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    RIEL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Riel

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    Mushroom empanadas
    Annalisa P.

    Sooooo, I always thought this restaurant was called 1927, but it's the address number. Lol, fail. To my defense, some restaurant names are numbers. There's a few spots to park at the front but a hassle to back in/out of due to the busy street. The lot in the back is a rocky lot, and some the spaces are perpendicular which is odd. Did not see valet that evening that others said blocked the lot. Anyway, my friends and I came here on a Friday night through a suggestion. I made reservations for us through Resy. 6 p.m. on a Friday was not busy. Most of the patrons were seated by the window or at the chef's counter. It got slightly busier around 8 p.m. The restaurant temperature was comfortable. Not too hot/cold. Restrooms are single stall/unisex. Music was great. I love 90s R&B. I found myself singing along and liked that the volume wasn't so loud you have to yell talk. The drink options like Gangsta's Paradise, So Fresh, So Clean, and My Mind's Playin Tricks On Me, Sexual Chocolate, and Spice Spice Baby fit the bill with the music theme. I had the mocktail Gangsta's Paradise and had two. Again with the coconut, pineapple, lemon and tiki bitters. Been on that flavor profile since November. We ordered apps to share like the Butter Burgers (though our server Chris did recommend 3 instead of the 2 it usually is presented which was nice), crispy potatoes, and mushroom empanadas. Butter burgers - It was buttery. I'm glad it was small cause I ordered an entree, but not worth the price point with the portion. I only ate a third of it to save room, and it was ok reheated. Crispy potatoes - This usually has roe on it but not this evening. It wasn't on the menu. We liked this the best. I was surprised there was celery in it because usually that flavor overpowers the entire dish. Mushroom empanadas - Like my friend said, the mushrooms were sliced too big. I think it would've been better minced. It was also too lemony for me. The thicker breading areas were a little greasy. I thought I would like this more because I love mushrooms. Hanger steak - I asked for medium and got mostly medium well and well done. The steak was not seasoned at all. Maybe they were banking on the horseradish cream to add flavor. The green beans were ok, but you should cut the stems off both ends. The potato and cheddar pierogies were ok - like a breaded cheesy mashed potato texture. Chris was attentive. Appetizers came out fast, but the entrees took forever. Maybe they were waiting for us to finish all of the apps first, but we felt like other people were getting their entrees quicker. In general, the portion size doesn't match the price. It was nice to try, but I don't see myself returning.

    Emapanadas
    Richard Y.

    This place deserves a 4.5, if I could give it. We had visited Riel many years ago and weren't that impressed, but were pleasantly surprised when we came the second time. Kimchi carbonara - 5/5 terrific. The shrimp were perfectly charred and smelled heavenly. And the pasta was al dente and had the right balance of umami and spiciness. The sauce tasted like a less spicy version of the flavoring used in Korean ramen. Cabbage rolls - 4.5/5 these were really good. The tomato sauce is sharp and hits you with fresh tomatoes. Mushroom empanadas - 4/5 pretty good Pierogis - 3/5 not bad, just not standout and a bit too deep fried for my liking Bees knees - 4.5/5 I was impressed by the visuals. It was beautifully plated. And it was an interesting combination of textures, with flavors of citrus and dried fruit. Service was both laid back and attentive. They refilled our water constantly. It helped that the restaurant was not full on a Friday night and you could actually hear the other person talk. Ambiance is refined but laid back with rap music playing and stickers on the vent hood of the open kitchen.

    Daisy P.

    Intimate classy dinner or date night spot, nice bar area. Tried this spot for dinner and it was a good service, attentive, very helpful with any food questions we had and suggestions. The hanger steak we ordered medium well but came out very well done, not as flavorful. The Kimchi carbonara is worth trying! What we ordered: Caviar tots Hanger steak Kimchi Carbonara 9/10 Old fashion cocktail Wine glass

    Hanger Steak-2/5
    Tri D.

    For the price the food was not up to par. Was it bad? Nah, I just didn't think it was that good. It was a little pricy & the portions are on the smaller side. We arrived at the restaurant around 6pm & it wasn't crowded. There is a few parking in the front & a good amount in the back. Our server Chris was friendly & helpful but our main course took about 40 minutes to come out. Here's what we ordered. * so fresh so clean- the drink was refreshing & strong. 4.5/5 * Manhattan- the drink itself was strong but it wasn't well presented. 3/5 * mushroom empanadas- the filling was good with lots of mushrooms. Felt that it could've been more flaky. 3/5 * butter burgers- I heard this was their special and to be honest it was just a regular slider with a whole bunch of butter. The burger was oily. 2.5/5 * Crispy potatoes- this was the best dish in my opinion. All the ingredients went well together. The onions added some crunch to the potatoes. 4.5/5 * Market fish (Snapper)- I got to try some of my friend fish and it was not bad. The fish was cooked nicely but very small in portion. The broth was nothing special. 3/5 * Hanger Steak- the steak was cooked unevenly. Parts of it were rare, medium rare & medium well. I prefer my steak to be mid rare. The steak was peppery and barely had any salt on it. The potatoes & cheddar pierogis were forgettable. The green beans wasn't seasoned at all and they didn't even trim the ends. 2/5 Overall, my experience was alright. The ambience is very laid back. Great for a first date. They play 90's music which goes with some of the names on their menu. The service was friendly but we waited a while for our mains to come out & it wasn't worth the wait. 33 dollars for subpar steak was a disappointment. Will I come back? Only if my friends want to go because I wouldn't go out of my way to dine here.

