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Categories: Steakhouses, American (New)
Neighborhood: PasadenaMon-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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Oh man, I love me some Houston's.
The service here is always excellent, and the food hasn't disappointed me yet! For some reason my parents always have something go wrong when they're here (someone ate bad fish, ribs were too dry..) but I haven't experienced any of that.
RIBS! So, when you go here, you have to get the ribs at least once. They're fall-off-the-bone tender, and so simple yet delicious that you don't need extra sauce like at Chili's or other huge chain restaurants. I also love the shoestring fries they serve with it. The cole slaw isn't mind-blowing, but I'm rarely a fan of cole slaw so don't mind my opinion :)
Cheeseburger!! Another great choice at Houston's. Since they grind the beef on site, you can order it any way you want it. Please, for the sake of delicious hamburgers everywhere, don't get it done above medium! The cheese is real cheddar, none of that processed American cheese, the sauce they put on is very light, and they give you the perfect ratio of lettuce/tomato to beef. You get to choose one of 4 sides, but I always get the amazing shoestring fries. Couscous with a burger sounds a little strange...
French dip au jus! This is probably my third favorite choice here, but it's still good. They use real prime rib, and boy is the au jus salty and tasty! My favorite part of the meal is probably the au jus haha.
Center cut filet. Good, and they give you a nice sized portion of filet, but you should probably get something else for your money. I haven't tried the Hawaiian rib-eye, but that seems to be a favorite from the other reviews :)
Appetizers: I've had the spinach-artichoke dip and the spicy tuna roll, and I think the dip is more worth it to get. The spicy tuna roll is definitely good quality fish--always fresh, and they don't put too much rice--but you only get like 6 tiny pieces for $14. If you want sushi, go elsewhere in Pasadena.
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The service here is impeccable, and the atmosphere, with low lighting and big, high perched deep boothes, is deep, dark, and sexy.
Even though I had the distinct impression that I was in a nouveau steak house, the seafood specials sounded too good to pass up.
I had a ceasar salad and grilled halibut special, served with maple glazed carrots.
The fella had some sort of pink trout with creamed spinach. I'm generally not a fan of trout, but this was very good.
I had an issue with my ceasar, as it had too much strong, tangy dressing on it, and 2 anchovies just laid across the top. It was just too much. I would go for something else next time.
My halibut, served simply with a lemon half and tartar sauce was special just by merit of being perfectly grilled, high quality, and ever so fresh and clean. My only complaint was that I wanted more of it. Maple glazed carrots were just that. Very simple and pleasant.
I would recommend Houstons for when you have company that you want to please but not overwhelm. Its not exactly adventurous food, but you can't go wrong. It is prepared so simply and presented beautifully by a staff that is well trained and gracious.
I came here for a birthday party and our service was great!
Yea there was a wait, but it wasn't that bad and I actually liked it when they remembered who was who out of soo many different groups waiting to be seated.
When the lady came up and said that our table was ready we all sat down and it was a party of 5. Our server came right up and asked what we wanted to drink.
We had some wine and some alcohol and also water that was given in lightning speed.
We then started to mingle and order some appetizers, we had one that was Japanese inspired ...but I don't remember the name. It was crunchy when you bit into the roll and it was super delicious.
I don't remember what I had eaten exactly what it was called it was some type of fish that I haven't really heard about and it was on their menu when the server talks about their daily specials.
The fish was great and overall we all had a great time eating dinner, not one single complaint. :)
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Everytime I go here I am always impressed with the service. I can say that I always try something… Read more »
Sadly, I did not enjoy my meal here.
I ordered some hickory burger - fries were good but the burger itself was boring - boring as it was, I will not dismiss this place for two reasons 1) I know that burgers are not their specialty so it would be unfair of me to judge them by this standard alone and 2) (the main reason for my 4 stars) the service here was truly unbeatable. Everything about thier servers seemed so polished - in particular, were their freakishly graceful hand gestures...their hand movements seemed so rehearsed, yet so natural...if there was ever such a thing as hand ballet, I imagine it'd look something like hand gestures from the servers at Houstons.
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I've been a fan for a long time. Today is no exception. My Hawaiian Rib eye came out the way I like it and I enjoyed it to the last bite. A good steak is when it is prepared it has all the right spices and when you finally get it and start eating it you eat it non-stop and you don't need to add seasoning of your own, because if you did then that steak wasn't prepared properly.
