It was my first time at Houston's and I wasn't really expecting much. I figured another American chain restaurant, what could possibly be so great about it? Even though my boyfriend and I were extremely hungry, we decided to wait and I'm so happy that we did. We had the Salmon, the Prime Rib and the Five Nut Brownie and they were all delicious but most of all the service was excellent. I have never been treated so well as I did here at the West Paces location. Angelica, our waitress, was literally an angel. We had a minor mishap occur and she took it upon herself to make sure we were well taken care of. Samantha, the general manager treated us like royals! We walked away feeling satisfied and agreed we would go back just for the impeccable service. Thank you for an amazing Sunday evening Houston's!
(5)
Georgia B.
Best consistent bistro in Atlanta. My fave is their thick pork chop with sauteed red cabbage. It's always packed and the wait was an hour! Luckily we found seating at the bar after 15 minutes ;-) Had a glass of Frank Family cab with my chop. It was fabulous. Good service and noisy as ever. The only thing is I wish they would stop raising their prices so much. It was over $50 for a neighborhood diner not including salad or dessert.
(4)
Mary Margaret B.
So no matter how much I dislike the new changes to Houston's every time I go in, I still will continue to eat there. Now to the new menu. Gone is the wonderful and delicious spicy tuna roll. However, one star for the tasty sushi of the day the Thai Tuna Roll with macadamia nuts, toasted coconut, avocado and ahi. It was delicious with the house made ponzu. However $16 for oversized non bitesized pieces meh. The Hawaiian Ribeye is now $30+, and the Iron Skillet Beans are STILL really, really tiny. Staff is still awesome. But the menu is significantly smaller and missing some of my favorite staples. I had the Grilled Chicken Salad today and it was alright. Im not sure why it wasn't like I remember but the chicken was a bit dry. Overall I'll continue to eat here and pay the price for it. Maybe it's the dark lighting or the quaint classy ambiance. It's just a staple.
(3)
Brandon S.
Another split review for me. The food earned a four star, but the service struggled to a two. Our server seemed to be having a bad day or was just not into her job. She was not rude, but she was disconnected and inattentive. For my meal I ordered the ribs. Not too creative as I order the same thing every time. The ribs were great like always. The meat was tender and the sauce was tasty. The fries and slaw are nice compliments to the ribs.
(3)
Kat W.
I think I was stuck in the past...expecting some fabulous meal from days gone past when I was frequent diner at Houstons in Houston TX. It was okay.. Nothing great, nothing bad. The prime rib was big and cool, the fries were luke warm along with the glasses of water. I didn't know you had to ask for ice. I might be back but it won't be for the prime rib.
(3)
JAN k.
Best French dip sandwich in state of Georgia. But is it really worth 20$. Had the skinny fries as a side. Eat them fast. They are not good when they cool down. Grandson had the trout. So confusing. Says it comes with mashed potatoes and something green.. If you order the corn side they skip the potatoes. I thought the dish had 2 sides. He wanted the potatoes and I wanted to try the corn. She did ,after the above explanation, bring him a dish of mashed potatoes. I don't type very well and the above incident is even too long to have to type to explain! Now that I read the above explanation it still does not make sense to me. 24$ Delicious fish according to my companions. Husband ordered the cheese burger. 16$(are you kidding me). Ordered medium rare, and came out overcooked. He would not send it back. Said even overcooked he could not taste any seasoning or anything interesting about the meat. He was very disappointed with what he says used to be an amazing burger. Wait on Saturday night was not much because we called in to use their call ahead seating. Very strange system. Give it a try and you will understand. Patrons were dressed as though they were going to their local burger joint. Which it use to be. The price at this place is crazy. To accommodate the price they have change their uniforms. When they first opened at lennox they wore kahkis and blue men's shirts. Now they are wearing nyc steak house "costumes". Believe me folks this is not a nyc steak house. It is a good restaurant with insane prices, frenzied service. and pretty good food, usually. btw ...as the sun set there was a break in the window coverings and the setting son was shining directly onto my grandson's face. They came to apologize after we complained. No complimentary dessert was offered to sweeten our ordeal.
(3)
Julien S.
Great restaurant, great food, great service. My mother and I have been coming to Houston's for over 20+ years. It is our favorite restaurant to grab a bite and talk. Houston's is always consistent and I can walk in to any Houston's knowing I will get excellent food and service in a great atmosphere. Food: The food it always delicious at Houston's. The spinach dip is yummy cheesey goodness. They've upped the price to $12 which is pretty steep for an appetizer though. The salads at Houston's are the best I have ever had. I am not sure what makes them so much better than other restaurants, but for some reason they are just far superior. The portions are huge. They give you the right amount of dressing. I can't pick out just one of their salads. I have had them all and enjoyed them all. The burgers are good. Their fries are awesome. Thin cut, crispy and seasoned with the perfect amount of salt. The crab cakes are very lightly breaded with the no filler. They're are delicious and some of the best I have had in the city. I've had so many things off their menu I could go on and on. I'll just leave it at everything I have had I have greatly enjoyed. Beverages: The wine is reasonably priced for a restaurant. I appreciate that. Their Cappuccinos are delicious. Service: Their servers are excellent. They have mastered the perfect amount of attentiveness without being annoying and constantly interrupting. I love that. Atmosphere: The place is comprised mainly of booths. The interior is dimly lit and gives one the feeling of privacy and anonymity. I love the tucked away feeling I have here. Houston's is one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta and I look forward to sharing many more lunches and dinners with my Mother here!
(5)
Bee G.
Food, as always, is excellent and consistent! However, what's up with taking away seating at one whole bar width?! Some of us enjoy sitting at the bar and don't mind waiting our turn. Eliminating 20%of the bar seating is a slap in the face to the regular bar patrons who are willing to wait for a spot. This makes the wait so much longer and I'm not sure I wanna wait longer than I already have to.
(3)
Cara K.
One of the most consistent dining experiences I've ever had. All locations are great, but I'm partial to this one. The spinach dip is delish, but my all-time favorite (like top 5 fave meals ANYWHERE) is the house made veggie burger. Best veggie burger ever - hands down! Substitute the fries for the cous cous and you won't be disappointed! The parking lot of this location is pretty insane at lunchtime during the week, so be prepared.
(5)
Addy C.
I love Houston's - all of them. My friend thinks this is the best Houston's and I'd read other reviews who said the same. Service here is genuine, friendly, and attentive. We came last Sunday for lunch. Restaurant was packed. Houston's doesn't have a brunch menu. We ordered the "House-made Veggie Burger" b/c I remember a while back reading the Yelp thread about "best veggie burger" and most claimed Houston's did. They do. I think it was the teriyaki flavor that won me over. Their veggie burgers have brown rice, black beans, oat bran, sweet soy, and then topped w/ melted Jack cheese. Delicious. The only complaint is that the texture is a little mushy and falls apart easily ... I prefer at least a little crunchy texture. It's also too big to eat like a regular burger - you need a knife & fork because the burger also has shredded cabbage, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and their big fluffy house-made egg bun. The $14 burger meal also includes a choice of cole slaw, couscous, or fries. Best part about eating with a friend is sharing - my friend got the cole slaw, I got the couscous, and then we gave each other half. Cole slaw was delicious, light, not heavy w/ mayo like most cole slaw, slightly sweet, and it had bits of cilantro (my favorite herb!). Couscous was beautiful and had all kinds of yummy goodies - whole almonds, yellow raisins, cherry tomatoes, and mint. If you're looking for a good veggie burger, definitely check out Houston's. And the sides are extra bonus :)
(4)
Kj M.
Houstons is undoubtedly my new found favorite restaurant! My first time at Houstons was sometime in July, my friends swore by this restaurant. I was somewhat hesitant because I had never heard of Houstons. From the time we entered to the time we left, we were treated with stunning service. Each and every time I go to Houstons, I order the French Dip, and each and every time it is made to perfection.
(5)
Sarah F.
I came here with my grandparents and my mother on a Sunday early evening. The food here was pretty good, but the service was seriously lacking. We were originally told that the wait for a table of 4 was 10 minutes. We were not seated until 40 minutes after we had arrived. I understand that the place was busy, but I found it very disrespectful for the hostesses to mislead us like that. If they had been truthful about the wait time we would have gone elsewhere, which I'm sure is what they were trying to avoid. Instead, my elderly grandparents spent close to an hour standing around in the waiting area well past their usual dinner time. It may seem trivial, but for people their age that kind of stuff takes a toll on them.
(2)
Michael W.
Houston's is a pretentious, expensive Applebee's, without the license plates and nicknacks on the walls. It has the air of a fancy, white table cloth restaurant, but it isn't. Ask for sweet tea, and you get the snotty, "we have sugar on the table" like it's New York or Chicago. I know I can add sugar to tea and make tea with sugar in it, but if you don't add the sugar to hot, freshly brewed tea it won't melt. I don't want tea with grains of sugar in it--and we are in Atlanta, Georgia. It seems like every time I've visited Houston's my server is an effeminate man who responds semi-rudely to everything I say. What I mean by this is, if a woman or a non-effeminate man were to say the exact same thing to me I would be offended, but because it is said by an effeminate man who maybe gay I, for some reason, can't be offended. That isn't to say the service isn't attentive, just not relatable--or at least not usually. On one occasion one of these effeminate servers was obviously training another, and began berating and correcting them directly in front of me and my wife, which I found offsetting and unpleasant. The food is great, but I can name numerous places where I can get a comparable burger/salad for under $20, which is about the going rate for Houston's--and that includes lunch. That pretentiousness seems to be a thinly veiled justification for overly pricey food. All-in-all the food is great, if not expensive, and the service though generally attentive is at times horrendous and insulting.
(2)
Carrie Neal W.
They have fresh summer corn on the cob now. Go, order it, enjoy - I'm betting it won't last long!
(5)
P R.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - which restaurant will show up - back to bad. This place is a mess. Started out well. Promptly seated. But no server. Bad sign. Other server covers and gets drink order. Good sign. Still no server, but at least have a drink. Still no server. FInally server. Do you need a few more minutes? No, I think we've sat long enough (internal voice)! Order an appetizer and entrees. Sit again. No water refills. No appetizer. No nothing. Then entrees come. Whatever at this point. By the way - still no sign of server - other people brought the food. At least the food looks good - wait no au jus with the prime rib. What? Hey - what's that? A server sighting. Can I have some au jus? Oh we stopped serving that with Prime Rib. What? Well I want some. No problem (I think she's lying as we'll soon find out). So we waited and waited for the au jus. But apparently they had to send the company plane to France because it like our server was no where to be seen. So we push on. The food is great (despite the lack of au jus) - at least something is good. A server sighting - as she turns the corner, she realizes, oh yeah, those a-holes wanted au jus, turns around, finally gets the 2-1/2 cents worth of au jus and sets it down. About done with the Prime Rib at this point - thanks a lot. She says we were lucky since the Prime Rib sold out - yeah, we were lucky. At this point, I realize I'm the idiot. I keep coming back. They are making a ton of money and I'm not happy. The only thing she did right was not charge us for the appetizer we never got. If you don't want to interface with the public, don't be a server. It's your job. Get over yourself and do your job.
(1)
Robert U.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. I've been coming to this location since the 1980s, and it's still great. For upscale, casual, Atlanta-style dining, Houston's has it nailed. Here's why: SERVICE - Very professional. Once seated, you will not wait more than 15 seconds for a server to appear. Before you can empty your drink, another fresh drink will appear. Dirty dishes (like my empty iced-tea glasses) disappear as a runner quietly picks one up. Yes, you will be served by several people, not just YOUR server. FOOD - Very good American fare. They have a variety of meats and some fish, and don't seem to specialize here. But even their starters, salads, and sandwiches are just excellent.. SUGGESTED ITEMS: - Spinach artichoke dip - Chili (I think they only have this on Saturdays) - Baltimore grilled chicken sandwich - House salad w/buttermilk-garlic dressing and cheese toast on the side - Hawaiian steak (a ribeye marinated in teriyaki)
(5)
Sport L.
Food is great but it seems the prices increase just as much as gas for the auto does. Wait times are redic here and most of the patrons are snooty Buckhead Butts especially the twenty/thirty something's that think they are all that because of those parents money.
(4)
Ashley A.
I have been here a couple times and I do like it but I was not blown away =( My bf loves Houstons but I just have not really been that impressed. Got a bunch of bones in my fish last time I was there as well as a forgotten app =( but usually everything is good. The service is usually very good and that I do like very much. I will have to try a few more items perhaps. Update: Me and the ribeye have developed a very special relationship. Delicious!
(4)
Melissa B.
Okay so the food is very good the spinach dip is great the hamburgers are delicious but I feel like they almost ruined the experience by obviously trying to nickel and dime you. One of my good friends I worked at Houston's along time ago and give me some of their little dirty secrets. Let's start with water without ice they don't evit tastes disgusting as a way to encourage you not only have water so they can make more money. That's not bad they don't even give refills anymore on soda... Obnoxious places like Applebee's in McDonnells give refills bottom line if I'm going to pay $15 for a hamburger at the least I need to get is a free refill on a coke. The mentality of nickel and timing customers because they have good food ruins my experience bottom line
(1)
Rob L.
$16 cheeseburger (requested Med Well, received it rare) ? really ? $20 french dip ....If you are going to get these type of prices go to a high end restaurant ...I've been to steak houses that don't charge this much..... waste of money...
(1)
Maxwell R.
Pricey but delicious! Great brew selection (for Atlanta..) and probably the greatest ribs I've ever had. They literally melted down my throat. However, it's always packed and it's a pretty little penny or two, to say the least. Worth a visit with the grandparents ;). Great service.
(5)
Max B.
Casual dining meets formal food. Houston's is usually consistent for a good meal. For an appetizer, I ordered the Louisiana Red Beans and Rice soup, which is the soup of the day on Mondays. Very delsih! The soup was thick and smokey with the right amount of heat. Defiantly recommend this. It's tough to go wrong with entrees but I don't recommend the BBQ chicken. The dish would be nice if the chicken came bone in, but oh well. The Hawaiian rib eye is one of the best items, but it is a bit sweet. My favorite is the Prime Rib, it's always good and hits the spot.
(3)
Liz V.
Dear Houstons, Thank you for lunch on Tuesday. It is always so good to spend time with you. How did you know I needed to hide in one of your many dark leather booths? And right near the window? You spoil me. Your chicken club salad with extra chopped egg was amazing. The new honey mustard, hot bacon dressing was a good suggestion. You know me so well. And the chocolate brownie? A bit of chocolate sauce slipped near my nip, how embarrassing! Oh Houstons, are you trying to get to 2nd base? You are always so romantic with your white cotton napkins, dim light, dark wood exposed beams and wine list that makes me weak in the knees. I can't wait to lunch with you again, Houstons. Don't play coy, of course I love you too.
(5)
Holy Guacamole M.
No matter what city/state your in you can always count on Houston's food to be consistent. The only thing that's significantly changed over the years is the artichoke & spinach dip, which is mostly spinach now. The food has always been pricey, but the value of your meal usually justifies the price. This location needs to be more consistent with service. We used to dine here once a week, but after several mishaps with our order (long wait for food; order not correct) we began to realize that we can do better - especially for paying an average of $60-$70 for lunch. Every time we've been there within the last year, our service has really been lacking. The servers put our entree orders in either way too fast or when we're done with our first course. So, we either have the option of eating our entree's with our appetizers or waiting 45mins. in between each course. The french dip is one of our favorite dishes and we always ask for horseradish with it - sometimes we get it, sometimes we don't.
(2)
Alexander A.
If there is one word to describe Houston's it's "consistent". And consistent in a good way. It is great, each and every time I go there. A lot of times when I write reviews, I like to write about what I order because I tend to get the same thing each time I go to specific restaurants. Houston's is one of those places where I like EVERYTHING on the menu. Salad's, Burgers, Ahi Tuna, Hawaiian Ribeye, Specials, Desserts. It's all good! So why only 4 stars? I have noticed over the years that the portions keep getting smaller and the prices keep getting higher. Also, I like ice in my water and now I always have to remember to ask for it. I think ice should come standard.
(4)
Brandon R.
Great restaurant! Peaceful and great service! Never had a bad experience here! Food is always consistent and very good! My favorite appetizer: spinach dip Favorite entrees: hickory burger, or the ribs But everything at this restaurant is great, just depends what you are in the mood for!
(5)
Gillian N.
First things first, the burger I had was good. Not amazing, but good. Not worth $15, but good. HOWEVER, for a place that draws this big of a lunch crowd, that puts so much emphasis on proper dress, that has super pretentious lighting, that charges as much as they do, the service was abysmal. The waiter was slow and didn't pay attention to anything from drink orders to condiments. He could not have cared less, and what should have been a 45 minute lunch came close to an hour and a half. Just no. Ain't nobody got time for that!
(2)
J. C. L.
went there with boyfriend on a Tuesday night. Great fish plates, love the cous cous salad! We also ordered Apple Cobbler for dessert. It was soo good!!
(5)
Roderick M.
Sometimes you want a burger...sometimes you don't. Those are the times that we usually head to Houstons. I must admit that I'm addicted to the Club Salad (with a few modifications, of course)and have no reservations about shelling out $16. Every time I order it the same way (no tomatoes, no avocado) with no cheese on the slice of toast that comes along with the salad. Houston's chicken tenders are almost tempura-styled- light and airy without being greasy, and the delicious homemade Buttermilk Garlic dressing seals the deal wonderfully. When I'm not in the mood for salad, I usually opt for the "Biltmore" grilled chicken sandwich. Perfectly grilled, never dry- this is one of the best sandwiches ever. I always ask for the spicy mayo and ketchup on the side-wonderful for the matchstick fries. Although the menu is slightly limited, there is something for everyone. I intend on trying both the spinach dip and the legendary ribs at some point-if I could just break away from the salad. I've had the cheeseburger before, and found it to be just alright- slightly dry. Amazingly, I've never made it to dessert because I'm always too full. Houston's has a classy, intimate ambiance that could be off-putting to kids, especially at night when mood lights are the only thing illuminating the dining area save the brightly lit kitchen area. The servers are pleasant enough, if inconsistent at times. Also, they don't offer sweet tea, and you'll need to specify if you want ice in your water- but those are minute things that can easily be overlooked.
