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    The Kennedy

    3.6 (104 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    The Kennedy Photos

    Business Info

    THE KENNEDY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Kennedy

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    Wendy H.

    I came to The Kennedy on a Saturday night with my two cousins, and we had a great experience from start to finish. They offer valet only, but it was super easy. It's $10, and the valet stand is right in front of the restaurant, so parking was hassle-free. The ambiance is one of my favorite things about this place. It's dark, moody, and chic, making it a great spot for a date night or a girls' night out. We started with drinks, and I ordered the Lavender French 75. It was so good that I ended up ordering another one later in the evening. It had a great balance of flavors. We skipped the appetizers and went straight to the entrées since we were hungry. I ordered the Chilean sea bass, and it was absolutely delicious. The glaze was flavorful, and the creamy parsnip purée it was served over complemented the fish perfectly. It was definitely the standout dish of the night. For sides, we shared the truffle fries, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese. The truffle fries had a great truffle flavor, and the mac and cheese was rich and flavorful. It was a little heavy for a side dish, but still very good. One of my cousins ordered the lobster pasta, and it was very good. The sauce was packed with flavor, and the lobster was cooked perfectly. To finish the meal, we shared the cookies for dessert. They were good, but nothing particularly memorable. Overall, we had a wonderful experience. If you're looking for a stylish spot with great food and cocktails, The Kennedy is definitely worth a visit.

    Happy Hour Duck Confit Carbonara
    Adecia P.

    I'm a bit disappointed that this place has such low reviews. First of all, the spot is cute!! I love the vibe. I will say at a certain time lights go out and I'm at the age where I have to then tilt that lamp to see the menu. We went for steak night. Winning! I definitely failed at not taking a picture of the menu. The steak was great. I love me some garlic butter and they did not skimp on it! My steak was undercooked (I like medium well) but that reheat the next day was perfect. They were a bit stingy with the potatoes but after all the other food I had, it turned out to be just enough. Now if this was the only thing I ate, I would have been disappointed. We were offered the happy hour menu by our waiter but then later told that happy hour after 8 is only at the actual bar. Tues-Thurs. Is reverse Happy hr 8-10p.m. but only at the bar. The one 3-6p.m is the entire restaurant. We were sittung at tables near the bar, not the bar. The waiter later tells us that the manager will honor the food for HH price but not the drinks. After speaking with the manager she then allowed us to get ahag we ordered at happy hour price for bothe food and drinks but made us aware that any other drinks would be at cost. We were grateful for her understanding that we were first timers and was not aware. Because if this. We will be back. The food was good. I've been here for brunch and also enjoyed it. Technically, I need a separate dinner night as this was steak night. Parking was bad at all that night. Self park and until steak night gets out there more, amicable spaces.

    Chi A.

    I went to The Kennedy on a Thursday evening for my cousin's birthday dinner. Got there around 7:30pm, valeted the car and walked in. The valet was a bit hectic, so it was hard to make my way in. As soon as I got in, I spotted my cousin setting up the table. We were seated at the back of the restaurant at a table for about 15 people. The restaurant has a nice aesthetic but it was smaller than what I expected. There was also a corporate happy hour happening at the same time so it made the space feel small. Nonetheless, we were in the back so plenty of space for us. Nothing on menu screamed out to me, and because the rest of our party got there so late, the waiter only started taking orders at 9pm. I wasn't hungry anymore so I didn't order and can't speak on the food. I did get a great mocktail but charging $15 for basically juice is insanity. I'll be back to actually try the food and experience happy hour!

    Lobster Bisque
    April T.

    Today, for brunch, I drove 35 minutes with my teenage daughter to join a few of our church members to celebrate our friend relocating to Dallas, only to be told upon arrival (by the GM) that they do not allow children or guests under a certain age. What was especially frustrating is that there was no indication of this policy on the restaurant's website, social media pages, or the entrance to the establishment. My husband and I have patronized the restaurant for dinner before. We were surprised and disappointed to learn of this restriction during brunch only after making the trip. Had the age policy been clearly communicated in advance, we could have made other plans and avoided the inconvenience. I would encourage management to clearly post any age restrictions online and at the entrance so that future guests can make informed decisions before visiting. Unfortunately, the lack of transparency left us questioning whether the policy was being applied consistently, and it is disheartening to leave wondering whether rules are being created or enforced differently for people of color. While businesses in Texas have fairly broad discretion, a hidden policy can create confusion and leave guests feeling unwelcome. In this case, also left my daughter with a lot of questions that we now have to address, as she always goes to brunch with us and has never experienced this type of treatment.

