1/2-priced wines by the glass on Sundays and during the week (4-6) are the main draw for me. Interesting list and with the special pricing it can't be beat. The "regular" list features some pretty impressive bottles, too, and is decently priced. Long story short: go for the wine. The restaurant is showing its age and needs an upgrade in terms of decor and linens, silverware, glassware, etc. To munch on with our wines, we ordered chili-cheese fries. Who can resist cheese fries? Although we consumed them voraciously, for a place of this alleged caliber, they should have been amazing. Instead, we were presented with Ore Ida-esque fries (not even fried til golden brown), green chiles from Rotel and some kind of pre-grated pasteurized processed monterrey jack cheese food product. In other words, something I'd make for myself at home at a late hour with impaired judgment. Service was fine, although the lack of a crowd during our visit (around 6-8 on a Sunday) left many of the employees around gossiping and complaining that they didn't have any tables. Fine to do, but maybe not within earshot of the few customers you DO have! read more

My lovely sister-in-law bought us a gift certificate to Rainbow Lodge for Christmas, and it took us until March to use it! When my sister came into town, we decided to check out their Sunday brunch! First of all, the parking was confusing. You pull up kind of like you're pulling into a valet at a hotel--that's the best thing I can liken it to. It looked almost like I was not supposed to drive up where the valet was... but it's correct. It is all valet parking. We got there right when brunch started. We were the only people in the restaurant. Awkward. The place is huge, so if you're wondering about having a long wait for Sunday brunch... I can tell you when we left at 11am, it was still empty. I wouldn't worry about a wait. The waiter was attentive, though possibly a bit overly attentive. However, in his defense, we were his only table for quite a while. He happily brought us more mimosas and our water was always full. The biscuits and pastries they bring at the beginning of breakfast were delicious. We ordered the game platter (all the various kinds of meat), the shrimp and grits, and the fancy french toast. All were delicious! The french toast was like eating sugar. Delicious sugar... but sugar nonetheless. The portions were relatively small, especially given the cost of the meals. Overall, the ambiance wasn't great--it was a big place, and so empty. I suppose that was our fault for getting there too early, but still. I did like that we were seated by a fireplace. It was decorated in the "game" theme, with antlers and deer heads mounted everywhere. I honestly think this place might be better for a nice dinner, or a fancy brunch (maybe for Easter?) at least for my taste. While we really enjoyed the experience and food, it was a little upscale for our typical brunch taste. Regardless, as long as you're prepared for the cost, I'd say this is worth checking out. Maybe another special occasion brunch would feel like a better fit. read more

I'm definitely a fan of this place. I went here Sunday for brunch and had the crab meat omelet. It was good, the reason why I'm only giving them a 4 star is because I feel like they didn't put enough crab meat in it but it was still good. They have $2 mimosas, YES $2 and they are really good. My friend had the seared salmon and that was good too. The complementary variety of breads were to die for. And our waiter was very nice and attentive which is a huge plus as well. Next awesome thing is the scenery. We sat by the back patio and it just looked fabulous, I would definitely come back here on a warmer day to sit in the back patio and enjoy brunch. read more

Rainbow Lodge - Crab meat omelet - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Omg. This place has an amazing ambiance and log cabin feel to it. I came here for my anniversary and felt that it was the perfect place to go - besides your typical steakhouse (this was a much better choice). I highly recommend the 5 (or 6?) course meal with the wine pairing. The service was phenomenal as well. I will definitely be back. read more

Fantastic place to host an event! The food at Rainbow Lodge is delicious and unique, and the service and communication is fantastic. We recently held an event at the restaurant and the folks at Rainbow Lodge ensured everything went perfectly! read more

The food was prepared to perfection. The wait staff is impeccable. They don't hover around your table, but they keep up with filling your water and checking on you in the event you are wanting something else. Our table overlooked a beautifully manicured green space. We went for lunch which was nice and yet casual. We will definitely be going back! read more