(4)
Michael B.
Houston's is a great spot for some good food and good wine. I always enjoy coming to this location; not much of a wait for a table, consistent great service and good food quality. Usually when I come to Houston's I get a couple of glasses of red and a steak, but on my more recent journey here I discovered a wonderful new dish that not only satisfies the carnivore in me, but also soothes the vegan as well. I ordered the Thai Steak Salad, which was busting with a spicy flavor and has a great texture to it; it's sweet, salty, spicy, hot, cold, crunchy and smooth, all at the same time. And it went great with some Pinot Noir. Next time I head to Houston's I plan to try something different. I've already ruled out that I am in love with their Thai Steak Salad, Prime Rib, and Sirloin. Hopefully I'll keep loving them as well as other selections on the menu.
(5)
Diari C.
I met up with a few friends at Houston's last night; we went to the location off of Northside Parkway. We decided to go to Houston's over other restaurants, because all of us are fans and love just about everything on the menu. The ambiance of the restaurant is always classy, too. We ordered the spinach dip as an appetizer and all three of us got the Hawaiian Ribeye, which is usually very good, with a loaded baked potato as a side dish. The spinach dip was pretty good, but all of our steaks were a little dry and tough. This is not the norm for this place, because this dish is always cooked to perfection regardless of what location you go to...just not last night for some reason:-/ So, I've rated this restaurant an okay, because we were all excited about enjoying Houston's delicious Hawaiian Ribeye, but was quite disappointed in how the steaks were prepared. I'll definitely be back though. I'm thinking the cook was just having an off night, so giving the Northside Parkway a second chance to redeem themselves is only fair.
(3)
Larry S.
I have dined at Houston's in the past 15 years, but have not visited one in the last several years. Compared to other restaurants in the area (north Atlanta/Cobb county), Houston's is way over-priced for similar foods. I would not recommend this restaurant because of price. The food was well prepared, but way over priced. For instance, I would expect bread to be included with an entree as with a side if you order a $15 burger! For your money try a Cheesecake Factory or Magginos.
(1)
Weleys S.
Been coming here for years and last two visits were terrible. I interned at Hillstone in LA one summer and I know what is expected of the employees and servers specifically. First of the most recent visits I went, I was with my Dad and a server was walking by with a tray too full to carry and spilled water next to our table and on my Dad. He kept walking by without saying a word or apologizing. I was a little appalled by that knowing Hillstone. The manager was willing to give us dessert when I talked to her but my point was I just expect good service at Hillstone restaurants. The food is fresh but marginally better than a 2nd tier chain, you pay more so for ambiance and service. On my most recent visit I got the Hawaiian Ribeye and asked for it medium and it came well done with a fully brown center. I kept knibbling and waiting for the server to ask how the food is, she never showed. Our server sent another server to our table and I was half way done knibbling around the fat and tendons so I didn't want to send the steak back. I was really annoyed and shredded her while she was with another server and manager comped the whole check which was 150 between 3 of us. Once again, the managers at Hillstone are mostly Cornell Grads and know how to treat customers but the service is boderline terrible here. Buckhead Houstons sucks...Windy Hill Houstons sucks...come on we need atleast one good Houstons in Atlanta.
(3)
Stacey L.
VERY impossible to work with with large parties. Won't accomodate.
(1)
Jason S.
The food at Houston's anywhere you go won't disappoint. The service at this Houston's is surprisingly bad. Ive been to Houston's in San Francisco, South Florida, Southern California, DC and even other parts of Atlanta. But this location I just don't understand. It's as though they have been taken over by the locals and they have difficulty servicing non-locals. Mind you, this neighborhood is wealthy, but that's no reason to give sub par service to those of us that come to Houston's for what we can depend on; solid food & good service. On my last visit, we ordered 3 courses: 1 starter to share, 2 apps of our own, and 2 entrees of our own. Everything was brought to us at once, REALLY?!! With the extensive training of the service staff AND the price point, I expect better. Recently, I also conducted a price comparison of Houston's to some of the countries fine dining establishments. Restaurants with award wining chefs, culinary destinations mind you. Houston's has got nothing on the food as well as service as some of these restaurants, yet they charge more. I'm left confused, what is it were exactly paying for??? ...a memory of a once great place to eat....
(2)
Nicki K.
Houston's has the BEST veggie burger ever. I swear if I could eat this burger every day, I would be vegetarian. The burger was huge also. For side items, I got the cole slaw, it was very tasteful. Service was great.
(4)
Tim D.
I love Houstons! Great service, GREAT food and GREAT Atmosphere! You cant go wrong if you go to Houstons! Best steak on the menu: Hawaiian Ribeye!
(5)
Howard B.
not what i remembered... i used to go to windy hill location; now closed. Monday night and 20 min wait at 730 pm. service was excellent. food was a bit disappointing. I had the BBQ chicken. in the past it was half a chicken bone in. now a skin on boneless breast. just a handful of fries and a mound of over mayo-ed slaw. wife's seared tuna was good but left her hungry. Son's french dip was good. Food was good, but potions seemed to be be pared down. not sure if this is new direction for the chain or just this location. Martini was a good pour (at $12 it should be decent). At this price point there are many other good places to try in the buckhead area. I'm not saying i won't be back, just didn't seem up to snuff compared to my not too distant and many dining experiences with this chain before.
(3)
Justin L.
Excellent food and environment. I had the ribs with a loaded baked potato and the ribs were fall off the bone perfect. As a starter we shared the thai filet salad (don't remember the exact name), but it was an explosion of flavors. I will be getting that again for sure!
(5)
Jennifer B.
I have been here twice in 3 months. Its great. It is expensive but if you go to lets say longhorns its $22 for a subpar filet or pay $36 for an A+ filet. To me it is not over priced. The Ceasar salad is awesome. The fries are great too. On some of the reviews some people said they got bad service and thought it was because the resturant is in a rich neighborhood and they did not look rich. Both times I went I was wearing jeans and a t shirt and got great service. I think it ridiculous to give a resturant a bad review because you think its to expensive and you do not even try the expensive thing on the menu to make an accuate reveiw rather its worth it or not.
(5)
Christine H.
bacon vinaigrette = sweet + sour + bacon-y bliss hawaiian ribeye = HOLY COW (no pun intended) + flavor packed my guy and i always start with a traditional salad with bacon vinaigrette AND buttermilk. you get 2 giant genie bottles of dressing for a small salad, but it it's so worth looking like a fatty. (i swear they'd save tons of money if they just had a smaller dressing boat.) speaking of being a fatty, their hawaiian ribeye is GRRREAT. REALLY REALLY GREAT. more elaborate adjectives wouldn't do it justice. i subbed the fries for the loaded baked potato, and was ever so pleased. the price tag on it's outrageously unreasonable ($34), so this was the first and probably only time i'll ever order it. the service is impeccable. i've heard from my restaurant friends that their management style borders on cult like behavior, which seems to be highly effective! i'm just glad i eat there and don't work there.
(4)
Dru J.
A wag once described Houston, Texas as the city that looks like NY threw up on LA. Cute. Determined to use a Houston's gift card before the end of the year, I try to remove that image from my mind. Some quick internet research informs me that Houston's the restaurant has nothing to do with Houston the city. That doesn't help. Thanks to my fellow Yelpers, I'm tipped ahead of time that Northside Parkway is the Houston's of choice. Its Saturday night and the joint is SRO. A threatened 45-50 minute wait mercifully becomes 25 minutes. While waiting for our table, chief culinary advisor touts the asparagus dip (with tortilla chips?) as a worthy starter. She's since been demoted. Did you ever eat paste as a kid? I did, and now I'm reliving my childhood, which is not a good thing. A glass of Stag's Leap helps loosen my innards. Our entrees of breaded, fried cod and prime rib help explain this chain's popularity and good reviews. Cod, indigenous to Northeastern waters, is not often seen on menus in the South. That not withstanding, the kitchen staff did an excellent job to achieve a crunchy yet moist fish entree. My prime rib is, primal. A large, attractive cut, it retained its bloody beefyness despite being ordered medium (which luckily turned out to be closer to medium rare). The side of chived mashed potatoes, replacing french fries, was an excellent idea. Our friendly, efficient server delights in my sharing with him the fact that we have our own dessert plans (No wink necessary). Appetizer, entrees, 2 rounds of drinks, $78. An enjoyable meal at a reasonable price.
(3)
Jingwei W.
Went there in the summer of 2012. One of the best we had in Atlanta.
(4)
Ula H.
Love it! Great service... Great Food. Everyone that works there are great. Especially Camille, Brian, Aprille, and Shannon
(5)
James T.
The Hawaiian Ribeye is amazing! If you are into steak this is a must. This ribeye puts most steakhouses to shame.
(5)
Ellie B.
It has taken me several months to recover from my last experience at the WPF/Northside Houston's, and I have, for the most part, taken my formerly frequent, longtime, personal and corporate lunch, cocktail and dinner business elsewhere. Background: I loved Houston's. We grew up in the neighborhood; have been dining at this WPF/Northside Houston's since it opened. As kids, my brother and I would wait for a table in the bar, then call our parents to come on, we got one. Took the adoration with me to DC; enjoyed Houston's in Georgetown and Bethesda. Maintained frequent dining in my adult life, now back in the neighborhood, at this WPF/Northside Houston's. It was disappointing when seating in the bar changed from first-come to reserved seating. We got over that. We grumble about the constant menu-dropping of adored/popular items, that are still served, but newer servers need to be advised how to place for the kitchen (several salads, cheese toast, the difference between chicken tenders appetizer vs. full meal, that if trout is on menu, Cajun trout is also possible, for example). We are genuinely upset the sushi service is no longer a daily variety. We are annoyed the meager spinach dip that won't feed 4 now costs $12. Hillstone has not been a good parent for the consistency we came to expect. Then this situation occurred: I was meeting a friend for dinner at the bar. There are bar chairs that are dedicated to the bar. When I arrived, one was missing, and a woman was seated in it at the railing, to the left of the bar & bar seating. Her back was to everyone, she was texting, check paid, empty glasses. I ordered my drink, and appetizer, asked the bartender (who is a regular fixture) if there was another chair. She said no. I asked her to please get the chair returned to the bar. She refused. I asked the hosts at the stand: could another chair be produced? No, no other chairs. So, last resort, I approached/asked the woman, if she were finished, could...and before I could say please return the chair, she turned and tore into me. I am white. She is black. She told me she didn't know/care who I thought I was, she was no d*** Rosa Parks and she wasn't letting my bulls*** needs play. No, I couldn't have the chair, she didn't care if it went to the bar. My dinner was delivered at this point, I told the bartender I couldn't stand and eat, to which the woman interrupted and told me I shouldn't have ordered food, it was may fault, I needed to leave. I don't remember what all else she said - but it was explosive. Things have gone sideways on several levels at this point. I am stunned race has been lobbed (it's too bad this woman doesn't know me, friends could have easily dispelled the insinuation race had anything to do with my request). I am totally flustered, because this woman has gone off, and no one reacted. The Houston's bar, host and wait staff failed at assisting to either get me seated, or find alternate seating, or hold my dinner, when it was obvious some kind of seating conflict was transpiring. I asked the bartender to box my dinner, I'd lost my appetite. Another service failure: no one offered to comp my meal. The hosts tried to cheerily bid me adieu, inquired if everything was OK? I told them no, in fact, this was the worst experience I have ever had, so they asked me to explain (these were the same hosts I had asked about a chair!). So I began, and when I described the woman's reaction, they called over a manager. I am not sure when the woman actually left, but while I was standing there, I saw the BARTENDER WHO WOULD NOT HELP ME motion for a waiter and returned the chair to the bar. We stepped outside, away from staff. While I am telling the manager what transpired, a car raced up, stopped where we were standing, the woman jumped out, and physically inserted herself into our conversation to continue going off! She repeated the "I'm no Rosa Parks" part, about an inch and a half away from me. YES, I was shocked this woman had waited to accost me, and was now concerned for my safety! The young manager clearly couldn't handle this, either. I backed away, quickly, said, look, I want no part of this, I don't ever need to dine here again, got to my car and left before the woman saw where I went/what I drove/etc. I don't know where the police man was, but he wasn't there to protect me or the manager from the verbal assault. I have never experienced blatant racist behavior or felt physically threatened like this. I have never experienced such diabolical FAILURE at each point of service. This experience, coupled with the menu changes and pricing made it very easy to shift to Blue Ridge Grill and Canoe. I went back for the first time last night, and seeing that same bartender brought this upset to life again. We won't dine here as often, and I won't dine here when she is on-duty.
(1)
Kristin K.
I love Houston's. The food is really good, service is generally decent. I prefer either this location near West Paces or the one on Peachtree. I don't go to the one next to Lenox much mostly because I don't like to valet park my car if I can avoid it and they only have valet there. The atmosphere is great, its dark but it has that open kitchen so you get the food smells and its really neat. I think the service at the West Paces location is better than Peachtree. I think sometimes we're at the Peachtree location and our server disappears and we never see him or her and we feel like we're trying to waive people down and they ignore us so the Peachtree location isn't quite as good on service I think. I never go during prime hours like lunch or dinner, just afternoon coz for lunch, you gotta get there before 12 or so, otherwise you're going to be waitlisted which can range from painless to painful depending. Dinner, like after 6:30 or so gets even crazier. So what I like is they're open all day so I can slide in a little after 1pm for lunch and not even have to wait. I hate waiting. Anyway, I'm convinced Houston's has the best spinach dip ever created. If you go, you have to order this. Their tortilla soup is really good too, very thick and creamy. I tend to get the french dip sandwich which is always great and their french fries are super good too, the small thin kind that has a little crispiness to them. The prices are within reasonable range I think, not cheap by any means but not outrageous either.
(5)
Leanne E.
The portions are very large, so consider sharing an entree with someone at your table. They do not serve sweet tea. This is not good, being that this is a restaurant in the south. The spinach dip is very creamy and good and the veggie burger is good, but has way too much bread. All in all it was an okay experience, a lot like OCharleys or Applebees.
(3)
Stephen T.
Well, as a frequent Houstoner in FTL, Miami and Buckhead, after waiting 15 minutes for our server, J, to greet us, we were not off to a good start. My partner was falling asleep he was so tired. Anyway, she did take the time when I asked to check on the food when it was taking a long time, and magically, it appeared within a minute. Damn - the food was great again. So, we had an off moment. But, I am noticing that the menu is becoming more expensive and less variety.
(3)
Gary N.
The best, fall off the bone Ribs around. Sauce is perfect and sides are great. Only wish they would stop closing these and open more stores around the country.
(5)
Jae M.
The servers here are great, I come here often to get the Hawian Ribeye and my date got a Prime Rib, spinach and bake beans as well as caesar salad. I was un satisfied with the Hawian Rib Eye today. The manager David Farriah did not offer to change my steak only box it and did not offer to box my dates meal either but then assumed that we couldnt pay for and tried rushing us. Samantha the GM was amazing she tried fixing out problem promptly and efficiently she made the experience much better! I'am still giving this location two Stars giving overall service. Although Samantha was great I will still be subject to get the other manager if I attend this location again!
(2)
Bernice S.
I had a Vegi burger on Saturday. Don't eat. Had food poison for two days.
(1)
Michael S.
Houston's is Houston's. You know what you are getting every time you go in. A great meal with great service. I'm seriously interested in how their standards work. I've been going to this location for all of 25 years. Never had a bad meal. Never had bad service. Do they shoot bad cooks and servers? Torture? Just don't hire them to begin with? If we can't decide on a place to eat dinner, the answer is always Houston's because we know everyone will be happy. If I have one complaint , it's that they do what they do so well, and I like what I like so much, that I'm unable to bring myself to get another thing on the menu, because i'm craving the same thing every time i go in there. That said, they have the best ribs in America. I don't know how they do it. I've heard it's because they boil the ribs first, but no one will tell me for certain. The thing is, sometimes I don't want ribs. I want their chicken tenders (which are off the menu and amazing). Othertimes I want their sushi salad (again, amazing). Their Burger is excellent. OK, I KNOW I KNOW, you are telling me, EVERYTHING IS EXCELLENT. If I had another complaint, and these aren't really complaints, but when I was a kid, they served the best damn chocolate shakes. And at some point they just stopped making them. Creamy and amazing. I think they put egg in them. I wish they'd bring them back. Then I'd be fat and happy.
(4)
Tricia D.