Service on the other hand isn't always there. That is a crap shoot because today the waiter was slow on our refills and I always like it when a waiter is on top of his game and wants to make sure his diner is attended too. today was that day when I felt the waiter was no where to be found but saw plenty of other waiters walking around but not paying attention to us only to pick up the bill. =((
Parking is small but it's free! We got a ride on the golf cart for my pregnant wife!
The center cut was awesome and the fries with it were a treat for everyone!
Two of my friends had martinis and we were surprised to see the waitress change the glass for a chilled glass!
Everyone was satisfied with their meal.
This place is a treasure!
Consumer Reports did a recent report on the best sit-down restaurant chains in America, and Houston's was near the top of the list. I'm in agreement. Houston's is pretty consistent in terms of food quality and service. I think people love chains because of no surprises in the menu/prices and big portions. Houston's definitely scores there as well, but make no mistake, Houston's is an upscale chain and more expensive than other chains.
Houston's dining rooms have the same feel. Kitchen is usually open. There are a lot of tables. The atmosphere tends to be loud. The dining room is nice and simple--it is not pompous and traditionally fancy or frilly, but you know right away that you are at a nice restaurant. Exteriors are the same as well, but this Houston's in Pasadena has a little more character. There is a little bit of vegetation and some nice benches/seats. You can be in for a long wait at Houston's; at least at this one, you can wait in a relaxed and comfortable environment.
I had the barbecued ribs at Houston's, which may be their signature dish. I don't get the ribs that much anymore because (1) it is a lot of work to eat and (2) it can be quite heavy. The ribs were good though. Very tender. The loaded baked potato was also good. The cole slaw was nice as well even though cole slaw is not really my thing.
The one thing that does seem to be inconsistent with Houston's restaurants is side substitution. Most Houston's will let you substitute sides. Some don't. Also, if you have an entree with two sides (like the ribs), they will occasionally tell you that you will have to forfeit both sides for the substitution. That wasn't the case here. I really don't know what Houston's policy is though.
Their dessert menu is limited, but the five-nut brownie with a huge heaping of ice cream and caramel is always good. Warning though...if you don't like nuts, you may want to get something else.
So I decided to take my son to lunch and I asked him what he wanted and he said a GOOD hamburger not fast food, not Johnny Rockets but a good burger so I took him to Houston's
The parking lot was packed at 1:15 pm and it is a fairly large parking lot but as we parked and headed in a lot of people were leaving. We were immediately sat and our drink order of 2 ice teas and a soda was taken.
The server came back with our drinks and took our order and our food arrived shortly there after.
I ordered the veggie burger which is handmade there and it was good enough that it was difficult to tell it was not real beef.
My son ordered their Cheeseburger medium rare and it arrived perfectly cook and he devoured it.
My husband ordered the French Dip with the beef rare and the beef was perfectly done.
All and all a good lunch for $70...ouch!
BTW the parking lot was half empty when we left.
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I love the fact that you can walk into a fancy looking place in shorts and a tshirt. Not that I did, but you could.
I do not remember ever seeing such a friendly group of staff at a restaurant than Houstons. On our way in or out, we were welcomed or thanked by hostesses for stopping by.
Our waitress was real friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. She left a bottle of water on our table and occasionally came to help us refill our glasses of water.
I had the prime rib which came with a baked potato, and a glass of red wine. Very tender and soft. Maybe they beat the cow in the back of the kitchen a billion times before putting it on the grill. It was a good piece of steak, but I think I would have enjoyed the Hawaiian rib eye a little bit more. I really enjoyed the baked potato here though. I enjoyed it more then the actual steak itself! All all that sour cream, bacon, stuffed into a hot potato, was rich in flavor and very creamy.
If your wondering how much the steaks cost here, max price I believe is 33 bucks + a side!! Very affordable, considering what authentic steakhouses charge.
Loved the koi fish pond out in the waiting area outside. It made me ponder when I will I ever get that koi fish tattoo done on my arm. Our wait took only 30 minutes despite all the people waiting.
Houstons can not accommodate very large groups.
