Went here for the 1st time. Cute place live the art and the music set the vibe. Drinks a 10 out of 10. I ordered a butter burger- ehh I wish they offered different cheese options ( pepper Jack, Swiss ) with the caramelized onions I think would make it better and they're aren't any sides.. grant it I know truffle fries are popular but offer something to accompany the basic burger. read more

We went for the restaraunt week menu. We were surprised when we sat down to find out that the menu had changed since we had booked our reservation. When we booked the menu had a 4 course meal for $55 and when we arrived it had been changed to 3 courses. The food was good, portion size small, except for the Pork Schnitzel. The service was on the slow side, we wondered if they had dialed back the courses because of table time, but it was the wait time between courses and drinks that took so long. At the end of the day, the food was good. They of course can change their menu, the price should have reflected the change in my opinion. read more

Review with HRW week: My husband and our friends made a reservation for Riel because we had heard that the food and the ambiance was really nice. The hostess greeted us with a smile and escorted us to our table when it was ready. Our server was decent. We just wish he was more attentive. Food: -Tempura Cauliflower (3.5/5): It came out sizzling hot and it was tasted decent. [HRW item] -Bone Marrow (4/5): The bone marrow was delicious! It was probably one of the most appetizing and tastiest bone marrow I've tried. It just melted in my mouth. -Truffle and caviar pierogies (4/5): Yummy! These were delicious! -Hanger Steak (2/5): We all asked for our steak to be cooked medium and it came out medium well. Our waiter took a long time to come back so we didn't bother telling him about it. [HRW dessert] We ordered all of the HRW desserts: Sticky Toffee Pudding, Bee's Knees, and the Jerk. In my opinion they all tasted mediocre. We had a good time. The menu items have a variety of different things to choose from. read more

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Party of 4. First visit after seeing even national press kudos. Nice space. Tables not on top of each other. You can talk! Great service. Veg focused (Canadian chef with Ukrainian roots); think Theodore Rex without a long wait for reservations. Similar very limited menus. We started with 3 different cocktails. Nothing special ($11, $13). We then shared squash, burrata salad, barrock, fried rice (came out cold), eggplant, and pirogies (disappointing), and dessert ("Bee's Knees"). Dessert was the best dish of the night. Some dishes were loved by some. As in the title - "mixed" reviews. Some of us would not go back; two would. Wine list adequate but on the pricey side (few offerings under $60). Damages with tip was $295. Food 3/5?? Service 5/5 Value 3/5 Cleanliness 5/5 Noise 4/5 Decor 4/5 read more

Howdy folks. Stopped by the long awaited Riel. Always drove by it but never had a chance to try it out. Got here on a Thursday evening. Not too busy. Was shortly after a big holiday ( July 4th). Valet parked. Friendly wait staff. The appetizers and drinks were -ok . Had the Oysters -coconut lime granita and the yellowfin tuna crudo. It was mediocre. The crudo was a slice of tuna on a slice of apple. Although it was edible, i still had high high hopes. We felt like royalty....Confident going into the main course. This is where it went downhill The hanger steak was tasty, but there was really only two morsels of meat. Although it was on the rare side id have to say it was good. And the pierogi it came with was also memorable. I was most disappointed with the MKT Fish. It came out dressed up, and was very appealing ... that is until i tried it. I was chewing on a lukewarm sponge which my brain told me was fish but my special senses reported something bland, boring and best compared to as that loaf of gluten free bread lightly toasted on setting 2. Canned tuna has more taste than this. Overall. For the service 4/5 and ambiance 3/5. For the food. Probably i would give this a 3/5. But when you factor in the food tastiness/ cost ratio, and the reality that my GI tract did not enjoy the food ...which decided to exit my body with haste. 2/5 read more