I have decided to begin yelping because we just moved to Sandy Springs and I want to talk about my many special places that I have found. That said, my first Yelp is on Houston's on Northside Parkway, where I am with my mother, who bumped her head and hasn't been the same since and my beautiful daughter Lisa, as well as her beautiful friend Christina. When I arrived with my mother (btw her hematoma was cured by Hipprocrates in West Palm Beach where she spent 6 weeks drinking green juice), Lisa was sipping a Bloody Mary, so, of course, Christina and I decided to have one also. Yum! Our server, Jennifer, is very nice and personable, and fits in well with our fun and lively group - and only does a small eye roll and "oh great" when I tell her I am a first time yelper and ask her name. Even though it is 2:00 in the afternoon, the lighting here is perfect and they just brought a candle to our table - hopefully no one will knock it over - if you had seen Lisa pouring my mother's tea, you would understand why I said that. We all ordered different things - Mom goes for the steak Thai salad minus the noodles; only a side salad minus the croutons for me; Lisa ordered the spicy tuna and thai sushi and Christina ordered the chicken fingers with coleslaw and french fries. The side salad is as large as most entree salads with mixed greens, tomatoes, eggs and bacon. The traditional Italian dressing is tasty and light. The steak salad was amazing - my mother gets it all the time. It's way too large to eat in one sitting, so it will be lunch for tomorrow also. The sushi is large and in charge - large rolls and large portion. Lisa isn't talking so much as she is thoroughly enjoying her meal. And the chicken fingers - OMG - they are the best ever - very lightly breaded and melt in your mouth tender and delish. Overall, the meal was great. The ambiance and service was fabulous. All four of us are now bonded with Jennifer, who handled us with a sense of humor and a smile. We will be back for sure!
(5)
Jennifer W.
Houston's is my comfort food. For me, it's just a feel-good place with professional service and always delicious food. I've been going to Houston's for years. I've seen the menu change every now and again, and I like that I'm still able to order a few items that aren't on the menu any longer. I know that some of the foodies may roll their eyes at me for this review, but when I first started going to Houston's with my parents back in high school, it was their service that showed me what "great" service should be at a restaurant. I remember the first time I had dinner there, a server passed by our table and removed the empty sugar packets we'd used for our unsweet tea. I'd certainly never seen that done at the pizza joint in my hometown. I was amazed. So, yeah, I'm sure that small gesture, and the service you find at Houston's may be different what's found at the $100-a-plate restaurants, but it's good service. They do their genre and their class of business very well, in my opinion. And over the years, their service has been consistent. Regarding the food. I fell in love with spinach here. Of course, nothing really tastes bad when cooked with cheese. But it was the first place I even thought about trying it. And from that humble beginning, I can now eat spinach without anything added to it! Ha! I've had more birthday dinners here than I can remember, mostly consisting of Chicago-style Spinach Dip, Hawaiian Ribeye and Key Lime Pie. Let's focus on the Key Lime Pie for a moment. I have dreams about this Key Lime Pie. The graham cracker crust is crumbly with a few little nuts throughout, there are little bits of Key Lime in the pie, and then when topped with fresh whipped cream, oh dear Baby Jesus, thank You for creating such edible joy! I'm so in love with this pie, that I've started asking for it at the start of the meal, because you see, sometimes they run out. That moment, the one in which the server notifies me of whether Key Lime Pie is available has the potential to be the best or worst part of my day. Just so you know. So, that's it. This seems like less of a review than it is a love letter of memories between me and Houston's. Thanks, Houston's. Love ya, mean it!
(5)
Stephanie D.
The food here is of good quality. This place was recommended to us by a few employees at the nearby mall. We were told the smoked salmon and the prime rib. We started our with the salmon as our appetizier which was as good as describe in the mall. I wasn't a fan of the bread that came with it, so I ate it with just the sauce. We ordered the prime rib (med/rare) with fries and a ribeye (med) with fries. My brother loved his rib eye which was more flavorful than the ribeyes we normally get. I wish I order my steak rare. It came out looking like a medium steak, but it was good nonetheless. I prefer larger cut fries so I wasn't fond of their thinner cut fries. Overall, I was kind of let down. The employee at the mall raved about the food here, but I just didn't feel as excited him. I think the most enjoyable part of meal was just the view of outside the window. We were able to get seats looking out at the stoplight and Marta station. While we were busy creating a story for the panhandlers, our server did a fantastic job of refilling our drinks, replacing untensils, and cleaning our table for us without disturbing us. Food was good, but I was more impressed with the view. I've had better fries and prime rib in SC, but the service matched restaurants more pricey than this in Charleston, SC. Looking back, I wished I order that Thai salad. I'll come back here if I'm having a bad day because I know the servers here won't make things worse.
(4)
Erich F.
I have eaten here several times over the years and it seems like it has dropped off in both service and quality recently. I feel like I am being rushed through dinner every time I eat here. I ordered an appetizer and salad and entree and before I am finishing my salad my dinner has arrived. It is not the relaxing atmosphere it used to be. Had problems with the fish last time I ordered. It was not cooked all the way. It came out still raw and I did not order sushi... No apology from management or even an acknowledgment that things were not right. Crab cakes have fallen off in quality. Ribs are still excellent and steaks are good. With so many dining choices in the metro area I think they need to focus on the basics again. I will be a while before I go back. You work to hard to eat mediocre food. If you are going to spend your hard earned money on a night out for dinner make it the best.
(3)
Laura T.
I have come to determine that in my life time experience of dining out, Houstons serves up the best French Dip sandwich. Ever. Don't let my waist line fool ya, I've been around the block of Restaurant Row many, many times. I'm far from vegetarian, and typically very picky when it comes to selecting beef - only the best for me. This location in Atlanta scores high points for delivering that same consistent fresh, crusty bread serving as book ends to the over flowing stack of thinly sliced, high quality meat, neatly folded in the middle. Au jus and salty skinny fries to complement this heart clogging meal. Mmmm. Deliciousness.
(4)
Alexa G.
The Best service I've had in a Long time David was great!!! I was in the mood for something kind of light so looking over the menu I didn't want ribs... or half of a roasted chicken.. so I decided on the California sushi salad... (which I was a bit skeptical about ordering so I just took a chance!) The salad dressing was a type or miso glaze which was aweeessommme... that topped the "salad" which was just a bunch of cucumbers, carrots, water chestnuts, with these pickled onions on top... but it was good!!! Sushi was also excellent.. spicy tuna, crunchy shrimp and California rolls circled the salad.
(4)
RIKETA C.
I never have a bad Houston's visit, and I have been to all the locations around Atlanta. The perimeter location closed, but that doesn't matter because the one up the street from where I live (the Northside location) is the best one I have been to. I always order the grilled salmon, and my mother always orders the smoked salmon. Everytime we get ithese items, it is like the first time we ever had it. Houston's is definitely consistant. To me, a visti to Houston's is a once every 3-4 month treat, because it is on the pricey side, but it's worth it. I am not so sure I am a fan of the "secret menu item" type of thing they like to do, because I feel like if I dont know what they offer, I may miss out on something really good. I remember I went with a coworker to Houston's (which was my first visit ever) and she told me about the grilled salmon, which wasn't on the menu. So I ordered it, and that is all I have been ordering for years now. I know I should try something else...but I just cant stop ordering it...lol If she hadn't told me about that salmon, I would have never known about it. I DID notice that the Northside location has it listed on their menu though. To me, it seems like the staff is run by the military. Good for the customer, but I would be scared to work there.
(5)
Caitlin L.
New concept. Let's be honest! I've never liked Houston's. The menu is short and I just need more options. This one thing has always kept me from truly enjoying the restaurant. We came here tonight, again..being honest, because Flying Biscuit in the shopping center behind Houston's was closed. After my better half was raving about this burger, I told him we should just go to Houston's so he can fulfill his craving. This Houston's, more than the other locations I've visited, is truly a beautiful restaurant. We were both exhausted after a long week of work and school; the dark lighting and great wine choices made everything better! Prior to ordering, I asked our server if their soup of the day had meat in it in which she applied that it did. We placed our orders, I got the veggie burgers with a traditional salad and bleu cheese and my beau got the hickory burger with the same salad. After placing our orders we began to chat and enjoy our wine when our server arrived at our table again. She immediately apologized for interrupting us and then proceeded to ask if I was a vegetarian. Apparently, the traditional salad comes with bacon and our awesome server just happened to remember my question about the soup and wanted to make sure that I didn't end up with a salad with pig bits on it. Just for this, I now am a Houston's fan..( the restaurant, definitely not the city!!). My veggie burger, while not the best I have had in the city, was very yummy and very enormous. The fries were awesome. My date was SO happy with his ham and cheese covered burger. We left full and happy and will be returning. Thank you Houston's for converting me.
(5)
Chrissy E.
Looking for something to do on a Friday night, my friend suggested dinner @ Houston's. Never been before but I was trusting her suggestion that it would be fine. After dining here I am truly a fan! Boy have I been missing out! I didn't know what to expect, but I could tell from the packed lobby and bar that people weren't just here because they wanted a quick meal and something to wash it down with. The wait was a little long (45mins) but it was a Friday night, so thats to be expected in many places. Dimly lit, not too noisy, and the booths provided just enough privacy for us to have great girl talk during dinner. I can see myself coming back on a date as well. Our waitress (Erin) was wonderful, offering a great wine pairing with our dinner that was delicious! I had the California sushi salad and my friend had the Hawaiin Ribeye (which was cooked to perfection!). After sampling her ribeye I definitley see myself ordering it the next time around. Would definitley reccomend Houston's to someone looking for a great dining experience w/o the cheesy chain atmosphere and screaming kids that seem to be abundant @ those places.
(5)
Elbee M.
They make a veggie burger enticing to omnivores, and mean salads.
(4)
Alex M.
Had a really great meal tonight, with my 78 year old mom. We (well, she?) can be a little silly and high maintence. No problem at Houston's. Big kudos to our server Seth who was absolutely charming even though he was slammed and could have been far less patient (and forgivingly so) with my mom. The food was perfect, the service (Seth, but also the rest of the service staff) where absolutely spot on. Houston's is not inexpensive- but no more expensive than many places that offer much less for the money. Well worth the wait, and the money.
(5)
Patti S.
We eat out often and have been to Houston's at this location in Atlanta several times and at their pompano beach, fl location several times. THE THAI STEAK SALAD IS TO DIE FOR! You can't get anything remotely close to this taste anywhere else. It is what keeps us coming back time after time. You must try it once in your life! Always the service at both locations has been superb, but we do take extra care to plan our visits during off-peak hours - a late lunch or early dinner. Their mojitos are perfection and $2 more than anywhere else - it is worth it once-in-a-while! We tried the wild rice salad last Wednesday and it was delicious. I don't care for their shoestring fries or their shredded lettuce on their burgers - if I wanted shredded lettuce on my burger I know where to go. My advice - go during off-peak hours, try the Thai salad and enjoy your sinful indulgence! You are worth it!
(5)
Kate C.
Having worked at a Houston's for over a year as a sever and hating it, I still think the food here is great. I can honestly say that while I worked there, I saw them MAKE almost every single dish ( as opposed to heating it from a frozen package). I hated it because they run it like any army regiment, and that is why the food and service is SO consistent. Excellent dishes include: Chicken salad Tuna French dip Hawaiian Ribeye Crab cakes Cheeseburger Veggie burger I had a hard time trying new things because I couldn't deviate from my favorites. The prices are kind of high, but I love every meal.
(5)
Bailey B.
My buddy broke up with his girl friend and found his afternoon unexpectedly free. Nothing makes a guy feel better like a prime rib and a couple of beers. Houston's to the rescue!
(5)
Michael E.
What can be said about Houston's that hasn't already been said? A quintessentially reliable restaurant with delicious food and outstanding service. This is one of those places where you find something you love and stick to it: start with the cravable spin dip (can you tell I worked as a waiter once?) then move to the grilled chicken salad with the yummy peanut dressing. I would buy that stuff by the tub if they'd let me - I bet it would make an old tire taste devine. I like both locations - Peachtree Street and Northside Drive (never cared for the one by Lenox). And don't let the chain-status scare you - this is no glorified Applebee's or Friday's - it's just a place that does everything right and happens to have more than one location. Enjoy!
(4)
Matt G.
Simple menu done exceedingly well! I have never been disappointed here. The service is always top notch.
(5)
Anna S.
Delicious! Service is top notch every time. Would give it 5 stars if it weren't so pricey. Prices keep climbing. Filet is only a couple of bucks less than the filet at Bone's but Houstons sure isn't Bone's. Love their iron skillet beans and sushi.
(4)
John Divine M.
Since when does Houston's use cabbage--yes, CABBAGE--instead of lettuce on its Biltmore sandwich and as part of the greens mix in the chicken salad? My parents come to town and refuse to go anywhere else. Over the years, I've always ordered the chicken salad, which has evolved from being called Asian to Southwest and now just grilled chicken salad. I just order "the chicken salad with the spicy peanut dressing." The salad used to be HUGE. Even a big appetite could not eat it all, for the chicken and dressing was served atop the most heaping mound of greens you ever saw. You could either eat the chicken off the greens or eat half the salad. But the last time, the amount of greens was at least half the usual size, maybe even a third, because I think the dish is smaller, too. But that's okay, as it helps me not eat too much. But imagine my surprise to see CABBAGE in the greens mix. Usually it's a mix of lettuces and spring greens. Never in my life have I seen cabbage part of such a mix. I actually like cabbage but this combindation did not work. I thought it might have been part of a new spec for the dish until I saw that instead of lettuce, they put cabbage and tomato with my mother's chicken sandwich. Nowhere on the menu was cabbage mentioned. Back in the old days, they would give you a piece of cheese toast with your salad. Now there is nothing. For a $13 salad, you should get a piece of bread. We finished with the key lime pie. The recipe was the same, but the outer edge was slanted--showing it was made in a pie pan instead of a straight edged deep dish pan. Not sure what that's about. You go to Houston's because it's dependable. You hate the idea of going to a chain but it's usually so good. Stunts like cabbage in lieu of lettuce totally takes away the attraction.
(1)
Neil H.
Great atmosphere and food. I had the cheeseburger while my friends had the fish burger and the sashimi salad (you can guess the chromosomal disposition). Would highly recommend!
(5)
Sara R.
Love this place, eating @ the bar. Obe has been there for years. He is such a great guy. Fun to talk to, great service and the food is consistently good. I miss Christina, the bartender who moved to TX. The bar is usually full with regulars dining. Feel sort of like Cheers. Great place, service and food.
(5)
Heather I.
When I think of Houston's, I think of a classier, more refined Applebee's or TGI Fridays - it's a chain and the menu is going to be pretty predictable with a few little surprises. Also predictable will be the taste and portions; flavorful and satisfying. You know you're not going to get a poorly constructed salad or a prime rib that isn't cooked to order b/c the chef doesn't know what he's doing. They do have higher standards and that also extends to their staff. Our waitress was very polite and professional and accomodating. I would give her five stars just by herself. She was exactly what a waitress should be and I have a feeling that I would find the staff consistent at Houston's. If you're looking for a classier night out at one of the chains, Houston's is your place.
(4)
Kyle F.
Grand service! Wonderful kitchen! The Hawaiian ribeye seared over a wood grill and medium rare is the way to go. You will not be disappointed!
(5)
Billy G.
One word: "Consistency"
(4)
Jonathan A.
In general, I'm a fan of Houston's. I've been to this location several times, and the service has been good, but not excellent. The food has always been consistently good - the salads fresh, steak cooked the way I've requested, etc. I love the spinach artichoke dip. The dining room is loud, but comfortable.
(4)
Candyce V.
Although I was here on a Wednesday evening, it was pretty crowded. I stopped by to meet up with some friends before a meeting, and the happy hour crowd had infiltrated the bar area. We were still able to get fast service from the bartender, though. And the bartender was really good because all three of us went to our meeting with a great buzz...but not so buzzed that we couldn't drive 3 minutes to our meeting place #safetyfirst #iminnocent #dontdrinkanddrive I ended up coming back after the meeting for a bite to eat. The entrees seemed really heavy, and I just wanted a little something to hold me over so I ordered a Chicken Caesar Salad (and drank just water this time around, toldya #iminnocent). Everything was great--the food, and service. I also like the dark, warm vibe of the restaurant itself. I don't blame folks for heading there after a long day at work.
(4)
Kaye P.
After 25 years supporting clients, I definitely have high expectations for service. Houston's, in particular this location, was always one of my favorites. I must say my last two visits were not great. My staple is the Hawaiian Ribeye. I prefer my steak well done. The last time I went for dinner my steak came out burned. I sent it back and while the rest of my party of 8 finished their meals, here comes the manager with my steak. "Cut into it to be sure it's well." First, that's not a good idea because cutting into while the temp is still rising is sure to guarantee it will still not be well...but OK. At this point everyone is finished so I said I'll take a box. One might expect the Manager to discount my check or offer me something, as a goodwill offering, since my entire party was DONE eating while I waited on a new steak, in an acceptable state. I didn't want to ruin the mood with complaining and challenging the manager on her lack of customer service so I let it go. But, this is definitely not what I've come to expect from Houston's. Two Mondays ago, I went to this location for lunch. Both I and my lunch date had sides that were not as hot as one would expect. I've definitely been disappointed with my last few experiences. It seems this location and the level of service are on the decline. You've been warned.
(2)
Jessica B.
I recently enjoyed a very pleasant lunch at Houston's over the holidays. The joint was packed but the ambiance was classy, as always. Service was fair. The food was excellent. I had a tuna salad that was super fresh and just outstanding. The cheese dip is always fantastically gooey in a deliciously sinister way. The French Dip is a must try. I had a bite of my brother's and it was amazing. The au jus was perfect and not overly salty. The bread was soft and the shaved prime rib was just excellent. Ribs are another must try. Slow cooked till they are fall off the bone good.
(4)
Marc L.
Ambiance is a little "dark." I could barely see my food. Tuna appetizer is great and the salads are amazing as well. Dress nice and get ready to pay a little more. Don't bother going if you drive a shit box because you'll feel out of place! Haha...seriously....nothing but high end and no parking if you get there at like 530. Take a Lyft or Uber it.
(4)
Ryan V.
