I was finally able to try this Houston staple last weekend! Food: 4.5/5 - I loved the tomato toast and warm broth the best! The tomato toast was not overhyped and definitely worth getting. The bread is nice and oily yet still crusty and crunchy. The tomatoes and greens on top paired perfectly with the sourdough. - The warm broth doesn't seem like much from pictures and description but it was just so comforting and had nice umami. The green onions really bring out the rest of the flavors. - Ratatouille: this was one of our server's recommendations. I thought it was pretty good but slightly too sour/over-pickled for me. (I'm also not a big pickle person) - Butternut squash: This was probably the next best dish after the toast and broth. All the flavors and texture were there except the squash was a little hard. It could've been cooked a little longer to make it easier to cut through. I guess it is out of season, but still. - Squab aka pigeon: Also pretty good. The dried raspberries actually pair very well with it. Ambiance: 4/5 - The space is extremely small so you really need reservations. - It's so small that the tables are quite close together. But they were also not evenly spaced out so we tried to move our table away from the people next to us (we were practically touching!) and the staff insisted that we don't move them because they need to access the cutlery in the drawer on the side of the table?? First of all, they could've still accessed it after we moved the table. Second, if the space is that tiny, why not just store the utensils elsewhere? Very odd and didn't like that vibe. read more

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This place is interesting. We had heard about this restaurant for years, and finally made our way out on a Saturday night. We made reservations several days in advance and still were only able to get patio seats. The vibe of the place is so Houston. It's a really nice restaurant - inside is small and cozy, decorated beautifully. The patio only has 2 tables but it's elegant. And it looks out at the highway, billboards, downtown, and abandoned homeless encampments. During dinner, we had a bachelorette party bus park beside us and a couple shirtless guys come up from the bayou with fishing poles. But it works - that's Houston! Food itself was good, but not great. I'll give it 5/5 stars for originality - each dish was unlike anything I've had elsewhere. - ratatouille- 4/5 - it was interesting, and mostly loved that it was soaking in some delicious olive oil. - broth- 4/5 - a nice little spicy kick, but otherwise was just okay - Tuna sashimi - 5/5 - fish was fresh and tasty! Appreciated the crunch between the layers of tuna. - French cheese pancake - 4/5 - generally can't go wrong with bread and cheese. It's interesting, and I liked the green onions topping it. - Fried shrimp and shiso- 4/5 - didn't love the sauce this came with, but otherwise this almost tasted like a jalapeno popper with shrimp. - snapper - 3/5 - poached, and pretty bland. Came with a very fishy seaweed reduction on the side. - potatoes side - 2/5 - don't get these unless you're looking for just boiled potatoes. They're pretty flavorless. Overall, interesting food for a one time visit, but unlikely a place we'll return to. read more

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I had a wonderful meal at Theodore Rex and I really recommend this place for a romatic date or a good time to talk with friends. The service is excellent. Our server knew the wine list well and recommended a great bottle for us to share, knowing we would be ordering a variety of small plates. Sitting outside is quite nice. The city behind you, it's actually a great, quiet place to have a conversation. The inside is cozy. The menu changes often, so I will only say that the creativity and cooking is phenomenal. An expertly crafted menu, and well-made dishes. My favorite dish was a crispy chicken - perfectly roasted, crispy yet juicy. Hopefully that item stays. read more

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Amazing solo dinner. Had a chef's choice tasting menu. Mushroom broth - weird but so aromatic. Hiramasa-more or less yellowtail- the olive oil was unbelievably fragrant and delicious. Tomato toast- good. Beef dumplings were very buttery and good. I had the onions but I would prefer them in the fall. Redfish an absolute delight. The wines were show stoppers - viognier and a gamay beaujolais. Topped off by panna cotta and butter cake. The panna cotta blew my mind Service is spect and not intrusive. Ambiance is casual friendly welcoming comfortable but upscale food. Wonderful Next time I woukd read more

Theodore Rex - Ahhhhhhh. Here we go. - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

