We had birthday reservations for me. We arrived a few minutes before and discovered that they were also having an event at the same time. It was super noisy, and it took a while to get seated. There was a big crowd as they were giving out hors d'ourves and cocktails to the event attending guests. I ordered the lobster twinkies thinking that they were lobster rolls. They were actually very mushy like hostess twinkies and I couldn't finish them. I ended up having something else not memorable. The decor was great. Service not so much. There was a live band playing outside the restaurant that was great. I'm not interested in visiting again. read more

Cool quirky ambiance, though I was seated at a couch with a long table that wasn't the most comfortable. Came for a lunch meeting, service was great, no complaints. Food was likewise, very good, had the ceviche and the "arroz paella" (why not just call it paella?), both were quite good. No complaints with food or service, my only thing was my seat wasn't great and it was hard to get in/out of. read more

We went during HH and ordered a tableful of bar bites--ceviche, ta-cones, tostada de pulpo, beef skewers, chicken chicharrones, and hummus. Everything was tasty! However, the only entrée we ordered--the steamed black mussels--was, by comparison, nothing to write home about. read more

Lymbar holds a special place in my heart as it is where my Husband and I hosted our wedding rehearsal dinner. We were looking for a place that met our requirements and Lymbar check all the boxes! 1. Central location with parking: Restaurant is located in midtown in the old Sears building (now called the Ion District) and has 3 parking lot that service it. 2. Beautiful decor: We fell in love with the speak easy vibes when we first tour the restaurant. There's a large tree that greets you right when you enter the room which is bring in the nature element into the decor. Lots of velvet and color pop accents that brightens the dim room; whoever designed the restaurant did a great job. 3. Great food: the food was exceptional, we loved all of our dishes! We served everything family style. Most of our menu included dishes they already serve in their restaurant but they did add a steak option for us. Our event menu included : -Chicken Chicharrons, Ceviche, Lobster Roll, Trio de Empanadas, Monte Cristo, Beef Kofta, Branzino, Gemelli Pasta, Beef Medallion, Tres Leche and Stick Toffee Pudding. 4. Good bar and drinks: they have a full bar and great signature cocktails. My favorite drink from them is their Rum Port Milk Punch! We had a guest list of 50 people and we all fit very comfortably with room to roam. Everyone enjoyed the food and drinks and had a great time! Would recommend Lymbar to anyone for any occasion! read more

Been here several times over the past couple months, and am always surprised by the quality of the food this place puts out. My team had an event they catered for, and everything from lamb chops to crab cakes were exceptional. Coming in for lunch and grabbing the sliders on special or the gumbo the other times have been shockingly good. I'd love if they opened a restaurant close to me in NYC. They could easily hold their own here and I'd be in weekly. Hats off to the chef. Also, can't be the inside of the restaurant. Plenty of space, so doesn't feel cramped and the staff will go out of their way to accommodate whatever you need. Bravo. Couldn't recommend this place enough if you are up in that air about visiting. read more

Love, love, love The Lymbar. Every dish is an adventure, and every part of the inside of this place tells a story. The salads plus a skewer for lunch are my favorite. It's nice to mix and match. read more

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Was curious to try this place after visiting the zion once. Definitely draws a bit of a lunch crowd. Not extensive space but they have two areas of bar/kitchen seating and then the comfy couches/table area. They do have a small private dining room as well. HRW was a good time to sample, the food was pretty solid and delivered on flavours! Good fusion place, did not know it was the same owners as Churrascos? Free parking in the lot out front! read more

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HRW 2024 Our experience was super underwhelming. Out of the 4 people, none of us were happy with the food experience. We all agreed we'd rate this place a 2.5 out of 5. Appetizers: ceviche tostada was good. Just tasted like a traditional ceviche. It was supposed to have snapper in it but only saw and tasted octopus and shrimp. 4/5. Lobster Twinkie: laughable portion. Was excited about these but super underwhelming. There was barely any lobster so all I could taste was the oily bread. The bisque that came with it was fine but it was barely room temp. 1/5. The mini tacos were very mini which was cute but all that could be tasted was fry on the shells. 2/5. Empanada was good. 4/5 Entrees Pasta: super under seasoned. The dish was supposed to have morels but it had button mushrooms. Disappointing. Morels and button mushrooms don't taste anything alike. The pasta was way overcooked. 1/5. The paella was not really a paella. No socarrat. Shrimp were good. Rice was ok. 3/5. Salmon: it's super well done so kind of dry. Smelled super fishy. Taste was bland and needed salt. The grapefruit lime segments on top were odd. 2/5. Plantain chicken. A bit on the salty side but it was a nice foil to the sweet potato. Good dish. 4.5/5. Desserts. They were out of the tres leches. Super disappointing because the Corduas always have delicious tres leches so it seems like terrible planning not to have it. The flan was odd tasting. It didn't have any of the fancy extra stuff the pictures online show. 1/5. The alfajores were good. 5/5 The sticky toffee cake was on the HRW website but not on the menu at the restaurant. The manager said he would allow us to order this due to the tres leches being out. 5/5. Service. They were nice. The waitress brought out 3 desserts instead of 4 so they had to rectify that. read more

