Whenever I think of the West University area of Houston, I usually think of quirkiness and uniqueness not usually possessed in the suburban areas. Some businesses in this area can have excessive amounts of quirkiness and uniqueness that, let's just say, can be "overwhelming". However, when I happened to be in the museum district and stumbled upon going to Picnic for lunch, I discovered this restaurant was "overwhelmingly simple". The restaurant has the refreshing approach of taking you back to the communal experience of eating with people at a picnic. While there is a variety of sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts, the core item in the menu is "the basket". When your order a "basket" you choose a sandwich, bag of chips, and a homemade cookie. The menu is simple, but the items are classics with modern twists, including a chicken salad with sun-dried tomatoes and basil, an egg salad with olives, and a pork tenderloin sandwich with basil mayonnaise. The experience is completed by eating your meal at the long, wooden tables with benches. Enjoying my meal at the "picnic table" made me feel like an outdoor picnic was transported indoors. The simplicity in the nostalgia of the experience is something that will make me a return customer. read more

I've had the boxed lunches from Picnic many times over the last few years, but this past Friday was the first time I actually set foot in their store. It shares parking with other stores in this strip, and despite going after the lunch rush, parking was still pretty full. I've had the chicken salad sandwich (yum) and the turkey & avocado (yum). They have Zapp's chips in many flavors and excellent cookies for dessert. The service was adequate, the dining room was clean. There's absolutely nothing wrong with Picnic, but there's not outstanding either. I could go back, or not and I'd still be alright. read more

What a great deal when you get the boxed lunch! Fruit cup, pickle, sandwich, chips, and a cookie for under $10. If only they had fountain sodas, then we would be better set! I always do get bummed when they run out of the lemon cookies, which are my favorite, highly reccomend! We come here all of the time due to its close proximity to work. Their sandwiches are fine and the service is really quick. I don't love their chicken salad, but most rave about it. Again, I'm a picky eater though. I like the turkey sandwich, and their pork tender sandwich is actually really good. Parking sucks during lunch, but it is legal to park on some parts of Bissonnet pretty much across the street. read more

PROS: Truly delicious sandwiches. CONS: Poor service, limited hours, and staff that shows little excitement or concern for repeat or customers who place large orders. read more

I've never actually been inside Picnic, but it was catered for one of my work events and I got the classic box lunch. Usually I'm just eh about those kinds of catered sandwich lunches (unless it's Jimmy John's, they're in a whole other league) but my Picnic box lunch introduced me to probably the best egg salad sandwich I've ever had. It had green olives and a special basil mayo - I don't know what else they put in there but it was heavenly. The chips on the side were just Lays, so nothing special, and the cookie wasn't anything to rave about, but I did like that the box came with a fruit cup, too. And it was quality fruit - strawberries and blueberries and pineapple, not just the cheap melon mixes you get at a lot of places. I love the concept of the restaurant, and though I initially thought $9.50 was a little steep for a sandwich, chips, fruit, pickle and cookie - especially since that's a pretty easy and cheap lunch to prepare for yourself - if you think about it, buying a 6 inch sub, chips, cookie, and side of fruit from Subway or someplace like that would be just as much, if not more, and Picnic's quality of food is substantially better. You can also get the sandwich on its own for just $6.25, and I would totally take advantage of that just for the egg salad. I wish every work event or meeting I have would use Picnic because it's been by far the best quality food I've ever had at a catered event. Whether you're looking for your next meeting caterer or you're actually going on a picnic, Picnic should definitely be up on your list! read more

I really don't get this place at all. As you walk in, you'll spot all these nice looking fresh breads. Would you like one of those on your sandwich? No, you're getting white. And you're getting Mayo on that white bread with a generous potion of meat slopped in the center with inches of plain Mayo bread surrounding. A single slice of cheese cut thin enough to read through will round out what must be the laziest sandwich. Pretty it ain't. You get chips with your sandwich so please read the tiny note with the list on the case in front of you because it isn't on the menu. I think the worst part is the food isn't bad. It'd be easier to deal with this level of thoughtlessness if the food sucked too; at least then it would make sense. Also in the corner of the room is a wire rack of cheap plastic junk noone would want to buy wtf is up with that? What a schitzophrenic place! read more

