mimosa and a buttermilk blackberry cake. The roasted cauliflower had this light roast with herbs on them and a sauce that was sooo good, it was my first time tasting the romesco sauce and I fell in love with it. The Eggs Lyonnaise was a brunch menu item and it came with potatoes on the side, and an omelet on bread, we requested to have the meat removed and replaced with avocado instead, which they did. So, if you are a strict vegetarian or vegan, make sure you tell the waiter serving you before you place an order, not all foods have clear separation between veg and meat based dishes. My partner relished it. The cake was the star for me. The buttermilk blueberry cake had a muffin texture to look at, but, one bite into the warm, in-house cake- it just melted in the mouth. It had the perfect sweetness, not too sweet at all. It was really yummy... Also, the ice tea gets refilled if you want. Interesting bit of news for the Ladies: They host very English tea parties. There was a ladies group outside who were getting served a bunch of pastries on a 3 tiered stand and that got me curious. When enquired, our waiter Alan told us about the tea party. It needs to be booked 24 hours in advance. It can be booked for any time in the day. It costs $65 per person. It comes with a host of special pastries not on the menu, unlimited tea, and champagne. Planning a fancy ladies day out ? - well- now you have another option! (I don't think it's a guy thing, do you?). A must visit. read more

Came today for Sunday brunch. Here's a rundown of what I got: Calamari: chewy and weirdly served with warm marinara sauce...just didn't go well together not to mention the squid was so tough. Crab cake: delicious and full of flavor! They did not serve it with a sauce though. Not sure if it needed one *Beware they tend to hide citrus zest in things that don't need it... Belgian waffle-fruit forward w berries: waffle batter is loaded with orange zest. Not to my taste and would have been amazing without it. Took me off guard Brownie with vanilla ice cream and caramel: my daughter orders this but...the vanilla ice cream has lemon zest...ewww! Who wants chocolate brownie with lemon zest ice cream?? Also got the lemon tart: curd was really nice but the pastry was very dry not buttery and flaky which is a shame because the lamination was decent. Plan to come back for high tea again but $65 per person seems a little steep for what you get. read more

Bistro Menil - Belgian waffle (loaded with orange zest...not my thing). Crab cake was amazing! - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

For gluten-free folks, Bistro Menil should be a regular stop at the top of your list. It's upscale casual--the crowd leans both older and artsier without feeling too uptight. It's busy (always opt for a reservation) but not loud and the patrons are generally well-mannered, The food is fresh, clean and adventurous without succumbing to trends. I had the GF crab cakes with the cauliflower-potato mash and a side salad. My companions enjoyed the crab avocado salad (which is more of a short/wide crab tower) and another salad as well. For dessert, we split the GF blackberry buttermilk cake. All were delicious, but I have to say that for the crab cakes to be the signature dish, they are blander than I'd hoped. I ended up with dish envy and wish I'd opted for the short rib instead. So many places in inner loop Houston have become difficult to navigate due to the crowds, but this place is such a quiet gem. Every time I'm here, I remind myself I need to come back sooner rather than later. read more

I have now been to Bistro Menil three times. Once for lunch, once for an event, and once for dinner. My most recent visit was on a Friday evening after visiting the Menil Collection. If you're planning to visit the museum, dining at the Bistro is a no-brainer as it's right across the street. We sat out on the patio and loved the ambiance. They also have heaters for each table if it's a little chilly. We split the short rib which comes with small fried onions on top of the glazed short rib, plus your choice of two sides as well as the crabcakes with your choice of two sides. We went with the brussel sprouts, fries, and mashed potatoes. Along with a bottle of Malbec. All in all, this was an incredible meal. The short rib was tender with a lovely glaze and the crunchy fried onions paired perfectly. The sides delivered too as the mashed potatoes had melted butter on top and the fires were thin and crispy. You get two large crabcakes (one of my favorite seafood items) so this delivered too. I can't comment on the brussel sprouts as I didn't try them. Service was efficient and nice. All in all, a great date spot! read more

This is a celiac paradise. Almost everything on the menu is Gluten Free and good w resonable prices

