Since our first visit to Baso, have been eager to return so we went for our anniversary dinner yesterday evening. Waited too late to book reservation so got bar seating but it was just fine and service was great. Upon arriving we were so nicely greeted by the hostess, felt very welcome. Our cocktails were very good--and Old Fashioned and a "Crime!". For a starter we had the aka obi, then the endive salad (best I've had!) and for entrees we shared the shrimp and the whole striped bass which is butterflied. For dessert we got the Basque Cheesecake and it was heavenly. Baso has quickly become my favorite high-end restaurant in the Heights. The portions are nice and the flavors are outstanding. We left beyond satisfied and looking forward to our next foodie adventure at Baso. read more

This is honestly some of the best cooking in Houston right now, although with a price point that makes it a bit out-of-reach for a regular occurrence. This is a bit of a dated review, but we came here for a Valentine's dinner as a special occasion. We got seats at the bar counter behind the fire (which to me was the best seat in the house) so we could be close to the action. One thing you'll notice is that the place is quite loud, I think which owes to the low ceilings (so don't expect like a quiet and romantic vibe). The meal started out great with the bread and butter - bread was sourced from Magnol, which was a huge green flag to start. The oysters were extremely fresh and absolutely delicious. We also had a dish with tuna over crispy rice which was my fiancee's favorite of the night. My personal favorite was the salad (I know that is crazy to say at a restaurant that specializes in live fire cooking) - but the way they zested all different types of citrus/lemons, peppers, chiles, and the way the herbs they put into it, created what was one of the most memorable salads I have ever had. All in all the food was excellent. Service was great (the night we were there, Max Lappe was there sending out food to customers himself). I do kind of wish the atmosphere was a little more quiet. With that said, expect to spend around $200pp (we did share a bottle of wine though). read more

See all

Getting a reservation last minute was tricky but doable. We were greeted by amazing staff, the waiters were super friendly and helpful. I would like to preface, this isn't a cheap quick dinner restaurant but I highly recommend coming at least once. We found it on the Michelin guide. I love the inside of the restaurant, the layout is fun and intimate. *grilled oysters were good. The flavor from the n'duja with the bits of pecan was something I would never think to pair. Great start! * elk tartare was surprisingly amazing. I always find tartare to be a tough dish to make outstanding and with elk I was hesitant to try but happy we tried it. The plate was cleaned by the time we finished. The cracker was light and paired well with it. * maitake mushrooms were so good that we had to split it evenly so no one got an unfair amount lol The sauce is like a coffee/caramel/chocolately savory sauce. Mt description doesn't do it justice. It's umami but has a caramelized feel. Just get it! * pork chop was the best pork chop we've had. We typically order steak over pork chops at restaurants but heard great things. Tender and flavorful. I will say it's a very rich dish so be mindful of that but highly recommended * grits, this was the dark horse. It was our favorite tapa. We laugh bc we didn't think grits would be the fav, out of all the amazing dishes. But the beef cheek underneath the silky grits... YUM! I'll be craving them *basque cheesecake was good but not the best we've had. But it's also hard to compete with all the other dishes we had read more

See all

The elk tartare was really delicious and unique. The pork chop was good, but it wasn't anything special--I was expecting more since it's one of the dishes everyone raves about. The maitake mushroom, peach, and quail were all pretty underwhelming. The atmosphere was nice, and the staff was very friendly, but overall I don't think it was worth the price. The menu is also fairly limited, with most dishes being just the meat or vegetable on its own. I wish they had more side dishes or shareable options so the meal felt more balanced instead of just eating meat and entrées the whole time. read more

