To be fair, the menu at Chez Roux is quite tasty. Many of the preparations are seasonal and inventive, with several tried and true taste combinations that Chef Roux has maintained on his menus for years. Based on the food alone, I do think the restaurant could be quite successful as a foodie ""destination"" restaurant.
But to be honest, if they intend to have people travel far and wide - well, even from Houston - they really must put a fine polish on the restaurant. The service was, well, adequate. I will second an earlier review that the wait staff seemed ""timid."" Our meal was VERY slow in coming, even our cocktails before the meal took a loooong time, and we had to ask for them a second time. Seriously, I understand that things like that happen at restaurants all the time, but when you are paying a premium for an uber-fine dining experience, those little things really shouldn't happen.
Really, the most unappealing aspect of the restaurant to me was the decor. It was barely better than a hotel restaurant. The decor was uninspired and unwelcoming.
While the food was exceptional, I think for the price, I would prefer a restaurant that really pulls out all the stops to create a truly fine dining experience.
Pros: fresh, delicious ingredients, exciting and inventive cuisine
Cons: drab decor, general lack of polish
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