I've been to Riel twice for dinner, once with friends and once with my SO. I absolutely love this place! The food is unique, unexpected, and very very tasty. The most recent time I went was with friends midweek. Riel is always quite busy so you usually need reservations. Nice sized parking lot for Houston and for the restaurant capacity. We were seated on the bar high top since we had a slightly larger group. Our server was very attentive and patient with us. I can't remember which cocktails we had, but they were generally well made and potent. We shared most things family style and because the apps are on the smaller side, they increased the number of pieces to accommodate for our group rather than making us order multiple plates. We started off with the caviar tots which were very crispy and had a nice crème fraiche to pair with. Moving on to the truffle pierogies which I think was my favorite dish of all. It was so creamy and the truffle was delicious! We also shared the corn gnocchi which was amazing! These dishes probably feed 2-3 people, but since we had 5 people, we really only got one bite each pretty much. Out of the entrees we had the kimchi carbonara (chefs kiss*) which came with some grilled shrimp, and the pan seared duck breast. The duck breast was so good and not too sweet! The crispy rice gave a bit of texture to the dish. The last time I went I've also tried the hangar steak and the ginger soy noodles, both which were very good. Finally for dessert we had the peanut butter chocolate mousse and the toffee foie gras cake. We were pretty split between these. The peanut butter was so well balanced with chocolate and the mousse itself was light and airy. The cake was very rich and no one could eat more than a couple bites, but honestly it's one of the best toffee cakes I've ever had with the foie gras giving it a nice umami contrast. Overall this is an amazing place and we will definitely be back. read more

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Always have a good time. Neighborhood place. Good food and drinks. Easy to relax and have a nice dinner. Always happy w servers. read more

First time coming here and I'll be coming back! Ambiance was amazing, food looks amazing, and tastes good! My girlfriend and I came here for our anniversary and we were not let down! Steak tartare was super tender and full of flavor! The hangar steak had a nice punch from the horseradish sauce and the pork tonkatsu was better than your typical pork tonkatsu sandwich from these other Japanese resteraunt around town! read more

Riel - Steak tartare - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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The food and service were absolutely amazing here. The truffle pierogies were absolutely to die for and the butter burgers and caviar tots are a must have every time. They have an amazing happy hour and make sure to sit at the chef's counter for the full experience. read more

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Amazing service, food and drinks. Ella was amazing to us from the beginning to the end of our service. We had the butter burgers and mushroom empanadas but unfortunately, we forgot to snap a quick picture of the food (that's how good the food really is). Totally recommend Riel! read more

Riel - Great service, food and drinks! Ella was amazing to us from the beginning to the end! - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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despite the ongoing pandemic, our experience at riel was spectacular. the restaurant does a really great job at making sure that the guests dining and employees are safe. tables were separated at an acceptable distance (adhering to CDC guidelines of course), masks were worn when you weren't dining or were walking to or away from your table, and there was hand sanitizer on the table that you were able to freely use. food was great as well as the service. it was our first time here and our server did an excellent job at running down the menu paired with her personal recommendations. we loved her honesty over some choices we were having trouble choosing between and we genuinely enjoyed the balance between the times she checked up on us and the times where she let us be. my favorite dish would have to be the corn gnocchi, omg. flavor explosion. life changing. MIND BLOWING. read more

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If you have to break quarantine for a restaurant, Riel is the one. Not only have they updated their procedures to accommodate Covid (hand sanitizer on each table, masks, etc.), but dare I say their food is even more phenomenal than I remember it. You MUST have: -truffle and caviar pierogi - No offense to your Eastern European grandmother but this is the best pierogi you will ever have. Hands down. Some might think that truffle and caviar anything is delicious but it truly takes a master like Lachaine to balance those prominent flavors to make a dish simultaneously feel elevated and nostalgic at the same time. -corn gnocchi - oh man. When I took a bite of this, I felt like I was about to announce the winner on Top Chef (I watched a lot of tv during quarantine, lol). The subtle corn notes of the gnocchi in addition to the sauce with corn kernels, you know what. I don't know how to explain it. Just order this. -tamarind bbq snow crabs - if someone told me that the chef handpicked these crabs from the ocean for our dinner, I would believe them. My beloved usually opens crabs for me but I couldn't wait. And for a novice like myself, each crab legs opened beautifully and easily, chock full of tender meat. The tamarind sauce was tangy addicting and it took every fiber of me to not lick every drop off my hands like a feral raccoon. -grouper with consommé - the grouper was perfectly cooked: crispy on the outside, flaky on the inside. But the Star was the consommé. It tastes so clean and clear but with so much depth. At this point, I didn't give af. Ben and I drank it from our plates. If you said we could buy it as shots, we would've bought the whole bottle. All in all, thank you so much to Chef Lachaine and Riel crew for turning our regular Thursday into such a magical evening. The food, the hospitality, it is truly representative of what Houston's food scene stands for, especially during these times. read more