See all

This spot is easy to miss if you're not looking for it. I came across it while searching for French restaurants in Houston and made a reservation for my dad's birthday on a weekday night. They started us off with a complimentary champagne toast, which was a nice touch. When we walked in, there was a strong smell (kind of like a stinky cheese) that was a bit off-putting at first. Our waiter did a great job walking us through the menu in detail, which we appreciated. We ordered the pepper toast, shrimp, endive salad, and ribeye. The pepper toast was good- very Caribbean-forward in flavor, but for what it was (essentially toast with greens), $26 felt steep. The shrimp, on the other hand, felt fairly priced. They were whole pieces, fried with a great crunch, and had a really unique flavor. The endive salad worked well as a cold side. Just a heads up...the horseradish is no joke. It looks light and creamy, but don't take a big bite thinking it's mild... it'll hit you. The ribeye was easily the star of the table. Perfectly cooked, great char, and big enough to share. Overall, a solid experience, but some items felt a bit overpriced for what you get. read more

Okay. Let me say this: I wish Yelp had six stars because this place was PHENOMENAL. Absolute home run. I'm pretty sure angels were singing. Where do I begin? We wandered into this small (40 seat), unassuming restaurant, nestled in between some other businesses in a small strip mall. Nicely decorated, good lighting, quiet, tables full of people - they had room for us at the little walk up bar in the foyer. So we took it. Boy were we glad. Craig introduced himself to us and told us a little about the place and presented us with a drinks menu and water and proceeded to make various recommendations - for drinks, for apps, for mains - this guy was an encyclopedia - except he was engaging and made you feel right at home. Two drinks to recommend: Martini de Baso and Goose Juice. Delish. For apps we had grilled and raw oysters - the grilled were unlike any I've had before and I could have eaten a bowl of whatever they seasoned them with. Pecans were part of the mix and they just WORKED. Then came the mains: Quail with apple and beef fat, Elk with yuzu, sunflower seed and smoked heart - Who thinks of these combinations? It was wonderful. Pepper Toast with apple, sorrel and white tamari - indescribably delicious. And the OKRA - with Gouda and liquore strega - Wow, just wow. That's on my the list for last meal on earth. Unbelievable. All in all - it was a wonderful meal, a kaleidoscope of flavors, just magnificent. Thank you, thank you, thank you. read more

See all

Baso deserves all the stars and then some. It's been a while since I tried a new restaurant and loved absolutely everything about it from the service to the ambience, the vibe and the food! First of all the service is top-notch! I'm talking Uchi level. The entire staff is well coordinated, plates replaced after each course, appropriate serving utensils brought during each course, very helpful, friendly, and attentive. For my birthday, not only did they bring my guests and I complementary champagne, but the menu even said happy birthday! Those little touches mean a lot. All the dishes are incredibly creative and flavorful. I have to say my favorites were the elk tartare, the aka ebi shrimp, the pepper toast and the ribeye was just out of this world cooked to perfection. Another amazing touch - they brought out an amuse-bouche of cheese and homemade bread which tasted like the Brazilian cheese rolls. Plus a homemade tea, which was delicious! Very special. I would go back in a heartbeat to try the other items on the menu. We also loved the Basque cheesecake for dessert. To top it off Shawn the Food Sheep was eating there as well so you know it has to be good! Kudos to the entire Baso team. I recommend it for a special occasion or just a night out and I can't wait to go back. read more

See all

Came here on a Wednesday night for a date night and a late anniversary celebration and we had such a great time! We'd been meaning to visit for a while and finally found the time (and a babysitter). It's a Basque inspired joint which I think is the only one in the city. We sat at the chef's counter with direct view of their open kitchen, which I highly recommend. It was fascinating watching the team work the fire and prepare each dish right in front of us. They started us off with complimentary bubbles and a menu that said "Happy Anniversary" - such a thoughtful touch! The ambiance is intimate yet lively; there were a few small groups dining as well. It can get a bit loud, but not in an overwhelming way. It was slightly chilly inside, even near the fire - my wife wished she'd brought a cardigan. Our server was wonderful and guided us through the menu with great recommendations. I ordered their take on a Paper Plane cocktail made with calamansi and it was excellent. We shared four dishes: the Endive, Grilled Oysters, Elk, and Pork Chop. Everything was delicious, but the Pork Chop really stood out (and it seemed to be a staff favorite too! Several people mentioned it!). Of course we had to end the night with their delicious basque cheesecake. Overall, we had a lovely evening and left full and happy. Definitely a place I can see us returning to! read more

