I will never eat again after this perfect meal. It would be disruptive to my palate. Everyone deserves at least one meal at Theodore Rex. Tomato toast. A simple but essential almost pasty tomato and garlic delight full of herbs, ready to spread onto sinfully buttered toast. You wouldn't be able to recreate it at home no matter what you tell yourself while enjoying every last bite. Spring peas with flounder sashimi. This was beautiful, delectable, simply of the gods. The chilled spoons made it fun. The tarragon elevated it to BFF status. Cresc'tajat pasta (almost like pope's hats, but not stuffed), fermented radish crisp, mushroom, and dill. To be eaten with a spoon to properly enjoy the broth, as any saucy or smallish filled pasta deserves. T Rex doesn't shy away from herbs one bit, and we should all be thankful for that. Tagliolini warmed in cultured butter. Breadcrumbs with some sort of cheesy crumbly magic hidden beneath the perfectly al dente noodles. I allowed my date to enjoy one bite, and the rest was all for me. I think there was parsley. I'm not a big indiscriminate beef lover, and my date wanted something with beef. I told him we could order the roasted cap of beef with jus roti and chestnut mushrooms dusted with leek ash IFF he would forego the other beef thing. He was SO happy he decided to go along because this was an absolute delight. Heavily marbled beef that melted on our tongues--this is beef for people who won't eat a steak just anywhere but who require only the best bites of beef available. And you better like oregano, because this steak has a light but flavor bursting amount of it. Purrrrrfection. I really love how the chefs incorporate fresh herbs into everything--just beautiful. We almost ordered panna cotta, which is one of my favorite desserts. Instead, I asked about the blueberry butter cake and went with that upon hearing our servers description. A basic slice of cake coated with butter, inserted into the oven, brushed with additional butter, injected with blueberry jam, sprinkled with sugar, torched to crystalline dreams, then placed upon a welcoming pool of cold cream. We're halfway home, and I still haven't recovered from dessert, which we enjoyed with a fortified Italian wine. Great date night for our anniversary! I can't think of anything to be improved. read more

This is a small, nice, cozy spot hidden away in east downtown. If you don't know its there you will probably miss it. The décor is very nice, all of the plates were custom made, and there was some funny signs in the men's restroom. I brought my girlfriend here and she loved it. It's a great date spot if your looking for a not too expensive fancy-ish place. It was her birthday, but I forgot to mention it to our server so I don't know if they provide complimentary dessert for birthdays. I went in the fall and their menu is seasonal so depending on what time of the year you go what I got may not be available.We went all out here haha. I ordered the Italian bread dumplings to start. They were delicious and not excessively rich. For the main course I got the heritage turkey and my gf got the mushroom and bean soup. I was actually surprised at how much of a protein portion I got with the turkey! These fancy places usually give you laughable protein portions but this dish was actually bodybuilder friendly. It came on a bed of seasoned rice which was seasoned well and not too rich. The mushroom and bean soup was also delicious. Not excessively greasy and the corona beans were huge! For dessert we got the blueberry butter cake. Our server said its a crowd favorite for good reason! it was delicious, but I don't think it was $14 delicious. I'd price this item around $9-10. My only complaint is that I wish they provided some complimentary bread or something of the sort. It's pretty standard for these fancy places and if I'm gonna pay a good amount of money per plate I better get me some god damn bread with it lmao. read more

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We finally got to check this place out for dinner and it definitely did not disappoint! I had high expectations coming in especially since I had just went to Better Luck Tomorrow (obviously loved it) and my expectations were definitely met! For food we had the: Fried oyster mushrooms: 5/5 the fry was so light and the creme fraiche dip was sooo good Tomato toast: 5/5 I had my doubts on how good tomato toast could actually be but the bread was perfectly toasted but still soft and the tomatoes sweet and fresh Baked semolina: 3/5 I was really excited about the pecorino sauce but overall we just didn't really enjoy this dish Beef cheeks: 5/5 my bf LOVED this dish and literally drank the pickle juice stew it came in. Beef was super tender Wagyu: 4.5/5 it could have used a better sear and I wasn't a fan of the hard turnips it came with the night we went. I would have preferred any other vegetable instead Paris Brest: 5/5 not too sweet and the cream they used actually had a hint of cheese. Perfect dessert to end the meal Overall, we loved everything about TRex. Service was great and it was a very cozy atmosphere. The restaurant is quite small and I wouldn't recommend it for more than 2-4 people. We'll definitely be back! read more

