08/18/09

Decline in Service, Noisy

by SoJo

Houston’s Hilton Plaza August 17, 2009

147 S. Beverly Drive

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

RE: Service,

Making allowances for the city, Phoenix, and the possibility that natives of the city simply don’t have a skill-set conquerable to that you’d expect to find at Mc Donald’s almost anywhere else, I would , nonetheless, expect that Houstons’ , the organization, would put in place a management team that possesses some minimal knowledge with respect to taking an order, placing it on the table and following up to make certain that the eventual meal meets with a customer’s approval.

Today, merely one example, around 3”30 P.M., I lunched at Houstons. The restaurant is located in Scottsdale, AZ. Near Lincoln Av. & Scottsdale Rd. Lucas was my “waiter.” The dining experience was not rewarding.; that is, it was not rewarding in a positive way.

Openin gambit with waiter: “Good afternoon, please bring water and ice tea.

Tea arrives: no water. “Please may I have a glass of water.” I ask again.

The water arrived but, during the interim, I discover spots on the silverware. It’s not infrequent that I visit Houstons Scottsdale, and also not infrequent that I pick up a knife or fork with spots; and of course, that means dirty water may have been allowed to dry on eating utensils.

“Please, Luke, exchange the silverware.” I ask. Two pieces are delivered in staggered sequence.

“Thank you. Yes, I’ll take horseradish with my prime rib.. Also, for the baked potato: please put butter, etc. on the side.”

The meal arrives without horseradish, and the condiments were served in an integrated form; that is, they were packed layered, all together in a single container. During that entire period, I did not see, from the table where I was sitting, one manager--thus leading me to believe that this is a management deficiency and poor Luke is a hapless employee doing his best without the benefit of supervision.

In Phoenix, during August, it was one hundred two degrees outdoors. Before leaving, I would have appreciated a re-fill, a second glass of water. Refills were offered-- when I was walking out the door.

• Pros: food good, meat poorly marbled
• Cons: Service

07/12/08

NOISE, NOISE, and more NOISE

by lexipierre

Very, very, VERY NOISY, to the point that one could not converse with the person sitting directly across in the nice, well-lit booths. The thai steak salad was tasty with wonderful fresh herbs and spices, however, the meat had been over-marinated and was like mush. The salmon appetizer with toast points was smoky, tasty and moist. But the noise !!! I guess they want you to clear out quick and not linger. Have a mojito like we did (fresh mint and lime) will make you forget the place gave you a headache. The service is almost too intense and rushed. Great location by the Ritz-Carlton keeps prices and valet parking high.

• Pros: Fresh herbs, good use of spices, great drinks, flavors abound, tasty food in general
• Cons: did I mention the noise??

05/18/08

Avoid this location

by fittergirl

I have been dinning at Houstons for more than 20yrs and love it, BUT for some reason everytime I come to this location there is a problem. Last night was TERRIBLE and I will never come back to this store again. The service was poor, but the food was even worse! For the first time ever, I sent my dish back and and shared my husbands club salad while I waited. I have ordered (and shared) that salad for years and it was half the size that it should be, the dressing was globbed on top and not even tossed! The meat and avacado were not properly chopped and there was too much dressing. Not wonderful at all.. The dish that I ordered bad, and to make matters worse the manager never even came around to check on us. After paying our bill, I flagged him down but didnt get the impression he cared much. A HUGE disapointment!

Roomy banquettes and hefty portions typify this polished American grill that's popular for business deals and special occasions.

by Contributor

In Short
Burnished brass and stained wood complement roughly mortared brick and the occasional plant. Amid ubiquitous earth tones, corporate types and small parties (celebrating or simply living large) occupy deep booths done up in fine upholstery and lit from above by pin spotlights. Burgers, prime rib and steaks are the specialties of the house, but the menu also includes salmon, salads, pork chops and roasted chicken.

09/30/07

Go early to avoid the crowds.

by mountains123

Houston's is the greatest! What else can be said. I have enjoyed most of everything on the menu at some point since it has long been one of my favorite spots. Even when I go to NYC, I dine at Houston's in Manhattan.

Their fillet mignon is superb and the grilled chicken salad with peanut sauce is divine. My favorite dessert is the apple cobbler....ymmm. From the BBQ sauce to the appetizers, all I can say is, you can't go wrong. There is no bad food at Houston's. Service is great! Some of the higher priced restaurants could take lessons.

• Pros: Excellent food, excellent service.
• Cons: Music is too loud and the place is quite noisy.

09/08/07

Love that Steak!

by poyalong

I am not real crazy about chain restaurants, but this is a great standard. I have tried filet mignon all over the city (thanks to a steak-loving ex boyfriend), and this is my favorite. It is so good that I don't even like to order anything else on the menu. Go all out and get it with a baked potato with butter and bacon - forget the diet for one night! :) Plus they offter to butterfly it and that way you have the option of taking 1/2 of your delicious filet home for lunch the next day - yum! Price is average (last I was there, around $25). Oh and I really like all the dark wood and soft lighting. The bar is a fun place too. Great drinks!

• Pros: best filet mignon!
• Cons: sometimes I've had to wait

10/26/06

awsome american restaurant

by chauncey80

trendy, restaurant. awsome food. they make everything from scratch including their breads. They are known for their chilli only avail on fri or sat. anything on the menu is good. my favorites are sashimi tuna salad (not on menu), thai steak salad, burger, grilled fish, brown rice and black beans, key lime pie and the sundae are a must

• Pros: everything made from scratch, fresh ingredients
• Cons: no reservations

07/28/06

My all time favorite restaurant!

by j_ryan

Where to begin... I began going to Houston's when I lived in D.C., and was thrilled to find one at the Biltmore when I moved to Phoenix. Houston's key to success is service and consistency. I have never been disappointed with their food, and I have been frequenting Houston's for more than ten years. My sister and I meet there every Thursday for lunch, so she can get the Tortilla soup. Everything on the menu is wonderful, so try different things! An item that is not on the menu, but is one of their best items is the Flying Chicken Platter. Lightly breaded (almost a tempura type breading) chicken, fries and cole slaw. It's a wonderful meal!

• Pros: Excellent food, service, atmosphere
• Cons: Too many people go there! :P

02/13/06

Arrive Early & Often for Wonderful Eats

by captaindback

Consistently excellent kitchen - everything's meticulously prepared and delicious. Not a hit and miss operation. Portions are generous- an exception is the tuna sliver in the seared ahi salad. Ask for a price on the daily "specials", typically fish like Arctic char, as they tend to be expensive (read:ripoff). Despite price creep, Houston's is still a very solid value. Service is businesslike and reasonably efficient - some young servers are rather stiff, intense. Go casual or dressy; it's so dark nobody cares. No reservations, so arrive early to avoid waits. Buzzy, classy, comfortable - one of my favorite spots.

• Pros: Outstanding kitchen, Theatre & shopping, Reasonable
• Cons: No reservation policy

06/08/05

Best burger hands down!

by ncharania

Once you've tried it, nothing else will compare! The fries are great too! They get busy though, so don't be surprised if there's a wait!