Honestly this place was okay. It wasn't the best experience I had. I came here for a friend's birthday. First of all it is located inside the Culinary Institute so it can be tricky to find if you didn't know that. When I got there the parking lot was full. I had to drive out and park on another parking lot on the side. When I got inside the double automatic doors I was immediately greeted by the front desk. She was kind enough to lead me to the restaurant. The place was pretty interesting. You get to see some of the students work station aka the huge kitchen. Now the restaurant has a nice ambience with dark and warm colors. It seemed like you can section some parts of it into different rooms by a simple pull of the curtains but it was all open. I decided on the smoked salmon appetizer and the mussels for dinner. There were bread sticks and butter ready in front of me. They were delicious and had a nice balance of crunch and soft on the inside part. My smoked salmon came out in a reasonable time. The presentation of it was absolutely unique. I loved the presentation because it completely took my by surprise (posted a picture). Unfortunately, the smoked salmon was waaaayyyyyy too salty. I had a few bites and gave it away to other people to try and agreed with me on the saltiness. So my mussels came out, and I'm happy that those were not disappointing. Once again, love the presentation of the meal. As for the taste ? It was delicious. Cooked in a tangy broth that complimented well with the mussels. It also came with 3 dipping sauces and a handful of French fries. Interesting combo but it was both tasty. I finished it all by sharing a few here and there with some friends. Now throughout the night the service was pretty good. My water was always refilled, but it took them awhile to refill the bread. For the salty salmon and slow bread refills I took out a star. The reason why I took another star was when it came around to pay my bill, the waiter automatically charges me the trio which includes appetizer, meal and dessert. Wait. I didn't get dessert. I told him about the charge and he points at it and says the dessert rung up as $0.00. So I thought I wasn't getting charged but when I later on calculated on my appetizer and mussels, the bill should be around 25$ plus tax. But my bill was around 36$ not including tip. I didn't figure this out until I had already left. I felt cheated. I even tipped the waiter 10$ on top of that. For the price, ok service, and really far location I probably won't be back. But if anyone wants to experience French cooking I would recommend them here but honestly there's a lot of other French places that are located where I work and stay at. read more

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We picked this location for my brother's birthday because of the awesome charcuterie app. Before I talk about that, let me just say a few things about Kris Bistro. It is gorgeous inside. The setting is kinda cool, to be in a culinary school. We dined in the evening on a Saturday night, so we didn't get to watch the chefs in action, though that would've been cool and odd at the same time. Like a culinary zoo. The menu was amazing, the service was amazing and the food was great. With 8 people we tried to select each of the main entrees. Mom and I had the sirloin...not bad. Dad had the duck which looked like it was a duck pot pie...a bit salty for him and he likes salt. My brother had a pot of mussels, and he liked it. My guy had the swordfish and loooooved it. My sister had the prime tip and for $55 she wasn't too thrilled. Neither was her professional BBQ'er husband. The food was good overall but the service, amazing. Back to the charcuterie app....the presentation was cute but sparse. I felt weird ordering one when there wasn't enough for everyone to try. It was more presentation than anything...and unfortunately it was why we came to Kris in the first place. If you have a fan of smoked meats at your table, allow that person to order this appetizer for themselves. It still won't be a lot but at least they'll have some to try. For $400+ it was about $50 per person for the apps, meals and wine. My brother enjoyed his birthday...for the food and for the company. Having his whole family there was just as important. read more

I came here unsure what to expect. I think this is quite the hidden gem. The restaurant is run by the students at the culinary school. It's in a rougher part of town, but wow, the restaurant has beautiful decor. This would be quite a date spot had I not been there for lunch! The tables are set for two and the menu has suggested wines for each dish! Wine lover's paradise! I went last Friday during Houston restaurants week. Their three course lunch menu for $20 was a steal! And, they donate $3 to the Houston Food Bank to give back to the community. What could be better than that? I had food that I honestly can't tell you the fancy names of. But I had something beef for the appetizer and was surprised by the burst of savory flavor with each bite. The salmon was equally as appetizing. It was seared to perfection. The outside had the perfect amount of crunch and the flavor of the fish was brought out perfectly. There was a chocolate dessert, which of course I devoured. But I found it to be the perfect end to my meal. I suggest you try it soon. I'll for sure be back! Bon appetite! read more

