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Categories: American (New), Steakhouses, Buffets [Edit]
Neighborhood: MemorialMon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 3:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 3:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
We always have great specials at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse - click on our website to see our current offers! http://www.pappasbros.com/
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I have been coming here for years. My parents always get their special during the holiday season where you can buy like 500 dollar gift certificates for 400. Our family gets 2 of those a year or more. We are seasoned vets of the menu and my personal favorites are the Rib eye with both spices, the baked brie with fruit.
The steak has great marbling and it is cooked just right, served on an iron slab that retains heat and juices. The baked brie is in a puff pastry with pecan and honey glaze served with variety of fruits and crackers.
The salad bar which is included in the price of the steaks is all you can eat and some of the favorite items there are the jalepeno cornbread, the cinnamon butter where you can coat all the rolls with. And an assortment of cheese and nuts to top your salads with. The salad bar is high quality and truth be told, my parents are satisfied with just eating the salad bar. However they usually just split the largest filet and get an extra order of salad bar. This place is a classic, a must if you are from texas!
We come here when my parents have friends visit Houston. They believe that 'Taste of Texas' somehow represents Texas Cowboy style. I don't know about men, Lady's restroom decorates with 18 century antique, I think it is pretty cool.
I agree although the lounge is comfortable; drinks and snacks are free. I still do not like to be waited. I have to say that the food is excellent. I am happy that they let me select my own piece of steak. Salad bar is nice, good bread, good steak and good service.
It costs more than a regular restaurant. I think it is a good place to bring friends and visitors. By the way, they have menu in Chinese Character, impressive!
PS: If you are there for the first time, don't forget to tell the waiter, they will bring you a souvenir COWBOY STYLE!
Their steaks were fantastic. Their salad bar was so filthy--it looked like a team of drunken paraplegics has been troughing away at it all night long. I was very dissapointed in my choice of having the salad bar as my meal.
Everything was mixed together--chopped hard boiled eggs in the cloudy white tomatoes, all the dresssings slung around into each other and all over everything else, the olives filled with chunks of everydamn thing into a sort of rancid looking soup..the prepared salads looked old like theyd been reused for a few days--I took one look at that salad bar and thought about just how filthy the line must be--and the walk-in must be straight out of Kitchen NIghtmares..
However, the greens (that were on top...) were fresh and crisp and the huge chunks of cheese and excellent jalapeno cornbread were very, very good together..(which ended up being my meal..)
The snickers pie was sooo.o.o good-- I highly recommend it. The table near us ordered a huge whole cake sized piece of chocolate cake--even I could have shared that one=)
The service was very good and I mustve had my tea refilled every sip I took=) The manager came by and asked if everything was okay to which I replied that the salad bar was dirty and he handled it perfectly to me..he was so on top of it and polite I expected that it would have been wiped and cleaned a little--but no. Still a pig trough when I went for more jalapeno cornbread (it's his fault!!=)
Obviously this place needs someone with balls enough to enforce some standards...ANd they need to be careful or someone is going to sue them over that big hunka cheese..I wonder how many people have had heart attacks in there=)?
I found this restaurant through my girlfriend's iphone via the urbanspoon application. We decided to pay a visit and I must say, we left very satisfied.
Want a thick slice of juicy steak? This is as good as it gets. I love the ambiance of this restaurant and the service was excellent here.
The menu items are a little on the pricy side, but it is worth every single penny.
3 dollars more also gets you access to the salad bar, but I doubt you would really need it. Come here for the steak and you will leave very satisfied.
Ok, the food is outstanding. The salad bar is an experience in and of itself. Don't pass on the salad bar. The steak selection is second to none as well. So, why three stars? The arrogance of the waiter and his lack of attention to our group was indefensible. He was bragging about how there is no finer steak prepared in all of Houston--that's debatable, but perhaps he should focus a little more on being at least an average waiter by Houston standards. In my book this dude has a ways to go to make it to "average".