First and last time for me.The cocktail drink menu looked nice but I ordered Paper Planes off the menu. My friends and I sampled a couple of items, the Lobster salad, Crispy Rice x2, and a deconstructed hangar steak as we are all lactose intolerant (not impressed with the portion or presentation). The kicker for the one star is, my car was broken into and some items stolen. The manager hardly cared and stated the security footage for the ~2.5hrs I was there was inaccessible. He stated that their sous chefs car was broken into as if that was to make me feel any better. Thank God for insurance, this major inconvenience won't make me return. Be careful when you park your vehicles, the lighting or the staff won't help! read more

Riel - Hangar steak with the horseradish cream. The pierogis were on the side. - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Service was great. Ambiance was good but unfortunately we were seated at a table right below a vent so the entire party was freezing. Due to the size of our party could not move. We ordered several small plates which were good but for the main course we were told the 60 oz steak would easily feed 6-7 people and were completely disappointed. It was a tomahawk steak with a large bone with much less meat than we were led to expect, and as a result we all left it dinner feeling like we needed to stop somewhere else for more food. read more

We've always heard and read good things about Riel, but were underwhelmed upon our visit 4/20/24. Staff and service were friendly and fast. We ordered a few different dishes as they are smaller and shareable. We started with honey walnut crawfish tail that were really good. They are fried and covered in a honey sauce that has a little heat that builds as you eat it. We also had the mushroom empanadas and perogies with caramelized onions that were both good but not outstanding. Our final savory course was the maple porkloin which was good but the meat itself was a bit too salty. The sauces and sweet potato that accompanied it were really good. The main reason I give this visit 3 instead of 4 stars is due to the nutella cheesecake. I have higher expectations for a dessert from a good restaurant and this didn't deliver. I can get cheesecake that is as good from my favorite grocery store bakery. The dining room has some really good interesting art work, wasn't too loud and nice lighting for date night. read more

Very disappointed with my experience this evening. I've been here a handful of times and always seem to get the same ditsy waitress who appears to be on something. Nonetheless I've proceeded to return solely for the caviar board which unfortunately seems to always be sold out leaving me to choose from their insubstantial menu that frequently changes. Drinks were not memorable. Payed the check and went to Loch bar. read more

We came here to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday and because my friend had recommended the restaurant. The food was good; however, service was not all that great. Our waiter wasn't very interactive and we had to wait about 45 minutes between our appetizers and our entrees. We ended up spending 2 hours there. Most of the time there was us waiting around. The waiter was kind enough to compensate us by giving us our cocktails for free, but the long wait time and alright service overshadowed what would have been a great dining experience. I'd be very hesitant to go back based on this experience alone. read more

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It's a rare occasion when upon leaving dinner I remark to my friends "that was pretty much perfect", as was the case with Riel. From the moment we walked through the door until we exited the experience was as near perfect as you can get for a Saturday evening dinner. So yes, the service and staff at Riel was beyond 100%. The menu provided a great selection of enticing appetizers and entrees so our table decided to just have the meal "family style" and so we ordered accordingly. My favorites - Oysters, Crudo, mushroom empanadas, tempura cauliflower, duck breast, and hanger steak. Our amazing meal was completed with an equally delicious dessert, Bees Knees. Thanks Riel, now I'm spoiled! read more

We started off with yellowfin tuna crudo, fried rice (the best ever), tempura cauliflower, truffle and caviar pierogies (also amazing), steak tartar. Out of those my favorite was the fried rice and the truffle caviar pierogies! Just amazing!! For entree my husband has the crispy skin snapper and I had the gulf coast shrimp. Everything was amazing! Service was amazing as well. Had a great experience. We had a party of 7 and everyone was completely satisfied! read more