    Table setup
    Madisyn F.

    The ambiance at The Kennedy is absolutely beautiful and really sets the mood for a great meal. I had the steak and eggs for breakfast and it was delicious. Everything could have used just a touch more salt but overall it was very satisfying. The $1 mimosas were a bit of a mixed experience. At first they came very heavy on the juice with hardly any champagne which made them overly sweet. It seemed like our server might have been new and did not mention that the champagne and juice could be served separately. Thankfully another staff member checked on us and corrected it and I really appreciated that attention. Overall a wonderful spot for breakfast with great food and ambiance. Just be mindful to ask how you want your mimosa!

    Tiffany J.

    I came at 8:30 on a Saturday, there was a pianist, and that was really great. By 9:30, it turned into a night club vibe, and the waiters are hard to track down. Food was a long wait, drinks were a long wait. The tacos (appetizer) were ok, not much meat. I ordered the ribeye platter, and the taste was so-so. The sauce was amazing, I ended up chewing some peppercorns (or something??) and that was not pleasant. The drinks were good, relatively weak. Ambience- great. Food- meh. Drinks- meh.

    Wine
    Jennifer E.

    I recently attended a private event at this location. The space is beautiful. The staff seemed to be ok even though they seemed a bit overwhelmed with the event. The food was fine. We had no say in what we were eating as it was a prearranged menu. The best thing we had were the lamb chops. The space was the highlight and I would love to hold an event in the space.

    McKenzie B.

    We came to The Kennedy for a girlfriend's birthday brunch. We had a fabulous time, the food was good, service was excellent and the ambiance is definitely very cute/girly/fun! We drank everything from lychee martinis, Hugo spritz, champagne and espresso martinis and the drinks we all loved! We ordered multiple mozzarella sticks and also tried the pancakes and berries as well as the banana French toast! It was a lot of food but all very flavorful! I would go back to try other menu items or their dinner. For my meal I had the Crab Cakes Eggs Benedict and the crab cakes had a lot of crab! The other girls ordered the Hangover Burger, Steak and Eggs and the Chilaquiles but had no complaints about their food. They brought the birthday girl a little dessert with a sparkler and we had a lovely time!

    Soprano Negroni
    Nikki N.

    Excellent dinner at The Kennedy. Andrew was our server and he was fantastic attentive without hovering, checking in at just the right moments. We shared the prime rib tacos and prime rib tartare to start, and both were standouts. My French 75 was perfectly crafted, and my guest's martini was equally well made. The music was giving European vibes. Everything we ordered was delicious. Will definitely be back.

    Menu
    Aaron A.

    Great atmosphere for brunch with a live DJ who was awesome! The food was ok, little underwhelming with limited options, the service was very slow and we had to ask multiple times for refills, additional condiments etc. Would go back but would try out the bar instead and just go for the live DJ and drinks

    Dolly O.

    Visited for a reverse happy hour, and had a great evening! Love that they have a large cocktail selection for their HH. It's also super cute inside, great for date night or girls' outing. Service was okay -- the waiter was friendly, just a bit inattentive and slow to get to my table.

    Happy hour menu
    Renee S.

    I originally came to check out a coffee shop that used to be inside, but it's no longer there. I decided to stay anyway and ended up getting an iced coffee and I'm so glad I did. I ordered the White House brûlée, and it was perfect not too sweet and not too bitter. The bartender was incredibly kind and accommodating, even though I arrived before they officially opened, which I really appreciated. I'll definitely be back to try their happy hour the prices are super reasonable. Also, this spot would be really cute for nighttime photos.

    From the street
    Jessica A.