Obvious popular location based on the crowd, but having someone to talk to is the obvious attraction. The steaks are usually undercooked or overcooked. I have visited the restaurant more than three times and each time, the steaks had to be sent back because it was not prepared as requested. The lobster tails are really dry. The side dishes are less than stellar. A REALLY overrated establishment.
I love this place...
Why???
Great wait staff to begin with ... they know their menus and can explain anything you ask..
Great Wine List...was even lsited in Wine Spectator this year as having a terrific wine list...
And ... of course ... mmmmmm great steaks cut to your personal thickness..
OOO did I mention dessert????LOL
If you're starving then you need to come here to eat because there is no way you leave hungry--- unless you hate the food but that's definitely not going to be a factor.
This was my first time here and it was a great experience. First, the decor is fun. It reminds me of a wooden lodge in the middle of some forest. It has old guns, knives, and other artifacts. It's a big place and has very comfortable leather chairs... even in the dining area.
The wait/paging system actually makes sense. They actually write the time you've arrived and the "quote" of when you'll be seated and give you a little card with that information and a number. I think all restaurants should do that.
The food is so GOOD. There is an open salad bar if you wish to add that to your bill plus you get complimentary very fresh warm bread rolls and cornbread. And I'm talking fresh because they keep it in a warm fridge and you just go over to it and grab as many as you want. They have a good menu although if you're looking for seafood don't come here. They are crab cakes (which are the best I've ever had) and shrimp, but that's about it. You really want their steaks.
And I need to mention that the staff are so cool and very friendly. My waitress was so attentive, gave great recommendations and actually looked like she enjoyed her job.
We are so coming back here!!
Oh the parking lot gets packed fast during prime time so just expect that little delay.
Oh, Taste of Texas, how I love thee! This is probably my favorite steakhouse in Houston. For starters, I understand there is always a long, long wait when people come here, but who can deny free popcorn, chips & salsa, and soft drinks??
Once you do get seated and open the menu, you are absorbed in many different selections, but the best is definitely their steaks. In my opinion, their bone-in filet is the best cut. I have had many others (i.e. prime rib, center cut filet, cowboy, ribeye, etc), but the bone-in filet is a must try. When you order their entrees, you get to go to the bottomless salad bar (best salad bar in Houston, by far!!), and a side order. Another great thing about this place is that you can actually pick out the steak that you want them to cook for you. They will give you this option if you choose to do so.
As far as desserts go, I always choose the slice of heaven, and it definitely tastes like heaven!! This is a dark and white chocolate mousse with a raspberry sauce on the side....probably the best dessert here! I have also had their crème brulee and that is very delicious as well!
The service here is impeccable...their staff is very well trained and professional. The décor is very cowboy-like, and being from Texas, we love that stuff! If you have never been to this place, it's definitely a good place to celebrate an anniversary, birthday, or any type of holiday or party.
The COW Bites!
So I've been here a couple of times but none since I have joined yelp. Well today I had the opportunity to come back. First, this place has a waiting area full of complimentary beverages and popcorn. Who else gives you free food while you wait?!?! It makes the wait, even if a short one fly by.
Now once we were seated the aweseomeness continued. All of their entrees come with a complimentary salad bar. So you expect it to be a pretty lame salad bar since it's free, but NO! Taste of Texas delivers a mean salad bar. The spinach was fresh, the toppings were plentiful, and fresh cheese is a must!!!
A good steak place to me is defined by their filet. Well this place outdoes itself. They served Certified Angus Beef!!! I always get my steaks medium, and this place served it perfect, brown on the outside with a pink center. Now with their steaks they offer a free wrap of bacon, lemon pepper rub, or/and a sizzling garlic plate.
The bacon is not necessary, but the lemon pepper and the hot garlic plate is a MUST. It comes out on a metal plate in the shape of a cow. When the waiter places down the hot plate, they give you a warning of "the cow bites". These plates are scorching!!! The aroma that resonates from the steak is orgasmic.
