Tex-Mex and I have a fraught history. Sometimes I love it, and sometimes it hates me. So I was…read moreoptimistic when I heard about Candente. Not anymore! This restaurant is balanced in the best way. From the moment you enter, the service is attentive and warm. Our waiter was checking in on us and making sure we were all right and always had water, ships etc. The place itself is decorated elegantly and we were immediately seated at a booth when we requested one. The decor was vibrant and fun and we felt like we were perfectly spaced for privacy and interacting. The food. The food was amazing! The queso was light and rich at once, the only fault being how much I ate! The tacos were also wonderful, packed full of beef and seasonings. We ended the meal with an indulgent and delicious tres leches. Candente really changed my relationship with Tex-Mex!

Met some friends at Candente on Bellaire for a fun night out. Parking was so easy on a Sunday…read morenight. Started with shared appetizers. The Chile Con Queso and Guacamole with pico and sour cream were so good. The guacamole was so fresh. Had the jalapenos on the side. For dinner, I split an order of chicken fajitas with a friend. Loved the fresh, juicy perfectly marinated chicken fajitas. Our waiter recommended the large. It was huge! Enough for lunch the next day with the leftovers. The fajitas are served with grilled onions, pico de gallo, more guacamole, cheddar, sour cream, chile lime butter, handmade flour and/or corn tortillas, rice and a choice of beans. The vegetarian black beans were delicious. No room for dessert, but the choices looked promising. Would definitely come back with friends. Might check out their half-priced fajitas available all day on Tuesdays.

OMG! This was a wonderful find. The food was so amazingly delicious. Service was friendly and…read moreattentive. No complaints on anything. My husband and I ordered lamb lollipops, tortellini stuffed with Wagyu beef, and seared pork chops with fig chutney and buttery mashed potatoes. The pork chop was absolutely our favorite even though everything was really good. We will be back again!!!

I came for Houston Restaurant Week. We made a reservation…read morethrough their website for 9:15pm on a Friday. We arrived at 9:00pm and the person who greets you at the restaurant was extremely rude. "Oh you have a reservation?" "Well I know you don't have a reservation, I have nothing here and we close at 10." To which I proceeded to take out my confirmation, but also said hey if you can't seat us it's not a problem we can go. He said no no and proceeded to take us to a table. Maybe we were late? I'm not sure. The website offered reservations even later, and others walked in after us. Who knows... Besides that, the food was ok. The appetizer empanadas and calamari were ok. Nothing to want to have again, I've had better. The lamb ossobuco with polenta was tasty and a big portion. My husband's beef brochettes weren't cooked to his liking. The rice that came with it was delicious. Good wine pairing for both entrees. Figs and mascarpone dessert was not to my liking. The mascarpone was heavy on the lemon. It took over the whole palate. Chocolate ganache cake was good. Was the quality worth the price? Not for me.

Visited for the first time and absolutely loved this place! The location is great, and a little…read moreparking tip: park in the garage because they offer two hours of parking validation, which definitely makes things easier. From the entrance to the interior and overall ambiance, everything was flawless. The atmosphere really impressed me it almost reminded me of that one scene from Kill Bill. Very unique and stylish without feeling overdone. I came during Houston Restaurant Weeks and tried their $55 three-course menu per person, and everything was amazing. From the hamachi roll to the Wagyu rolls and eel rolls, every dish was delicious and beautifully done. The cheese cake was amazing! Great food, great atmosphere, and a really memorable experience. Definitely a 5/5 and a place I'd love to come back to!