It had been a couple of years since I had last been to T. Rex and I was pretty excited to try the new menu. I set an alarm for when the reservations would open but was still only able to get a patio table for 4. We lucked out with the weather and the patio was actually kind of delightful with only one table for two and then one table for four. Our waiter was extremely friendly and walked us through the new menu. I appreciated his recommendations but we did feel that he led us a tad astray by repeatedly telling us how small the dishes were. The was true for some, but not all and by the time our main courses arrived we were basically full and had to take most of the mains to go. I really enjoyed the cold ratatouille to start. It was light and fresh. The egg was a miss for me. My husband liked it more than I did but said it was, "fine". Alternately, I enjoyed the French cheese pancake but everyone else at the table felt like it needed to be cheesier. The one dish we agreed on was the Carolina Gold Rice and Chicken. It's maybe not as good as their old Rice dish but still really yummy. For dessert we ordered the red jello and the dark chocolate torte. The red jello is the can't miss option here while the dark chocolate torte had a bit of a grainy texture. Overall, I enjoyed coming and trying the new menu but it was pretty expensive for it to feel good not great. read more

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I really enjoyed my whole experience here. The vibe is unique for Houston. The building has a unique vibe and i'm obsessed with the front door. After entering, you are immediately greeted like family in a relaxing environment but with top notch food. It was my friend's bday so we celebrated with complimentary bubbles which was a nice touch. We enjoyed a large portion of their limited/rotating menu that did not disappoint. The tuna was my favorite. 10/10. A very extensive, higher end wine list complemented the meal nicely. Definitely need reservations -- book as early as possible. Seating is very limited especially for larger parties. Parking --- street parking around the block. Wasn't too difficult. Definitely a must try! read more

I've heard about this place for years but never had the chance to go. Getting there was a bit of a journey. I originally made a reservation last month, but it was canceled by the restaurant due to overbooking. We rescheduled for the beginning of this month, completely forgot, canceled again, and finally made it this past weekend. The restaurant is located in the Warehouse District. It's a trendy area, but there are still quite a few homeless people around. There was street parking available and I didn't notice any other options. The restaurant itself is very small, so a reservation is a MUST! There's no lobby or host stand so walking in feels a little awkward until someone comes to greet you. Tables are placed very close together, and if you're unlucky like we were, you might get seated next to a loud pair of besties talking non stop. That was the only downside of the experience for me. They have a large wine selection but no cocktails. A few beers are available too. I had a glass of Chardonnay and it was excellent. We started with the duck egg, dumplings, and the tomato toast, all recommended by our waiter. The duck egg was really interesting. It came warm, with the top of the shell cut off, and was topped with cold soubise and caviar. As you dug in, the egg yolk was warm and surrounded by flavorful mushrooms. It was a little tricky to get all the elements in one bite and messy but it was definitely worth it. The dumplings were fine. They were boiled and filled with grass-fed beef. They were tasty but not particularly memorable to me despite what other reviews have said. The tomato toast on the other hand was AMAZING. It came with four half slices of house made sourdough, perfectly toasted and glistening with butter. The side of tomato spread was packed with flavor. Its their take on bruschetta and it was incredible. I'm so glad our waiter talked us into trying it. Just a heads-up though...the bread is thick and filling. We had planned to order two more dishes but ended up canceling one because we were already getting full. We also had the redfish. It came in a few pieces, each topped with a thin toast coated in honey and garlic. It was absolutely delicious. The rice served on the side deserves a special mention...IT WAS THAT GOOD! For dessert, we couldn't leave without trying the strawberry buttercake. I'm a huge buttercake fan, so I was excited. It was delicious but I didn't love the crispy exterior. I ended up removing the top layer and enjoying the rest. A few things to note. The kitchen is tiny and visible from the dining area. The chefs are often the ones bringing your food, which I loved. There's a small bar that faces the kitchen. I recommend reserving a spot there if you're into watching the process. A 22% gratuity is automatically added to every bill. Normally I'm not a fan of that but the service was great and they make it very clear that it's included. I loved this place and will definitely be back. It's exactly the type of restaurant that comes to mind when I think of a "hip" dining spot. read more

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Amazing spot! It is very small and quaint inside, and doesn't feel stuffy at all somehow. The wait staff is very attentive and friendly, and give great recommendations. I started out with a cider which was excellent, and my husband got a glass of wine. Next we got the apples over ice, which were so unique but definitely a stand out. They had a spicier and sweeter one and the presentation was fun. Next we had the tomato toast- by farrrrr our favorite, such a stand out! We absolutely loved!! The bread. Wow. Don't know if I've ever had better bread! Then we had the sweet onions. I liked them, not sure I'd order again though, mostly just because the texture wasn't my fav but the flavors were great. Next we had the Sformato. It was kind of 'deconstructed' and very unique. Not my absolute favorite but probably more of a personal preference thing. Then we had the beef taglioni, which we really liked and I would recommend! Then the chicken, which was good! Lastly, we finished it off with the panna cotta, which was lovely! Would highly recommend. Already dying to go back! read more