As I have confessed in the past, I love the idea of picnics but hate the process of making it work . . . So when I want to have a picnic, I just pick up one of Picnic's boxed lunches and head to the dandelion fountain sculpture on Allen Parkway or to Discovery Green. I first got hooked on Picnic at the Jung Center. They always pick up Picnic lunches for their Saturday workshops, and I really enjoyed their chicken salad on sour dough... but seriously, what got me was their chocolate chip cookies. If you really like me, you can get me one of their super awesome white tin cans full of chocolate chip cookies, and you shall be my friend forever. So what if Picnic isn't gourmet sandwiches, and they are a little pricier than subway . . . they are tasty, have good cookies, they deliver aaaand they wrap them in cute little boxes with a sticker. What more can one ask for? read more

I've eaten here multiple times in the past, but haven't been in a few years because it was just meh and there were better options in the area. I remembered the chicken salad and pork tenderloin being my go to sandwiches. It was way past lunch time and I was driving down Bissonnet and craving a simple sandwich so I decided to swing by and grab a sandwich. After much deliberation between the ham and pork tenderloin, I decided to go with the pork tenderloin. Maybe it was because I am a hungry pregnant lady and it was already 2pm and I haven't eaten anything since breakfast, but I inhaled that sandwich! It had a good amount of pork tenderloin, sourdough bread was nice and soft, and the ancho mayo and pickled onions perfectly pulled the sandwich together. It was so good, I decided to go there again the next day. Today I got the ham sandwich. It was very disappointing. The bread was hard and not soft and fluffy like the previous day and the Dijon mustard overpowered the basil mayo, all I tasted was the mustard. The sandwich could've used more ham, there were parts of the sandwich without meat. I'll be back to get the pork tenderloin sandwich because it was pretty darn tasty and to give Picnic a few more tries before I take it off my lunch rotation. read more

Before my daughter and I made our way to the museum district we stopped in Picnic for lunch. The prices kinda caught me off guard(for the two of us eating sandwiches it was almost $20), but it was raining and I didn't want to be out in it and we wanted a quick bite. Which food prep is very quick and tasty ate that. Even my daughter who hates any condiment was loving the basil/garlic mayo on her sandwich..it was very good! I had the baske which comes with a fruit cup, chips, pickle and a cookie! And that cookie was just awesome! The peanut butter cookie I thought was going to be hard was not anything like that when I put a piece in my mouth, it like crumbled perfectly! I enjoyed the food just not the prices..I may go back if I am in that area again! read more

A really cute little place that has delicious, homemade foods. Wonderful for kids and a calm afternoon lunch. We will definitely return. read more

Picnic - Bakeries Near Me - Houston, Texas

Drive up and they take your order at the car! Sandwiches and salads and kids sack lunches! We waited with windows down and they bring the food to ya with 5min wait time. Great service!! They have outdoor seating as well! What an awesome neighborhood find. read more

I really wish this place sold bread by the slice and smoothies. That is all I wanted when I wondered into the restaurant that afternoon. So I just soothed my angry belly by eating all the samples they had on the counter... that is how I roll. The sandwhiches and soups are great though I have only had them in a boxed lunch. read more

Decent lunch spot in a great location. I have had several lunches cateered from Picnic at business meetings before, so I decided to check it out in person. Overall, it's nothing to write home about. Small space, hard chairs. The food is pretty good (though the cookies always seem overcooked--maybe I just like them Tiny Boxwoods style). I usually get the chicken salad, or the turkey. Turkey is a little better. Everything is fresh and well made, but they have their own take on recipes that you either like or you don't. read more

I love this low-key lunch place. A lot of their business is take-out, and there are a few tables inside, plus one outdoor table with 2 chairs. Bus your own used dishes, please. There are choices of sandwiches, salads, and delectable muffins and cookies. They, also, make custom cakes, apparently. I ordered the tuna and chicken salad combo. It came with a small fresh fruit cup and a tiny bun. Truly, it was more than I could eat, and the greens were mixed -- not just the nutrient-deficient iceberg lettuce! Service was quick, friendly. You order and pay at the counter, pick up at the counter when your order is called. There is sufficient parking in the adjacent lot. No street parking here. Nice. read more

Good sandwich. A little pricey but worth it for the fresh sourdough bread. read more

Picnic - Bakeries Near Me - Houston, Texas

We were so excited to eat here. I told the lady I hate onions. I ordered a chef salad. Drove 30 minutes to open my lunch to find spinach salad loaded with purple onions. I am now stranded with no lunch. When I called the first gentleman said my entire order would be refunded due to the mistake. The next lady was not as nice and only refunded my salad. Refunding the salad was what I expected but the first gentleman was so apologetic and I thought these people know how to make a bad situation right. Not so. read more

