Credence -- Where Live Fire Becomes Language and Houston Becomes Art…read more Credence isn't just a restaurant; it's a declaration written in flame. The moment you step inside, the room opens like a long exhale -- wide, airy, and confident, anchored by an open kitchen that glows with the kind of live fire that doesn't simply cook food but tells stories. This is Houston hospitality raised to its highest register, the kind that once earned a Michelin Star for service and still moves with the quiet pride of a place that knows exactly what it's doing. Chef Levi Goode's first brick‑and‑mortar feels like a culmination -- a fifth‑generation Texan with classical training finally building a home where both halves of his identity can stretch their legs. You taste the lineage in the smoke, the discipline in the technique, and the ambition in the menu, which reads like a love letter to Gulf waters, ranch land, and the elemental power of fire. Start with the seafood tower if you want to understand Credence's worldview: fresh, cold, towering abundance arranged with the precision of someone who respects the ocean as much as the plate. The smoked tuna dip is a quiet masterpiece -- silky, savory, and carrying a whisper of smoke that feels like a signature. But the deviled crab? That's where the kitchen shows off. The crab arrives tossed in a smoky tomato butter that clings to every fold, every shred, every hidden corner. Then comes the monkey bread -- warm, soft, pull‑apart temptation -- the kind of bread that makes you forget your manners and commit fully to the moment. But the flame is the true narrator here. It guides the entrées, sets the rhythm, and crowns the showpieces. The whole duck is a spectacle, a celebration, a feast meant for people who appreciate craft and aren't afraid of abundance. It arrives whole (no head), lacquered and glistening, with two legs transformed into confit jewels -- tender, rich, and decadent enough to make you pause mid‑bite. This is not a solo mission; bring a friend or two unless you plan to make a memory out of leftovers. If beef is your compass, the prime dry‑aged New York strip is a study in restraint and precision. Charred edges, deep flavor, and that unmistakable live‑fire signature that makes you wonder why you ever settled for anything cooked on a quiet grill. Dessert at Credence is not an afterthought -- it's a finale. The brown butter Bundt cake arrives warm and fragrant, crowned with chantilly cream that melts into every ridge. It's sized for a crowd, but sharing becomes a philosophical dilemma. Credence is not cheap, but it is honest. Every dollar is accounted for in intention, detail, and execution. This is Houston -- bold, generous, and unafraid -- translated into food, flame, and service. A restaurant that honors the land, the lineage, and the craft, all at once.

If you enjoy decadent food, Credence is the spot! The interior is refined but still welcoming and…read morelively with Southern charm. Service was amazing-- we loved our waiter who was a combination of polite, funny, and knowledgeable, and everyone gave us a smile. All the dishes were beautifully presented and flavorful but definitely on the heavier side. - Beet salad (5/5)-- wow, never had a beet salad like this one before! So much flavor with a tanginess from vinegar sweetened by the blueberries and beets. The beets didn't taste very earthy (aka like dirt) compared to most beet salad. This was really well executed :) - Caesar salad (3.5/5)-- Credence's spin on Caesar, which according to my Caesar salad pro diner, didn't really taste like Caesar salad. Also very tangy and tart but the pro still enjoyed it as a salad dish. - Roasted cabbage (4/5)-- big fan of the way they roasted this, perfect tenderness without being cabbage mush! Definitely a heavy dish, especially for a vegetable option, as it was swimming in a butter cream sauce that started to congeal as it cooled off. Would choose this more as an indulgent appetizer rather than a healthy veggie option. I wonder if one could ask for the sauce on the side... - Tuna tostada (3.5/5)-- if you like strong flavors, this one packs a punch. The gochujang aioli beneath the tuna is really concentrated, making it difficult to taste the actual tuna. There's a bit of heat but thankfully I wouldn't say it was spicy. Fun to try. The tostada itself was very dense and almost a bit bread-y versus a crispy chip texture. - Crab fried rice (4/5)-- comes with lobster foam that is mixed table side and a generous amount of crabmeat lumps. The rice actually had a nice texture without being too... grainy / individualized, but it was too salty for me. - Akaushi Wagyu beef (4.5/5)-- loved the texture which was tender but with some chew (was expecting more of a melt-in-the-mouth texture though) and the veggies that it came with. It was heavily salted, too much so for me. Would've been perfect with less salt since there's already a chimichurri sauce with it. - Peanut butter tart (4.5/5)-- peanut butter lovers rejoice! The chocolate filling was rich, thick, and sweet which was complemented nicely with the whipped cream (not sweet at all). The peanut flavor really shined. The crust didn't have much of a taste by itself and was sandy in texture, not sure if on purpose or over-baked and dried out. Either way, the tart looked impressive when it arrived and was delectable-- my favorite bite of the night! Overall a nice experience! Although there was a mess up and the rest of our two salads and crab rice wasn't packed with our other food to take home; I was pretty sad about that since it was quite a bit of food (and $$). I might return for that peanut butter tart, but everything else was too heavy and too salty for me. I'm personally not a huge butter fan, but if you are, definitely make a reservation for a special occasion or date!