I have been here twice. Once for dinner and once for brunch. Both times the food was amazing! I can tell that the chef uses lots of consideration creating the menu items and make effort to create quality food. For brunch I got the crab crepes and it had lots of crab meat and flavorful cream that went so well together. The inside of the restaurant is modern that matches the menil museum collection. They have an outside patio with beautiful views of the oak trees, it feels you're having lunch in the middle of a park! read more

Bistro Menil - Crab crepes - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

I arrived to find all the outdoor tables tee with the reserve sign on each table. Don't be discouraged by that I asked if I could have one of the tables and I said take whatever one you want. I was visited by Tony one of the several male squirrels we've been told are one of the most loyal customers at the restaurant, Tony maintain the proper distance and the nearby tree and fed a peanut by hand by our server. Our server was friendly, efficient attentive, and had a lovely voice when singing happy birthday to my wife. Two of us began with a French onion soup hot enough, but not too hot to eat right away and delicious. I followed it with a pizza planning to only eat half of it and take the other half home delicious, a salad with a was an apricot dressing. My wife had a salad that came with a different dressing, but asked for the apricot instead and we were accommodated. The lemonade was appreciated by those joining me and I had a ginger beer. And when we thought we had to rush out and order was sent to the kitchen to put on Rush takeout dessert moments later we change that and the kitchen and the waitress gracefully changed from rush and we got to enjoy our dessert which was a brownie with a sparkler accompanied by that beautiful song from our server read more

terrible service here, especially for the prices they charge. Waiter was extremely condescending when asked questions about the menu (I believe his name was Daniel, and judging by the reviews he's been a problem here for the last few years). He gave off a really arrogant vibe. Like dude chill out you're a waiter, just because I look like a peasant doesn't mean you aren't one too. The food was way below average, especially considering all the other delicious restaurants in the area. Only tourists go here when visiting, and if you're a tourist reading this just walk across the street and get something from Lua Viet or Southern Yankee Crap House (also not very good, but relatively better). The Menil family did not escape Nazi Germany only to have Daniel looking down on guests and overcharging people for mediocre food. read more

Excellent bistro, Houston version. The food is great and the service is adequate. Indoors is nice and the terrace is beautiful in the spring and fall. read more

I yet, I tried again because it is close to my work. I continue to say that the staff is rude and racist. I went with a girlfriend and ordered a cheese board and some appetizers and salad. I asked for a change of bread and they asked "what"? I asked for a "white bread". I was mimicked on "white" and was told everything doesn't have to be white and they don't serve WHITE bread. I have allergies and I can't have grain breads or breads with seeds. I shouldn't have to explain my issues. White bread is any bread that is simple and plain and usually used in the kitchen for many things. This place finds everything racist! Yes, we were two white women with blonde hair, but to treat us wrong because we weren't "hippy" or " tattooed" or "darker skinned" is not acceptable. The waiter did not return to the table and another server took over and even this server was unkind and racist. He kept asking us everything was "white acceptable". We waited forever for our drinks and even to pay. I believe this place needs to think seriously about how they train their personnel. Customer service is vital and they need to keep their personal hatred at home. Hate takes you nowhere! read more

Nice cafe. Went there for tea service. Had a great time there. I would go again for the regular menu.

What an amazing unexpected gem! The restaurant is classy and the food was great without being overpriced. The patio out front gives you a great view of the museum and trees across from the bookshop. It's truly refreshing since most patio restaurants in houston seem to face a parking lot. We dined on the patio at lunch on a Saturday with no reservations and got seated immediately. Amazing Neapolitan style pizza fresh from a brick oven and split the duck salad with a tea was 54.00$ . Can't beat the quality of food at the price with the view. Will definitely be back. read more

First time here and I'm in I ordered the crab cakes - best in town! The salad was fresh and the cauliflower mash. I'm a total fan of the food and the decor. It's made it on my Houston's Great Eats List for sure. We sat outside under the canopy of large trees in perfect 80 degree spring weather...it felt like I was not even in Houston. read more

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Ok its a great experience. The Sunday brunch is great also had dinner here a few times. Owner stopped by the table and welcomed us. Had a lot of different food on our table. Overall they have some great dishes. Not a fan of the GF Pizza but Everything else is fabulous. Also lots of gluten free options. read more

