Because of my family's dietary restrictions, my wife, daughter, and grandson are all gluten-free. He also does not eat peanuts or shellfish. We consulted ChatGPT for a restaurant to visit before going to the theater. This restaurant was recommended. I was a bit skeptical because it is located in the JW Marriott hotel. I typically don't go into hotels to eat, but this turned out to be a genuine kitchen--somewhat separate from the hotel and management, or so it seemed. We were surprised that the restaurant was mostly empty at 5:30 p.m. there were no people at the bar, acting boisterous but behaved. The waitress was attentive. The food was very good. Both my wife and daughter got the fish tacos, and they enjoyed them immensely. My grandson got the steak frites. He seemed to like the French fries more than the steak. I got the shrimp pasta, which was pleasantly spicy. My wife and daughter like their meals more than I like mine. For dessert, my wife got flourless chocolate cake. She devoured it with joy and said it was very good. Beware: this is a rather pricey restaurant for the food being presented, but we have no complaints about the quality of the food or service. read more

Main Kitchen - Fish tacos, gluten-free - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

This cafe is tucked inside the JW Marriott. It's a cool, vibrant restaurant for lunch with friends Downtown. The food was great and Service was attentive, but it is an open lounge style concept so it's difficult to have private conversations. One star deducted because parking is very difficult for this location. read more

See all

This hidden gem is where it's at! The food is absolutely delicious. They have portions for every appetite. The bar menu Chicken Parm Meatballs were huge and lasted me a whole meal. My husband had the salmon and literally ate every bite of his plate! The wine, specifically the Pinot Noir, options are great and not too pricey. Even though this is connected to a hotel, I highly recommend coming here just for a fun date night with a great atmosphere. Make sure to ask for Tarsha! She was delightful, so personable, and so attentive. Love this place! read more

Main Kitchen offers a stylish setting with a menu full of well-prepared favorites. The Avocado Toast and TX French Toast were both fresh and delicious. Friendly staff, good atmosphere, and a great option for a relaxed meal or a casual drink. read more

Good brisket pizza, good apple salad, and good choriso dip. Prices are high and pissed me off that they provided pop refills and charged me 5 dollars a piece. 20 dollars for 4 diet pepsi's is a rippoff. I am used to free refills up north. My wife didn't ask for one but was given it and barely drank the 2nd. You should indicate or tell that. They had no menus but only qr codes. read more

See all

It's a hotel bar, it's better than most but still fairly average. I had a few drinks and food. The bartender was absolutely delightful to hang out with. The Cherry old fashion did taste pretty artificial for me but it was decent. I did order their version of a black Manhattan which was good! The Brussel sprouts were good and crispy definitely on the sweet side. You get a decent amount so it can be shared. The fish tacos were easily my favorite! I would get those again. read more

See all

I was a guest at the hotel i would never eat here again. I ordered a avocado toast and not knowing it came with bacon and i don't eat meat i seen it and sent it back would you believe they just took off the bacon and it was still meat on my breakfast i was sick for 5 days. This was not only a inconvenience and ruined my trip but i still can't believe this happened in a restaurant. I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone definitely not on vacation read more

Main Kitchen - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Food- ordered a chicken salad and it was delicious with apple cider dressing. My friend had the fish tacos which she says wasn't tasty. The spicy margarita was on point and I loved it! Service- they were busy at lunch time but waiter was attentive. Ambiance- seemed to be a lot of working people having lunch. read more

Main Kitchen - Chips and guacamole - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

I don't write negative reviews, however I must share my recent visit at Main Kitchen over the weekend and unfortunately it was not pleasant. The food seemed great however I did not get a chance to try my food, once it was dropped off the server walked off and did not come back to check on me or offered any condiments. The service was extremely disappointing from the start, server seemed bothered. My expectations were higher because it is located on the first floor of the JW Marriot. read more

Cool casual bar and grill inside the JW Marriott in downtown Houston. We came here for lunch while at an event in the area, and the food was much to pur satisfaction (albeit a bit pricey due to being a hotel restaurant). The chorizo queso was creamy with thick hearty chips, the pizza was oven baked in a 600 deg oven with a nice flavor, the shrimp n grits were creamy, and srvice was excellent. read more

See all

Hotel restaurants are usually not a place I would review. I have been here multiple times pre covid and now and it's really good. Business lunches and dinner but I would come here on a date or send people here. If you are staying in the hotel i would definitely have dinner here at least once. I had the market fish which was excellent. Really appreciate it was not over seasoned (salt). They are proud of their wines which are good but priced that way. No glasses under $16, Let's Go Brandon I guess? Inflation getting nuts. Our server was awesome! read more

We came here for lunch to kill time. The service was ok, but the waiter kept pressing us to order more (??). I got the shrimp and grits. Looked like it would be a flavor boost but was kind of bland. The pizza was okay, it didn't come out hot. The chips and queso were really good and refillable chips. read more

Main Kitchen - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

Come here more often than I'd care to admit for business breakfast, but this is the best place downtown to grab something that isn't from the tunnel. The restaurant is in the Marriott so it naturally caters to the hotel clientele, but is open to anyone within walking distance. I'd struggle to say that this place is destination dining but I really like the vibe and quality as a downtown worker. read more

Not very good. Hotel restaurant. Expensive for what it is and food is very bland tasting. Would not recommend.

