Cafe Annie

We ordered a $120 bottle of wine, – the decanter was chipped at the mouth, which isn’t something you don’t expect when you spend $300+ for a meal. We tried the fried shrimp appetizer which was fried on a skewer then topped on a dry slaw with bits of lobster. I ordered my NY Strip steak medium, it arrived rare. My husband’s ribeye was not even an inch thick and very bland. The grits were undercooked and not warm. We tried to salvage the dinner with the warm chocolate cobbler, it tasted like a day old cookie thrown in the microwave. The service was worse than the food – we had to ask for the wine list after sitting at the table for 15 minutes. The server would fill 1 glass 3/4 full of wine, and the other 1/4 full. not high end at all! Such a waste of money – we literally called Mark’s on the way home for a reservation the next weekend. HORRIBLE – Cons: service, food more

We had dinner last week and was so embarrassed by the down home feel of the owners. Let me explain, when someone dines out at Cafe Annie, it is usually to enjoy a quiet dinner with a loved one, a personal celebration, or some other significant occasion. The last thing one would expect would be for the owner to sit down next to you and carry on a LOUD conversation with whomever. How do I know she was the owner? Everyone was calling her Mimi and she was making it a point that everyone knew who she was. I understand that owners & managers need to talk with their guests from time to time, but please don't sit down on a chair next to someone unless you are invited, one should stand at the table for a brief time. We are here to dine and spend money in your establishment, not to hear how bad sales are or what other companies are having a rough time, or how your family is doing. Let us enjoy our time. Even with this we did manage to enjoy the food. We are eagerly waiting the opening of their new restaurant, it is time for a change for this restaurant. more

My fiane and I moved to Houston just over a year ago and are avid eaters. We love to get around the city and try out all the restaurants so we were excited to finally try Cafe Annie with a friend of ours. I viewed the menu online before we went and thought it looked great, but soon learned that the descriptions are creative ways to describe just regular, boring food. I was so disappointed by this restaurant. The chicken fried gulf shrimp were just fried shrimp that I could have gotten from a street vendor and the lobster crepe just tasted like eggs. For entrees the tuna was high quality but it was bland and the red fish was boring as well. It says it comes with shrimp and there was no shrimp to be found and the fish itself was dry and fishy tasting. Our friend had the ribeye, which seems safe but after eating part of it, he put down his fork and was finished because the flavor was bad. For dessert we had the berry cobbler which was good but essentially a berry muffin and when we ordered the grilled pound cake it was basically Sara Lee pound cake with some Hershey syrup drizzled over. I will not be going back to Cafe Annie. Pros: service was decent Cons: food bad more

My wife and I decided to celebrate our birthdays at Cafe Annie this year, after hearing many good things about the establishment. Unfortunately, this will be our last celebration at the establishment.\r \r We made early reservations so that we could get home to tuck in the little one. Our reservations were for 6:30. We were out of the place by 7:45. Our waiter dropped off our cocktails and pressured us for our dinner order at the same time. Before we had even finished our first drink, the appetizers had arrived, as I was still looking through the wine list.\r \r The appetizers were acceptable, but nothing spectacular. I thought the flavor somewhat bland.\r \r Our dinner arrived just as we were finishing the appetizers. Again, the food was acceptable, but nothing spectacular.\r \r The dessert was probably the best part of the meal, aside from the wine. However, bringing the check while we are still eating leaves much to be desired, especially considering the price level.\r \r Bottom line is this place would be an acceptable lunch location if the prices were significantly lower and it was conveniently located near the office. Otherwise I would not go out of my way to go back. If there were a company function there, I would plan on drinking my dinner, but would definitely prefer some of the other upscale locations in Houston (Mark's, Damien's, etc.) if I wanted to actually eat.\r \r Pros: Wine list Cons: Overpriced. Rushed service. more

The service was timely, however, does not allow guest to relax and take time to enjoy the meal, the waiter seem to be in a hurry to turn the table, for the price you pay, we feel that the service is almost like a fast food place. We did not like the food we ordered. After I came back from the meal, I was having some issues with my stomach. The price of this place is comparable to Mark's, but compare to the service and the food, I would never go back to Cafe Annie again. more

Me and my husband have been to Cafe Annie for years! I'm glad to hear that the new location will create a larger area for the bar which is more affordable than most people think. I had dinner there the other night and was floored by the great bar service, be sure to make reservations in advance though because it can get quite packed during weekends. The music is getting better than what I remember. The food was great as always, my favorite is the rare tuna salad with roasted beets....delicious. I've never noticed what the hostess wear since we are regulars but they seemed lovely to me. Another must try is the Bar's Annie Burger, the bread is perfection and the fries are wonderful as well. I also noticed that the lunch menu has been updated with new exciting salads and entrees, and the prices are reasonable compared to other places like Tony's. I only wish though that the people there would dress a little more formal. I understand the complaint about the shorts of the person below but I guess they are trying to be more casual then usual. Either way, great job Cafe Annie. Pros: Bar Annie is both affordable and chic Cons: Too casual attire? more