This is a fun spot - perfect for date night! Cute restaurant with a nice variety of food and drinks. Service was great as well. The Rosespud was a unique and tasty appetizer. Fritto Misto and empanadas were also delicious. Definitely will be back again. read more

Once in a while I am really impressed by a Houston restaurant, and this weekend, it was absolutely by The Lymbar. We took advantage of the HRW dinner menu, along with a Rosespud after we saw it from across the room. The Rosespud was a conversation starter, but it was darned tasty and came with perfectly creamy dipping sauces. We both really enjoyed the Chicken Chicharrones and the Truffle Twinkies. The Truffle Twinkie was pretty much hints of a truffle grilled cheese, and at that, it was amazing. The Chicharrones reminded me of chicken karaage at other restaurants -- and also came with two nice pairing sauces. The Empanada Trio came with an outstanding beef empanada, a good spinach and feta empanada, and a Monte Christo empanada I couldn't get behind. With that said, the non-HRW menu gives you more choice, and a Monte Christo empanada wasn't on my life bucket list, so I don't hold this against them and would otherwise have never ordered this. We were more torn on the desserts. It seemed the Tres Leches we got needed a little more time for the milks to soak, since the leftovers were great while the in-person was just okay. The Alfajores were tasty but the HRW portion was definitely on the smaller side. I'd definitely like to make my way back soon. The ambiance was classy but relaxed and the flavors really brought a lot to the meal. It's a bit of a unique location but it's worth seeking out! read more

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(3.5 star) Everything was good, not great, and for the price, I was a bit disappointed. I found Lymbar through HRW and saw the great (but few) reviews on Yelp so I decided to give it a try! They have free parking across the street. The ambiance of the restaurant is great with velvet couches and moody lighting. It's connected to an industrial communal space (reminiscent of a smaller Post HTX). The HRW menu allowed us to sample some of their popular foods. I got the spinach/feta empanada, kale+peanut salad, beef tenderloin taco, & tres leches (my friends got alfajores and the strawberry/beet dessert). The empanada and kale salad were good but not remarkable. The beef taco was delicious - definitely my favorite part of the meal! The beef wasn't the most tender but it was super flavorful. The tres leches was moist, a tad sweeter than I probably would like but I only ate a third. The alfajores were good. The strawberry / beet / dill yogurt dessert was a really weird combination and it just felt like they just threw those ingredients together, I couldn't finish it. Service was great. We were seated promptly, took our orders quickly, and made sure our water was always filled. Overall, I do think it's overpriced for what you're getting (even during HRW) & I'll likely not return. read more

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Very good food, portions are smaller but to be expected for the quality you receive. The cocktails are really nice too. Parking is very convenient for its location in Houston. Very chill date night vibe, nice interior, a good mix of romantic and upscale, the chairs are really comfortable read more

"Love at first bite!" The hubs found this spot and wanted to give it a whirl for dinner. I went with it, and by the time I tasted the appetizer, I was an instant fan. The churassco bites are not to the missed. The bar staff was wonderful and very attentive. Their food recommendations were all legit. We loved the tacos and the ability to try both proteins. The foie donut holes for dessert were a sweet & savory treat. Although we stuck to bubbles during our visit, I can't wait to return for the cocktail menu. It looks great! Lymbar's music and vibe is icing on the cake, and make it a shoo-in for a great date night! read more

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My fiancee and I had a nice dinner date at Lymbar after being in the area. The Truffle Twinkies were a delight to start off our meal. The truffle and egg yolk bites were so rich and luxurious! The Spinach, Feta, and Halloumi Empanada was a delightful pocket of savory flavors! We wished more than 1 empanada was included in a serving though. The Chicken Shawarma Tacos were delicious and full of flavors as well. The chicken was moist and the accompaniments of the pickled red onions and tzatziki sauce was perfect on top. Our server was very attentive and the restaurant was decorated beautifully. This spot is perfect for a date night. Prices and serving size are competitive with restaurants in downtown Houston. We'll have to check out more of this sparkling Ion Building. They will validate your parking! read more