The lunch box thing is the ultimate munchie ender! So many sides! Sandwich, chips, fruit cup and a f**king cookie! Boom! BAM! POW! Not enough booths, I like my privacy, I like to have off topic conversations and don't like to get side ways looks. Sandwich was awesome! Bread was excellent! Exceptional ration of bread to meat! Keep on feeding this hippie, I'm always hungry! read more

Very adorable place- fantastic for breakfast or lunch. Has a school cafeteria vibe but in a good way. There's sandwiches, fresh baked breads, and salads, fresh fruit and you can even get them in a lunch box order that comes with chips and a side salad. I love the set up, it's very open and feels like you're actually eating in a park. It reminds me of Jo's in Austin. read more

Of course this is my first review on Yelp because it's one of my favorite restaurants!!! Yes the parking is a pain but if you go off hours it's not as bad. The chicken salad is my favorite especially because it's not too mayonaise. The chocolate chewy cookies are AMAZING! My mom even coined them "mollie cookies" because i like them so much. The restaurant has a relaxed feel that's perfect for a weekend lunch. I come as often as I can! read more

The place was really cute and I was excited for my Greek salad... Until I discovered a huge roach. Thought it was a black olive, but it had legs. Good thing I noticed! read more

We love ordering Picnic for meetings. Their food is so fresh and you have so many choices. I like the turkey and havarti cheese. I am a pickle person so I enjoy my pickle also. read more

If you are looking for a quick sandwich place for someone with a normal lunch hour- pack your own because this is not it! They have Zero parking and I had to wait 20 minutes in line for a call in order because the cashier couldn't multitask. The finale included shells in my watery and bland eggsalad. I will not be back- its wayyy overrated! read more

I love picnic. The people are friendly ad the food I alway good. I love the black bean soup, the lemon bars, the black eyed peas, and the roasted turkey sandwich. Now that I am recently gluten intolerant though, it is hard to eat here, but the butternut squash soup and black bean soup are really good! read more

I used to think Picnic was overly pricey for what you get. $10 for a turkey sandwich boxed lunch seems like a lot. But they have slowly won me over with the consistent quality of their sandwich lunch boxes and kind service. I've never gotten an incorrect order, though I haven't yet tried placing large orders. The one time it seemed like they forgot and left me waiting longer than usual, the box packer slipped in an extra cookie for me without a word. Though I am annoying with my various pesky food allergies, they happily do the necessary substitutions at no extra charge. The lunch line is never longer than 3-4 people. The food may not be groundbreaking, but it is of solidly good quality. I love their housemade granola, packed with toasted coconut. Their chocolate chip pecan cookies are one of the top 10 chocolate chip cookies in the city. All the sides I have tried (potato salad, kale, pasta salad) are hearty, generously portioned, and well seasoned. I am no longer intimidated by their parking lot either--it might be super-compact and some of the people park like weenies, but there is always at least one spot even at peak lunch times. I've never come with my family, but Picnic also seems super kid-friendly. The food choices are simple and plainly displayed, they have all kinds of sweet treats and toys to peruse, they offer varied seating, and the bathrooms are clean. Above all, Picnic is fast, easy and consistent, and when you're dealing with tired/hungry children sometimes that is all that matters. read more

First time here, this is a great little place to have lunch at! I must have driven by it a thousand times and never noticed it until yesterday but I'm definitely going to start stopping by for lunch more often! They offer a wide variety of sandwiches and salads as well as lunch boxes, I had a ham and swiss sandwich which tasted delicious with some chips, next time I'll have to try one of their salads too! read more

Love this spot. I've been coming here since they first opened years ago. They went above and beyond today- I called in a to go order in the pouring rain. I asked if someone could run the order to my car since my baby is sound asleep I'm the backseat. No hesitation on their end to do it!! The pork sandwich with extra mayo and chocolate chewy cookie are worth the drive from the heights read more

If your looking for some overpriced sandwiches with lackluster decor than you have come to the right place! I must admit, for the price I was paying I expected the bread to taste homemade and not like it was bought from a store. I think the picnic benches do go along with the name and overall theme but they are not very comfortable to sit on. I have found better for cheaper. I love supporting local flavor, but this time stick with the chain stores and franchises. read more

