El Meson

Most of the menu was Mexican or perhaps Mexican inspired Cuban food, but everything was good. Pros: Interesting dishes and great plantains Cons: Not really the most Cuban of Cuban places, but still great. more

I have been a big fan for years. I used to always get the yummy sangrias with friends, but they have an amazing wine list. I think they've even been noted in the Wine Spectator. Every year the decor gets better and the service has always been fantastic. I meet my husband there for our first date four years ago today and we'll be there again tonight. Pros: service, wine list, cuban food Cons: parking (it's in Rice Village) more

Yesh- it has latin-flare food, but it also has cool neon signs that makes the place more fun than it would be without it. Bueno! more

My wife and I ate at El Meson the other evening. Our verdict: absolutely wonderful. We came on a Wednesday evening and were treated to flamenco peformed live by a very talented guitarist. The haunting sounds of Southern Spain piqued my appetite for some wine and tapas, and I was not dissappointed. The wine list---wow!! The best selection of Spanish wines I have ever seen. And I have been to Spanish restaurants in Caliornia, Washington, even Spain!! Our waiter, a tall, handsome young man helped us choose a fabolous Rioja, which paired wonderfully with the garlic shrimp and pork tenderloin tapas we ate as a starter. As an entree my wife chose the red snapper with the cuban accompaniment (white rice, black beans, and plantains) and I chose the ropa vieja with the saffron rice. Delicious. Having eaten the waiter suggested we try the tres leches for dessert, but unfortunately, we were already stuffed. Maybe next time. All in all, I loved my experience at El Meson. Non-corporate, family-owned, with a personable staff that caters to regulars and new-comers, and splendid food and wine, I recommend it. It is a gem and I want to come back soon to try their Paella, maybe with a Priorat, which I have seen only once or twice on a restaurant wine list. Pros: great food, great service, great wine Cons: a little crowded and busy more

I had been trying to go to El Meson for a long time and it was never the right time...until now. My mood for good Cuban food was rapidly deflated when I opened the menu and saw mostly Mexicand food. I mean MOSTLY!! I think there were two or three Cuban dishes and that was it! Pros: Better than average food quality Cons: Not enough variety more

El Meson is addictive!......Great flavors and a casual fun atmosphere you won't find anywhere else in Houston. Pros: delicious food, killer margaritas, top notch wines more

El Meson has mastered the art of rustic Cuban cuisine. Chef Peter Garcia's fare is perfected simplicity. Try the award-winning Peaella, or the Pollo al Ajillo; the most succulent chicken you have ever eaten! Combined with a wonderfully relaxing environment and one of the most extensive wine lists in Houston, El Meson promises to be an enjoyable experience. Pros: Animated Staff, Brilliant Menu, Wine! Wine! Wine! Cons: , Valet Parking more

El Meson is a place I discovered about 7 years ago, and it quickly became my favorite restaurant ever!! The cuban food is amazing and the service has always nothing but exceptional. I am a monthly visiter and it's nice to be recognized as a regular customer whenver I go. If you only go once, the meal you MUST try is Fajitas Salteadas, Cuban Style. The meat is so soft and tender, while the plantains are to die for! The rice and the black bean soup complement this meal perfectly. Pros: Food, Ambiance, Good Service Cons: , hard to exit more

El Meson may not be the most romantic place to eat, and perhaps the service is unlike Pappasitos (where there are twenty servers, waiters, busboys, etc. per table). However, if you go in with a more relaxed and casual attitude, you will be pleased to find an abundance of dishes unlike any other in Houston. There is a reason this place has been in business for 20-some odd years! The paella is authentic and delicious, the plantains with rice and black beans are always a crowd pleaser, and the chicken al ajillo is to die for...and I generally hate chicken! For a Mexican dish, the steak Tampiquena combo always hits the spot. Don't expect white tablecloth service, but do go...It's worth it! Pros: Food, Consistency, Wine List Cons: Village Parking, Service more

We eat out fairly frequently, and have been eating at El Meson for a while. I'm surprised to see the negative reviews on this site. The Cuban food at El Meson is very good and often imaginative (try the ""Cuban nachos""). The dishes always taste fresh and carefully prepared. The Tex-Mex is better than average for Houston, but not great, I'd say because the recepies are a little uninspired. I would agree that the service is not doting, but I have never had serious problems with it either. The staff is very accommodating of kids, but it doesn't have the feel of a ""restaurant for kids."" We've eaten here as young adults with lots of friends, and now that we have kids we feel just as comfortable and have just as much fun. Pros: Good cuban, Good for all ages, great location Cons: Difficult parking, sometimes hectic more

I tried this place out with a group of friends and we were sorely disappointed. The food was terrible, the service was awful, and for what you pay, the portions are really small. Cons: overpriced, bad service, terrible food more

My experience with El Meson has been very unpleasant. When placing an order over the telephone, the restaurant manager was rude. When I commented on the lack of kindness on her part, she responded with I have plenty of customers and do not need a customer like you and hung up. more

Maybe we chose a bad night, A Saturday, but our experience was not good. Four of us went and only one person got what they ordered. The sevice was spotty and our waiter never informed us that they were out of rice and plantains. We may never had known this because the waiter never asked us what we wanted as side dishes. We were also there at closing and they made it quite clear at 11:00 that they wanted us to leave (They were dimming the lights)...I don't think a second chance is warrented. Pros: Sangria, Salsa, Pork dishes Cons: Service, Price, Value more

My expectation was that the food presentation and flavor were not up to par with the reviews I read before going to the restaurant.. Very disapointed with the garlic fish. more

The food is an 8, the service a 5 but the Sangria is a 10+. The fresh snapper with olive oil and garlic is a great lite meal though the portion is huge. I love the Tex-Mex and the Cuban fare. The nachos would be a 10 if they would just cook the Jalapenos on the nachos the way it was ment to be. It seems though that no place in Houston does that right anyway. Pros: Sangria, Food Cons: Service, Parking more