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We went there with our family of 8! Missing our older daughter. Since we made Our reservation, they told us that the biggest table that they had is for 6! But they allowed us to seat our little one! They asked us for a credit card number to make our reservation and they warned us about the cancelation fee. We were there on time for our reservation and since the beginning everyone were so nice to us! They explained their menu and we ordered a lot! But the sizes of the plates were perfect! And everything was PERFECT! The flavor of the food is absolutely amazing!! Not only our waiter but he sous chef took care of us! Definitely will come back with my friends!! read more

Today we decided to let Justin Yu feed us all day. Awesome brunch at Better Luck Tomorrow followed by an epic dinner at T. Rex. I freaking love both places! From the unpretentious, chill vibes to the welcoming service, both spots will serve you like a king/queen while making you feel comfortable enough to probably come back in something as casual as your PJs. Followed the reviews of most everyone on yelp and ordered the popular items. - Tomato Toast: yes it is as good as everyone says. Those dos brisas tomatoes are so fresh and satisfying. And that bread. Can y'all just make a pizza with the bread? Smother this baby in mozzarella and Parmigiano?? Ok I'm hungry now. - Stewed Beef Cheek: I want more of this. Right now. If you're a fan of tart, ceviche type flavors then you'll love this one. I wanted more of that broth. The beef was so tender. And who knew sharp cheddar would go well with the pickle flavors? As a Filipino this dish kind of reminded me of Sinigang. I'm topping off my bowl of tamarind flavored pork heaven with cheddar the next time I make it. - Italian Bread Dumplings: this gnocchi dish partners well with the beef cheeks. I like the chewy texture and the cheese bits. Not a huge fan of beans tho so I wasn't in love with the dish. Might still order again though. - Roast strip loin wagyu: this dish was a party in my mouth!! This was packed with an amazing flavor and has the slightest chewy texture. Glad I didn't skip on this one!! - Paris Brest dessert: Definitely not too sweet. The cheese filling balanced well with the donut pastry. Great way to end the evening. To those reading this review, I hope you've already made your reservation here! read more

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I'm going to keep this one somewhat short and sweet given all the other extremely detailed reviews. There's definitely a familiarity walking in had you been to Oxheart previously, but the interior and decor has changed, perhaps becoming even more warm and welcoming. The light fixtures were particularly cool too. The staff are 5 stars the entire way. Have a question about something, just ask? They know what's up and are available at any time to assist you. Not much else to say, the staff are truly awesome. Moving to the wine and food, their wine program is top notch if you're looking to explore, as they keep a really nice selection of natural wines ready to be uncorked. After starting our meal with a glass of some bubbles, we ordered a bottle and made quick work of it, ordering a second as desserts started appearing. ...and finally the food. Just going to rattle off the meal, and let you be the judge yourself. I will say if you're going here, you might as well do it big. The plates are all decently sized, and less of a tasting affair than the prior restaurant, but you can do it! Treat yourself and order it all! Everything was amazing too. Started with Tomato Toast, Grapefruit with Sautéed Peas, Pakora Oyster Mushrooms, the Cauliflower, Wagyu and a Paris Brest, as well as the chocolate ice cream for dessert. read more

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"Best food I have ever eaten in my life!" These were the words from my brother that prompted me to come here. IT MUST BE GOOD! Spent like $200 with tip though so if you're trying to save money umm go somewhere else. We had an array of appetizers and dishes that were very unique. Tomato toast: very flavorful and worth it. Yeah, it's toast, BUT LIKE CAN YOU MAKE TOAST LIKE THIS AT HOME? Like a mix of bruschetta and garlic bread but not really? Potatoes Paillasson: hot and crispy! I mean, how can anyone not like crispy potatoes? Raw and pickled cantaloupe: This had cold, spicy broth, basil, and Serrano peppers. Quite refreshing and something I've never had before. Very interesting. Braised Heritage Chicken and Turkey: Came with beans and a kind of gravy. We didn't like this. It's pretty much just eating leftover turkey and gravy. Hard to chew. Fish: Sitting in a kind of salty broth with spinach pistou, carrots, onions, and lemon zest. Fish was cooked perfectly but the broth was okay. Shaved Wagyu: Shaved really thin and came with like 3 small pieces of potato. Good flavor but wish it had more sear on the outside and a bigger portion size for the amount we had to pay. Milk Chocolate Ice Cream: candied almonds and apple butter. There was something in this that had a kind of sour kick to it? Still very good and the ice cream really tastes like you're eating a piece of chocolate. Paris-Brest: filled with sweet Swiss cheese cream and burnt honey caramel. Choux pastry that was light and crunchy on the outside. Not overpoweringly sweet. Pair this with the milk chocolate ice cream and you have a winning combo! It's a very tiny space and you get to hear everyone's conversations even when you're trying not to. Lol. It was nice being able to kind of see everything being made in the kitchen. Enjoyable ambiance and great service. I will come back whenever they change their menu according to season. read more