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I might be a little biased -- I'm married to the chef -- but The Lymbar is so much more than a restaurant to me. It's a love letter to our families, our cultures, and the people of Houston. Every recipe, every detail of the space, every plate that leaves the kitchen carries a piece of our story. The flavors here are deeply personal -- Latin and Mediterranean roots intertwined in a way that feels both comforting and adventurous. I've watched my husband perfect that chimichurri until it sang, and seen guests light up over the tomatillo salsa, slow-braised meats, and the warm, pillowy bread fresh from the oven. The cocktails are crafted with the same care, each one balanced and beautiful. But beyond the food, it's the atmosphere that makes The Lymbar special. You walk in and feel the warmth -- from the cozy design to the way the team treats you like family. We've always dreamed of creating a space where people could gather, celebrate, and feel at home. Seeing that happen night after night is the greatest reward. If you've never been, I hope you'll come. Not just to taste the food, but to share in the heart that built this place. read more

Wow! It's so much fun to try a new place that's unique, fun and tasty with great service thrown in. First, the ambiance is so relaxing yet upbeat. It's intended to resemble a living room and I wouldn't mind having that living room at home with the fully operational bar really comfy, elegant and modern. I could have stayed longer and lounged! I was impressed by the menu. First, prices are fair. It seems like every new restaurant has San Francisco prices and Houston - I think - isn't used to that. The menus has a great variety if you want to go either tapas style or by courses. Next, I appreciated the wine list. Again, priced fairly with a mix of familiar and other choices. Food thoughts: - Rosespud: ultra thin potato chips with beautiful presentation and amazing sauces. Must try! - Ceviche: I'm neutral on ceviche but I liked it and it got tastier the deeper into the dish you went. It needs the potato chips though. - churrasco bites: highly recommended by my friend and it was a generous size - Caesar salad: I was in the mood for a small salad and it was perfect - corn gnocchi: good but a little heavy for gnocchi and portion was pretty small - alfojores (sp): really yummy melt in your mouth cookies and decent size for $12 - donuts: I didn't try but portion was big for the price with plenty to take home and with foie gras included They also did a great job on the espresso martini. Very nicely balanced. Our server was great, eager, helpful and knowledgeable so we lucked out! FYI - valet only read more

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I have been to the Lymbar twice, both with exceptional service. My first review was taken down by yelp stating that my experience was not legit because it was the soft opening. I have never before had a yelp review be deleted for a soft opening. I see reviews for soft openings ALL THE TIME! In fact, the first time I went, the restaurant was open to the public AND the reservation was made through Open Table. It's not like I had a special invitation. I only wish I had the "ins" with the Cordua family. What a wonderful surprise to hear that this is David Cordua's newest creation. Yep, the same Cordua family who brought us Churrascos and Americas. Located in the Rice University owned Ion building. If you're a native Houstonian, that's the old Sears building in Midtown. This new cocktail bar / restaurant is one you don't want to pass up. Bar seating, kitchen bar seating, table tops and table seating are all available. I had the opportunity to meet David and I just had to ask him how he came up with the name Lymbar. And I KNEW IT! Lybar is a street in SW Houston that I know so well. Yep, his restaurant is named after his family's home on that same street. David mentioned that the concept is to mirror a living room type setting to and to pay homage to his family. The dishes focus on latin and meditarrian style dishes. May I suggest a few dishes to try. These were my favorite! The Truffle "Twinkies," The Trio de Empanadas (all three were out of this world), the Beef tenderloin and Chicken shawarma, the snapper and of course the Cordua's famous tres leches. The Singapore Sling was recommended as a fan favorite cocktail. The service was a 10 out of 10! We were checked on frequently and the staff was warm and welcoming. Definity come check out the new concept from the Cordua family, if anything stop by the bar and have a drink. Thank me later. read more

Nice ambiance. The food was tasty and they had a pretty diverse menu. The Caesar salad was very good! But the tacos were a pretty small portion read more

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This review is for their 2024 restaurant weeks. It was $39/per person for dinner for 3 courses. Overall the food was delicious, although I do believe the portion was a little smaller than usual. If it wasnt then I would be sad to pay regular price next time. That paella has me going back for more! The service was super fast and friendly. I loved that they have an extensive drink menu as well perfect for happy hour. read more