A note before we begin, this review is focused on the customer service experience we recently had at Houston's on West Paces versus a review about their food. My husband and I frequent Hillstone restaurants across the nation - California (R+D & Gulf Stream), Denver (Hillstone) and now Atlanta (Houston's). We enjoy the environment and they are consistent with their food quality. This past New Years Eve we wanted to enjoy dinner at our local Hillstone. In preparation, we made a 6:30pm reservation several days in advance. We arrived, right at our reservations time and were told they were running a bit behind. Ok, no problem as this seems to be the norm. We're not opposed to waiting a few minutes while the table is cleaned. After all, a reservation is made to reserve a table at a designated time for a reason. Well, time kept ticking away and after touching base with the hostess for an update, we were seated 35 minutes past our reservation time. In between getting our wine and receiving our appetizer my husband let Hillstone Corp. know our frustration with the extra long wait time to fulfill our reservation. By the time we finished with dinner and were ready to head home, Faith the GM, came over to our table and proceeded to apologize for our experience. Faith went on and assured us this experience would not be the standard with future reservations. So you might be asking yourself, "Why the review?" everything worked out. We value great customer service and feel it is important to recognize when a business, person, company goes above and beyond. Think about it, my husband escalated to Hillstone in LA as we sat down to start our dinner and by the end of dinner Faith came over and apologized for the experience. On New Years Eve when the restaurant was most likely experiencing a high volume of traffic the GM was monitoring all aspects of how her restaurant was running and immediately addressed the issue. She didn't wait until the next visit or write an email later. Faith addressed it right then and there. That is EXCELLENT customer service. Bottom line: Faith, the GM at Houston's on West Paces, knows what it means to provide excellent customer service to her patrons and deserves to be recognized for it. Kudos Faith! P.S. - our server Katie was amazing! If you get Katie feel fortunate and treat her well!
(5)
Shevon M.
Myself and two other friends dined at Houston's on a Wednesday night. Thinking during the middle of the week it would be pretty slow, I did not make reservations. When the first member of our party arrived there was an hour wait. We added our name to the list and enjoyed drinks at the bar while we waited. To our surprise, our table was ready in 30 minutes. Our sever tonight was Aprille. Her service was excellent. She joked around, had light conversation, and was prompt. The food and the atmosphere were both excellent! One of the members of our party enjoyed his first visit here tonight. He was first most enthused about the ambiance. He enjoyed the Smoked Salmon appetizer as well as their special Grouper for the night. Great experience!
(5)
Candra G.
Good: The BBQ chicken sandwich was yummy - down to the last bite. It was definitely the meal of last resort because it definitely isn't what I waited 90 minutes for....but it got the job done. Bad: Very limited drink selection. If you're going there for specialty cocktails, try another location. The menu is also way different than other locations - I went there for crabcakes (the other locations always have them) and didn't see them and other favs on the menu. I was on the verge of leaving because I don't eat red meat and the chicken selections looks kinda so-so....but, I didn't leave because: Ugly: We ended up waiting over an hour and a half - even though we were quoted 30-45 minutes. When asked about the status, the hostesses without even looking up our reservation name just threw out 'a few more minutes' (at that point a few more minutes was an hour). They just didn't seem very organized or were understaffed. I'm sure they have that volume every weekend, so I didn't understand their lack of system to cue up reservations. Pretty frustrating for many of the parties were were standing next to as well.
The people watching here is great! I would put it on par with the St. Regis bar in Buckhead. It gets extremely crowded, so I would recommend a reservation. However the bar area is large and there is plenty of people watching to do over there! I was a big fan of the wine list since they had one of my favorite pinots by the glass! A table for 2 on a Saturday was about a 30 minute wait at 8pm - not bad at all! I am sure we got lucky though.. or if our group was bigger we wouldn't of had a chance. The food on the menu all looked very good - albeit a little pricey. However, once our server came over and told us the seafood specials we were both incredibly sold and just ignored the fact that we ordered the most expensive items on the menu (minus the huge steak obvi!). We also ordered the spinach dip to start - it was pretty good but I wouldn't say it was better than a good pub dip. Our entrees came out in a timely manner and they did not disappoint! My sea bass was presented in a very creative manner - it had an almond/lemon sauce/garnish and it was great! The spinach on the side was just plain old sauteed spinach which I would normally complain about (because I am a food snob and appreciate more 'fun' sides) but this paired excellently with the fish. It was light and refreshing but still satifsying for a winter night in Atlanta! The crowd here was a bit older, I felt like my friend and I were the youngest people dining there so I would be interested to try the Houston's by Lenox or in Peachtree Hills and compare the two!
(4)
Angelia C.
Consistently great food and service. Have to give 4 instead of 5 stars because there's always a long wait and SO dark in there.
(4)
Katherine I.
Houston's is usually great service and food. I will say that on our most recent visit it was taking a minute to get served after we were seated. I was mentioning this to my fiance and a waiter overheard us and came over and immediately helped us. After that the service was totally spot-on. I had the veggie burger which is absolutely amazing. It has a wonderful glaze on it which I believe is soy-based. When it is grilled the glaze gets caramelized and tasty. My favorite side is the kale which is chopped and has a vinaigrette and peanuts on it. If you like kale at all, try this. The fiance got the bone in prime rib, which he states is the best prime rib in the city. This is totally not my thing, but if you enjoy plowing into a honking piece of meat, the prime rib is right up your alley.
(5)
Matt R.
Nice atmosphere (five stars!), but that's about it. The prices are off-the-charts, which would be fine if one got VALUE for that high-dollar. What I got was a $15 ho-hum burger (not even close to Taco Mac burger for half the price) with shredded lettuce (restaurant secret so they can mix in the white bad lettuce...and it gets mushy), and the absolute wimpiest fries in the world (tiny cut)... they are so limp they won't even go into that tiny little tablespoon of ketchup they give you (which is not the good stuff by the taste), and then putting a few into your mouth as they flop over is really awkward. The water comes with no ice, and by the end of the dinner, the glasses were dry. I ordered a coffee with my meal, and I had to ask for a refill (the server or busser should anticipate the guests drinking). I ordered a Diet Coke and what showed up was one of the tiniest plastic bottles of soda I've seen. Even the five-year old at the table drank it before dinner showed up. Totally unclassy, but from the restaurant's perspective: Cha-Ching$$$! Minus 2 stars for nickle-n-diming the diner to death and a bunch of other problems tonight. It stole the mood completely when restaurants try to rob you blind, and then have sub-standard service, no refills on soda (Seriously? How can the small mom-n-pop restaurants turn a profit when I order a $3 burger and generously give free refills on my Coke as a token of customer service? They can earn a profit, and a generous one, even with refills. Houstons should do the same...especially since that little tiny bottle is three bucks! That three dollars would be enough Coke syrup for about ten refills of soda). Then you try to have a nice conversation near the end of the dinner, and they keep coming back over and over again to clear away every single thing from the table, like they are rushing you out... Clean up, but don't bug. Minus 1 star: Our friends ordered meals, and they came WAY after we were already done. The server said they ran out of potatoes... SERIOUSLY? It's 6PM on a Saturday, and you RUN OUT OF POTATOES??? Never again. Maybe you'll have better luck...or you just don't care what the bill is when you are done. I happen to want to be a good steward of my hard-earned money, so we'll vote with our feet to somewhere else where we know there may be a high bill, but there is also VALUE. Dine on, Dr. Rings
(1)
Robin R.
What a Disappointment!!! We came as a group of 8 to celebrate our Christmas dinner together...but no, they would not seat us together, had to sit in 2 separate booths. DO NOT order artichoke for an appetizer, it was awful, brought us another that was worse. Asked for spinach dip instead, never got it. We all wanted the special & by the time we were able to order (5:30 pm), they were already out. Got the substitute fish special, just ok, too salty, but over it all by now. Turned the lights down so low, we couldn't see what we were eating anyway. After dinner, ordered coffee...half way through, noticed the cup was so grossly stained, you could take your fingernail and draw/scrape the crud, gross. My biggest complaint is that after all the situations our table endured, not once did a manager come over. With food that is this mediocre, and prices that expensive, one would think the managers would care about customers satisfaction. Why there were so many people there, is beyond my imagination, but I suppose that explains why the managers & wait staff do not care if customers are pleased. Our party works in a service, customer oriented business, we would never expect return clients if they received this poor quality of service & product! Hopefully enough people will complain that they take notice!
(1)
Lena N.
get ready to splurge!! who knew a restaurant this pricey could attract so many customers? especially an enormous lunch crowd. I haven't been to the other 2 locations (peachtree and lenox), but this location (west paces) definitely has high people traffic. we came during a regular weekday for lunch and the wait was about an hour. people who were waiting for an available table were scattered all over the outside of the restaurant. due to this experience, I'd say go early to beat the office crowd. throughout the whole dining room, you'll notice about 80% are in business attire. the wait staff here are dressed very professional as well. they're all uniformed to a white collar, long sleeve button up shirt and black dress pants. the restaurant is supposedly casual, yet the prices and people that it attracts -- gives off an upscale vibe. everyone at our table ordered different dishes from one another. therefore, we were all able to sample each others' dishes. out of all the dishes, I HIGHLY recommend the "HAWAIIAN RIB-EYE". this item is when the splurging comes in. the dish itself is priced at $34. anyways, it's a boneless rib-eye steak, glazed with a pineapple-sesame-ginger marinade and served with a loaded baked potato. I didn't really care for the potato, so I substituted it for the kale salad. can I say it was the best freakin' salad I ever ate?! I have no idea what type of dressing the kale was tossed in, but it had a roasted peanut taste to it. the sad part was the portion of the side salad; it was so minuscule :( the steak wasn't as good as a high quality dry-aged, but that marinade was just slap-yo-mama good! service here is pretty good. it better be since they charge 18% gratuity on your bill, regardless of it being a large or small party.
(4)
Jane E.
I went here for a dinner with my siblings last night and all and all the experience was decent. THE WAIT was long. It was 1 hour and 15 minutes, maybe a smidge more. When I called they said 45 minutes, but by time I got there it basically doubled. It was a Saturday night so I guess that's to be expected at restaurants like this. THE SERVICE was actually pretty nice (I was surprised for some reason). The hostess were pleasant when we checked on our spot every 15 minutes (sometimes host get annoyed and have attitudes, but they were nice and kept their calm-- kudos, job well done). The manager ended up bringing us a chair to sit in. The server kept my water glass full. The server, I forget his name, was definitely trying to be nice and give good service-- that was very much appreciated, Thank You. THE FOOD was good... well good enough. I got the hickory burger with fries, a side of kale salad, and brownie. The burger was good enough, not amazing, but good. Those shoe string fries are an inconvenience-- they really NEED to update and either serve some fresh thicker cut sea salt tossed fries and/or offer a thick sweet potato fries. Shoe string fries are for toddlers. The Kale Salad was amaze-- very delicious! I love that many restaurants are offering these super awesome kale dishes these days (I had a great kale side at Dantannas last week). THE BROWNIE was hot and soooo good. I mean it was just what I needed and hit the spot, it had lots of nuts and nice cold vanilla ice cream with it. It came out super quick, but it was hands down one of the best desserts I've had from a restaurant in awhile. We also shared the spinach dip. It was okay, nothing special at all. Oh, the server was great and brought out extra chips when he saw we had more dip left. Other folks at my table ordered the following: Veggie Burger (which she loved) and the Scottish Salmon (comes with mash and spinach), and they ordered an extra side of the seasonal veggies which currently is butternut squash pasta or something like that. OTHER RANDOM STUFF, they were out of lemonade and the crab cakes weren't being served at this time. The menus at the 3 Houstons slightly differ so be sure to check ahead of time if there is something you usually get from a different one. SUMMARY: With the very very long wait I wanted to give them a 3, but the pleasant service and great dessert made it easy to bump up to a 4. I would certainly come here again. Good Job for having pleasant service-- that makes the difference.
(4)
Skim S.
Good: everything on the menu is good. Chicken tenders, burgers, ahi tuna salad, fries, coleslaw... Bad: blah on the ribeye as it has too much of a sweetened teriyaki sauce. Conclusion: definitely a repeater!!!
(5)
Preeti M.
Other than the annoying wait times, Houston's is perfection. I don't eat meat so I get the veggie burger every time. Awesome, tasty burger w/fries! Spinach dip is to die for. Always professional staff. Wish they would turn on the lights more...its always so dark inside.
(4)
Maria L.
After an hour wait, yes an hour we were seated. The Hostess and servers were extremely friendly and helpful. We started with the highly recommended Spinach Dip it was good. I think if I wasn't so hungry it would of just been ok. I ordered the rotisserie chicken and my Hubs got the Hickory Burger. The Rotisserie Chicken was like butter the combination of the slightly sweetened crisp skin and the chilled Wild Rice Salad was exactly what I hoped for!!! Yummers indeed! I got a few bit of the Hubs Hickory Burger as well and it was incredible constructed the Canadian Bacon and shredded cheese made for a gourmet burger! Yummers too! All in all good was great wait sucked but food made me forget it a little!
(4)
Irene C.
Ah Houston's. This place is the embodiment of affordable fine dining. As in, the service is fantastic, the food is solid, and the experience makes you feel like you are a millionaire. I recently revisited the restaurant after years of staying away. My friend and I visited at 1pm on a Wednesday, so no wait for the two of us as we were whisked into the dark, intimate decor. Our server was incredibly polite, helpful, and respectful as he anticipated all of our needs over the course of the lunch: extra napkin when mine fell, more water when my cup was empty, more ketchup when my ketchup consumption pace exceeded my fries consumption pace. I ordered the Hickory burger ($15) with Canadian bacon, chopped cheddar, and chopped onion. Although the vibe of the place is great, I wasn't too impressed with my food and would order something else next time. My burger was greasy, salty, and the combination of the burger and the Canadian bacon (aka ham) was just a homogeneous mess of oily meat in my mouth. I was less than impressed with the number of healthy options on the menu. Most places will offer a grilled chicken sandwich or a lighter entree. Instead, we have several types of burgers, fried fish sandwich, or a rib sandwich. In truth, I wish I could give 3.5 stars. Fantastic service and execution, but I would highly recommend rethinking the menu selection.
(4)
Chris J.
I've been to this location numerous times over the years and have never had a bad meal. Their spinach dip is the best ever and I order it everytime I go. As for an entree, I usually get the BBQ chicken or the baby back ribs. Their BBQ sauce is very flavorful. Love their fries are great too. This location is always busy, so expect a wait if you go during lunch or prime dinner hours. The service has always been excellent. Only knock against them is they don't carry captain Morgan rum.
(5)
Carolina M.
Houston's has never done me wrong, especially with this location. Service is great, the ambience has the same dark, classy feeling like the other Houston's locations and the food is consistently good. One of my favorite starters is their spinach artichoke dip which comes with salsa and sour cream. Compared to other locations, the service is generous to even offer another plate of fresh chips once you're almost done but still have more dip to go. I'm a fan of their ribs where the meat just falls off the bone. It's not your traditional BBQ, but it's good paired with their cole slaw. There are even times that I ask for fries to be substituted with cole slaw because it like that much. I've also had their classic cheeseburger which seems to have gone up in price, but it's a solid burger that has no frills but just simple and tasty. I usually leave this place full and happy, so it's an all-around good restaurant in my book.
(4)
Paul M.
This place almost got 2 stars because their manager came out to apologize in advance for their 35 minute to go order wait time but that time turned into 55 minutes so I leave it at one star. We tried to call in our order and expedite the process but no one answered. Then when we showed up they informed us that they no longer accept to go orders.................... WHAT? But this time they would make one final exception... Well that was a mistake. We waited for around the 30 minutes they told us until the manager came to apologize and that it would be another 35 minutes. THEN 55 minutes later our food finally came out. And on my next visit we find out they no longer have sushi. The only reason I go here is because my sister and mom love the veggie burger so much we always get it when back in town visiting our parents.... Don't think I'll be back here again though.... Pretentious feeling that they think their food is so good you aren't allowed to wear hats in the restaurant, everything is over priced, no to go orders, no reservations, and no more sushi.... Seriously..... How is this place always crowded??? There are so many other places that are so much better and so much cheaper!!!
(1)
Jana B.
Ah, Houstons! The standard by which all restaurants should be measured! Their consistency is what has kept them thriving. I've been going here for 25 years with zero disappointment! Seemingly, every product they offer is of the best quality. The menu is not overkill or intimidating with enough selections to make choosing, efficient and satisfying. The sashimi tuna salad is my all-time favorite entree while the smoked salmon spread appetizer is also a slam dunk. Steaks are cooked to perfection and the side items have enough character to each stand out on their own. I do miss the black beans and brown rice and cannot wait for their return! Lastly, the best dessert for my taste is the apple and walnut fare served perfectly with the famous, Houstons coffee, accompanied with rich whipping cream. Although the dining room lighting is rather dark, it is perfect for any occasion. Sometimes pricey, yet any patron can taylor their check to fit nearly any budget. You will find parking at this location abundant. Every staff member exudes superlative quality and service never skips a beat. I would recommend Houstons to be a frequent stop for all.
(5)
Kip C.
Serving great food with great service is very tough. Houston's does it far better than most. Tonight they screwed up. Badly. But the way they handled it was awesome! I've been a Houston's patron since 1980 and my expectations are high. Tonight it took 25 minutes to bring my burger, but the management team, especially Faith, handled it so well that I will be back next week. Very impressed by how they handled a rare "whiff".
(4)
Janine W.
I love Houston's! This location tops all three rest. Exceptional service. They have the jumbo cocktail shrimp at this location, which is one reason why I love going to this particular location. The servers are all about teamwork, so if you ever need anything, someone will be there to make sure you've got everything you need. I always get the French dip, just make sure you get there before 8 because the prime rib runs out pretty quickly. You will not be disappointed. Food is always hot and cooked at the direct temperature! Love the staff! Last couple of times we dined Kara and Jordan took care of us! They were both great
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
anna k.