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Quirky and Cute are adjectives that come to mind when you enter. Intimate, interesting tables for two with drawers for silverware and table linen. Food is mostly good. Tomato toast is the star, dumplings were good and so was the sweet onions. The main entree- snapper in a tomato based soup was unevenly cooked, almost uncooked at the base and for its small size relative to the prize, disappointing. Dessert shortcake was delightful. On arrival, the young manager with clipped accent almost looked through me at the white woman behind and asked if she had a reservation. "No, but I do" I had to clarify. Waitress was mostly helpful but also tried to have us order more, we had been pre warned in reviews and we did not..and we had left overs. Gratuity of 22% is added to the check, and the manager educated us "this amount goes toward health insurance and school, you are free to add an additional amount". Location is in a sketchy area and parking is on the street. All in all- it is a quirky and interesting experience and would have been more enjoyable had the food been consistent and if the manager/ waiter had some passion for their work. We loved Oxheart..unfortunately TRex falls short. read more

Awesome and loved the private room with old school records. The food was fabulous. Service great. Will go back.

Justin Yu looked so cool on tv that I had no choice but to Google stalk his restaurants... lo and behold, I found this place and now here I am. Located in the tippy north part of downtown Houston in a very old building, this place, from the outside, doesn't look like something I'd drive 45 minutes for. Walking inside, I was right at home. We sat at the kitchen counter, also known as the bar. This affords a full view of the kitchen where two chefs prepare each plate with intense care. It was fascinating to watch. The maitre d', Diana, recommended an excellent bottle of wine. We aren't wine drinkers, so her help was much appreciated. We started with the soured pork and cucumbers- BEST CUCUMBERS ON EARTH. Then had the tagliolini in oyster sauce, which was delightful. We then had the famous dumplings (worth every penny) and the roasted chicken WHICH BLEW MY MIND. Whatever spice is in the roasted chicken needs to be in my mouth always. Incredible meal, incredible service and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I'm someplace very special. Too stuffed for desert... but maybe... You should come here! read more

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Have you ever gotten all excited, because you snagged super exclusive reservations at the restaurant that self proclaimed foodies rave about, only to leave hungry, unimpressed and feeling ripped off? That is Theodore Rex. Whenever the staff starts off by telling you they "specialize in small plates," you know you're going to have to order a bunch of them, and they are going to charge you full plate prices. The environs are small and "European" (read quaint but claustrophobic). Despite the romantic atmosphere, the music is eclectic, ranging from pop to hardcore rap, making it hard to carry on a conversation. The menu naturally changes regularly, but this is the type of selection that feigns ingenuity in the form of foams, essences and flavored oxygen. Ultimately, the service was very friendly, and that was the highlight of our experience. The wine list is average in size, though filled with offbeat selections (there's a whole section of orange wine), virtually none priced below $80 and most priced $150+. There are about a half dozen beers available, and they don't offer cocktails. We went with another couple and essentially ordered most of the menu, save a few items here or there, though we did have some duplicates. To feed our table of four, we ordered two large dishes and eight small, which was about right. My subjective description of a few of our selected items is as follows: - Oysters ($20 for each order of two pieces) that were definitively petite and tasted like they'd been soaked in coconut milk. - A "trout" dish, that consisted mostly of a thick, milky creme and a flavorless gelatin with about four pieces of dried fish skin that tasted (and smelled) like sardines from a can - Tomato toast which was two pieces of deliciously buttery and garlicky Texas toast, and a small bowl of seasoned tomato paste. This is the most reasonably priced item on the menu, but at $15 a pop, I didn't expect to have to construct the dish myself. - A snapper which was fine, but completely forgettable - A chicken breast that showed up completely white as a sheet, looking like it had been prepared by sous vide, with the bag shape clearly visible. It sat in a pool of tasty curry sauce, but the look of the chicken was downright unappetizing. Others have posted photos for reference. - A pasta dish that was essentially noodles in garlic, butter and olive oil Perhaps I am just an unsophisticated oaf and these culinary works of art were pearls before swine when served to me, OR this place is overhyped and underwhelming, trading on trendiness to convince people to pay hundreds of dollars for tiny meals at even tinier tables. As far as I'm concerned, the emperor has no clothes. Suffice it to say, we will not be returning. read more