I love this place! There are some many wonderful things about The Rainbow Lodge. For starters, it's just that ... "a lodge" in the middle of Houston, which is quite a contrast for the "ultra modern" restaurant trend we see some of today. The decor is rustic, fascinating and quite charming. Second, it has an amazing patio that is perfect for drinks and dinner. Third, the Rainbow Lodge has one of the most interesting and exotic menus. As other reviewers have mentioned the decor is rustic, fascinating and charming and the menu is filled with wild game dishes. My new favorite dish is the Duck Confit. Granted it is an appetizer, but paired with a salad it is a great dish to share. Once a month, the Rainbow Lodge hosts a food and wine pairing event that is absolutely incredible! read more

Took my husband here for Father's Day...the Mimosas are the best. One word describe this cozy place, "AWESOME"!!!

Went for HRW 2014 and had duck gumbo which was delicious just wish temp wise it is hotter...I like steam from food. We also had a charcuterie platter with bison medallion, venison sausage, and beef tenderloin medallion...very tasty. Grouper entree was unfortunately well done which made the fish hard. Pork tenderloin was good but the collards were very salty. Beef short ribs were good. read more

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Came for HRW and it was great. The service was fast and attentive, even down to the valet. Our waiter was very nice and friendly. The host could have been just a little friendlier. He didn't seem all that pleasant. The food was great. I ordered the smoked duck gumbo, braised buffalo short rib, and the croissant bread pudding. My sister ordered the summer stone fruit with arugula salad, pan seared grouper, and the southern buttermilk pie jar. Everything turned out wonderful. I do wish though that my side items to my braised short rib was the crawfish mash potatoes instead of the celery root mash. I would definitely come back again. side note: This is not a very stroller/baby friendly place. It's a big place with lots of stepping up and down stairs/steps to different rooms. read more

We love this place. We try something new each time, and love everything we have tried. Tonight we had the wild game meatloaf (me), the husband had the nilgai antelope tenderloin, and the kid picked the chicken tenderloins. They don't have much of a menu for children. We had the wild game appetizer. read more

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Great restaurant with a superb menu and even better staff! Came here for a ladies who do lunch and play tennis get together. We had a set menu due to the size of our team but the selection offered beat our expectations and the service was so attentive. I sampled their duck and sausage gumbo and the balance of flavors, protein and broth was great. For my main course I had a hanger steak cooked medium rare and it was delicious. We were in a private room with the view of the trees and the leaves turning colors and falling. It was sure a beautiful day at the rainbow lodge! read more

We came here for brunch with mediocre expectations based off of the reviews we read on Yelp. This place seemed to be valet only, which was a pain. When we walked in the hostess was snippy and told us to wait because we didn't have a reservation (the restaurant wasn't packed). The restaurant itself had a dark cabin feel, so we opted for the patio and the view was great. Unfortunately, the service was not. Everyone was very inattentive and it was hard to have our waiter acknowledge us without flagging him down first. The gumbo was great, the mimosa tasted like a $2 one, the short rib Benedict was great, the friend quail was okay, and our experience was definitely just 3 stars. I don't know if I'll be back. The food was good, but there wasn't enough "wow" factor to bring me back in again. read more

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Highly recommend this fantastic place for exceptional ambiance, cuisine, & service!! They created the perfect Mothers Day experience! I will definitely be back!! & I recommend this place to my friends from around the world as a great representation of our phenomenal Texas Cuisine created beautifully in the Big way we do things in Texas!! read more

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Excellent business dinner last night! Atmosphere, food, and service on point. Jacek did a fantastic job, silent service is the calling card of a high end restaurant. He stayed close but didn't intrude. I enjoyed myself and recommended it already to others. read more

my wife took me to rainbow lodge for fathers day. when bill came i looked at it and left the waitress a 20% tip cash. when i go home i looked at my credit card and saw rainbow lodge had added a 20% tip to my charge that i never approved and was never on the receipt i signed. this is the last time i will every eat at rainbow lodge. suggest anyone eating there ask about this before signing check . these people are not ethical. read more