It was my first time at Houston's and I wasn't really expecting much. I figured another American chain restaurant, what could possibly be so great about it? Even though my boyfriend and I were extremely hungry, we decided to wait and I'm so happy that we did. We had the Salmon, the Prime Rib and the Five Nut Brownie and they were all delicious but most of all the service was excellent. I have never been treated so well as I did here at the West Paces location. Angelica, our waitress, was literally an angel. We had a minor mishap occur and she took it upon herself to make sure we were well taken care of. Samantha, the general manager treated us like royals! We walked away feeling satisfied and agreed we would go back just for the impeccable service. Thank you for an amazing Sunday evening Houston's!
(5)Georgia B.
Best consistent bistro in Atlanta. My fave is their thick pork chop with sauteed red cabbage. It's always packed and the wait was an hour! Luckily we found seating at the bar after 15 minutes ;-) Had a glass of Frank Family cab with my chop. It was fabulous. Good service and noisy as ever. The only thing is I wish they would stop raising their prices so much. It was over $50 for a neighborhood diner not including salad or dessert.
(4)Mary Margaret B.
So no matter how much I dislike the new changes to Houston's every time I go in, I still will continue to eat there. Now to the new menu. Gone is the wonderful and delicious spicy tuna roll. However, one star for the tasty sushi of the day the Thai Tuna Roll with macadamia nuts, toasted coconut, avocado and ahi. It was delicious with the house made ponzu. However $16 for oversized non bitesized pieces meh. The Hawaiian Ribeye is now $30+, and the Iron Skillet Beans are STILL really, really tiny. Staff is still awesome. But the menu is significantly smaller and missing some of my favorite staples. I had the Grilled Chicken Salad today and it was alright. Im not sure why it wasn't like I remember but the chicken was a bit dry. Overall I'll continue to eat here and pay the price for it. Maybe it's the dark lighting or the quaint classy ambiance. It's just a staple.
(3)Brandon S.
Another split review for me. The food earned a four star, but the service struggled to a two. Our server seemed to be having a bad day or was just not into her job. She was not rude, but she was disconnected and inattentive. For my meal I ordered the ribs. Not too creative as I order the same thing every time. The ribs were great like always. The meat was tender and the sauce was tasty. The fries and slaw are nice compliments to the ribs.
(3)Kat W.
I think I was stuck in the past...expecting some fabulous meal from days gone past when I was frequent diner at Houstons in Houston TX. It was okay.. Nothing great, nothing bad. The prime rib was big and cool, the fries were luke warm along with the glasses of water. I didn't know you had to ask for ice. I might be back but it won't be for the prime rib.
(3)JAN k.
Best French dip sandwich in state of Georgia. But is it really worth 20$. Had the skinny fries as a side. Eat them fast. They are not good when they cool down. Grandson had the trout. So confusing. Says it comes with mashed potatoes and something green.. If you order the corn side they skip the potatoes. I thought the dish had 2 sides. He wanted the potatoes and I wanted to try the corn. She did ,after the above explanation, bring him a dish of mashed potatoes. I don't type very well and the above incident is even too long to have to type to explain! Now that I read the above explanation it still does not make sense to me. 24$ Delicious fish according to my companions. Husband ordered the cheese burger. 16$(are you kidding me). Ordered medium rare, and came out overcooked. He would not send it back. Said even overcooked he could not taste any seasoning or anything interesting about the meat. He was very disappointed with what he says used to be an amazing burger. Wait on Saturday night was not much because we called in to use their call ahead seating. Very strange system. Give it a try and you will understand. Patrons were dressed as though they were going to their local burger joint. Which it use to be. The price at this place is crazy. To accommodate the price they have change their uniforms. When they first opened at lennox they wore kahkis and blue men's shirts. Now they are wearing nyc steak house "costumes". Believe me folks this is not a nyc steak house. It is a good restaurant with insane prices, frenzied service. and pretty good food, usually. btw ...as the sun set there was a break in the window coverings and the setting son was shining directly onto my grandson's face. They came to apologize after we complained. No complimentary dessert was offered to sweeten our ordeal.
(3)Julien S.
Great restaurant, great food, great service. My mother and I have been coming to Houston's for over 20+ years. It is our favorite restaurant to grab a bite and talk. Houston's is always consistent and I can walk in to any Houston's knowing I will get excellent food and service in a great atmosphere. Food: The food it always delicious at Houston's. The spinach dip is yummy cheesey goodness. They've upped the price to $12 which is pretty steep for an appetizer though. The salads at Houston's are the best I have ever had. I am not sure what makes them so much better than other restaurants, but for some reason they are just far superior. The portions are huge. They give you the right amount of dressing. I can't pick out just one of their salads. I have had them all and enjoyed them all. The burgers are good. Their fries are awesome. Thin cut, crispy and seasoned with the perfect amount of salt. The crab cakes are very lightly breaded with the no filler. They're are delicious and some of the best I have had in the city. I've had so many things off their menu I could go on and on. I'll just leave it at everything I have had I have greatly enjoyed. Beverages: The wine is reasonably priced for a restaurant. I appreciate that. Their Cappuccinos are delicious. Service: Their servers are excellent. They have mastered the perfect amount of attentiveness without being annoying and constantly interrupting. I love that. Atmosphere: The place is comprised mainly of booths. The interior is dimly lit and gives one the feeling of privacy and anonymity. I love the tucked away feeling I have here. Houston's is one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta and I look forward to sharing many more lunches and dinners with my Mother here!
(5)Bee G.
Food, as always, is excellent and consistent! However, what's up with taking away seating at one whole bar width?! Some of us enjoy sitting at the bar and don't mind waiting our turn. Eliminating 20%of the bar seating is a slap in the face to the regular bar patrons who are willing to wait for a spot. This makes the wait so much longer and I'm not sure I wanna wait longer than I already have to.
(3)Cara K.
One of the most consistent dining experiences I've ever had. All locations are great, but I'm partial to this one. The spinach dip is delish, but my all-time favorite (like top 5 fave meals ANYWHERE) is the house made veggie burger. Best veggie burger ever - hands down! Substitute the fries for the cous cous and you won't be disappointed! The parking lot of this location is pretty insane at lunchtime during the week, so be prepared.
(5)Addy C.
I love Houston's - all of them. My friend thinks this is the best Houston's and I'd read other reviews who said the same. Service here is genuine, friendly, and attentive. We came last Sunday for lunch. Restaurant was packed. Houston's doesn't have a brunch menu. We ordered the "House-made Veggie Burger" b/c I remember a while back reading the Yelp thread about "best veggie burger" and most claimed Houston's did. They do. I think it was the teriyaki flavor that won me over. Their veggie burgers have brown rice, black beans, oat bran, sweet soy, and then topped w/ melted Jack cheese. Delicious. The only complaint is that the texture is a little mushy and falls apart easily ... I prefer at least a little crunchy texture. It's also too big to eat like a regular burger - you need a knife & fork because the burger also has shredded cabbage, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and their big fluffy house-made egg bun. The $14 burger meal also includes a choice of cole slaw, couscous, or fries. Best part about eating with a friend is sharing - my friend got the cole slaw, I got the couscous, and then we gave each other half. Cole slaw was delicious, light, not heavy w/ mayo like most cole slaw, slightly sweet, and it had bits of cilantro (my favorite herb!). Couscous was beautiful and had all kinds of yummy goodies - whole almonds, yellow raisins, cherry tomatoes, and mint. If you're looking for a good veggie burger, definitely check out Houston's. And the sides are extra bonus :)
(4)Kj M.
Houstons is undoubtedly my new found favorite restaurant! My first time at Houstons was sometime in July, my friends swore by this restaurant. I was somewhat hesitant because I had never heard of Houstons. From the time we entered to the time we left, we were treated with stunning service. Each and every time I go to Houstons, I order the French Dip, and each and every time it is made to perfection.
(5)Sarah F.
I came here with my grandparents and my mother on a Sunday early evening. The food here was pretty good, but the service was seriously lacking. We were originally told that the wait for a table of 4 was 10 minutes. We were not seated until 40 minutes after we had arrived. I understand that the place was busy, but I found it very disrespectful for the hostesses to mislead us like that. If they had been truthful about the wait time we would have gone elsewhere, which I'm sure is what they were trying to avoid. Instead, my elderly grandparents spent close to an hour standing around in the waiting area well past their usual dinner time. It may seem trivial, but for people their age that kind of stuff takes a toll on them.
(2)Michael W.
Houston's is a pretentious, expensive Applebee's, without the license plates and nicknacks on the walls. It has the air of a fancy, white table cloth restaurant, but it isn't. Ask for sweet tea, and you get the snotty, "we have sugar on the table" like it's New York or Chicago. I know I can add sugar to tea and make tea with sugar in it, but if you don't add the sugar to hot, freshly brewed tea it won't melt. I don't want tea with grains of sugar in it--and we are in Atlanta, Georgia. It seems like every time I've visited Houston's my server is an effeminate man who responds semi-rudely to everything I say. What I mean by this is, if a woman or a non-effeminate man were to say the exact same thing to me I would be offended, but because it is said by an effeminate man who maybe gay I, for some reason, can't be offended. That isn't to say the service isn't attentive, just not relatable--or at least not usually. On one occasion one of these effeminate servers was obviously training another, and began berating and correcting them directly in front of me and my wife, which I found offsetting and unpleasant. The food is great, but I can name numerous places where I can get a comparable burger/salad for under $20, which is about the going rate for Houston's--and that includes lunch. That pretentiousness seems to be a thinly veiled justification for overly pricey food. All-in-all the food is great, if not expensive, and the service though generally attentive is at times horrendous and insulting.
(2)Carrie Neal W.
They have fresh summer corn on the cob now. Go, order it, enjoy - I'm betting it won't last long!
(5)P R.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - which restaurant will show up - back to bad. This place is a mess. Started out well. Promptly seated. But no server. Bad sign. Other server covers and gets drink order. Good sign. Still no server, but at least have a drink. Still no server. FInally server. Do you need a few more minutes? No, I think we've sat long enough (internal voice)! Order an appetizer and entrees. Sit again. No water refills. No appetizer. No nothing. Then entrees come. Whatever at this point. By the way - still no sign of server - other people brought the food. At least the food looks good - wait no au jus with the prime rib. What? Hey - what's that? A server sighting. Can I have some au jus? Oh we stopped serving that with Prime Rib. What? Well I want some. No problem (I think she's lying as we'll soon find out). So we waited and waited for the au jus. But apparently they had to send the company plane to France because it like our server was no where to be seen. So we push on. The food is great (despite the lack of au jus) - at least something is good. A server sighting - as she turns the corner, she realizes, oh yeah, those a-holes wanted au jus, turns around, finally gets the 2-1/2 cents worth of au jus and sets it down. About done with the Prime Rib at this point - thanks a lot. She says we were lucky since the Prime Rib sold out - yeah, we were lucky. At this point, I realize I'm the idiot. I keep coming back. They are making a ton of money and I'm not happy. The only thing she did right was not charge us for the appetizer we never got. If you don't want to interface with the public, don't be a server. It's your job. Get over yourself and do your job.
(1)Robert U.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. I've been coming to this location since the 1980s, and it's still great. For upscale, casual, Atlanta-style dining, Houston's has it nailed. Here's why: SERVICE - Very professional. Once seated, you will not wait more than 15 seconds for a server to appear. Before you can empty your drink, another fresh drink will appear. Dirty dishes (like my empty iced-tea glasses) disappear as a runner quietly picks one up. Yes, you will be served by several people, not just YOUR server. FOOD - Very good American fare. They have a variety of meats and some fish, and don't seem to specialize here. But even their starters, salads, and sandwiches are just excellent.. SUGGESTED ITEMS: - Spinach artichoke dip - Chili (I think they only have this on Saturdays) - Baltimore grilled chicken sandwich - House salad w/buttermilk-garlic dressing and cheese toast on the side - Hawaiian steak (a ribeye marinated in teriyaki)
(5)Sport L.
Food is great but it seems the prices increase just as much as gas for the auto does. Wait times are redic here and most of the patrons are snooty Buckhead Butts especially the twenty/thirty something's that think they are all that because of those parents money.
(4)Ashley A.
I have been here a couple times and I do like it but I was not blown away =( My bf loves Houstons but I just have not really been that impressed. Got a bunch of bones in my fish last time I was there as well as a forgotten app =( but usually everything is good. The service is usually very good and that I do like very much. I will have to try a few more items perhaps. Update: Me and the ribeye have developed a very special relationship. Delicious!
(4)Melissa B.
Okay so the food is very good the spinach dip is great the hamburgers are delicious but I feel like they almost ruined the experience by obviously trying to nickel and dime you. One of my good friends I worked at Houston's along time ago and give me some of their little dirty secrets. Let's start with water without ice they don't evit tastes disgusting as a way to encourage you not only have water so they can make more money. That's not bad they don't even give refills anymore on soda... Obnoxious places like Applebee's in McDonnells give refills bottom line if I'm going to pay $15 for a hamburger at the least I need to get is a free refill on a coke. The mentality of nickel and timing customers because they have good food ruins my experience bottom line
(1)Rob L.
$16 cheeseburger (requested Med Well, received it rare) ? really ? $20 french dip ....If you are going to get these type of prices go to a high end restaurant ...I've been to steak houses that don't charge this much..... waste of money...
(1)Maxwell R.
Pricey but delicious! Great brew selection (for Atlanta..) and probably the greatest ribs I've ever had. They literally melted down my throat. However, it's always packed and it's a pretty little penny or two, to say the least. Worth a visit with the grandparents ;). Great service.
(5)Max B.
Casual dining meets formal food. Houston's is usually consistent for a good meal. For an appetizer, I ordered the Louisiana Red Beans and Rice soup, which is the soup of the day on Mondays. Very delsih! The soup was thick and smokey with the right amount of heat. Defiantly recommend this. It's tough to go wrong with entrees but I don't recommend the BBQ chicken. The dish would be nice if the chicken came bone in, but oh well. The Hawaiian rib eye is one of the best items, but it is a bit sweet. My favorite is the Prime Rib, it's always good and hits the spot.
(3)Liz V.
Dear Houstons, Thank you for lunch on Tuesday. It is always so good to spend time with you. How did you know I needed to hide in one of your many dark leather booths? And right near the window? You spoil me. Your chicken club salad with extra chopped egg was amazing. The new honey mustard, hot bacon dressing was a good suggestion. You know me so well. And the chocolate brownie? A bit of chocolate sauce slipped near my nip, how embarrassing! Oh Houstons, are you trying to get to 2nd base? You are always so romantic with your white cotton napkins, dim light, dark wood exposed beams and wine list that makes me weak in the knees. I can't wait to lunch with you again, Houstons. Don't play coy, of course I love you too.
(5)Holy Guacamole M.
No matter what city/state your in you can always count on Houston's food to be consistent. The only thing that's significantly changed over the years is the artichoke & spinach dip, which is mostly spinach now. The food has always been pricey, but the value of your meal usually justifies the price. This location needs to be more consistent with service. We used to dine here once a week, but after several mishaps with our order (long wait for food; order not correct) we began to realize that we can do better - especially for paying an average of $60-$70 for lunch. Every time we've been there within the last year, our service has really been lacking. The servers put our entree orders in either way too fast or when we're done with our first course. So, we either have the option of eating our entree's with our appetizers or waiting 45mins. in between each course. The french dip is one of our favorite dishes and we always ask for horseradish with it - sometimes we get it, sometimes we don't.
(2)Alexander A.
If there is one word to describe Houston's it's "consistent". And consistent in a good way. It is great, each and every time I go there. A lot of times when I write reviews, I like to write about what I order because I tend to get the same thing each time I go to specific restaurants. Houston's is one of those places where I like EVERYTHING on the menu. Salad's, Burgers, Ahi Tuna, Hawaiian Ribeye, Specials, Desserts. It's all good! So why only 4 stars? I have noticed over the years that the portions keep getting smaller and the prices keep getting higher. Also, I like ice in my water and now I always have to remember to ask for it. I think ice should come standard.
(4)Brandon R.
Great restaurant! Peaceful and great service! Never had a bad experience here! Food is always consistent and very good! My favorite appetizer: spinach dip Favorite entrees: hickory burger, or the ribs But everything at this restaurant is great, just depends what you are in the mood for!
(5)Gillian N.
First things first, the burger I had was good. Not amazing, but good. Not worth $15, but good. HOWEVER, for a place that draws this big of a lunch crowd, that puts so much emphasis on proper dress, that has super pretentious lighting, that charges as much as they do, the service was abysmal. The waiter was slow and didn't pay attention to anything from drink orders to condiments. He could not have cared less, and what should have been a 45 minute lunch came close to an hour and a half. Just no. Ain't nobody got time for that!
(2)J. C. L.
went there with boyfriend on a Tuesday night. Great fish plates, love the cous cous salad! We also ordered Apple Cobbler for dessert. It was soo good!!
(5)Roderick M.
Sometimes you want a burger...sometimes you don't. Those are the times that we usually head to Houstons. I must admit that I'm addicted to the Club Salad (with a few modifications, of course)and have no reservations about shelling out $16. Every time I order it the same way (no tomatoes, no avocado) with no cheese on the slice of toast that comes along with the salad. Houston's chicken tenders are almost tempura-styled- light and airy without being greasy, and the delicious homemade Buttermilk Garlic dressing seals the deal wonderfully. When I'm not in the mood for salad, I usually opt for the "Biltmore" grilled chicken sandwich. Perfectly grilled, never dry- this is one of the best sandwiches ever. I always ask for the spicy mayo and ketchup on the side-wonderful for the matchstick fries. Although the menu is slightly limited, there is something for everyone. I intend on trying both the spinach dip and the legendary ribs at some point-if I could just break away from the salad. I've had the cheeseburger before, and found it to be just alright- slightly dry. Amazingly, I've never made it to dessert because I'm always too full. Houston's has a classy, intimate ambiance that could be off-putting to kids, especially at night when mood lights are the only thing illuminating the dining area save the brightly lit kitchen area. The servers are pleasant enough, if inconsistent at times. Also, they don't offer sweet tea, and you'll need to specify if you want ice in your water- but those are minute things that can easily be overlooked.