As far as the sides go, the sweet potato fries were eh...the asparagus was meh also. But the steak itself is worth the 5 stars.
I was way too stuffed for dessert but they offer more than 9 delicious desserts from what I remember.
During the honeymoon phase of our relationship, the bf and I frequented this place at least once a week. Yeah, this place isn't all fancy and high falutin' but the steaks are pretty spectacular.
We dined at ToT on Sunday evening. We were seated immediately, which was a nice surprise. I didn't like the first table we were led to and they graciously sat us in the wine room. From past experience I have learned Taste's version of rare is too rare for me so I ordered my filet mignon medium rare with a side of the sauteed mushrooms. The server asked if I wanted lemon-pepper or garlic butter, perhaps wrapped in bacon? Nope, I like mine plain jane please.
The salad bar is nicely set up and I find their cilantro dressing addicting. It has a kick to it so if you do not like spicy, stay away. They also have 2 monolith blocks of cheese where you can shave off the amount you desire. You can also build your own bread basket, your choice being mini-loafs, cheesebread and jalapeno cornbread.
The steak was perfect and the flavor of the meat was outstanding. To me the steaks at ToT do not need any seasoning, that is how insanely tasty their beef is. The sauteed mushrooms were the perfect compliment to the steak. I am thinking they add red wine while sauteing the mushrooms. Geez, I've missed this place!
This may be one of the best places to have a really good meal. I have been here on many occasions and never been disappointed.
The steaks are great, full of flavor. You can even pick the exact one you want if need be. I feel that the atmosphere is family friendly and great for groups.
Service is great, all around a good place to go. Worth the wait and price.
Rumored to have been visited by foreign envoys at some point in time, Taste of Texas serves up memory-searing, sweet, juicy steaks that meat-eaters will always love. Go for dinner. Eat up. Enjoy!
Expensive? yes. Delicious? absolutely. There's something here for everyone. The salad bar is probably one of the best I've seen, with anything you'd want and delicious cheesy bread. Their spreads are also amazing and I wish I could take 'em home.
Free drinks and popcorn while you wait outside adds a nice touch.
Be ware that a bigger piece of meat may not cook easily to what your preferences are, so take that into consideration.
Came here for a bachelor party and a date and was very satisfied both times.
You know the place is good when you forget that you waited an hr + to get a table and all you remember was the food!!!!!!! EVERYTHING is good! SERIOUSLY!
I know there are many more steakhouses in Houston that are probably better than Taste of Texas - but this was the first place I had real steak and I will always love it. My parents felt embarrassed when we brought my uncle (the one with super high expectations) and I mentioned it was the first time I had eaten steak outside of home..this was during either 8th or 9th grade.
I've always thought this place offered the best bang for your buck. Salad bar - fresh everything! Bread - umm can't get enough. Filet Mignon wrapped in bacon- medium rare - only way to go. I will only get the Filet here, but I've tried other steaks and just didn't like them as much.
The service has always been great here and I love that it's a steakhouse that isn't super stuffy/ semi-formal attire required. However, I could easily do without the 1.5- 2 hour waits during the weekends, so I'd definitely advise going on a weekday or just getting there for an early dinner on the weekend (esp. if you have a big party). I've spent hours waiting - eating popcorn, drinking sodas, watching tv - and in the end, it is always worth it.
Can't wait to go back!
The service is simply awesome. The waiter made sure my glass was always full and was very attentive. Food came quickly and the delivery timing for each coarse was perfect. Salad bar was fresh and a meal in itself.
Had pecan encrusted chicken, simply delicious. I definitely plan to return.
Okay, another steak place for me...Miss Veggie....to review. In Houston this week for a client meeting and this is where the group wanted to go. I was a little nervous with the name, Taste of Texas....hmmm.