See all

Easily a contender for the best meal in Houston. Service was excellent. Drinks were excellent. Food was absolutely incredible. We opted to sit at the counter where you can feel the heat from the flames and watch the food get prepared -- highly recommend. The entire experience was near flawless. Cannot wait to come back. read more

See all

Went to Baso to celebrate my Dad's birthday this past week. It's a small, unassuming restaurant that quite honestly, you'll drive straight past if you're not looking for it. When you get inside, it's a rather small restaurant with an open look to the fire they use to cook most of the meats. The server brought us glasses of champagne as a celebratory drink, so really appreciated that. After giving us a rundown of the menu, we ordered the most appealing items to us. They coursed it out nicely, which I appreciate. I will say, presentation of the food, plating, etc. was very nice. The food was solid too, but it was a little underwhelming for the price you pay, and for the expectations that were set for it being a Michelin award winner. read more

See all

Overall very mediocre for the exorbitant price they charge. We've driven past this place so many times and were finally excited to try it. We love elevated tapas style restaurants so we had to see what it was all about! Unfortunately, the food just didn't wow me at all. It was fine, but fine doesn't cut it for this price. Food: - Duck Liver: 6/10 I LOVE pate so this one was extra disappointing. They pureed it so much that it lost all texture and was like a butter. If that was the only thing off, it would be fine. But the other flavors in there just didn't work for me. The sweetness and oiliness that they added were too overpowering that I could hardly taste the liver itself. The bread was great though. - Elk Tartare: 10/10 I'm not the biggest fan of tartare but this was the best tartare I've ever had and the best dish of the night! The sunflower cracker was amazing; it gave a nice toasty nutty flavor that contrasted with the yuzu underneath. I love all the different textures going on in this dish, which is why I like it better than other tartares which tend to be only chewy/slimy/wet. - Maitake: 8/10 Cooked really nicely. Perfectly crisp and flaky. Just a little too sour for me. - Okra: 7/10 The Gouda sauce was interesting but the okra itself was nothing special. It was nicely roasted and charred. - Pork chop: 6/10 As the main dish of the night, this was quite disappointing. No interesting flavors whatsoever. You can't really taste the chamomile dusting unless you lick it directly. The jowl that they spread on top didn't taste like anything distinct. In fact, I didn't like the texture of it because it was crunchy in a way that felt like I was crunching through little bits of tiny bone... - Basque cheesecake: 9/10 The dessert rounded out the evening nicely. Solid cheesecake. No complaints. Service: Honestly too "attentive" to the point that it was annoying and disruptive. They would interrupt us every 10 minutes it felt like. And the food came out pretty slowly. read more

So on our second time at BASO HTX we found the service, food and ambiance to be top notch again and we're so happy to celebrate our 25th anniversary here with our youngest son. Thanks for the cava to help us celebrate! As always the place has a very cool vibe. Intimate but not crowded even though it was full. It's always nice how the dark interior does a great job drawing your eye to the direct flame cooking happening in the kitchen. Overall the service was great. All the folks were welcoming and well informed about the dishes. Most of us who love good food but aren't in the industry will need a gourmet Sherpa like these servers. Food was such an adventure last night. I decide we'd Trust the Chef since it was also Father's Day. A choice you make for the table and he'll take you through a culinary journey. In this case it was 10 plates for the three of us. Lots of different flavors. The CORNBREAD, PEPPER TOAST AND PORK CHOP. By far was our favs. The caution is this, being a highly creative place you can pay a fair chunk of money for dishes you don't like. Maybe people Trust the Chef often and he is just too busy but it would be nice if he had come to table and talked a bit about what kind of things we liked and didn't like on the menu. At the least come by after to see what we thought. Additions to the trust the chef we ordered two drinks and a basque cheesecake. Overall bill was around $600 after tax. So as bit of buyers remorse around an otherwise great experience. read more