My boyfriend and I stumbled upon a Groupon for this restaurant, earlier last week. We were craving a new place and delicious food. We got exactly what we were looking for! The restaurant is located inside the Culinary Institute and they did a great job of decorating the interior so that you don't feel like you're in the middle of a school. We ordered two appetizers, two salads, two entrees, and lots of wine. Each course was delicious and the waiter was great about suggesting wines for our entrees. We will definitely be back! read more

I loved the food & the service the environment is nice & peaceful definitely a place to go and enjoy some good dinner or lunch.

Everyone is super friendly and accommodating. Cool dining experience for foodies, exotic choices are delivered by the chefs. Went for a friends birthday and not only did they give us the chefs table without having enough people in our party, but they also gave the birthday guest a tour of the kitchens.... They really wanted to make sure it was special, even though we had some guests show up an hour late for the reservation they didn't mind and were very understanding. The oysters Martinique and Sea Bass is outstanding! read more

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I really liked it. The staff tries extra hard to please the customers and all the food was presented in a very nice fancy way. I ordered a duck French dish that I never tried before (so I was a little nervous) , and it was delicious, from the appetizer to the desserts everything was very good. Romantic quiet scene. read more

I recently had dinner at Kris Bistro & Lounge with my bf and some friends. The unassuming fine dining spot is located just north of the loop in a nondescript building. Blink and you'll miss the Culinary Institue LeNôtre, which houses Kris Bistro. Walk into the building with the harsh industrial facade, meander through the hallways that peek into different, expansive kitchens, and enter the dark, intimate, luxorious dining room where you'll be given the utmost of excellent service and cuisine. The fancy menu offers a 3-course option for a decent price (yours truly has no idea what price, #badfoodblogger), so my fellow diners all took that option. I also had 3 courses, but since all of my courses were vegetarian, they were less expensive. #cheapdate I spotted the roasted cauliflower listed under the appetizers, so I asked our super attentive server about it. "It's great, but I must warn you...it's an entire head of cauliflower." Sometimes you just need a big ole' head of cauliflower in your life. (with a knife stuck in the middle) (for dramatic effect) Served with a side of creamy, tart, sheep's milk feta dip, this was a wonderful appetizer. (an appetizer which is actually an entire meal) (if you're anyone but me) The cauliflower is steamed in aromatics and white wine, then roasted in olive oil. The crispy, beautiful, herbed exterior was lovely. The cauliflower overall was subtle, and heightened by the goat cheese dip. If you love cauliflower, I definitely recommend this. (if you're hungry) (which let's be honest, you are) The menu is pretty small so my only vegetarian entree option was the caramelized polenta. The green onion polenta is topped off with Danish blue cheese, roasted walnuts, pickled grapes, and sliced apples. Due to its solid form and crispy exterior, I believe the polenta was baked. Or fried. Or... fr...aked? (don't hate me) The interior was soft with whole pieces of sweet corn shining through every now and then. The grapes and apples combined with the blue cheese were wonderful contrasting accents. I always enjoy polenta, and this unique take on it was no exception. I do wish, however, that the polenta would have been a smaller portion and paired with a side of greens of some sort. The polenta itself was quite large (no, I didn't spoil my appetite on cauliflower, WHY DO YOU ASK?) and pretty filling. My bf ordered the Moroccan grilled akaushi sirloin, and I lost him to a blissful oblivion. One friend ordered the diver scallop and declared it one of the best meals she's had in a long time. The other friend had the duck confit gumbo, and while he really enjoyed the combination of duck, sausage, okra, tomato, green onion, and dirty rice, he felt the dish as a whole would have benefited more without the inclusion of crab, shrimp, and oysters - He said it was almost overwhelming. I ordered the chocolate toffee piedmont for dessert. First of all, the presentation was gorgeous. Second of all, it was pretty darn good. The dessert consists of layers of toffee, chocolate ganache, hazelnut sponge, Praline, and coconut feuillantine, with a side of LeNôtre salted caramel ice cream. FYI- feuillantine is basically a French method (?) of using leaf-like layers to construct a dessert (and no I didn't just google "what is feuillantine"...). This hearty dessert was rich and filling. The salted caramel ice cream gave it some lightness, though overall it was a bit heavy, and I was not able to finish it. The bf ordered the chocolate noisette, which was also a tad too rich, though beautiful and delicious. My friend chose the opéra for her dessert (7 layers of joconde biscuit, coffee buttercream, and chocolate ganache, with LeNôtre vanilla ice cream), and hers was the fan favorite of the three desserts. The opéra was much lighter than the other two desserts, and the chocolate ganache combined with the coffee buttercream and fluffly, moist biscuit was fantastic. While the vegetarian options at Kris weren't extensive or completely mindblowing, they were still very enjoyable. My meat-eating dining companions however were completely blown away by their courses. The attentive service, carefully executed food, and intimate fine dining environment make Kris Bistro & Wine Lounge a wonderful place to have a special dinner in Houston. read more