Anyway, when we arrived I walked around to get a look at the place and saw the salad bar....oh my goodness...bread bread bread! I ordered the salad bar, baked pot. and asparagus. Everything was great and the group looked to enjoy their meat dishes.
Then, our sweet waitperson brought out the dessert tray. I cannot go to a nicer restaurant without trying their Key Lime Pie if they have it. Wow, I bow to the key lime gods! This was the best I have ever tasted in my life. I was so miserable, but could not resist this little slice of heaven.
Very nice spot if you need to take business people who frown away from the typical high dollar steak houses.
I will never forget that Key Lime Pie!
I like this place even though i dont think the steaks are really that great... I love the salad bar, the fresh bread, and etc. The steaks nice but nothing special about them. I use to be the biggest fan of texas steak but upon moving to NYC i had Peter Luger and NY porter house and i was convinced that my memory still said texas steak was better. SO when i came back home for the first time in about 2 yrs after moving to NYC i stopped by taste of texas for some texas steak. Unfortunately texas steak didnt live up to what i remembered... it was a little bland and not special at all. I was extremely disappointed. BUT thats comparing it to Peter Luger. I still love this place and would come here again but it wasnt as good as i remembered. I like the novelty of picking your own steak but im guessing that the steak here isnt dry aged. since it all looked extremely fresh.
I love the cinnamon butter here i really wish they would bring back that steak challenge!! I dont feel like going all the way to Amarillo for the Big Texan steak challenge. THey need one in Houston!
After having moved from Houston 8 years ago I was thrilled to be invited to one of my favorite standbys for dinner tonight. And they didn't let me down.
Our waitress was a delight and the service was impeccable. The salad bar, as I recall, was always outstanding and it didn't disappoint tonight. I had forgotten about the bread. Fresh. Hot. Bread. With cinnamon butter that melts upon contact. If I wasn't such a huge carnivore I could stop with the bread.
Tonight I opted for 10 oz prime rib, medium rare, with broccoli. The prime rib was outstanding and the broccoli fresh and perfectly cooked. Two glasses of Lehman cabernet (Australia, $9.5 per glass) nicely rounded out my meal.
My take on Taste of Texas has always been, and still remains: you can't go wrong here. While there are a few superior steak houses in Houston, Taste of Texas never fails to deliver on service, atmosphere, and value for dollar paid. I highly recommend it.
We arrived about 7:00 on a Thursday. The wait was estimated at about 15 to 30 minutes - we waited a little over 20 minutes. They have free self-serve soft drinks, tea, popcorn & chips while you wait. Would have preferred a bar with waitress.
We were seated and our drink order taken immediately. However it took almost 15 minutes for our drinks to arrive and our order to be taken. To munch on, they brought croutons with cream cheese and sweet salsa. It was outstanding, however they only brought 4 tiny croutons - not much bigger than a silver dollar. More of a tease than anything else.
After our order was taken, we went to the salad bar. Other reviews have mentioned a dirty salad bar but this was not the case. It was very clean and all the items were very fresh and appealing. I got a cilantro vinaigrette dressing - it was fantastic. The fresh bread was hot but not anything to write home about.
We both ordered prime rib medium rare. Our side was asparagus w/ hollandaise sauce. There meat was cooked properly and very delicious. It came with horseradish sauce and au jus as well as a small cup of miniature fries onions. The horseradish sauce was good but could have used a little punch. The au jus tasted like it came from a packet. It was very salty and institutional tasting. The fried onions were a waste of time. Nevertheless, we both enjoyed the beef so much, the minor imperfections in the other items were tolerable.
As for the asparagus, it was too al dente for me but my sister liked it cooked that way. The Hollandaise was fair. Could have been tangier.
Overall, I would recommend this place to you.
The Taste of Texas is a good place. If you live in the Memorial area, you need to try it. There are better steak places in Houston, but if you want a good steak in a relaxed environment Taste of Texas is worth trying.
