The restaurant's overall vibe is cool, but my waiter forgot our order, seemed very scatterbrained, and had a hard time keeping our drinks full. The restaurant was far from full at the time. Granted, everyone has a bad day from time to time, so I'll let that slide. But I specifically said this was an anniversary dinner, and I wanted a table in a room where we could do some people watching and enjoy the ambiance. Nope, they literally stuck us at a table pushed into a corner with only two chairs, FACING THE WALL. Both of our chairs faced the wall. It was the most awkward seating arrangement I've ever had. The food was fine, but I didn't enjoy paying $100+ for my date and I to face the corner looking at a wall. I literally felt like I was in time out. read more

Ate at Rainbow Lodge in Oct 2011 for dinner. The reputation was that this was a relatively upscale romantic restaurant. Instead, however, the place feels very kitsch and tacky. My wife and I both ordered appetizers which were mediocre. The steaks we both ordered were both fairly expensive ($35-ish) which is what you'd expect to pay at a high end steak house. Unfortunately the cut of meat used was of extremely poor quality. The service wasn't terrible. Overall, I think this restaurant is very overpriced for what it is, which is a non-chain version of Outback Steakhouse with lower quality cuts of meat. I would not recommend it. read more

Came for an anniversary dinner and left having to deal with the cops because our car was broken into with several windows shattered. Valet parked it across the street in a dark parking lot with no security!!! SMH!! We had no idea it would be parked there. If so we would've found another restaurant in a better lit parking area. Management came and did absolutely nothing. Told us to come back and dinner was on them. REALLY!! come back to the place where our brand new car got broken into. Ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!! If you come here please do not VALET. If so be prepared for your car to be broken into. read more

We had the pleasure of dining with you guys and the service was amazing. Stoney was our waiter and was charming and so much fun! The food was great but the experience was made awesome by Stoney for sure. We will definitely be back! read more

I have been one of Rainbow Lodge's biggest fans for the last 4 years. Seriously. Birthdays, anniversaries...you name it. I've taken friends from out of state, France, parents, and sisters from overseas to enjoy consistent service and to have amazing food for brunch and dinner. I think I qualify as a "regular customer"; one of those who even know the numbers of her favorite tables. All excellent until now. The last 4 times have not been nearly as good. In fact, last time both the food and the service were average. Is there someone new in the kitchen? Dishes are saltier and attention to details is not there anymore. Were is Julianne? What's up with the clueless, unfriendly hostess of the last 4 months? We'll probably give it a fourth chance but not in the near future. read more

I very seldom review restaurants, but I was particularly disappointed with my recent experience at Rainbow Lodge. After growing up in Houston, I have always heard how special this restaurant is. Recently, I got engaged, and wanted to take the lady out to celebrate. After making a short list of "special" restaurants in Houston, we decided to try Rainbow Lodge. Making reservations was easy. The hostess asked if we were celebrating anything and if we would like special seating to accommodate the occasion. Since we were celebrating a once in a lifetime event, I asked her to seat us someplace special, with a view, or near a fireplace (at her suggestion). When we arrived, we were seated in the back corner of a side room, next to the fire exit door and across from the window. The room was so small, we heard the conversation of everyone else around us. My fiance ordered a salad, a quail dish, and creme brule - she enjoyed her meal! I ordered the chef's tasting menu. When I asked the waiter about the menu, he was unsure what was being featured. We saw some others in the room with us had ordered the tasting menu, and the chef was paying special attention to them and really explaining the inspiration for each course - I wanted that experience! The chef delivered and explained the first two courses, but was fairly quick with his explanations. The third course was delivered by the waiter, and I was instructed to wait for the chef to come by - this took about 5 minutes. Also, this was the last time we saw him. The three remaining courses were delivered by the waiter and were briefly explained. After my fish course, I thought a meat course was next. After about 15 minutes, I had convinced myself my meal was finished. At about 20 minutes, my meat course finally arrived. The food was all good, the meat course, venison with grits, was incredible. I can see how this would be a special destination for a great dining experience, but we were treated like we didn't deserve the special care received by other diners. I have eaten at some of the best restaurants in the nation, but have never been stuck in the back corner and have never felt jipped as much as I felt after leaving Rainbow Lodge. read more