See all

We came to celebrate my sister's birthday and it was a great experience. All the servers were super friendly and very helpful and super attentive to everything. I felt like I did not have to lift a finger for my water once. I loved how they described each food item and not all food was great and that has nothing to do with the chefs but more so my taste preference. for example, the endives were definitely not what I expected-more on the bitter side rather than sweet but again I did not know what I was expecting! Dessert was so good I didn't even get to take a pic! Beautiful chill spot that is great for date night or birthday dinner. read more

See all

Ribeye, Elk tartare, oysters are all eye watering delicious. Service was impeccable. We celebrated a birthday and they took extra steps to make it special. One person had Celiac with our party and they were easily able to accommodate gluten free, in fact all dishes but two on the menu were naturally gluten free. A must visit. read more

See all

Food taste and service was wonderful but don't go here in an empty stomach! Started with oysters - were the smallest we had ever seen. The quail was a single bird cut into 4, a single soft shell crane cut in half ... you get the picture. That said, the flavors were unique and creative, plating and presentation beautiful and service was attentive. 3 stars for leaving hungry after paying hundreds of dollars for several small plates, no alcohol and a single dessert. read more

Phenomenal. Loved our date night at Baso. Walking in the vibe is - open kitchen and wood fire, cozy, cool, modern, a little undone on the edges. The service was also impeccable - we thoroughly enjoyed Alexis and the entire team's care and attentiveness throughout the meal. Now the food. We've been to Spain many times, we have family there. The Basque region is one our favorites - I dream of San Sebastián night outs with food and drink regularly! Baso DID NOT DISAPPOINT! I loved the creative dishes that in some way still tasted simple and not overdone. Highly recommend the tasting menu! For two, we had so many incredible dishes on the menu. Our top favorites were: Grilled oysters Amberjack Pepper toast Okra Ribeye - must have! We never get steak out because my husband cooks a mean steak at home, but we're so glad we did! It was one of the best we've had out. Will be back for sure! read more

Baso - Menu 10/17/25 - Spanish Near Me - Houston, Texas

Small intimate place with some impressive food. My favorites were the grilled oysters, bluefin tuna, cornbread, and the shrimp. For the main, we got the ribeye steak, which was spectacular. For dessert, do not pass on the basque cheesecake and blueberry ice cream. We loved pretty much everything we ordered. For cocktails, I highly recommend the blond redhead. The service was also top notch. When we ordered the basque cheesecake, our waiter mentioned it was the last piece and ran off to put in the order to make sure we got it and then came back to get the rest of our order, which we really appreciated as the cheesecake was amazing. Parking is also easy as there is a sizable lot next to the restaurant, which is rather rare in the heights. read more

See all

Basque traditionally relies on local foods with an emphasis on grilled and raw with simple ingredients to allow unique strong flavors to have the spotlight rather than muddled in complexity, so expect most things to have a smoky note and to be fresh. Raw oysters in watermelon molasses. The elk tartare was shockingly vibrant with citrusy yuzu and ashy heart shavings strewn about with a sesame crisp blanket to pair it together without overwhelming its true simplicity. Plus having the bragging rights and iconic memory of having eaten raw elk & heart, cmon that'll stick. I still can't get over the okra though, it was ridiculously good smoky and charred, i feel kind of deprived having never experienced this until now. The mushrooms same, though I can't ever say I've had bad shrooms in a Michelin or James bearded restaurant or I'd be trippin. The charred cheesecake was unbelievable especially sipping on a sherry and inhaling the aroma of smoke and my French press coffee nearby dreaming the spectacle of world renowned chefs sweating the hearth in front of me on a special anniversary/birthday superstack. I love how it was authentic to basque style while still being local to our area in all the foods, brilliant. What an experience. read more

