What a wonderful dining experience! The food was delicioso and the ambiance was fantastic. Great service. Definitely coming back. read more

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Zaranda has been on my radar and I finally got a chance to try the restaurant! Complimentary valet on Sundays! Super chic & trendy place. Excellent service. Ordered Infamous (hibiscus-infused Amaras mezcal); strong & not too sweet Enjoyed both the roasted and raw oysters (half dozen each)! Mariscos (clams, mussels, shrimp) was delicious & savory! Picanha was also solid, along with sides of carrots. Tostada de tiradito (hamachi) was unique! Ended the evening with a carajillo norteño (sweet/smooth drink) & complimentary bday dessert (mango/coconut cream)! Can't wait to dine here again next time. read more

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Ok. Let's jump right into the food! The Caesar table side is a darn good salad! We got the smaller portion but it was so good I wish we had shared the larger portion but then I wouldn't have been able to finish my entree. Dilemma! The bread was super good. Came with an olive oil/herbed butter. Yum. Be careful, you might eat too much! Drinks were delightful. Got a margarita, La Paresa. It was light & fresh. A nice refreshing margarita. Service was wonderful. Our server was personable & attentive. The overall vibe was great, really upbeat, lively yet chill if that makes sense. I wasn't that hungry so my dining mate & I decided to share the rice dish, Pato y Conejo (duck & rabbit). Side note: The branzino was the catch of the day which they said was a whole 2lb fish, butterflied for $110. I really wanted that but knew I wasn't hungry enough. So the rice (paella) was pretty good. Not outstanding. I absolutely had to add both salt & pepper but once I did it was pretty good. Without the salt & pepper, I would say it was lacking sufficient flavor. The dish came with duck & rabbit. The rabbit was way more flavorful than the duck. It was truly the duck that needed the additional seasoning. Overall it was a nice experience. I would visit again & I do recommend it especially when you are in the downtown/convention center area where it's a convenient, short walk. read more

Zaranda was the perfect elevated place for lunch to celebrate my first Mother's Day with the family! They had a preset 3-course menu for Mother's Day at $59/person. First came out the muffins to share amongst the table. My favorite was the chocolate. It was moist and perfectly sweet. Next I opted for the tuna tacos which had large, fresh pieces of tuna. It was delicious, but I loved the lamb empanadas a tad more. They were warm and comforting. For my entree, I got the avocado toast. Sounds boring, but I loved how fresh it was, the kick that the sambal provided, and how the crusty bread was still soft. I also tried the French toast, and it was honestly one of the best I've had at a restaurant. For dessert, I got the coconut cake. It was perfectly sweet and I liked the citrus touch of the yuzu. I washed everything down with a white sangria. It was perfectly tart and not too strong. My husband got the Dragon in a Glass mocktail. It was vibrant purple, refreshing, and a beautiful drink altogether. Service was excellent and our waiter was very attentive. The restaurant is a beautiful place and although they were busy for Mother's Day, our table still had enough room to put my baby's stroller at the end of the table. They're located next to Discovery Green and had free valet which was great. I'd come back to try their happy hour (Mon-Fri 4-6pm). read more

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I had a fantastic time during a large work dinner at Zaranda. Upon hearing it was under the Hugo/Xochi umbrella, I came with very high expectations. On a rainy Tuesday evening, the place was so lively and bubbly with almost every table filled! We ordered a variety of starters including empanadas, ceviche, and guacamoles. All were fantastic. For mains, I ordered the picanha with a side of shrimp and carrots. The steak was absolutely phenomenal and I would also highly recommend the carrots. Our table ended with a variety of desserts and we had such a fun time admiring the beautiful presentations. The pastel de datiles (warm date cake with candied pecans) was my favorite while the solar de arena was served in such a creative way. Noting this was for a large 15 person table, the service was above and beyond. I'd really like to come again (with less people haha!) to experience more of the menu in an intimate setting. read more

Zaranda - PICANHA - amazing - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Hugo's newest concept did not disappoint! What a wonderful experience and a restaurant we will keep on our list to frequent. We were fortunate to dine on the night before the Houston freeze so the crowd was light and service was amazing. Their menu was fun, although a little overwhelming as I would have liked to have tried everything. The wine menu was not as deep as I had hoped and built around their Alta California/Mexico theme. Nonetheless, found a beautiful Mexican cab. Enjoyed the table side Caesar salad presentation and the flavors of our appetizers and entrees were amazing. Highly recommend read more