Great ambiance. Bartender is super nice and accommodating. Excellent Moscow mules and blackberry sours. Great place to watch a sports game. We had the Brussels, very good! The tuna appetizer was reallllly awesome. The shrimp campechana was pretty good, probably wouldn't order again though. Dinner: steak fajitas were excellent, would order again. Overall great experience! read more

Easy hit if staying at JW. Super relaxed atmosphere, clean and great service. Food, not what you'd expect for price at all. End of day, thankful for ease of a meal in downtown Houston, next time might walk a block or two. read more

I have been here multiple times before and now and it's really good. Business lunches and dinner but I would come here on a date or send people here. Hotel restaurants are usually not a place I would review. But the pizza was too great read more

Business lunch earlier this week. We had guacamole for the table and I had fish tacos. Excellent guac', and the fish tacos were also very very good. Highly recommend. read more

This was a pleasant surprise. I wanted to find a seafood restaurant but didn't have much energy to leave much past my hotel. (Plus, they had some options) The atmosphere was unique, and the decor was really beautiful. There is an amazing piece of art when you walk in the front door that will keep you memorized for a moment. I was skeptical of the restaurant, but as soon as I tried the first bite of the wings, I knew that the chef/cook knew how to make a perfectly crispy wing. I seem to always search for that perfect crisp on a wing, and they truly nailed it. We also ordered the jalapeno shrimp app. Just wow. Beautiful flavors coming together - if you want that clean, fresh feeling in your gut, I highly recommend these fresh jalapenos, citrus juices, and shrimp lumps. It almost makes you feel good like a medicine. The Mahi was the Market fish - what a gorgeous presentation. The puree/corn/cilantro/slaw was the flavor star. I found that I was combining fish bites with a small fork full of this amazing slaw. When it came together, it was an addicting combination that I am already craving again. The fish was very tasty. The one critic I have is the texture of the fish. I feel like it could have been just ever so slightly more tender. I mean, if we were performing a Rockwell test on this meat (Steel hardness test lol), it's was only off by fractions of a decimal. At my request, the chef paired a glass of wine with the dish that also seemed off for the flavors. What a great stop! 5/5 will eat again. read more

Main Kitchen - chicken wings, french fries, and salad - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

I give them a five!!! I wasnt expecting much when I found this place. I don't like how it's a part of the lobby.. but once you're over the setup, the restaurant is actually pretty nice... Nice decor and scenery. Back to my expectations... I didn't have any.. but what a surprise... Main Kitchen exceeded all my expectations... The fried cauliflower stole the show... Tasted like boneless buffalo wings without the chicken!!! Wonderful!!! The pork chop was amazing as were the fried catfish and grits! Will definitely be back with more people to try this food. read more

Main Kitchen - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

We stayed at the JW downtown and decided to make dinner an easy night and go here. The shrimp and grits were great - very saucy. The gnocchi with mushrooms was good too. I love these dishes so it was easy to decide on what we wanted. Our server was beyond well mannered and so kind and accommodating. We went in for breakfast the next morning as well! The breakfast plate with scrambled eggs and toast was great. Very simple, just what I needed. I enjoyed the morning juices too. read more

Main Kitchen - Farm Fresh Breakfast plate with carrot juice - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Two words... Beyond Burger. Nothing more need be said... I'm very happy to see chefs putting plant based alternatives on their menus!! Thank you for the attention and focus on clean and sustainable options. The beyond burger was sooo good. It has blistered shishito peppers and a pickled green tomato slice. Genius! And the fries are absolutely delicious! Go here. Just for the plant-based burger... just sayin... your welcome... read more

Main Kitchen - Beyond Burger - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Ate here a few times and have nothing but good things to say. The service was excellent and the food is good. Will eat here again

Very good service, delicious food, what more can you ask for? Tables need a little love (scratched up) but otherwise a great place to dine. Had a side Caesar and meat lovers pizza. read more

Main Kitchen - Meat Lovers pizza. - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

