Houston's

Was trying to dine at Houston's for the first time and didn't realize the name has changed and is now Bartlett's (the owner of Houston's for 20 years) until I made reservations. Our party had swordfish, sockeye salmon, steak, crab cake. Sides options were sauteed spinach or broccoli. The steak side was a Greek salad. The entrees were very good without tons of spices or sauces to smother the natural flavors of the meats and vegetables sides. The portions are appropriate but not large, room for dessert. Our deserts were fluffy cheesecake, key lime pie and apple cobbler with blue bell homemade vanilla. The coffee aroma filled the air and tasted great as well. Our group didn't leave a even a morsel on our plates. We enjoyed it all. The service was very conscientious and almost formal but the atmosphere was still warm. more

Moved to Austin in 1997 - including family, friends, and business clients have been to Houston's over 300 times. Not once have I left unsatisfied. Everything on menu is awesome. Love the spinach artichoke dip, the salads are excellent, Hawaiian Ribeye, filet, the WORLD FAMOUS ribs are best in Austin, key lime for dessert. Eat at the bar, get food to go, eat in main dining room, it's all terrific. The veggie burger is awesome too. Our favorite waiter is Matt. He's a very tall, dark skinned, young looking fellow. One of the top 3 servers that has ever taken care of us; ever. You feel like your at home eating the way this guy communicates with the table. I highly recommend taking your out of town guests or clients to Houston's. Pros: food, drinks, atmosphere, menu, wine, service Cons: nothing more

This is hands down one the best restaurants in Austin. I love Perry's and Truluck's and Houston's is on par with these big boys of food. I've travelled the world over and assuredly say Houston's is among the best for steak and seafood.\r \r If you ask for Sandy as your server, you won't be dissapointed with his service and attention to your detail!\r \r Bon appetit Pros: Fantastic Grab Cakes more

I love Houstons, the service is perfect and the food, no matter what you order is superb, hands down, I highly recomend this restraunt to everyone. Pros: Steak salad more

My friend and I happened across Houstons quite by accident. As we parked and walked up to the resturant the smell was intoxicating. Walking in we were promptly greeted and had a drink at the bar as we waited for a table. We were told to expect about a 20 min. wait but were ready to be seated in less than 10. The lighting is dark and cozy with touches burning throughout...what to make a good impression? Everyone looks great in this lighting. I had on a pair of jeans and a blouse and was rather casual but it did not make me feel underdressed in any way although if I had dressed up that would have been great is well. The food...omg...the steak was amazing..I think it was hickory? but the flavor was well worth it. Not a lot of extras served other than potatoes but you can add sides if your appetite desires more. What you get for the money....Ambiance...very tastefull food...great wines...and accomidating service....better wine glasses, china and silver....a nice suprise will definately go again....by the way I had the ahi salad with a side of asparagus,amazing....tantalizing treat....just what I was hoping for that night. Pros: if it is what you had in mind its perfect! Cons: not for families with small children more

First off the food was good. Second, the price is ridiculous for what you get and over priced. A lunch for three ran $90 and to tell you the truth I could have gone to Conan's pizza which is next door for a lunch that was the equivilant in quality and service for around $12. Houston's is a fu fu joint - people go there over dressed looking and acting as if their S--- don't stink. Pros: Nice restaurant - clean Cons: Avg food at best - over priced more

We stopped by on a random evening to enjoy a good steak (my guest preferred a salad) and were pleasently suprised. Steak was good, the sides good. My guest's salad had tasty seared tuna with a little too much dressing, though they did love the taste. Romantic and quiet, the atmosphere was perfect for a night out on the town. However, the star of the evening, and I'm not kidding, was the butter! I would say that I am a butter 'freak' and not just your every day enjoyer of a little fat and salt mixed in yellow perfection. Houston's was the best I've had ever and is the reason I will be going back tonight. I may even sneak a bit out in my guest's purse for later. more

The steak was amazing. The Hawiian seasoned ribeye was perhaps the best seasoned steak I have ever eaten. My only complaint would be that the wait staff not take themselves quite so seriously. I am all for fine dining, but that doesn't mean the wait staff should be overly pretentious. I also don't think you need to tell people what the waiters should receive as a tip as they do on the menu. The service should make it obvious that the wait staff knows their stuff and are deserving of a good tip. more

I highly recommend Houston's, I use to be a server there during my college years. Houston is consistent, everything there is made from scratch down to the ketchup! Houston's is reasonably priced when you take in mind the quality of ingredients and food they use. If the best you can come up with is they don't give free bread or salads well then maybe you should stick with chili's and different places like that who get frozen products in bulk and simply microwave there pre-made meals. There are a lot of dirty restaurants and I sure made my way around a lot of them when I was young. Houston's is the only restaurant I wouldn't be scared to lick the floor! The staff there works really hard to maintain Houston's a clean and a pleasant place, and the servers for the most part make it welcoming and are worth tipping at least 15% if not 20%!!! My advice and this is in the most honest way with out trying to be rude, is if you are cheap or don't feel you should pay for a good quality meal do not go to Houston's because you will be miserable. Pros: Great food and service Cons: Doesn't accommodate parties larger than 5 more

I have frequented Houston's for years and I am always impressed with the food and service. Their ribs are fantastic and they have fresh fish and vegetable selections every day. During the summer, they feature a hot fudge sundae that is absolutely addictive. Their service is prompt and professional and I like the consistency of great food and service. Pros: Great Food (recommend the ribs or any of their steaks) Cons: Hard to seat large parties more

