Cook & Collins was just "OK" to me. If you're looking for a small, intimate place, then you will love it. I did, however, enjoy the freshness of everything, you can tell they care about the products they use. We ordered the appetizer of mac n cheese crab rolls....they appeared to be more cheese and noodles than grab, but still tasty. For my entree I ordered the Steak & fries....the fries were heavenly. The steak, the meat itself, I could tell was a very good cut of beef, but it lacked seasoning and was kind of dry, the dipping sauce helped it a bit, but not much. Overall....I may return and try something else on the menu. Note: If you have never been...GO HUNGRY....their portions are HUGE! :-)
(3)
Thierry T.
1. Service - our waiter (Lane) was very nice and patient. He provided us with good suggestions on what to eat for our first time there. 2. Price - not cheap, but worth the cost. For two people, we had an appetizer, two sodas, one hamburger with fries, and a large chicken salad for $41. 3. Ambiance - the place looks pretty hip. It has a bar and a dining area with lots of booths. It's a nice hang out spot with your crew. Dress code is casual to dressy. Just don't be too under dressed. 4. Food - my c&c cheeseburger was very nice. The burger was cooked well, not too salty, and you can taste the charcoal flavor. Perfect to my taste. The salad was a good dinner size, fresh, and not too soggy. 5. Cleanliness - very clean. There are no dirty plates laying around, no greasy floors or furniture. Bathrooms were clean and no smells.
(5)
Houston T.
Not worth the Groupon, not worth the $35.00 Restaurant Weeks, not worth the upset stomach. Starting off with the good: complimentary valet, nice setup, friendly hostess/bartender everyone else wasn't too friendly. For food we ended up getting the salad and flatbread pizza, the salad was drenched in dressing, and the pizza cheese didn't seem of great quality. I had the tortilla crab bisque, chicken fried steak, and didn't eat the dessert; the soup had a lot of cilantro and tasted as it were from a can, the chicken fried steak had a twist which had an egg and salsa on it that over powered the rest of the plate. Based on the 4 out of 5 stars I set my expectations too high.
(2)
Cody S.
Came for brunch on a Saturday and was able to get a good table easily. We had the Bloody Mary which uses zing zang as a base and has a shrimp, blue cheese olive, bacon, and pickled tomatillo. We ordered two main dishes: bbq breakfast and eggs Benedict. The Benedict was served on an amazing biscuit baked in house. The bbq breakfast was house Mac and cheese topped with an ultra tender pork belly braised in root beer. Great taste, service and overall ambience. Would definitely return.
(4)
Cameron B.
Fantastic combinations of flavors. We came for a quick weeknight happy hour and dinner; we ordered four items: tuna tartare tacos, yucca fries, duck flatbread, and mac & cheese. We also had some of the happy hour cocktails: white sangria and a Pimm's cocktail with tequila. Everything was amazing, with the duck flatbread the star of the show. And with the happy hour specials, we were out the door at about $50. Everything was incredibly fresh, and all the flavors were aggressive; I was especially impressed with the very spicy and flavorful sauce that came with the yucca fries (it was not messing around!). And the service was fantastic--we had lots of questions, special requests, and a toddler who did not feel like listening, and the servers were extremely prompt and accommodating. Will definitely be back. Houston is an amazing place to eat, and this is one of its best!
(5)
Fregilia L.
I love beautiful places to go and eat and Cook & Collins gives me that beauty with a yummy dish attached. It wasn't until I left out this place that I realized it use to be El Patio I believe. The place looks nothing like it use to and I love it. The place is adorned with beautiful flowers when you walk in. The decor of this place is simple, clean, and sharp. When you walk into C & C you notice the long thin tables that are great for groups. Once you walk past those you are lead into the other area that is a bit more intimate seating. Also the bar is located in this area. Our server was very kind and mentioned all the specials they had as well as what her favorite thing on the menu was. I decided to order the Caesar salad with grilled chicken. I don't think I have ever finished a salad so quickly. It was absolutely delicious. We decided to do street parking so make sure to pay attention to the signs when you park. Valet parking is available.
(4)
Drew K.
We came in for a quick drink before an event so little to say about the food aside from the fact that the pizzas looked great while they zipped by us on waiters' trays. As you enter, they have a portion of the place in a covered open air section that has its own bar and maybe 20 tables. Once you head inside, it's a narrow interior with another bar and maybe 20 more table/booths. There's an upstairs option but they must guard that door with an invisible cloak because I didn't even know that while I was there...It was one drink I promise. Cocktails were great and the bartender was very friendly and attentive. We will have to come back and try the food and give a better explanation beyond our sip and dash experience.
(3)
Renia L.
This will be my 3rd time visiting C&C and I have not been let down once, although I haven't been able to visit for dinner, my brunch and lunch experiences have been quite pleasant. But Strikingly the service has always been a bit odd. Today we were seated by a hostess who appeared to be in her workout clothes and our waiter Chris appeared a bit scattered and a little sweaty but I digress because the FOOD is why you come to restaurants and the food we ate today was SLAMMING... The Duck Tacos (black eyed peas + smokey queso + green tomato salsa + tortillas) were so good that I looked down and all of my food had mysteriously walked off my plate. The queso was just right and hit the spot 10x better than simple shredded cheese! My lunch companion ordered the Crab Cakes BLT (minus the B) and said that it was fantastic. She didn't eat all off her fries though, so not sure what that was all about but for what it's worth she took them with her for later! I can't wait to try dinner on the PATIO on the 2nd floor as when asked if we could sit there for lunch were told there weren't enough servers to work both upstairs and downstairs, we were cool with that because they had the doors open on the first level and the breeze was welcomed. Now, the fake flowers while a little dusty was by far a better choice than having real flowers that close to patron's food. I could just imagine all the flying critters and sneezes during pollen season! I will be back..maybe for happy hour leading into dinner. I MUST SIT ON ONE OF THOSE GREEN STOOLS..
(4)
Ashley M.
Amazing brunch! Came right before noon on Sunday and got a table on the patio right away. Soon after there was a wait, but seems if you get there early enough you can avoid the wait. The service was friendly and prompt and the food was AMAZING! We got a carafe of Bellini, the sinaroll, BBQ breakfast, and breakfast burrito. The sinaroll with bacon frosting was my favorite! Wasn't overtly sweet, and the bacon was a perfect combo with the sweet frosting. I was also a big fan of my breakfast burrito. The braised beef inside was on point! The BBQ breakfast was pretty good, but not my favorite. I don't think we would order it again. Essentially it a big bowl of mac and cheese with overly sweet BBQ in it. Meh. Pass on it next time. Pricey brunch, but well worth it. Cost about $60.
(4)
Debbie K.
After my awful experience, Micheal the manager contacted me and apologized and stated that the kitchen was extra busy the day I went originally went because they were also serving food for the bar filled with people watching the game. I was willing to give it a second chance and try it again. This time my service and the food was much much better. I got the BBQ flatbread, loaded potato fritters (which was okay) and the pink martini. I will definitely be going back again. They've won my business back again!!
(4)
Honey B.
One of my favorite places to dine in Houston! The egg rolls were excellent. Hummus is great! Fried oyster was great, albeit a little on the salty side. Main course I had the sweet potato ravioli which I don't think they carry anymore. The flatbread is great. The brown dessert was delicious (I love a hot and cold combination). The best cocktail to order is the ginger collins. Great service, I plan on going back soon!
(4)
Ross W.
This is a worthy place to add to your brunch rotation. I've been here twice, and both times were very pleasant experiences. Parking is easy (always a plus) with an overfill lot across the street. We were seated immediately, and the staff was attentive and friendly the whole time. The food is very good. The red-eye fries are awesome. And that's walking in without a hangover. Had you been really drinking the night before, they would probably be enough to restore your faith that there is some good in the world. And the C&C burger was quite tasty, with lots of cheese melted on top. I do kind of wish they would chop the sun dried tomatoes a little bit more, as you tend to pull out a few as you eat it. That's the level of problem I have to turn to dock them point on the food. It's good all the way around. Oh, and fries that came with the burger were great! The drinks are good, but I have yet to have something truly spectacular. But definitely on par with any other restaurant I've tried within the vicinity. I do have to say that it's a little pricier than comparible spots. Not to say it's twice as much, or anything that noticeable, but I feel like the final bill comes out higher than other places. But that just might be a result of the portion size, which is huge! I imagine that I will be back, and if you're coming for brunch, definitely split the Sinaroll, it's way too big for one person!
(4)
Kara C.
Came here in January for the first time, & received amazing service. Brunch was amazing!!! I then decided to come back a few weeks ago, arrived on a Saturday at 3 - just missed the brunch, so we decided to try the lunch menu. It was "ok", brunch food was better. The bloody mary wasn't full of shrimp and bacon as it is at brunch. Our waiter forgot about us, several times, the manager was chatting with the table behind us the entire hour - while we sat there with no water, no service, & at one point had to get up and go to the bar & get our own water. She looked at us several times, but continued chatting with her friends at the next table. Very unprofessional. Hopefully this is just a one time thing, but if this is the way their manager acts, I can see why the wait staff doesn't take their job or service serious.
(2)
Teresa C.
OMG! Besides the food being to die for the service was AMAZING! Pull up a bar stool and you will have great conversations. Food is 5* on everything I ate!
(5)
Stacey M.
We love this place! Fantastic atmosphere great servers outstanding food... There is just not enough space to tell all the great things about this location. Great options for HRW. Great weekly options when it isn't HRW. God beer and wine options as well as mixed drinks.
(5)
Christy C.
Came for lunch during the week. Food was really delicious, I had the sweet potatoes ravioli with sage cream sauce and my husband had the steak & fries. We got the duck tacos as an appetizer. They have a nice outdoor patio and the inside is equally as interesting. Cocktails were a little over priced in my opinion for their quality but the food was really good.