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i had the opportunity to visit Riel while in Houston over the weekend. I'll start by sharing the food was nothing short of outstanding. From the shrimp with a sauce that left its mark to my favorite the Butter Burger . The decor was tasteful and inviting . What made the dinner even better was the service , helpful in every way . I don't often write a review but in this case I wanted others to not miss a chance at spending some fine dining at first class venue that was reasonably priced. Yep next time in town I'm headed back !! read more

The food here is incredible, my gf and I keep coming back. Nice date stop and we have liked everything we have gotten. Shocked this place doesn't have at least 4.5 read more

I came here for my birthday dinner after reading the hype about this restaurant. Everything was fine, but nothing was really memorable. Service was good, food was good, but there was no standout dish that I would come back for. read more

Came on a Monday around 7pm for dinner with a friend. We were able to get seated fine with no reservation. We ordered the the: Mushroom empanadas (5/5). They were delicious. Bone marrow (5/5) The two sauces they gave were excellent. One salty and one sweet. It made you want to keep on eating it endlessly back and forth. Steak tartare (3/5) Felt pretty standard. Hanger steak (1/5) Our steak had a weird taste to it. Our waiter told us that every once in awhile hanger steak has a chance of taking on a very organy flavor. She was nice enough to take it off our bill. The bee's knees(5/5). Excellent. The different textures and flavors always kept each bite interesting. I will be back in the future to try other dishes. They chance a few dishes out every season apparently. read more

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We went for my husband's birthday and sat at the chef counter. An incredible experience all around! Our cocktails were delicious and the waitress we had was SO helpful choosing our dishes. read more

5/5 stars on the food, the service, and the vibes!!! Baybeeeeee, Riel is it. I can't wait to come back!

Hmm, let's start with the ambiance, modern design creating an environment I want to chill with friends and a glass of wine just enjoy the time. My server is awesome and he provide me a exceptional dinning experience for me and my friend. Very knowledgeable of their menu. Riel restaurant is Canadian restaurant but the food is globally inspired, you can see different type of cuisine mix. Food portion are shareable so its designed for groups. My personal favorite is hanger steak and tempura cauliflower. read more

Riel - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Imagine a main course...Flat Iron Steak. Sounds good. Then it comes out and its three small pieces of meat. As I suggested if it were sold as Flatiron Steak (3oz) no one would order. But that was what we got. I rationed it with my daughter and the bulk of our meal was the vegetable side. It's really disappointing but could have gone to Travellers table and got a decent sized portion for the same price. I get it...portion size control is good..but isn't that my decision and not the chefs? It's not like Flatiron steak is Filet Mignon. Unfortunately the biggest cardinal sin a restaurant can make in my opinion is lousy portion sizes. It all started out well but no. 30 dollars for less than a kebab of sirloin is just wrong. I hope they make amends but there's too much good competition in Houston. Underfeed me...I don't come back. read more

I came here with a group of 7 people on a Saturday night. We had a reservation for 9, but didn't get seated until at least 9:15 ish. We ended up ordering the tuna crudo, steak tartare, mushroom empanadas, pork cabbage rolls, tempura cauliflower, and the bees knees cake. First of let me just say that dishes were beautifully displayed but about the only things that blew me away were the mushroom empanadas, steak tartare, and the cake. It was hard for me to justify liking this place when I'm paying $15 for cauliflower and tempura. Like come on! I could get that for much much cheaper elsewhere -- or heck even make it myself. At least the waitress was nice. I personally didn't think this place was worth it for what you got. Everyone at my table seemed to enjoyed themselves but were making jokes about going to Whataburger afterwards because we were all still hungry. read more

OMGGG my mouth is watering as I'm writing this review. Everything from the ambiance, to service, to food was perfect IMO. You have the option to valet your car or find street parking which was plentiful. The artwork dressing the walls are as creative as the menu itself. The dishes were inventive, capturing a bit of different cultures and adding luxurious ingredients to childhood favorites and those with a more mature palate. My favorites were the taters, mushroom empanadas, chicken, and fish. Highly recommend for date night or small group. read more

