I've been to Nancy's about 10 separate times. When they first opened, I was impressed by the servers with their deep knowledge and familiarity with every dish. I love a dimly lit restaurant that's somehow still intimate even with every seat filled. Plus, the brussel sprouts with tonnato sauce? Dish of my dreams. The pastas, the small dishes, the large dishes, the desserts, the drinks, the atmosphere - everything was 5 stars!! I came back to visit and unfortunately found myself having a 3.5 star experience. Perhaps the order was subpar? But none of the food really screamed *five stars* like every other visit I've made. Full order: - chilled oysters marinated in escabeche - gem lettuce with pancetta, anchovies, parsley & sherry vinaigrette - roasted okra with tahini curry, coconut, cilantro, and puffed rice - braised squash, brown butter roasted mushrooms, pistachio pistou - grilled branzino with ajo blanco, muscadine grape, and celery salad - sesame brown butter cookie I will say, the branzino was not a mistake. It was perfectly cooked, light, and flavorful. My second favorite dish was the squash as it was sweet and simple. The okra dish was a bit too funky for my liking with somehow both too much going on, and not enough separate flavors to keep it from feeling bland. We actually wanted the apple dessert but they were out, so we ended up with a cookie and it was surprisingly superb. Highly recommend the cookie if you're on the fence! All things considered, I'll continue to recommend Nancy's Hustle to anyone who visits Houston. Plus, perhaps the current menu just isn't for me. I hope to come back to enjoy a 5 star experience in the future. read more

Nancy's Hustle - Outdoor seating - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Ambience is always amazing here. And the food-- amazing. I insist that you get the nancy cakes, shrimp dumplings, bluefin tuna, pineapple crusted halibut, and the french fries. Three friends enjoyed all this food with a few classic cocktails-- it was the perfect pregame meal. Our wait staff were kind and gave us some great recommendations. Sad to have missed the sesame brown butter cookie this time-- so make sure to grab one the next time you visit! read more

Okay. I get the hype. We tried all the recommendations. Nancy's cakes. The burger. Everything was perfect. Make a resy. Try it out. Small but mighty. read more

After falling in love with Tiny Champions and looking at their website, I came across their sister restaurant, Nancy's Hustle. I've heard about them numerous times from social media and friends about how good this spot is and I can confirm, the hype is real. Right off the bat, I would recommend making a reservation way ahead of time because this restaurant is very popular. As for parking, there's spots in the front and back but there's also plenty of street parking! The interior is well decorated, dimly-lit, and intimate (just like Tiny Champions)! The staff were all very friendly and informative throughout the dining experience. For starters, my boyfriend and I ordered the cold smoked scallop crudo, nancy cakes, and charred engawa. Although all these appetizers were delicious, I would say nancy cakes is the one that you cannot miss getting! These cakes are corn-based (if I'm not mistaken) and they come out nice and warm. They're moist and have the perfect texture that you just cannot get enough of. Not to mention, they are generous with the amount of butter and roe- we almost had some left over! As for the entre, we ordered the barised squash and the grilled ribeye. The buttered squash definitely reminded me of Tiny Champion's dish 'buttered beans' with the flavors and texture- delicious! As for the grilled ribeye, this is another fantastic choice. An advice I will give though is that if you like medium-rare, ask the waiter to have the steak rare. This was a tip that my friend told me before coming here and at first I was skeptical but she was right. It was cooked the way I like it! I also love how the grilled ribeye comes with beef fat sticky rice. Another advice I'd give is if you are already ordering the ribeye, I would skip the braised squash since both dishes are very rich and heavy. All the dishes we had were incredible but if I had to rate the dishes, I would say Grilled Ribeye Nancy Cakes Charred Engawa Braised Squash Cold Smoked Scallop Crudo Overall, I absolutely loved my experience here at Nancy's Hustle and will highly recommend this spot to anyone! read more

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Very cute ambiance, but definitely on the small side. We sat on the patio and it was a little chilly without the heaters on. The menu is fairly small as well and definitely on the unique side. Get the lamb dumplings they are delicious. But skip the pickle party, it was a large bowl of pickled vegetables that wasn't well seasoned and had no actual pickles in it. The burger was tasty but you'll have to order the fries separately as it doesn't come with any side. The dessert menu also left something to be desired. Everything looked a little too...unique. read more