Lunch was fabulous. Our server, Jason, was so very…read moreprofessional, efficient and kind. This is now my favorite restaurant in Houston. Thank you!

I was perusing the 2026 Houston Restaurant Weeks (HRW) menus and stumbled upon this trying to pick…read morea place to eat with a friend. It's hard to choose sometimes, and I wanted to try something new to me. We opted for J. Alexander's and made reservations though it really wasn't busy for a Sunday evening. For being in the uptown park area, it sits on a huge lot with plenty of parking compared to all the restaurants across the street. We were seated in a nice booth on the second level. The food came out quickly. We opted for the HRW menu. Deviled eggs - Good. Filled with lots of yolk and the pickled relish but kind of dry. It needed more mayo. It was also heavily dusted with paprika all over and on the plate for "decor". 5 oz filet with bearnaise sauce and loaded baked potato - The filet was really small for 5 oz. Even the small filet medallions at B&B Butcher are slightly bigger. It was flavorful. Some parts looked more medium well than medium. I skipped the bearnaise sauce. It tasted vinegary more than creamy. The baked potato was really good. It was soft and fluffy and was great with all the toppings. Carrot cake - I've never had a warm carrot cake before but thought it was good. The icing is sweet and could have more cream cheese in it. I think the carrot cake had shredded coconut in it. Unique. Mocktail: I had the Lyre's pineapple margarita. Loved it. I would order that again. Not too sweet or sour and enjoyed the chamoy/tajin around the rim. I'm curious about their other dishes. I'd be opening to trying more items on the menu. My friend's Brasserie Chicken with panko-crusted, parmesan, lemon caper sauce, tomatoes, smashed potatoes, and broccoli looked really good and was a large portion. Service was great, and they pack your leftovers for you and place it on a hook at the end of the booth.

I wandered in not expecting much, but my experience here ended up much better than I thought…read more I went with their August prix fixe and went with their Truffle Deviled Eggs, Crispy Sweet & Sour Shrimp, and Key Lime Tart. The deviled eggs make good comfort food and was satisfying. This version doesn't have much of a kick, but it's very creamy and you can definitely taste the truffle oil. The homemade potato chips also add to the texture and salt between bites. The shrimp dish was fun with a light and crispy batter, well-seasoned and drizzled with sweet chili sauce. The cool ranch surprisingly added to the shrimp and enhanced the chili sauce rather than overwhelming it. The made-in-house fries were far better than expected. I was somewhat expecting dense, oily, boring fries, but these were very crisp and somehow didn't feel too greasy as far as fries goes. Almost seemed like an injustice for it to be served with ketchup as it was too good for it. Lastly, the tart was a great way to end the meal without it being too much. Loved the crust. The tart shell tasted really good and went well with the filling, which had a lighter consistency than pudding. Fruits tasted like they were on season, even though it should be a bit too late for strawberries. I'm also a sucker for meringue. I'll have to come back to see if it wasn't a fluke, but there were a lot of dishes here that looked good. Maybe even swing by for happy hour, we'll see. Definitely a nice spot to visit in this neighborhood.

