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J. Alexander's Restaurant

4.2 (315 reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 3 weeks ago

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J. ALEXANDER'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
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Intimate

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HRW 2026: 5 oz filet mignon with bearnaise and a loaded baked potato
Annalisa P.

I was perusing the 2026 Houston Restaurant Weeks (HRW) menus and stumbled upon this trying to pick a place to eat with a friend. It's hard to choose sometimes, and I wanted to try something new to me. We opted for J. Alexander's and made reservations though it really wasn't busy for a Sunday evening. For being in the uptown park area, it sits on a huge lot with plenty of parking compared to all the restaurants across the street. We were seated in a nice booth on the second level. The food came out quickly. We opted for the HRW menu. Deviled eggs - Good. Filled with lots of yolk and the pickled relish but kind of dry. It needed more mayo. It was also heavily dusted with paprika all over and on the plate for "decor". 5 oz filet with bearnaise sauce and loaded baked potato - The filet was really small for 5 oz. Even the small filet medallions at B&B Butcher are slightly bigger. It was flavorful. Some parts looked more medium well than medium. I skipped the bearnaise sauce. It tasted vinegary more than creamy. The baked potato was really good. It was soft and fluffy and was great with all the toppings. Carrot cake - I've never had a warm carrot cake before but thought it was good. The icing is sweet and could have more cream cheese in it. I think the carrot cake had shredded coconut in it. Unique. Mocktail: I had the Lyre's pineapple margarita. Loved it. I would order that again. Not too sweet or sour and enjoyed the chamoy/tajin around the rim. I'm curious about their other dishes. I'd be opening to trying more items on the menu. My friend's Brasserie Chicken with panko-crusted, parmesan, lemon caper sauce, tomatoes, smashed potatoes, and broccoli looked really good and was a large portion. Service was great, and they pack your leftovers for you and place it on a hook at the end of the booth.

CAROLINA CRAB CAKES
Carolina S.

I had been to a J. Alexander's over 25 years ago in Florida and didn't like it, so when my husband made reservations here, I wasn't too thrilled, but wanted to give it a chance. Sadly the food is as bad as I remember. We ordered the devil eggs, and an avocado bomb as our appetizers. The eggs were old and stale and the avocado bomb was no better. For our main dish, we ordered the fish special and crab cakes. The lemon fish was good, but the crab cakes were not fresh. If you're looking for fine dining or fresh food, this is not the place!

Steak burger
Alan S.

I came here for a business meeting and was pleasantly surprised with the easy parking. The place has a classy feel while still having rather moderate pricing for the uptown area. I had the steak burgerwith fries. When it first appeared I was a little nervous about the thin cut fries, they're not usually my go-to. These however had good flavor and were well cooked with just the right amount of crispiness. The burger was straight up delicious. I'm not sure if it was the sauce, the onions, or just the well flavored burger and a nice bun. This is one of the better burger and fry combos I've had in a while. A $20 it's a little pricier than I usually like, but respectable giving it was a fancier place. The person I was meeting with had the salad that looked pretty amazing and I probably should have went with that to be healthier. Oh well, maybe next time!

Maui ribeye steak with mashed potatoes

Ordered the Maui ribeye steak. The meat was very chewy- not sure of the quality. Won't order that again!

Receipt
Elsi G.

I came here for my friend's birthday and made a reservation for two at 7:30 PM under my name. I arrived early and let the host know I had a reservation but would sit at the bar while I waited. She barely acknowledged me and just said "okay," without confirming anything. The bar was very busy, so it took a little while to get a menu, which was understandable. I ordered a glass of champagne while waiting. My friend (the birthday girl) arrived at 7:28 PM and checked in with the host because I had a feeling my reservation hadn't been noted. The host told her they would let us know when the table was ready. Around 7:40 PM we still hadn't heard anything, so we stepped outside for about five minutes to take pictures. When we came back and asked about our table, the host told us they had already had one ready and were waiting for us to tell them we were ready to sit. This was confusing since that was never communicated to us. Once seated, we ordered another glass of champagne, the avocado bomb, and crab cakes. My champagne didn't arrive until I asked about it, and the waiter had to come back to confirm what I ordered. Throughout the meal, the waiter repeatedly tried to clear our plates while we were still eating. At one point, he cleared our avocado bomb even though we weren't finished with it and still had a full cup of chips. Later, he removed the plate and utensils my friend was using and never brought replacements. The food itself was genuinely very good, but unfortunately the service really took away from the experience. The evening started off poorly with the host interaction and continued with several service issues throughout the meal.