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Although we've been to Theodore Rex numerous times over the years, I haven't updated my review since 2018. The newly revamped menu seems like a good reason to do so. I've got to say that I still love the place, especially when they introduce new items. We were set at a two top that felt like we were dining with the two top next to in, but they were pleasant and fun, so it wasn't so bad. Its definitely better to sit at the kitchen counter however. On to the new menu - They have a new Hors D'oeurves section of the menu meant to be one person portion. We got all three and were still able to share. The best of the three was the Ratatouille. Wow was that good and innovative. 6 little bite sized balls of ratatouille. Very tasty and a great texture. The soft boiled egg and the tomatillo broth were fine, but we will likely skip those on a return visit. The highlight of the night and I would give the restaurant 5 stars if this was its only menu item. The tuna sashimi was this dish. I love to find the few dishes out there that are unique both in presentation and in flavor. This is by far the best tuna sashimi dish I've ever had and extremely unique. Who ever was behind the flavor combination of the sauce deserves a medal. If the restaurant was closer to our house I might have to drop in 2 - 3 times a week just for this dish. Its that good. The clay pot chicken and rice was a close second on what we ate. A generous portion of perfectly cooked rice and poached chicken along with a pickle condiment and a crunch chicken skin condiment again reinforced the T-Rex innovation. Excellent interesting food. We then had the Poached Sea Bream and the Stuffed Honeynut Squash. The fish was very good and had a flavorful sauce and the leeks served with it were a great compliment. Probably wouldn't get the squash again. Wasn't bad, just didn't rate with the other dishes. The side of simple boiled potatoes in cultured butter were wonderful. The Red Jello and Ice Cream dessert was again innovative and enjoyable. We didn't really care for the chocolate torte. Its flavors didn't really meld well for us. Overall, Awesome meal. I will have to figure out how to go back for a few orders of the sashimi pretty soon!! read more

Amazing from start to finish! Very quaint spot situated outside of downtown. Food was spectacular! The coconut chicken looks odd but was the best tasting dish in my opinion. I can see why it's a staple. Our server was really cool and even gave us bar recommendations for after. The bar we went to was amazing too but for another review lol! Highly recommend coming here for an elevated food experience while in Houston. read more

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Small, romantic, upscale restaurant nestled on the edge of downtown, street parking is available Went for my birthday dinner and enjoyed the dishes. They were definitely all unique and shows a love for food by the chefs. I actually had 2 birthday dinners here, a few years apart, planned by others. The ambience is nice, the food is yummy, and the beef was very good in particular. People rave about the tomato toast, I thought it was decent. The bread was really thick and very well toasted and I'm honestly not a big tomato fan lol (they told me this dish would convert me, it didn't) This might just be a me thing but the staff here was a little stuffy for me. I didn't feel like they were trying to accommodate me, it felt like they just had their own idea of how the night needed to go and I was a piece in their moving puzzle. I wouldn't come back on my own because I don't like feeling cramped or rushed at dinner. read more

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I always come here. be brave and get the chef's selection, it's well priced and allows you to try a variety of dishes for good value. luv the team here. amazing food, too amazing to express in words. read more

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As a native Houstonian who adored Oxheart, it took me what, 8 years of having Theodore Rex at the top of my "restaurants to try in Houston when I'm back" list. My friend made a snap decision to make a late reservation on my las tnight in town and there we were, sitting at the bar, facing the kitchen. We got front row seats to the genius of the pastry chef (Frank Hermosilla). Tony greeted us immediately at our bar seats and was absolutely DELIGHTFUL. I wanted to be friends with him right away. He was extremely attentive to our dietary retrictions, and was able to clearly and humorously communicate what the best options would be considering my inability to tolerate dairy. We started with beautiful broth just oozing with umami with the addition of a tiny drop of Madeira wine. Enter the first course that transported me to summertime, the Evercrisp apples with beets and umeboshi. Every bite was direclty going to battle against the winter weather outside. My main course was abosutely stand-out - the chicken leg, my gosh, so juicy with the perfectly crisped skin. It was paired with the lovely green salad that brighted everything up. They made their signature rice without butter for me, and it was also perfectly balanced with the chicken. So we arrive at dessert. I was able to admire Chef's buttering of the butter cake all evening, and while I couldn't taste the cake I was over the moon about the fact that the chocolate mouse on the menu is completely dairy-free and in fact, vegan. Needless to say, I licked the plate. If you've been sleeping on Theodore Rex or if you think it's old news, THINK AGAIN. Come back and try Chef Justin Yu's amazing concept, and you won't be disappointed. From the bottom of a homegrown Houston girl's heart, thank you to the team at Theodore Rex for a truly amazing experience. I'll be back, and say hi to Tony for me when you visit. read more