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We met for dinner at The Lymbar and it was fantastic! I started with an old fashioned, they have several smoked flavors to choose from and I asked our waitress surprise me. I could smell cinnamon at my table as I waited for my drink and I was hoping it was for me and it was. Yay! We decided to split a few apps and took our servers lead and had the hummus and their empanadas. Delish! The hummus was amazing it had a mix of avocados, mushrooms, potatoes couscous and tabbouleh. Divine! This dish spoke to me because potatoes avocados and mushrooms I mean some of my absolute fave things. It was served with a side of plantains, mmmmmmm Loved the cozy atmosphere, everything was super cute! If you come for date night walk around and explore the other spots in The Ion. We went to Late August for MORE cocktails because your girls just love trying new things, and we will certainly be returning there to try dinner. Our bartender was super sweet and we loved the vibe. read more

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This place is beautiful and the food was fantastic. I went for the first time with friends for my birthday celebration and we loved this spot. All of the dishes were incredible, beautifully designed interior, and they even had a live pianist playing as we dined. The service was wonderful and each member came to me to wish me a happy birthday with candles. I felt so special and sincerely appreciate their attentiveness. Great spot for a date, out with friends, or to take clients! read more

The Lymbar - Beautiful bar with friends for my birthday celebration! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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We dined here during Houston Restaurant Week and enjoyed every minute! The food and drinks were both delicious and we loved being able to try so many dishes at a good cost. The inside is so well decorated and the booths and chairs are extremely comfortable. Service is very good and the drinks and food came out very quickly after ordering. To note there is free parking for this restaurant but you do have to drive into a gated area in order to get to it. read more

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Good food, service was good and fun, atmosphere was nice. I had the scallops and they were great. Several good apps.

Horrible service! Horrible food! I will never come back. I was suspicious cause every restaurant I full on Friday. This place every slot is open. Completely horrible food and service! read more

ALERT: favorite restaurant contender. This place is vying for TOP restaurant in Houston. I completely recognize the absurdity of the words I'm writing: "best", "favorite", "top", but we truly had an exceptional experience and I am here to report it. First of all, you can get a parking spot conveniently across the street. Second, you walk in and there's a pianist playing swanky music, magical lighting, plants, eclectic decor, fabulous seating, you're transported to another world. Third, you are greeted by professional, courteous staff. Fourth, you sit down and start to make memories, embarking on a culinary journey. We ordered non-alcoholic cocktails (but will be back to try the alcohol another night) and they were fabulous- the Chai and the beet ones. But we witnessed the birth of a smokey old fashioned and other creative concoctions left and right. Then our food: the Truffle Twinkies are groundbreaking. The Churrasco Bites swept me away. The Kale and Peanut was a tried and true, fresh yummy salad. The Beef Kofta empanada was scrumptious. But then the Spinach Feta empanda made it pale in comparison- divine. And then for the grand finale: the Tres Leches were classically delightful and the Alfajores were fluffy and euphoric. Every detail was exciting and delicious. Obviously we are elated to have found such a gem. It goes without saying that we'll return. If you're still reading my long review, I hope you have the pleasure of going to see for yourself! Do enjoy!! read more

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Been here on 2 occasions and loved both times. There is lot parking right across the street. I recommend the truffle twinkies - an adult savory take on the childhood classic, with a dash of truffle - what's not to love! They come with a set of 3 - perfect app size for sharing. I also enjoyed the corn gnocchi - so soft and flavorful. The ceviche is presented on a purée of yam, which is a unique take. The smoked lamb chops are a generous portion size - 4 chops to an order. They are smoked very well, and the flavors are complementary and well-balanced. Their foie gras donut holes are innovative and delish. Service was friendly, and ambiance is elegant but not stuffy at all. read more

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The beet lemon taste like rain from heaven. I can confidently say this drink was by far the best beer lemonade I ve tried. My salad was okay, I enjoyed the addons but the kale seem dry and unwashed. In order to out this restaurant you have to access the ion district building. If your not a meat eater or fan of cheesy dishes seek another restaurant. read more

The Lymbar - Beet lemonade - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Lymbar is a Cordua restaurant if you are a fan! We are! Very cool atomosphere and service was great! Kara behind the bar was creating some cool drinks and the manager Sean was doing everything from greeting at the door, serving, clearing and checking on guests. You pretty much have to valet unless you want to search for street parking. Food was phenomenal! The empanadas are just one per order but large enough to split with someone. The Churrasco was much thicker than the portion you usually get at Churrasco's so that was a nice surprise. read more

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I highly recommend Lymbar. We went for my brother's birthday and David and his staff made the occasion very special. We were seated underneath a tree and loved the comfortable sofa and ambience. The servers, food and drinks were top notch too. read more

Yeah. I'm going to need to just accept that I'm becoming a regular here. The Lymbar has stunning decor that transports you to a modern electrified forest. The vibes are good for a work meeting or date night. The service has always been exemplary along with the stellar food. Nothing I've had there has been bad. read more

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Very cute! In a nice location of Houston. Definitely a gem in the Ion and the beef empanadas were so good!!!