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My husband and I had dinner last night at Riel and could not be happier. We were coming from about an hour south of Houston and tried to plan for traffic, ending up at Riel way before our reservation. We intended to just have a drink at the bar but it was full and there was a spot at the chef's table for us. We enjoyed that very much! Our waiter was very attentive, explaining the menu, asking a bit about what we like and offering his suggestions here and there without ever being pushy. He was very personable and timed dinner and wine out perfectly. The GM checked in on us offering wine suggestions as well when we asked. Both gentlemen were very friendly and welcome. The menu is not big in quantity of dishes but I enjoy that. I don't think we could have gone wrong with anything we would have ordered. We were told the menu changes frequently so I am excited to go back and see what else Riel has to offer. We ordered the Murder Point Oysters, Snapper Crudo and Black Drum starters. All of these were fresh and delicious. For entrees we had the duck and wahoo. Again, both were tasty. The broth with the wahoo had a spicy kick and the soba noodles were perfect. The greens and ham stock with the duck had a smoky, slight sweet note and the duck was perfectly cooked. For dessert we shared the Bees Knees which I am now calling my favorite dessert ever. The brown butter cake was so moist and just the right lever of sweet with the lemon curd. The ice cream was smooth and all the "extras" across the top made it excellent. We had the best night at Riel - so glad we tried it out! read more

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Customer service was great. The food was too unflavored for me, mostly it was either too salty or meh. read more

If i wrote a review the last time I came which was about a year ago, I definitely would have given this place a 4-5 stars. This second time coming kind of just threw me off. I told my date that it was pretty good here and by the end of the meal, we were kind of just ehhhh about it. --Forgot what the drink was called but it had lavender in it (2/5) Super strong drink which of course is always a good thing, but it was just really dry and I felt like it had a hint of cinnamon which I wasn't such a fan of. They did swap out the drink for something different though, which was very nice of them --Snapper Crudo (4/5) Very fresh and refreshing, the white sauce, tangerine, and the snapper complimented each other. --Tempura Cauliflower (3/5) I loved this dish, BUT it was overpowered with the kimchi sauce. It was all drenched and later became soggy, some pieces were very bitter and I'm not sure if the cauliflower was under cooked because the batter inside was kind of mushy. Overall, I would have enjoyed it more if it were to be tweaked just a little. Maybe the sauce on the side next time. --Gulf Fish Karaage (3/5) The fish wasn't really flaky, it was more shredded tough texture. The batter was great, but the fish did not taste as fresh to me. --Hanger Steak (3/5) Lacked flavor and very tough, but that's what hanger steaks are. I had to dip the steak into something for me to even finish any of it. The potatoes on the other hand were amazing! It was like a small empanada filled with mashed potatoes and cheese. Very delicious. The server was great and everything, but food was mediocre. It might be awhile till I actually come again, second experience was definitely not what I expected. read more

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The restaurant has a very nice and welcoming feeling to it. The building itself is nothing special, but it's how it is decorated and kept that makes the restaurant so inviting. The staff is very polite and helpful. Our waitress checked on us regularly and made sure that we never ran out of cocktails. The watermelon salad was delicious and fresh. The grilled Eggplant entree was delicious and well flavored. Good portion of food. I will definitely return for times when I'm looking for a more upscale restaurant read more

Riel - The grilled Eggplant - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

Truffle and Caviar Pierogies- OH my gosh. Delicious. More of a pastry than a dumpling. The sauce was wonderfully made and not too rich but super complimentary. Tempura Cauliflower- very tasty. We had sauce on the side as I'm always hesitant towards spicy. It's more of a buffalo sauce than a hot sauce. Great texture. Cauliflower is flavorful with or without the sauce Grouper Crudo- nice fresh fish. Served sashimi style with blood orange and satsuma citrus Crispy Skin Snapper- well cooked...not dry and the skin was definitely crispy. It was a bite salty in my opinion but that didn't deter from the texture Bannock- closer to a biscuit than matza like originally thought. Very filling. A great side if you've had a bit much to drink. The butter was soooo delicious but the jam was a bit too bacon-y We both had the Maple Old Fashion and were equally happy with how well made they were read more