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Absolutely my favorite place in Houston. I keep coming back. Food is fun and unique. Service is always outstanding. Well informed and helpful for a complicated menu. Ambiance is hip and casual. Great for a formal meal or chill date night. If you haven't tried it, you must read more

Theodore Rex - Kitchen, from the counter - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Great Staff and attention to detail. Food was excellent!!! The vibes ! This is a must spot in the warehouse district read more

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First thing you notice is this place is very small but the location is nostalgic for me being by Last concert cafe, a Houston young adult right of passage. This place is a bit museum of modern art with their menu but the flavors are undeniable. The tomato toast is as good as advertised and to me seems like a dream dish for a vegetarian. The mushroom broth finally drives home what people are going for with a savory cocktail. The tenderloin did what its supposed to but that beefy flavor does come with a cost. The chicken leg flattened out was good as well but again may be a lil pricey for some. The strawberry cake is a 10/10. So good I may bring my lil sister just for that. read more

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I came here to celebrate my birthday and had a fabulous time. You have to order tapas style to really get the most out of your experience. There really wasn't a dish that missed. The staff were fun, lively, and gave great suggestions. Best noods in Houston. I will note that it is a small space so if you want a restraurant that can accommodate a large group - this may not be the place for you. read more

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We wanted to book for the counter but unfortunately those are some hard seats to get for a part of 4 :(. However the host sat us at a big table near the door that had a great overview of the restaurant. The most memorable dish we had was the crudo, melted onions & the pasta. It's recommended to order everything at once so the server could course it correctly. It's a pretty small restaurant so I would say book far in advance. read more

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ecently enjoyed an early dinner at this establishment. The employees were incredibly welcoming. Despite its compact size, the restaurant manages to maintain a cozy atmosphere. Impeccably clean! The cuisine exceeded all expectations! Our party sampled 3 appetizers, 1 individual-sized dish, and 2 entrées. read more

This is a very intimate setting with a friendly, engaging staff and "fine dining style" food.

So disappointing! Really don't understand the hype. My friends and I had the ratatouille -too salty, the tuna crudo, and the snapper and waygu steak for 2. the snapper was incredibly bland and the waygu steak was ok. Thought I 'd give this restaurant a second chance after a so-so first visit. But not any better this time and there will not be any future visits for me. Bad value for the money. read more

Was in town for a work event and my team and I came here. It's a small little restaurant tucked away in some alley lol. But it was a cool, fancy yet cozy vibe inside. The service here was absolutely impeccable! They explained each food as they come out and I will say the food is solid. Very interesting dishes I've never heard before and they all had a unique spin as far as flavor profiles. But would I say it's out of this world? Not really. It was cool experience though and the star here is the service. read more

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I have been wanting to try this place for years and last Friday me and a couple friends finally got to check it out. This place is a bit hidden, many Houstonians have never even ventured or knew about this area nestled in just above downtown and right down the street from Last Concert Cafe. Upon pulling up I tried to find this gated parking that my fellow yelper said there was, but to no avail so street parking it was and plenty of it as your drive around the building. This place is a bit smaller than I thought it would be with seating indoors & outdoors and also a few spaces right directly adjacent to kitchen so you can watch chefs in action. Though as close as you were to the next table I never heard any of the other patrons conversations so the music in the background or how acoustics traveled throughout must have drowned out other ppl's conversations which was nice. For food I'm in the middle of the road, some really unique dishes I would have to say, but it takes a whole lot to get full. The bill was quite high for not being full at the end. It is something to try and it's amazing how they can play with seasonings and techniques to trick the mind and the tastebuds. Most unique dish i would say is the eggplant dish that literally reminded me of fish in all the visual, taste....and the price aspect. Prices ran between $14 - $75. Pics will tell you why the 3 of us left hungry, yet astonished by some of the unique flavors. Favs were: Eggplant - looks and taste like fish Grouper Grilled - Grilled over coals Tomato Toast - simple but very flavorful Chocolate Mousse w/truffle Strawberry Buttercake w/cardamom cream Beef cap w/mushrooms - cook was done great On the fence if I'd order again Pink lady Apples - were unique in that everyone's palette gave off different flavor profile from an Indian dish to an Italian dish to a Mexican dish. Wouldn't order again Beef dumplings were okay, tasted just like pan seared sausage, but dumpling disappeared in bite and not in a good way like melts like butter. Basically felt like it wasn't even there. Chorizo and cucumber- i don't get it and will never order again. Reminded me of a slim jim in all ways even the acidity. Wasn't a fan of the grouper the 2nd way it was cooked. Grilled was way better, but make sure to eat all before it gets cool. Tagliolini - just not enough going on and really didn't even notice the oysters Servers...walked us through the dishes wonderfully 22% Gratuity already added into all meals. Some where just south of 4 star. read more