Hayley A.

This place was my boyfriend and I's fancy dinner for our 7th anniversary trip. We dressed all fancy and got to enjoy ourselves. The service was amazing, and the place was very nice. Definitely more pricey so not an every day thing if we lived in the area. But we had a really good time.

Caim S.

This is an elevated dining spot with soft romantic lighting, chandeliers, and a large central bar. The atmosphere felt upscale yet comfortable. There were many families there and other guests celebrating prom. I was surprised to learn they don't offer a happy hour at all. I ordered the mac and cheese, which was creamy, well-seasoned, and likely made with a white cheese blend. It was rich and satisfying. The burger I paired it with was classic and filling. Nothing groundbreaking, but it did the job. Even though it was a Saturday night, I was seated at a full table rather than being directed to the bar, which I appreciated since I was dining solo. The service was quick and friendly, and I liked having the option to substitute fries with mac and cheese, without any upcharge.

Narges N.

I went here for a dinner date with my sister, and the ambience was upscale, but laid-back at the same time which I like. We each ordered a different steak and they were both very good but the highlight of the night was the carrot cake. I've never really been a fan of carrot cake although it is my sister's favorite, but I can say without a doubt. This is one of the best desserts I've ever tasted. Just be careful, cause it will definitely burn your mouth! The food wasn't anything to write home about, but I will absolutely be coming back for the carrot cake and maybe their other desserts

Aaron B.

Absolutely wonderful service and ambiance . I finally made time to visit this location and I wasn't disappointed . I've been dining with them for years at other locations and I didn't realize that they had opened a location in this area . Some must have items are the smoked salmon dip and the steak Maui . Also the prime rib is a must have . Definitely a great experience as always .

Anna K.

Like Houston's/Hillstone but I like the menu better. Excellent salads and really great baked potatoes. Good semi-reasonably priced wines and consistently great service. Love the atmosphere and dark clubby ambiance. It's always fun to sit in the bar booths for a lively atmosphere.

Henry Y.

Went here for a business dinner. Got appetizers for the table. Decent and friendly service. + Queso was good (chips were plain) + Candied bacon that came with the deviled eggs were great, good addition! + Calamari was nicely fried + Solid carrot cake, fairly sweet frosting on top - I don't recall if it was on the menu, but the ribeye I got was covered in a sweet sauce (the waitress mentioned it but I didn't think it would be coated in it...) - They renamed the restaurant, but they're still using the plates with the old name, which is confusing I think for the price and the options you have available all over Houston, J. Alexander's fits right in the middle, not particularly memorable and a little expensive, perfect for that expensed dinner with the head of HR.

Rye Manhattan
Carl S.

I'm very familiar with this restaurant brand and have loved each visit for several years. I recently celebrated my birthday with my family and they comfortably seated the five of us at a spacious round table. Our server was perfect with her interactions allowing us to take our time to enjoy each other and ensure we received our beverages and food at the right time. We started with the Calamari which was very tender with a marinara that was thick and full of flavor. My entree was Crab Cakes which were loaded with large lumps of crab meat. The chili mayo could have had more spice but didn't distract from the meal. Their deserts are excellent but my favorite is the chocolate cake. I'll never leave the restaurant without a slice to go.

Prime rib

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

fantastic burger and great fries...love this place for food..people mentioned aged dinners..but I think they are the best diners.

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

excellent dining with quality drinks and service in an uptown location and i love the ambience

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7 years ago

Prices are kinda steep, service was good however the food was super mediocre.. I dint think we'd ever come back!

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6 years ago

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6 years ago

Wonderful! Love the crab cakes, French dip, and shrimp salad. My husband likes the burgers and steaks.

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6 years ago

Amazing food great service and not too overpriced for the amazing ambience and food quality

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6 years ago

Amazing food and amazing service. You need to experience this place. Our server, Chevon was excellent!!!

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6 years ago

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7 years ago

Great food great table service great experience over all I loved it. This restaurant felt very upscale and fancy will be going back.