See all

Fantastic meal- enjoyed every aspect, flawless presentation without being pretentious. Spendy but worth it- we had the okra, king trumpet mushroom, pepper toast, and rainbow trout. Can't wait to go back for another round! read more

Baso has the best basque cheesecake in town. By my opinion. It's got a more salty cheese kick to it...and I love it. Bit pricey on the small plates; the pork chop has been something I've enjoyed. Also the bread was delicious...and I could probably do 2 orders of that. I don't think I quite get their drink profile, and I like to think I'm adventurous. But I'm still sold on the dessert so I'll be back!! read more

Baso - Basque cheesecake - Spanish Near Me - Houston, Texas

We went to Baso on a Friday evening when it was storming outside, and it turned into one of the most memorable meals I've had in Houston. We had a reservation for the chef's counter and, despite arriving on time, had to wait a few minutes while they cleaned our seats. No complaints--they welcomed us to the bar and treated us to complimentary sparkling white wine while we waited. Classy start. Once seated, we were up close to the action with a front-row view of the live-fire hearth. The vibe inside is dark and moody. Service was on point all night long: friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. They swapped out our plates and utensils after every course without missing a beat. [COCKTAILS] +La Santa ($20) - Ilegal Mezcal Caribbean Cask, blood orange, oleo, and egg white - Smoky mezcal, but mellowed perfectly with citrus and the frothy smoothness of the egg white. Easy to sip, beautifully balanced. - 4.5/5 [ZERO PROOF] +Rani Loca ($10) - lemon cucumber, yuzu, and mint - Tasted like a medicinal supplement. Not for me. - 2/5 +Jamaica ($10) - hibiscus spritz - Tasted like cranberry juice with mint. Just okay. - 3/5 [OYSTERS] Raw ($24 for 6) - Guava vinegar - Small PEI oysters, but full of flavor. The guava vinegar was unexpected and instantly noticeable--in a great way. - 4.5/5 [MENU] Cornbread ($20) - Baked to order - Unreal. One of the best cornbread I've ever had. They provide two toppings--one that's like applesauce, and one that's like crunchy butter. The crunchy butter was my favorite of the two. - 5/5 +Bluefin ($26) - preserved chili and carolina gold rice - Incredible. The crispy rice is next level. A hint of lemon and spice brought it all together--possibly fire-cooked? Whatever the method, it's a must-order. - 5/5 +Winter Cheese ($22) - grilled chicory and "caesar" - Way too bitter. Left most of it on the plate. Gross. - 1.5/5 +Filet Mignon ($70 for 7 oz) - burnt onion bone sauce - Tender and well-seasoned. The sauce was flavorful and the meat was beautifully cooked. Wish it had a slightly crispier crust to take it to the next level, but still excellent and deserves all praise. - 5/5 [DESSERT] Magnum Rocher ($16) - milk chocolate, hazelnut butter, and caramelized white chocolate - Rich and chocolate-heavy. I really wanted some ice cream to balance the texture and sweetness. Still enjoyable, but could be even better. - 3.5/5 Baso is not your average Houston restaurant. It's ambitious, thoughtful, and bold. From the warm hospitality to the live-fire cooking techniques and flavor combinations I've never experienced before, it's a restaurant that leaves a lasting impression. A must-visit for anyone who cares about good food, vibes, and creativity. read more

Baso flirts with greatness. that is all I wanted to say but Yelp insists on more words. Also the endive dish came close to triggering some kind is psychedelic flashback .. read more

The ambiance was dim, but welcoming! We arrived at ~7:30 for a reservation on a Tuesday, not super busy, and they were attentive upon arrival. We got wine by the glass to pair with the dinner. They asked us to order all of the food at once so they can time the serving of the food/bake to order. When we ordered they took away our table lighting to make room for the dinner... We laughed a little because it seemed like they were just leaving us in the dark, but it was fine! Everything was super yummy! The cinnamon sauce with the cornbread was different, but soo good. The oysters weren't overly dressed & the flavor was amazing! The shrimp & filet mignon were also both amazing.. too bad I was getting full. The overall experience was great, I will definitely be back again! read more