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Theodore Rex is one of my favorite restaurants in Houston. Top 3. We have had a number of truly spectacular dishes here. I love everything about this place. The service is always top level. Perfect service and they make it look and feel easy. Genuinely service that cares about their customer. Of course the menu changes but they always have a few of the same items. The tomato toast should not be missed. Dumplings are always great. The wine list is well done and well priced. No alcohol. Limited seating. Make a reservation! read more

Went to Theodore Rex late October with the girlfriend. We ordered a few items to split: - Japanese turnips: interesting starter, comes in 6, which is a great number to share between 1, 2, or 3 people. While tasty, at least given its just turnip, it wasn't quite memorable. 2/5 - Tagliolini: pasta with cultured butter, oyster liquor, mignonette. It's a solid pasta though not quite al dente. Similar with the turnips, not particularly memorable or defining. 2/5 - Tomato toast: okay, now we're onto something! We got this because it was the house favorite and apparently always on the menu. Wow. This was amazing. Super rich rye bread with a tomato fondant and dried tomatos. Rich but superbly well-balanced. I would liken this to Nancy's Hustle's Nancy Cakes. A star dish, despite being an appetizer. 5/5 no doubt - Sformato: quite interesting, a flan of ricotta with spinach, and a jam-like egg yolk. Very fun to experiment with various combinations of the ingredients in front of you. 4/5 - Redfish: very delicious, wow fish with honey? Now that's a combo I'll have to write down. Garlic and green peas are an excellent sauce to provide some floral/vegetal notes. My only complaint would be the portion size is closer to appetizer than a main, since it's listed under 'large', with the 'large' price tag. 5/5 - Strawberry shortcake: delicious, strawberry with cardamom, also an interesting flavor combination, plus a juxtaposition of warm and cold. My only nitpick would be the texture is fairly one-dimensional, spongey/moist. Perhaps some crunchy elements? 4/5 Service is good, plus Chef Yu will bring a dish or two to explain the dish. Friendly guy. Not sure if there was a problem with the kitchen lights when we came in but it was fairly dark, it'd be cool to watch the kitchen if you're sitting at the counter. To be honest, not sure how Theodore Rex got Bib Gourmand since you're looking at over $50 per person for a decent meal, but definitely deserves to be a Michelin-recommended restaurant no doubt! Overall, chef definitely has a knack for experimenting with flavor combinations (and ones I haven't seen at Michelin-starred restaurants!), ever since his original concept, Oxheart. Not every dish was a banger, but those that were give me hope that a Michelin star is just around the corner. Just waiting for that tomato toast to show up at a farmer's market... I give Theodore Rex 4 tiny arms, out of 5. read more