(4)
Lin Lin S.
The staff and management are nice, so is the open air dining. and there is free parking in the lot across the street (hey, I'm from LA, free parking is worth noting!) Unfortunately, beyond their savory Bloody Mary, the buck stops here. FYI: i like my fried chicken crispy crunchy and moist, my biscuits warm and flaky, and my baked goods fresh with a tender moist crumb. thus, our dishes were a fail. I ordered the Feeling Guilty: eggwhite omelet with a chimichurri sauce (made with "kale" - it was unnoticeable), stuffed with mushrooms and feta, accompanied with potatoes and fruit. it was ok, kinda salty though. my bf got the fried chicken and biscuits. soggy bland dark meat chicken (wing, leg, thigh - perhaps from a cornish game hen? it was small), a cold small split biscuit, with a bit of gravy on the plate, served with a jar of honey. we had to ask for more gravy to help moisten the dish. aren't biscuits with gravy supposed to be smothered? the sinful cinnamon roll made from brioche dough with bacon glaze sounded promising. i imagined buttery eggy airy dough with a bacon bit glaze. nope. it tasted more like a dry tough biscuit. even the glaze was hard, not ooey-gooey lick your fingers type of glaze. the manager was kind enough to swap it for a blackberry muffin, which i eyed upon arrival. the blackberry crumb muffin: huge muffin with 3 berries dotted on the top. no berries on the inside. and also, like the cinnamon roll, it was very very very dry. i love carbs, esp the sweet variety but these 2 options were just too terrible to eat beyond 2-3 bites. the description of the menu is mouth watering: pork belly, kale, bacon, brioche dough. i assume they use quality ingredients: cage free poultry and eggs. but what's the point if the final product is subpar?
(2)
Jenny S.
I'm giving it 4 stars, but I can see why this place has a 3 1/2 rating average. My BF and I went here for dinner one evening. I had the sweet potato ravioli and he had the steak and fries. Both were delicious, but the flavor profiles were so different that it's hard to pick a favorite. His steak was perfectly done-huge bonus. My ravioli was good but a little on the small side. Still full but only with extra bites from my BF's plate. We split the cookie dough brownie for dessert. Amazing. Just order it. Now the drinks...one reason we picked this place is because they had 1/2 glasses of wine and we wanted to try a few different ones without getting hammered. They either brought us half-pours like we asked or really sad full pours. When we got the bill, we were charged for full pours. We told the waiter who seemed confused and brought up that happy hour ended. That was confusing because wine isn't even listed as a happy hour special. We showed him the menu and he seemed to get it. But when he brought it back, it just had a bunch of incorrect wines on there. We just paid it because it was about right price-wise. I still don't know why it was so confusing because it's on their menu as an option...? Whatever. They were very nice about it, just kinda dampened an otherwise nice evening. Also our waiter was fairly MIA, but generally good service.
(4)
Trip G.
Came here for brunch before but Happy Hour tonight and it was great. Gave it 5 stars for the strong drinks and awesome flat breads for happy hour. Will definitely be back here!
(5)
Tiffany J.
Midtown is Back and I attribute that to great dining options!! Cook & Collins reigns supreme when it comes to Brunch!!! The menu is super tasty and I've enjoyed dining here numerous occasions. Everything is mouth watering including the pancakes, eggs, french toast, salads, and don't forget about their signature Bloody Mary's!!!!!
(5)
Erika J.
Was really excited about going to this restaurant. The pictures on FB were amazing. Great atmosphere, great looking restaurant, complimentary valet parking, wait staff friendly and attentive. My Bloody Mary was good. Now for the bad. we first started an appetizer recommended by our waitress: the crab Mac & cheese egg rolls. They were the weirdest thing I have eaten in a long time. I cannot even describe the non edible flavor they have. So we sent them back. Next we had the three cheeseburger and the crab cake BLT. The three cheese cheese burger meat patty had no favor and was laying in a plate of cold hard fries that have some weird garlic Parmesan seasoning on them. My crab cake BLT smelled fishy, so fishy that I wasn't able to bring the sandwich to my mouth to bite it without getting nauseated. So I cut a piece off and tried it. The crab cake's consistency was wet and mushy inside and had a super strong fishy taste. I too had the hard, and cold "seasoned" fries, which I ate in order to get the fishy taste out of my mouth. So we sent our items back too.. The manager came to our table was super sweet, apologized, removed the offending items from our bill, gave us gift cards and invited us to come back for brunch. I was soo disappoint and will never go there again. Unless it's just for drinks.
(2)
Mina L.
I came here on Saturday for brunch with my boyfriend. I was excited to try this place because I read the reviews but I was a bit disappointed. i ordered the "Feelin' guilty" and the omelet was very bland and the hash browns were not crispy, they were mushy. My boyfriend ordered the "BBQ Breakfast" and we were both extremely impressed with their blackberry muffin. However, the rest was pretty salty. The actual restaurant itself was very cute, our waiter was attentive, free valet parking but the food wasn't that great. Maybe we'll come back for dinner.
(3)
Larry B.
My feet are cold. Why? This place knocked my socks off. They hit on all cylinders. Excellence on all fronts, from design to execution. I can't say enough, but OK, for you I will. First, the menu. It has a number of innovative items, along with some comfort standards. The range of meal types can go from burgers to entrees. They have local sources for much of the food. My selection: C&C Salad: Mixed greens (incl. radish slices), with the pepper ranch. The dressing may be a bit hot for the gals, but Texan males will love it. Buffalo Chili Burger: I was worried that chili might cause the bun to get soggy, but that did not happen until almost the end of eating it. The poblano peppers inside are distributed well and the taste was exceptional. Fries were perfectly cooked, herbed and I chose the recommended dip of pickled parsley mayo. I am not a mayo person, but this was different, more flavor, and a very pleasant surprise. Choose this. Drink: Gingerbeery Collins: Nice balance of flavors. (not getting a Collins would be like not inviting half the family of the place) Decor: Generally, black, white and grey. The bar seating area is reminiscent of a diner. Lighting was set dim in the dining area. Music is upbeat, not too peppy nor too loud. There are separate sections for dining. I sat in the long padded booth that faces the bar with two overhanging 42-inch TV's in the back. On the wall there are some plaques with advice on Family. Why? Because the name of the place and a couple of menu items are dedicated to the owner/chef's family heritage. I think that helps set an attitude of comfort. Service: Excellent on all aspects. Keep in mind that I ate dinner at 6:00 pm on a weekday, which means the place is almost empty. However, you can tell that the staff is experienced and professional on customer service aspect. Summary: I think they designed this place for me. I love food quality, and this place delivered that in a comfortable setting. ---------- Footnote ------------- Cook & Collins, from a Paleo perspective: "Cook" is what the native Indians did for 8,500 years using stone ovens at the Wilson-Leonard Site in Williamson County (remember 'Three-Legged Willie' from previous review?). & "Collins", as in Michael B. Collins, is the Paleontologist who researched the site. Most famous find: "Recovery of an early human burial, one of the oldest and most complete in North America. The individual--a young female--was buried roughly 11,000 years ago with a worn grinding-chopping tool placed at her side and a large limestone boulder above her, perhaps to hold a hide wrapping. Archeologists nicknamed her Leanne (or the "Leanderthal Lady"), in reference to the nearby town of Leander, Texas." -- texasbeyondhistory.net/p… Amateur Paleontologist analysis of the above: The "grinding-chopping tool" was an early version of Ron Popeil's Ronco line of Veg-O-matic ( youtube.com/watch?v=FGo7… ) But wait! There's more! The large flat-sided limestone boulder was actually the first prototype of a flat screen TV over the bar.
(5)
Gretchen H.
Gingerbeery Collins I hear you calling my name tempting me back to Cook & Collins with your gingery berry goodness! Stopped in here one rainy afternoon for a late lunch and was immediately tempted by the delicious sounding gingerbeery collins cocktail and it most definitely did not disappoint! I immediately began asking the waiter and the bartender as many questions as I could about this delectable concoction so I could try and replicate it at home. I've come close but not close enough to make me forget about the original. The best part about Cook & Collins is that it is not a one trick pony. While I am enamored by their cocktail I would be remiss in not mentioning the food. RED EYE FRIES!! WHAT?!?!? Fries, chilli, cheese, hot sauce,a fried egg. I know these sound like chilli cheese fries (w/ an egg) but they are SO much more! My mouth is watering typing this. The service was impeccable. I love a never empty water glass. But he was also super knowledgeable about the food. He brought over menus for other service hours and was so encouraging to come back. They also have a rewards program that is done via text so you aren't having to keep up with a card.
(5)
Mike H.
We stopped here for a late lunch. It was around two o'clock in the afternoon and we were the only ones in the joint. We were ordering off of the lunch menu and it definitely did not disappoint. The Red Eye Fries are insanely good. They are fries with chilli, cheese, hot sauce, an egg, and I don't know what else but they were excellent. I filled up on these, and I want to go back and eat more. They were some of the best fries I have ever eaten. Do not skip these. We also had the Party Fowl which is a duck pizza with pickled shitake mushrooms and blue cheese. The flavours are great especially the pickled mushrooms which add a nice sweetness to the whole shebang. The wife had the Ginger Beery Collins to drink, and it made me immediately regret whatever drink decision I had made. Her drink was light, refreshing and went down way too easy. I think I could plan a day around drinking these and eating those fries. The waiter was friendly and had great recommendations. Everything we ordered was delicious. The free valet parking would come in handy when that part of town gets jumping. It was a great experience and I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Jessica B.
I came here once for dinner and once for a business lunch and it's been added to the rotation. It may be slightly overpriced, but the place has a good vibe, decent service, and good food. Can't ask for much more than that in Midtown.
(4)
McKenna S.