Beautiful inside, absolutely atrocious service…read more I've been trying different restaurants for Houston Restaurant Week, which is always exciting because you get to finally try places that have been sitting on your list forever and cross them off. Unfortunately, Haii Keii was a major miss for us. First, the good. The inside is VERY vibey. It reminded us of Rush Hour with all the neon lights, or like a trendy happy hour spot somewhere in Japan. It's dark, trippy, colorful and honestly really pretty. Definitely a place where you'll want to take pictures. I could see this being a fun date night or a place to meet up with friends. We had reservations and were seated right away, so no complaints there. Parking is in a garage, but they validate for two hours, which is pretty easy. You just have to check in within 20 minutes and get the validation code when you check in for your reservation. And then the dinner started. There were four of us, and two of our friends had a baby, so getting a night out is already a whole production. They had a babysitter and had planned for us to have dinner and be home within about 3.5 to 4 hours. We figured that would be MORE than enough time for dinner. It wasn't. There were three servers working the upstairs area from what we could tell, and the other two seemed to be moving pretty quickly. People weren't sitting around waiting for menus, drinks, checks, etc. Our server, however, would just disappear. Like, completely disappear for 20-25 minutes at a time. It took forever to get menus, and we didn't even have enough menus for everyone because apparently they "didn't realize they were going to be this busy" and had run out. You're participating in Houston Restaurant Week, in a busy part of town. I'm not really sure how that's a surprise, but okay. Then it took forever to get drinks. We were doing the Houston Restaurant Week menu, which comes with an appetizer, entree and dessert. Somehow our ENTREES came out before our appetizers. One person's appetizer was completely forgotten. The food itself was mostly okay. Some of the sushi was actually really good, and there were a couple things that I would potentially come back and try again. But nothing was really memorable enough to make me overlook the service. And the service just kept getting worse. When we were finally ready to leave, we got the check, put our cards down and then... waited. And waited. And waited. We ended up waiting about 37 minutes for someone to come get our cards. At that point, our two-hour parking validation had expired, so we had to pay for parking. Again, paying for parking isn't the issue. I fully expect that I'll be spending money on things like tips, parking, and what have you, when I go out to dinner. The issue is that everyone else around us seemed to be able to have their meal and leave within two hours, while we were stuck there because our server couldn't seem to get back to our table. Meanwhile, we were getting calls from the babysitter because we were running late. It was incredibly frustrating. Eventually we just went downstairs to the bartender to check out because we couldn't wait anymore. And instead of even acknowledging how ridiculous it was that we had to come find someone to pay, the response was basically, "Yeah, we've been busy." Cool. Except everyone else seemed to be managing just fine. Haii Keii also automatically adds a 19% gratuity, which honestly made the whole experience even more frustrating. I can't help but feel like there was very little incentive to actually provide good service because the tip was guaranteed regardless. And unfortunately, that's exactly how the service felt. We usually give restaurants two or three tries before we completely write them off because one bad experience can happen anywhere. But the service was so bad here that we have zero desire to come back. Beautiful restaurant. Great atmosphere. Some good sushi. But the customer service completely ruined the experience for us. Unfortunately, we won't be back.

I am writing to convey my profound appreciation for the truly remarkable dining experience I…read morerecently enjoyed at CHAMA Gaucha. From the moment I stepped through your doors, the atmosphere promised something special, and it delivered spectacularly. The culinary artistry on display was nothing short of breathtaking. The authentic Brazilian cuisine transported me directly to the heart of the country, with each dish flawlessly prepared and bursting with an incredible depth of flavor. The perfectly grilled meats, expertly carved tableside, were succulent and tender, each cut a masterpiece of seasoning and precision. The vibrant array of offerings at the gourmet salad bar complemented the main courses beautifully, showcasing a commitment to fresh, high-quality ingredients and traditional preparations. Equally impressive was the impeccable service provided by your dedicated team. Every staff member I encountered demonstrated genuine warmth, attentiveness, and a remarkable level of professionalism. They anticipated needs before they were even voiced, offered insightful recommendations, and created an environment where every guest felt truly valued and cared for. This blend of efficiency and heartfelt hospitality significantly enhanced the entire evening. Thank you for curating such an extraordinary and memorable experience. Your consistent pursuit of excellence in both cuisine and service is truly commendable, making CHAMA Gaucha a standout destination. I eagerly look forward to my next visit.

Food : all the meet , steaks , sausage are same test ... they are very very salty . The salad bar…read moreare oook . Service: good nice excellent. Ambiance: good . But I am sorry to say that I don't think I will go back for a while at the time ... and would not recommend to friends .