Eating and talking at the same time is something I still haven't mastered despite being a student of both crafts for decades. I had my birthday dinner here with my closest girlfriends so naturally, I was quite chatty. But I noticed I had to go off topic several times just to express how good the food was. I don't really remember liking chef Justin Yu's previous restaurant Oxheart as much, so Theodore Rex deffo feels like a step up IMO. For a group of 6 we got 2 orders of tomato toast, Italian bread dumplings, butternut squash as starters and they were all vegetarian friendly. For entrees we had mushrooms, wagyu and heritage chicken. I was pretty against ordering the chicken initially, but my friend really sold it to me by explaining it's actually super juicy and tender because of the way they raise them in perfect conditions. Maybe they get massaged or something. Basically like episode one of Portlandia. I had to try it for myself; and it was indeed better than the average dry chicken, especially the lightly crispy skin. The blueberry cake for dessert was easily my favorite dish of the night. It was topped with a layer of caramelized sugar like creme brulee, and they brought it with a candle in honor of my birthday. I had a great time and there was plenty of street parking plus a private lot - perhaps what I miss most about Houston is the ample parking. But if you're planning to have a larger group than 6, it may be tough since the restaurant is tiny. It was actually really hard to have a convo in our semi circle booth because I was sitting in the middle and couldn't really see everyone's faces - maybe just a me problem since I'm short. Also the service was a bit slow so our meal was 2 hours despite trying to rush toward the end. read more

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Every plate was delicious. All of the staff was helpful and friendly. Unique atmosphere. Truly amazing restaurant. read more

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Experienced a fantastic meal here in November of 2023. Great service and really really skillfully executed small plates. I did not have a reservation in a Thursday but showed up right after it opened, would recommend reservations. read more

Made a reservation for 9:30 pm. We really enjoyed our dining experience: intimate and laid back. The perfect place to relax and drink some good wine and eat delicious food. The dinner is paced according to the customer. I ate at Oxheart once and enjoyed the experience. However, I didn't return due to the $$$ of the tasting menu. I love how the menu is a la carte now and I am excited to return to try it's different iterations in the future. The portions are bigger than anticipated. We enjoyed every dish we ordered. We (2 women) told the waiter that we were hungry. He told us that others have been ordering two small plates, two not so shareable items, two main dishes, and one dessert. We ended up getting two small, one not so shareable, two main, and no dessert and it was more than enough food. Tomato toast: I think it's a staple on the menu. The toast is crispy and pairs really well with the tomatoes. A must try! Fried oyster mushrooms: generous portion for a small dish. Pakoras are super fried Indian fritters. Thus, the mushrooms are nice and fried and the batter is so rich that they taste kind of cheesy (yum). Really tasty dipped in the creme fraiche sauce. Italian bread dumplings: the dumplings have a similar texture to gnocchi. Not usually a fan of beans, but I enjoyed them in this dish Wagyu: the meat is soo good and cooked perfectly. What a fun combination with the chewy texture of the turnips. Gulf snapper: not usually a fan of fish, but the snapper was soooo tender. The broth was a little salty for my own taste. K thought that it became less salty and more tasty with each bite. read more

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Went for a birthday dinner on a Monday night. -Firstly, location is not in the best part of town. Parking is street parking. Would recommend taking uber/lyft to this location as we saw a lot of broken glass on the street the restaurant is on. -As other reviews have mentioned, the restaurant is small. We had about 2 inches of space between our table and the one next to us. The tables on the edges of the restaurant that have booth seating have a bit more space to maneuver around. -Here's what we ordered: *Tomato toast (3/5): Tasted just like buttered toast and marinara sauce. *Boiled dumplings (3/5) *Tagliolini (3/5): The mignonette sauce was placed at the bottom of the plate. Would've been nicer if it came completely mixed with the pasta. *Roasted beef cap (4/5): Cooked well and the roti jus was yummy. Plating of the mushrooms is cute but also made me question if they did it to make it seem like they were giving you more than what it actually was which was about three forkfuls. *Butter cake (4/5): The strawberry jam mixed into the cake batter was delicious and it tasted more like I was eating bread pudding, which I didn't mind at all. *Panna cotta (3/5) -The wines we ordered were delicious. -Service was average. Overall, we felt like the flavors fell flat in terms of complexity. Didn't see the hype surrounding the restaurant. read more