Excellent! Definitely sit on the covered patio. I didn't have the cinnamon roll, but it looked sooooo good. Instead I had the braised beef burrito and it was amazing! This place is on my list of top brunch places (right after liberty kitchen and baba yega)
(5)
Nhi H.
Cute little restaurant in Midtown. Decor seemed a bit modern diner-ish. The hostesses dressed too casual for the place. Short denim shorts...this isn't Twin Peaks or Hollister. The Cook's Bloody Mary comes with a lot of goodies. Poached Shrimp, Pickled Green Tomato, Bleu Cheese Stuffed Olive (although mine wasn't bleu cheese stuffed. It was stuffed with a different cheese), Bacon..Ohhh the bacon was gooood. Bloody Mary was good but was a little too thick. You can't really go wrong when you order a salad at most places. I got the Upstream, which was salmon on top of quinoa, zucchini, tomato, asparagus, feta, and tomato vinaigrette. This was light and a perfect meal if you want to be full but not feel heavy after. My friends got flatbreads and burgers and didn't seem too thrilled with them. As jealous as I was when they ordered all these fat-filled items, it all faded when my meal turned out to be one of the better choices.
(3)
Sandy H.
The One Where Sandy Double Booked and Survived. This review is strictly on their happy hour. After reading an article about how they have one of top happy hour menus, I just had to suggest it for (what now seems like) my yearly happy hour with some law school friends. Happy hour takes place all over the venue. Your server will point out, on their regular menu, which items are happy hour prices. Honestly, it was a bit confusing for me. I don't understand why they didn't print out a separate menu. Anyway, we tried their "Angry Birds", "Black Eyed Hummus", "Red Eye Fries", and "Tomato and Mozzarella Flatbread". The Angry Birds was my favorite. It's fried chicken bites tossed in a sweet sauce and sprinkled with almond slices (oh, and there were pineapple bites too). Overall, it was delish and the first clean plate. My number two from our selection is their Red Eye Fries. It's hand cut fries topped with buffalo chili, mustard seeds, and an egg! It's a pretty big bowl and definitely made to share. Both the flatbread and the hummus were okay. I love, love, love hummus, but I didn't care for theirs. The hummus was served with a side of grilled flatbreads. The tomato and mozzarella flatbread was okay. It tastes like any other place. For dessert, we tried their "Cookie Dough Brownie" and "Caramel Apple Bread Pudding". My favorite was the brownie because they drizzled it with NUTELLA fudge! Omg!! I even asked for a scoop of ice cream (because that's the proper way to eat it - ha!) and it was amazing. The bread pudding was okay. It was a bit too rich for my taste. Overall, I had a really good experience here. They have a brunch menu, which I'm excited to try. They also have complimentary valet parking here if you don't want to look for parking.
(4)
M S.
Nice place, food was good and tasted fresh. Had a good time plus the drinks were really good.
(4)
Jayson K.
I visited this gem for brunch today for the first time. It was everything I've heard it to be. Very clean, nice decor, and pleasant staff. After the complimentary valet, we walked inside without a reservation and was seated in the patio area which was lovely. As far as the food was concerned, it couldn't be more perfect. I had the French Toast with chicken s)ausage. I wanted to order several more sausages to go, it was that good. Also had the crab bisque which was also quite good. I left there with my girl friend full and satisfied, yet we were already talking about coming back for lunch and dinner. Go, if you aren't there already, I don't know what you're doing with your life.
(5)
Kelly L.
I love this new addition to midtown. It is just what the area needed. I have been here so many times, sometimes just for cocktails and sometimes for dinner. My favorite entree would probaby be the C&C burger. I have tried the meatloaf and scallops and they were just ok for the price. The brussels and mushrooms are also amazing as sides. I also love the bar staff here. I have been known to sit at that bar far too long, trying all the cocktails on the menu. If they arent busy they will make something up for you!
(5)
Felicia R.
Met a friend here for Happy Hour and the food was pretty decent. We tried several different drinks and weren't big fans of any, really. Service was definitely lacking and it was pretty pricey.
(3)
Lonny Y.
Dropped in for a girls brunch last Sunday. Luckily weather was pleasant enough that we were able to sit outside. I think we got 3 carafes of Mimosas between 6 of us, $12 each carafe, so it came out to be VERY affordable =) Because I just came back from gorging myself on vacation, I just ordered a small plate of biscuits and gravy. A bit stingy on the gravy, but good flavor on both. I also tried the pork belly with mac n cheese with a blackberry muffin. Pretty good, but the noodles were so overcooked, very limp and soft. And I tried a spinach omelet I think as well. The pesto on top was a good addition. Because it was a Sunday, we were able to park in the Specs parking lot which really helped out. Otherwise, it's a very small private lot that they have or street parking.
(3)
Elise A.
I was really excited to try this place because I heard a lot about it. I went with a party of three on a Thursday night. The dining room was a wait unless you had a reservation, but the patio was able to seat us right away. We opted for the patio instead of waiting because it was a nice summer night and they had an array of fans. It felt wonderful. As soon as we were seated there was ice cold water and the waiter arrived promptly. The menu was so eclectic and everything sounded so yummy it was hard to decide. We ordered the crab mac n' cheese egg roll as an appetizer. They were interesting and defiantly worth the try but I don't know if I would order them again. It came with an arugula salad in a vinaigrette dressing. The dressing was delicious and light. For dinner I ordered the fun guy. This consists of mushrooms, truffle, onion strings and goat cheese on a flat bread. PHENOMENAL! My boyfriend ordered the fried chicken and that was also amazing. The atmosphere, food and service were amazing. I will be back.
(5)
Nidhi J.
Great food. Mango chicken is awesome. Best part was the nutella brownie. Will go again just for that brownie....
(5)
Chrishelle C.
Had a most wonderful experience here for Sunday Brunch! Food, drinks and service exceeded our expectations. I may have had the best Bloody Mary ever. Benjamin made our visit memorable and we will definitely be back and request Benjamin for sure.
(5)
Karen S.
Guess what the adjacent establishment is? I had literally just gone out to Red Door the night before, after which I was almost lured in by the pizza guy selling shitty slices to intoxicated passersby. Now I'm starting the morning with brunch at Cook & Collins, a relatively classy joint. My two worlds collide...very weird feeling. Things always look so different in daylight. I have to hand it to this place for making a strong first impression. Catchy name, self-parking across the street at Specs, takes reservations, spacious patio and a bar on the second level! The menu showcases a bit of imagination-it's not just your typical eggs benedict (although we ordered that too). I had the BBQ breakfast pork belly, which was served on a bed of mac and cheese. Can we just take a moment to admire the excess of this dish? Rich, creamy, and fatty. Everybody knows we shouldn't be eating this, but that's precisely what makes the sin feel so gratifying. Oh yea, it comes with a large blueberry muffin on the side. It doesn't make any sense, but I'm not about to question it. Please accept my sincerest gratitude for the sweet treat. My friends who were supposedly trying to "detox" picked healthier alternatives - quinoa burger and feelin' guilty. Did I mention it came with fries? And that they also devoured crab mac and cheese rolls? I'm no expert on cleanses but...those seem to be forbidden. At least they demonstrated a little restraint from alcohol, while one guy in the group downed an entire carafe of sangria BY HIMSELF. We had to cheer him on toward the end (Chug! Chug! Ch-are we back at Red Door?). Cook & Collins is a solid option for brunch at a reasonable price. Midtown was yearning for a place like this.
I came here during happy hour with group of friends. The flatbreads were a good deal as they were a pretty good size for half price. Everyone pretty much ordered flatbreads and were satisfied. They had a variety of flatbread but most chicken ones had bacon tagged along. In a way, it would be easy to ask them to take it off, but then there's a chance they may forget so I decided to try a chicken one without bacon. All other dishes on menu, including flatbreads, seems rather pricey. Althought I didn't quite like my root beer bbq chicken flatbread, I would like to try the other veggie ones another time during happy hour as they were a good size and the ingredients were fresh.
(3)
Nicolas S.
I am really tempted to get extremely plowed this weekend so I can try the Red Eye Fries while grossly hungover. I had them last weekend and wow were they good. It's like Cheech & Chong concocted this dish in a secret, unreleased movie. I'm very wary when it comes to ordering mimosas at a restaurant because I like my mimosas 8/10ths champ. This place does a good job keeping the ratio fair & balanced. The mac & cheese crab rolls aren't as good as they sound. Order more Red Eye Fries in lieu.
Split cinnamon roll and red eye fries with a group of seven. Plenty of food for all and the fries were awesome. Had the breakfast burrito for an entree. Not too breakfasty but possibly he best burrito I've ever had. Seriously. Smoky Queso and braised beef were perfect. Don't get the Heff beer though. Tasted like the line had mold in it. Service was adequate until Joe came in and saved the day. The hostess told us that they would sit the first full group that arrived. Then she sat a group that came in 20 minutes after us. We had to wait an extra 45 minutes. Then Joe came in. Knocked it out of the park. Split checks no problem. Very courteous. Food was unique and delicious. Would definitely eat here twice
(4)
Sarah F.
I would give this five stars but the service I had there doesn't deserve five stars. My girlfriend and I went for brunch on a Sunday. A pitcher of mimosas is $12. I read somewhere it was bottomless, but that is incorrect. We had Mac and cheese crab rolls which were so delicious. We also had the pork flatbread. The food was amazing, and there are many other menu items I would like to try. The reason I gave them a 4 star instead of 5 is the service. Our waiter didn't come by the table to check on us very often. I had to wait a while to ask for red pepper and water. He was friendly and knowledgeable, but needed to check on his section more often.
(4)
Corey T.