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the bf and i went here on a tuesday. we were quickly greeted and seated. our waitress was super friendly and nice.
we ordered the House Smoked Salmon. wow this was a fresh piece of salmon and the smokyness was so distinct. it came with melba (i think) toast and a herb butter. the three all together balanced so well. so good!
we both got a side of caesar salad (Crisp romaine with Reggiano, rustic croutons and our eggless Caesar dressing) we appreciated that they used fresh chopped romaine. it totally makes a difference. you could taste the anchovy in the caesar dressing and the reggiano gave it a salty kick. so good
the bf ordered the Roasted Prime Rib (Aged prime rib roasted on the bone, served with a baked potato) this was suppose to be cooked medium, but it looked like medium rare. it was so tender though. i usually never order prime rib anywhere. it just hasnt ever been appealing to me but this was so simple and yummy
i ordered the Hawaiian Rib Eye (Marinated then grilled over hardwood, served with a baked potato) i asked for this medium rare and i think it came out medium. it was a bit tougher than i had expected but the flavor was good. it had a light sweet marinade to it. the baked potato was regular. had a huge glob of sour cream, green onions and bacon on top. the bacon was so tasty though, must have been applewood!
overall, service was great but i wouldnt say this is the best steak that i have ever had.
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I came here to lunch with my sister today. I didn't really have to wait for a table. They sat us right away. It was busy for lunch. I was craving the prime rib sandwich recently and decided to take my sisters here. We both ordered the same sandwich and coleslaw as our side. The sandwich was good as before but since I was feeling under the weather, it didn't taste great. Since we didn't order an appetizer, we had to wait a while for our food to come. Our waitress wasn't as attentive. They seem kind of fake sometime.
$17 for a prime rib sandwich with a side. Pretty pricey for a sandwich but worth it sometimes.
Nice ambience. Good food. I would go back again.
I've been here several times over the course of the last 10 years. I love their french dipped… Read more »
So far I have only been there once.
I had the Ahi Tuna that was AMAZING. It had the most refreshing and indulgent yet still light sauce that was unbeatable.
We all shared a sushi sampler - Great
Filet Mignon - Unbelievably Great
Ribs - Unbelievably Great
Caramelized carrots - delicious (I usually avoid cooked carrots at all cost)
I can't wait to try more of the menu. Hopefully soon.
You can't go wrong when you order here. The wait for a Friday or Saturday night is a bit long but well worth the wait.
I just wish they would keep some things on the menu instead of taking them off and then adding them back on at a later time but other than that this place is great!
Houston's is one of my favorite steakhouses. I've celebrated many occasions in this particular location which included my 21st birthday, Valentine's, and anniversaries. The food, service and decor is fantastic. The koi pond is a nice touch. The only complaint is the restaurant's lack of a reservation system. It's best to come early or else wait for as much as 2 hours for a table!
Now onto the food! Maybe it's just me, but the Spinach Artichoke Dip was really bland! But then again, I'm really partial to California Pizza Kitchen's version.. no other dips can compete.. but I digress. My favorite dish is the Hawaiian Ribeye. OMG! It is the most tender, sweet and flavorful piece of meat ever!! It is best cooked medium rare where you can really savor the juices. MmMm. The chicken dish is also wonderful as well. (Forgot the name) You really can't go wrong with Houston's.
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I have never been disappointed eating here. I love the Hawaiian steak, but other dishes I've tried have been just as good. The service is good but it is a little pricey for lunch.
I'd never pass up an opportunity to dine here!
A solid four stars. I'm docking this restaurant half a star due to the absurd wait. Yes, a longer wait time on a Friday night is understandable for a party of nine, but TWO AND A HALF HOURS is pure nonsense. Why not just let me make the stupid reservation? However, three stars would do the food injustice, so here we are.
The rib-eye had been delicious on my first visit, but Brother's prime rib had seemed tasty, too, so I went for it this time.
What had been so juicy and delicious in small bites turned out to be just "good" as a full entree. I prefer eating meat without sauces and garnishes, and it was seasoned well but nothing special. And I usually avoid horseradish like the H1N1, but I had a few dabs and this version was pretty mild.
Having forgotten already what the rib-eye tasted like, I had a sampling of my friend's and immediately regretted not ordering it again. If there is a next time (and probably not for another 6 months), I'll be getting that.
It was my birthday, and I was in the mood for something a little fancier than the usual Chinese or… Read more »
I have no idea why there's so much hype about this place....Went for dinner there twice. The place is always packed. The general ambiance is happening and the waiters are indeed friendly.
However, the food was mediocre at best, and both the food and drinks were very pricey, for what it was....And I'm the kind of guy with no problem blowing a couple hundreds if I'm having a good time!
There are so much better restaurants in Pasadena, but there's something about this place that brings people in...What, you ask me?
It's definitely not the food......