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Came for lunch service at a new Hugo spot. Located on the first floor of a building next to Discovery Green. Very modern and nicely decorated interior. The food ranges from average (beef taco) to great (octopus taco). Some of the flavor profiles were very creative and tasty. Good add to the downtown scene! read more

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I Visited Zaranda for a team lunch and overall, it was a really great experience. First things first--the interior. Absolutely stunning. It gave luxury beach club meets island resort vibes. The space was beautifully designed, and the attention to detail? Chef's kiss. You can tell intention went into every corner of the restaurant. For my entrée, I ordered the Pollo Rostizado. It was decent--I've definitely had better chicken before, but it was okay for what it was. I personally would've loved a bit more seasoning and moisture, as it leaned slightly on the dry side. As a group, we shared appetizers, including the Ensalada Caesar and the Empanadas de Borrego--and listen... if you've been following my reviews, you already know I'm a Caesar salad girl (honestly, salads in general). This Caesar, though not traditional, was one of the best I've had in a long time. Truly impressive. The empanadas were also delicious. Between the salad and the empanadas, I could've easily been full without even touching my entrée. For drinks, I had the School of Fish, which was super cute and perfectly on brand for the restaurant. It included chia seeds, blue curaçao, and tequila. I was a little skeptical about chia seeds in a cocktail, but it worked--and it was definitely strong in the best way. Overall, I highly recommend Zaranda. Whether you're local or visiting from anywhere in the world, this spot is absolutely worth experiencing. Beautiful atmosphere, solid food, and a vibe that makes you want to stay a little longer read more

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The vibes?! 10/10. The architecture and inside of this restaurant is STUNNING! The service? Also 10/10! Super nice server and very attentive. The food?! 10/10 as well! Overall an amazing experience at zaranda. We had a group of 7 and all of us enjoyed the food. The roasted oysters were absolutely delicious. The steak was amazing with the fries being perfectly crispy outside but very fluffy inside. Great lemon aioli to dip! Delicious. read more

Zaranda - Roasted oysters - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Going to give Zaranda 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Took my daughter and son in law there for their 11th wedding anniversary. The space is beautiful and we were seated upstairs with a great view of Discovery Green!! Our server was great and friendly and had excellent knowledge of the menu. We started out with the roasted oysters which were good, but not great like the ones we have had at Caracol. One of the best dishes we had was the Aquachile Negro - A very tasty shrimp based crudo accented with cucumbers and avocado. The Negro sauce was outstanding. We also enjoyed the Tuna taquitos which were like mini tuna tacos. Flavorful and fun to eat. The tableside preparation of the Caesar Salad was fun, but the dressing wasn't as punchy as we would like, so minor points off. The table shared three entrees - A seafood Paella like dish called Mariscos on the menu which was excellent and fun. The second entree was the Pulpo - This dish was disappointing to the table. Kind of one note and not as texturally pleasing as some of the better octopus dishes we've had. I know most of the yelp reviews rave on this dish, but we will likely give the whole fish a try next time. The third entree was the ribeye that I thought was very flavorful and maybe my favorite of the three entrees, but the rest of the table wasn't as enamored with it as I was. The brussel sprouts side we had was not memorable. Desserts were excellent as they are at all Hugo's restaurants. Bottom line an excellent experience and one that will have us coming back again to try other menu items. read more

I came here for a birthday dinner and overall had a really nice experience. The restaurant had only opened recently, and the inside is super elegant without feeling stuffy. The service was really good, and our food came out pretty quickly. We ordered a few items to share Taco de cangrejo suave (soft shell crab taco): Pretty good as a taco. Seeing the entire crab on top was shocking at first, but it tasted amazing. Taco de gobernador (shrimp taco): Unexpectedly spicy, but the flavors were really well done. Borrego tatemado (braised lamb shank): Just alright. The lamb itself was fine, but everything was kind of drowned in black beans, which overpowered it a bit. Zanahorias tatemadas (roasted carrots): Easily the best thing we ordered - cooked and seasoned beautifully. Tostada de langosta (lobster tostada): Really solid, and the garnishes complemented the lobster really well. Erizo del mar (chocolate "sea urchin" dessert): Super unique and surprisingly really good. A great new restaurant in downtown Houston, and I love the chef's vision with his food. read more