Stopped in here a couple times in that past few months and have enjoyed their wonderful decor and food. Yes I do agree the wait staff can get a little busy and/or absent minded about our pressence but honestly, there's so much food put on the plate :). Be warned if you decide to get any kind of waffle, know that they will be large, it's a good sharing plate really, but they are good! I loved the bloddy mary, best I've tasted around so far. If you've got a hangover, it's the way to start with. Ask about the loyalty card as well, apparently it's something you'll want in the future as the owners of this place own a few other places as well, that you'll probably find yourselves wanting to frequent. Crossed fingers, they'll interlace the loyalties, kind of like landry's. oh and a pretty good play-list!
(4)
Jeremy L.
Met a few ladies here after finding out Proof was closed on Wednesdays (what? for happy hour?). I had heard good things and I was not disappointed. We met around 6:30pm. The waiter was quite quick upon us sitting down, and he immediately did a good thing: "Happy Hour ends at 7." He told the specials ($2 off wine and you-call-its, and half off certain apps and a few flat breads). We shared a chicken flat bread and crab cake/mac cheese app. I was not impressed with the app, the mac & cheese overwhelmed the crab (did not see crab at all). The white chicken flat bread was really tasty. It was bigger than I expected, six large slices. After a couple more drinks (no longer on happy hour), we shared an order of duck tacos (3 to the order). Had black-eyed peas instead of beans. I think the duck was lacking but it was alright. The ambiance is nice, very spacious (i was surprised not more people there), and it became echo-y with groups that came in. They close at 10, but we did not feel rushed. Pete was our server and did an excellent job, he was very back and forth answering our questions of what liquor they had. My friend had a pint grigio that she said tasted like it was watered down. I had a couple kettle and water and then a death door's gin (MI gin, very tasty) and pineapple. The happy hour drinks seemed to be heavy on the mix, but when full price rolled around the drinks became stronger (unsure if this intentional or just happened). I would come back to try a dinner order (the buffalo meatloaf or scallops chowder style looked promising). and to sit on the upstairs terrace (closed for parties and weekends) Only problem we had was with the background music for about 15 minutes. For some reason Cake's "Short skirt, Long Jacket" replayed about 7-8 times in a row. Now I love Cake, but that was too many. We did tell someone and he said he was aware and eventually able to fix.
(4)
Yadira T.
Cute trendy place, perfect for brunch with friends. Great selection on the menu, there's something for everyone. I had the "Feeling Guilty" along with a Bloody Mary. You HAVE to order one, it's the perfect combination of spicy and salty, and the little piece of bacon is so unexpected.
(5)
Rachel B.
Perfecting the simplest breakfast notions with a dash of pizazz. Walking into C & C, you get a clean, sharp feeling from the interior. Beautiful succulents and orchids (my favorite) line the walls in planter boxes. Long thin tables can be created for massive groups or you can sit at a quaint 2 seater. Full bar is partially visible from the hostess stand. I came here with a group of 20 for my birthday. I've never attempted to get that many people to wake up on a Sunday and be in Midtown to eat by noon. Well.. I was there by noon, our group trickled in until about 1 while the rest of us waited and drank. While we were waiting there were carafes of the Collins bellini's, very spicy bloody mary's with shrimp, bacon, and blue cheese stuff olive garnish, and mimosas. The drinks were well crafted and pretty to look at. The right amount of alcohol for a Sunday morning, as if there were ever a wrong amount of alcohol to be served at brunch. The entire table ordered a little bit of something different but the eggs benedict seemed to be the most ordered and most loved. I ate a little bit off of a bunch of different plates. -- Let us take a moment to talk about how easy it is to f* up an egg, shall we? Poached and over easy are the two most consistently over cooked type of eggs made. Honestly, most cannot pull of the proper way to cook these style of eggs. So, to you, Cook and Collins, thank you for not f*ing up my -or anyone elses eggs.-- The server irked me a bit. He claimed we were his only table but would go missing for very extended periods of time. In fact, there were two occasions that the bartenders came and checked on us. Seemed.. odd. The food was great, the company was better and I left one very happy birthday girl.
(4)
Sarah E.
First time here was for sunday brunch with two girlfriends around noon. We made a reservation but didn't get seated on time. While we waited we grabbed a round of drinks at the bar. The staff inside was lively and the cocktails were delicious. When we did get seated on the patio our server was pretty disappointing. He did not smile, he did not offer any suggestions and he was not very present. Other staff members, who were much more pleasant, delivered our food and additional drinks. He dryly greeted us, took the order, checked once after our food arrived, and then brought us the check (without asking about dessert or additional drinks) and that was it. I would have appreciated a smile or a joke or at least a more professional demeanor and some recommendations or some type of enthusiasm. Maybe he was having an off day but there are a lot of great brunch places in Houston and poor service is enough to make me not want to come back, even though all the food was delicious.
(3)
Candelaria H.
We went to Cook & Collins for Saturday brunch. The place wasn't too crowded and both inside and patio seating looked comfortable. The mimosa carafe was plenty for 2. Service was great. My water glass was never more than half empty, which is a hard task for most places, since I drink so much water! I had the "feeling guilty" and cleaned my plate! The hash browns were made in more of a casserole form, but were so good! Todd had the "morning after" and was full after half, but he said it was delicious! He agreed that it would be the perfect breakfast after a late night of drinking. We will definitely be back! Tip: if you are planning on going after 11:30am, make a reservation. The place started to get packed.
Amazing customer service, ambiance and food was to die for! So impressed we can back for brunch and brought friends to experience it too!!! Would highly recommend to everyone looking for a good time in the city. Beautiful decor!!!
(5)
Karen N.
There was a time when you walked in threes in Midtown (and at a brisk pace at that). You only carried cash. And no matter if you didn't have anything in your car, you still feared it would get broken into. I sat in awe in that I was sitting in a restaurant in the SAME Midtown of my yesteryears. This place is just sexy chic. The ambiance and decor here is plain perfect. Five stars. The food. I think they are still working on the kinks on that as every new restaurant may have a few things to work on. The Mac n cheese fried egg rolls were ok (served on over dressed salad). The hollandaise sauce on my main entree was a bit too lemony as well. But that Bloody Mary! If you ever needed a liquid meal, this would be it. Topped with bacon, shrimp and other goodness your hungover face isn't ready for those flavors! All in all, this place has major potential. I'll be back to try those gingersnap waffles!
(3)
Nelly R.
I visited here today for a friend's birthday brunch. I won't hold it against them that the air conditioning was not working properly. It was quite warm inside, however, I plan to return soon. I had the French Texas Toast..... I substituted the pineapple syrup for banana syrup since I'm allergic to pineapples. It was good! It's served with Canadian bacon but I also ordered a side of smokey bacon. Mimosas were on point too!
(4)
Robert H.
Super disappointed with the entree I received the Sweet Potato Ravioli. One of the only vegetarian meals on the menu so my expectations were high but I was hopeful. How do you overcook and undercook ravioli??? Edges were tough and rubbery the rest gooey and kinda slimy. The sauce was decent but so obvious the large amount of sauce was to cover up the disaster beneath. Oh and I forgot to mention for almost $18 I only got TWO measly ravioli. Never again.
(1)
Brittany D.
Yummmmm! We had the C&C Sinaroll, the Fat Elvis Pancakes and the biscuits and gravy. The texture and taste of both the Sinaroll and the biscuits were amazing, so delicious! The pancakes were good too, however, the whipped peanut butter definitely didn't fit like I thought it would. We ended up scraping as much of it off as we could and the pancakes were so much better without it. This is one of the best brunch places I've been to in Houston and I can't wait to come back to try more :) Side note: valet was very off and oddly unprofessional
(4)
Erin L.
Decently good food, but nothing special for the Sunday dinner menu. I'd like to come back for brunch and see if my opinion changes. I had the Crab Cake BLT Burger and it was pretty good. My boyfriend thought the Morning after was just okay. The Cookie Dough Brownie was the highlight of the meal.
(3)
Samantha H.
So ironically my boyfriend and I had a discussion with Candace the GM about how we just never write reviews on here. It's not that we didn't have an amazing experience, it's just not what we do. However, after visiting this place twice within a 12 hour period, I couldn't ignore the fact how badly I wanted everyone to know how wonderful this place is! The service was outstanding. I mean these folks really care about their costumers and don't just take your order, but actually enjoy having a conversation with you. They are so engaged, know their menu and are truly awesome people. Both times we went we sat at the bar and Collin, Amanda, and Candace all were a part of our experience. I felt like I had been going there since they opened because they were so friendly. They remembered us the next morning and their brunch suggestions were spot on. It is clean, neat, and well put together. Drink menu and beer selection were great, and the food was amazing. The meals surprisingly didn't break the bank by any means considering A) quality of food B) amount of food and C) deliciousness. I just wanted to thank them again for the awesome experience. I know we'll be back and this will definitely be our new go to place.
(5)
Mandeh C.
We came here for Saturday bunch at 11a. The patio is nice and breezy, getting a table was fast as was receiving our food. I do not recommend the BBQ breakfast. I ordered it on the waitresses recommendation. It sounds like it's pork belly with a side of Mac n cheese and a muffin. No. It's a disgusting, cold Mac and cheese soup with gravy on it. Soggy noodles and almost no real substance. If I wasn't starving by the time it got there I would have sent it back for being mislead. The mimosas were good, but how hard is it really to make a good mimosa, really.. Overpriced and overhyped. The waitress was terrible, brought our checks at a random times. Everything was horribly overpriced for the quality of food and service. Location is the only thing they have going for them. Overall very disappointing, we will not be returning.
(1)
Shavonda S.