I really enjoyed this restaurant !! The food was fresh and the ambience was great!! Came here for a late dinner with a friend and were both pleased with our meals as well as the service! read more

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I came here for the Houston Restaurant Week special and had an overall good time here! For appetizer I got the crab cake that was so soft it will melt in your mouth! it also has a half lemon on the side that helps to cut into the mayonnaise. I would say less is more on how much lemon to squeeze in but I appreciate them giving you enough lemon to decide the taste for yourself. The entrée was the 12 hour beef short rib that was unfortunately the weakest part of the meal. The short rib was very dry on the outside and does not really get juicy until you cut to the middle. But the inside is tender and flavorful and the red wine and vinegar makes the meat not too overburdensome. The mashed potato and zucchini sides are both very good as well. Eating these two sides with the meat adds some much needed moisture to the meal. But my favorite part of the meal was definitely the cheesecake! There was a citrus punch to it that I did not expect and I actually exclaimed "wow" after my first bite and continued to enjoy after every bite. read more

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Have never been treated so disrespectfully in my entire life. The waiter literal sneered at us as we walked in, i thought it was just a customer at first but then he came to tell us that if we were only getting drinks we could order at the bar. We wanted some lattes and wine, why would we order from the bar. He proceeded to literally treat us like we were actually stupid the remainder of our visit, we order lattes and it was taking a while so we asked about the process and he said "oh you still want the lattes?" .... Like budddy yes. We ordered them for a reason. Felt embarrassed the entire time I was there. Felt like I had a sign on my head that said "stupid, disrespect me" read more

Three of us came here for afternoon tea on a Saturday. I called the day before for a reservation which was easy (but they do request a credit card ahead of time) and it looked like we were the only table having tea that afternoon. The service was fine and the hostesses were very nice. The water glasses weren't refilled during the hour and a half we were there so I did have to ask for a refill. We started with a generous glass of brut followed by the soup du jour which was a chilled potato soup. It tasted good but the temperature was unexpected and a little off-putting. About twenty minutes later, our waiter brought out the rest of the food both savory and sweet together on a tray. The presentation was very nice and each of our individual tea pots and mugs came out shortly afterwards. The desserts were relatively large and heavy compared to the savory bites, but everything was delicious and I left feeling very full. When the dining room had emptied closer to 4pm, Chef Martin came over to our table to say hello and gave us a brief lesson on the champagne we had. Overall, we really enjoyed the experience. Our only complaint was the automatic 20% gratuity for our party of three. We may explore more options for tea in Houston but this is a great option! read more

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I got take-out-here for another HRW 2020 lunch and have mixed feelings about this place because of the food. The ordering process was smooth, and the people were friendly. - Beef short rib: the flavors of this were really tasty! A tad too salty, but nice and juicy. I didn't like the sauce that came with this; it tasted too much like strong wine and didn't go well with the smokiness of the meat. It was a little disappointing that the portion is so tiny (the big bone was like half the 6 oz so there was only maybe 3 oz of meat). :( - Bistro fries: basically big chunks of potatoes. They weren't super crispy and didn't have a ton of flavor but did help cut the saltiness of the rib. After you ate the rib (which disappeared pretty fast given its small size), the potatoes had no real flavor, but this is basically what you fill up on. - Cold zucchini with parmesan and pancetta: a nice lighter side to go with the heaviness of the potatoes and rib, tastes exactly like how you'd expect. I think this could be tastier with a wedge of lemon for people to squeeze to help add freshness, but not bad as it is. - Lemon-almond torte: a nice almond flavored little cake. It was a little dry, and I didn't taste too much lemon but the almond flavor was there. There was maybe less than 1/2 tbsp of lemon curd in the very center. I think some lemon curd and frangipane would help to really elevate the taste and help cut the dryness to make this cake something you'd keep coming back for. Overall, the only thing I thought had strong flavors going for it was the rib, but the portion was tiny since the bone took up half the 6 oz. The rest of the food had promise, but each dish was just ok as is. Based on food alone, I'd probably give 3 stars, but because of the nice people, I'm still giving four stars. read more