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While I was working in the area, lunch time snuck up on me. As with most Houston weather it was pouring and I noticed a restaurant directly next to where I was. Not wanting to drive in the rain, we decided to check this place out. I have driven by this restaurant so many times and if you blink you will miss it. When we walked in out of the monsoon I immediately noticed that this place seemed very upscale and unique. We were greeted as soon as we entered and were seated just as quickly. Our server came and greeted us as well and told us about the "Business Man's " lunch special. You can get an appetizer (soup or salad), an entree and dessert for 29 dollars from their select menu. I decided to go with the special. Our server recommended the Picanha steak and fries, so I got that with the soup. My co worker ordered the fish tacos. Now let me just say there was no sign outside that I noticed but man was there lots of flavor in the food that I did notice. The steak was cooked perfectly and seasoned just right. I am glad for once for the nasty weather, because I wouldn't have found this place otherwise. I will definitely be back as you can tell from my review. Truly a Hidden Gem. read more

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Best meal I've had in a while. I tried multiple dishes, all were good. The 10/10 ones for me were the empanadas, tuna crudo tostada, lobster tostada, and the butterflied snapper. I can't wait to go back. Staff were super friendly, helpful in explaining menu and making suggestions. Our server Manuel was amazing! It's also very cute inside. read more

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This might be our new favorite restaurant by Hugo! The inside decor is absolutely gorgeous. Love the small couches. It is a very big restaurant. Service was exceptional although a little late to start. We went for the Valentines Menu which was a great deal and a good selection. The taco de para was very delicious. The pescado was amazing. Loved every bite. I loved their cocktails as well. I wish the steak came with a side dish but my hid was able to have some things that came with my fish. The dessert was one of the best we have had. Very unique and well conceived. We will return! read more

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Great food, drinks and location. Have to try the Dragon in the Grass mocktail, it is amazing! read more

Zaranda - Dragon in the Grass mocktail. - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Wow, this is a fantastic addition to the group that brought us Hugo's, Urbe, Xochi, and Caracol. We made reservations for a Friday night, but the restaurant was honestly pretty empty when we got there. Might just be because it is so new. It's located in the heart of downtown, so parking is not easy - they have a $11 valet, which is probably the easiest. Watch out if you come here when there are events going on at the Toyota Center (just a block or two away) - we left as a Rockets game ended, and it was pretty hectic leaving the area. The space itself is huge - lots of tables on the first floor, and it looked like it had a whole separate space on the second floor. They also have a decent number of tables on the patio. Service was friendly and quick. We got several plates to share and they were all fantastic! Tuna crudo taquitos - 5/5 so delicious! Asian style, ginger forward, good amount of spice to it as well. So yummy! Lamb empanadas - 5/5 - very yummy! They were soft and cheesy. Lamb was tasty. Pro-tip - if you're a fan of spice, ask for their habanero salsa - it was perfect with it! Lobster tostada - 4/5 - lobster was cooked really well, lots of interesting ingredients are combined and they all work pretty well together. Octopus - 5/5 - this is a huge portion of octopus! It's cooked so perfectly - cooked over fire, so it's nice and crispy. It's seasoned well, and comes with different types of salsa, tortilla, and a salad. "Sea urchin" chocolate dessert - 3/5 - this is the dessert they recommend, and it's gorgeous to look at! The chocolate shell is filled with so many different ingredients - maybe too many. Most prominent flavor is probably passion fruit. It was okay, but didn't all seem to work together. Overall, we're a huge fan of the restaurant! We definitely want to come back again for brunch, and try some of the other dinner items. Great addition to the downtown food scene! read more

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My sister and I had an amazing dinner here. Everything was great from start to finish!! We did family style and shared the taco de pato, pulpo, arroces mariscos, and the tostada de langosta. The taco de pato was super flavorful with the compressed confit duck, duck skin chicharron, and date mole. It was so good, we ordered another one! The pulpo was so tender and served with fresh tortillas. The arroces was amazing with all the fresh seafood. Highly recommend. The tostada de langosta is another MUST. The lobster worked so well with the beans, corn, Serrano, avocado and potato crown. Also an explosion of flavors. My biggest complaint is the parking. Valet is $11 which they add onto your tab. Parking in downtown Houston is a nightmare so it's really your only option. The service was fantastic and the restaurant is beautifully decorated. read more

Service and hospitality was great. Our waitress was very attentive to our needs and frequently came on check on us. My problem was just the actual food. Was there with friends and none of our 3 dishes had flavor, very bland and the grilled octopus tasted like it was overcooked. The drinks were not anything to get a second round for. I'm not a picky guy but I think in the way they prepare this food needs to be evaluated is all. Other than that, it's a nice restaurants with a soft comforting atmosphere read more