Came for restaurant week. I came last year too, so it says a lot about how satisfactory their food and service are! I liked it the waitstaff cleans the breadcrumbs off my table periodically (many upscale restaurants neglect this part often), and their plate is like artwork. I liked their presentation, and especially the Akaushi sirloin melted in my mouth, the best beef I've had (tops even the filet mignon I got from another restaurant for HRW). read more

Visited. Kris Bistro with friends for HRW. So glad we did. We were there on a Saturday night and had a very nice dinner. I enjoyed the decor of the restaurant , and was so happy to find a place with a pleasing interior, good food and a noise level that allowed our four top to carry on a lively conversation all evening. Service was prompt and the wine selection was inviting and priced very fairly. The house bread placed on the table was very good and we all enjoyed it. It went along well with my Foie gras appetizer! I had the smoked beef rib and dh had the Gulf snapper/ crab cake. All beautifully plated and executed well. I really enjoyed this entree. Dessert was Opera cake which I found a bit too sweet , but dh was trooper and finished mine so no hard working students got their feelings hurt. It was fun, with a nice atmosphere and very good food. We'll return! read more

Kris bistro never disappoints. The neighborhood is super sketchy, but with a full time parking lot guard that's not a concern. This was my 4th time to dine here and the food/service is always impeccable. I had the stuffed figs to start. The presentation was great and a bit of a spicy zest really completed the taste. For my main course I had the duck. It was stewed for 19 hours and simply melted off of the bone. It was served as a do it yourself pot pie: the flaky crust, creamy soup, mushrooms, and potatoes went really well together. I had the suggested pino wine pairing and it completed the meal. For dessert I had a free yelp coupon and got the chocolate mousse and lime sorbet. The presentation was again great, the mousse was a bit rich fit my taste but the sorbet was spot on. We capped off our evening with a kitchen tour with a really personable outstanding staff. Thanks Kris bistro for making my mom's birthday a success! read more

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We had a wonderful dinner yesterday at Le Bistro Our party of six really enjoyed dining at this restaurant. Nice welcome, delicious French food (I can tell you I am French), good wines, great service, a perfect match with LeNotre reputation, a landmark of the "French Cuisine". Good choices on the menu of both seafood and meats along with Gluten Free options (I personally recommend the duck, absolutely fabulous.) Also, the atmosphere was quiet and we could hear each other talk, which was really relaxing. A hidden gem in Houston. read more

Going above and beyond in service and quality. I planned a bachelor party for a friend, and called Kris Bistro to see if they would do a special bacon themed menu. They agreed to make a 4 course dinner for 9 people at a fair price. Dinner was excellent (taste and presentation) and the service was wonderful (personalized menus, separate dining area, and the Exec Chef spoke to every course, called us cabs as we were paying). They were extremely easy to work with, and the entire group LOVED it. I would strongly recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