Poorly managed, not worth the $ or time. Went here with the hopes of trying some great game meats severed with some southern love.... nope! Broke ass hunting lodge with food that smelled spoiled. No thanks on more wine but if you have some pepto I'm gonna need it. Not going back read more

I really wanted to like this place and my experience here. My fiancé and I had an underwhelming dinner here but some of that may be due to the obnoxious people who were seated around us. The atmosphere is great and the feel of the backwoods, rustic but nice cabin, is something different for the Houston area. The valet was a little confusing and the parking lot is small. Like others have mentioned, service was a little slow and not as good as I was expecting for the type of place this is. The food itself was good, really good, I was expecting that, but the portions were small. My fiancé wasn't full at all after we ate and I could have eaten more as well. We went here for the food and for the price you pay I just was expecting more. read more

Our favorite place for any occasion! Great wild game selection. Must try the bread pudding!

Went last night for my birthday and I can finally say I found an upscale restaurant in Houston that I actually have enjoyed. First there is just the way this place looks. I loved it, took my time after the meal just to look around both inside and out. It was amazing. Back in the bar they took the time to show us all sorts of details we never would have noticed. My wife claimed that when we do get some property or a lake house, that this was exactly the way it would look(well, you know, after winning the lottery). Then came the meal. We got crab cakes as appetizer. More crap then cake and it was amazing. For dinner I got the wild game. Venison was very good, the quail was better, the wild boar was some of the best "pork" I have ever had and the lamb had me crying. Even the veggies were amazing. For dessert I had the shortcake, I keep saying amazing, but it doesn't do it justice. There were hardly any people here dining and that it truly a shame. I will defintely be making this place my go to place for major events. read more

Our friend had her birthday dinner here for a party about 20. Service was good and we were surprised how filling our dinner was. For Appetizer we had the sample of Lodge Cured and Smoked Ham and sausages with chef's seasonal accompaniments. It was a good choice because we were able to taste different meats. Main Entree Grilled Beef Tenderloin Filet- cooked perfectly as I requested! I think the best part about it is the sauce that the mushroom and potatoes that comes with. Mixed Grill- a lot of our friends ordered this dish and were all very pleased. Again, it's interesting to taste the different kind of meats. On a side note, the restaurant has a very beautiful backyard, it would be perfect when it's cooler to sit outside. Over all we liked this place! read more

The atmosphere is rustic and that of a very classic lodge. They have a nice outside area for good weather days. We tried the chef 6 course tasting menu which changes regularly but ours consisted of: farm fresh egg salad, fried oysters, a seared scallop, venison steak, fried quail, and chocolate torte. All the dishes were small but overall I was pretty pleased with the whole meal. All the dishes were fresh, well seasoned and perfectly cooked - simply delicious. The service was pretty good and the ambience is quite romantic. I enjoyed our dinner and would love to come back again. read more

Absolutely love this place. $2 mimosas is the perfect price. Service is top notch and the food is amazing. The happy hour is one of the best with small plates that allows you to taste what the lodge has to offer. The patio is relaxing and try not to fill up on the delicious bread. Somehow even the water is better here. My girlfriend is eternally grateful that I discovered this gem. read more

Loved my experience here. Its very quiet classy and subtle. Their wild game menu is amazing. Everything on it is good. The drinks are strong but flavorful. Girly girl approved! Valets park your car super far though so expect a wait on a busy night when you are getting your car (or be like me and forget your jacket and decide to sit outside.. ) I would go again absolutely. I recommend this place to all my wild game lovers. read more

Wife and I celebrated our 45th last evening at the Rainbow Lodge. It was our first trip after living in Houston for 45 years. We splurged and had the Chef's Tasting Menu along with the Sommelier's pairings for the six course dinner. The portions were just enough to leave room for all six courses and the choices were excellent. Mary took great care of us and shared the details of each course. Mark was enthusiastic in discussing the wine pairings and made the evening more of an event. One of our more unique and enjoyable anniversary dinners. read more

I am a huge fan of Rainbow Lodge, the food, service and decor are awesome. I have never had a bad meal or service here. It is top shelf. For that luxury you do pay a price, this is fine dining with a price tag to match. I am an outdoors type of guy so this place really appeals to me. Sometimes I would rather imagine Im not in Houston, and Rainbow does a good job of doing that for me. It does it somehow without being all "Texan" about it, (ie Taste of Texas) even with the throphy mounts on the wall etc. The food is creative and interesting, and the people are friendly knowledgeable and well trained. read more