Setup: HRW #10... but regular menu took over again... impromptu girl date edition The good: pork belly pastrami, kampachi crudo, pizza! The bad: parking - test your luck with street parking or hotel valet Observations: open facing hotel lobby, open kitchen, long bar, cozy seating Overall recommendation: a very nice addition for the downtown crowd, especially for lunch and after work. I think the food is worth a dedicated trip for dinner, but I don't see a lot of that happening. read more

See all

Staying at the JW Marriott Houston downtown, I decided to have dinner at the Main Kitchen which is the hotel restaurant off the lobby area. I started with a glass of a French Grenache which was a solid choice at a reasonable price point. For my appetizer I elected the crispy shrimp tacos which are served 3 to an order each one on a tablespoon of guacamole which was quite nice. The tacos themselves are tasty, although between the three tacos there may have been 1 (no more than 2 shrimp)...pretty skimpy for the price point. My main was the double cut pork chop which was nicely prepared and quite tasty. The sides were grilled vegetables and a potato purée...both were good, although the amount of potato purée was likely intended to offset the smallish size of the pork chop. Overall, the meal was ok and at least it was convenient. However, the shrimp taco appetizer I wouldn't order again, but the pork chop was a solid standalone choice. read more

See all

Booked a work lunch for 15 people here; had a great experience! The staff were accommodating to our large group and the servers were attentive. Brussel sprouts were excellent. read more

This is a super-comfy lounge right off of the lobby and Main Street. Sadly, I was there the evening of the Ole Miss/TT and Astros game, so it was packed and service was struggling. It wasn't from lack of effort - it was an understaffed situation. Our server had a bit of a language communication with us - and we speak 3 between us two. read more

I don't know what all the "ink" is about, but this place is an addition to what Downtown Houston's scenic restaurant/bar scene within its hotels. First, this place is beautiful and absolutely swanky. Upon entry, look to the right and the lobby/lounge is welcoming and some table and chairs make up the restaurant portion. It reminds me of Hotel Icon and Line & Lariat. Both are beautiful and make you feel like a beautiful person, that stays at beautiful places, and drinks beautiful drinks. The older bartender was very helpful and knowledgeable. His creation of the the "Brazil" was absolutely wonderful. The lunch menu was nothing special, but I opted for the rib tacos. They were actually scrumptious and seasoned well. I don't do corn tortillas, but these were ok once they were soaked with the grease from the tacos. The brussel sprouts weren't too great, but I'm glad I tried them because I would always be wondering about them. I may be crossing this place off my list for dining, but for a swanky hotel to indulge in drinks, this is it!!! read more

Total bust! Friday night in Houston, out of the theater, walk down just to check out the new JW Marriott bar..."no, kitchen is closed...no you can only sit in the lobby and we will serve you drinks there." You can't expect people to come downtown for your nightlife if you have none. Very disappointing for a new hotel... 4 thumbs down! read more

Main Kitchen - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

3.5 Rating overall for me. A couple hits and a couple misses in general. Here's a breakdown of my meal. 1. Charred Green Beans (5/5 rating) - My favorite dish from my first dining experience here. Cooked perfectly and awesome spices/flavors. 2. Crispy Brussel Sprouts (3.5/5 rating) - The flavors were good but I def thought these were way to oily. It's fried and the seasoning is good but I've had much better. 3. Margarita Pizza (2/5 rating) - Didn't care for this pizza at all. 4. Rice pudding (2.5/5 rating) - Cold dessert that I thought was a waste of $9 for me. Texture of the rice is what did it for me mainly. Nothing popped off for this in my opinion. Place is priced too high for the quality of food I got. I'll come back to try a few more things but first experience was just medi-o-core. Ambiance and service from our Waiter was great. read more

See all

Boring, formulaic hotel restaurant food this is not! Chef Erin Smith, regularly spotted in the open kitchen, or expediting behind the short divider, has created a masterful menu at Main Kitchen. We started with a unique and well curated charcuterie board that had a range of smooth mild cheese to some pretty potent pieces. Also - bacon brittle and golden oozy honey comb? Very nice touch indeed! Perhaps a couple more pieces of bread or some complementary crackers would have really played vehicle to the generous portions on the board. Brussels sprouts- a common side, and even more commonly botched - are out of this world! Hot, sweet, tangy and crispy. So addictive that we shoveled away one order, and doubled down for a second. Because, gluttony. Pizzas were also on point: chewy crusts, original and refreshing toppings that didn't overwhelm the pies, and perfectly proportioned for two. Main Kitchen is going to be my mainstay, I can't wait to be back! read more

See all

Great place for business lunches in my opinion. Service has been exceptional every time I have visited and the manager is always on the floor. My food has always been delicious and fast. Only demotion is for the parking situation. May be tough for those that can't walk here or do not want to shell out money for valet. read more