Relaxed, attentive, very comfortable. Food was excellent and more than we two could finish. Got the cakes and the pickle party, then the roast chicken and mushrooms on chickpea puree. No reason the cakes should be so good but they are - the roe adds a perfect spike of salt. Chicken was moist and very flavorful, mushrooms a very tasty and intense dish on their own. Very much worth the trip. PS: vanilla ice cream with almond chili crisp on top was yummy. read more

I just absolutely love this place. The drinks, food and ambience are perfect. I love eating here. There is absolutely nothing on the menu that I do not like. Love the Nancy cakes! read more

Nancy's hustle definitely lives up to the hype! We went for the first time over a year ago and had a lovely time, and tried the famous Nancy cakes along with some other dishes that are no longer on the menu, and were excited to come back again. We wanted to try some new things and went with the duck dumplings, the wood roasted chicken, and the beef fat sticky rice. Everything was excellent and had a distinctly unique flavor. The chicken was super juicy and the marinade was great. We topped it off with the brown butter sesame cookie and the spiced ice cream with a chili almond crunch, the desserts were super unique and delicious. Our server was very personable and attentive and gave great recommendations. Drink wise, we loved the seasonal raspberry Negroni and the ruby slippers. Definitely recommend! read more

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Amazing place! My boyfriend and I went here for our 7th anniversary and loved our experience here. The waiter is attentive to detail and food dishes are amazing. The vibe at the restaurant is amazing too. I highly recommend coming here for a special occasion. read more

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The menu is truly 5 star- the Nancy cake is a must-have and the item that met all the TikTok expectations. But it deserves 4 stars, in my opinion, due to the fact that the level of noise is so high. It is certainly an atmosphere, yet one should not anticipate a silent and intimate discussion. The other one was that despite a reservation we were made to wait a good 15 minutes at the bar till a table was ready. You will like it as long as you do not dislike high energy, and noisy atmosphere. I will come back, but then next time it will be on a weekday read more

Nancy's Hustle - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came back for a second visit and it was just as good as the first. Food was fresh and full of flavor. The service was super friendly and attentive. Love when a spot stays consistent! read more

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I was so excited to come here because it was on the Michelin guide. We had made an appointment prior but they weren't get busy on Tuesday night. There was a small parking lot in the back but there's also street parking is it gets full. Lots of servers checked in on us and made us feel taken care of. We ordered the Nancy's cakes, dumplings, pancetta and apple Napoleon. Food was phenomenal. My favorite was the Nancy's cakes of course. The butter paired perfectly with the cakes that I wished there were more cakes. I even took the butter home The pancetta was my next favorite, each bite was bursting with flavor. Dumplings were still good but didn't shine as much as the others. Apple Napoleon was a nice big portion to share with 2 people. Definitely with your time to check out! read more

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Capellini and angel hair pasta are the same thing. My bad. Here's my original review: It was good, but I'm not dying to go back. The croquettes were very heavy and the escarole salad didn't have creme fraiche like it said it did on the menu. Neither were good enough to get again. I loved the lamb tartare with the warm sesame flat bread. I could have ate that bread all day. The blue crab pasta was also excellent, however it said it was capellini pasta but came out angel hair. None of the cocktails or desserts interested me enough to try one. Though our actual waiter was great, the rest of the wait staff had an air of disinterest and lacked warmth. Maybe that's what they're going for with their hipster vibe? The interior was decorated so fun and unique. read more

Love this place!! Dark but cozy ambiance. Service is the best here- water is never not full. We love coming back here for the Nancy cakes. Literally nothing else has compared to it so far. Fries are always a classic but it felt too salty this time. Tireswing cocktail is SO refreshing and tasty- will always continue to order. We tried beef fat rice and my boyfriend loved it but it felt a bit too lime-y for my taste. Love this place, make sure to get a reservation! read more

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Nancy's hustle is such a gem. I have enjoyed the food here both times that I went. Didn't realize the burger was so amazing the first time so I had to go back and try it never pass up on the Nancy cakes either. There's a good vibe in the restaurant, great place to go with friends, and the servers are very personable. One of my favs read more