(4)Michael B.
Houston's is a great spot for some good food and good wine. I always enjoy coming to this location; not much of a wait for a table, consistent great service and good food quality. Usually when I come to Houston's I get a couple of glasses of red and a steak, but on my more recent journey here I discovered a wonderful new dish that not only satisfies the carnivore in me, but also soothes the vegan as well. I ordered the Thai Steak Salad, which was busting with a spicy flavor and has a great texture to it; it's sweet, salty, spicy, hot, cold, crunchy and smooth, all at the same time. And it went great with some Pinot Noir. Next time I head to Houston's I plan to try something different. I've already ruled out that I am in love with their Thai Steak Salad, Prime Rib, and Sirloin. Hopefully I'll keep loving them as well as other selections on the menu.
(5)Diari C.
I met up with a few friends at Houston's last night; we went to the location off of Northside Parkway. We decided to go to Houston's over other restaurants, because all of us are fans and love just about everything on the menu. The ambiance of the restaurant is always classy, too. We ordered the spinach dip as an appetizer and all three of us got the Hawaiian Ribeye, which is usually very good, with a loaded baked potato as a side dish. The spinach dip was pretty good, but all of our steaks were a little dry and tough. This is not the norm for this place, because this dish is always cooked to perfection regardless of what location you go to...just not last night for some reason:-/ So, I've rated this restaurant an okay, because we were all excited about enjoying Houston's delicious Hawaiian Ribeye, but was quite disappointed in how the steaks were prepared. I'll definitely be back though. I'm thinking the cook was just having an off night, so giving the Northside Parkway a second chance to redeem themselves is only fair.
(3)Larry S.
I have dined at Houston's in the past 15 years, but have not visited one in the last several years. Compared to other restaurants in the area (north Atlanta/Cobb county), Houston's is way over-priced for similar foods. I would not recommend this restaurant because of price. The food was well prepared, but way over priced. For instance, I would expect bread to be included with an entree as with a side if you order a $15 burger! For your money try a Cheesecake Factory or Magginos.
(1)Weleys S.
Been coming here for years and last two visits were terrible. I interned at Hillstone in LA one summer and I know what is expected of the employees and servers specifically. First of the most recent visits I went, I was with my Dad and a server was walking by with a tray too full to carry and spilled water next to our table and on my Dad. He kept walking by without saying a word or apologizing. I was a little appalled by that knowing Hillstone. The manager was willing to give us dessert when I talked to her but my point was I just expect good service at Hillstone restaurants. The food is fresh but marginally better than a 2nd tier chain, you pay more so for ambiance and service. On my most recent visit I got the Hawaiian Ribeye and asked for it medium and it came well done with a fully brown center. I kept knibbling and waiting for the server to ask how the food is, she never showed. Our server sent another server to our table and I was half way done knibbling around the fat and tendons so I didn't want to send the steak back. I was really annoyed and shredded her while she was with another server and manager comped the whole check which was 150 between 3 of us. Once again, the managers at Hillstone are mostly Cornell Grads and know how to treat customers but the service is boderline terrible here. Buckhead Houstons sucks...Windy Hill Houstons sucks...come on we need atleast one good Houstons in Atlanta.
(3)Stacey L.
VERY impossible to work with with large parties. Won't accomodate.
(1)Jason S.
The food at Houston's anywhere you go won't disappoint. The service at this Houston's is surprisingly bad. Ive been to Houston's in San Francisco, South Florida, Southern California, DC and even other parts of Atlanta. But this location I just don't understand. It's as though they have been taken over by the locals and they have difficulty servicing non-locals. Mind you, this neighborhood is wealthy, but that's no reason to give sub par service to those of us that come to Houston's for what we can depend on; solid food & good service. On my last visit, we ordered 3 courses: 1 starter to share, 2 apps of our own, and 2 entrees of our own. Everything was brought to us at once, REALLY?!! With the extensive training of the service staff AND the price point, I expect better. Recently, I also conducted a price comparison of Houston's to some of the countries fine dining establishments. Restaurants with award wining chefs, culinary destinations mind you. Houston's has got nothing on the food as well as service as some of these restaurants, yet they charge more. I'm left confused, what is it were exactly paying for??? ...a memory of a once great place to eat....
(2)Nicki K.
Houston's has the BEST veggie burger ever. I swear if I could eat this burger every day, I would be vegetarian. The burger was huge also. For side items, I got the cole slaw, it was very tasteful. Service was great.
(4)Tim D.
I love Houstons! Great service, GREAT food and GREAT Atmosphere! You cant go wrong if you go to Houstons! Best steak on the menu: Hawaiian Ribeye!
(5)Howard B.
not what i remembered... i used to go to windy hill location; now closed. Monday night and 20 min wait at 730 pm. service was excellent. food was a bit disappointing. I had the BBQ chicken. in the past it was half a chicken bone in. now a skin on boneless breast. just a handful of fries and a mound of over mayo-ed slaw. wife's seared tuna was good but left her hungry. Son's french dip was good. Food was good, but potions seemed to be be pared down. not sure if this is new direction for the chain or just this location. Martini was a good pour (at $12 it should be decent). At this price point there are many other good places to try in the buckhead area. I'm not saying i won't be back, just didn't seem up to snuff compared to my not too distant and many dining experiences with this chain before.
(3)Justin L.
Excellent food and environment. I had the ribs with a loaded baked potato and the ribs were fall off the bone perfect. As a starter we shared the thai filet salad (don't remember the exact name), but it was an explosion of flavors. I will be getting that again for sure!
(5)Jennifer B.
I have been here twice in 3 months. Its great. It is expensive but if you go to lets say longhorns its $22 for a subpar filet or pay $36 for an A+ filet. To me it is not over priced. The Ceasar salad is awesome. The fries are great too. On some of the reviews some people said they got bad service and thought it was because the resturant is in a rich neighborhood and they did not look rich. Both times I went I was wearing jeans and a t shirt and got great service. I think it ridiculous to give a resturant a bad review because you think its to expensive and you do not even try the expensive thing on the menu to make an accuate reveiw rather its worth it or not.
(5)Christine H.
bacon vinaigrette = sweet + sour + bacon-y bliss hawaiian ribeye = HOLY COW (no pun intended) + flavor packed my guy and i always start with a traditional salad with bacon vinaigrette AND buttermilk. you get 2 giant genie bottles of dressing for a small salad, but it it's so worth looking like a fatty. (i swear they'd save tons of money if they just had a smaller dressing boat.) speaking of being a fatty, their hawaiian ribeye is GRRREAT. REALLY REALLY GREAT. more elaborate adjectives wouldn't do it justice. i subbed the fries for the loaded baked potato, and was ever so pleased. the price tag on it's outrageously unreasonable ($34), so this was the first and probably only time i'll ever order it. the service is impeccable. i've heard from my restaurant friends that their management style borders on cult like behavior, which seems to be highly effective! i'm just glad i eat there and don't work there.
(4)Dru J.
A wag once described Houston, Texas as the city that looks like NY threw up on LA. Cute. Determined to use a Houston's gift card before the end of the year, I try to remove that image from my mind. Some quick internet research informs me that Houston's the restaurant has nothing to do with Houston the city. That doesn't help. Thanks to my fellow Yelpers, I'm tipped ahead of time that Northside Parkway is the Houston's of choice. Its Saturday night and the joint is SRO. A threatened 45-50 minute wait mercifully becomes 25 minutes. While waiting for our table, chief culinary advisor touts the asparagus dip (with tortilla chips?) as a worthy starter. She's since been demoted. Did you ever eat paste as a kid? I did, and now I'm reliving my childhood, which is not a good thing. A glass of Stag's Leap helps loosen my innards. Our entrees of breaded, fried cod and prime rib help explain this chain's popularity and good reviews. Cod, indigenous to Northeastern waters, is not often seen on menus in the South. That not withstanding, the kitchen staff did an excellent job to achieve a crunchy yet moist fish entree. My prime rib is, primal. A large, attractive cut, it retained its bloody beefyness despite being ordered medium (which luckily turned out to be closer to medium rare). The side of chived mashed potatoes, replacing french fries, was an excellent idea. Our friendly, efficient server delights in my sharing with him the fact that we have our own dessert plans (No wink necessary). Appetizer, entrees, 2 rounds of drinks, $78. An enjoyable meal at a reasonable price.
(3)Jingwei W.
Went there in the summer of 2012. One of the best we had in Atlanta.
(4)Ula H.
Love it! Great service... Great Food. Everyone that works there are great. Especially Camille, Brian, Aprille, and Shannon
(5)James T.
The Hawaiian Ribeye is amazing! If you are into steak this is a must. This ribeye puts most steakhouses to shame.
(5)Ellie B.
It has taken me several months to recover from my last experience at the WPF/Northside Houston's, and I have, for the most part, taken my formerly frequent, longtime, personal and corporate lunch, cocktail and dinner business elsewhere. Background: I loved Houston's. We grew up in the neighborhood; have been dining at this WPF/Northside Houston's since it opened. As kids, my brother and I would wait for a table in the bar, then call our parents to come on, we got one. Took the adoration with me to DC; enjoyed Houston's in Georgetown and Bethesda. Maintained frequent dining in my adult life, now back in the neighborhood, at this WPF/Northside Houston's. It was disappointing when seating in the bar changed from first-come to reserved seating. We got over that. We grumble about the constant menu-dropping of adored/popular items, that are still served, but newer servers need to be advised how to place for the kitchen (several salads, cheese toast, the difference between chicken tenders appetizer vs. full meal, that if trout is on menu, Cajun trout is also possible, for example). We are genuinely upset the sushi service is no longer a daily variety. We are annoyed the meager spinach dip that won't feed 4 now costs $12. Hillstone has not been a good parent for the consistency we came to expect. Then this situation occurred: I was meeting a friend for dinner at the bar. There are bar chairs that are dedicated to the bar. When I arrived, one was missing, and a woman was seated in it at the railing, to the left of the bar & bar seating. Her back was to everyone, she was texting, check paid, empty glasses. I ordered my drink, and appetizer, asked the bartender (who is a regular fixture) if there was another chair. She said no. I asked her to please get the chair returned to the bar. She refused. I asked the hosts at the stand: could another chair be produced? No, no other chairs. So, last resort, I approached/asked the woman, if she were finished, could...and before I could say please return the chair, she turned and tore into me. I am white. She is black. She told me she didn't know/care who I thought I was, she was no d*** Rosa Parks and she wasn't letting my bulls*** needs play. No, I couldn't have the chair, she didn't care if it went to the bar. My dinner was delivered at this point, I told the bartender I couldn't stand and eat, to which the woman interrupted and told me I shouldn't have ordered food, it was may fault, I needed to leave. I don't remember what all else she said - but it was explosive. Things have gone sideways on several levels at this point. I am stunned race has been lobbed (it's too bad this woman doesn't know me, friends could have easily dispelled the insinuation race had anything to do with my request). I am totally flustered, because this woman has gone off, and no one reacted. The Houston's bar, host and wait staff failed at assisting to either get me seated, or find alternate seating, or hold my dinner, when it was obvious some kind of seating conflict was transpiring. I asked the bartender to box my dinner, I'd lost my appetite. Another service failure: no one offered to comp my meal. The hosts tried to cheerily bid me adieu, inquired if everything was OK? I told them no, in fact, this was the worst experience I have ever had, so they asked me to explain (these were the same hosts I had asked about a chair!). So I began, and when I described the woman's reaction, they called over a manager. I am not sure when the woman actually left, but while I was standing there, I saw the BARTENDER WHO WOULD NOT HELP ME motion for a waiter and returned the chair to the bar. We stepped outside, away from staff. While I am telling the manager what transpired, a car raced up, stopped where we were standing, the woman jumped out, and physically inserted herself into our conversation to continue going off! She repeated the "I'm no Rosa Parks" part, about an inch and a half away from me. YES, I was shocked this woman had waited to accost me, and was now concerned for my safety! The young manager clearly couldn't handle this, either. I backed away, quickly, said, look, I want no part of this, I don't ever need to dine here again, got to my car and left before the woman saw where I went/what I drove/etc. I don't know where the police man was, but he wasn't there to protect me or the manager from the verbal assault. I have never experienced blatant racist behavior or felt physically threatened like this. I have never experienced such diabolical FAILURE at each point of service. This experience, coupled with the menu changes and pricing made it very easy to shift to Blue Ridge Grill and Canoe. I went back for the first time last night, and seeing that same bartender brought this upset to life again. We won't dine here as often, and I won't dine here when she is on-duty.
(1)Kristin K.
I love Houston's. The food is really good, service is generally decent. I prefer either this location near West Paces or the one on Peachtree. I don't go to the one next to Lenox much mostly because I don't like to valet park my car if I can avoid it and they only have valet there. The atmosphere is great, its dark but it has that open kitchen so you get the food smells and its really neat. I think the service at the West Paces location is better than Peachtree. I think sometimes we're at the Peachtree location and our server disappears and we never see him or her and we feel like we're trying to waive people down and they ignore us so the Peachtree location isn't quite as good on service I think. I never go during prime hours like lunch or dinner, just afternoon coz for lunch, you gotta get there before 12 or so, otherwise you're going to be waitlisted which can range from painless to painful depending. Dinner, like after 6:30 or so gets even crazier. So what I like is they're open all day so I can slide in a little after 1pm for lunch and not even have to wait. I hate waiting. Anyway, I'm convinced Houston's has the best spinach dip ever created. If you go, you have to order this. Their tortilla soup is really good too, very thick and creamy. I tend to get the french dip sandwich which is always great and their french fries are super good too, the small thin kind that has a little crispiness to them. The prices are within reasonable range I think, not cheap by any means but not outrageous either.
(5)Leanne E.
The portions are very large, so consider sharing an entree with someone at your table. They do not serve sweet tea. This is not good, being that this is a restaurant in the south. The spinach dip is very creamy and good and the veggie burger is good, but has way too much bread. All in all it was an okay experience, a lot like OCharleys or Applebees.
(3)Stephen T.
Well, as a frequent Houstoner in FTL, Miami and Buckhead, after waiting 15 minutes for our server, J, to greet us, we were not off to a good start. My partner was falling asleep he was so tired. Anyway, she did take the time when I asked to check on the food when it was taking a long time, and magically, it appeared within a minute. Damn - the food was great again. So, we had an off moment. But, I am noticing that the menu is becoming more expensive and less variety.
(3)Gary N.
The best, fall off the bone Ribs around. Sauce is perfect and sides are great. Only wish they would stop closing these and open more stores around the country.
(5)Jae M.
The servers here are great, I come here often to get the Hawian Ribeye and my date got a Prime Rib, spinach and bake beans as well as caesar salad. I was un satisfied with the Hawian Rib Eye today. The manager David Farriah did not offer to change my steak only box it and did not offer to box my dates meal either but then assumed that we couldnt pay for and tried rushing us. Samantha the GM was amazing she tried fixing out problem promptly and efficiently she made the experience much better! I'am still giving this location two Stars giving overall service. Although Samantha was great I will still be subject to get the other manager if I attend this location again!
(2)Bernice S.
I had a Vegi burger on Saturday. Don't eat. Had food poison for two days.
(1)Michael S.
Houston's is Houston's. You know what you are getting every time you go in. A great meal with great service. I'm seriously interested in how their standards work. I've been going to this location for all of 25 years. Never had a bad meal. Never had bad service. Do they shoot bad cooks and servers? Torture? Just don't hire them to begin with? If we can't decide on a place to eat dinner, the answer is always Houston's because we know everyone will be happy. If I have one complaint , it's that they do what they do so well, and I like what I like so much, that I'm unable to bring myself to get another thing on the menu, because i'm craving the same thing every time i go in there. That said, they have the best ribs in America. I don't know how they do it. I've heard it's because they boil the ribs first, but no one will tell me for certain. The thing is, sometimes I don't want ribs. I want their chicken tenders (which are off the menu and amazing). Othertimes I want their sushi salad (again, amazing). Their Burger is excellent. OK, I KNOW I KNOW, you are telling me, EVERYTHING IS EXCELLENT. If I had another complaint, and these aren't really complaints, but when I was a kid, they served the best damn chocolate shakes. And at some point they just stopped making them. Creamy and amazing. I think they put egg in them. I wish they'd bring them back. Then I'd be fat and happy.
(4)Tricia D.
I have decided to begin yelping because we just moved to Sandy Springs and I want to talk about my many special places that I have found. That said, my first Yelp is on Houston's on Northside Parkway, where I am with my mother, who bumped her head and hasn't been the same since and my beautiful daughter Lisa, as well as her beautiful friend Christina. When I arrived with my mother (btw her hematoma was cured by Hipprocrates in West Palm Beach where she spent 6 weeks drinking green juice), Lisa was sipping a Bloody Mary, so, of course, Christina and I decided to have one also. Yum! Our server, Jennifer, is very nice and personable, and fits in well with our fun and lively group - and only does a small eye roll and "oh great" when I tell her I am a first time yelper and ask her name. Even though it is 2:00 in the afternoon, the lighting here is perfect and they just brought a candle to our table - hopefully no one will knock it over - if you had seen Lisa pouring my mother's tea, you would understand why I said that. We all ordered different things - Mom goes for the steak Thai salad minus the noodles; only a side salad minus the croutons for me; Lisa ordered the spicy tuna and thai sushi and Christina ordered the chicken fingers with coleslaw and french fries. The side salad is as large as most entree salads with mixed greens, tomatoes, eggs and bacon. The traditional Italian dressing is tasty and light. The steak salad was amazing - my mother gets it all the time. It's way too large to eat in one sitting, so it will be lunch for tomorrow also. The sushi is large and in charge - large rolls and large portion. Lisa isn't talking so much as she is thoroughly enjoying her meal. And the chicken fingers - OMG - they are the best ever - very lightly breaded and melt in your mouth tender and delish. Overall, the meal was great. The ambiance and service was fabulous. All four of us are now bonded with Jennifer, who handled us with a sense of humor and a smile. We will be back for sure!