Went to Cook & Collins for brunch this past Sunday with family. We got there fairly early around 11ish and still had to wait about 30 mins to be seated. They don't really have any outdoor seating while you wait so you'll be forced to either stand out in the blazing sun or sit on 1 of their 2 mini couches also placed on their outdoor patio. (I hear that you can RSVP in advance and they recommend that you do so at least 24hrs before your anticipated arrival.) Onto the food shall we? I had their Bellini Collins (yum) and the Cinnamon Crunch French Toast and it was just OKAY. Didn't seem to have alot of cinnamony (is that even a word?) flavor the way I was expecting so it tasted rather bland. The chicken apple sausage was a little spicy, but decent. My hubs had the C & C burger. He let me taste it and I thought it was pretty good, but a little loaded down with mayo (which he hated). I'd say just ask for the mayo on the side and you should be good with this one. The customer service was great and the indoor ambiance was really nice but the food just didn't totally win me over here. Overall, this place is a popular brunch spot in midtown (like many other spots). If you're looking for somewhere lively to go on a Sunday then this could work. Just don't get your hopes up too high with the food. Tip: The parking lot at C & C is really small with limited spaces, but you can park in the parking lot located diagonally across the street from here for free.
(3)
Sabrina F.
I came here for Saturday brunch. Whenever there's an opportunity to combine a cinnamon roll with bacon icing.......I'm fully taking advantage. Needless to say, the C&C's Sinaroll was as amazing as I anticipated. It's HUGE. Definitely big enough to split with a table of 4. Unfortunately, the mimosas weren't that great. Waaaaay too much orange juice and not enough champaign :( - isn't that illegal for brunch? Valet is complimentary, but don't be a douche bag and tip!
(5)
Valerie H.
It was OK. My sis and I came in for Sunday brunch. The menu wasn't very extensive, but the food was good. She had a turkey sandwich, and it was huge! I had pancakes, and they were huge as well. Delicious peanut buttery...this was my favorite dish. The cocktails we ordered were tasty. The dining area is on the small side, with small tables, not very good for a large party.
(3)
Priscilla G.
Great brunch!! Get the carafe mimosas, two mimosas is practically the price of the carafe. Great pumpkin spiced waffle! Amazing PB&J pancakes! The ambiance is great and this place is really beautiful! Good service and a place to take someone u really like!!!
(5)
Krystle G.
My friend and I tried this place out for a 4th of July brunch. I had the BBQ breakfast and my friend had the Elvis pancakes. Although her pancakes were delicious, they were too decadent to finish. My BBQ breakfast was good and I would re-order. We ordered a carafe of the Bellini Collins (nothing special ... In fact we didn't even care to finish it). Ambience is great. Staff was friendly. Food was good (not great). I would definitely try this place out again if I'm ever back in Houston.
(4)
Tiffany J.
I returned here yesterday for a low key birthday dinner. Our waitress was super friendly and attentive. The service is one of the high points of the dining experience. There were only three of us, but we ended up ordering so much food (our eyes are bigger than our stomachs I guess). Upstream - this is not your typical salmon salad. They actually ask you how you want your salmon cooked (well, medium well, etc). I've never been asked that question in regards to salmon before. The salmon was incredible! The seasoning was so good. The salad is arugula based so if you don't like arugula you may want to try something else (or see if they will substitute it for something different like spinach or romaine). It also had quinoa, chopped asparagus, sliced cherry tomatoes, feta, diced zucchini, and tomato vinaigrette. There was some sort of spicy pesto garnished on the side which was pretty good too. So far, this is certainly my favorite entree. Loaded Potato Fritters - I wasn't expecting large potato balls, I was picturing the cheap potato skins you get at a chain sports bar. I should have known better. The crispy skin with the soft potatoes and the sauce that was drizzled over was on point. My friend and I were scraping the plate with our spoons for more sauce. If we weren't in public, one of us probably would have licked the plate clean (kidding...kind of). Black Eyed Hummus - So much yes happening with this dish. The soft pita bread with the seasoning, the vegetables (almost reminded me of pico de gallo) with the black bean hummus was just damn good. I could have eaten this for my entree. Crock O' Mac & Cheese - I only had a few bites because I was stuffed from all of the other food, but it was good. I'm not a fan of spicy food, but the Tabasco crumbs weren't as spicy as I thought they were going to be. Cookie Dough Brownie - Let's be honest...the reason why I wanted to come back here was to try this dessert. It was delicious! I honestly couldn't taste any cookie dough. It just tasted like a gooey yummy brownie. The strawberries would have been better if they didn't have the stems on them! I know it looks pretty with the stems, but I didn't really eat them because of that. We got a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side for an extra $3. It was good, but with the Blue Bell recall, it was Hagen Dazs and it's just not the same. I can't wait for the Blue Bell recall to be officially over because Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla with that dessert would be out of this world. My friend had the Free Range Fried Chicken. I tried a little bit of it. First of all the portion is huge. Unfortunately the batter could have used a lot more seasoning. It tasted like gourmet fried chicken rather than just simple southern, down home friend chicken. I think my standards for fried chicken are high since I grew up eating soul food. But my friend said she absolutely loved the honey and biscuits. My other friend had the Ruby Beets salad with chicken. She said it was okay, but wished she would have ordered the Upstream. She had a side of Sticky Brussel Sprouts. To me they weren't as good as they were the first time I tried them. The piece that I had tasted burned and I couldn't taste the bacon or Parmesan cheese. I was tempted to order a side of asparagus, but my salad had asparagus in it so I passed. Maybe next time. As you can see, we ordered a ton of food! The side dishes and appetizers are large just like the entrees. The first few dishes, we finished with no problem, but by the time we got to dessert, we were stuffed. It was hard to stop eating though because the food is just so delicious!
(5)
Chenchen H.
Convenient location downtown, chic atmosphere, perfect for groups and for date night. The dishes come in creative twists of all-american classics. The Mac and Cheese Crab rolls: very cheesy, with an extra kick of crab meat, intricately plated. The outer layer was fried to perfection, definitely worth a try! Oyster Fondue: don't let the appetizer title fool you, it's definitely a hefty portion of gooey goodness mixed topped with a healthy portion of oysters, laced with a huge serving of flat bread. Definitely an interesting use of oysters. Pecan and Pear Salad with Salmon: my healthy choice for the night. The salad was very fresh, the pears and candied pecans paired perfectly with the vinaigrette. I added Salmon to my salad, which was prepared very well. Good first experience at C&C, looking forward to next time!
(4)
Mark B.
Went back for their Texas happy hour, but stayed for dinner. Happy hour is always legit. One thing I can say is the flat bread is plenty big for one person to have a meal. We also had the crab cake BLT and angry chicken. Both were good. The breading was a little thick on the chicken but flavors were on point. Crab cake seemed like it was made in-house. Opted for the lettuce cup was a little more difficult to eat, but that was on us. One thing I always like is the bartender gives you happy hour last call.
(4)
Ben S.
Cool spot in Houston near all the bars. Great choice for dinner prior to a night on the town. We had very friendly, knowledgable service. The menu was varied and had something for everyone. The food is inspired and has a nice southern twist, and the cocktails were pretty good too. Definitely worth a try!
(4)
Amanda L.
Sunday brunch. We arrived at 10am and there wasn't a wait, even though we had a reservation. I had a bloody mary - it was good, a little more on the sour side than the spicy/umami side, but still good. He had a mimosa (single) - it came in a regular wine glass, pretty good. I had the bbq breakfast - the menu is kind of misleading, i thought it would be a piece of pork belly with the sides of mac and a muffin. But it's really mixed in with the mac. There was too much cheese sauce and not enough noodles in the mac, but it still tasted good. The muffin too was good, but it only had 2 blackberries in the whole thing. And it was huge! So I think whoever is cooking needs to stop skimping, because if there had been a better noodle/sauce ratio and muffin/berry ratio, this would be 5 stars. Easy to fix!!! He had the breakfast burrito, which he said was good. A lot of meat. Huge portions all around. The service was fine, nothing remarkable either way. I liked the shaded outdoor patio area, perfect for a nice day. I want to come back and try the happy hour.
(4)
Priyanka B.
Had brunch here with my cousin and the service was fantastic. The hostesses acted as though us having to wait for a table was the worst thing in the world. They were so sweet and considerate. I ordered the 'feeling guilty' which was an egg white omelet with mushrooms and spinach and a side of potatoes. My potatoes were a tad dry. The rest of it was pretty good, but our appetizer--the crab and macaroni rolls--was waaaay better. We also ordered a carafe of sangria, which was delicious (and surprisingly strong). I enjoyed the brunch very much and the server was great, so I will be going back soon.
(5)
Kathleen A.
Me & my boyfriend went for brunch today (Sunday) because I was craving their oatmeal. We were greeted at the door by Candice and seated immediately. Our waitress Georgia recommended the feelin guilty omelette for my boyfriend as a healthy brunch option and he loved it! It was a Light and fluffy omelette and the flavor combination was spot on between the mushroom Spinach and their special kale chimi churri. I'm a very light eater and never finish an entire plate, but Their oatmeal is so light and flavorful, I ate it with a side of fruit and completely finished both! Candice even sat wit us a couple of times to chat and check on us. It was exactly what I needed/wanted on this beautiful Sunday. I will definitely be coming back & bringing all of my friends.
(5)
Taj J.
Everything about This place inside was on point. Tye staff was attentive the food was great and the atmosphere was pleasing. The only reason I didn't give five stars is because of parking. Although it is complimentary valet, I like to park my own car. Please go and try this place. You will not be disappointed.
(4)
Zain R.