I really wanted to love my first visit here. We gathered for my friends Birthday on Sunday and when i tell you that the ambience and food is great however, The staff were not.. from the guy at the door not greeting me to our waiter having less than an exciting tone and willingness to assist us and make our experience great. It wasn't until the very end when he realized that it was her birthday that he wanted to change his approach but by then the 6 of us were too outdone. I probably won't be back. P.S. Valet was friendly, professional and timely read more

Pretty cute place! Food was decent, not phenomenal for the price. Some areas I looked at had cob webs but maybe that just adds to the rustic lodge feel of the place! Overall this is a true 3 restaurant but it's definitely worth the visit. read more

This place is great for lunch. The portions are generous and reasonably priced. The service is excellent. The food is delicious.

Impeccable! We came in right before closing because it was my dads birthday and he surprised us coming into town. Thomas (the manager) and Cyrus (our server) seated us happily and provided the best service. The log cabin is cozy, the food was delectable; and the service was unmatched! We had all seafood and gumbo was phenomenal. Must try in Houston. read more

Had their Houston Restaurant Weeks lunch. As you walk in and are walked to your table, you take in the setting of the place, and it's just amazing. Lush and rustic at the same time. I was sat at a window looking out to the bayou. For some reason, the bus boy that set my table up placed me facing the wall on the opposite end of the booth. It was a bit weird since I'd gone by myself. Anyway, onto the service: The service was good enough although I had a reservation and my table was not ready when I arrived. No biggie. I ordered my two courses and some foie gras (not on the HRW menu) to start and a diet coke. A couple of minutes after I'd placed the order, a different server asked if he could bring me a drink. I told him I'd already asked for one. The foie gras was good, and the diet coke was everything you'd expect from a diet coke, I suppose. I had the gumbo, and it was not exactly flavorful. I was expecting some Cajun kick and heat, but there wasn't even a hint of it for my liking. It wasn't terrible, in fact; it was well-prepared, but it was not satisfactory. My entree was the suckling pig and it was very tender and superbly cooked but, again, not very flavorful. The sweet potato bread pudding rescued the plate, though. It was absolutely delicious as were the glazed peaches. I would have been happy just eating a plate of that. My main gripe with my visit to the Lodge is that NOT ONCE was I offered a refill of my friggin' diet coke. I mean, c'mon, man. The bus boy kept showing around to refill my glass of water, so I thank him deeply for that as he probably prevented me from choking to death, and if that had happened; I would not be able to type this review for the benefit of you, my beloved reader. I decided to not ask for more coke since I wanted to see if the waiter would notice and ask if I needed more, but that never happened. He limited himself to bringing the food and my check. I was even thinking about grabbing an espresso, but the dude didn't bother asking if I needed anything else. When he brought the check, he just laid it on the table. I must've shown some reaction to that because, as an afterthought, he murmured something like "you're done here, right?" Maybe he enjoys diet coke enemas, and who am I to deprive him of the extra 24 ounces of the precious liquid that would've taken for my refill? Anyway, go to the Rainbow Lodge. I'm sure you'll have a swell time. Just be sure to demand any refills you might feel entitled to. read more

We went there on a Saturday evening to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. We started with a tasting of wild game and I got very impressed. It was delicious. Then, he had the rainbow trout and fried oysters - which was very good. The pork belly studded corn pudding that comes with it was a thing of beauty! I had the mixed grill, and it was excellent! Just wish it had less rosemary, but that's not going to prevent me from giving them a good review and returning. Just one thing: please, keep the music low. It was something that disturbed me when I was there. I noticed a gentleman from the other table asking the waiter to reduce the volume; but it seems that since he was about to leave, they didn't want to do anything about it. read more

Great food and ambiance. The only place I will eat venison. Delicious shrimp and grits on the brunch menu. Also indulge on a side of crabmeat in butter, it's fresh and totally decadent. Parking is valet only so be prepared. Beautiful scenery and great staff. Perfect for date night. read more