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Came for Houston restaurant week. We ordered scallop, charcuterie, steak and salmon. All of them were really good!!! Worth more than $20! read more

Le Bistro - French Near Me - Houston, Texas

I brought my brother and his girlfriend to Le Bistro. They loved the food in there. And personally big thank Anthony for your kind serviced. Lovely night. read more

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My wife and I had dinner here last night...just getting in the parking lot is kind of spooky...it's a tall metal bar fence, no street signs, one way in, small parking lot with a armed security guard... we asked the guard if this is the restaurant and he said yes, so we go through the front door into a room and appears to be an office with several office desks and computers... we waited for a Host but no one was there, after that we go back outside and asked the guard what's going on... he comes back into the office setting with us and see someone threw a glass and started waving his arms back-and-forth to get the attention of the person in the other room that turned out to be the restaurant dining room... The doors were all locked going to the dining area through a long hallway with twists and turns...The waiter comes to the lobby area and opens the locked door from the inside so we can come into the hallway and then led us down the hallway with twists and turns to the dining area... I asked the waiter that was leading us into the dining room if we came into the wrong door he looked at me very strangely and said no this is the door... just getting into the dining room was very odd...we saw on yelp this restaurant is given about 4 stars... we found out by asking the waiter that the restaurant is primarily a culinary school but does have a restaurant...I'm assuming for the chefs to be able to practice and work under a head chef in a restaurant setting... my impression was that they do not have a liquor license they only sell beer and wine...I was told they did not have a bartender... we ordered a shrimp appetizer, The sauce on the shrimp was very good the shrimp was very tough... my wife ordered lamb and it was all she could do to cut it off the bone , she had a very difficult time... I had the beef cheek with a very long French name, it was pot roast, nothing special... I could go on but I think you get the point... From getting in the parking lot to the quality of the food that was prepared it was very strange and disappointing evening. read more

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This is a unique spot that has great food and a wine list that can't be beat. The wine list isn't long by any means, but the values on it are amazing. $42 for a bottle of Moet at a restaurant...that's half of what it is typically. The presentation of the food was as good as anywhere. The wait staff was attentive. The only downsides are the weird location (right off I-45, just north of 610) and the abnormal building (low rise office tower look a like), but don't let that scare you away. I highly recommend. read more

Amazing food. Amanda could not have been more friendly. Best creme brûlée any of us have ever had anywhere. Be prepared to spend at least 2 hours but waitstaff and chefs made it worth the wait. Great French wines too. read more

The food is five stars, the service is 3-4. This restaurant is staffed by culinary students, which can include waiters. Sadly, knowledge of the wait staff appears to be hit or miss, with some waiters being very knowledgeable about their menu and beer or wine whereas others seem to largely have no clue. That said, when the waiter doesn't know, he'll consult someone else on the floor who does, who will come over to answer your questions. The mussels are amazing. I've gotten them almost every time and have always been extremely happy. The sauce is seasoned just right and the mussels are not overcooked, which they often are at most restaurants. The beer and wine selection are not mind blowing, but what they have is very good and extremely reasonably priced. You can get a beer for $4-5 that would cost twice that amount at any other restaurant or bar. The create your own trio is a great deal, allowing you to get an appetizer, entree, and dessert for just $29. I'd highly suggest doing this. The atmosphere is upscale and quiet. The window into the kitchen allows you to watch the chefs at work, although much of the seating doesn't really facilitate watching the workings of the kitchen. All in all, a great place to have a nice dinner with a spouse, significant other, or friend(s). Whenever others suggest an upscale restaurant for a meal, I always start pushing Kris on the group because its one of the best deals you can find for the quality of food being served. P.S. - You can book a table on OpenTable. I've done this only several hours before my desired reservation time and received confirmation promptly that they would have a table for us. read more