What can I say? Hands down one of the best dining experiences I've had. I'm not a regular so I wasn't expecting VIP treatment; however, the waitstaff and owner were very gracious to our party. I came in to celebrate my birthday with a few girlfriends and we were all very impressed with the attentitiveness of the staff. The food was fabulous, if you go for dinner you must try the grilled shrimp with the enchiladas or the filet mignon with grits, to die for!!!! I will definitely be back for more, and I can't wait for the new location to open...oh and try the valet, the etxra $3 is worth it. Pros: Service and Cheap Valet Cons: none! more

double standards abound. When I called I was told that shorts were not approariate but what is the hostess wearing when I arrive? You guessed it, now I understand these were not walking shorts, they were almost what used to be terrmed as short shorts. It seems like Cafe Annie is losing its edge when it comes to first impressions. Went back the next day and there was so much cleveage showing, its a wonder the gentlemen didn't dine in the bar just to stare. What has happened to the good old days, when genmtlement wore jackets, ladies wore dresses? I know this is Houston and times are changing but when we go out to eat, we want to admire the decor, the food, the atmoshphere not the lack of clothing on the hostesses more

This restaurant is not what it used to be. The service is just what one would expect from a first rate restaurant but the food is lacking. How many different ways can you do salmon, filet of beef and chicken? It seems like the chefs (or Robert) are no longer being creative. Wouldn't it be nice to see some pasta dishes, maybe some new fish on the menu not just as a special and let's not mention the desserts. I don't think I have seen a creative and new dessert since Ben Berryhill left the kitchen. I am hoping with the opening of the new restaurant, new ideas will also come. more

I've always heard good things about this place and I was not disappointed. I knew the price would be high but it was only a $150.00 for two of us. Thats with a 65.00 bottle of wine. Well worth it in my opionion. It was a memorerable experience with my new (that night) Fiance. Well done Cafe Annie - Keep it up. The shrimp and enchilada's were too die for. Pros: Great food - Good service Cons: Nothing was free more

Can't really say anything that bad about the place. Service from my waiter was impeccable, but the menu, particularly the desserts, are just flat.\r Probably would eat at the bar next time; better menu, and less expensive. Pros: Bar menu, waitstaff Cons: See review more

My wife and I have been to Cafe Annies now on a number of occasions, purely based in the strength of recommendations from Houston natives. Although a gewat restaurant, and one of the better ones in Houston, it doesn't deserve the world class accoldaes we've seen heaped on it recently.\r \r Our most recent experience was in Sep 07 when we dined with business colleagues. I had Sea Bass and my wife tried the veal. Both were very good and well prepared, but not spectacular. The prices charged demand a little more than was delivered here. The wine list was great though and we were helped to select a benchmark bordeaux. more

I had a meal here in 1998, every bite a symphony. My meal on 11/3/07, a Saturday night, was also a disappointment. There was no magic at all. I had the chicken-fried shrimp and foie gras appetizers and the toasted pound cake dessert. The pound cake had an unpleasant bitter/tangy taste. My friend and I were dressed down in an Austin kinda way, and I had the feeling we were being rushed along. Pros: service, parking Cons: the carriage has changed back to a pumpkin again more

My husband and I come to Houston on a regular basis, most of the time to enjoy the restaurants. We have some favorites (Da Marco's and Tony's specifically) but like to try out new spots. We had resisted trying Cafe Annie mainly because we thought it was probably just a trendy place with no substance. I hate to say we could not have been more correct. After visiting this past Saturday night, we walked out wondering how it manages to stay in business if that was a typical night. The food was bland and, in the case of the shrimp dish I tried, too hard to eat. I expected fresh seafood and knock your socks off flavors. The tables were situated too close. Da Marcos manages to pull off a similar seating arrangement without making you feel like you are sitting on top of the neighboring tables. I will say the margaritas and the caramel custard (aka flan) were good but not worth a second trip. more

I know I sound pretentious for giving Cafe Annie 2 stars, but hear me out on this. First off- I am VERY... more

I know I sound pretentious for giving Cafe Annie 2 stars, but hear me out on this. First off- I am VERY easy to please when it comes to food. (Look... more

Last night was our first time to Cafe Annie and I'm sorry to say we were both disappointed. Absolutely, no comparison to Mark's or Ruggles. The food was bland, seating close, service ""snooty"", and all of this for $200! I definitely expect A LOT better for a supposedly upscale restaurant. Sorry Cafe Annie, but we won't be returning. more

No complaints on our first visit. The service was great. Our food was great. The wood-grilled flavor took us by surprise and had us questioning it at first, but by the second bite all doubts were gone. The shrimp appetizer, the steaks, pecan pie, berry custard, wine...all was great. We will surely be back. Pros: everything more

The food was great, the service was very good and the atmospher was relaxed/upscale. The flavors were well balanced of everything we ate exept the chilled avacado mango soup. The crab salad is a must have. I love lamb and the lamb was perfect. Desert my date and I shared the caramel custard with cinnamon churro along with our port. They had a nice wine list. Upscale with nicely blended southwest flavors done right will eat here again. Pros: everything more

The food is always exquisite and the service is always impecable. Definitely worth the trouble of making reservations and getting dressed up. Don't miss out on the people watching. more