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Not sure why this place isn't more crowded. Service was great, the food was wonderful - the menu was a nice change of pace with creative dishes. The cheddar jalapeño bread pudding was amazing. The venison and antelope in the South Texas Duo was tender and flavorful. We will definitely be back! read more

Rainbow Lodge - Lobster and corn risotto - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Enjoyed this place with my family spending a nice night out. The decor is very nice and I enjoy the feeling of it. I started with Duck Gumbo which had good taste and had a kick to it but was delicious. My main dish I had the Antelope loin cooked medium rare which I enjoyed the flavor of the dish and it was cooked well and how I liked it. You also cannot go wrong with any dessert on the menu so take your pick haha. read more

This is a tough one to review. Most of us have a tendency to rate nicer restaurants against other nice restaurants. I think that's fair to a point. Sometimes, though, we go in thinking a restaurant is supposed to be a certain "thing" and when it's not it can cloud an otherwise mostly good experience. I think this happened here for me. First off, it was my first anniversary with the hubby. I read all kind of reviews looking for a romantic dinner and this one was always mentioned at the top of the list. Well...that wasn't exactly my experience. Sure the place is beautiful, but it's also very loud. 5-6 person tables right next to two person tables does not scream romantic to me. It's pretty bright inside as well (which I prefer). None of the candles placed on each table were lit. It might be good for a third date, but I wouldn't go for an anniversary again. Supposedly you have to book the Lodge a year in advance for Valentine's Day? Maybe it's romantic when everyone is there for that purpose. Anyways, the food. We both got the 6 course tasting menu. It was good but I think I would've been happier with an app and a regular plate with sides. We ordered mixed drinks and got them 20 minutes later. In fact everything came out in twenty minute increments it seemed. We were promptly seated at 7pm and finally left at 9:45pm. That is a long dinner even for a tasting menu. First course was a crab salad. It was light and tasty, with big chunks of crab. But the crab barely tasted like anything (certainly not sweet blue crab) and was overpowered by the paprika on it. Still, I'm nitpicking. I liked it. My partner got a piece of shell. That shouldn't happen at a restaurant of this caliber. 2nd course (almost 30 minutes later) was a seared scallop with spinach and roasted tomato cous cous. The scallop was slightly under, but better that than over. It was very fresh, but the center was almost cold. The spinach and cous cous were fantastic. 3rd Course was duck breast and was the course I was least looking forward to. It turned out to be my favorite of the night. Not greasy like duck can be and perfectly cooked. This was also the most inventive dish, paired with a gruyere "spaetzle" with apple and what the waiter said was spinach but tasted like collards. The bite with all ingredients was fantastic. The duck by itself was the best I've had. Nicely done. 4th Course was wild boar. It was a very tasty meat. Not gamey at all. But slightly tough. I think the portion for a tasting dish was probably thinner than a full meal would be which made it a little more cooked. But I still enjoyed every bite. It was not as successful with all its accompaniments together though like the duck was. The sides of roasted root veggies and veggie enchilada with molé were good on their own. 5th Course was venison. It was perfectly cooked and a beautiful steak. I could've done without the asparagus and lentils it came with. 6th was a chocolate mousse. It came with a medley of citrus. Pretty tasty and I'm not a mousse guy generally. Our waiter was just ok. He apologized for the long wait for drinks but didn't seem to think the very long waits between courses was an issue. There were two times that our food was brought to us by other staff which leads me to wonder if they were covering for him. After we were mostly done eating them he would come by to explain what we were eating. Ummm...thanks? Likewise he asked us if we wanted coffee or espresso...after our dessert was finished. It would've gone great with that chocolate mousse, just saying! The night was not without faults and I wanted it to be perfect. But that doesn't mean I didn't have a great meal. We will be back at some point. But next time I'm going with friends and choosing an entree. If you are going to try this place, try to remember that while it may be fine dining, I wouldn't call it inventive or very refined. They do try to showcase their wild game and largely do an excellent job of that. And maybe that's what they're going for. And if I look at it in that light, it was a very good meal. But if I'm comparing it to Chez Nous or The Pass or other places considered romantic...it's not even the same category. Try to remember that when you come here and you'll enjoy yourself. read more