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6 years ago

Houston's Restaurant fans, Merus doesn't disappoint! Great food and service! Great addition to Uptown.

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7 years ago

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Page 8 of 8

Ask the Community - J. Alexander's Restaurant

Is this the same restaurant that was on Westheimer near Wilcrest?

Westheimer

Did they rebrand from Merus to J. Alexander?

Yes

Is there outdoor space for kids?

No outdoor seating or area of any kind.

Is there a happy hour?

No, there's no happy hour.

Does restaurants take reservations?

Yes, you can either call or make a reservation through the website at https://merusgrill.com/

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Goode Company Seafood

Goode Company Seafood

3.9(942 reviews)
2.9 mi•West University
•$$
Casual dining
Takes reservations

To quote my wife: "You could fry anything in that cornmeal batter and it'll be delicious." She's…read morenot wrong. I've been working my way through this menu for a while now and I honestly can't remember having anything bad. The gumbo is a must, the fried shrimp are SO good. The seafood empanadas and stuffed crab are on permanent rotation for me. If you're with a group, get the redfish beignets and the hush puppies for the table. Both are great for sharing, assuming you're the sharing type. The dining room is split into two halves. One half gives me school cafeteria vibes. The other half is darker and cozier, and that's where I head every time, mostly so nobody can see the mess I'm making of myself, it's better for those of us who wear our gumbo. Big shoutout to the staff. They were all excellent, and they were so sweet with my two nieces. They also got the kids' food out super fast, which kept the little ones happy and busy while the adults ate. Anyone who's dined with small children knows how much that matters. Extra points.

Beware of what's in your food if you eat here…read more I left Goode Company Seafood with a cracked tooth after biting into a hard foreign object in my meal and needed dental treatment. After multiple calls and emails over several weeks, someone finally called and offered me a gift card. A cracked tooth isn't worth a gift card. The way this was handled was disgusting. No accountability whatsoever!

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Goode Company Seafood
Goode Company Seafood
Goode Company Seafood

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KP’s Kitchen - Bread pudding with ice cream

KP’s Kitchen

4.6(326 reviews)
2.9 mi•Memorial
•$$

I wandered in not expecting much, but my experience here ended up much better than I thought…read more I went with their August prix fixe and went with their Truffle Deviled Eggs, Crispy Sweet & Sour Shrimp, and Key Lime Tart. The deviled eggs make good comfort food and was satisfying. This version doesn't have much of a kick, but it's very creamy and you can definitely taste the truffle oil. The homemade potato chips also add to the texture and salt between bites. The shrimp dish was fun with a light and crispy batter, well-seasoned and drizzled with sweet chili sauce. The cool ranch surprisingly added to the shrimp and enhanced the chili sauce rather than overwhelming it. The made-in-house fries were far better than expected. I was somewhat expecting dense, oily, boring fries, but these were very crisp and somehow didn't feel too greasy as far as fries goes. Almost seemed like an injustice for it to be served with ketchup as it was too good for it. Lastly, the tart was a great way to end the meal without it being too much. Loved the crust. The tart shell tasted really good and went well with the filling, which had a lighter consistency than pudding. Fruits tasted like they were on season, even though it should be a bit too late for strawberries. I'm also a sucker for meringue. I'll have to come back to see if it wasn't a fluke, but there were a lot of dishes here that looked good. Maybe even swing by for happy hour, we'll see. Definitely a nice spot to visit in this neighborhood.

Cute neighborhood restaurant! We came for Sunday brunch and had no trouble getting seated right…read moreaway, although it definitely started filling up as we were leaving. The deviled eggs were amazing, and the fried chicken fried rice was such a fun and unique option. They also have lots of specials throughout the week, which I love. I'll definitely be back to try dinner because the menu looked so good!

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KP’s Kitchen - Dining room

Dining room

KP’s Kitchen - Plated desserts for catered events & celebrations.

Plated desserts for catered events & celebrations.