See all

Grilled oysters, cornbread, Wagyu steak 15 ounce ribeye, chicory (first time eating that plant is it supposed to be so bitter) which was dressed similar to a Caesar salad. But the best food we ate was the cheesecake. Literally my husband and I have had cheesecakes from all over the US and this was the best one we've ever eaten. Would go back for that alone. My husband also enjoyed his old fashion cocktail made with Mezcal. They are kid friendly (have high chairs) and the service was fantastic. read more

See all

Overrated. Service was good and the drinks were ok. The amberjack and the bread were good, but other flavors severely lacking.

I was really disappointed with my experience at Baso. When we arrived, there was no warm or friendly greeting, underwhelming ambiance tbh. Since it was our first time, we were hoping for a bit more guidance from our waiter but he wasn't very helpful. We chose "trust the chefs" selection, expecting it to feel like a curated or value-added experience, but there was no price advantage compared to ordering the same items individually from the menu. The bill was itemized accordingly to what they brought out from the menu, nothing special- oh no desert included btw! The biggest letdown was the $140 ribeye, which was so tough and underwhelming that I genuinely questioned whether it was actually a ribeye. I even had to double-check with the waiter because I was honestly shocked at how poor the steak quality was. It was like chewing a piece of rubber. Overall, the experience felt very overrated and didn't live up to the expectations or price point. read more

I recently visited Baso for my husband's birthday! Both the food and the service were pristine! No detail was overlooked. Each dish showcased a fun take on local Texas ingredients with. The flavor combinations were inventive, yet beautifully balanced, with pleasant surprises in every course. Overall, it was an exceptional experience and easily one of Houston's top spots for an intimate date night. read more

See all

Pretty hard to find, the least expected door in the area. Amazing caviar! Steak was not their strong suit! Good vibes and nice friendly staff https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAFE7fQpwSd/?igsh=NTJmYm9iaGVnajVv read more

See all

Great food and unique dishes! I do think the price point is a little too high for some of the items, particularly the mains. The starters were fantastic. Our favorite was the bluefin. The cocktails were also quite good! Highly recommend the carajillo. read more

See all

A great way to wrap up the year is in the presence of family and friends. That's what my gorgeous girlfriend Casey and I did Tuesday evening. The crew at Baso truly feels like our friends! Sarah (pictured) is not only a boss that keeps the place humming like a choir member who forgot the words to a new hymn, she always checks on us and we get to catch up from the last time we were there. Evan is their wonderful wine director. Evan's knowledge of wine is reminiscent of Magic Johnson's skills for the Showtime Lakers. She can build off of the direction you had in mind, giving you the no-look assist right in the spot you need it to score or she can take the shot herself and recommend the perfect wine for what you've ordered. And don't get me started on Chef Max being the bridge from the kitchen to the patrons ensuring all tastes, looks, and feels like the greatness that is Baso. Special shout out to Craig who makes a MEAN Salary Man that'll have you ordering multiple. We enjoyed last night with our phenomenal friends Rose and Chuck (they're also pictured) who are wild about this restaurant as well. When Chuck tried the Salary Man for the first time I knew he'd love it. I was right! And I'm also right in saying if you haven't been to Baso, fix that ASAP! Our favorite restaurant in the great food city of Houston. Food & drinks 5/5. Ambience 5/5. Staff/friends 5/5. read more

Baso - Spanish Near Me - Houston, Texas

See all

Best meal I've had all year! All the dishes were executed beautifully but there were some real stunners. The beets were shockingly good (converting my non-beet loving friend) and the Basque cheesecake was the best I've tried. Meats were aggressively seasoned and tender. Seafood nice and fresh. Atmosphere is cozy and dim, while the action goes on in the open kitchen. Friendly and knowledgeable service. Small shared parking lot. A little hard to find (I walked right by it). Pricey but worth it to me! read more