Taste of Texas is a great restaurant! Wonderful steaks, great service! The jalapeno shrimp appetizers (along with the baked brie) are just great! There is a reason that you wait in line to eat there, wait in the bar and have a glass of wine!
review by Vaughan
I took my 2 employees here for a end of the year lunch. After getting used to the mediocre service and the Houston-based chains, I was thinking that this place wouldn't be as good as I heard. Luckily, the service was absolutely fabulous. I don't do salad so I got to watch the waiter fold their napkins everytime they got up. I loved this so I guess I should go to more places that don't have drive-thrus! The food was beyond divine. My steak was absolutely butter! We talked and talked during our lunch and ended up being there for 2-1/2 hours. At no time did I ever feel like they wanted us out of there. They continued to make sure our needs were met. I can tell you that I left the biggest tip because of the amount of time we were there and the impeccable service.
I have been to other restaurants for long meals and had the staff try to push me out the door. The service I received here will definitely bring me back. Yes, it is expensive but you get what you pay for.
Upon entering the restaurant you see all the reviews of being number one.
The wait was 45 mins when we arrived on a Thursday night. I figured, wow it must be good.
Anyway, when we got to the bar, I saw this piece of cow hanging off this dude's plate. What? are you serious?? He must want a heart attack.
We finally get seated, our waiter was really nice. He actually prided himself on regurgitating Taste of Texas statistical information.
"we cook 3,000 steaks a day" and "it takes us 3,000 man hours to put up Christmas decorations" (cough - Loser)
Anyway, the group of us ordered 3 appetizers and then found out there was a salad bar.
The salad bar was good, lots of variety! The bread.....well, the bread....the BREAD! Was the BOMB!!! Did I tell you the bread was the bomb. the butter was even better. Okay, off of the bread.
The appetizers came we ordered, stuffed mushrooms - good! onions strings - good! spinach dip - okay.
At that point we had food up to our necks, but we kept going. I ordered the Tbone and the au gratin. the Tbone seemed to be the smallest besides the prime rib or fillet. Everything else on the menu was 10lb or greater. Yeah, a vegan nightmare, you know.
The Tbone was good, I had better, but again I had food up to my neck so i think i lost all sense of taste.
The waiter gave a tour of the kitchen. That was pretty decent. He was really working for that tip. HMMM, he didn't tell us how much he makes in tips every day. Maybe $3,000 pennies???
When we returned back to the table, we ordered 3 desserts. What?!?!? I am about to die. Anyway, I had the creme brule. It was tasty.
Needless to say, when I got home I walked my dog 2 times around the block. I just had to work off the feeling on gluttony. I also surprised him with a juicy bone!!
YAY Taste of Texas
Hands down my absolute favorite special-occasion family restaurant. Great for groups, but as always, when you're coming in with a group of 12, anticipate that your food will suffer. Whenever people come into town, I take them here because it embodies Texas in such a way that is lost in the myriad of chain steakhouses. There is a freakin' stuffed bear in it, for crying out loud!
This place is pretty expensive for how casual it can be but the food is just quality. I think they have the best filet in town and certainly one of the best values: $38 for a 10 oz. filet, all-you-can-eat salad bar, and a side. Service is more or less good and helpful.
My only gripe about this place is that it is just too damn busy. We often wait an hour and 45 minutes starting at 5:00 on a Saturday. If you get there at 6:00, forget it. You'll be circling the parking lot for the next half and hour and constantly toying with the idea of parking at Fuddruckers and risk getting your car towed. They offer complementary chips, salsa, popcorn and sodas if it is any consolation. But it never is.
Also, if, by any chance, they try and sit you at the bar after your two hour wait, speak to someone and they'll fix it. The last time I went, we were sat at the bar. We didn't really care but if it was a different, important situation, it would have mattered a lot more.
I strongly recommend this place, and most importantly, order the FILET ONLY. Don't order the rib-eye, t-bone, or porterhouse here. It's been done before-- they are not up to par with the filet.