(5)Jennifer W.
Houston's is my comfort food. For me, it's just a feel-good place with professional service and always delicious food. I've been going to Houston's for years. I've seen the menu change every now and again, and I like that I'm still able to order a few items that aren't on the menu any longer. I know that some of the foodies may roll their eyes at me for this review, but when I first started going to Houston's with my parents back in high school, it was their service that showed me what "great" service should be at a restaurant. I remember the first time I had dinner there, a server passed by our table and removed the empty sugar packets we'd used for our unsweet tea. I'd certainly never seen that done at the pizza joint in my hometown. I was amazed. So, yeah, I'm sure that small gesture, and the service you find at Houston's may be different what's found at the $100-a-plate restaurants, but it's good service. They do their genre and their class of business very well, in my opinion. And over the years, their service has been consistent. Regarding the food. I fell in love with spinach here. Of course, nothing really tastes bad when cooked with cheese. But it was the first place I even thought about trying it. And from that humble beginning, I can now eat spinach without anything added to it! Ha! I've had more birthday dinners here than I can remember, mostly consisting of Chicago-style Spinach Dip, Hawaiian Ribeye and Key Lime Pie. Let's focus on the Key Lime Pie for a moment. I have dreams about this Key Lime Pie. The graham cracker crust is crumbly with a few little nuts throughout, there are little bits of Key Lime in the pie, and then when topped with fresh whipped cream, oh dear Baby Jesus, thank You for creating such edible joy! I'm so in love with this pie, that I've started asking for it at the start of the meal, because you see, sometimes they run out. That moment, the one in which the server notifies me of whether Key Lime Pie is available has the potential to be the best or worst part of my day. Just so you know. So, that's it. This seems like less of a review than it is a love letter of memories between me and Houston's. Thanks, Houston's. Love ya, mean it!
(5)Stephanie D.
The food here is of good quality. This place was recommended to us by a few employees at the nearby mall. We were told the smoked salmon and the prime rib. We started our with the salmon as our appetizier which was as good as describe in the mall. I wasn't a fan of the bread that came with it, so I ate it with just the sauce. We ordered the prime rib (med/rare) with fries and a ribeye (med) with fries. My brother loved his rib eye which was more flavorful than the ribeyes we normally get. I wish I order my steak rare. It came out looking like a medium steak, but it was good nonetheless. I prefer larger cut fries so I wasn't fond of their thinner cut fries. Overall, I was kind of let down. The employee at the mall raved about the food here, but I just didn't feel as excited him. I think the most enjoyable part of meal was just the view of outside the window. We were able to get seats looking out at the stoplight and Marta station. While we were busy creating a story for the panhandlers, our server did a fantastic job of refilling our drinks, replacing untensils, and cleaning our table for us without disturbing us. Food was good, but I was more impressed with the view. I've had better fries and prime rib in SC, but the service matched restaurants more pricey than this in Charleston, SC. Looking back, I wished I order that Thai salad. I'll come back here if I'm having a bad day because I know the servers here won't make things worse.
(4)Erich F.
I have eaten here several times over the years and it seems like it has dropped off in both service and quality recently. I feel like I am being rushed through dinner every time I eat here. I ordered an appetizer and salad and entree and before I am finishing my salad my dinner has arrived. It is not the relaxing atmosphere it used to be. Had problems with the fish last time I ordered. It was not cooked all the way. It came out still raw and I did not order sushi... No apology from management or even an acknowledgment that things were not right. Crab cakes have fallen off in quality. Ribs are still excellent and steaks are good. With so many dining choices in the metro area I think they need to focus on the basics again. I will be a while before I go back. You work to hard to eat mediocre food. If you are going to spend your hard earned money on a night out for dinner make it the best.
(3)Laura T.
I have come to determine that in my life time experience of dining out, Houstons serves up the best French Dip sandwich. Ever. Don't let my waist line fool ya, I've been around the block of Restaurant Row many, many times. I'm far from vegetarian, and typically very picky when it comes to selecting beef - only the best for me. This location in Atlanta scores high points for delivering that same consistent fresh, crusty bread serving as book ends to the over flowing stack of thinly sliced, high quality meat, neatly folded in the middle. Au jus and salty skinny fries to complement this heart clogging meal. Mmmm. Deliciousness.
(4)Alexa G.
The Best service I've had in a Long time David was great!!! I was in the mood for something kind of light so looking over the menu I didn't want ribs... or half of a roasted chicken.. so I decided on the California sushi salad... (which I was a bit skeptical about ordering so I just took a chance!) The salad dressing was a type or miso glaze which was aweeessommme... that topped the "salad" which was just a bunch of cucumbers, carrots, water chestnuts, with these pickled onions on top... but it was good!!! Sushi was also excellent.. spicy tuna, crunchy shrimp and California rolls circled the salad.
(4)RIKETA C.
I never have a bad Houston's visit, and I have been to all the locations around Atlanta. The perimeter location closed, but that doesn't matter because the one up the street from where I live (the Northside location) is the best one I have been to. I always order the grilled salmon, and my mother always orders the smoked salmon. Everytime we get ithese items, it is like the first time we ever had it. Houston's is definitely consistant. To me, a visti to Houston's is a once every 3-4 month treat, because it is on the pricey side, but it's worth it. I am not so sure I am a fan of the "secret menu item" type of thing they like to do, because I feel like if I dont know what they offer, I may miss out on something really good. I remember I went with a coworker to Houston's (which was my first visit ever) and she told me about the grilled salmon, which wasn't on the menu. So I ordered it, and that is all I have been ordering for years now. I know I should try something else...but I just cant stop ordering it...lol If she hadn't told me about that salmon, I would have never known about it. I DID notice that the Northside location has it listed on their menu though. To me, it seems like the staff is run by the military. Good for the customer, but I would be scared to work there.
(5)Caitlin L.
New concept. Let's be honest! I've never liked Houston's. The menu is short and I just need more options. This one thing has always kept me from truly enjoying the restaurant. We came here tonight, again..being honest, because Flying Biscuit in the shopping center behind Houston's was closed. After my better half was raving about this burger, I told him we should just go to Houston's so he can fulfill his craving. This Houston's, more than the other locations I've visited, is truly a beautiful restaurant. We were both exhausted after a long week of work and school; the dark lighting and great wine choices made everything better! Prior to ordering, I asked our server if their soup of the day had meat in it in which she applied that it did. We placed our orders, I got the veggie burgers with a traditional salad and bleu cheese and my beau got the hickory burger with the same salad. After placing our orders we began to chat and enjoy our wine when our server arrived at our table again. She immediately apologized for interrupting us and then proceeded to ask if I was a vegetarian. Apparently, the traditional salad comes with bacon and our awesome server just happened to remember my question about the soup and wanted to make sure that I didn't end up with a salad with pig bits on it. Just for this, I now am a Houston's fan..( the restaurant, definitely not the city!!). My veggie burger, while not the best I have had in the city, was very yummy and very enormous. The fries were awesome. My date was SO happy with his ham and cheese covered burger. We left full and happy and will be returning. Thank you Houston's for converting me.
(5)Chrissy E.
Looking for something to do on a Friday night, my friend suggested dinner @ Houston's. Never been before but I was trusting her suggestion that it would be fine. After dining here I am truly a fan! Boy have I been missing out! I didn't know what to expect, but I could tell from the packed lobby and bar that people weren't just here because they wanted a quick meal and something to wash it down with. The wait was a little long (45mins) but it was a Friday night, so thats to be expected in many places. Dimly lit, not too noisy, and the booths provided just enough privacy for us to have great girl talk during dinner. I can see myself coming back on a date as well. Our waitress (Erin) was wonderful, offering a great wine pairing with our dinner that was delicious! I had the California sushi salad and my friend had the Hawaiin Ribeye (which was cooked to perfection!). After sampling her ribeye I definitley see myself ordering it the next time around. Would definitley reccomend Houston's to someone looking for a great dining experience w/o the cheesy chain atmosphere and screaming kids that seem to be abundant @ those places.
(5)Elbee M.
They make a veggie burger enticing to omnivores, and mean salads.
(4)Alex M.
Had a really great meal tonight, with my 78 year old mom. We (well, she?) can be a little silly and high maintence. No problem at Houston's. Big kudos to our server Seth who was absolutely charming even though he was slammed and could have been far less patient (and forgivingly so) with my mom. The food was perfect, the service (Seth, but also the rest of the service staff) where absolutely spot on. Houston's is not inexpensive- but no more expensive than many places that offer much less for the money. Well worth the wait, and the money.
(5)Patti S.
We eat out often and have been to Houston's at this location in Atlanta several times and at their pompano beach, fl location several times. THE THAI STEAK SALAD IS TO DIE FOR! You can't get anything remotely close to this taste anywhere else. It is what keeps us coming back time after time. You must try it once in your life! Always the service at both locations has been superb, but we do take extra care to plan our visits during off-peak hours - a late lunch or early dinner. Their mojitos are perfection and $2 more than anywhere else - it is worth it once-in-a-while! We tried the wild rice salad last Wednesday and it was delicious. I don't care for their shoestring fries or their shredded lettuce on their burgers - if I wanted shredded lettuce on my burger I know where to go. My advice - go during off-peak hours, try the Thai salad and enjoy your sinful indulgence! You are worth it!
(5)Kate C.
Having worked at a Houston's for over a year as a sever and hating it, I still think the food here is great. I can honestly say that while I worked there, I saw them MAKE almost every single dish ( as opposed to heating it from a frozen package). I hated it because they run it like any army regiment, and that is why the food and service is SO consistent. Excellent dishes include: Chicken salad Tuna French dip Hawaiian Ribeye Crab cakes Cheeseburger Veggie burger I had a hard time trying new things because I couldn't deviate from my favorites. The prices are kind of high, but I love every meal.
(5)Bailey B.
My buddy broke up with his girl friend and found his afternoon unexpectedly free. Nothing makes a guy feel better like a prime rib and a couple of beers. Houston's to the rescue!
(5)Michael E.
What can be said about Houston's that hasn't already been said? A quintessentially reliable restaurant with delicious food and outstanding service. This is one of those places where you find something you love and stick to it: start with the cravable spin dip (can you tell I worked as a waiter once?) then move to the grilled chicken salad with the yummy peanut dressing. I would buy that stuff by the tub if they'd let me - I bet it would make an old tire taste devine. I like both locations - Peachtree Street and Northside Drive (never cared for the one by Lenox). And don't let the chain-status scare you - this is no glorified Applebee's or Friday's - it's just a place that does everything right and happens to have more than one location. Enjoy!
(4)Matt G.
Simple menu done exceedingly well! I have never been disappointed here. The service is always top notch.
(5)Anna S.
Delicious! Service is top notch every time. Would give it 5 stars if it weren't so pricey. Prices keep climbing. Filet is only a couple of bucks less than the filet at Bone's but Houstons sure isn't Bone's. Love their iron skillet beans and sushi.
(4)John Divine M.
Since when does Houston's use cabbage--yes, CABBAGE--instead of lettuce on its Biltmore sandwich and as part of the greens mix in the chicken salad? My parents come to town and refuse to go anywhere else. Over the years, I've always ordered the chicken salad, which has evolved from being called Asian to Southwest and now just grilled chicken salad. I just order "the chicken salad with the spicy peanut dressing." The salad used to be HUGE. Even a big appetite could not eat it all, for the chicken and dressing was served atop the most heaping mound of greens you ever saw. You could either eat the chicken off the greens or eat half the salad. But the last time, the amount of greens was at least half the usual size, maybe even a third, because I think the dish is smaller, too. But that's okay, as it helps me not eat too much. But imagine my surprise to see CABBAGE in the greens mix. Usually it's a mix of lettuces and spring greens. Never in my life have I seen cabbage part of such a mix. I actually like cabbage but this combindation did not work. I thought it might have been part of a new spec for the dish until I saw that instead of lettuce, they put cabbage and tomato with my mother's chicken sandwich. Nowhere on the menu was cabbage mentioned. Back in the old days, they would give you a piece of cheese toast with your salad. Now there is nothing. For a $13 salad, you should get a piece of bread. We finished with the key lime pie. The recipe was the same, but the outer edge was slanted--showing it was made in a pie pan instead of a straight edged deep dish pan. Not sure what that's about. You go to Houston's because it's dependable. You hate the idea of going to a chain but it's usually so good. Stunts like cabbage in lieu of lettuce totally takes away the attraction.
(1)Neil H.
Great atmosphere and food. I had the cheeseburger while my friends had the fish burger and the sashimi salad (you can guess the chromosomal disposition). Would highly recommend!
(5)Sara R.
Love this place, eating @ the bar. Obe has been there for years. He is such a great guy. Fun to talk to, great service and the food is consistently good. I miss Christina, the bartender who moved to TX. The bar is usually full with regulars dining. Feel sort of like Cheers. Great place, service and food.
(5)Heather I.
When I think of Houston's, I think of a classier, more refined Applebee's or TGI Fridays - it's a chain and the menu is going to be pretty predictable with a few little surprises. Also predictable will be the taste and portions; flavorful and satisfying. You know you're not going to get a poorly constructed salad or a prime rib that isn't cooked to order b/c the chef doesn't know what he's doing. They do have higher standards and that also extends to their staff. Our waitress was very polite and professional and accomodating. I would give her five stars just by herself. She was exactly what a waitress should be and I have a feeling that I would find the staff consistent at Houston's. If you're looking for a classier night out at one of the chains, Houston's is your place.
(4)Kyle F.
Grand service! Wonderful kitchen! The Hawaiian ribeye seared over a wood grill and medium rare is the way to go. You will not be disappointed!
(5)Billy G.
One word: "Consistency"
(4)Jonathan A.
In general, I'm a fan of Houston's. I've been to this location several times, and the service has been good, but not excellent. The food has always been consistently good - the salads fresh, steak cooked the way I've requested, etc. I love the spinach artichoke dip. The dining room is loud, but comfortable.
(4)Candyce V.
Although I was here on a Wednesday evening, it was pretty crowded. I stopped by to meet up with some friends before a meeting, and the happy hour crowd had infiltrated the bar area. We were still able to get fast service from the bartender, though. And the bartender was really good because all three of us went to our meeting with a great buzz...but not so buzzed that we couldn't drive 3 minutes to our meeting place #safetyfirst #iminnocent #dontdrinkanddrive I ended up coming back after the meeting for a bite to eat. The entrees seemed really heavy, and I just wanted a little something to hold me over so I ordered a Chicken Caesar Salad (and drank just water this time around, toldya #iminnocent). Everything was great--the food, and service. I also like the dark, warm vibe of the restaurant itself. I don't blame folks for heading there after a long day at work.
(4)Kaye P.
After 25 years supporting clients, I definitely have high expectations for service. Houston's, in particular this location, was always one of my favorites. I must say my last two visits were not great. My staple is the Hawaiian Ribeye. I prefer my steak well done. The last time I went for dinner my steak came out burned. I sent it back and while the rest of my party of 8 finished their meals, here comes the manager with my steak. "Cut into it to be sure it's well." First, that's not a good idea because cutting into while the temp is still rising is sure to guarantee it will still not be well...but OK. At this point everyone is finished so I said I'll take a box. One might expect the Manager to discount my check or offer me something, as a goodwill offering, since my entire party was DONE eating while I waited on a new steak, in an acceptable state. I didn't want to ruin the mood with complaining and challenging the manager on her lack of customer service so I let it go. But, this is definitely not what I've come to expect from Houston's. Two Mondays ago, I went to this location for lunch. Both I and my lunch date had sides that were not as hot as one would expect. I've definitely been disappointed with my last few experiences. It seems this location and the level of service are on the decline. You've been warned.
(2)Jessica B.
I recently enjoyed a very pleasant lunch at Houston's over the holidays. The joint was packed but the ambiance was classy, as always. Service was fair. The food was excellent. I had a tuna salad that was super fresh and just outstanding. The cheese dip is always fantastically gooey in a deliciously sinister way. The French Dip is a must try. I had a bite of my brother's and it was amazing. The au jus was perfect and not overly salty. The bread was soft and the shaved prime rib was just excellent. Ribs are another must try. Slow cooked till they are fall off the bone good.
(4)Marc L.
Ambiance is a little "dark." I could barely see my food. Tuna appetizer is great and the salads are amazing as well. Dress nice and get ready to pay a little more. Don't bother going if you drive a shit box because you'll feel out of place! Haha...seriously....nothing but high end and no parking if you get there at like 530. Take a Lyft or Uber it.
(4)Ryan V.