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Cute spot next to the Menil museum. There are very few places that embrace gluten free food. The bistro Menil does a great job with this. Everything from the calamari to the dessert is done well. They also have a great restaurant month menu. I always find myself returning. Great weekday lunch spot and weekend brunch. read more

5 STARS for a gluten-friendly restaurant with amazing food. Everything is clearly marked and some of the widest selection of gluten-free items in the entire Houston area. Great work Bistro Menil read more

Lovely patio. Food just OK. Is there even a chef in the kitchen? Most meats are cooked sous vide and it's obvious all sides are pre-made. It did taste ok but if we weren't sitting on the patio with lovely weather this meal would've been pretty disappointing. I think this place is prob better for a glass of wine or a cup of coffee while enjoying the surrounding grounds rather than a full meal. I won't be going back; toooo many good restaurants in this town. read more

What a wonderful surprise! Tried going to the Menil which was closed, and ended up at the Bistro Menil. Everything is top notch regardless if you are only getting coffee, appetizers or the main course! I had Burrata, mushroom and truffle pizza and cafe au lait. Decor is very modern, but full of nice details, and very spaciously organized! Service was great too! read more

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Used to come here a lot but haven't checked in in a while until today! i was around the area and starving so i went in. as soon as i walked in, i immediately realized things have changed... don't know whether it's because of covid, but i remember it used to be more bright and welcoming.. and now it seems a bit toned down and casual. honestly didn't feel so welcomed. i ordered their calamari and salmon avocado toast. food is 5/5. their food has been always delicious and i'm glad it still tastes clean and well-made. price point is pretty good too. i guess i was a bit disappointed regarding the service just because i was expecting more. it just seems like it's not up to par anymore compared to all the new ones out there. i feel like if they worked a bit more on their service and go back to their upscale vibes, i would come back more often. **also, not sure if they always didn't have alternative milk choices, but they only had whole milk. read more

Bistro Menil - salmon Whole Grain Avocado Toast - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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We came here for HRW. It was absolutely phenomenal! The service was great as was the food. I had the octopus, duck, and cheesecake. Everything was amazing! Such a great experience! read more

Bistro Menil - Octopus - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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This review is for the afternoon tea. I now understand why they require you to pre-pay and tell you that 20% gratuity will be added at the end. This is a hustle with the promise of a fine-dining experience but then you get cheap tea and poor quality food. They just put everything on a three-tier plate and are calling it an afternoon tea. Paying for an afternoon tea here is like buying a fake Rothko. I disagree with reviews saying this is a traditional afternoon tea. This is one step above Starbucks. Just like Starbucks, they give you a teabag instead of steeping fresh loose leaf tea, and they will refill your pot with hot water so your tea is weak after the first cup. I suggest asking for a new teabag each time to at least make it slightly better than Starbucks. They fill you up on the most inexpensive parts of the food...the lemon tart and chocolate mousse. They were good and I'm sure some people enjoy being full of tarts and mousse, but I wish the savory parts were equally as delicious. The sandwiches were small but would have been tasty had the bread not been stale. I wouldn't be surprised if those sandwiches were made the day before and left out overnight. Unlike a traditional tea service, there weren't any scones and jam. Also the creme brulee was very undercooked and more like a liquid gravy texture. I've been to Bistro Menil before and had good service, but Sunday afternoon must not have had the A team. My guest and I waited 15 minutes with no service, and I finally flagged down a server who notified our server. She came to us asking if we were "ready." Ready? Uhhh...we've been ready for a while, can we have water, can we start the tea service? She brought out the food and we didn't even order the tea yet. Then she seemed surprised when we asked for cream. I'm not sure if this was her first time serving afternoon tea, but she acted like it was. Only reason why I added 2 stars instead of 1 is because our server did better towards the end. Update - I now read through other Yelpers experience of the afternoon tea here, and it's good to know that other people feel the same way. I believe management is aware of the issues and instead of addressing them, they are requiring customers to pre-pay because they know customers would balk at the price for a substandard service. It's pretty pathetic and I don't value that type of business practice. read more