Please forgive me for the delay in this review. The smelling salts that my family had to apply under my nose are just now taking effect. I am finally coming to after the shock of receiving my bill for the glorified tapas that was my "dinner". What in the living and fresh heck is this place all about? I mean, I get the marketing of the place. I get making sure everything is hyper expensive and mad exclusive in terms of time frames for party size. I get the teeny tiny space that itself lends to exclusivity. I get it. I fell for it. And it's not that I even fell for it, I willingly decided I wanted the experience. But all things considered, dining at T-Rex is like watching the latest Wes Anderson movie, The French Dispatch. You're waiting for something to happen, but it just.never.quite.does. From the intentionally disaffected and bionic staff to the uninspired presentation of the food, to the unnecessarily alienating wine list...this place is so full of itself, full of its own pitbull jaw locked ideals of what the food experience should be for the rest of us plebeians, it forgets to care whether or not their clients enjoy ourselves. Mind you, the food wasn't horrible. It was quite well-balanced and held a depth of flavor. However T-Rex could use a complete overhaul of the delivery of the experience itself. They're so stilted by what they think it should be. I knew going in it was going to be expensive, and that's not an issue for me as long as I leave knowing what happened. As a creative myself, I understand the desire and free will to curate, express and convey one's individual creativity. But the entire experience, (outside of Tony, the one really patient and kind server with a pulse) this place left me feeling like I got roofied on the set of The Twilight Zone. So if you just received your latest trust fund deposit and feel like going to dinner but still needing to go through the Popeyes drive-thru on the way home, with service that resembles 1940s Minsk, T-Rex is your place! read more

By far the best restaurant in Houston, best restaurant in Texas, and among the best we've dined at in the country. We've now dined here four times, including to the Littlefoot popup. Service, wine selection, and especially food are incredible. And the prices are very reasonable for the quality of the food. Took out of town guests here a few times - one friend was shocked T Rex didn't have a Michelin star, and another friend who grew up in Houston and lives in Austin said it was the best meal he's had in Texas. Each bite explodes with flavor and is inventive. The only time we were disappointed was when the Littlefoot popup ran (by the food). We know the current owner is taking a step back from the restaurant starting in the near future, and while we are excited to visit again in the future, we really, really hope the quality does not change - T Rex as we have known it has been in a league of its own. read more

Interesting place located near Minute Maid. Very small with only 6 tables (3 two tops and three 4-6 tops); reservations required. Menu consists of small shareable plates, most priced $20-$30. Every dish we tried had an interesting mix of flavors you would not expect. Some more overpowering than others. Tab for 3ppl was $300 without alcohol. The menu isn't something most would frequent, but if you're a foodie and want to try a spin on various flavors, give this place a shot! read more

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It was really hard to get a reservation here but we were able to secure one about a month out. When we got to the restaurant we understood why since the place is pretty small. Service was really good though because they were able to give more attention to each group. I'm pregnant and when my husband ordered a glass of wine and the waitress was nice enough to recommend a Pinot Noir non alcoholic grape juice. I've never even heard of a Pinot grape juice but it was delicious! For food we ordered the: -Tomato toast -Italian bread dumplings -Crispy fried, smoked 'Cushaw' Pumpkin with hibiscus leaf, celery, and yogurt -'Carolina Gold' Rice and Butterbeans cooked in soft butter, with crushed garden -Local Mushrooms and 'Royal Corona' Beans stewed with sauerkraut and gremolata -Cannoli The tomato toast is probably their signature dish - the bread was crispy yet soft and chewy on the inside. I thought it was unique and sustainable how they use the bread crust from the toast to make the bread dumplings and the whey from the ricotta is used to make the broth of the dumplings. They had plenty of vegetarian options and I look forward to coming back and trying more of their dishes in future! read more