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My second time at Nancy's and it was still a charm! We started with the Nancy Cakes, warm, buttery, and packed with flavor with the cultured butter. The half chicken and grilled cabbage were extremely flavorful and the chicken was very moist! We had the hazelnut marjolaine for dessert and it was very delicious and just the right ending to the night. Our server Anastasia was very attentive and pleasant! Will definitely return, one of my favorite restaurants! read more

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Came here on a Monday evening around 5:30pm. Found parking behind the building, but it's mostly street parking in this area, I think. Walking in, the vibe was already great. It wasn't overly loud and the hostess was super nice even though the restaurant was already busy. Since it was just me, there was an opening at the bar, and I was sat immediately. Wanted to try a few things since it was my first time here. Started with a half portion of the Nancy Cakes, Shrimp Dumplings, and Ruby Slippers cocktail. I didn't know savory pancakes could be this good! But now I need the trout roe to accompany all pancakes in the future. The dumplings were also a must try and thr cocktail was also very good, not overly sweet. Had the Cheeseburger on Brioche English Muffin for my entree, and let me tell you - don't sleep on this burger! Initially, I wasn't sure what to order, but this was the bartender's recommendation. Pleasantly surprised, not sure why I haven't seen a burger and English muffin combo before, but it works! Took a warmed sesame brown butter cookie to go, and can confirm, also a good pick! TLDR; Nancy's Hustle is a vibe. Service is friendly and quick! Food is worth the hype and not overly priced, portion sizes are great even for a solo diner. 10/10, would definitely come back! read more

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Soft biscuits with butter & smoked trout roe, so fragrantI eat it by breaking it in half and then spreading thick butter on it. The biscuits are not sweet, but salty~ I also ordered wood grilled half chicken, which is very filling! But it is not tender, but a very solid chicken texture. The meat inside is good with the skin and sauce outside Spicy pork dumplingsI think it is just so-so, probably because it tastes like a mix of Chinese dumplings and Italian dumplings I ordered a cocktail that is not bad! The fruity taste is stronger than the alcoholic taste, and it tastes very refreshing, sour and sweet, with a little ice tea tasteTire Swing read more

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Amazing cocktails, food, and service at Nancy's Hustle. I can see why the Michelin Guide gave them Bib Gourmand. Everything was amazing. I loved the Nancy cakes, hamburger, pork jowl, pasta, desserts, and the many cocktails we had. read more

As expected, Nancy's Hustle received Michelin recognition in Houston's inaugural guide. What was already difficult to secure reservations in the short term, it's now become even harder. We had to settle for a 9pm time. + Good vibes + Good selection of menu items, food and drink + Nancy cakes are as fantastic as ever. This is a MUST when you visit. + Sourdough + cultured butter is a fav, and great starter. - So I read amazing things about the burger, so I made sure to order this. Looks like the approach was smash burger, similar to Whataburger. I'm not quite sure why they opted for an English muffin, but it needs to be more toasted imo. Needs more acid, it's a little greasy, either a mustard or tomatoes. I think the biggest disappointment was the patty itself. For each of the two patties, only one side had that nice crispy brown texture and cook, the other was just sad and meatloaf-y. Very disappointed, especially when you're paying $18 for it! No fries even. - Wild boar ragu, good, could be more al dente, but unbelievably salty. Might need more pasta to balance that out. - What happened to the lemon marmalade that used to come with the sourdough??? - It is possible you might have to wait even when it has reached your reservation time as other guests have stayed a little longer than anticipated. No real waiting area. - Not sure if the staff are attentive, or just want folks to splurge for drinks (higher margins), but we got asked ~4 times if we wanted drinks, it could have been more if we didn't decide to order something the 4th time and we had some time to sit down. Nancy's Hustle has gotten their Nancy cakes down pat. Unfortunately, it's weird when the best thing you eat all night is the appetizer. Let's hope they don't change the name anytime soon to the burger or ragu. As it stands right now, Nancy's Hustle is just where I recommend friends to try just Nancy Cakes, anything else they'll have to take a flyer. I give Nancy's Hustle 3 mouthgasms, out of 5. read more