I Love this place! I always leave happy coming to eat here. The food, the service, the staff, the ambience, and the quality are all what you want in a restaurant.
Today even though we ate really quick, we all enjoyed the food. We ordered Spinach Artichoke Dip, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, and Prime Rib Sandwich. These are no joke crab cakes, all fresh crab meat and not breaded at all. Probably the best crab cake in Cali.
My most favorites dishes are: Hawaiian Rib-Eye, Loup De Mer, Crab cakes, Prime Rib/Sandwich, 5 nut brownie with ice cream, Ribs, Filet Mignon, Key Lime Pie, and others are quite delicious.
Why do they have a 4 star average?
Am I the only one who kinda, sorta, hates this place?
Their parking blows, their menu is tiny, and their food is mediocre at best. The decor is probably the best thing.
Our table had 2 orders of their center-cut filet; which were both overcooked, their "famous" french dip, The Hat's is ten times better and 5 times cheaper.
I was definitely not impressed.
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its been 2 days and i CANNOT stop thinking about the combo sushi plate ($18). i know what you're thinking: "sushi? at houstons?" yup. you heard me. its not the traditional nigiri type deal, its more like special rolls with interesting combinations like Shrimp & Macadamia, Salmon Mango and Thai Tuna. You have to understand that i am a sushi FREAK. to the point where im not even snobby about it. get me a box of randoms from Mitsuwa and im a happy girl :) anyways, so yeah talking about all those yummy rolls is makin me crave it more. moving on ...
the boy ordered the Barbeque Ribs ($27) which were really tasty and the meat did indeed "fall off the bone" as advertised. came with shoestring fries (yum) and coleslaw (eh). I went out on a limb and got the Seared Tuna Steak and it brought the original 5 star review to a 4 star, not because it didnt taste good. i just wasnt feeling it the dish. it came with coleslaw (boo) and supposed "thick sliced tomatoes" which in reality it was a cherry tomato sliced in half. however, i added a $5 side house salad that was SUPER YUM. always add the side house salad. trust me.
the bill was about 85, so with tip a total of a benjamin. kinda livin in the fast lane for a Monday night, but a great great meal.
oh and service was superb!
I have been to a Houston's or two and out of all of them this is my favorite for ambiance and service.
Ambiance 5 stars-love dark wood restaurants with beautiful lighting. There are koi fish swimming in the front of the restaurant and in the foyer of the restaurant. Very good energy in the restaurant and staff.
Cocktails 5 stars-known for their outstanding martinis. The servers have on numerous occasions come by with another chilled martini glass and switched my drink so the martini stays ice cold.
Food 5 stars- I always start my dinner with the best spinach dip I have ever had and I make a mean spinach dip so my family says. I order the same things usually-filet mignon, prime rib or thai steak salad depending on my mood or what I have eaten before heading out to Los Angeles. I always end it with their apple walnut cobbler dessert.
Service 5 stars-I have had the best service in Houstons. I have never not been able to ask for recommendations or has a server never been able to answer my questions on either their food or wine menu.
Over All Value 5 stars-you have to treat yourself every now and than!
They have an attendant in the parking lot that will drive you in a golf cart to your car. I have never actually did this but there are times when I was so full I was tempted!
Do yourself a favor and go have a good strong cocktail and a wondeful meal! You deserve to treat yourself to both!
One other note-I usually bring wine since I live in Sonoma County and they have free corkage!
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Went for my birthday and had a great time. The food was good, full of flavor and savory. The service was great-everyone was friendly. I couldn't finish all I ordered because it was a good portion. So my husband did. He loved his steak and wants to go back.
Another great feature is the koi in the small pond in the front of the building. It is so serene and the fish actually come up to see you.
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Probably on the top of my list for steaks. Yeah, I know a good steak should have nothing on it - but you just can't go wrong with the Hawaiian rib-eye. This is the only steak I get here because I'll miss out on it if I order something else. Get the picture?
When in season, you'll need to order the grilled artichokes Best artichokes around. Split in half with the choke scooped out and seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper. Wouldn't eat it any other way now once I experienced houston's method of cooking it.
Also remember to add the salad for $5 bucks more - a great deal
And you'll probably have to ask for bread and olives as it is a per request item - no charge of course.
Service is top notch. They make it a point to remember your face when you go sign-in for the long wait - and will walk up to you to tell you when your table is ready.