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4.5 stars. Fantastic small restaurant in the edge of the downtown area. Best things about the restaurant: - jame beard chef Justin Yu with innovative dishes with farm to table focus, but super friendly and approachable at the same time. - fantastic staff. Deep knowledge of wine. Always there to please and serve - love the ambience: small restaurant with a casual and cozy air. Antithesis to the stuffiness in upscale restaurants. Friendly clientele. Has a family feel to the restaurant. - fantastic wine by the glass selection. FAVORITE DISHES: Pumpkin and squash stewed in fermented pepper sauce - the squash had unbelievable flavors and the sauce reminded me of nutrient-rich cooked-with-love Indian food. Italian bread-dumpling with braised mustard and autumn beans - the ricotta and parmagiano cheese on this was not too heavy but added a creamy overlay of flavor. The two guests sitting next to me gave me a bit to try. This dish was phenomenal. SOLID: Tomato toast - the focaccia bread is slightly crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside. Bursting with flavors with grape tomato on top. AVOID: Beef cheeks with pickled vegetables- even though this is one of chef Justin Yu's favorite, it was a bit too salty for my taste. This may be a bit better with polenta on the side. I had a glass of the Tempranillo from vina cubillo in rioja 2008. Fantastic. Not too heavy but well structured and fruit forward. Pairs well with food. read more

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Innovative dishes stand out in this tiny restaurant. You can't go wrong with the classic tomato toast, a tomato fondant infused with alliums and anise-flavored herbs. The in-house bread is just as much of a star as the tomato fondant. My favorite dish in all of Houston is from here, titled "Spring peas w/ brown butter, kombu and grapefruit, w/ flounder sashimi and fumet". Hopefully, it does not rotate out the next time I come back. I would also check out the roast chicken leg in the French Vadouvan Curry and the boiled dumplings stuffed with grass-fed beef. While not as memorable as the first two, they were still fantastic. read more

I've been to Theodore Rex multiple times and everything about it is so epic that I keep going back! The food is always consistently fresh, seasonal, and inspired. It actually makes me yearn for the days many lives ago when I worked in Michelin restaurants back in NYC. The flavor and texture combinations are incredibly creative and delicious making my taste buds and mind go seriously off grid! The service is also on point. It's like Theodore Rex has leveled up on Danny Meyer's philosophy in Setting the Table. Tony specifically needs to be a case study in excellence! His recommendations are spot on, and his personality is so warm and refreshing. He keeps us coming back, even when other patrons try to crash our intimate dinners ;) in the most hilariously tragic ways. The ambience is pure fire. It's a cozy intimate place that still allows for privacy between tables. I love that Theodore Rex supports local artists with their interior design and nuanced touches from the tables to the lights. I highly recommend checking out the lounge too for a pre/post dinner drink or dessert. You can soak in a different space while listening to some vinyl. read more

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Thank you so much to the boundless generosity of our most beloved couple, John and Richi, with the lovely company of our dear friend Cathi, Vanessa and I are privileged to experience an unforgettable dinner at the best restaurant in town, sampling every single magnificent dish on the menu. John has already done the impossible job of writing brilliantly about the spectacular meal, so I'll just piggyback on his post. Years ago when we first visited Oxheart, Chef Justin Yu's talent and execution have already garnered the adoration of food lovers everywhere. This recent return to Theodore Rex, in my most humble opinion, has made me realized that Chef Justin Yu's confidence, thoughtfulness, and frankly genius in culinary mastery is evidently infused and exhibited in every single dish served. Some of the dishes open my eyes to the possibility of execution, some hold their top spot in best in their respective food category, and some just playfully toy with my archaic understanding of how creative and subtly complex food can be. I could write pages of how each dish tastes and makes me feel, I would instead love to share our thoughts in person. The staffs are amazingly professional, friendly, and cool, running the restaurant like a well-conducted orchestrate, serving food and beverages at a perfect pace, allowing us to enjoy the whole dining experience in a welcoming lighthearted manner. Our main guy Tony took such good care of us like a dear friend. One more thing I would love to share about the food is that I have the best Chinese dinner of 2021 at Theodore Rex last Saturday. 1) CHICKEN BREAST GLAZED IN COCONUT, WITH ANCHOVY-GARLIC-CHILI-GINGER, 2) SMOKED, BRAISED HEARTY GREENS, RICH LIKKER, AND BEANS, RADICCHIO ZUKE, 3) GULF SNAPPER SOUPE AU PISTOU, these 3 dishes served with White Rice inspired me to see how Chinese food can be elevated to a sophisticated level yet remains comforting. We can't thank John and Richi enough for this dinner as it's truly the top culinary experience in town for us. I'm so humbled and blown away by Chef Yu's sensibility, talent, and hard work, we are blessed to have his restaurant in Houston. Our bellies were completely full of most sublime food and our hearts filled with love from our dearest friends. Thank you. Link to current menu: https://trexhouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Trex-MENU-08.18.21.pdf read more