What a disappoinment! It is just another overpriced restaurant with little to offer and nothing unique. Far too dark - could hardly read the menu. Tables too close together and very noisy. Prime rib had no taste and what appeared to be no more than 10 ounces overpriced at $28. No salad or bread. Came only with a baked potato. Water served at room temperature. My wife asked for extra sour cream and the waiter brough her, literally, one tablespoon. And it took too long to arrive. Anothger person asked for extra butter and that took even longer. There are plenty of good restaurants in Austin. There is no need to frequent this ""chain."" Cons: Room Dark - Overpriced - Tasteless Beef more

Familiar faces are a plus. Hello again to James, our favorite waiter and to everyone who carefully looks after our best interests.\r \r The Pecan Trout should surely make it to the main menu! Its buttery sauce complimented with a balsamic drizzle gives it a tangy kick. Your taste buds will shout for joy!\r \r The French Dip is no ordinary sandwich. Piled high with sliced rare prime rib that would satisfy the meat lover in anyone! \r \r Somedays, it's just a salad with their out of this world blue cheese dressing and a stack of those crispy skinny fries washed down with a crisp iced tea.\r \r Thank you Houston's for always providing us with a perfectly pallet pleasing experience.\r \r Note: As lovely as the hostesses are, we would appreciate it if you could save the snooty attitude for somewhere else. Houston's patrons should be treated like family, and you are truly the only downside to this fine dining experience. Pros: Outstanding Waitstaff and Quality Food Every Time. Cons: Hostesses Snobbish Attitude, Every Time. more

We have rediscovered Houston's. Visited many times over the years and twice this month. Once to celebrate husband's retirement and once to celebrate daughter's birthday. The special fish with pecans reminded me of New Orleans fare. The crab cakes were outstanding. Lots of crab and little filler. Husband loved the prime rib as always. It was cooked to perfection for his taste. The waiter brought my daughter a dessert for her birthday. Nice touch. We'll be back soon. Pros: Consistently good dining, ample parking, nice bar more

Did I say I Love it!!!!??? My husband and I tryed Houston about 14 years ago and we love it so much. It's our special place to celebrate big events (ie., promotions, birthdays, anniversarys, etc). We've tryed several things on their menu but we always go back for the ribs, fries, cole slaw, spinach artichoke dip and cheese toast. We really enjoy dining there because our kids are all grown now and we enjoy dining out with out kids screaming at the next tables. If you haven't tried it you don't know what your missing. Pros: Ambience, Parking, Great Food Cons: A little pricey but, we always take home leftovers for another meal. Long waiting times during holidays. more

We stumbled into Houston's when we first moved here - it is our very favorite place. The ambiance is great but a few things have changed that we miss: Cowboy Ribeye and Dublin Dr. Pepper. We still love the prime rib and the ribs, and our very favorite appetizer, smoked salmon that melts in your mouth. We usually skip dessert here unless they have their Belgian chocolate sundae. Service can be very good, but they do have a lot of runners deliver your food, and it doesn't seem like requests are communicated very well to them. Pros: Delicious food. Great environment. Cons: sometimes slow wait staff, specials not available more

I love Houston's - we have been frequenting this restaurant for many years now, while living in Houston and in Austin. I think they have wonderful steaks and their French Dip is excellent! It is on the pricey side but we've always had great service from the waitstaff and management. Keep in mind there is a dresscode, so no baseball caps, etc. allowed. Pros: Wonderful Food, Great Ambience Cons: Expensive more

I've been eating at Houston's for about two years. I LOVED the spinach dip and Veggie burger. I was only just recently informed by a waiter that the spinach dip has chicken broth in it! I was truly devastated. Why must they do that?! Sigh. I hope the veggie burger is actually vegetarian! Pros: Veggie burger Cons: Chicken broth in the spinach dip more

I wasn't impressed with Houston's. At Houston's (it's menu suggests that you tip 15%; 18% tip is added on for parties of 5 or more), I don't expect to ever be waiting for more water (Houston's water is served sans ice, something I found strange), but once or twice, I was. At Chili's, I wouldn't have thought anything of it, but here, I expect more. I ordered the club sandwich: average. Nice presentation, but taste wise? Nothing special. I did NOT like the french fries: salty and mushy. Bread wasn't free - $1.50; at Houston's, you don't expect to be charged for something that other places give you for free! However, I wasn't charged for my Sprite. I don't know if the sodas are free, or if the waiter just forgot/decided not to charge. All in all, not a bad experience, but I expect more from a restaurant like Houston's. Pros: Nice ambience, Good service Cons: Bad fries, No free bread, Not a good value more

I have started going to Houston's restaurant since about 4 years ago and I would say it was better then. The baby back ribs is still as good but the steak (Hawaiian and Primerib) was much better then. The decor, ambience, and service is highly recommended. Their warm fudge brownie is the best brownie I have ever tasted; it's fudgy in the inside and crispy in the outside and the ice cream served on top complemented the warm brownie very very well...IT""S YUMMYY Pros: Best baby back ribs, Great ambience, Best brownie Cons: Bad steak more

I've been to Houston's countless times since I moved to Austin, mostly for their Grilled Chicken Salad. I've had several of my friends try it over the years and and every single one of them loved it. What makes Houston's an all time favourite for me is not necessarily how good the food or the service was in any given time but how consistent it's been over the years. The waistaff is what waitstaff should be; friendly but not too friendly, courteous but not distant, knowledgeable about their menu but not in a cocky way. At least that's what my experience has been these past several years. One disappointment for me is their dessert menu. Although it's all delicious, there's nothing original or innovative about it. The best sign of its popularity is the crowd. Weekday, weekend, lunch time, dinner time, this place is always busy. Pros: Service, Food, Ambience more