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I cannot stop thinking about their roasted cabbage and oysters, phenomenal. The Nancy cakes were okay & the Parmesan cheese cake was a war crime. read more

Visited last night and it was good. Hubby and I ordered the nancy cakes, the cheeseburger with fries, the wild boar ragu, and the vanilla panna cotta. The burger and the panna cotta are the only memorable things for me - they were delicious. Service was great, the atmosphere was lively but just a tad bit too loud sometimes. Cool playlist. All in all, I liked it but I am not in a rush to visit again anytime soon. And having eaten here twice, I still don't understand the hype about this place. read more

Super cute and dimly lit ambience, many interesting dishes with unique flavors, though we did not find many to actually be delicious. A lot of the flavors leaned very vinegary and acidic. Lamb dumplings fell sort of flat. The Nancy cakes were interesting, a yeasty salty flavor profile. The pork chop was just okay. The standouts were the butternut tortellini and the Parmesan cheesecake. Server was attentive but pretty unfriendly. For the price, there are many better options in town. read more

Top 3 on my list since 2018. The menu selection changes, but the savory depth of flavor never goes away. Heather took care of us, and she was by far the most attentive and accommodating. On a Sunday night, the place was lively, without being crowded and dimly light with candles. What a great date night spot! read more

Nancy's Hustle - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

I love Nancy's Hustle! I've tried it out a few times a few years ago but hadn't had a chance until recently to visit again. J and I stopped by on a Saturday evening. We regrettably forgot to make a reservation but thankfully were accommodated after only a 15 minute wait. We both opted for cocktails to start off our night and found them light and refreshing. Our server was very helpful in recommending menu items for us to try. We decided on the spiced pork and butter dumplings to start us off. When they came out, we were pleasantly surprised by the rich, creamy taste. We polished them off quickly and waited with excitement for our entrees. The lamb tartare was succulent and delicious. We adored the rich taste of the dish and the combinations of flavors was perfect. Finally, the cheeseburger. I did not find the cheeseburger quite up to par with the unique tastes of the other dishes, but it is also a cheeseburger. I liked the bun used and found the dip for the fries very tasty. All in all, this is a great spot for a date night or casual dinner with friends. The setup of the restaurant is very inviting and cozy, and the food is impeccable. I will definitely be back, though probably for another special occasion due to the price range. read more

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Great atmosphere but, boy was this place COLD! It was so cold that even the hostess had a very heavy sweatshirt on. And put on a second one over the first. This may seem trivial, but when you're cold, you don't want to linger and enjoy your food. And that was true for us. We did ask to move and the manager came over, having turned down the AC, to encourage us to stay put so that we could linger and not have to hurry through our meal, which, I think, was meant to be thoughtful and accommodating. So points for that. But the AC came back on and we ended up hurrying anyway. In fact, at one point, I blew a steam bubble that my table mates could see. Sigh. That complaint aside, according to the table, the standouts were the fried rice, burger, pickles, and walnut upside down cake. My chicken was beautifully cooked even though I didn't care for the sauce. And the fries were lovely (if not as hot as I'd like them--because they were freezing, like the rest of us). The service was lovely. The place packed. We were seated in a timely manner. All in all, okay. But I'd go back with a coat. read more

My favorite restaurant in Houston. It all just works for me. It starts with amazing service. It's always a good idea to make a reservation but a nice weather they can often accommodate a spontaneous request outside or inside. The level of service continues throughout. They always have brilliant cocktails. And I've loved everything I've ever gotten on the menu. Salads, large plates, small plates. It's most fun to come here with a lot of people so that you can have a number of dishes. The Nancy cakes are delicious. It is their take on how cakes. It's the first place I think of when I want to take somebody from out of town read more