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Although James Beard Foundation Award winner Justin Yu shuttered tasting menu-only Oxheart in 2017 his cooking remains innovative and exciting in its current form at Theodore Rex, named after the Chef's nephew. Located just off the highway in a converted building, Houston's "warehouse district" living up to its name with few signs of activity Sunday evening, it is inside 1302 Nance Street that guests will find exposed brick and minimal adornment surrounding just twenty-eight seats. "Relaxed fine dining" by design, Chef Frank Hermosilla overseeing an open kitchen that works in silence, Theodore Rex changes its menu frequently with Foo that is aggressive yet accessible and exotic despite its roots in local Ingredients. Smartly staffed such that Chefs and servers all contribute to an experience best enjoyed at the counter, a 22% autograt assuring fair pay, most diners will begin with Yu's famous Tomato Toast that spins "pan con tomate" as Butter-soaked Pain de Mie that's brushed with Garlic and topped with Tomato Fondant plus a Salad of fresh Tomatoes. Gulf-focused with Asian elements, Sour Sausage spiced like Chorizo balancing Cucumbers and subtle Citrus, Yu's Ricotta finds itself lightened as crustless Quiche perfumed with Nutmeg atop chlorophyll alongside a creamy Yolk. Less interested in large-format proteins than small-plates, though Toast-crusted Redfish ordered by a neighbor received raves, T.Rex's Pastas shine brightly whether long ribbons flavored like dressed Oysters or filled beneath Cream and native Grapes. Torn as relates to Dessert, a female server allowed to break the tie, fans of rich flavors need look no further than Mousse that eats lighter than expected thanks to flecks of earth and sour on a bed of thick Syrup. read more

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5 stars for excellent service. Came here as a +1 with a group of 4 for a fundraising dinner for T Rex and PX project. Food- the tasting menu was pretty fab. But I won't get into the specifics of the food since it was an event. And likely separate from their usual menu, and specific for that night. But I went home full, there were some great dishes. Services- was pretty stellar. Loved the fine dining treatment. It was wonderful to see the chefs and staff hard at work, up close and personal next to the kitchen. The space is pretty cozy. Street parking in front of the broken meters, or across the street. Park in the grass lot at your own risk! read more

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Annoying- food is flat and could use better inspiration and technique. Very pretentious- they could take notes from actual hip fun spots that are pulling off amazing food like Nancy's Hustle or Squable. The space is cute but tiny- meaning you are shoulder to the next table and that staff continuously hover, also music is so loud and no sound dampening. Paid over $100 for dinner and literally went out for tacos after read more

An interesting adventure in gastronomy. It's a nice concept, but not all of the dishes wowed me. Trout crudo (2/5)- It was a bit too deconstructed to adequately get the flavors as likely intended. It was doing too much and too little at the same time. Sweet melted onions (5/5)- Absolutely decadent and delicious. No notes. Smoked, braised greens (4/5)- A wonderful dish. It was savory and I loved the pickled radicchio. My only reason for taking a point off is because it's listed as a Large plate, but it's not that big a portion. It's really not much more than a side or appetizer. Gulf Snapper (4/5)- Enjoyable dish. Snapper was well prepared. The soupe was good. I am glad it came with rice. Overall we had a nice time here. We should have ordered more dishes because most portions were small, but my husband had eaten earlier and the bill was already adding up. Needless to say I left a bit hungry. I'd come here again if I'm in the area, but I wouldn't be rushing back. read more