Go HUNGRY and leave SATIATED! This is a cute all American eatery in midtown very close to Spec's. It's also by Red Door. Usually I don't valet but upon arrival I just handed my car to the valet guy because I was not in the mood for parking because it had been one of those days at work. We went inside and the hostess greeted us after seating two different parties. It was a little odd that she didn't acknowledge us once she returned from seating the first party and tending to a party of two who only had one individual and the other person joined them and they announced authoritatively that THEY WERE READY. I think the hostess was bewildered by these ladies but I think it was mostly because she lacked confidence but I think she could have greeted with a little more apt finesse. Once seated we were promptly brought water with straws with them in the glass. I like to open my own straws. Sorry. Those two things knocked the rating a little. The food was delicious. The pictures really do speak volumes in this case. I can't stop raving about the duck tacos. I don't even like black eyed peas and I liked black eyed peas in my duck tacos. The Crock O'Mac & Cheese could have used a little gentler hand when using the truffle oil. Not entirely sure what ingredient was used that produced a beer-y taste. If you like beer then don't forget to have some! They definitely bring plenty so if you can't finish you'll have some leftovers for lunch the next day! The C&C Burger speaks for itself. It's exactly like the description says on the menu: grass fed beef + three cheeses + melted onion + sundried tomato + parm chip + truffle mayo. I am particularly not a fan of parmesan in excess on my food but OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was such a rich burger. I think I am going to have to do an hour long cardio tomorrow but this was totally worth breaking my calorie bank for! Our server Shady was very prompt in mediating and took care of a little issue that came up with the order. He was very busy with several tables and I sensed that the place was a bit of understaffed. Overall, it was a pleasant experience and if you like modern American food with an intimate setting then this is it.
Candace was amazing! Got us a table as a big group, so friendly and offered assistance next time for us to come in- I live in New Orleans but will no doubt come back every time I'm in Houston! The bloody Mary's are Sooo good- the crab Mac and cheese is amazing and the C&C burger took the cake! Our server Benjamin was patient with our drinking group and gave us excellent service! Thanks to all of you! We had a blast!
(5)
Alvin J.
I have to echo a previous review from Nupur as far as the food being a 3-star experience but the potential of the place plus the great service bumped it up to a 4-star We came here for Valentine's Day as it was one of the few places on that night WITHOUT a prix fixe menu. The atmosphere was very laid-back and even quieter on the upstairs area where we were seated. Our server was very friendly and we didn't experience any issues with slow service, other than our cocktails being a bit slow to arrive They have a nice list of cocktails with several Collins drinks. I tried the Ginger Beery Collins which honestly tasted more like a mojito. It was a good choice nonetheless. My wife's drink was a tad too sour for my liking The appetizer of crab cake was perfect. It was big chunks of crab meat with very little breading, topped with tuna carpaccio. At $18 it is pricey but it was so delicious we felt it was worth it Entree time. My steak with fries was just OK, to be honest. It was a bit too oily and the seasoning wasn't quite there. My wife order the duck leg. It was a bit on the heavy side but the duck was nice and tender and the sauce was great. My wife's meal made her happy so as they say happy wife = happy life = 4-star Yelp review. I'm hoping they can iron out the kinks as far as the food.
(4)
Amber S.
So, we gave this place a try for brunch and it was pretty damn good! The Angry Birds are so so good! Great sweet and spicy sauce, plus the almond slivers give it a great texture! The White Bird flatbread was also great- we hated ourselves just a little after demolishing all of it with no thought to moderation or "calories." The crab bisque was also really great, although it was not quite up to temperature. All the portions were pretty good. My only complaint is their bar- okay beer selection but the mixed drinks lacked something. Definitely would go back!
(4)
Zakia S.
One of the better outdoor patios in Midtown. Food is consistently good at great prices. I do prefer the brunch over their lunch menu. Ion two separate occasions I had the BBQ Breakfast and the Pumpkin Spiced Waffles. I would recommend both. I've also had the C&C's Sinaroll. Albeit delicious, it is HUGE. Must be shared with at least 2 adults and followed with a light meal. Or perhaps order it afterwards for dessert with a cup of coffee. I wish I had done the latter.
(4)
Vanesa V.
Unimpressed. Food was extremely blah but at least service was terrific. I was also disappointed in their cocktail menu, I really think they could use a revamp. South padre collins - 0/5 stars (was so bad I exchanged it for a beer) Oyster rockefeller fondue - 3/5 stars party fowl flatbread - 2/5 stars free range fried chicken - 4/5 stars Complimentary valet provided.
(3)
Brinn M.
Came for Saturday brunch for the first time. Sat inside and ordered the duck tacos and a sinaroll. Tacos were the perfect size and tasted fantastic. The cinnamon roll was good but nothing amazing. Hubby had the red eye fries and it was also delicious. Mother in law opted for the biscuits and gravy which was a dinner plate full of biscuits and was some of the best she'd ever had (I was too focused on trying to finish my plate to try them). Will be back.
(5)
Michael B.
I've been eagerly awaiting this new locally sourced restaurant and it did not diasppoint. The food was great and the service even better. For starters we had the party fowl pizza and brussel sprouts. The brussel sprouts could have been crispier, but overall were pretty good. The party fowl pizza was advertised as having a strong bleu cheese flavor, however, our first pizza had none. After asking the waiter, the manager promptly came over and gave us a new pizza. The initial pizza was good, but the addition of the bleu cheese put it over the top. We then split the melted onion soup which was probably the best French onion soup either of us had ever had. I will definitely be ordering this again in the future. We also split the C&C burger which was quite good. I'm not a huge fan of mayo so we got the truffle mayo on the side, however, the truffle flavor overpowered the mayo so it was actually pretty good. The parmesean crisp was a nice addition for added texture to the burger. While a little on the expensive side, the cocktails were expertly crafted and quite strong. While there are still some small kinks to iron out, overall, Cook and Collins was a great experience and we will definitely be going back. As the weather gets nicer, the patio area will definitely be nice for having a drink or a long relaxing brunch. Welcome to the neighborhood, Cook and Collins!
(4)
Rachel M.
I really liked the open air space, but the food was bland and the drinks were weak. The vibe is very modern diner with cute atmosphere. That's pretty much where the good stops. There are better brunch spots with outdoor areas nearby. I might give it a second try, but wouldn't recommend it.
(3)
Robert F.
This was my first time dining at Cook & Collins. I had a Bleu Cheese and Bacon burger. It was awesome! The windows were open on a comfortable night, which was enjoyable. Good comfort food. Good service. Nice atmosphere. Glad we went.
(3)
Jeanette J. G.
We love the food, service, and location. Open and friendly atmosphere. Great Happy hour deals. And, my husband loves the burgers.
(5)
Safeena W.
I was SUPER excited to go here after driving past it a million times and seeing how cute and trendy it is. The decor and ambiance are really impressive, and it's great to see trends like that coming to Houston. It was packed for brunch and the crowd was fun. While reading the menu, everything sounded amazing.. it took me forever to decide what to get. I was with 5 others, so we decided to get a bunch of different things and try it all! We were all quite disappointed in the food, though. There was nothing special about it; in fact, it almost seemed like they were trying too hard. Here are the dishes we ordered: - Gingersnap Waffles-- the waffles were really dry, and the fruit compote just wasn't that good. - Fat Elvis Pancakes- the flavors didn't blend well together at all. - C&C Burger- the only item everyone liked. - Mac & Cheese crab rolls- hardly any cheese or crab, so the pasta tasted really dry. - French Texas Toast- dry and flavorless They do have reasonably priced pitchers of mimosas, though! Won't be coming back here, but I sure hope they get a new chef, because I LOVE the ambiance.. it reminds me of LA, where I lived for 4 years, and the patio is just too cute. Maybe I'll go back for drinks-only.
(3)
Lauren R.
I found this place on Instagram by searching #houstonbrunch. Ate brunch on a Sunday morning & it was great! I had the Pig Popper flatbread--good size, I had enough to bring home & share with my husband. Also, the Bloody Mary is spicy but not too much to handle-I recommend it!
(5)
Simmi A.
Came for a happy hour and enjoyed the food and service. I had the crock Mac and cheese, which had a slightly spicy but flavorful taste! The drinks were good and the waiters constantly came by to check on us. Would definitely come back!
(4)
Shishi M.
Very cool atmosphere for dinner and drinks in midtown and the servers are on point! The macaroni and cheese? Nothing short of a spectacle! (See picture below) Another night we went and tried the sour cream potato balls.. Quite possibly the best potato creation ever. Cheesy, flavorful, seasoned, and over a tangy spicy queso sauce. Everything after that point was good, but not up to the standard I held after the mac and cheese.. I tried a cheese burger once and the Cobb Louie. I liked their cobb louie and will probably get it next time. The dressing needs to come on the side and used only as a dip for the shrimp (if anything).. it does NOT go with the salad.. This salad needs a light creamy dressing. It is a cobb after all.. I wish they had thousand island but ranch was just fine.. The burger was good but I'm not one to typically order a burger. I think i just ordered that because everything else was in a higher price tier and i didn't feel like eating steak or scallops... The cookie dough brownie wasn't exactly everything i had hoped either. I mean. It had all of my favorite things in the description but it didn't taste that way. The brownie just tasted like a normal brownie.. Everything we got looked amazing both times though. Maybe the descriptions were overreaching, or maybe if I hadn't eaten such great appetizers before the meal I would have been really appreciative--it was good.. it just didn't floor me like the appetizers did. I'll definitely be back because has such a great vibe.
(4)
Scott T.