    Signage
    Keandra P.

    Stopped in for the first time on rainy Tuesday evening. No resy needed, I was solo. They have a main dining room, bar area seating, and chef counter seating at the open grill kitchen. It's definitely a non fussy place, cutesy casual staff and diners. But the menu is full of interesting things both light and heavy, and the reviews are good. I came for essentially one thing and one thing only. To try there yummy burger. I now understand why this is a popular item. And should be rated right up there in comparison to other burger spots in Htown. The butter burger (sliders) come as a duo. But don't be fooled by the size, it packs a punch of flavor. It's very rich & filling, and I shed a small thug tear when I finnished. The pros are the perfectly carmelized onions, and flavor of the meat with the juicy toasty buttery bread. According to the internet, the meat is cooked with butter and French onion soup. This explains a great deal. Save this meal for when you really want to splurge on calories. Service - was great, and quick like I wanted. Lelia my server was delicately dividing her time amongst a few groups and me, being the only server in the dining area. But she gave an approachable smile, and my meal was out in the blink of an eye, and that's all I could ask for. Overall, it was a quick easy yummy few bites, enjoy!

    Pierogi
    Brian L.

    Favorites of the evening: Caviar Tots, Kimchi Cauliflower, and Sticky Toffee Pudding. Favorite wine: Poggio Nibbiale Tommaso (100% Sangioves) Huge thanks to service staff for the various accomodation requests. Intimate seating, highly recommended with a party of 6 or less.

    Happy hour chicken meat balls, biscuit burger and what's left of the pirogies.
    Owen R.

    We thought we would get an entrée, but these three items from the happy hour menu you were more than enough. Very delicious, and a nice happy hour drink menu too. We live close, we will be back :-)

    Carolina S.

    My husband and I came here on date night and I'm so glad we found this place! The interior is very dark and romantic. The food was fresh and delicious and the flavors were very inventive. The presentation was done beautifully and everything tasted amazing. The cocktails were also really delicious!

    Sorbet
    Diem A.

    We came here for HRW. You get 4 courses for $55. I enjoyed all of my courses. The tempura cauliflower was nice and spicy and the portion size was decent. The butter burger was my favorite. It was on a toasted bun and was so moist and buttery and delicious. The market fish was light and very flavorful. The bees knees dessert was also great. Plenty of parking and the service was great. My only complaint is that the temperature of the restaurant was very warm. We had to keep 2 menus to use as fans.

    Kimchi Carbonara
    Jenn P.

    Riel is one of my absolute favorite restaurants. Every time I've been the services has been absolutely amazing and the food never misses. They have ample parking available. I love coming here for date nights. My go to cocktail is the so fresh so clean. It's so well balanced and refreshing.

    Perogi
    Cassie X.

    This place was pretty good. Some dishes are way better than others. Kimchi carbonara --5/5: definitely get this dish. There isn't actually any kimchi in here and you only get 3 pieces of small shrimp but this dish was still our favorite perogi -- 5/5: we got the perogi with caramelized onions (the one with truffle is double the price) and it was very good. Comes with tzatziki sauce which goes together really well tempura cauliflower --3/5: pretty big portion and def good as a snack for the whole table but nothing to write home about duck - 4/5: pretty good, the duck sits on top of some crunchy rice which went well with the dish; but quite a small portion gnocchi with corn -- 3/5: the sauce was a bit too much and very few pieces of gnocchi

    Hanger Steak
    Tiffany N.