Main Kitchen - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day. When any one of these nationally observed holidays roll around, U.S. residents pretty much anticipate just about every business to be closed except hotels, Walgreens drug stores, and whichever visually impaired stylist is keeping Raven Simoné's technicolor weaves rotating on a relentless, 24 hour loop. There are a wide margin of us who appreciate elaborate holiday dinners, but do not have families (tolerable or otherwise) to justify slaving over the preparation of a big meal. My work history in catering and banquet serving has led me to discover that restaurants connected to luxury hotels offer the perfect solution to these fine dining blackout days. Needless to say, reservations at Main Kitchen allowed me to spend December 25, 2014 enjoying a beautiful dinner service, without having to lift one finger to cook! (Or lift a different finger to put bombastic relatives in their place.) My first thought upon approaching the entrance was that the hotel hiring manager must have the same taste in men that I do. Visitors can expect friendly greetings from a gaggle of hyper-groomed, baby-faced doormen. Their gray tuxedo vests, button-down shirts with rolled sleeves, and butt hugging khaki chinos are the types of uniforms you'd only find in "independent films" about naughty, ivy league frat boys who de-stress from finals by exploring their bi-curiosities. The posh feng shui of downtown's JW Marriott carries over into the hotel chain's equally impressive restaurant space. Balancing contemporary and art deco designs, a revolving glass door unveils the majestic front lobby. From there, guests are offered three possible segues to the downstairs art gallery & event space, the elevators, or into the adjacent Main Kitchen. On Christmas evening, my roommate and I were seated at a round table, directly in front of a floor-to-ceiling window. With a perfect view of the high tech metro rail, we both soaked up the festive holiday ambiance while enjoying gourmet entrées. Since I am a vegetarian, I opt out of the traditional holiday fare. Fortunately for me, I was able to order a delicious, meatless meal consisting of butternut squash soup, an eggplant, onion, and avacado sandwich, as well as pumpernickel toast. As someone who doesn't drink alcohol either, my beverage of choice that evening was an old childhood favorite; A Shirley Temple. Everything was incredibly flavorful, filling, and reasonably priced. Additionally, our waitress was very kind and accommodating. After dinner, my roommate and I took the liberty of touring the entire facility. I'm officially convinced that every square foot of the JW Marriott has been designed to please the visual senses. From that night on, I've placed a mental bookmark on the Main Kitchen as the perfect destination in Houston for all special occasions. read more

See all

A solid (though expensive) business breakfast at Main Kitchen. Obviously, because it's located in a hotel, most of the clientele is business travelers. The food is very good, but the service is lacking, especially considering that the prices are high, and most of their clientele is going to want efficient service, which we did not receive. The french toast ($16) was delicious--perfectly battered and served with fresh berries. The American breakfast ($18) was very good, and, as the name would suggest, a simple, standard breakfast (my one complaint is that the toast came out black, which they replaced upon our request). But the service was slow, and the prices are high. (FYI, they have a $25 breakfast buffet, which may be a better deal, depending on what you're ordering.) read more

The menu says grain bowl but when I got the food it was a salad with quinoa on top (net to mention there was not very much of the quinoa). The cheese wasn't the best and neither the salad or the cheese tasted fresh. For the deserts, the vanilla tastes good but the bourbon ice cream didn't taste like bourbon...I did enjoy the gumbo and the tea was nice though. read more

We visited Main Kitchen in the middle of the week. The restaurant itself is beautiful and conveniently located inside the JW Marriott in downtown Houston/ We were seated quickly at on the couches as we were only interested in tasting their creme brulee with the coconut macaroon and espresso gel. We will be back and give the other menu items a chance. read more

Very good food. When I went, it was just opening. They were working out some kinks. But everything here is very delicious. Service can be slow and when it gets packed, service is delayed. However, the food and drinks are the bomb. They also validate your parking if you eat at the restaurant. In my opinion, it it's a bit expensive for food and drinks but it is almost worth it, that it doesn't even matter read more

Food is delicious and service is great and friendly! Lunch and dinner prices are a bit high but then you're at a JW. The disappointment was the coffee price, $4.33 for a simple plain coffee . I think coffee should be free in the AM at any hotel; especially at a high end one. I've had BLT burger, a small salad, beet salad with grilled chicken; all yummy! read more

Main Kitchen - Side salad with lemon vinaigrette, yummy! Simple but so delicious! - Wine Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

First off, the wait staff here was excellent. They were good the whole week I was here. They were always efficient and friendly. The food was just ok for me. Not that it was bad, but at this price point I would be expecting a lot better. Tried many things on the menu, and the only true disappointment were the lamb meatballs. The best thing on any plate I had was the olive spread. Both my wife and I thought it was wonderful. The meat/cheese board is good, but very pricey for what it is. I guess my biggest hang up with going to 4 stars was that I have had better food in a hotel for less money. read more