Others know more about the steaks here than I do. But I want to say that their salad bar is the best I've ever seen!!!
It always works out that Trevor B. hates a place for no good reason, and then I goad him into going there and it turns out he's right. I hate it when that happens. It was so hard for Taste of Texas to live up to the hype though that I almost can't blame the restaurant.
So, for the good: The service is impeccable at ToT. I think their wait staff should train all the other wait staff in Houston and then maybe I could have a decent dining experience everywhere I go. Drinks were refreshed continuously, and our waiter, Justin, was attentive and helpful. The ambiance is nice - mood lighting and a fire cast a warm glow about the place. I almost forgot it was the middle of the afternoon.
In terms of taste, the salad bar was really good. Unfortunately, from all the raves I had heard about it, I pictured it to be a vast expanse stretching from one end of the restaurant to another. in reality, it's quite small as far as size, but the pre-made salads were delicious overall and it had fresh yummy bacon. I was not a big fan of the oversized cheese blocks ... something about my cheese being vulnerable and sitting out in the open like that. I did not partake.
I could have eaten 10 of the dinner rolls and 10 more pieces of cornbread and rolled away quite happy.
The bad: Overall, the food was average. I ordered my cowboy steak medium rare, but by the time I had taken a few bites of it, it had come up to temperature at a solid medium. Normally, I would have sent it back, but I was distracted by a cranky infant and I had already eaten enough of it to be underwhelmed anyway. The meat tasted okay, but it was a bit of ribeye gone wrong, much more fatty than I would expect for the price. (For the record, I know that the attraction of a ribeye is the marbling, but in a well-cooked ribeye, the fat melts into the meat to provide all the flavor so you don't have to contend with ribbons of it in each bite.) The au gratin potatoes that I ordered on the side generally tasted like cream and potatoes. I should've sliced a sliver of cheese from the salad bar to mix in.
The ugly: My steak came to me on a ridiculous cow-shaped plate that was exactly the same size as my steak. No room to cut. No room to move the surgically removed fat tendrils to one side. It also wasn't level on the bottom so it rocked and clicked with each knife swipe. I almost slapped my steak onto the table in frustration. Let's not be cute, I just want to eat.
Overall, I was really disappointed with the whole experience. Maybe it's because I had such an amazing experience at Fleming's recently. Maybe it's because Trevor B's shrimp so offended him that he ruined my experience overall. Maybe, baby.
But there's no maybe about it; I don't think I'll be going back.
i have always loved the taste of texas. i went to this restaurant all the time growing up. it was one of my dad's favorite steakhouses, if not his favorite. so whenever we had a special occasion, we came here. their salad bar has always been really one of my favorites. from the various but typical toppings to put on your leaves of choice to the fresh bread over with their selections of butters and not to mention their huge cheese blocks. their bread and butter definitely melt in your mouth. it's a great appetizer. i've always had the 20 oz. t-bone steak when i've gone and it's always been more than i could ever handle. the flavor is great and i like my steak medium and i like the right amount of red that they've brought everytime i've gotten my steak. if they aren't running too busy, they sometimes even give you a tour of the kitchen and let you pick out your steak so you know what you're getting. it's usually done mainly for first timers.
their sides definitely support the dish. i usually go for the baked potato but the wild mushrooms are great as well. i'm a meat and tators kinda guy so you gotta fill that craving when you can.
did i also mention that IF there is a wait, that they have sort of a complimentary concession stand with free soft drinks, popcorn, and chips and salsa to curb the hunger pains if you have any while you wait. i like it because it's a steakhouse that isn't stuffy so you can get the high quality without feeling like you should be wearing a suit and tie but you definitely can do so if you'd like. definitely a houston staple for good steak.