If you know wild game and a foody, this is your place, not the place to bring your 9 year old entitled brat. I drive an hour to have lunch with my mature daughter who loves it! In fact we almost had her wedding here but the venue was too small. We love to share little samples because it's so hard to choose one item. We always take food home because the deserts are that good, try the bread pudding !!!!! Anyone who gives this place less than 4 stars needs to stick to their local Chilis because this is "out of the box " fare . This is a great spot for first dates, a sure guarantee for a second and likely the big third one. Or bring your boss or inlaws here, sure to impress them. If you have a classy adventurous family they would love this place, I'm a god snob and I have. Ever been disappointed here.. read more

So I'll start by saying that my husband and I have been to Rainbow Lodge a handful of times over the past 6 years or so that we've lived in the area. Our first 3-4 visits were amazing - so much so that my husband decided to make it his birthday tradition. Our next visit after that (about 2 years ago) was underwhelming, and our most recent visit led us to the decision that we won't be returning to Rainbow Lodge. I made a reservation to celebrate my husband's birthday through OpenTable in early December. Originally, the reservation was for 9pm, but due to another personal commitment, we had to push the reservation to 9:30pm (for reference, the latest available when I checked was 10pm). As we arrived, it seemed as though the restaurant was shutting down (long valet line, mostly empty tables), but we were actually looking forward to having a quiet dinner anyway. When we were seated, I noticed one of the bussers catch the attention of a waiter and express concern that we were seated so late, which immediately made me uncomfortable. The waiter made eye contact with me and then looked back at the busser to tell him it was "all good" and that he needed to "have a little fun every once in a while." Despite my hesitation, we went ahead and ordered an appetizer and a bottle of wine when our waitress greeted us. As she walked away, another employee began cleaning--and I don't mean clearing tables. When he came within a foot of my chair with a push sweeper, we made the decision to cork our bottle of wine and head to another spot for dinner. Very disappointed that we were made to feel so unwelcome at Rainbow Lodge. Will not be returning. read more

If you like wild game and you want to combine that with a super romantic and cozy date night-like atmosphere, come here! I have to give major kudos on the decorating skills for this location, very ski-lodge feeling with romantic lighting. The ambiance was great, as was the food and service too. The FOOD: - Taste of the Wild: With this appetizer, you get a little bit of the delicious southern fried quail, a mixed sausage and tender venison bites. The Venison was very well prepared, had a delicious flavor and was not gamey at all. The quail is on point. I didn't get to try any of the sausage, so no review for that. Price: $16 Rating: 4 - Southern Fried Texas Quail Bites: These are delicious! Battered in a flavorful and crispy batter, this is quite the treat for the Southern food lovers. Price: $14 Rating: 5 - Jumbo Lump Crab Cake: This was not so jumbo, but that's ok. Also, not the best crab cake I have had (Vic and Anthony's is still top winner on the crab cake front), but it was still good. Price: $17 Rating: 3 - Pan Seared Duck Breast and Foie Gras: So, I did like the pairing of all of the foods. There was a sweet potato puree with pecans that paired very well with the duck when eating it all in the same bite. The sweetness mixed with the salty of the duck and the crunch of the pecan was good. You also could get a totally different bite when eating the duck with the spinach as well. The duck on its own however, while it was good, it was not the best I have had. I could still pick up on the gameyness of it. The foie gras was also good, just not the best and was a tiny little serving. Price: $28 Rating: 3 - Roasted Brussels Sprouts: It is very hard to mess these up, and they didn't! These were prepared well and had a great flavor. Price: $6 Rating: 4 - Jalapeno and Bacon Cheddar Grits: It was hard to pick up on the flavor of the bacon or cheddar. Little clumpy and a little bland. Not my favorite. Price: $6 Rating: 2 - Warm Croissant Bread Pudding: This was a pretty good bread pudding, but a little generic. There was nothing super exciting about it. Price: $9 Rating: 3 - Chocolate Mousse Terrine: This was yummy. Wish I had more of this! The chocolate paired interestingly well with the citrus and basil hints! Price: $9 Rating: 5 The SERVICE: Our server was extremely friendly and attentive. Our wine glasses were never empty as she was always there to fill them before they reached the bottom. There we also bussers that constantly walked around ensuring water glasses remained full. Our server also gave recommendations as well. OVERALL: When I am feeling in the mood for something a little unique, I would come here. It's pretty pricey though, and for certain dishes that I found slightly mediocre, I think I would rather go to one of my favorite steakhouses on my list.... Follow me on my way to Foodietown! http://britneygfoodie.yelp.com read more