    The Kennedy really is a nice place to have dinner. We dined on a Thursday night and there were not many people. We did have reservations however there was more than enough space for more customers. The Kennedy is valet parking only for the dinner hour but parking attendant stated that during the lunch hour some days it's self parking. When calling there is a $5 charge for valet before 3 and after 3 that charge is $10. The parking lot is very small. Major turn off is valet is right in front of the door so you're paying to valet and walk right up to the entrance. If you can find street parking and don't mind the walk that's an option as well. They do have a dress code here so if you're walking your dog and decide to dine, this is not the place for you. It's nicely decorated and put together, great ambiance and it was not too loud this night. Was able to have conversations without screaming across the table and the pianist most definitely kept us entertained while dining. He was very personable, came and introduced himself. Took requests and has an amazing voice. The restrooms were nice and clean. I liked that the stalls were individually roomed and the black toilets were a good addition to the uniqueness of the decor. On to the food and drinks. I ordered the Cucumber Hibiscus Smash. It was delicious! I thoroughly enjoyed how refreshing and crisp this drink was. It was made just right. For my entree, after seeing the bisque, I chose the Kennedy Caesar Salad with Shrimp added. I also chose to add a side of the Jalapeño Blue Cheese dressing as I wanted to try it. This choice was most definitely the best for me. I'd come here again just for this salad. I also was eyeing the lobster bisque as my entree however a few people ordered and it didn't give me bisque vibes. It was more on the broth side with no cream in sight. That's not bisque to me, however there are some that may see this differently. Others in my dinner party made note that the mashed potatoes were on the sweet side so I was glad that I didn't go with that. Also important to note, don't come expecting normal size portions. This is more on the tapas side of dining and the portions versus price would leave most wondering why they are still hungry after spending about a hundred bucks on dinner. Choose wisely. I opted out of dessert as I was full from the salad I inhaled. Yes that salad was filling. Others opted out of dessert due to price. Our waitress Jackie was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Gave great advice on dishes to order and suggestions of changes that could be done. It's important to note, that there is a card acceptance fee charge for each guest(even if all on one check), auto gratuity(normal for our size party), they can only split the check per party three times, and they are a 21 and up restaurant. We opted to have one check. It was just easier for a part of 8. All in all, we had a great dining experience as we should for the amount of money spent.

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Great job taz keep your great service and your dedication to make customers happy thank you

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Great food! Great atmosphere! Amazing drinks & service! Would highly recommend for a great night out or brunch!

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    2 years ago

    We had an amazing experience with Taz. The level of service he provided was top notch. We will definitely be coming back!

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    1 year ago

    Food was amazing, DJ was serving the jams vibes were immaculate overall recommend if you don't mind spending a dime or two iykyk. $$$

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    2 years ago

    Service was great. Andres killed it. New it spot im calling it before the influencers ruin it

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Kennedy

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    Jonathan’s The Rub East End - Steak Night every Thursday! #steaknight

    Jonathan’s The Rub East End

    4.3(124 reviews)
    3.5 miSecond Ward
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    I've dine in at this place before and it was a great experience. I sat at the bar, and the…read morebartender was extremely friendly. She informed me that each cocktail was specially crafted by the "head bartender" and even let me try some samples. I believe at that time, I tried the Loaded Mashed Potato Balls and they were delicious/unique. This time around, I ordered the chicken Alfredo via DoorDash and had it delivered to my job. I can confidently say that my order was freshly made and was still indeed warm when it arrived. The sauce was nice and creamy and paired well with the fettuccine noodles and diced grilled chicken. The portion of the pasta was satisfying and was enough for me to eat about 4 servings from it. The ambiance of the restaurant is very lowkey and chill but nicely decorated and well lit. I would consider this restaurant and specifically this location a hidden gem.