I'm a bit of a traditionalist. For example I believe scotch should only be served neat, on the rocks, and only cut with water. I also believe that steaks should never be served more than medium-rare and only seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic. But every now and then I'll come across something that blows my mind and turns my world upside down. So on my first visit, when I decided to try the lemon pepper and garlic butter on my bone-in filet, I was a bit apprehensive. I got the butter garlic on the side, so I didn't use that much of it, but I'm confident in declaring this was pretty much the best steak I've ever had....ever. In fact, everything I eat now pales in comparison. All of a sudden other foods feel uninspired and taste bland. The day seems a little bit grayer and drags on into perpetuity. I never knew I could feel this way about steak. If I was capable of shedding tears, I would have cried. This is the kind of steak that makes me feel bad for vegetarians, because they'll never know this kind of unbridled bliss. I'm salivating now just thinking about the steak. I can't wait to go back and add color back into my world.
The best filet mignon I've ever had to date! I want to go back to texas just for this restaurant! A bit pricey but definitely worth it!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Environment: 5
Price: 4
I think this place represents Texas so well. It's homey but a just a tad classier than you'd expect. Large families and groups of friends are accommodated well and that's also pretty Texas.
The best appetizer are the crabcakes. They are to die for. Large chunks of crab meat with minimal breading. I would have never known to order these but the people we were with knew about their greatness.
The steaks are good, not the best, but good. They could use a bit more seasoning.
The salad buffet line is overkill. The bread is so good with all the different butter and spreads you can put on them. Try to limit yourself at the bar so that you can save room for dessert!
The make your own sundae ice cream is fantastic. Cinnamon ice cream is a lovely treat.
You'll leave this place stuffed and it is a bit on the pricey side, but it's so worth it.
I was disappointed when we went for our 1 year anniversary. We were seated by a table where 2 different families with screaming kids were seated. It was the least romantic dinner (but one of the most expensive) I've ever had. The server was good, but he wasn't very hospitable. He seemed a little distant. The food was excellent; some of the best steak I've ever had. Make sure you ask for a quiet section. And if you bring kids with you, please be sure you're considerate of other diners.
Hands down the best filet mignon I have ever eaten in my life. I'm gonna go out on a limb, but even without the steak, the salad bar and bread alone would justify the high prices and long wait time. If you're in the Houston area and looking for a high class dinner and great dining experience, you've got to try this place.
The true Taste of Texas is meat
And beef lovers crave some to eat.
So, serve a filet
With which she can play
Then smile as she downs that thick treat.
Playing with your food might best be done in a private setting, but Taste of Texas certainly isn't lacking in thick slabs of beef that can whet any appetite for meat.
In the December 2007 Texas Monthly Magazine, ToT was designated as one of the eight best steakhouses in Houston. It undoubtedly deserves this recognition. ToT has always delivered for me whether I was in a small party or a large group. I don't believe its quality ranks up there with Pappas Bros. but it will consistently provide you with a top quartile dining experience.
This place is great for large parties whether they be corporate or friends from out of town. Be prepared to wait at least 1/2 hour when your group is large (they don't take reservations). On their website, they simply state, "Guests are seated in order of arrival." ToT does accommodate you with a waiting area that features TV screens, free popcorn and drinks.
Before you dive into your main entree, you can sample their decent salad bar (note: it doesn't compare with Fogo de Chao's), bread and self-cut slices from massive hunks of cheese.
The wait staff are friendly and very entertaining when you're with a large party.
Their steaks are very good, but not great. The price for most of the steak entrees is around $35 which raises one's expectations. ToT is a major league steakhouse, but like that minor league pretender, Outback, they have a tendency to over-season the beef. I really like their prime rib (served voluptuously rare). Their 18 oz cut is a carnal delight. I'll also admit to having finished off their gargantuan 32 oz Porterhouse on a few occasions and then hibernated for the rest of the week.
We recently went to Taste of Texas to celebrate one of my friend's birthdays for lunch.