This place is great!!! I had a chance to eat things I have never tried before like elk and buffalo wow the flavors exploded in my mouth!! I will bring all my friends that come into town to this place!! read more

Rainbow Lodge - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Such a beautiful place for Sunday brunch. The decor is beautiful! The view towards the back is amazing, it's perfect for a nice romantic date.. I'm only giving it a four because the food wasn't necessarily the best. I was expecting the food to have much more flavor than it did! Still going back to give the food another try. read more

WOW. Excellent, professional service. Me and my date absolutely loved every plate we were served- from the appetizer, to the main course, to the dessert. Loved the atmosphere as well: beautiful interior and exterior. Will come again! Best restaurant I've been to in Houston for sure! read more

Came here to try the Friday Game Meat burger and man was it good! Really nice atmosphere!! read more

Rainbow Lodge - Game Meat burger - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Wonderful Valentines Day dinner. We will definitely be back. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The decor is rustic but elegant. The food was a mix of traditional and some more exotic. We were very pleased. read more

Rainbow Lodge - Duck ham - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came here last night for my birthday as my husband booked a table for four. We were showen to a table for two and after a lot of to an fro we got seated. Waited on our guests and lo and behold they were also sitting at a table for two. Meal was nice but as I don't like 'sweet potato' I got to substitute it for something else ... which didn't appear. Food was nice though. Very nice read more

Ordered take out one time, and man it was fantastic!! They allowed me to skip on using the valet parking, which was pretty nice. Took a seat at the bar. The guests at the place were being picky and rude, so it took a bit for the bar tender to get to me for a beer, but I understand the situation. I just wish people were nice and paid attention to the menus. We will be having a date night here very soon. read more

I must say that I am dissapointed in this place, and I was looking forward to it! We went on a Sunday evening to enjoy some half priced wine by the glass, and decided to stay for dinner. The wine was great but the food was quite the let down. We started with the featured mixed appetizer - which turned out to be $12 a person for 4 small bites of food! The dinner menu was exotic, but very overpriced for what you get. The buffalo tenderloin was chewy and the antelope tasted like a mediocre steak. All in all, the atmosphere was beautiful, the wine list is substantial, and the food is overpriced. I suggest you skip the food and go for a cheap glass of wine on a Sunday. read more

My husband and I cannot say enough wonderful things about this place... it is our home away from home. Whether we are in there for a full meal or a glass of wine, we are always greated with a warm smile and great food. They have an incredible wine list and the Sunday brunch is the BEST, too! read more

Best Burger in Houston! Friday burger is awesome. The ambience is fantastic. Great customer service, the wait staff very knowledgeable and will make the right recommendation for you. read more

Rainbow Lodge - Bar area - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

The food was absolutely incredible! But the service wasn't quite up to par considering the amount of money you will spend here. We ordered appetizers and they never brought us plates (we had to ask a few people), we were sat in a very dark corner, we were left without drinks or bread for a while after we were seated, and or waitress was rather frazzled. All in all a great place to go for a random date night! read more

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