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I have been a Houston's fan for over 15 years now. Been to a lot of them and gotta say: their ever evolving menu is the best!
All the dishes I have tried I have never been disappointed! Their menu has the popular staples such as chops, steaks, burgers and appetizers but they also have evolving menus that change which keeps me coming back.
Recently over a few years they started a small sushi roll type menu and gotta say theirs beats out a lot of Japanese so called sushi places... I have tried all their rolls and love them! Maybe it's because their rolls are not authentic or traditional, but I would say creative, fusion, and so tasty - I start drooling thinking of them!
My all time favorites: smoked salmon served with delish dill aioli and toast points, caesar salad, and rib eye steak!
So come here for a nice business meeting to a date or family events. The service is top notch and they love kids.
BTW: I never could get to dessert since their menu fills me up and leftovers too!
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I've only been here twice and on both occasions had great experiences. With reservations the wait is not bad at all but be prepared to wait without one. The bar at the entry helps with that, though...
Service is great, everybody is nice, attentive, and fairly quick. Waitresses/waiters are also friendly and are pretty good with refilling drinks and taking away finished dishes. Ambience is also nice; dim lighting but not a hushed crowd where you feel like you have to be all proper and whatnot...
The food-- oh man the food is awesome. I have tried the fillet mignon, the hawaiian rib eye, the prime rib, the barbecued ribs, sushi combination plate, and spinach artichoke dip... All were delicious, absolutely delicious.
All in all, this is definitely one of my favorite restaurants and I'm sure there'll be many more visits to come.
I think there's too much hype about Houston's. Been wanting to try this place for awhile now, based on its reviews, and finally did last night. Went with a pretty large group and we all ordered a good variety of items off the menu - California Burgers, Rib Eye, Pastrami Dip, Prime Rib, BBQ Ribs, Thai Salad, and Artichoke/Spinach Dip. Overall rating of the group was a 3. No one item stood out with a "Wow." I, myself, just had a burger. Portions were large enough, but I really disliked the charred taste of the patty off the grill. The dip, I must say, was delish. Baked potato also deserves good raves.
Although we'd made reservations prior to going, our group of 11 still had to wait up to an hour to be seated - and at separate tables at that. This is definitely not a place to go to with a group of more than 8. I did enjoy the ambience, lighting, and decor of the restaurant though. Very dim and intimate, definitely date-worthy. The outside patio is beautiful as well and they also have a cute golf cart attendant who will drive you to/from your car to the front door :) Haha.
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Wife and I went here after years of driving by the place and saying, "we should try that place sometime". Finally went in and don't regret it at all. Prices were high ($14 for a cheeseburger and $18 for a French Dip Roast Beef sandwich) but what we were expecting for a high end steak house, so no big deal there. The service was absolutely top notch and the food was incredible.
I ordered the Hickory Burger, just because I'd never paid $14 for a cheeseburger before and had to see what they could possibly do to a cheeseburger to justify $14. My wife had the French Dip Au Jus and we shared both. Wow. Burger was so good that I went back the next day with my usual work / lunch posse and had it again. There's some great burgers nearby for less (Oinkster in Eagle Rock, Hamburger Hamlet in Pasadena) but I gotta say that Houston's Hickory Burger gets my vote for Best Burger in LA. The French Dip was equally as excellent as well. The apple walnut cobbler dessert couldn't taste any better even if you were stoned.
But what makes the whole experience so worth the high prices (in addition to the phenomenally tasting food, ample free parking and Craftsman style architecture) is the Top Shelf service. Houston's customer service (for me) is the bar to which all others will be compared from now on.
Once of my favorite restaurants! I am very picky when it comes to the way my steak is cooked and I absolutely love the filet mignon here. Houston's really understands what rare plus, or medium rare is and they have never overcooked my steak. One of my go to places if nothing else seems appetizing and a guaranteed good meal!
Bit of a wait for a Weds night but worth it after I increased the size of my party by one and they were able to quickly change our table. Parking wasn't the best as their lot is small but was able to find something in about 5 mins wait time with a golf cart to carry us to the front door. (Guess luxury breeds laziness)
I'm a bit of a sushi snob so I wouldn't recommend it her but members of my party enjoyed it along with nice bottle of wine. I was shocked to learn they have a non published kids menu with food I must admit is very good. (It comes out in about 1/2 the time of the regular food so I had to try out the grilled cheese)
Hickory burger medium, no onion, fries, and Pinot. Life is good.