I am probably the last person to visit Nancy's Hustle, but that's fine. They have had plenty of time to work out any kinks and decide what the best things are to keep on the menu. Speaking of those, your server may inform you the menu is seasonal but the 2 constants are the Nancycakes and the burger. The first thing I noticed when I pulled up is there is mostly street parking, but if you're lucky enough you can snag a spot in the rear parking lot, which has around 12 or so spaces. Inside is a very cozy and bustling environment which is still hard to get reservations to sit in this area to this day. Their interior dining space is not that large, so overflow and walk-in guests like me, will usually be forced to sit on the rear patio which, on nice evenings, is a very nice option. It's much quieter, clean, and airy. I was a little familiar with the menu prior to my visit but I hadn't studied it by any means. The customer base is pretty mixed so you will see a variety of items on the menu, also at different price points to cater to just about anyone. I did have the mindset that I would order a cocktail, an app, and an entree at the least. I chose the Nancycakes, the burger, and the voodoo doll as my cocktail. I also was tempted by the scallop crudo and the beef fat sticky rice. Voodoo doll - served in a coupe glass, this is a decent rum cocktail that is fairly basic and for a big drinker, it's a quick drink. 3/5 Scallop crudo- this was a fairly simple display of scallops on the half shell, you receive only 2 scallops which appear to have been sliced horizontal, with some Spanish ham, lemon gastrique, apple and seasoning. It was a really great combination. 4/5 Nancycakes- all I can say is it was interesting and different. I like all the components, but I just never tasted the magic when you combine them all in one bite. I wasn't super impressed. 2/5 Burger - I don't eat american cheese, and thats all they supposedly have, so i'm probably one of the few customers who asks to remove the cheese on their cheeseburger. That didn't seem to matter, and probably made it even easier to taste the beef, peppery flavor, and aioli going on in the sandwich. Some people say it's the best they've had in Houston. I don't agree, but it was a very tasty burger indeed. It could possibly go into the top 10 for me in the Houston area. The English muffin holds the burger up well, because that's necessary when your burger is so juicy and constantly dripping aioli. Almost every table around me also ordered the burger, and you should too. 5/5 Beef fat sticky rice - this is sort of a play on fried rice, but also flavored sticky rice, however I never tasted anything sticky about it, so it failed on that account. However, the flavors were there and this is a heavy side dish. I liked it and I'm not even a huge rice fan. 4/5 Overall, a great experience from one of Houstons best restaurants. It's no wonder so many reputable sources (Houston Chronicle, Eater Houston, etc.) name them one of the top restaurants in the city. Last but not least, their restrooms are interesting too. Both spots are unisex, but at least one of them has flamingo wallpaper and there is a quiet bird chirping you will notice from the vents in the ceiling when you're in there doing your business. read more

We really enjoyed this restaurant. The food was amazing, great ambiance, and excellent service. We will definitely go back anytime I am Houston. read more

Very overrated in my opinion.. not bad but not amazing like everyone says it is. We split the Nancy cakes, burger, fries, and croquettes for a light dinner. Nancy cakes just taste like a mix between pancakes and English muffins but it was quite dry and flavorless... the dip was too salty and one dimensional in flavor. Everyone raves about the burger, but again it's good but not amazing. A burger you make at home on your grill would taste better in my opinion. We got there at opening and was able to get seated with a reservation. Service was friendly, vibes were cute. Food very underwhelming, and expensive. Would not go again. read more

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Finally made it to Nancy's Hustle and it was an all-around great experience. I made reservations online ahead of time, which was super easy, and everything from the service to the food to the atmosphere was on point. The vibe inside is modern and cool with interesting art scattered throughout the space. It feels stylish without being pretentious and is perfect for a night out with friends or a casual but elevated date. Service was honestly some of the best I've had in Houston. Our waiter was knowledgeable, warm, and gave really helpful recommendations on what to order and how many dishes to share. He made the whole meal feel well-paced and relaxed. Also, shoutout to the team for never letting our water glasses get below half full...they were on it all night! Between the three of us, we shared the Nancy Cakes, duck dumplings, parmesan & pancetta croquettes, the wood-grilled half chicken, and ended on the vanilla bean panna cotta. Everything was beautifully done and the portions were just right to leave us full but not overly stuffed. The food has so much flavor and attention to detail in every bite! Parking was a breeze too. They have their own lot, so no circling or street meter stress, which always earns extra points in my book. read more