Brussel sprouts were excellent, delicious, sweet, and worth trying. The taco de gobernador was very unique with its banana pepper stuffed with shrimp in a cheese corn taco, but I did not particularly like the taste or the price of $12 per Taco. Taco. The service was very good, to-go order was ready within 10 minutes, staff were very kind and ambiance was intimate and upscale. read more

Zaranda - Brussel sprouts - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Hmmm...not bad not great, ambiance is very chill and the tequila selection is bar none. I would come back but not rush back. Happy hour maybe? read more

Zaranda - CHILAQUILES - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Had a wonderful dinner at Zaranda. Every dish we had was delicious. Service was great. We had a table by the glass window so it was a nice view of the street and the Christmas decor/lights. Valet parking available for $11 (note: added to dinner bill). read more

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Zaranda exceeded my expectations. The staff and food were exceptional. Located right across the street from discovery green with easy access, but also limited parking options. The restaurant is decorated beautifully. We started with cocktails and appetizers all 10/10. For our main we opted for the fish of the day and the seafood rice, which were both flavorful but could have used a bit more salt. All in all I enjoyed my dinner and will return! read more

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This place is in a great location in Houston. Both inside and outside provide a nice vibe. Service is pretty solid and the drinks and food are worth the visit. The vegetable plate comes in a table service kettle and it's amazing! read more

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Zaranda was good, though not my favorite Hugo Ortega restaurant--I'd prefer to go to Xochi. They just opened about a month ago, so they are still working out the service kinks. The food is seafood-focused, with a Mexican-Baja California vibe. As an appetizer, our group split a couple of octopus tacos--while they were yummy, I frankly couldn't taste the octopus with all of the other flavors in the taco. But we did try the octopus itself as an entree (plenty big enough for 2-3 people to split), and it was very good and well cooked. The duck taco we split as an appetizer was my favorite item we tried--so good! One suggestion I'd make is to simplify the menu, particularly the dessert menu--there were lots of very detailed descriptions, particularly on the dessert menu, that were a little overwhelming. read more

What an amazing new restaurant. Was here with several of my work colleagues and everyone ordered something different. The flavors, the presentation, the atmosphere and the service were superb! Huge portions for all the dishes. I tried 2 different paellas and they were so savory. Fantastic variety on the menu and the dishes were so colorful and unique! Definitely stop by, especially if staying around the area for a conference! read more

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Anniversary dinner here with the work wives. Go ahead and valet, the lot across the street was 30$. Hell nah. Zaranda is gorgeous, no surprise coming from this group. Had my first chef Hugo sighting while being escorted to our table. Service was nice- she was very knowledgeable, honest and more importantly: correct with her recs. The price point is up there. The food is better than ok but not astounding. Yet? Maybe? I have more to try for sure. For now, I'd def say go ahead and pop in. Two word review: happy hour. I was late but the hh menu was extensive! Always nice, right? read more

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Cute and cozy atmosphere. The service was really good. The waitress Kelly was really helpful with narrowing down our selections. They ran out of duck tacos so that made me sad. The shrimp tacos, octopus tostaditas and tuna crude were all really good. The shrimp aguachile needed a bit of salt. The acid overpowered any other flavor in the dish. The lobster tostada was mostly potato and only 2 pieces of lobster. The roasted oysters were not hot, but flavor was good. Drinks were tasty and they have a good happy hour menu. It's in a busy area downtown so valet parking is helpful. (Not complimentary). read more

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Zaranda is such a beautiful new spot near Discovery Green! I parked at work and walked over, but noticed they even have valet which is super convenient since downtown parking typically can be difficult. The decor inside is absolutely stunning, modern yet warm, and you can tell a lot of thought went into the design. They're currently only open for dinner, but happy hour and lunch are coming soon so can't wait for that! There's a gorgeous upstairs area perfect for hosting big parties, plus a smaller private room that fits around 30 people for events. We sat at the bar and started with the Infamous and a G&T, both excellent. The staff were so welcoming and even brought us complimentary drinks for the second round, we tried the Coco Rosado and Holy Water (not even on the menu yet!) and both were fantastic. They also surprised us with a sample of their tuna crudo, and it was absolutely delicious. Everything about Zaranda, from the vibe to the drinks to the service, was top-notch. Can't wait to come back and explore the full dinner menu! read more

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Super impressed with the food and prices. Everything we had was fantastic. Service was ok as it was a very busy night. I def recommend everyone to try this spot. Such a beautiful restaurant in downtown. Downtown needed this restaurant. read more