    Food: all the food had great flavor except the jalapeño redfish and there was a foreign object in…read moremy food... -caesar salad: very nice, not too much dressing, fresh lettuce -parmesan pork tenderloin: great flavor and portion, crust was nice, sauce on it was good as well -watermelon salad: nice as well, was not expecting the bed of lettuce underneath but it wasn't bad, good basil flavor to compliment the salad -jalapeño redfish: cooked slightly hard (it's already a meaty fish, so this made some bites on the chewy/tough side); same sauce as the tenderloin -smoke bacon mac and cheese: delish! no notes lol -garlic knots: the chimichurri was spicy, but tasty, did not need the marinara at all (the two flavors don't go together well for me) -snickers pie: tasted like a snickers bar and a reese's cup mixed together; I didn't love it, but my friend did. Service: not great, we had a manager start off as our server but she was awkward in a "not socially aware" way (ex. she kept saying our server had to use the bathroom, even when our server came to the the table and looked so embarrassed; she also told me my non-alcoholic drink order would not taste good without knowing it's what I drink at home), rushed us (every time she said she would give us a moment she'd come RIGHT back to the table within seconds) Our actual server started off rocky as well, perhaps wasn't having a good day and she was visibly annoyed with the manager. She was short and blank with us until she realized we're very nice lol and by the end, her tone and energy had completely shifted for the better. The foreign object: about 2/3 of the way through the meal, I bit into a small piece of blue plastic. Did not know if it was in the fish or the mac and cheese, but I was devastated because I was almost finished eating but couldn't due to paranoia. Our server handled it swiftly and the manager came and let us know it was take off the bill and offered free dessert. Overall, not bad and the food was good enough to where I would go back and give them another try in the future.

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    Jonathan’s The Rub East End - Steak Night added fried shrimp for an up charge and subbed the Brussel sprouts

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    The Ginger Mule - Butternut Squash Lasagna

    The Ginger Mule

    4.7(359 reviews)
    3.2 miThe Heights
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    I've never had a long wait here but we are always sure to come as early as we can because seats can…read morefill up fast in this cozy retreat! The ambiance as soon as you walk in is welcoming, inviting, and intimate. Even if you dine outside, you are sure to feel cozy like a meal in your own home. The hostess always makes you feel invited. Any waiter we have had here has given GREAT recommendations so it helps us break free of ordering the same thing over and over. We have never had a single day of bad service here so we have become regulars anytime we travel into the inner loop of Houston for business or fun. The flavors? My goodness the flavor here in every dish truly speaks to whoever is cooking these incredible dishes! We've even wanted to ask what we can do to even get our dishes at home this amazing! Their bang bang sauce is something you can rave about if you like a little kick to your broccoli. Yum! Luckily a lot of the appetizers are family style but we all still end up battling to finish the last bite before our main dish comes along! My husband has never been a vegetable eater and thanks to the Ginger Mule, we are changing up our dishes at home too! Whatever they are doing here, I hope they keep it up because we absolutely LOVE the food here!! Thank you to everyone here and we can't wait to be back!!!!

    My experience at the Ginger Mule was delightful! I had always been curious to try it and I happen…read moreto have an optometrist appointment nearby and decided to give it a go! Friendly staff, cute ambience, and the food, while simple was fresh and so tasty! I was pleasantly surprised and the best part was that I didn't feel gross, icky or full after eating. Albeit, I got a breakfast sandwich and didn't eat all the sourdough. I thought the sourdough was a bit dry, so I opted to just eat the eggs and veggies! Either way, I'd definitely come back. The beet juice was a 3.5/5 in my book. I enjoyed the food more than my juice. And I felt the juice was a bit overpriced. Great vibes and a great choice for healthy, clean eating!

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    Killen's - Foooood

    Killen's

    4.0(528 reviews)
    0.9 miWashington Corridor, The Heights
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    One of the best meals I've had all year, hand to GOD. If this place is even remotely on your radar,…read moreget there before they shut down in mid-July. It's worth making the trip now, not later. The menu is exceptionally well-curated, hitting that sweet spot of what Houston does best. comfort, creativity, and just enough flair to keep things interesting. The space matches the vibe: modern and minimalist with a subtle Chip-and-Joanna-Gaines touch. The drink menu is just as thoughtful. Even the well spirits are solid. We kicked things off with the deviled eggs topped with maple pork belly, easily some of the creamiest I've ever had. Do not split an order. Everyone at the table should get their own. For the entrée, I went with the Sunday enchiladas made with Killen's famous brisket. Smoke, salt, pepper and exactly what you want from a dish like this. It typically comes with Mexican rice and refried beans, but the rice was running behind during my visit, so I swapped in scrambled eggs (it was brunch) no complaints. They were simple buttery, creamy and just damn delicious. peach bread pudding that was downright decadent. Easily one of the best desserts I've had in a long time. Make you wanna slap yo momma.