I don't even know what to say. We had such a terrible experience and it was a major disappointment. We went for Valentine's Day and were really looking forward to trying this place. But, in the end, we felt totally ripped off and were disappointed that we wasted the evening here. We sat down and it was a fixed menu (an amuse bouche, 2 options for appetizers, 2 options for entrees, and 1 option dessert). Not what we were expecting, but that's fine. I'm a pescetarian and there was a fish dish, so no problem. I started with the pickled beets and they were awful. The beets tasted like they had been plopped down on the plate out of a can. Totally unpalatable and I ended up leaving most of it on the plate. This, unfortunately, was the highlight of the evening. We then waited about 45 minutes for our entree. 45 minutes! And it was a fixed menu with 2 entree options! What was going on in that kitchen? They restricted the menu to 2 items, the least they can do is be prepared to get it out of the kitchen in a reasonable amount of time. Anyway, after looking longingly at the kitchen for almost an hour, my boyfriend's entree came out cold and mine was just mediocre. Even worse, the broth mine came in tasted like bacon. Some warning on the meat in the broth would have been nice, I spent the rest of the night panicking over whether I would get sick. I could not eat the dessert, but we waited about another half an hour before it came and my boyfriend said that it was just mediocre. And all of that with 2 glasses of wine ran us nearly $200! That's highway robbery. I have never felt so ripped off by a restaurant. read more

Kris is the best kept secret in Houston! Hands down one of the best meals I've ever had in HTown. I've been here half a dozen times and each time leave more and more impressed. The bread is to die for as is pretty much everything else they offer. It's run by the culinary students so there is a passion for the food that you don't often find in other high end restaurants. You can also take cooking classes on anything you eat off the menu. When in doubt on what to order, ask the waiter, they always steer you in the right direction. You won't be disappointed :) read more

Definitely one of my FAVORITE hidden gems! Everyone knows the cooking school.... not many know that there is such a TOP NOTCH bistro right on the middle of it! The menu seasonally changes and they also have special guest chefs visit from time to time and excellent wine and beer pairing dinners. VERY good and reasonable wine list! read more

The location is very dodgy, but one of the best dining experiences in town. Located inside Le Norte culinary school. HRW was a great deal. They offered their regular menu for half the price. Ordered the meat selection, grilled octopus salad, salmon, sirloin, creme brûlée, and lime chocolate cake. Everything was spot on. Service was amazing and informative. Ask for Tristan, he gave us a tour of the school after dinner. Will be dining here regularly. read more

Hours later... and I'm still thinking about the wine, the food, the presentation, and the service I had there! From the appetizer to the dessert, including the bread: everything was an amazing explosion of tastes on my palate! read more

We had a different experience from one of the earlier reviewer's. First, the service was great and the person helping us was extremely helpful in answering our questions and providing helpful descriptions of the dishes. Second, the escargot appetizer was devine and not too heavily breaded. When I cut one in half, almost the entire inside is filled with the escargot. And the sauce was delish! The hanger steak was enormous. Try as he may, my boyfriend could not finish it. My seafood (rouget) entree was delicious. It comes with two huge pieces of scallop that were perfectly cooked. I wanted to drink the soup base. We wished we had room for dessert but were too stuffed. They did bring a tray with one piece of meringue, one macaroon and a piece of caramel-stuffed chocolate with the check. We loved the meringue and macaroon. Perfect small sweet bites to end the evening. Oh, the wine prices are very reasonable, and the ambiance was great. While you can see through to the kitchen, we felt like we were judges on the set of Top Chef. read more

In Houston for a trade show and had the distinct pleasure of a true dining experience. Chef Kris and capable staff insured our evening was wonderful. At double the price this would still be a great value and experience. More than fair wine list. Incredible preparations Exceptional service and attention. My friends and I felt we were treated exceptionally by all. On top of this the food is sensational. In two nights we ordered across the entire menu. Everything was spectacular. I would highly recommend Kris Bistro , bon appetite! read more

The service is a bit slow, but excellent. The staff is very courteous. The wine menu needs improvement, there is ample parking, the ambiance is warm and inviting, and the food prices are fair. read more