    I was invited here for a dinner, and was so excited to review the menu! Riel was named after Louis Riel, a Canadian who fought for the natives and was hung for treason in his early 30s. There's a good amount of parking outside, and a bit tucked away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Houston. The interior is a really nice, it gives extremely cozy vibes and has pieces of art that are displayed and rotated out a few times a year. ------------------------------------------------------------------ What we had: - Caviar Tots - Gem Wedge Salad - Kimchi Carbonara - Pierogies - Butter Burgers - Hanger Steak - Nutella Cheesecake - Sticky Toffee Pudding ------------------------------------------------------------------ The caviar tots were just delicious and savory bombs of flavor, and the gem wedge salad was a nice palate cleanser. Honestly, our group was having a really difficult time figuring out what was the best here, but I would say that the kimchi carbonara was just that nice punch of spiciness with umami that I was missing for a while in dishes I've been eating, and the shrimp was extremely juice with it. The pierogies were also just nice pillows of potato and cheese flavor. The butter burgers were just deliciously savory bites (all modestly small but still filling), with wagyu beef. The hanger steak was deliciously cooked a medium rare. Out of the desserts, I would say I favored the sticky toffee pudding more over the Nutella cheesecake, but both were good. I think I liked the sticky toffee pudding more since it had a banana nut bread for the cake. I did enjoy every single dish here! 1000/10 would come back. I already miss it :)

    tabasco toast
    Serena N.

    We dined her tonight and though the service was amazing the food left a lot to be desired. It is all tapas portions with entree pricing. Some dishes are great (tabasco toast, hanger steak, wedge salad) however many dishes (pirogies, bone marrow, desserts) just miss the mark. The restaurant and where we were seated was also incredibly hot, it felt about 80 degrees in the area we sat. We did ask our server Dante, who was awesome, to turn down the air (since we were sweating) but the unit just was not cooling. They have happy hour till 630pm which was decent.

    Gansta's Paradise - Non-Alcoholic Drinks

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    Amazingly good food! Exceptional, helpful waitstaff! Very comfortable, inviting environment!

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    Ask the Community - Riel

    Does Reil do walk ins or do they only take reservations?

    Pretty much any restaurant in Houston has walk ins, but for Riel I'd definitely make a reservation to be be sure you get a table at the time you want.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Foreign Grill

    Foreign Grill

    4.0(23 reviews)
    1.6 miMidtown, Fourth Ward

    Foreign Grill was decent. I didn't realize until I got there that it's a part of a food hall. Comfy…read morebooth seating and free wifi. Should've checked for plugs to see whether it could be a study/work spot. I found this place after going to a lovely Georgian spot in NY. Had to share the Kachapuri experience with the fam at home. But the hubby didn't feel like that much cheese (5 types, to be exact) tonight, and he opted for the plov plus some sort of dumpling (I picked khinkali based on the kind cashier's recommendation). Plov: I very rarely order rice dishes anywhere outside of the goat biriyani at Himalayas, but this turned out to be the best dish there. The lamb was so tender and the sauerkraut paired perfectly. The flavors were on point - but the dish was pretty small, and that I have a problem with. If a rice dish is $17 before tax, at least make it sizable. 4/5 due one point being docked for portion size. Khinkali: Really wanted to like this but at $17 for 4 dumplings, they needed to be phenomenal - and they didn't deliver. I like that they handmake it at the restaurant. I don't like that it was SO oversalted. So. Salty. And parts of the dough were undercooked. 2/5 Borscht: I added the borscht because a) I love borscht but more because b) the khinkali was so salty (have I said that yet?) and I was looking for something to balance it out. I even asked as I was ordering if it's not very salty. I hadn't ordered it originally because I didn't think a bowl of soup was worth $15 before tax. But I got it anyway, and I can say: 1. It's good - but still quite salty, and 2. It comes in an even smaller bowl than I had thought; 3. I still don't think it's worth it. 3.5/5 overall So that comes out to 3.17 stars on the food front. I'd give the cashier/cook/waitress 5/5 (maybe she owns it? Or is the manager?) though. For ambiance, I would give 3/5. If I ask myself how the visit was, I'd say it was ok but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back. For me that's a solid 3/5.

    This was my first time having Ukrainian food. We ordered lamb khinkali, khachapuri, and chicken…read moresamsa. 1. Lamb khinkali-- no flavor at all. Felt like I was eating unseasoned, fatty lamb. The broth also had no flavor and was just liquid fat. (Yes I am aware lamb is a fatty meat but this was an extreme amount). I ate a bite and gave up. I couldn't get myself to eat another bite. It wasn't for me. 2 khachapuri--it was served piping hot. Was pretty good. The bread was soft and rich with the creamy and heavy filling. 3. Chicken samsa-- no for me. I had a few bites and then realized the chicken is really chicken etc. meaning it was chicken and whatever parts of the chicken (cartilage, collagen, fat etc.) if you're not used to eating this, it's a very strange texture. The pastry was flaky and crisp and the sauce it came with had some flavor but the filling lacked salt and basically seasoning. It came with a carrot salad(?) which had a strange after taste. I love all things veggies and I couldn't take more than a bite. The ambiance is a food hall with very loud music and super casual vibes. The price is very high for a food hall. We paid $55 (including two water bottles). If your meat has fillers (meat parts)--shouldn't it be cheaper? This place isn't for me sadly. I won't be coming back. Wishing them the best.