My wife and I have tried mulitple menu options have never had something we didn't enjoy. If you can afford it we would recommend trying either the five or seven course tasting menu which provides you with the opportunity to try many different wild game dishes. We have tried beef cheeks, lamb, sea bass, quail, wild boar, elk, buffalo, and other wild game. The duck gumbo is a goid appetizer. For lunch i would recommend the businessman lunch which includes an appetizer, entree (fish or tenderloin) and dessert. For lunch on Fridays I highly recommend trying their half pound wild game burgers served with homemade chips. They also serve a Sunday brunch with $0.99 mimosas which is really good as well. read more

Interesting and unique atmosphere. I would give the food 3.5 to 4 stars(there are more tasty food places in Houston) If you're looking for a steakhouse atmosphere this aint it. Very ecletic with many more foods than most restaurants(only been there twice and tried steak and salmon Overall good experience but nothing out of the ordinary food wise read more

We wanted a special restaurant to celebrate our 26th anniversary but this was a $170 disappointment. Although it offers a beautiful view, they mixed large groups of party people with intimate tables and it was hard to enjoy the moment. We specifically informed the server of a nut allergy but when the salad arrived (full of nuts), we should have walked out. Although a bit knowledgeable of the menu, not thoroughly attentive to the details. Go for the view alone. read more

Came for their Burger Friday. My date and I had a couple of cocktails: Gin Striker and Milk Punch. Both were refreshing, light, and not cloyingly sweet. The burgers were really good: definitely in my top 10. It was a mix of ribeye, boar, bison, and elk cooked medium with cheese. They were juicy and complex without being overly gamey. The Dijon mustard was quite tasty. It was served with a light, airy side of potato chips. We finished off with the croissant bread pudding served with vanilla ice cream in a praline cup. It was a tad on the sweet side yet satisfying. The ice cream was the real winner on that plate. Overall, great food, great scenery, and great service provided by our waiter Lonny who was outstanding! read more

This was a great place to celebrate Father's Day! We went at 2 because we had children and they were very accommodating.

Excellent food. Like very Excellent food. Crab cake was a great size and very good. Main course was incredible. The different meats are prepared in a way that they just melt in your mouth. Only issue was our server -- he was hard to understand and kind of awkward so only 4 star. read more

Amazing. I went for the Sunday brunch to try the mimosas. I traded my orange juice for grapefruit juice and it was delicious. I am currently on a vegan diet and the staff worked together to create me something that worked with my diet. Although it was not on the menu, it was delicious. Great service and a beautiful environment and view. read more

They never disappoint. Brunch: excellent shrimp and grits, my friend loved his steak and eggs. And he lives in Vienna, out of all places! Good Bloody Mary. Four stars instead of five because it took a while for our waiter to come over with menus. Ok, four and half stars for the unique decor. Excellent place for Sunday brunch read more

This was my first time at this restaurant. We were surprised by steep prices and very boring dish decorations. The food was good but not for that price!! read more

What a great experience, from completing our last minute booking (literally called while we were on the way over and they were happy to accommodate us) to exceeding our culinary expectations. We started with the "taste of the wild" appetizer which had venison with chimichurri sauce, chicken fried rabbit with rissoto, and bison steak over whipped sweet potatoes - all 3 were flavorful and perfectly cooked, though the venison was the standout. I had the pecan rainbow trout which was a huge portion (and I can eat!), I saved half for lunch the next day. The trout was rich with lump crab meat and perfect crispy skin. My husband had the red snapper and jambalaya which was even better than the trout! We will definitely be returning to try more of the game meats and the chef's tasting menu. I can't believe we waited so long to try Rainbow Lodge, definitely recommend read more

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We went here for dinner with a large group of friends, and were really impressed with the food and the atmosphere. We shared several appetizers - some of our favorites were the seared scallops and the mixed wild game and fowl tasting plate. I had the fish special, which was sea bass cooked perfectly over lightly sauteed spinach, and my husband had the beef tenderloin filet, which he said was delicious. We will definitely be going back not only for the food, but for the unique, cozy ambiance! read more