See all

A blissful experience from start to finish! We came for my partner's birthday after discovering Baso on the Michelin Guide, and it exceeded every expectation. The Scandinavian-meets-Spanish interiors, the open kitchen, and the intimate number of tables created the perfect ambiance. The food was a true performance--exquisite, layered flavors all in harmony. Not a single miss. We started with the amberjack (an absolute MUST) and the endive (scrumptious), followed by the elk (10/10), the pepper toast (a major standout), and the ribeye (our favorite dish of the night). We ended with the Basque cheesecake, which was pure perfection. I was told this is the best restaurant in Houston, and I couldn't agree more. A flawless experience in every way. read more

See all

Baso was a very lovely restaurant with a modern twist on a restaurant you would find in Spain. The concept was great, as was the service, and everything is cooked on an open fire, making it a very neat and enjoyable experience. However, the food was not worth the very expensive price tag in my opinion. Everything was heavily salted to the max, except for the oysters. We got very lucky as they'd taken the grilled oysters off the menu the day before we came and they made a special exception just for us, and they were incredible. However, everything else (the ribeye, the bread, and the cheesecake) was covered in gigantic rocks of salt. We had to brush the salt off of everything because that's how much was on it. The steak was delicious minus the heavy salting. The cheesecake tasted like straight Colby jack cheese; not a fan. I wouldn't NOT recommend people to come, however, I would give the discretion that it's extremely expensive and may not be for everyone. read more

See all

9 hours ago New Dine in | Dinner | $100+ Baso is a very special place. We've been there twice and each time it has been quite an experience. First time, we sat at the kitchen counter and met Chef Max and his team while they prepared a beautiful meal right there in the fire front of us: Impressive! Today, we went to celebrate our anniversary, and chose the "Trust the Chef" menu. OMG!!!!! From the precious starter with caviar, to oysters, tuna, quail and pork chop, to cornbread and endive, and dessert, each dish surprised us more and more. The staff has always amazing with us. Thank you, and well-deserved Michelin Bib Gourmand! BRAVO!!! Next step, a star! read more

See all

This is definitely a unique restaurant in Houston! We had no trouble getting reservations for 4 the same day. Vibe is classy, but low-key at the same time. It's fun to see the cooking over the open fire. Our group was pescatarian, and the menu is actually quite small, so we essentially ordered every dish that we could eat. We wished there were a few more options for us to pick from. Dining is family style. Our favorites were definitely the bluefin and oysters! Shrimp, vermillion, scallop, o-toro were also good. Potatoes were pretty standard. Cabbage (sans lamb bacon) was pretty meh. read more

See all

Ok. This one's been on my list for a while. I'll sum things up quickly. Ambience is quaint and sexy yet casual. Service is good. Food - really good! What I'd get again - the grilled oysters, okra, ribeye, and cheesecake! That ribeye was amazing! We don't like sauces too much, so we were sure to not drag our steak in it. This is a pricey outing but you won't know til you go, so try it for yourselves if you can. We've been to San Sebastián - that is true Basque and the best of the best of the best for us! Baso is a nice local option yet still levels (and price) away. 3.5 rounded to 4. read more

We had an amazing time at Baso. Staff was top-notch, dishes were inventive, and the space has a stripped-down elegance that allows you to focus on the craftmanship of the dishes being served. We came as a party of 4 and enjoyed the sharing-plates approach. You absolutely must get the Bread Service (could have easily eaten 3x as many rolls as came on the board, they were that good). Other high points from our experience included the potato, cabbage, maitake, and ribeye (we also ordered the vermilion fish, but fish isn't really my thing although the rest of the table loved it). Of course when it came to dessert we figured 'why choose' and ordered all 3 they had on offer at the time - my favorite was the tarta de queso. You kind of have to look hard to find this spot, but once you do it is well worth it (non-obvious signage makes it feel all the more special)! Parking - street read more