A note before we begin, this review is focused on the customer service experience we recently had at Houston's on West Paces versus a review about their food. My husband and I frequent Hillstone restaurants across the nation - California (R+D & Gulf Stream), Denver (Hillstone) and now Atlanta (Houston's). We enjoy the environment and they are consistent with their food quality. This past New Years Eve we wanted to enjoy dinner at our local Hillstone. In preparation, we made a 6:30pm reservation several days in advance. We arrived, right at our reservations time and were told they were running a bit behind. Ok, no problem as this seems to be the norm. We're not opposed to waiting a few minutes while the table is cleaned. After all, a reservation is made to reserve a table at a designated time for a reason. Well, time kept ticking away and after touching base with the hostess for an update, we were seated 35 minutes past our reservation time. In between getting our wine and receiving our appetizer my husband let Hillstone Corp. know our frustration with the extra long wait time to fulfill our reservation. By the time we finished with dinner and were ready to head home, Faith the GM, came over to our table and proceeded to apologize for our experience. Faith went on and assured us this experience would not be the standard with future reservations. So you might be asking yourself, "Why the review?" everything worked out. We value great customer service and feel it is important to recognize when a business, person, company goes above and beyond. Think about it, my husband escalated to Hillstone in LA as we sat down to start our dinner and by the end of dinner Faith came over and apologized for the experience. On New Years Eve when the restaurant was most likely experiencing a high volume of traffic the GM was monitoring all aspects of how her restaurant was running and immediately addressed the issue. She didn't wait until the next visit or write an email later. Faith addressed it right then and there. That is EXCELLENT customer service. Bottom line: Faith, the GM at Houston's on West Paces, knows what it means to provide excellent customer service to her patrons and deserves to be recognized for it. Kudos Faith! P.S. - our server Katie was amazing! If you get Katie feel fortunate and treat her well!
(5)Shevon M.
Myself and two other friends dined at Houston's on a Wednesday night. Thinking during the middle of the week it would be pretty slow, I did not make reservations. When the first member of our party arrived there was an hour wait. We added our name to the list and enjoyed drinks at the bar while we waited. To our surprise, our table was ready in 30 minutes. Our sever tonight was Aprille. Her service was excellent. She joked around, had light conversation, and was prompt. The food and the atmosphere were both excellent! One of the members of our party enjoyed his first visit here tonight. He was first most enthused about the ambiance. He enjoyed the Smoked Salmon appetizer as well as their special Grouper for the night. Great experience!
(5)Candra G.
Good: The BBQ chicken sandwich was yummy - down to the last bite. It was definitely the meal of last resort because it definitely isn't what I waited 90 minutes for....but it got the job done. Bad: Very limited drink selection. If you're going there for specialty cocktails, try another location. The menu is also way different than other locations - I went there for crabcakes (the other locations always have them) and didn't see them and other favs on the menu. I was on the verge of leaving because I don't eat red meat and the chicken selections looks kinda so-so....but, I didn't leave because: Ugly: We ended up waiting over an hour and a half - even though we were quoted 30-45 minutes. When asked about the status, the hostesses without even looking up our reservation name just threw out 'a few more minutes' (at that point a few more minutes was an hour). They just didn't seem very organized or were understaffed. I'm sure they have that volume every weekend, so I didn't understand their lack of system to cue up reservations. Pretty frustrating for many of the parties were were standing next to as well.
(2)Paul S.
Great atmosphere for a special date ... or nice evening out. Food is consistently good. The ribs are to die for. The roasted chicken so, so. The steaks are superb. If you like it , you will like every time. Beware, it is somewhat pricey. Two people having a glass of wine and an entrée can expect to spend $70.00.
(4)Shaye B.
The people watching here is great! I would put it on par with the St. Regis bar in Buckhead. It gets extremely crowded, so I would recommend a reservation. However the bar area is large and there is plenty of people watching to do over there! I was a big fan of the wine list since they had one of my favorite pinots by the glass! A table for 2 on a Saturday was about a 30 minute wait at 8pm - not bad at all! I am sure we got lucky though.. or if our group was bigger we wouldn't of had a chance. The food on the menu all looked very good - albeit a little pricey. However, once our server came over and told us the seafood specials we were both incredibly sold and just ignored the fact that we ordered the most expensive items on the menu (minus the huge steak obvi!). We also ordered the spinach dip to start - it was pretty good but I wouldn't say it was better than a good pub dip. Our entrees came out in a timely manner and they did not disappoint! My sea bass was presented in a very creative manner - it had an almond/lemon sauce/garnish and it was great! The spinach on the side was just plain old sauteed spinach which I would normally complain about (because I am a food snob and appreciate more 'fun' sides) but this paired excellently with the fish. It was light and refreshing but still satifsying for a winter night in Atlanta! The crowd here was a bit older, I felt like my friend and I were the youngest people dining there so I would be interested to try the Houston's by Lenox or in Peachtree Hills and compare the two!
(4)Angelia C.
Consistently great food and service. Have to give 4 instead of 5 stars because there's always a long wait and SO dark in there.
(4)Katherine I.
Houston's is usually great service and food. I will say that on our most recent visit it was taking a minute to get served after we were seated. I was mentioning this to my fiance and a waiter overheard us and came over and immediately helped us. After that the service was totally spot-on. I had the veggie burger which is absolutely amazing. It has a wonderful glaze on it which I believe is soy-based. When it is grilled the glaze gets caramelized and tasty. My favorite side is the kale which is chopped and has a vinaigrette and peanuts on it. If you like kale at all, try this. The fiance got the bone in prime rib, which he states is the best prime rib in the city. This is totally not my thing, but if you enjoy plowing into a honking piece of meat, the prime rib is right up your alley.
(5)Matt R.
Nice atmosphere (five stars!), but that's about it. The prices are off-the-charts, which would be fine if one got VALUE for that high-dollar. What I got was a $15 ho-hum burger (not even close to Taco Mac burger for half the price) with shredded lettuce (restaurant secret so they can mix in the white bad lettuce...and it gets mushy), and the absolute wimpiest fries in the world (tiny cut)... they are so limp they won't even go into that tiny little tablespoon of ketchup they give you (which is not the good stuff by the taste), and then putting a few into your mouth as they flop over is really awkward. The water comes with no ice, and by the end of the dinner, the glasses were dry. I ordered a coffee with my meal, and I had to ask for a refill (the server or busser should anticipate the guests drinking). I ordered a Diet Coke and what showed up was one of the tiniest plastic bottles of soda I've seen. Even the five-year old at the table drank it before dinner showed up. Totally unclassy, but from the restaurant's perspective: Cha-Ching$$$! Minus 2 stars for nickle-n-diming the diner to death and a bunch of other problems tonight. It stole the mood completely when restaurants try to rob you blind, and then have sub-standard service, no refills on soda (Seriously? How can the small mom-n-pop restaurants turn a profit when I order a $3 burger and generously give free refills on my Coke as a token of customer service? They can earn a profit, and a generous one, even with refills. Houstons should do the same...especially since that little tiny bottle is three bucks! That three dollars would be enough Coke syrup for about ten refills of soda). Then you try to have a nice conversation near the end of the dinner, and they keep coming back over and over again to clear away every single thing from the table, like they are rushing you out... Clean up, but don't bug. Minus 1 star: Our friends ordered meals, and they came WAY after we were already done. The server said they ran out of potatoes... SERIOUSLY? It's 6PM on a Saturday, and you RUN OUT OF POTATOES??? Never again. Maybe you'll have better luck...or you just don't care what the bill is when you are done. I happen to want to be a good steward of my hard-earned money, so we'll vote with our feet to somewhere else where we know there may be a high bill, but there is also VALUE. Dine on, Dr. Rings
(1)Robin R.
What a Disappointment!!! We came as a group of 8 to celebrate our Christmas dinner together...but no, they would not seat us together, had to sit in 2 separate booths. DO NOT order artichoke for an appetizer, it was awful, brought us another that was worse. Asked for spinach dip instead, never got it. We all wanted the special & by the time we were able to order (5:30 pm), they were already out. Got the substitute fish special, just ok, too salty, but over it all by now. Turned the lights down so low, we couldn't see what we were eating anyway. After dinner, ordered coffee...half way through, noticed the cup was so grossly stained, you could take your fingernail and draw/scrape the crud, gross. My biggest complaint is that after all the situations our table endured, not once did a manager come over. With food that is this mediocre, and prices that expensive, one would think the managers would care about customers satisfaction. Why there were so many people there, is beyond my imagination, but I suppose that explains why the managers & wait staff do not care if customers are pleased. Our party works in a service, customer oriented business, we would never expect return clients if they received this poor quality of service & product! Hopefully enough people will complain that they take notice!
(1)Lena N.
get ready to splurge!! who knew a restaurant this pricey could attract so many customers? especially an enormous lunch crowd. I haven't been to the other 2 locations (peachtree and lenox), but this location (west paces) definitely has high people traffic. we came during a regular weekday for lunch and the wait was about an hour. people who were waiting for an available table were scattered all over the outside of the restaurant. due to this experience, I'd say go early to beat the office crowd. throughout the whole dining room, you'll notice about 80% are in business attire. the wait staff here are dressed very professional as well. they're all uniformed to a white collar, long sleeve button up shirt and black dress pants. the restaurant is supposedly casual, yet the prices and people that it attracts -- gives off an upscale vibe. everyone at our table ordered different dishes from one another. therefore, we were all able to sample each others' dishes. out of all the dishes, I HIGHLY recommend the "HAWAIIAN RIB-EYE". this item is when the splurging comes in. the dish itself is priced at $34. anyways, it's a boneless rib-eye steak, glazed with a pineapple-sesame-ginger marinade and served with a loaded baked potato. I didn't really care for the potato, so I substituted it for the kale salad. can I say it was the best freakin' salad I ever ate?! I have no idea what type of dressing the kale was tossed in, but it had a roasted peanut taste to it. the sad part was the portion of the side salad; it was so minuscule :( the steak wasn't as good as a high quality dry-aged, but that marinade was just slap-yo-mama good! service here is pretty good. it better be since they charge 18% gratuity on your bill, regardless of it being a large or small party.
(4)Jane E.
I went here for a dinner with my siblings last night and all and all the experience was decent. THE WAIT was long. It was 1 hour and 15 minutes, maybe a smidge more. When I called they said 45 minutes, but by time I got there it basically doubled. It was a Saturday night so I guess that's to be expected at restaurants like this. THE SERVICE was actually pretty nice (I was surprised for some reason). The hostess were pleasant when we checked on our spot every 15 minutes (sometimes host get annoyed and have attitudes, but they were nice and kept their calm-- kudos, job well done). The manager ended up bringing us a chair to sit in. The server kept my water glass full. The server, I forget his name, was definitely trying to be nice and give good service-- that was very much appreciated, Thank You. THE FOOD was good... well good enough. I got the hickory burger with fries, a side of kale salad, and brownie. The burger was good enough, not amazing, but good. Those shoe string fries are an inconvenience-- they really NEED to update and either serve some fresh thicker cut sea salt tossed fries and/or offer a thick sweet potato fries. Shoe string fries are for toddlers. The Kale Salad was amaze-- very delicious! I love that many restaurants are offering these super awesome kale dishes these days (I had a great kale side at Dantannas last week). THE BROWNIE was hot and soooo good. I mean it was just what I needed and hit the spot, it had lots of nuts and nice cold vanilla ice cream with it. It came out super quick, but it was hands down one of the best desserts I've had from a restaurant in awhile. We also shared the spinach dip. It was okay, nothing special at all. Oh, the server was great and brought out extra chips when he saw we had more dip left. Other folks at my table ordered the following: Veggie Burger (which she loved) and the Scottish Salmon (comes with mash and spinach), and they ordered an extra side of the seasonal veggies which currently is butternut squash pasta or something like that. OTHER RANDOM STUFF, they were out of lemonade and the crab cakes weren't being served at this time. The menus at the 3 Houstons slightly differ so be sure to check ahead of time if there is something you usually get from a different one. SUMMARY: With the very very long wait I wanted to give them a 3, but the pleasant service and great dessert made it easy to bump up to a 4. I would certainly come here again. Good Job for having pleasant service-- that makes the difference.
(4)Skim S.
Good: everything on the menu is good. Chicken tenders, burgers, ahi tuna salad, fries, coleslaw... Bad: blah on the ribeye as it has too much of a sweetened teriyaki sauce. Conclusion: definitely a repeater!!!
(5)Preeti M.
Other than the annoying wait times, Houston's is perfection. I don't eat meat so I get the veggie burger every time. Awesome, tasty burger w/fries! Spinach dip is to die for. Always professional staff. Wish they would turn on the lights more...its always so dark inside.
(4)Maria L.
After an hour wait, yes an hour we were seated. The Hostess and servers were extremely friendly and helpful. We started with the highly recommended Spinach Dip it was good. I think if I wasn't so hungry it would of just been ok. I ordered the rotisserie chicken and my Hubs got the Hickory Burger. The Rotisserie Chicken was like butter the combination of the slightly sweetened crisp skin and the chilled Wild Rice Salad was exactly what I hoped for!!! Yummers indeed! I got a few bit of the Hubs Hickory Burger as well and it was incredible constructed the Canadian Bacon and shredded cheese made for a gourmet burger! Yummers too! All in all good was great wait sucked but food made me forget it a little!
(4)Irene C.
Ah Houston's. This place is the embodiment of affordable fine dining. As in, the service is fantastic, the food is solid, and the experience makes you feel like you are a millionaire. I recently revisited the restaurant after years of staying away. My friend and I visited at 1pm on a Wednesday, so no wait for the two of us as we were whisked into the dark, intimate decor. Our server was incredibly polite, helpful, and respectful as he anticipated all of our needs over the course of the lunch: extra napkin when mine fell, more water when my cup was empty, more ketchup when my ketchup consumption pace exceeded my fries consumption pace. I ordered the Hickory burger ($15) with Canadian bacon, chopped cheddar, and chopped onion. Although the vibe of the place is great, I wasn't too impressed with my food and would order something else next time. My burger was greasy, salty, and the combination of the burger and the Canadian bacon (aka ham) was just a homogeneous mess of oily meat in my mouth. I was less than impressed with the number of healthy options on the menu. Most places will offer a grilled chicken sandwich or a lighter entree. Instead, we have several types of burgers, fried fish sandwich, or a rib sandwich. In truth, I wish I could give 3.5 stars. Fantastic service and execution, but I would highly recommend rethinking the menu selection.
(4)Chris J.
I've been to this location numerous times over the years and have never had a bad meal. Their spinach dip is the best ever and I order it everytime I go. As for an entree, I usually get the BBQ chicken or the baby back ribs. Their BBQ sauce is very flavorful. Love their fries are great too. This location is always busy, so expect a wait if you go during lunch or prime dinner hours. The service has always been excellent. Only knock against them is they don't carry captain Morgan rum.
(5)Carolina M.
Houston's has never done me wrong, especially with this location. Service is great, the ambience has the same dark, classy feeling like the other Houston's locations and the food is consistently good. One of my favorite starters is their spinach artichoke dip which comes with salsa and sour cream. Compared to other locations, the service is generous to even offer another plate of fresh chips once you're almost done but still have more dip to go. I'm a fan of their ribs where the meat just falls off the bone. It's not your traditional BBQ, but it's good paired with their cole slaw. There are even times that I ask for fries to be substituted with cole slaw because it like that much. I've also had their classic cheeseburger which seems to have gone up in price, but it's a solid burger that has no frills but just simple and tasty. I usually leave this place full and happy, so it's an all-around good restaurant in my book.
(4)Paul M.
This place almost got 2 stars because their manager came out to apologize in advance for their 35 minute to go order wait time but that time turned into 55 minutes so I leave it at one star. We tried to call in our order and expedite the process but no one answered. Then when we showed up they informed us that they no longer accept to go orders.................... WHAT? But this time they would make one final exception... Well that was a mistake. We waited for around the 30 minutes they told us until the manager came to apologize and that it would be another 35 minutes. THEN 55 minutes later our food finally came out. And on my next visit we find out they no longer have sushi. The only reason I go here is because my sister and mom love the veggie burger so much we always get it when back in town visiting our parents.... Don't think I'll be back here again though.... Pretentious feeling that they think their food is so good you aren't allowed to wear hats in the restaurant, everything is over priced, no to go orders, no reservations, and no more sushi.... Seriously..... How is this place always crowded??? There are so many other places that are so much better and so much cheaper!!!
(1)Jana B.
Ah, Houstons! The standard by which all restaurants should be measured! Their consistency is what has kept them thriving. I've been going here for 25 years with zero disappointment! Seemingly, every product they offer is of the best quality. The menu is not overkill or intimidating with enough selections to make choosing, efficient and satisfying. The sashimi tuna salad is my all-time favorite entree while the smoked salmon spread appetizer is also a slam dunk. Steaks are cooked to perfection and the side items have enough character to each stand out on their own. I do miss the black beans and brown rice and cannot wait for their return! Lastly, the best dessert for my taste is the apple and walnut fare served perfectly with the famous, Houstons coffee, accompanied with rich whipping cream. Although the dining room lighting is rather dark, it is perfect for any occasion. Sometimes pricey, yet any patron can taylor their check to fit nearly any budget. You will find parking at this location abundant. Every staff member exudes superlative quality and service never skips a beat. I would recommend Houstons to be a frequent stop for all.
(5)Kip C.
Serving great food with great service is very tough. Houston's does it far better than most. Tonight they screwed up. Badly. But the way they handled it was awesome! I've been a Houston's patron since 1980 and my expectations are high. Tonight it took 25 minutes to bring my burger, but the management team, especially Faith, handled it so well that I will be back next week. Very impressed by how they handled a rare "whiff".
(4)Janine W.
I love Houston's! This location tops all three rest. Exceptional service. They have the jumbo cocktail shrimp at this location, which is one reason why I love going to this particular location. The servers are all about teamwork, so if you ever need anything, someone will be there to make sure you've got everything you need. I always get the French dip, just make sure you get there before 8 because the prime rib runs out pretty quickly. You will not be disappointed. Food is always hot and cooked at the direct temperature! Love the staff! Last couple of times we dined Kara and Jordan took care of us! They were both great
(5)