It has a comfort cabin feel to it and was quite small from what I remembered. I came here for my birthday and had the south Texas duo and it was ok. The porter house pork chop was ok and so was service. I also had the vanilla bean creme brulee and it was good but however when pay this much for food I expect it to wow me and this place hasn't. It's an ok place but I probably won't be back due to all the other restaurants houston has to offer and my husband and I like to visit and try new nice restaurants every now and then read more

We went for the first time on lunch on Valentine's Day. It was so so good. I had the short ribs with orzo and broccoli. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I could eat that orzo every day. I hate short ribs that don't have sauce, and this one had ample amount of thick red wine sauce. He had the seafood special which was snapper with jambalaya. Very good. Fish was well cooked. Both were just right portion sizes. I liked the ambiance - nice without being stuffy. Very cozy. Our server (jojo? Short black hair) was very friendly, the right level of stopping by. She was awesome. Overall service was very good. We will definitely be back. Highly recommend based on our experience. read more

This place is perfect for a fancy date. It has a great atmosphere- unique and elegant without being stuffy. We ordered the 5 course chef's course, which is basically whatever he feels like bringing you, and I would highly recommend that option. The chef personally brings out your food and describes it and it was all delicious! read more

This restaurant will transport you to the great outdoors. They are best known for their wild game dishes. This may not be for everyone as the restaurant is setup as a hunting lodge, but if you like that, I highly recommend you try it. Brunch was exquisite and they offer $2 mimosas...I mean I was sold just by that. Oh, and the free muffins. I was able to try different dishes as I tried their Houston Restaurant Weeks menu, but they are all available on the main menu as well. Reservations usually suggested. read more

My friends came here for Houston Restaurant Weeks' brunch. This was our first time there and we had a great time. The food was delicious and our waitress was fantastic. She was humorous and took good care of us. read more

We went here for Sunday brunch. The staff was extremely friendly and the $1 mimosas were awesome. The food was mediocre. I got a salad and the lettuce wasn't too fresh. I felt like the food was overpriced. Such a shame because the place is a nice ambiance. It's about a 5 min walk from us. If we go for Sunday brunch I wouldn't look forward to the food read more

Went to Rainbow Lodge on Valentines Day. The service was rushed and although RL provides some exotic dishes, not everything was great. Good but not great. read more

Excellent patio - great wines and awesome live performances. Inside dining looks classy but perhaps a bit stiff. We had fun and danced on the patio deck! Very good vibe and great service... Waiter was extremely helpful read more

Such a cute spot! Recently had my birthday dinner here and got a private room. It was so reasonable for the room. The duck is awesome oh and the wild burgers for lunch on Fridays are da bomb!!! read more

Friday night early dinner @ 6:30 was perfect. 2 hour dinner for 2 included 4 fabulous appetizers and wine. The quail was my favorite. Wine by the glass Cab. From Australia was wonderful. I cannot wait to go back. read more

We went for an early Sunday diner. We sat on patio and had a nice view of the garden. Steak special Bison was good but overpriced at $50. Not convinced yet. Had better steaks elsewhere. read more

My son had his proposal at rainbow lodge. Everybody from the manager to the waiters were excellent, willing to accommodate, top service, helpfulness, participation, willingness, accommodation and presentation of the food , all made the even a big success read more

Valet Guys are nice and welcoming. Ambiance is beautiful, Food was very good. BUT I walk up to the counter the host is a little busy so I'm waiting for him to finish so we can make eye contact. I thought I was being polite. I guess the hostess that was standing near him was to busy so I'm waiting and waiting. He finally greets me by saying hello I say hello back he turns away again I wait some more then he finally looks at me like yes Hi can I help you - He does not say Hi - welcome - or any such thing. So, I finally say good afternoon I'm her for the X.A. reservation. He rolls his eyes and says yes, I know. While walking me to my table he seemed a little impatient with my slow walking (not heel friendly - I didn't know). He sits me down. For 15 minutes no one asked if I would like a drink while I wait. The other attendee at the table said she had not been asked either and she had been there a while before me. Reservation was at 1 I arrived promptly at 1, she had arrived earlier. Waiter was very snobby and impatient at the beginning but seemed to relax more as time went on and we finally got a "you're welcome" and good service. No, we were not loud, yes there were a few giggles, but the service was rude from the very start - I will not be returning ever. read more