Sever was attentive and even witty, which in LA is hard to find. Overall a good dinner after a long day @ the office.
This is my favorite place to eat!!! I'm normally always broke, but if i WASN'T i would eat here everyday. The thai mango salad is the best salad I have ever had!!!! It is spicy so if you cannot handle spicy I would not recommend it. The service is fantastic and they know everything on the menu!!! I have never been let down when I go and I always leave very happy :)
Man do I love this company. Their staff has to go through a vigorous training and pass before getting employed. The tips are share among the staff so expect to experience the best service in the restaurant world. The detail to the art, design, color, flow and architecture is of class. The kitchen staff from bottom to top have made it high priority to make every dish consistent and tasting great. My father-in-law is in love with the place and is there once a week. I get invited, unfortunately can't make it all the time. :( Rebbecca, I will miss you girl. good luck, is Autumn beautiful in New York?
This review can be summed up with four words: Veggie Burgers and Bitches
Sooo -- the Veggie Burger:
I know, I know -- who woulda thunk a steakhouse would have one of the best veggie burgers in the country? But hell, Houston's does.
It's housemade and is increeedddiiibblyy tasty. I do get mine prepared as a "california" burger or whatever -- with avocado and arugula. Add a side of the garlic ranch and it's heaven.
And I'm always a cheap date, because it's one of the cheapest things on the menu :) ($13??? $15????)
Now, onto the bitches...
They're getting knocked down a star STRICTLY because their hostesses SUCK.
SUUUUCCCCKKKKK
I've gone off on more than one hostess before -- actually, pretty much every time I've gone in there for some reason they set me off....
Last night we get there and had called in before to put our name down... the hostess greets us, and says, "Oh you're right on time! It'll be 5-10 more minutes"
wait, what? Right on time... 5-10 more minutes???
Fast-forward 15 minutes later... when we notice people are getting seated ahead of us who got there AFTER us.
"Oh there's just one table before you then we can seat you."
Okay, fine. Whatever.
Thhheeennn... "Okay, we're about to seat you, would you like to stand over here so we can take you to your table when it's ready?"
Um... okay -- so we walk ten feet over and then STAND WITH THE HOSTESS in some sort of mock holding area for another few minutes making awkward conversation...before she seats us. Really, was there a problem with where we were standing before that you couldn't have just gotten us and taken us when it was actually ready???
And they're alllwaayyys bitchy. ALWAYS. I think I would feel differently if the hostesses were inept, but at least NICE... But NOOO.. they're INEPT AND BITCHY.
So, if I could just bypass the hostesses all together, I'd give Houston's 5 stars for its veggie burger... but jeeez, if I have to pull out MY inner bitch to deal with their bitches before my supposedly relaxing dinner, I just can't do it....
So, Houston's -- if you're reading this by some miracle -- please -- Keep the veggie burger, ditch the bitches.
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i really really wanted to give this place more stars. really.
the decor was stunning. classy and simple.
i read reviews here on yelp and decided to order the veggie burger. they don't really have a drink menu besides wine. i had to ask the waitress what kind of drink she recommended from the bar. her response? 'a mai tai? a long island?' surely i could get that anyplace else... this was supposed to be THE houstons... i mean, right? i ended up ordering a mai tai because... well how do you mess that up?
when it arrived it tasted like fruit punch... for ten dollars i was expecting something with alcohol in it.
we ordered french fries as an appetizer, and it came neatly stacked in a pile. not as heavily salty as other reviews suggest but really the taste reminded me of in 'n out french fries...about twice more expensive.
the side salad was a hefty portion. if you're on a budget i'd suggest sharing a meal and having a dinner salad (which i might just do if forced to go back here).
the veggie burger came and it was just picked at. maybe it was my fault for not looking at the menu- i wasn't crazy about the mustard inside. the burger itself wasn't so bad, but it kept falling apart. And by the way- what is UP with the mashed potatoes?! i've never seen SO much green stuff in ONE serving... (parsley/chives whatever that green stuff was)... is a garnish people. not a spice. i did save the left overs though...
we also ordered a apple cinnamon crisp type dessert with ice cream. it's supposed to have nuts, apples, etc... honestly it tasted exactly like honey nut cheerios (warm and with ice cream). i like honey nut cheerios. but this was supposed to be HOUSTONS. you know?
the waitress was very attentive, and there was always someone prebussing our table. but really, the food was just meh. nothing spectacular.
oh, and by reading the other reviews- that manager that told them they were being too loud must have been off that night we went. the place was LOUD. there were drunky mc drunkfaces screaming at eachother from across the table... which isn't that far away. Ruined my whole prediction that it was going to be a nice quiet fancy dinner for two.