Their boxed lunches are okay. The sandwiches always have a lot of meat on them, but the bread, while fresh, is just basic sandwich bread. It's the type of sandwich I could make at home, so when I go out to eat, I like for my sandwiches to have some pretty awesome bread, like ciabatta or some crusty sourdough or something. That could just be my personal preference, though. Also, and this is another personal preference, the cookie that comes with it is really crunchy. I prefer a softer cookie. Anyway, my favorite thing about this place is the cinnamon raisin biscuits with icing. They sell these on Saturday mornings, and they usually sell out pretty quickly, as I learned the hard way when I walked over there one morning at 11:00 a.m. Still, they're worth waking up early. read more

After having a coworker praise their Greek Chicken Salad for months on end, I caved in and made my way to the famous Picnic to see what all the noise was about. Let me tell you guys as simple as a salad may sound, it was the bomb. I ordered mine with the balsamic vinaigrette. It just made the entire salad(if you like sour dressing that is). I couldn't help but dip the bread in it either. Long story short, you need to go and try their Greek Chicken Salad. read more

One of my go to lunch spots. It can get pretty packed and sometimes the line moves slow. There is typically a hold up at the cash register - my guess is customers asking too many questions. The food does come out quickly so they end up making up for it. My favorite items are the Greek chicken salad with lemon caper dressing, regular chicken salad, and the sausage kale soup. I don't recommend the tomato basil soup it is way too watery also the side of fruit is not good (I wonder how many people waste this). Must haves - lemon sugar cookie and the iced tea!! read more

I was quite disappointed with my sandwich. I ordered the shrimp salad sandwich as a box meal to-go. The shrimp salad consist of mainly celery. I felt they could have up'd the amount of shrimp for the cost. I also wasn't too impressed with the homemade chocolate chip with pecan cookie. It was burnt on the edges, bland in taste, and had few chocolate chips. Based on my experience I won't go back. read more

Picnic - Shrimp Salad Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Houston, Texas

Love this place! One of my go to spots! They just added this new organic cold pressed juice that is amazingly refreshing, if it is in stock you have to try the watermelon mint or the pure green :) Fresh healthy ingredients, friendly staff and prompt service with a smile. read more

When I first tried this place I absolutely LOVED it. I got the boxed lunch and the sandwiches were delicious and I fell in love with the way they added mint to their fruit cups! I craved their sandwiches almost everyday. Unfortunately my second visit, my fruit cup was just filled with rotten grapes and I mean brown and one even had mold on it. I didn't want to make too bi of a deal and it happens but now it seems to be like a reoccurring thing every time I decide to get lunch. My fruits are just rotten and sour! Love this place but please pay just a tad wee bit more to your fruits!! read more

I used to love Picnic but I think they have really gone downhill. Lately their special touches (mint in the fruit salad, olives in the egg salad, quality of the bread) haven't been noticeable in their food. Today I had a box lunch and it was NOT good. The bread was hard and stale, they gave me the heel of a loaf of bread on my sandwich (ick), the egg salad was flavorless, fruit salad was funky (not in a good way), and the cookie tasted old. I am so sad this place isn't as good as it once was. I loved it. read more

I'd come back. Here before the lunch rush - lots of sides and desserts to chose from. Fresh bread and ingredients. Nice spot.

Man do I love the chicken salad sandwich at Picnic! I've had a few other sandwiches, but the chicken salad is the star of the show as far as I'm concerned. The sourdough bread compliments the creamy chicken salad perfectly. I get the box lunch, which includes chips, a fruit cup, a cookie (get the pecan chocolate chip) and a pickle wedge. It's a perfect lunch at a very affordable price. Service is fast and friendly. I could eat there several times a week. read more

This is such a cute little place. A co-worker and I decided to go for lunch. We had a nice time. Although both of our sandwiches were good, I enjoyed my friend's chicken salad more than my shrimp salad. I love that you can find out the best spots in town for a nice picnic. The staff wasn't over-friendly, but they weren't rude. I'll have to give this place another try. I'm looking forward to the egg salad after reading other reviews. read more

Picnic is the perfect place to have lunch! They have delicious homemade bread, which I like to pick up at least once every week and have around the house. They have an amazing lunch special where you get a sandwich, cookie, chips, and a fruit salad all for $8.50! I don't know any place in town where you can get that good of a deal. The food is fresh and they have a cool atmosphere. Also, their other restaurant Raven Grill is amazing as well...nice place to have a relaxing dinner! Only downside is the parking. read more

Yummy lunch box! Sandwiches delicious, quick and easy. Very handy place to stop by or pick up lunch!

I went here once and I'm already hooked. Their turkey sandwich is just so delicious. Pretty good sized sandwich. The lunch box including chip, sandwich and a cookie is about $10. read more