The Lymbar is delicious. Tonight we had the Churrasco Bites to start and the Chicken Ballotine for the entree. Ariel was the best server and so helpful and excited about the menu. While answering our questions, he was excited an enthusiastic! read more

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We had a great dinner at The Lymbar. The food was delicious and creative; the ambience was fun and lively; and service, while a little slow, ended up being pretty good. To start, we had a few of the "bar bites" and empanadas to share--note that they're not huge, so it's nice to order a few for the group to try: -The Rosespud: This appetizer was a fun way to start the meal: it's basically big homemade chips, served with salsas. The presentation is fun and looks like a big flower, hence the name of the appetizer. -Ceviche: The ceviche was my favorite appetizer--it was super fresh, and I really liked the sweet potato puree that was served at the bottom of the dish. -Empanada trio: The empanadas were perhaps my least favorite appetizer, but don't get me wrong, it was still pretty good. For entrees, I had the chicken shawarma tacos, and my favorite part of that dish was the tzatziki sauce--it was delicious, and I wish the entree had come with even more of the sauce! On a Saturday night, The Lymbar was really fun: they had live music and lots of people having fun, but it wasn't too crowded. The restaurant's decor similarly fun and pretty. Service frankly started off very slow, and it took a long time for our drinks and first appetizer to come out; the hostess also seemed to have some issues figuring out our table situation initially. But the hostess and our server managed to resolve those things, and we ended up having a great experience. read more

Very calm ambiance with couch seating! Indoor greenery and corner location for quiet noise level!

They up-charged me on the tip an extra $100. The total with a generous 25% tip was around $150 and they charged me $243. They gifted us complementary cookies at the end and it was such a fun experience until it became fraudulent. Hide your wallets from these guys, pay in cash. Also, this happened about 8 months ago and they had their staff harass me!! Be careful of these people read more

I know it seems like I'm giving out a lot of five star reviews but we found this place on Instagram and it lived up to the speakeasy. Feel your step into kind of a darkly shaded bar area straight in the dining area. It had communal seating it had high back chairs with a real 1975. They actually had a pair of speakers that I had my home not to date myself but they were pioneers and that was back in the 70s. The drinks are amazing but the gym was you got a try, the empanadas the empanadas Three of them now it doesn't sound like a huge offering but we each tried our own delicious the Cordon Bleu was nothing like I've ever had with Greer cheese ham oh my God it was delicious definitely a date night spot or if you're going out for some dining take your date take your wife take your girlfriend you won't be disappointed. read more

The Lymbar - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Went for anniversary dinner on a Monday night at 6pm so happy hour was still on. We were 1 of 3 tables. Took 15 mins to get our cocktails. Why couldn't the bartender serve our drinks that were just sitting there getting watered down while the waitress seemed too busy to serve? Bad customer service. Bartender didn't look busy. They were out of wings! The rosemary fries literally had no rosemary or garlic, or even salt! Sadly, I had to ask for salt for the ribeye. Food lacked seasoning. Also, the floor had a painted design that was rubbing off that made it look dirty. That was my first impression walking in. Service was slow as there was only 1 server. Food lacked flavor but presentationwas not too bad. Decor was nice, but they have to work on the floors! I'm not going back. read more

The Lymbar - Look flavorful but it's not. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Houston, Texas

Excellent atmosphere, Food is overpriced and the portions are not filling. Best value is the burger. Cocktails and Mocktails are magnificent. Cole is an incredible bartender, but waitresses could be kinder and more attentive. read more

Wow! Creative menu, relaxed space, attentive service and tasty food. Enjoyable and unhurried.

Stopped in to try the HRW lunch. Everything was good and the location is very pretty. We really liked the decor and ambiance. The servers were very good. The food is good if not particularly memorable but everything was well prepared and nicely plated. It was a good lunch, though I had the feeling it was a bit light for the price. I enjoyed the empanadas and salads in the first course, and the beef taco was nice too. We tried the tres leches and the alfajores (shortbread cookie sandwiches filled with caramel) for dessert. As another reviewer noted, the tres leches was very sweet, but I give it credit for being well soaked through with milk and for the nice merengue on top. The alfajores were miniature versions of the ones I'd had elsewhere and like the other dishes, looked too cute in the shallow bowl they bring it in. Very tasty, however, the cookie is very thin with a thick dab of caramel and I think I preferred the traditional style where the cookies are thicker and the caramel layer is thinner. Would come back, especially as a place to chill after work. read more