This place is off to a great start! This was my first time here, and the menu was very well designed and executed. The pros: Every wine on the menu is served by the glass. I even got to indulge in a couple of glasses of Caymus Cabernet. The atmosphere was great. Very classic (60s era) with employees in bowling type polo shirts and even the bar stools are the round spinner type. Very modern yet classic. The ambiance was very good, as well. The bar was not overly crowded and the atmosphere was light where you could still capture some great 60s music. (Doors, Beatles, Cars, etc.). We started dinner off with Mac n cheese crab egg rolls. They were exceptional in flavor and were paired with a creamy Italian type dipping sauce. The food choices are endless. I got the fried chicken, and if you choose to order it, you will not be disappointed. It comes with kale, a biscuit, and mashed potatoes (still had chunks of potatoes and are not "over" whipped). The flatbread pizza was also amazing. We had "The Fun Guy." The crust is handmade to order and not overly thin. Great consistency throughout and not greasy. The goat cheese, spinach, onion strings and sauce all worked very well together. The side of Mac-N-Cheese was also superb. It is not overly cheesy and has a nice light bread crumbling on the top. The cheese has hints of spice but not so spicy that it is even a medium spicy. It's just a hint of spicy. Which is hard to do. The con: There is always room for improvement. If I were to go again, I would request a table away from the bar. My date kept getting bumped into as people were trying to maneuver their way around. It's typical but unpleasant. The wine. Because it is by the glass they need to keep it in a refrigerated environment. These types of systems and dispensers can leave wine inconsistent in taste over time. I was almost served the end of one bottle and some of a new bottle in my glass of wine. I kindly asked my bartender if I could have a glass straight from the new bottle, to which she obliged. In conclusion- The service from door to table was top notch. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable of the menu and accommodating. The food preparation was masterful and the flavors of every meal were perfectly balanced. I would strongly recommend this place to others!
(4)
Kate A.
My boss took me here on Administrative Professionals' Day and overall we enjoyed the meal and atmosphere. We made a reservation because we were not sure how busy it would be that day. Luckily, it wasn't too busy! The strange this was though, no one greeted us and took us to a table... we seated ourselves. It was only after we ordered our food that our server asked us if we had a reservation. The food looked amazing. My boss got the fried chicken which was absolutely divine! It was cooked just right, had the right amount of batter, and the sides looked yummy too. My dish was so filling that I thought I might have had to be carried out of the restaurant. It's a great place to come to for lunch.
(3)
Geo J.
Had a great meal here for halfy hour. Adult beverages sourced from Texas, two flatbreads, one shared salad; all less than $40, wow! Our server Shady was great, lots of good advice about the menu as it was our first visit. My wife was impressed with the non-meat choices and had the Fun Guy flatbread. I opted for the Root Beer BBQ Chicken flatbread. They were both very well cooked with tasty, fresh ingredients. We sat out on the patio and had a thoroughly enjoyable early evening. Shady took very good care of us and comped the indulgent brownie desert which was OTT. Even though we live in EaDo now, we'll come back to Midtown just to revisit Cook and Collins.
(5)
Mary L.
Taking a word out of my friend's dictionary - AMAZE-BALLS! A group of us girls came her for one of my bestie's 36th birthday because she's been dying to try it, and what a great pick! Simple set up but fantastic ambience, music, and food. I ordered a Sangria which was fruity to my liking. I wish it had a tad more alcohol in it but still good. For starters I ordered the the Mac and Cheese Crab rolls that complemented really well with the truffle vinaigrette salad which had the perfect taste of sweetness to it. For the piece de resistance I chose the Cook's Classic Benedict which took the experience over the top. I was hesitant about citrus hollandaise sauce when I read it on the menu, but I was worried for nothing! Loved it and everything that came on my plate. The poached eggs were cooked to the right degree - the yolks oozed out and nicely covered the biscuit and Canadian bacon - every bite was like chocolate melting in your mouth - utterly scrumptious! Apparently the draw for everyone was the Crab Cake BLT - 8 out of the 10 girls ordered this! The crab cake patty is HUGE, and plenty of French fries to go with it. Looking forward to my next visit and this time I want to check out the view from the upstairs patio!
(5)
Nancy L.
We went for happy hour on a Friday night and got their half off flatbreads (3-7pm). Menu price for the flatbreads are $14 so figured it was worth a try for $7. Try the "Party Fowl" - grilled flatbread w/ roasted duck, candied bacon, pickled shiitake, bleu cheese, and arugula. It was really tasty and good, I would order it again!! We also ordered the root beer BBQ chicken since I loveee root beer, but utter disappointment for me. It had a weird taste and dry. I enjoyed the atmosphere (partly because our table was facing a tv for the bball games) but service was attentive and good hangout place for happy hour.
(3)
Sarah D.
I woke up this morning to a joking text from a friend talking about pancake cravings. Now I am ALWAYS craving pancakes so I couldn't pass up a chance to stuff my face with fluffy deliciousness. I'd heard about the Fat Elvis pancakes at Cook & Collins so we went for it. I'd heard mixed reviews about this place so I went in with tempered expectations, which were definitely more than met. This is good and bad, because this place is literally 50 feet from my front door, so I see a dangerously obsessive codependent relationship forming. We started with a carafe of bellinis (good, definitely strong, but I didn't get as much of the peach taste as I expected) plus I had an Americano and later a latte (both great). Next time will for sure give the sangria a try, or maybe the alcoholic coffee cocktails which sounded fantastic. Our appetizers were the Red Eye Fries (chili fries on crack - AMAZING) and the Sinaroll (good, scratches the cinnamon roll itch, but a little too dry and chewy to call it excellent - but it is topped with BACON ICING. So you can't not get it). For our meal we got the omelet, a flat bread, and OF COURSE the pancakes. The omelet and flat bread were enjoyed by those who ordered them - I did try their hash browns on the side and those were perfectly cheesy, salty, and delicious - the cheese or spices or something on it gave it a nice savory tangy taste. Yum! But my pancakes...omg my PANCAKES. The pancakes deserve their own paragraph. They were amazing. Now, for my fellow pancake enthusiasts, I will warn you that they are not the super-thick super-fluffy variety - they are more on the crepe-y end and cooked to dark brown (you know the kind I mean). I actually prefer the former variety but the flavor more than made up for it. They are stuffed with bananas and flavored with cinnamon and peanut butter with a peanut butter whipped cream and sauce on top. Then it was finished with a couple of bacon slices, cooked crispy (note for the chef: don't cook them so crispy. Otherwise, it was great). I cleaned my plate, with help from friends who also loved it as well. The service was pretty good, a little more hands-off at first than I prefer but they were more than attentive during the meal. The poor server made the mistake of trying to clear plates a little early and almost lost a hand to our stuffed-but-somehow-still-eating butts. We had to remind him about minor things a couple times (to go boxes, silverware) so not perfect but still good. Will be back and will definitely recommend to others!
(4)
Monique K.
I visited this week with a friend for Happy Hour and we found that there were no special Happy Hour specials and were a little disappointed but we both ordered beers and sat outside on the patio on the first floor. I ordered an appetizer of three duck tacos and loved them. They were tasty and filling enough for a dinner, partnered with my Karbach and a warm Houston evening (with low Humidity) it was a very nice experience. Our waiter seemed very concerned that we weren't ordering more food and checked in on our about 5 times but when it came time for us to ask for our check he was nowhere to be found. I'd be interested in returning for a brunch or dinner to experience more of the menu.
(4)
stacie k.
Had a great lunch on Saturday. We sat on the patio. The Angry Bird was spicy and delicious. A good portion size as a starter. Their mimosa was good. They only annoyance were the gnats bugging us and they were getting into our drinks. Had take the coaster to cover our drinks. Our waiters had to replace our carafe mimosa and flutes. The Crab Cake BLT and the BBQ Breakfast was good. Valet parking is complimentary. I will definitely be back to check out their dinner menu.
(4)
Wendi B.
Our boss took us here for a celebratory lunch. Pretty place, great food. We shared the Fried Oyster Rockefeller Fondue as an appetizer, which was to die for! Two of us had the crab cake sandwich as our entree and another had the roasted chicken. The Crab Cake BLT was lite yet very satisfying and super filling. The challah bun was about as fresh as I've ever had. The french fries were addictingly great and drizzled with what I think might be either truffle oil or garlic aioli. The roasted chicken smelled equally good, although I didn't try any, I was told it was delish. Looking forward to going back once the weather cools off to enjoy a bite on one of their open-air patios. PROS: great food friendly staff 2 open-air patios location decor CONS: menu lacking variety
(4)
Doris D.
Just had dinner at C&C and not impressed with their food. We normally will order a few appetizers and entree to try out a newbie restaurant. So we decided on Angry birds and oyster fondue with flat bread as our appetizers. Well, Angry birds is basically buffalo boneless wings like you get at Buffalo Wild Wings with an extra pineapple salsa. I was disappointed with their fondue as basically it is a bowl of spinach with breadcrumbs on top with over fried tiny oysters and not cheesy at all that you would expected when you ordered a fondue. Entree goat cheese ravioli is totally a joke. It came with 2 pieces of ravioli wrapped in a big chunk of goat cheese and bland which costs $17. Over priced menu with mediocre food but nice interior!
(2)
Matthew C.
Sinfully decadent Sinfully delicious Sinfully...bacony?! Indeed, THE reason to visit Cook & Collins is to experience the artery-clogging, diabetes-inducing deliciousness of the Sinaroll: A dangerously awesome combination of brioche, almonds, and BACON icing. And as opposed to many of the over-the-top Man-vs-Food-esque concoctions I've had, this actually tastes good--just be sure to enjoy responsibly. Other than that, the remainder of the brunch menu has unique takes on traditional American brunch favorites. Exhibit A: creamsicle-batter French toast. You can really taste the orange and cream flavors. The BBQ Breakfast is also good, but a bit too heavy for my taste. Though if you're a fan of pork BBQ and macceroni and cheese, you can't go wrong with it--to each his own. I've had a couple things off the non-brunch menus (e.g., Upstream Salad) but haven't been blown away by anything. For the time being, I'll stick to the brunch menu.
(4)
Jessica H.
What a great renovation, good food, and good service. I had a great experience at this new midtown spot. We started with the mushroom flatbread, French onion soup and macaroni and cheese Rolls. The flatbread and macaroni rolls were delicious, I wasn't crazy about the French onion soup but it pretty good. There was a complaint from my friend about the duck tacos served cold with a cold tortilla. I had the filet with crab meat and asparagus and it was delicious. It was all a good value and all good tasting. I'll be back to try the burgers!