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I've been wanting to try Nancy's hustle for quite some time and it did not disappoint! After high regards from friends and the recently acquired bib gourmand from Michelin, there were definitely high expectations and Nancy's hustle really met those/exceeded! The ambiance is quaint with having open to the kitchen. It's quite small - the restaurant itself - so definitely make a reservation asap/ahead of time. We ate our way through a LOT of the menu. Us 4 shared everything - which I believe is the way to do it since it's great to try as many the small and main plates for variety. We started with the croquettes and nancy cakes. Both were absolutely delicious! Nancy cakes are definitely unique being a savory pancake with the roe butter. Duck dumplings also for a start. I am allergic to peanuts so they put that on the side! Very good. For mains we got the fish, burger, and iberico pork and sides we got the shallot crispy rice and fries. Everything we got was so so delicious! Loved the unique burger as it was on an English muffin. Great flavor. The pork had amazing flavor as well. The fish was a good cut through of the heavier meats we got! The dessert was unique but not our fav. Overall - the service was attentive, the ambiance quaint and nice, the food phenomenal!! We will be back read more

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Oh Nancy's. What a treat you are. The place is super cute inside. Smaller and quaint. We got there right at opening and everyone was piling in. I'd suggest to get there at opening or make a reservation as it filled up quick. Our bartender (I believe he is a Bostonian- don't recall his name) was friendly and attentive. He made some great drinks. We ordered the following Nancy Cakes- absolutely Devine. They were savory and the butter made it sweet. 10/10 Lamb Tartare- it needs some seasoning. It was unique and the texture was fine but it was flavorless. 2/10 Smashed Cucumber Salad- dammit, slap your momma. The flavor and the texture were on point. It's healthy & great. Something you could eat daily and be sated. 1000/1000 This place is definitely a staple and I'd 1000% recommend read more

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Man I love this place. Great date spot. Reasonably priced. Service is excellent. Food is A+ delicious, flavorful, well executed and consistently wonderful. Would go back for the savory pancakes alone. read more

Nancy's Hustle - Nancy Cakes! @coreyd123 on ig for all your photography needs! - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

NYE dinner, just as good as in previous visits. The service is Michelin star worthy. The food is creative, curated and exceptionally delivered. I DO wish that the cocktails were less sweet. read more

This is such a quaint place. Great for a date night or catching up with a close friend. We sat at the bar and it was perfect because we had questions on the food and the bartender/waitress was able to answer everything we need. The food is delicious especially the lamb and sticky rice. The cocktails are refreshing as well. They have street parking and parking lot parking. We didn't have a reservation but the wait time was still quick on a Friday night (about 30 mins). I would definitely come back here. read more

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Absolutely amazing food and service! Every single dish was a 10/10! Highly recommend and the lamb tartare and fig leaf ice cream. read more

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Absolutely exquisite! I love the open kitchen concept and how the menu is always new each visit. The service is excellent and the ambiance is so special. Every detail is beautiful. read more

I was in Pasadena for work and there weren't many fine dining options where I was. I looked to Yelp for help and found Nancy's Hustle in downtown Houston. It was totally worth it! I really enjoyed the Nancy's cakes, the texture of the fluffy pancake and the savory butter with roe and chives went perfectly with them. I ordered the lamb tartare and my coworker had the cheeseburger. The sesame flatbread that came with the tartare was amazing! I can taste how fresh it is. My coworker enjoyed his burger. Service was good. They got pretty busy around 7-8pm. I like the ambiance and decor. A bit dim, probably good for a nice romantic date or outing with friends, but I would've preferred more lighting if they wanted business meeting type customers. I'd feel a little weird if I took a customer here, they might misunderstand and think it's a date . Maybe the restaurant could consider making one side of the place same atmosphere as now and the other side more well-lit? My only disappointment is the cheesecake was a bit odd. They drizzled honey over it and there's cracked black pepper taste on it? I would definitely try a different dessert next time. read more

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In my opinion this is one of the best restaurants in Houston. Why you ask? Well their food is incredible along with the service. So it's a great restaurant to go with multiple people and eat family style. The place is not huge but you must have a reservation at least a week in advance. Make sure you get their burger....the best in Houston and it's betweenEnglish muffin. Great wine list too. read more