KP’s Kitchen - Inside

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Inside

Balboa Surf Club

Balboa Surf Club

4.3(225 reviews)
0.5 mi•Galleria/Uptown
•$$$

Wow this place really blew me away. It's a near perfect spot for a business lunch or dinner (or if…read moreyou're willing to splurge with your own money for a good meal or a hot date). I wasn't sure what to expect based on the name of the restaurant, but essentially their seafood options are spectacular. And it feels like an exclusive club because the decor and service are both very much high class and special. We tried the coconut shrimp as the appetizer and really liked it. It was lightly fried and the shrimp was cooked to perfection - not under and not over. I would highly recommend this one to start. Loved it. If you're looking for a fair-priced meal, they have lots of salad and sandwich options. I tried the salmon poke bowl and it was so delicious. The fish was extremely fresh, and all the flavors blended together really well. It was like a healthy party in my mouth. It was great decision. You wanna splurge a bit and live large like YOLO? You gotta get the crab cake. Now, how good can a crab cake be? Well, if you're paying close to $50 for one crab cake, you better believe it's gonna be freaking awesome. And alas, it was. Best crab cake I've ever had in my life, no joke. And I've tried a lot of crab cakes in my many decades of dining out. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant and will be coming back many times. Enjoy! Quick note on parking - plenty of parking in a huge lot shared by many businesses such as Kenny and Ziggy's. Only annoying part is several sections of the lot are designated for specific businesses, so just look for the signs and be willing to park a little bit further away towards Taco Deli and Bluestone.

Live in the neighborhood and FINALLY wandered down the sidewalk for HH with friends…read more We sat at the bar and had great service! Definitely recommend the Cucumber Martini. We also enjoyed the coconut shrimp. We had the lump crab handroll - would have enjoyed it more had it been cut, and the fries were heavily on the salty side. Fun environment.

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Balboa Surf Club
Balboa Surf Club
Balboa Surf Club

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Crawfish Cafe - Plump

Crawfish Cafe

4.2(764 reviews)
3.8 mi•The Heights
•$$$

Ordered takeout for my first try.. HTown crab, shrimp, crawfish.. hot, fresh, and really hit the…read morespot Will definitely order again

Nut allergy friendly: Pretty much no issues here!…read more Parking: There's some in the strip mall but definitely less than at the Bellaire location. Time to Appetizers: 20 Minutes Time to Crawfish: 25 Minutes It's a solid branch from the main location in Bellaire, but they're missing some things. For example, the Bellaire location has the new Viet-Cajun flavor of sauce that hasn't debuted here yet (though you can DIY a mix). (Review is for July 2026 if they've updated since then) We got here at 6:05PM and got seated with no issues. Ordered the following: Combo #1 with extra corn and potatoes (3.5/5): Crawfish isn't in season, so don't be surprised at my low rating. It's still great and flavorful all around. Garlic Noodles with Shrimp (4/5): Still incredibly rich and buttery and garlicy and great for a palate cleanser. I'd skip the shrimp; you get eight pieces for $10 extra and that's not really worth it. Crawfish Beignets (4.5/5): Still a fantastic appetizer. Comes out hot, crispy, buttery, and is a really indulgence. 1 lb. Little Neck Clams (4.5/5): I liked these more than the crawfish tbh. It really does depend on what's in season. Very easy to eat, very flavorful. Service was generally good but our server seemed slammed; it took a long time to get water refills and to place extra orders (we got a second order of beignets to-go). Market price for crawfish is high and they're not in season, so don't be afraid to ask. The Combo #1 in July 2026 was $22. Overall, I'll probably be back during crawfish season especially because it's more convenient for me than the Bellaire location, but the Bellaire location has it beat for general atmosphere after the remodeling and much better options for mixes there.

Photos
Crawfish Cafe - They recommended  the Chargrilled Oysters and the Crawfish. In this photo there are lots of happy people eating .

They recommended the Chargrilled Oysters and the Crawfish. In this photo there are lots of happy people eating .

Crawfish Cafe - Golden fried oysters served over crispy wonton chips, finished with chipotle tartar sauce and fresh pico de gallo. Includes four pieces.

Golden fried oysters served over crispy wonton chips, finished with chipotle tartar sauce and fresh pico de gallo. Includes four pieces.

Crawfish Cafe - Tender shrimp smothered in a zesty, buttery sauce! Packed with flavor and ready to dig in.

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Tender shrimp smothered in a zesty, buttery sauce! Packed with flavor and ready to dig in.

J. Alexander's Restaurant - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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