Came here with a friend for Happy Hour and it was a good time!…read more It was pretty empty when we got here around 4 but got pretty packed after ~5:30. We ordered the following: - Mama Pauly's Meatballs - Buttermilk Popcorn Chicken Bites - White Truffle Devil Eggs - Single Cheeseburger Separate from the Happy Hour Menu: - KP's Wicked Wings (BBQ Flavor) - Crispy Sweet n/ Sour Shrimp Out of everything we ordered from the happy hour menu, I would personally recommend the meatballs, truffle devil eggs, and cheeseburger. The meatballs and tomato sauce were both solid and I loved the toasted bread on the side. As for the truffle deviled eggs, that's something you don't see often on the menu! The truffle flavor/aroma was solid and the fresh chips on top were nice. The cheeseburger was pretty good and I enjoyed all the veggies that came with! Aside from that, the restaurant had a neat interior/decorations and good service!

I love it here!!! Amazing vibes !!…read moreGood selection on the menu!! The staff is so kind and attentive Facility is clean and spacious Check em out !!!

I love Joey. Everything from the aesthetic to the food is always on point. If you're boujie and…read morelove a good upscale dinner, this is definitely the spot. They even greet you with a complimentary glass of champagne as soon as you walk in which sets the tone for the whole experience. I brought my girl here for a anniversary date night and we had such a good time. Madeline was our server and she was amazing. I believe Monica was the manager and she made sure everything was perfect too. The food came out fresh, flavorful and every dish was delicious. This is also the biggest Joey location I've been to and the whole vibe made the experience even better. Definitely one of my favorite places and I'll absolutely be back.

The food is always great. Service i..s good and it's a very comfortable and seems to fill us up…read more They make a really great hamburger. The only suggestion is if you don't like any pink on your hamburger. Make sure you tell them you want it done all the way! It turns out perfect and isn't dry.A great place to take kids and they have a great kids menu with lots of choices. I really haven't had anything that was awful there. The food was fresh and taste good.

With the same owners of Skeeters Mesquite Grill and Los Tios, you can expect a certain level of…read moreelevated dining. We live in the area and passed by this spot so many times without even knowing The exterior is appealing and eye catching. The whole section of restaurants has a trendy and family friendly vibe. It would be the perfect spot to enjoy some outdoor bites and libations if not for the insufferable weather we have most of the year, but luckily, the interior is just as lovely. It's immaculate, well decorated, and deceptively spacious. There's plenty of booths, tables, and there's even a fully stocked bar and takeaway area The menu offers a variety of delicacies from a french dip, to pecan crusted chicken, to enchiladas. They have lovely handcrafted cocktails to choose from - some classic cocktails and some signature concoctions Everything tasted and looked great. The pecan chicken was more sweet than I expected, but still good. All of the sides were great. The cocktails looked great and tasted good. I did order one cocktail that gave ingredients but mentioned a "thick pink juice" that is made in-house, and upon my initial taste I soon discovered they meant beet juice. It wasn't bad, just unexpected and a little overpowering Our sever was good. Our orders came out quickly and without any issues. We did have to wait a while for top-offs on water. Also, as I was taking photos of the food our server was behind me and I apologized and they said "phone eats first," and I hope that was only meant in jest and not throwing shade lol Some tips: These plates aren't the most shareable, but if in a group I would consider ordering a variety of entrees and sides and trying each others meals If you're feeling something sweet after your meal, consider walking next door to Milk + Sugar. They're one of my favorite West Houston ice cream parlors Cheers!!

me & the Yelp crew step inside for a spell after our Gathering at the rustic for the celebration of…read moreScorpio born days, I enjoyed the lavender drink. Thanks for my sweet, dearest friend Keandra. Duchess is a well dim lit decor, locate in uptown with friendly crew members. I love the archways on the booth seatings, very classical. I definitely would like to come back and try to brunch

This is a restaurant that's definitely more for the aesthetics rather than the food. Came here to…read morecelebrate a birthday, and it was perfect for the ambiance and aesthetic. It's located in Uptown Park, so parking is plentiful! It wasn't too busy when we came during brunch time too. While it was nice to have a celebration here, I wouldn't come back because the food did not stand out to me or seem worth the price point to me.