    Delicious - this is southern cooking at its finest! Came here for lunch and left so full you almost…read morehad to roll me out the door. Their specialty here is chicken fried steak/chicken, and boy do they do it right. Delicious breading on amazingly seasoned meat that isn't pounded so flat to a pulp that it feels like leather. Staff was excellent as well. I keep trying to find excuses to go back! Parking - private lot

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    Nobie's - Elvis pie - a special with banana, peanut butter, and bacon

    Nobie's

    4.3(717 reviews)
    1.6 miMontrose
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    One of my favorite restaurants I have taken out of town…read morefriends here as well and they love it My favorite things are appetizers and the pies And well duh the dilly bread

    Walked in around 10:30 p.m. on a Saturday. The host offered several seating options, a regular two…read moretop table, the bar or a high top. I opted for the high top right by the kitchen, and honestly, great choice -- it smelled amazing. Most people prefer not to sit by the kitchen with all the foot traffic but I didn't mind it at all. Nobie's is a house that's been transformed into a restaurant. One of the bartenders told me it's a 104-year-old house, and the whole place has very "house party" vibes in the best way. The music is LOUD. And it gets progressively louder as the night goes on, so if that's not your vibe, keep that in mind. But I was very into it. Lil Flip was playing when I walked in and it took me back to high school house parties. On shuffle were more throwbacks and classics: Ludacris and "Notorious Thugs" by Biggie. The chairs, however, were not my favorite. They're low-backed and kind of cage-like, with only a thin cushion, so they aren't exactly the most comfortable for a long meal. Started with a cocktail: the Remolacha del Corazón -- beet tequila, mezcal, watermelon (house-made syrup), lime and a tajín rim. You can hardly taste the mezcal, which I'm assuming is the point. I like mezcal so it would have been nice to taste it but the beet tequila is definitely the star, with the watermelon and lime adding a nice balance. Appetizer: Don't Worry, Brie Happy ($18). Brie, local honey, smoked grapes, toast. There was basically no local honey on my plate, but those smoked grapes?! They're topped with flaky salt while they're still hot and OMG!! The combination of warm, smoky, sweet and salty was fantastic. My only complaint was the amount of toast. There was a little too much toast for the amount of brie and grapes, so the ratios felt slightly off. Main course: Jamón With Your Bad Self ($45). Ibérico secreto pork steak, tonnato, shaved Brussels sprouts, salsa verde and almonds. I'm particular about pork, so I was taking a bit of a chance here, but this dish sounded too interesting to pass up. The pork steak was cooked perfectly and had some wonderfully crispy pieces around the edges. The tonnato underneath the pork was really good. It almost reminded me of a Caesar dressing and added this rich, savory element to the dish. The shaved Brussels sprouts were great, too, especially with the almonds and Parmesan. Everything worked really well together. Dessert: Olive Oil Cake. A house staple, and for good reason. A lovely way to end the meal. Overall, Nobie's has a really fun, unpretentious energy. Between the old-house setting, loud music and memorable dishes, it feels like somewhere you go to hang out as much as you go to eat. Just know what you're getting into with the volume and the seating -- this is not exactly a quiet, polished fine-dining experience, and that's kind of the charm.

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    Nobie's - Robobby's back-$20. my 2 favorites! Mezcal and egg whites! Wasn't worth the price tag! Zaddy spilled the first one so had to get another!

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    Grace's - The Maw Maw's Pork Pot Roast

    Grace's

    4.2(1.6k reviews)
    1.8 miUpper Kirby
    $$$

    Grace's in Houston was SO good. I had the shrimp-stuffed poblano pepper over rice, and they did…read moretheir thing with this one. Great flavor, filling, and definitely something I'd order again. The atmosphere was a whole vibe too, and listen... the service definitely didn't hurt . Some of the most beautiful chocolate women I've ever seen working as servers. I damn near forgot I came there to eat. I didn't want to leave! Great food, great atmosphere, beautiful people, and just an all-around good experience. Grace's will absolutely be on my list whenever I'm back in Houston. Palate don't lie. ‍