The birthday girl had the salad bar and a baked potato, while the rest of us had the Grilled Tenderloin Salad. Just thinking of this salad makes my mouth water. The pieces of tenderloin, which is marinated to give it a perfect balance of sweet and salty, sit atop a bed of mixed greens with pieces of grapefruit, avocado, grilled red onions and candied almonds. There is also a fried blue cheese croquette that sits on the top of the salad. All of this is topped with a cilantro vinaigrette that marries everything together. I usually don't eat the whole piece of fried blue cheese because it is a little pungent for my taste.
Our server's name was Steven, who was awesome. He and I engaged in a delightful chat about our favorite wines. Unfortunately, my pregnant state allows me to do more talking about wine, rather than drinking it. He mentioned a Silver Oak vintner's dinner next month, which I wish I could attend. He also suggested that the next time I drink, I should try a pinot noir with a nice filet. One thing that I probably would have never thought of doing.
Steven educated us on a few other things that day - apparently they make all of their bread and accompaniments on the premises. Even the delightful little slices of candied almonds that my friends loved are made in house.
Pros: Good salad bar; fresh hot bread; Good place for lunch; Good service; Excellent place to take visiting relatives
Cons: Somewhat on the pricey side when everyone orders steaks; No reservations so your wait (especially weekend nights) can be long
Whenever people ask me for my favorite Houston restaurant, I say Taste of Texas.
Why?
Because it's a steakhouse where you can go in jeans, slice yourself a chunk of cheese and enjoy really good food. It's not exactly a place for a cheap date, but hey - you're getting REALLY good steak and you definitely get what you pay for. They start you off with really good butter/jam and toasted morsels (I can't help but ask for more) and the waitstaff has always been friendly and helpful. The salad bar is wonderful - you get fresh veggies, dressings, and you can end your trip to the salad bar with a basket of bread.
Be sure not to stuff yourself with too much at first - I've made that mistake before.
The filets are tender, but I prefer the soft and moist prime rib above the other slabs of meat I have had there. At Christmas time, they deck out the place with garland, nutcrackers, and lights - and it's nice to chill out by the waiting area or massive fireplace.
I would definitely recommend this place for someone looking for a relaxed way to spoil a significant other - or a trip with some friends and family for some good food and conversation.
I want to go back right now....
This place is soooo overrated man. The service is great here but in my opinion the steak just really isn't that good. In fact they try to cover up the lack of taste in their steaks by covering it with lemon pepper seasoning and cooking it in lemon garlic butter. A true steak should just have the flavor of the beef stand out and not be covered up by spices and seasoning. After having the filet mignon at Pappa Bros Steakhouse I seriously couldn't finish the one I ordered at Taste of Texas. It was overly seasoned and the flavor of the beef was just way inferior.
Yes this place is packed alot of the time but so is the Aquarium and we all know how horrible that place is.
High priced steaks, but they are good. Blair B. has got it on the mark. It's casual atmosphere with gourmet food... basically Texas in a nutshell. The salad bar has nice cheese and choices of fresh breads. The baked potato soup is great, and the fillet is one of the best I've ever had. The Gold Burger use to be good, but last time I had one it was lacking.... but it's still the only thing under $10 on the menu.
If you go on the weekends, expect to wait up to an hour at some points. They do give you free popcorn and soda while you wait though. It's a good place to bring someone to show them Texas steak.
It's a good place to take someone but not the place you go to regularly. There are plenty of other places to get a decent steak in this city.
Random Fact: Owner Edd Hendee is a big GOP supporter and can be found on KSEV talk radio. http://www.ksevradio.c...
This place wasn't all it was cracked up to be by other reviews. I think people in Texas need to get out more to see what a GOOD steakhouse is. The food wasn't bad, but a 2 hour wait? Really? It's certainly not worth that! The salad bar was alright. The fresh baked bread was awesome. Service was mediocre. Definitely not all it's cracked up to be though!
Neighborhood: Memorial
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Memorial
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Galleria/Uptown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Highland Village
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Memorial
Category: Steakhouses
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