Ordered the whole menu. Everything was delightful. Friendly servers. Quaint and nice date spot or dinner with friends. read more

We decided to go to Theodore Rex after seeing all the great reviews and nominations for awards. Our experience was fine, but nothing stood out. Interior (5/5) - The interior is beautiful and well designed. Service (3/5) - We heard about the exceptional service here, but we were a bit disappointed with our service. We wanted to try a few items only, but our service kept urging us to get at least 5 items, even when we shared multiple times that we only wanted 3 items. Our food also took quite a while to come, and that affected our experience. Food - Tomato Toast (4/5) - This was the most talked about item, and we thought it was tasty but nothing about the dish stood out. Crepe of Mung Beans (3/5) - This was not a great choice, as the crepe was bland, and the filling didn't accent any flavors of lavender as mentioned. Tagliolini (2/5) - This was another highly talked about item, and we were extremely disappointed with the flavor. The pasta was tough and undercooked, and the sauce was collected at the bottom of the plate. Boiled dumplings (4/5) - This dish had great taste, the dumplings were fresh, and the butter sauce was very flavorful. Roast chicken leg (4/5) - The chicken here was seasoned well, and the potatoes were fried crispy. The rice was a nice add-on. Warm blueberry buttercake (4/5) - This cake was great, and the brûlée was a nice touch. read more

I thought they just changed the name to revive the patronage, but they also revived the menu and changed the style a bit (and the seating!). Still cramped, same staff, etc... but 5 stars for the excellent meal my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed! Here's what we had: Oyster: Almost like an amuse bouche, this was one perfect bite! Loved the warm turnip purée that accompanied it. Tomato toast: Think bruschetta, but more delicately put together. Very tasty. Celtuce: Wonderful, with a well prepared beef tartare Farfalle: Best dish! This was by far the best pasta we've had all year! It had braised rabbit that really kicked this dish into Michelin gear! Peas: Great side Wagyu: THE most succulent, soft beef we've had since... well, I can't remember Beans & rice: This seems understated when thinking about it, but it had something crispy (either bacon or some rice was toasted?), exceptionally good! Strawberry butter cake: So full of flavor, but not too sweet! Perfect ending to a perfect meal! Easy enough to parallel park near the restaurant. If you're looking for something quaint and different from your traditional Houston vibe, this is one of those places off the beaten path--literally! read more

My 1st time made a reservation to this restaurant. Unfortunately I had to do a same day cancellation. I even called and explained i had bad allergies and needed allergies shots which would not able to make it back on time. Even the manager was polite. But they can't take exception under any circumstances. So if you're sick like a dog please make sure someone takes over your reservation or it would get charged $30 per person. Plus you need to stroll all the way down to the resy reservation to see the details. Also make a note your credit card is on file too. My bad & double lost if you are sick and only do the same day cancellation. Definitely no understanding or empathy from the restaurant read more

Theodore Rex - Same cancellation at the very bottom of the reservation email. - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Hugely disappointing visit. We ordered, as server suggested, 5 dishes. The first 3 were delivered on top of each other, overwhelming our tiny table and us. So by time we got to 3rd of them, the crepe, it was cold and flabby. Not good. Then nothing for about 20 minutes or so when lukewarm pasta arrived. So while kitchen is capable of great things, we didn't get advantage of it. Instead we spent over $150 and didn't enjoy it. read more

This place was really great. The plates are small enough that you can try a few things between the two of you. Started with the Peas - not the biggest fan of pees but this came with flounder shashimi. Yes please. Had the onion - it's really good but you really got to like onion, the tomato toast was fantastic too. The star of the show HAD to be the ribeye. If I have put a better piece of beef in my mouth I certainly don't remember it. So tender and flavorful it had all synapses in my brain firing at once - overload!! That was just the food, the place, the music - atmosphere was just what I like. An old space reborn but not completely hidden by newness. I usually don't even care about this as long as the food is good. Almost forgot - the butter cake - GTFO. pastry chefs in Paris would be jealous!!! read more

Tips are optional in a restaurant and not mandatory. To be charged 22% at the end of the meal automatically and the waitress asking for more Is a big problem. The prices of the menu are structured to be less then a full portion claiming sharing but are high enough not to justify the portion sizes. read more

This place was alright. The service and vibe were good but the food was okay. It was pretty over priced for what it was but I guess you are paying for the experience? We sat in an individual room which was nice and the server was amazing. But the portions were pretty small and we did order a lot. Definitely would not come back, it's one of those go to try for the experience. read more