... oh, and their food quality is supposedly SO amazing... right. so amazing that i got the runs the very next morning... all morning.
i won't be back unless someone else is paying.
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Food = A
Service = A
Watching the kitchen crew making the awesome food = A
Unique in style and professionalism = A
If you have never been to a Houston's, you have been missing an extraordinary experience. No place does it like they do at a Houston's.
Not only do they hire healthy, attractive, friendly servers, they're as professional as you can get. They are very preceptive to your needs. It's a quality you rarely see in any restaurant. Here's my advice for you. Get in your car and go NOW if you have never experienced this place!!!!!!!!
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After visiting Houston's for the 5th time last night I decided to write a short review of it.
Houston's is one of the few restaurants that I've been to where I haven't once picked up or looked at the menu. Let me explain...
My cousin recommended this place to me for the ribs so I had no reason to look at the menu that first visit. After having the ribs, I considered them to be the best ribs I've ever had. Perfectly cooked meat that comes off the bones with no effort, great sauce and damn their fries are good. Have an ice cold beer off tap with the meal and you've got yourself a very satisfying dinner. I had no reason to check the menu the next time either because when something is so satisfying and takes the prize for its category, I have to respect it by ordering it again.
So each time I went after that, I ordered the same thing and was as satisfied as the first experience. I read about some people here having a bad experience with the hostesses. Unfortunately I haven't picked up on an ounce of rudeness or unwillingness to make your dining experience a pleasant one. So even for customer service I give a 5. A bit on the expensive side but definitely worth it.
One more note: On my last visit here, I struck up a conversation with someone who ended up being from Texas and not surprisingly he mentioned that these ribs are even better than what he's had back home. Thought that was a nice cherry on the cake.
People thought this was:
the food here is good. the service here is great. they are really good with service here. and you dont get just one waiter/waitress, you get a million. there will be different people stopping by your table to pick up your dirty plates, refill your waters or chips if they're low and bringing out your food. its interesting. classy steakhouse, good times. oh and you can bring your own bottle of wine for a small corkage fee.
People thought this was:
probably the best Houston's I've been to. Hate the one in Manhattan Beach or El Segundo. Different class of service. We Pasadenans know how to serve up class. :) Okay okay, maybe i'm a bit bias, but seriously, the one in El Segundo (beep) bad. Would never go there. I was forced to eat there 5 times for work. poor me huh !!! Oh, pasadena also has a nice koi pond. I don't think they'd miss it if one's missing !!
Let's just say I'm a big fan of the Hillstone Restaurant Group and I am excited to go visit the rest of their restaurants. Their restaurant is chic with a bar and dark light setting. They are focused on a small menu but meant for quality! I had ordered their French Dip Au Jus which was very delicious and flavorful. They have Burger, Sandwiches, Salad, Entrees, a Huge selection of wine, and oddly, sushi. I tried their Sushi which was OK. I also had a bite of their NY strip steak which was amazing. An amazing experience. I will look forward to visiting again.
I've been to Houston's three times-- twice to the Pasadena location and once to the Santa Monica location. All three times I was pleased throughout the entire course of the meal. The first time I dined here, we just finished walking around Old Town Pasadena and were driving around looking for something to eat. Although it was a weekend night, we were seated within 20 minutes. We both ordered the Hawaiian rib-eye and he had a baked potato on the side. The rib eye was cooked to perfection with a perfect amount of sweetness from the pineapple glaze.
My favorite item from Houston's is the combination sushi platter with the salad. I forgot what it's called, but it has three different types of sushi and the salad with the mango. Very delicious!
The ambiance of Houston's is very nice also. It's quite dim so it makes for the perfect date place and while you're waiting, you can also check out the chefs making the food.
People thought this was:
My steak was good! I enjoyed it slowly with my red wine. It's great to see the chef in his kitchen. It was a nice dark place. Kinda made me want to take a nap after wards but I get it.. it's romantic.
First time ever where we were asked by a golf cart parking attendant if we wanted a lift to the front door. Wow, that's service but we walked!
Neighborhood: Pasadena
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Pasadena
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Pasadena
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Pasadena
Category: Steakhouses
Pasadena, CA
Category: American (Traditional)
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