I ate there for the first time Thursday May 16, 2014 for a business lunch. I picked the place and it didn't let me down. I took a very important executive there and was pleased to hear him rave about the food. Everything was top shelf, perfectly prepared and wonderfully presented. I don't have a single complaint. I will take my wife here for date-night. For lunch they aren't crowded, open Wednesday thru Friday I believe. The waiter said they get busy for dinner so make a reservation.. I believe dinner is Wednesday thru Saturday. read more

One of the best kept secrets in Houston. Food, service and wine list superb. Not a great part of town, but security is good and once inside you gorget where you are. Loved it and all of the staff are so helpful and friendly. Definitely will return. read more

This was our second time. It was as good as our first. The food was absolutely delicious.My wife ordered scallops which came with mussels and a couple of other types of shellfish and she loved it. My daughter ordered.Gypsy beef tenderloin.It was so tender that she did not even need to use her knife!! I ordered Monkfish and it tasted great.My only complaint is,I ordered the monkfish as my main course (and paid full price )but what I got was an appetizer potion. read more

Had the jam jar wine perfect and the meat plays the charcuterie the duck was the best piece I have had in my life can I like just replace all my bacon with it? The rabbit was a little out there for me because I'm a rabbit lover (little bunny fufu) but it was the best tasting dish and don't even get me started on the vegetables... 10/10 read more

Update: mussels in garlic butter and frites! So happy! Love the French chansons they play. Lots of old Europe ambiance. Great personnel addition: Catherine's son! Extremely courteous and professional at his young age. Great job! read more

Possibly the best kept French restaurant (bistro) secret in Houston. If you get over the area location, not the best in town, you will have a nice surprise. It's part of the French culinary school in Houston but the chef is a seasoned french chef helped along by the students. I will not say more, just call, make reservations and let the others know what you think. read more

This is the cafe run by the Culinary Arts Institute, a top-notch French cooking school. Don't be put off by the exterior of the building, a non-descript 1 story white building off the I-45 feeder. The cafe inside is nicely decorated and the French food and wine list here is exceptional and authentic. I recommend getting on their newsletter list to get info on special dinners they hold there from time to time. I had an amazing 5 course truffle dinner there. read more

I was excited to experience Kris Bistro. The hostess was friendly and enthusiastic. The individual filling drinks, setting up and cleaning tables was very attentive. The first server and what seemed to be our primary server was less than confident in his recommendations (after asking him of his recommendations). He did not answer a question we had, he said he would find out but never did. I had to ask the hostess for us to order a bottle of wine. The apps and entree ordered were good but not mentionable. They were simply delivered to the table. No explanations. I was disappointed w the dining experience and the food. Perhaps it was an off night. We did not stay for dessert, instead we went to another French restaurant. read more

We were there to celebrate my husband's birthday and our friend's engagement. The service was wonderful and the food was excellent. Can't complain about anything! read more

Ate here 2-11-2016 and was very disappointed. As soon as you walked into the front doors of the school there was a very bad smell. Yes, I said school as you walk through the hallways to get to Kris Bistro the smell continued. We sat down ordered our food the app course was favor less then main course was ok not good but ok. Then to top it off they could not even get desert right. I was so disappointed the bill was $130 for food that had no flavor poor presentation. I just expecting something a little better. I will say that the servers were very friendly and service was good. read more

WOW! I had their 4 course lunch and was sooooooo impressed! The soup was tasty and creamy, the salad was delicious - even the croutons (which I usually never eat) were tasty. I had the Scottish salmon for my main course and it was fantastic! I am not much of a veggie eater - but even the veggies were delicious! Each veggie had their own special flavour. The garnish sauces on the plates were super tasty! Dessert did not disappoint! Everything was so good I cleaned each plate! I went back again for lunch the following week and it did not disappoint either. I took half of it home and had it for lunch the next day. It was still impressive! I can hardly wait to go back for supper! read more

I just had the charcuterie a la maison and it was delicious I couldn't finish it off and I also got the fries and the curry ketchup is amazing and the fries are so crisp and I'm about to try the dessert the LeNotre hope it's good! read more

Le Bistro - Strawberry, pear, and mango sorbet - French Near Me - Houston, Texas

New chef, higher price, no more one of my favorit