Came here for a date night with my fiancé based on a recommendation from a friend. To start, parking in the area is pretty tight. We snagged a spot in the lot luckily. I'd be a little wary downtown parking in general. We were greeted that day with free champagne and a double rainbow! We came to our reservation a bit early, so we waited outside for a little bit. Inside, the space is honestly a little tight. In the times of COVID, I may be more hesitant to eat in the restaurant because it is that close to other patrons. We sat at the bar and had a good view of the kitchen which was cool since we watched the magic of the kitchen . We ordered several dishes and each were brought over with an explanation to boost which was a nice experience too. The menu changes often and they use seasonal ingredients. I think this place is a very nice date place for two or a double date at max. Not necessarily a place I'd choose to go to with a large party. Overall, worth trying at least once! read more

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First time here and had a fabulous dining experience. Breaking it down, all of small plates delivered. Tomato Toast... out of this world; mung bean crapes fantastic...but needed to be served before the toast; dumplings I can eat that every day. Smoke greens...not a fan. The BBQ flavor detracts the true flavor of the greens (too sweet). Chicken breast and snapper was just OK, 3 stars at best...didn't blow my mind. Star of the night...Sunchoke ice cream. We ordered 2 desserts. butter cake & sunchoke ice cream. Don't get me wrong, butter cake was very, very good but the ice cream was out of this world. My only complaint was the ice portions was small. read more

We had another wonderful experience here. We had the corner six top which is one of the best seats in the house to me. Service was exceptional. The oyster starter was a big miss - just not good and we love oysters of almost every type and presentation, but everything after that was just super. I drank the broth off the dumpling plate if that helps paint the picture... read more

This is the place that made me decide to start Yelping. This meal was phenomenal - think if it as upscale comfort food. I came in a large group, where we tried a large number of dishes. Standouts were the Italian bread dumplings, tomato toast, butter beans. How is it that I'm still craving these beans weeks later?! The fish and wagyu was great as well. The Paris Brest was the only dish that did not sit well with most of us - although I normally enjoy this dessert, this one had a funky, almost too strong cheese flavor that might just be a matter of incompatibility with the typical American dessert palate. The service was top notch as well, and the chef/owner Justin Yu even served many of our meals. I am a huge fan of vegetable forward cooking, and this is Justin Yu's brilliant new take on vegetable forward comfort food. Caveat: I did not foot the bill so cannot comment on price value. I normally love cheap eats more than fancy restaurants. However, this is a restaurant I would splurge for. Standard rating: 1: would never go back: bad food plus bad service 2: will not go back; food not good, service average to good 3: everything is average 4: would likely go back; lacked critical piece to make it worthy of 5 stars; OR great food and service but way overpriced 5: outstanding food and outstanding service OR outstanding food at outstanding price with average service read more

Theodore Rex - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

My husband and I have been wanting to try this place for a while so with our anniversary coming up I made a reservation well in advance. An amazing culinary experience. We did 5 dishes and a dessert. The menu changes but I still am adding photos for reference. Our favorite was the butter cake. My husband doesn't usually eat dessert but he loved it! It is a small intimate venue with only 6 tables inside. Wait staff is phenomenal. If you haven't been, make a reservation. Chef Justin Yu is awesome! read more

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Fantastic experience all around! Spring 2021 menu has many new items. Complex and inventive food, wonderful service and a nice wine list for pairing. Been trying to dine here for quite some time and the stars finally aligned! Suggest ordering many dishes and sharing. A top option in Houston for really great food!! Here is my ranking: Appies Crepe Sausage Dumplings Pickled tomatoes Entree Chicken breast and chicken leg equally awesome Dessert Buttecake Panda cotta Sunchoke ice cream read more

A great dining experience. Fantastic wine list! We started with the mung bean crepe, which was fantastic. Light and airy, but packed with a complexity of flavor. Tagliolini and boiled dumplings followed. The tagliolini was fantastic. Thin layers of perfectly prepared pasta. The boiled dumplings weren't my favorite, but were good. I thought the sauce could have been a bit more flavorful. Next we had the chicken in coconut and the greens. Eaten separately I wasn't in love, but when eaten together it exploded with the right balance of flavors and acidity. The butter cake was a super star and the sun choke ice cream was a close second. Great service and a super friendly staff. Bravo to this chic little spot. read more

Great place, we found this place by mistake, what a pleasant surprise I'm glad they could fit us in without reservation, we will definitely come back read more