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Nut allergy friendly - You can write your allergies into the Resy reservation and they'll keep it in mind. I repeated at the table and the only dish with nuts on their Winter 2023 menu was the gulf oysters with almond milk. I feel like I went to a totally different restaurant than other reviewers. But I didn't, so let's get into things. Did same week booking on Resy for a Sunday night at 8:15PM. Their booking availability was limited. We had seven people and they have a mandatory $95 tasting menu style meal for 6+ people. This was a turn-off for some of our party, so we split into tables of 2 and 5. Turns out, this was a bad idea, as one of our waitresses mentioned that the family style meal has more plates per dish that make up for the price and it is considered a "value meal." Street parking is easy on a Sunday night. Arriving on time, my party of 2 was promptly seated at a cozy, intimate table in the middle of the small restaurant. Our group of 5 got seated in the Record Room, which is not accessible from the main restaurant - you actually have to leave and go down the street a bit to another door. After being seated, we were immediately handed a wine menu and asked what kind of water we wanted. I got sparkling water and my friend got normal water, both of which were complimentary and served with full bottles for self-refill. We chose not to order any wine, despite our waitress asking us multiple times if we wanted an alcohol or non-alcoholic beverage. Only after the third request was the wine menu taken away and replaced with two food menus. Service was pretty quick for us. We got our 3 appetizers 5-10 minutes apart, and both entrees ("large dishes") at the same time about 20 minutes later. Tomato Toast: 4.5/5. Best dish of the night. It's the flagship dish of the restaurant, and for good reason. Two slices (sliced diagonally = four pieces) of perfectly toasted rye bread with a generous serving of dehydrated tomatoes and fresh herbs. Serious TL;DR: just come here and order this to go. Crepe of Mung Beans Stuffed with Alpine Cheese and Onions, Lavender: 1.5/5. The second most disappointing dish of the night. This feels like someone ripped off a bánh xèo, doubled the price, halved the size, and replaced all of the good ingredients with caramelized onions. Lavender was unnoticeable - EXCEPT for a sharp piece of the branch that I bit into and nearly cut my cheek on. It was sharp to the touch. I actually thought it was a bone of some kind until I showed the waitress, who commented it was dried lavender. This is unacceptable in a food dish. Boiled Dumplings Stuffed with Grass-Fed Beef (Wagyu), Parmagiano-Reggiano, Ricotta, Celery: 2/5. The wagyu beef was not tender - borderline tough - and very minimal in each dumpling. Five pieces of borderline ground beef ravioli in an actually fantastic sauce. If they just served any bread with the parmagiano-reggiano, it would've been great. The dumplings (if you could even call them that) were just a flavorless disappointment. Chicken Breast Glazed in Coconut, with Anchovy-Garlic-Chili-Ginger: 2.5/5. I've had more tender chicken from the Rotisserie chickens off Costco's grocery section. It was dry and flavorless and clearly only intended to soap up the anchovy coconut ginger mix, which was very flavorful. Nevertheless, they could've replaced the chicken with bread and been perfectly fine. Gulf Snapper, Soupe Au Pistou: 3.5/5. The fish went very well with the squash and vegetables, but by itself it was a bit dry. The texture of the snapper was well done. I would've appreciated a touch of lime on the side as an option to eat the snapper alone. Frozen Dark Chocolate Mousse, Mushroom, Maple: 4/5. A surprisingly good dessert after disappointing main dishes. The sea salt and maple syrup were very complimentary to the chocolate and was a good palette cleanser. Service was a big miss on our entrees. The dishes came with one bowl of rice, despite the waitress saying that "each entrée is intended to be paired with a bowl of rice." We asked for clarity and she insisted on one bowl being appropriate for two dishes. Okay, sure. Later on, we visited our table of 5 eating at the same time and they ordered 3 entrees - and got 3 bowls of rice for 5 people. 1 bowl for 2 people/2 entrees, 3 for 5 people/3 entrees? Something's not adding up here, T-Rex. One extra bowl of rice isn't going to ruin your business. Our group of 5 also received much poorer service. They ordered 4 appetizers and 3 entrees, and by the time we received our check, they had just finished appetizers. They were also reportedly more pressured to order more dishes. Overall: Food: 2.5/5 Service: 3/5 (Pressured to order more, long wait on large groups, but good explanation of dishes) Value: 1/5 (100s of other places I'd rather go at $90+/person) read more

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Came here on a random Tuesday night for a much needed date night with the wife. This place has been on our list for a while, so I was glad to finally fill visit! The interior is very charming and homey. Tables almost too close to one another, open kitchen, small bar area. Overall it's a pretty romantic setting. I wouldn't bring a bring group here. They recommend ordering 4-5 dishes on the menu for two people. The portions are t that big, but everything we had was packed with flavor. They offer a revolving menu, but the tomato toast is a staple here and you should definitely get it! The pasta dishes that we got were great. The snapper was phenomenal. On the other hand, the mung bean crepe for me was too overpowering on the lavender but was still good. We ended the meal with a blueberry cake - and it was just the best way to end our night. Service was pretty good and friendly. I even told our server he sounded like Ira Glass from This American life. Lol We would definitely be back for another date night in the near future. read more

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Came here on a business trip and loved it so much, I came back the next night. Great service, friendly staff, and amazing food! You will not regret coming here. read more

Excellent service, great atmosphere, lovely wine, delicious and unique food. The menu was a little complex but our waitress explained everything perfectly and made great recommendations for food and wine. The tomato toast was a must order. The homemade bread was insane. The beef dumplings were also a must have! I could've eaten 10 myself. The trout and tagliolini had more mixed reviews. I love the trout, my boyfriend thought something was weird about it. To be fair it was an interesting combination of flavors and textures. The tagliolini was advertised as adult buttered noodles, and it was exactly that. It was good, but just not the kind of dish I expected based on the rest of the menu. The chicken was crispy and flavorful but I wish it came with more of the curry sauce to eat over the rice! The potatoes with the chicken were INCREDIBLE but they only give four!! More potatoes!!! Dessert was delicious. Definitely would love to go back and try more things! read more