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    Wholly Crepe Russian Bistro

    Wholly Crepe Russian Bistro

    4.6(252 reviews)
    27.4 mi
    $$

    Wholly Crepe!! Russian Bistro - Tomball…read more What does authentic Russian hospitality look like? It looks less like a restaurant and more like a small doorway into someone's home -- a place where food is not rushed, and conversation is part of the meal. EXTERIOR: At first glance the building is modest, almost shy. A few outdoor seats, a quiet frontage, and public parking just around the corner. The kind of place you could easily pass -- and shouldn't. INTERIOR: Once you go up the steps, open the door, and the Northwest Houston surroundings fall away. The room feels lifted from a Russian village house, ( ): warm wood floors, wooden window frames, and intimate spacing. If you've ever been to Russia or watched any of the Russian movies or cartoons, this space will be familiar. Four tables and sixteen chairs, sit to the left; to the right, a narrow staircase evokes a country dacha, (). Larger tables gather families together, even a few small chairs waiting for children. Main room offers unique, (in glass shelves) Lomonosov Porcelain 1744 dishes, from St. Petersburg. As well as, carved wooden dishes, hand-painted details. Ask Mila and Bill for details. RUSSIAN HOSPITALITY: Arriving shortly after opening, Bill greeted me with a smile. Conversation came naturally and without agenda, as if we've known each other a long time. Mila, came out shortly after from the kitchen and I was able to converse with her in Russian and English. Both shared their meet story and how they decided to start this adorable business, May 2015. The story feels better heard from them directly. I set down to look at their abundant menu options. Meals here require patience. Many dishes are prepared from scratch. Part of Russian Hospitality is to welcome you in to their home, sit you down, spike up a genuine conversation and make a delicious home cooked meal. The rhythm slows; the outside schedule becomes irrelevant. I decided to order four of their popular dishes; #7 Tvorog Crepe, #24 Smoked Salmon Crepe, Siberian Pelmeni Bowl, and Cheburek. Let's go over each dish briefly. Gordon Ramsay once said - The way to know when something is cooked from scratch or microwaved is by the amount of steam or sizzling coming from the plate. #7 Tvorog Crepe - $12 Homemade Ricotta Cheese, Choice of Berries, Condensed Milk or Honey. I ordered mine with mixed berries, white powder and condensed milk. Something about taking each bite dipped in condensed milk with all the toppings makes your taste buds dance. Generous portions. #24 Smoked Salmon Crepe - $16 Tvorog Cheese, Salmon, Cherry Tomato, Green Onion, Salted Dill. As someone that adores a good salmon dish, clean flavors and a proper texture contrast -- delicate fish against warm crepe. The pairing works and generous portion. Siberian Pelmeni Bowl (24ct) - $17 Handmade dumplings in butter with your choice of dipping sauce. True Russian Hospitality - dish ware presentation along with the cuisine. The three-layered, brown color bowl looked presentable. Pelmeni looked freshly made and the steam coming from the bowl would make Gordon Ramsay smile. A slightly meatier filling would improve the ratio, but the flavor remains familiar and nostalgic. Cheburek - $9.50 Handmade Fried Meat Pie filled with Ground Beef & Onion. Served with your choice of dipping sauce. Good presentation and the taste was a good pairing combination with sour cream. Exterior texture was crispy, while the interior was soft. A fuller filling would strengthen it. OVERALL EXPERIENCE: While photographing the dishes, some cooled before I could eat them. Mila noticed and worried -- a small moment can be explained. If you've been around a Russian woman, you know they want nothing but the best for you when it comes to food. Wholly Crepe!! Offers some of the most unique and delicious cuisines for those who crave something different. Everything is made to order, from scratch, in small batches preserving authenticity and flavor. Come prepared to pause. The reward is a meal that feels cooked for you, not merely served to you.

    The good: cute decor (there's a display case full of tea sets), and food flavors were fine (but…read morenothing to write home about). The bad: My first big gripe is the water. There's an expectation that in the US, tap water is free. Places that only have bottles typically will say, "We have bottled water; is that okay?" if you order water. This place didn't. They just brought out bottles. They're charging $2 each. Portion sizes are very small for what you're paying, and for the actual cost of the ingredients. My crepe was essentially a light snack for $14. Family friendliness is mixed. They're welcoming of kids, but there is no kids menu, and no changing table in the restroom. There's also only one customer restroom, so you're screwed if someone has to be in there for a while. The weird: The music did not match the theme or ambiance. Clearly they are trying to appeal to their customer base's favorite music by playing country hits, which felt a little out-of place. Like many other business in Old Town Tomball, this restaurant is in a converted house. You have to park in back but walk around to the front. Conclusion: If you live crepes or are looking specifically for Russian food, it's worth a try, but I'm not in any hurry to return.

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    Riel - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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