Wow this place really blew me away. It's a near perfect spot for a business lunch or dinner (or if…read moreyou're willing to splurge with your own money for a good meal or a hot date). I wasn't sure what to expect based on the name of the restaurant, but essentially their seafood options are spectacular. And it feels like an exclusive club because the decor and service are both very much high class and special. We tried the coconut shrimp as the appetizer and really liked it. It was lightly fried and the shrimp was cooked to perfection - not under and not over. I would highly recommend this one to start. Loved it. If you're looking for a fair-priced meal, they have lots of salad and sandwich options. I tried the salmon poke bowl and it was so delicious. The fish was extremely fresh, and all the flavors blended together really well. It was like a healthy party in my mouth. It was great decision. You wanna splurge a bit and live large like YOLO? You gotta get the crab cake. Now, how good can a crab cake be? Well, if you're paying close to $50 for one crab cake, you better believe it's gonna be freaking awesome. And alas, it was. Best crab cake I've ever had in my life, no joke. And I've tried a lot of crab cakes in my many decades of dining out. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant and will be coming back many times. Enjoy! Quick note on parking - plenty of parking in a huge lot shared by many businesses such as Kenny and Ziggy's. Only annoying part is several sections of the lot are designated for specific businesses, so just look for the signs and be willing to park a little bit further away towards Taco Deli and Bluestone.

I was excited to finally try Balboa Surf Club since I drive by it all the time and it's located…read morenear several of my favorite restaurants. Unfortunately, this turned out to be one of the most disappointing dining experiences I've had in quite some time. We had an 8:00 PM reservation but weren't seated until around 8:30 PM. While delays happen and I was willing to overlook that, the experience only went downhill from there. We ordered Palomas to kick off our Friday night. The drinks took quite a while to arrive, and when they did, they were noticeably watered down. I politely mentioned it to our server, who quickly took them back and brought replacements, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, the second round was nearly identical to the first. When I brought it up again, instead of acknowledging the feedback, the server responded by saying it was "just not a sugary drink." That completely missed the point. I wasn't expecting a sweet cocktail--I was pointing out that the drinks tasted diluted and poorly made. What bothered me most wasn't the drinks themselves, but how the feedback was handled. I wasn't looking for free drinks or trying to be difficult. I was simply offering honest feedback, and it felt like my opinion was being dismissed rather than heard. Unfortunately, the food didn't redeem the experience. We ordered several dishes to get a good sense of the menu, and most were overwhelmingly salty. The salt overpowered any other flavors to the point that we couldn't finish some of the dishes. The sushi was the best thing we had, but even that lacked the presentation and quality I would expect at this price point. To be fair, the manager did remove the drinks from our bill as a courtesy, and I appreciate that gesture. However, by that point the damage had already been done. A resolution is only effective when guests feel heard and respected throughout the process. Instead, I felt like I had to defend my opinion and justify my feedback before anyone took it seriously. At the end of the day, a restaurant can be trendy, crowded, and beautifully designed, but none of that matters if the food and service don't deliver. Balboa Surf Club has the atmosphere and location, but in my experience it falls short where it matters most. Overall, I'm glad I finally tried it because I had always been curious, but now I know I won't be back and cannot recommend it. If you're looking for a similar concept, I'd recommend Hudson House. The atmosphere is comparable, but the drinks are consistently well-made, the food is much better, and the service has always been far superior.

Craving for both pizza and burgers. This place hit the spot. We ordered the La Mexicana pizza and…read morebison burger. Definitely a must try. The place is casual but classy enough for a date night and catch a game on the screens. I can't wait to come back and try the other items.

Love this place! It's a great chill place to watch games over the week. It hasn't been too busy the…read moretimes I have went. The pizza is really good and you can see them make it if you sit at the chef's counter. The staff has been very friendly and helpful, I will say I think they could check in a bit more frequently when you are sitting at the dining area or chef's counter, especially since the place isn't that busy. If there was an R&B playlist it would be perfection!