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EXCELLENT dinner! Started with the borscht and tempura cauliflower, followed by the soft shell crab and hanger steak, and polished it off with the sticky toffee pudding. All the dishes were flavorful, crafted with quality ingredients and expert skills. I'd say they know what they're doing with this particular style of cuisine. The only thing I'd say isn't absolutely perfect are the pierogi. They're good, but a little tough for what I'm used to--but it's unfair of me to say that since I'm Polish and my aunt is the head cook at the Polish restaurant in Houston and makes the meanest pierogi!!! We enjoyed several drinks from the bar which were amazing in both presentation and in tasty smoothness. The atmosphere is romantic and cozy with a modern touch. I can't wait to go back and try the entire menu! read more

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Summary: Do not come hungry; Unfriendly Hostess; Meh quality and ambience Our experience was immediately tainted by the unfriendly and dismissive hostess. Despite making a reservation for 2 people, we still had to wait over half an hour to be seated. When we inquired during the wait about an ETA, the hostess immediately bristled and asked, "People are enjoying their meals. How can I estimate how much longer they want to stay?" I don't know. Maybe because it's your job? Once seated at our cozy (read: cramped and drafty) table, we were greeted by a terrific server. We ordered the: Scallop Crudo (3/5) - it was bright and fresh but otherwise unremarkable Caviar Tots (1/5) - think 4 soggy/prechewed Sonic tator tots topped with a speck of caviar sitting in a fleck of creme fraiche Crispy Pork Belly (4/5) - loved the soft boiled egg broken over rice and the crispy bites of pork belly Bone Marrow (2/5) - accompanied by some interesting jams and soggy toast. Neither the ambience nor the quality lived up to the hype and definitely did not justify the price. If you do go, plan on having a 4th meal afterward. read more

Outstanding. Husband and I have been 8 times. EVERY time, our food service and attention to detail has exceeded our expectation then our previous experience. Meaning, they keep getting better. Chef Ryan Lachaine and his staff are of the highest caliber. You can expect tried and true faves with new additions each time you come. The happy hour sliders will haunt you forever when you can get there on Tuesday to enjoy. Either way, this is Houston cuisine at its finest; casual, comfortable, impeccable. Not to miss is the fried cauliflower, steak tartar, and the oysters with coconut granita. If I could list the entire-ever changing menu, i would. Best food in Houston Ps. I would never want to rate them a 1, but probably should since that's what only people want to read as to dissuade them to try. This is it. No need to look any further for the above kind of food. read more

I was so excited to try Riel as it is highly rated however I was left somewhat disappointed. We ordered Crispy Pork Belly: the garlic rice was good but certain pieces of the pork belly were dry Cold Brisket: brisket was good but I wasn't a fan of the mustard seeds especially since they heavily outweighed the amount of brisket Then after hearing a table near us request a happy hour menu we asked for one as well, we were not told there was a happy hour so was somewhat annoying having to ask for the menu and not be initially provided with it We ordered the KFC chicken wings: those were the best thing and beat value. Cooked well and the seasoning was good Boudin Eggrolls: Also good but wish the breading was a little thinner Overall the food was good and above average. However for the prices you don't get a big portion at all. For two people and all of those items we ordered we left still hungry. The best deal were the happy hour items which oddly had bigger portions than some of the sharable dishes. read more

The menu is inspired by Texas gulf coast, blended with the chef's Ukrainian heritage this place has everything going for it. Service was amazing - the waiters knew the menu inside out and recommended amazing wine- 2 bottles later, our group were all happy campers. We shared the 48 ounce ribeye - cooked to perfection. I highly recommend the mushroom risotto, tempura cauliflower, bannock and the meats. Great for groups of friends, date nights or if you're just in the mood for culinary awesomeness!! read more

Riel - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Riel is doing Covid-19 service right. They've set up a convenient drive thru, they've pivoted their menu to take-out friendly options, all while maintaining high standards and great food. At the end of a long workday, we picked up dinner on the way home - two amazing sandwiches (chicken parm and chicken caprese). Pickup was quick and convenient and the food was delicious. read more