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Gorgeous restaurant. We opted for the Ceasar salad because it's made right infant of us along with a great history/background. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about drink pairings.with different foods. We shared the seafood paella which was STELLAR! We also got the carrots and the potatoes. The food definitely did not disappoint. read more

With a new Hugo's restaurant open in Houston, we had to try it. With all of his current restaurants being amazing, my expectations were high. We decided to celebrate my birthday here. Just to get some of the negative out the way... we put allergies and birthday on the reservation. None of these were brought up. I attribute this to the hostess not doing a good job and management not staying on top of the hostess checking for things like this. What's the point of Zarandas asking about birthdays and allergies when making reservations when they do absolutely nothing about it. Also, during the dining experience we had a roach crawling on the table. I'm a fair reviewer, so I understand there are roaches in downtown Houston and occasionally lazy hostess. Anyways, on the positive. Overall the design of the restaurant is modern and unique. This is true of all Hugo's restaurants. It's upscale and presents a more formal vibe. The picanha steak was one of the best steaks I've had. It's similar to the main steak at many Brazilian steakhouse, but better! They put a nice sear on it and some extremely tasty butter. The lamb dish was a unique take on barbacoa. It was presented on a bed of black beans and accompanied with some vibrant green peas. Tortillas came with the lamb dish, but only two. We ordered more tortillas and unfortunately they charge $1 per tortillas. Honestly, kind of ridiculous considering how cheap tortillas are. Just some advice to management, give at least 3 tortillas! Come on, two tortillas for a massive upscale dish? Anyway, at least it was very tasty! Please let the chef know I give him two thumbs up. What really surprised me, is how good the Brussels sprouts were. This is true with other Hugo's restaurants too. Their sides are massive and a good deal considering the portion. Dessert was small, kind of expensive, but elegantly crafter, and an experience worthwhile. Service was decent. Better than average, but maybe a bit more of the servers presents would be appreciated. Overall, I recommend this restaurant highly. If you love good food, try it out. Get you some side items and one of the dishes I discussed and have a great time. It's a memory you won't forget. read more

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Pulpo!! Huge serving. Have a good happy hour menu too until 6pm, super ambient inside read more

Zaranda - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

We love seafood and Zaranda is a gem for us. Great vide, good food and a welcoming atmosphere. The dishes are flavorful, well-seasoned, and made with quality ingredients, and the portions are just right. Service is friendly and attentive, making the whole experience enjoyable. Definitely a place worth revisiting. read more

Zaranda - PESCADO whole butterflied catch of the day MKT Branzino ZANAHORIAS TATEMADAS TACOS DE NADA - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The place is amazing and beautiful. They've thought of it all and pay close attention to the details. Management is engaged and is on top of the client experience. Highly recommend. read more

Walk-in party of 2 at 7:30pm. We'd just come from Hearsay down the street which was legitimately packed, every table full, and they quoted us a 20-minute wait. Totally fair. We decided to try this place instead since it looked empty from the street. Counted 20+ open tables inside. Hostess quoted us 45 minutes. We opted to dine at the bar, and by the time we left at 9pm only one of those tables had filled. The food was genuinely good with some creative offerings, but I can't overlook that kind of shady front-of-house practice. Hearsay earned that 20-minute wait. This place didn't earn the 45. Won't be back. read more

Been twice now. Service and food are both outstanding. The shrimp entree is our favorite, close second in the clam dip. The cocktails are also creative and delicious. Hope to go a few more times before more people realize it exists. read more

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This place is perfect for family gatherings. The dishes are plentiful and the flavors are suitable for all ages. The service is also very friendly, making you feel as comfortable as if you were at home. read more

A wonderful, authentic, and beautiful restaurant. Great drinks, awesome service and atmosphere.

I already can't wait to go again! Located right by Discovery Green, Zaranda is the perfect spot for a seafood-lover like me, although the menu has plenty of options for all preferences. My favorite dishes were the Taco de Pato, Tostada de Tiradito, and Arroz de Mariscos. They also have an extensive wine and cocktail list - I loved the Zaranda Rita, which is made with hibiscus. On top of that, the interior is gorgeous and our server, Manuel, made sure we were well taken care of.   Overall, the food, drinks, ambiance, and service were all 10/10. I would highly recommend visiting Zaranda, both for groups or for a date night downtown. read more

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My wife and I visited for opening day. The food, service, ambiance was superb. Very happy to have Zaranda, just a block away from my second home. My wi read more

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