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Amazing all around food service and atmosphere. The servers treated us like special guests. Only issue is having to park on the street read more

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Went out to celebrate my brother in laws masters graduation last night and hadn't been to T-Rex in a few years but really remember loving it. Sat down as a party of 4 and asked for some wines by the glass, server gave us a taste and the wives didn't like 2 so we swapped them out (but not before the server gave a annoyed face). This places shares multiple servers per table and we ordered exactly how they asked (all the food at once so it could be coursed out) but our server seemed annoyed that we ordered too little food (4 smalls and 3 mains!? We were full at the end). All the plates were presented beautifully and the food was incredible. Get the melted onions! And on the mains do not miss the Redfish! Truly one of the best dishes I've had in a long time. The reason for 2 stars is in the middle of our meal 2 of our male servers seemed very annoyed with us (we weren't loud and we have a high EQ for kindness/respect). At onne point I asked to see the wine list, we wanted a high abv peppery red without any fruit and when I asked the server he looked annoyed and took the list to say he'd do some research. He came back 5 mins later with a Syrah but not the wine list and said nothing about the price (normally servers come back with a recommended option and a backup and also let you know the price) when I asked to see the list just to confirm (really I wanted to check the price) he rolled his eyes getting it begrudgingly. At this point our dinner was tainted by the experience. I tasted it and was happy with the bottle and said thanks then My brother in law tried to lighten the mood while he was pouring our glasses saying "my brother in law has never steered us wrong on a bottle of wine" the server rudely said "but I picked the wine it was me". I almost walked out at that moment but a cooler head prevailed and we stayed to finish our dinner. Overall fantastic food but the servers are a******* and for that reason we will never go back. It's a shame that such an incredible restaurant has forgotten such a simple first principle as kindness and respect and to top it all off there is a 22% gratuity auto included for any party size (I often tip higher for great service but this is the one time that stung because of the experience) food was 5 stars but the rest brought me down to 2. Please make a change T Rex read more

When we got seated, the server keeps on suggesting we should get 5-6 courses for just 2 people. We weren't that hungry and thought they just had small tapa size, but when the food came out (it took very long between dishes) it was actually decent sized. The food was good, but you can get good American food at any other restaurant these days, since there is a such competitive food scene in Houston. Then, there is 22% mandatory tip that they don't tell you until you get the bill. Now it makes sense that the server is trying to push 5-6 meals for just 2 people. Low key felt like we got scammed. Would not come back. read more

Everything was phenomenal, from the food to the service to the drinks. Seating is tight quarters, so don't be divulging any juicy secrets; everyone could hear you. read more

Theodore Rex or T Rex, as I like to call it, is one of those incredible upper echelon local restaurants which theoretically should--in a perfect world--be qualified to receive Michelin stars. Hopefully, one day this will change with a Michelin guide for Houston. Until then, we can all savor and explore the culinary artistry of this restaurant. I've known about this restaurant for quite some time, but it wasn't until the past year and a half or so that I decided to check it out. The Moneycat menu was a cool feature during the early days of quarantine, and I really enjoyed everything I ordered off the Moneycat menus. One dish in particular which stood out was the sliced carrots and tofu over a bed of rice. Like all other T Rex dishes, this one had the right flavors, textures, uniqueness and presentation. It is great to have such high quality culinary works of art available to the public in Houston. I would definitely return and also recommend this restaurant to anyone, especially travelers, foodies and people who want something off the beaten path. read more

Theodore Rex - New American Near Me - Houston, Texas

I've followed this spot since its Oxheart days, +10 years of visits at various times tracing its evolution. But my most recent return was a culinary letdown: nearly every dish--from the tomato bread to the pasta to the dumplings--was drowning in a tidal wave of butter and oil so excessive it made a muggy Houston summer feel refreshing by comparison. Any nuance of flavor was smothered beneath the butter, leaving the palate grasping for balance and finding none. Service, while consistently professional, now comes with a mandatory 22% service fee--a detail that grates when tethered to a lackluster meal. Perhaps the kitchen was having an off night, but at this price point, the margin for error is slim. A restaurant with this pedigree should know better. read more

I am only so sad that I have previously ranked restaurants a five star. Because this is the only restaurant that I truly can say has been one of a kind and an exceptional place. It is perfection. From food, service and ambiance. I literally cannot say enough great things. Small portions to share and have many options. It was spectacular!!! read more

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