Bland, not tasty, expensive food. I don't mind paying extra dollars for the exceptionally good food. Alas, there it wasn't a case. The portions are rather small and expensive. The only food item they are generous with is potatoes. I think I won't be eating potatoes for a long time after visiting that place. On a bright side - the location and set up are very nice, that's why I give it an extra star. I guess that what they are counting on by offering expensive, bland food at the great location. read more

Dear Greg and team, Thank you so much for a perfectly wonderful bridal shower for my niece Meg. We had the best time; the food was delicious, and everyone enjoyed themselves. Many of our guests exclaimed, "it was the best bridal shower they had ever attended". A Big Success! I wanted something very special for Meg, and by selecting the high tea on a Saturday, we got it! Thank you again - I will highly recommend you for the exquisite attention to detail. Christine read more

Upscale museum dining, we visited for lunch. Good eclectic menu! I highly recommend the duck salad and the eggplant fries. Excellent friendly service and sleek spotless interior. A higher price point than I usually spend at lunch but a great treat! read more

Afternoon tea was so-so ($65 flat for each person) - Menu felt uninspired - Some of the food was incredibly petite-- I am quite a small person with child sized hands and this was a turn off for me. - The tea came with a pot for refills - One free glass of champagne read more

I went during restaurant week and had their set lunch menu for $20 which included braised short ribs with two sides (house salad and cold zucchini with Parmesan) and a choice of dessert (I got the lemon custard). I loved the short ribs which was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The sides and the lemon custard were so-so. It was a pretty good deal during restaurant week but during normal times, I think you can get a better deal elsewhere. read more

Bistro Menil - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Phenomenal bistro. Excellent food and service. As a side note, one of the most GF friendly restaurants I've ever eaten at. Wonderful options. Gfree crab cakes, calamari, flatbread, and desert pastries. Recommend the calamari, house vermouth, and the almond torte. World class. read more

I was in Houston for work and my friend made lunch reservations at Bistro Menil. There were 43 of us in the party. My friend said it was his and his wife's favorite brunch location. I was glad I got a chance to enjoy the lunch here. We started with a crab and cheese fondue which wasn't served like a traditional fondue, but in a ceramic bowl with fresh flat bread. It was delicious! I ordered the crab and avocado salad. My coworker ordered the same dish. The other two in our party ordered the snapper that wasn't on the menu. The salad was the perfect portion for lunch and loaded with flavor. Everyone in our party loved their food. This is a nice gem, but if you follow google maps, will lead you to the street that runs on the side of the restaurant. I couldn't see the little restaurant sign from the street, so I made a turn around the corner and there was a much larger sign that lead to the parking lot. read more

Relaxed but stylish ambience, lovely staff, prompt and attentive service (thanks Ally!). We had the HRW menu and everything was perfect - crab cake, short rib and generous sides, dessert was scrumptious - cheesecake and lemon meringue. Must be one of the best value HRW menus and locations. read more

We came to celebrate a friend's birthday this past Sunday. It was fairly busy around 1pm but nothing too crazy. We started with the blood orange mimosa carafe, it was... okay. Definitely made a switch to the original after that. The carafes were $34 each. Eek. I really enjoyed my salad, I thought everything was perfectly balanced tasting wise but it was a fairly small bowl for such a hefty salad price. Our server was great at first, and towards the end it did just get very frustrating. She was attentive all until she dropped off our entrees. Seemed to vanish after that. The rest service help weren't really useful either, just kind of confused anytime we asked anything. At one point we had empty carafes on the table along with new ones and excess plates from the appetizer- they just continued to ignore the table. Randomly brought over some sugar at one point asking if we wanted any?.... With our mimosas & water? The worst was when we're going to pay and she brought out bill all lumped together. I'm not sure if this is their standard but I definitely didn't see it notated on the menu... when we asked her if she could separate it she was so hesitant, almost unwilling, and made a snide comment about how "we didn't tell her in the beginning". Yeah, you definitely should've ask this table of 8 if they wanted their checks separated. We ended up all standing near the one cash register by the bar area and one by one telling her which items were us. How luxe? The service made me not to go back but I did enjoy the food, it was a nice quiet spot maybe for a girls lunch or something. Eh, or it may just be one of those places I don't return to read more

Bistro Menil - Blood orange mimosas. Love these glasses - Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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