When I think of writing a true 5-star review, this place truly deserves 5 stars without a doubt. We celebrated my husband's birthday dinner here and it was a delightful experience overall. Milton, our server, was very attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the entire menu ensuring that our dinner turned out to be more of an intimate experience versus just plain ol' dinner. We're fairly new when it comes to Basque cuisine, and we both enjoyed how easy everything was to understand after Milton broke down the menu to us. We tried the following: 1. Potato: twice fried potatoes atop a cheesy sauce - loved the texture and cheesiness! 2. Cabbage: the lamb bacon and salted creme fraiche paired with the charred cabbage was such a treat! 3. Shrimp: 6 pieces of shrimp with Calabrian chili was very flavorful! 4. Ribeye: 13oz of perfectly cooked steak on top of the most luxurious burnt onion au jus 5. Arashiyama Midori cocktail: fruity, fun, and bubbly 6. Basque Cheesecake: the literal star of the show! I wanted to take one for myself to go. In case anyone's asking, I will absolutely accept anyone's invite to return to Baso! read more

See all

Phenomenal Service. Unique Fusion of Flavors and Techniques. Really love the atmosphere while they have the tabletop lights on, and the open kitchen/hearth is a very nice touch (and not loud as in some other restaurants). My take though, is that overall, the dishes while beautifully thought out and often times daring in their flavor fusions, don't always hit the mark, sometimes the dishes feel like they are missing a flavor, or other times they feel like hey have one too many flavors. Additionally, because so many of the dishes are hearth focused, it can sometimes feel like the predominant flavor is char. That being said, again, I think the service is phenomenal. The flavors are adventurous and challenges status quo. For that, I would give it 5 stars expect... the high price tag. For the price, you expect near perfection to feel like you got the value out of the meal. And in this case, some of the imperfections (including the dreadful lighting when the tabletop lights are taken away for the main courses), are cause for 4 stars on value-alone. For the dishes, we had the... - Raw Oysters (which came with hot sauce) - I personally think the hot sauce masked the Raw Oysters Sauce - Blue fin - I liked this one, but my parter did not as much - Albacore - Amazing, probably our favorite dish of the night, very freshly sourced. - Cornbread - Probably our second favorite dish. It came with three spreads, one cheese based and two jams. We only really loved the strawberry jam and think they could have just gone with that one. - Endives - A very interesting dish -- not for anyone who doesn't like the bitter endive! - Shrimp - It was so well done -- and simple. You could even eat the shell! It was a lot of Calabrian chili powder though. - Tarta de Queso - Surprisingly, this was not my favorite dessert, but I am glad I gave it a try as it is a Basque specialty! We also had some cocktails: The Sangria, and the Dogman. The fish dishes were amazing -- especially with how freshly sourced the Albacore was! I think read more

See all

I'd round up to 3.5 stars. We arrived on time for our 730 pm resy, only to be told that our table still had guests dining. We were told to wait at the bar. I proceeded to ask how long the wait would be since it sounds like other yelpers had this issue too. They kept saying oh it will be quick since they're on dessert. Nope, apparently the table was just hanging out so they put us in a corner table meant for 3 people or less. We waited about 15 min for this corner table. I sat at a chair that they pulled up in the corner and every waiter who walked by ran into or kicked my chair so that was a really annoying part of the meal. Overall, I thought the food was ok. Pricey for what you get. We got the oysters, bluefin tuna, quail, ribeye steak, cabbage, and both the desserts. The oysters and tuna were good. The quail had an interesting seasoning on it. Didn't love it but didn't hate it. The steak was the star of the show. Super tender but also lots of fat so beware. We only ordered the cabbage cause the waiter said we needed a veggie.....only for it to come out covered in bacon LOL so yeah so much for a "veggie". The basque cheesecake was the better dessert. The "pandan" tres leches tasted nothing like pandan and we joked that it tasted more like the milk from fruity pebbles cereal. Honestly I was disappointed cause the meal wasn't cheap. read more

See all