I ordered the lamb chops with rice and salad. Everything was delicious. The chicken entree was also…read moredelicious (I forgot the name of it). I also tried the Baklava dessert, vanilla ice cream rolls and Dubai strawberry chocolate. Everything was really good. The Baklava and vanilla ice cream rolls were big enough to share. The service was good. Staff were friendly. The place was nice, and clean. Hookah were also very nice. I would definitely recommend going here for a chill mid-day brunch or even later in the evening. I didn't get any pics of the food sorry.

Great food, great attentive service, great hookah! Loved that they had an option for the patio so…read morewe could enjoy the cool Houston weather. This is the first hookah place I've gone to in Houston and it has not disappointed. The hookah was amazing. The staff kept coming to replenish the coals and to clean the head if it got too ashy. Food portions here were SOLID!! My biggest complaint with Mediterranean Al-a-carte are that the portions are (especially for the meat) so small. This was the first time where I've had to bring leftovers back home to enjoy!! This place is perfect for group settings, solo outing, dining inside AND outside. Can't wait to come back here !!

Great service!!! The food here is all sharable if you get a…read morefew items! We got the udon mushroom noodles and we did the pickle the gulf shrimp, the skewers were yum. Super soft and tender. The honey dew drink was better than I expected. Really low key spot with great food and ambiance a low key vibe. Our waiter was great! Parking in the garage or in front for a price.

I really liked brunch at Toga. They offer very unique and tasty dishes that we really enjoyed…read more Here's what we tried: -French toast: My favorite dish that we tried was the French toast--so delicious, a must-order. -Sesame waffle: I really liked it but not as much as the French toast. Fun, unique flavor, worth trying. -Egg sando: I love sandos, and, while this sando was good, I didn't love the jammy egg as much as I hoped I would. Again, unique and worth trying but not my favorite. -French fries: Tasty and super crispy, would order again.

Everything is outstanding The rainbow ceviche is the best u…read moreever tasted All around good Margaritas are amazing

Ambiance= nothing stands out as memorable. It seemed like a good place to have a conversation if…read moreyou're on a date or a late dinner. Food looks appetizing, but the flavor is not there. I also went to a restaurant month, which is a great cause. Was the meal worth the tab of 90 bucks a person by far no. I ordered the sirloin which was paperthin. There was no point in me, asking for it to be medium rare when it was cooked fully. The beans were very strong in cumin to where they felt grainy. The dessert was hot considering it was cheesecake and not very flavorful. I ordered a lychee martini. It had no lychee garnish that automatically for me is a no-no. My sister-in-law ordered the fish that looked again flavorful but once you tasted it, it was all just color. It need salt. Would I go here again, no. Is the food amazing? no. The service was decent that's about the only good thing.

Visited Pappas Bros. Steakhouse while in Houston. The beautiful outdoor entrance sets the tone,…read morewhile the dining room carries a rich, luxurious ambiance that makes the experience feel special from the moment you walk in. Reception was straightforward -- once four members of our party had arrived, we were seated. From that point on, the service was top tier: polished, attentive, and professional throughout the evening. We enjoyed the dry-aged Prime New York Strip and dry-aged Prime Ribeye, both beautifully prepared. Surprisingly, the New York Strip was our favourite of the two, with outstanding flavour and texture. We also tried the Filet Mignon, which, while good, didn't quite measure up and was a little on the dry side. For sides, we shared the Au Gratin Potatoes, Creamed Spinach, and Jumbo Mac & Cheese. The Creamed Spinach was the clear winner -- rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious. The cocktails were also very good, although I found $24 for a Manhattan a little steep. Overall, an exceptional steakhouse with first-class service, outstanding dry-aged beef, and an elegant atmosphere that's well worth experiencing. Saluti.

I expected more from a high end steakhouse. It took several minutes to be seated despite having…read morereservations at 5 PM the bread they brought was comparable to a grocery store French bread, it had a light crust and no flavor. We ordered the dry aged ribeye, which was a little tough. Both our knives were extremely dull and were standard flatware knives. I'm used to getting a hefty steak knife at other restaurants. Bread service -1/5 Steakhouse, salad, and Caesar salad - 4/5 Dry aged ribeye - 2.5/5 Salmon 5/5 Cheesecake and Keylime tart -3.5/5. Fine but nothing special.