    We went to Grace's on the last day of our trip, and it was such a great final meal in Houston. We…read morewent early in the day around midday, and the atmosphere was super versatile. You could easily come here for a fancy birthday celebration or just a casual lunch and brunch. I loved that I didn't feel weird having two kids under six with us. There were other families there, and it felt very welcoming without sacrificing that nice restaurant vibe. Everyone in the family really enjoyed what they ordered and the service was great! My oldest daughter had the cheeseburger with french fries and loved it, especially the bread which was nicely toasted and gave it a great crunch. My youngest had the chicken tenders with mac and cheese, and my husband really liked his stuffed poblano pepper dish. I ordered the country-fried pork with greens and mashed potatoes, and everything on my plate was delicious. The mashed potatoes were great, and the greens leaned more sweet than savory, which I really enjoyed. The fried green tomatoes were another major standout with the sauce they served. I honestly wish we had a spot like this back home! My only small critique is to skip the sweet tea. I haven't found a single place in Houston where the sweet tea was actually sweet enough for my taste, but overall, this was a fantastic spot with great service that I'd highly recommend.

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    Grace's - Chef's seating

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    Federal American Grill - Bang Bang Shrimp

    Federal American Grill

    4.3(109 reviews)
    2.2 miDowntown
    $$$

    Federal American Grill is an excellent choice for happy hour! The restaurant has a welcoming and…read moreenjoyable atmosphere, making it a great place to relax after work or spend time with friends. Their Prosecco was delicious and perfectly complemented the food. The Cheeseburger Egg Rolls were definitely the highlight of my visit. They were crispy on the outside, flavorful on the inside, and served with a delicious dipping sauce. It's such a creative appetizer and an absolute must-try! The service was also outstanding. The staff was friendly, attentive, and professional throughout our visit. They made sure we had everything we needed without making us feel rushed, and their high-quality service made the experience even more enjoyable. Great drinks, delicious food, a pleasant atmosphere, and excellent customer service. I will definitely be coming back!

    It's crazy to think in the sea of choices we have in Houston that it has been nearly a decade and a…read morehalf since Matt Brice opened the original location in the River Oaks area where Branch Water Tavern operated. When out of town business visitors come to Houston and seek balance, this is one of those spots worth paying a visit. Having this location downtown the last couple of years has been more convenient for those working in the area. Vibe / Interior - 4.5* So how has this spot managed to compete and survive in the Houston food scene? Well, there's a lot to unpack but I will say one perspective is the effort for balance. When you walk in you will get a sense of how well it toes the line between not being too upscale and pretentious yet not solely casual when it comes to the vibe. Someone in a business suit will fit in just as well as someone in a soccer jersey catching the World Cup. Food & Drink - 4* Balance shows up here too. They have a good selection of options from starters such as sticky ribs, bang bang shrimp, smoked pork belly, or maybe some oysters, poke, or kung pao calamari? For entrees you can go a little lighter with a salad or fresh fish or dive off the deep end with a chicken fried steak or pork chop. Whiskey, wine, or beer? Or a cocktail? They have a bit of anything you may fancy. Their cocktails aren't overly creative but they have plenty of the classics. I'm not going to sit here and say that any of their dishes will be the best in town. What I will say is they do tend to be above average. Again, it's about choice and balance. Service - 4* I've not experienced bad service here. The servers are always attentive and check in frequently. Most will make good recommendations dependent on what you're looking for. If there's only one area that I've found can be a little lagging sometimes is the close out. While they do check in during your visit, getting the bill/check and getting out can be a bit slow, but it isn't terrible. Cost/Pricing - 3.75* I'm not going to say their pricing is excellent, but it finds balance again. They aren't unapproachable but they aren't the cheapest. They do tend to deliver good portion sizes and higher quality than other establishments for what they serve. Overall - 4* Support local establishments, especially when visiting such a diverse city like Houston. If you find yourself downtown looking for an approachable restaurant where all are welcome, pay a visit here!

    Photos
    Federal American Grill - Bathroom decor, cool textured wallpaper

    Bathroom decor, cool textured wallpaper

    Federal American Grill - Bread pudding on the house

    Bread pudding on the house

    Federal American Grill - Fontina and Spinach Dip

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    Fontina and Spinach Dip

    The Kennedy - pianobars - Updated September 2026

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