(4)
Caleb T.
American comfort food, fine American fare and a fresh twist on culinary creation, is what this place claims to deliver. Far, far, from it is what I experienced. I do not know where to start, the poor service, dry bread, over seasoned everything (too much sage) and much more. Chef Jared Estes needs to pull back on the rains and evaluate what his culinary team delivers when he is not around. Their one redeeming quality is Amanda (Manager). I do not know if this was just a bad day for the restaurant, but the intention behind their food was honest and pure. I will come back and try this place again, as I feel it needs a chance to redeem itself.
(2)
Nicole G.
I had their duck tacos and crab bisque. Both were fantastic. I just wish the duck tacos were a bigger portion. The atmosphere is very trendy and relaxing. I'll definitely want to try more items on their menu in the future.
(4)
Rosie M.
It is really difficult to write a complete review of Cook & Collins because we never got our meal. We came in (party of 4) for brunch on New Years Day. We called at around 11:30am and were told there was no wait. We immediately left and arrived 10 minutes later to a 50 minute wait. We have all been servers in the industry and understand peak times and rushes. No big deal we waited at the bar upstairs for our table. The bartender was amicable and we ordered the Bellini Collins and a Bloody Mary. Both were fine. Although the menu says titos vodka and they used svedka. We closed our drink tab and went downstairs to get some brunch. Once we were seated we ordered coffee and apps. My father ordered a shot of rum to go in his coffee that we had to ask for several times as well as sugar. It was busy.. again no big deal.. it happens. We ordered the duck tacos and crab rolls for apps and our entrees at the same time. The duck tacos came out with an order of the Red Eye Fries but the waiter told us to keep those and he would bring out the crab rolls. The Red Eye Fries that we had not ordered turned out to be the favorite. About 30 minutes after finishing our apps we started wondering about our entrees. When we couldn't find our server we tried to stop several of the other servers whom quickly walked past us avoiding eye contact. An ENTIRE HOUR after receiving our apps we finally got the attention of one of the servers and asked if she would check on what was going on. A few minutes later a manager came up to our table to "explain" what had happened. At this point our server is still MIA. The manager explains to us that our order had gone in after a large party and they were working on it now. They have only been open a year and didn't expect this rush of people and so and so on. We explained that after waiting over an hour for our entrees no one was hungry anymore and at this point we just wanted to cancel and get our check. She begrudgingly apologized and said she would of course comp our apps and hoped we would give them another shot in the future. As Cook and Collins is around the corner from all of our jobs we nodded and said we would. We waited for our check for our two coffees and shot of rum for about 15 minutes as we laughed and talked about the funny but disappointing start to 2015. When neither our server nor the manager came back by we assumed everything was settled and got up to leave joking that if they wanted to come get us for walking out on our coffee tab it would be an hour before they even noticed we were gone. Turns out we were wrong. Our server (yep we found him!) stopped us on the way out saying we had to wait the manager was adjusting our bill. After we stood in the aisle waiting we were given our check... The manager had indeed comped all of our entrees... The entrees that we never tasted let alone saw. We were charged for 2 of our apps that she had previously told us she would "of course" comp. At this point we were all pretty exasperated and just wanted to get out of there. Our bill ended up being about $40 dollars. Obviously disappointed and upset we paid with the manager and expressed our displeasure. She threw her arms in the air and said "what do you want me to do?!". She gave us a $25 gift card. We paid our bill and got out of there. I discussed my experience with several of my industry friends in Houston. Apparently Cook & Collins has a reputation for situations such as these. We had high hopes for Michael Paolucci's newest concept as Pub Fiction one of our regular spots. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an acceptable level of service. But there is a silver lining. I gave the gift card to my ex-boyfriend.
(1)
Tanner C.
Came here for brunch and the food was good but it's hard to give a raving review when you've got fruit flies all over your food, around/in your drink. Take care of this problem and this place gets a better review.
(3)
Blake E.
We had very high hopes for dinner at Cook and Collins. Unfortunately, we had a very bad experience. The building was incredibly hot; the server said it had been like that for a week. The server seemed to know very little about the menu, the food was overpriced, and we thought the food was bland. I will say the drinks were good; great bartender. Our biggest issue was the valet. We had planned to walk across the street for a drink with friends, but the valet stopped us and told us we would be charged if we went to any other establishments. I've never heard of that, and it's a pretty big negative given how difficult it can be to park in midtown. As much as we'd hoped for a great experience, my recommendation is to avoid this place at all cost. There are much better options at this price level.
(1)
Ying C.
Came here because it was listed as one of the top brunch places in Houston. Thankfully I made a reservation because I cam at 10:30 and there was already a wait (SCUUURRYYY). So for sure make a reservation. Red eye fries (4/5) - Pretty good with all the chili drizzled over it, and of course I love fried egg on everything. Unfortunately the fries themselves were not very crispy, but since they were drenched in chili who cares lol. Pretty good. Feelin guilty (3/5) - It was ok. Literally taste like the ingredients put together (spinach and cheese with egg white). Would have tasted the same if someone just made it at home. I guess I thought even if I were feeling guilty I still want it to tasted better than what I can do. Cinammon crunch "french" toast (3.5/5) - It was not bad, but nothing spectacular. The chicken sausage was good, but the dish just didn't have unity. There were french toast and spots of apple preserves on random areas of the plate. It was not super crunchy. Wouldn't recommend getting this unless you can't live without french toast. The restaurant is actually super hip, but did not live up to all the hype.
(3)
Betty H.
Surprised at the 3 1/2 star rating; this place is great! Had dinner last night, attentive and friendly service, very good food. I love when the waitress gives you plenty of time to look over the menu and never felt rushed. I had the pear salad, which was very good, and the Blue burger, which came with perfect fries. I couldn't really taste the candied bacon, but I think it's because the blue cheese overpowered it so that was a little disappointing. Had the pudding for dessert (regular w/raisins, not the butterscotch) and ordered it a la mode. It was really good, but definitely would have been too sweet for my taste w/o the ice cream. Only issue was that the center of the pudding was super dry and the caramel sauce had a weird consistency. I wish yelp let us give half stars so I could add a little more for the great service. Can't wait to return to try the crab cake blt!
(4)
Castro S.
I think this might be my new favorite Brunch place. Came here with a girlfriend because I had a $25 off text to redeem from my previous visit. Go online and register for their points system. You have a year to redeem, but why wait! They also brought us a complimentary drink on the house to share. It was delicious! The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 was because we waited for AWHILE to get our check or see our waiter to ask for it. And for some reason, valet was not available this day. Normally I wouldn't care, but it would have been nice with the unexpected rainstorm. I love this place and will definitely return again... maybe even tomorrow for dinner :)
(4)
Sue N.
Omg!!! We will definitely be coming back here! Candy is amazing! The ambience is to die for and the food is scrumptious! I wanted to jump inside the bowl of Mac and Cheese!!!
(5)
Priscilla D.
Delicious bloody Mary's and the outside patio is very nice, service was good. The eggs Benedict was outstanding. Will definitely go again
(5)
Nawar F.
Decided to come here for dinner last Thursday night. We walked in without a reservation and the place was not busy at all so we got lucky. There was valet parking next to this place and some metered spots as well. The place has a large outdoor covered patio and smaller indoor dining area. Reviewing the menu, we were amused with the fancy names trying to Jazz up the appetizer selection. Angry brids means wings, black eyed pees means hummus...lol We ordered two cocktails and we certainly did not taste much other than tonic, I asked the waiter and he confirmed, they measure precisely so heads up on that. Many other establishment would have done something to please their patrons, these guys, no effort spent. Dinner was meh, we ordered seared Ahi tuna, and steak & fries. Ahi tuna had a clash of species that is was confusing what chef was trying to do. Steak was ok, but was charged $3 when I swapped fries for Asparagus, waiter failed to mention there was a charge for that. Sum it up for our dinner experience, not too great. What is offered is bar food without bar drinks.
(2)
Kameo T.
Delicious and modern brunch spot. Open-air restaurant with plenty of fans(no air conditioning) and about a 25 minute wait around 11 on a Sunday. The staff was very friendly but I gave them 4 stars because the menu selection is small(though it all sounds delicious) and their definition of a macchiato seems different than most. My French toast was delicious,almond crusted, and satisfied my sweet tooth. However, the iced macchiato seemed to be a single shot of espresso with a small dash of milk instead of foam. My friend's un-iced macchiato was even smaller and appeared to have less milk. So if you're looking for a good size cup of coffee with your meal, the macchiato is not the best choice(although it still tasted good). I would recommend for those looking for a modern brunch spot close to downtown.
(4)
Erin C.
5 stars for creative & delicious takes on trendy dishes, INCREDIBLE service, and an overall wonderful dining experience. Ate here back in March with my parents who were visiting from out of town, and my dad was disgruntled by the "short pour" he received on his white wine. After half-heartedly joking (but pretty serious) about it with the waiter, the general manager Amanda gracefully took over service of our table. The next pour my dad received was generous, and the whole night she gave us attentive and comedically entertaining service. As if that weren't enough, she gave us the bread pudding (which was AMAZING) for dessert on the house and gave me, the resident Houstonian, a card for a free C&C Sinnaroll on my next visit. I was completely blown away by how seriously and generously my dad's disgruntled comments were attended to. As for the food: had the mac n cheese crab rolls as an appetizer, which were flavorful without being too cheesy, had the nice guy flatbread for dinner, which was a complementary and savory mix of favors, and of course, the outstanding bread pudding for dessert. Definitely coming back to try their brunch and for a date night with my boyfriend sometime soon. Thanks for the great first impression!
(5)
Victoria M.
HRW (sort of) Got together with some of my oldest girlfriends to check out C&C for HRW. After looking over the menu, 2 of us decided to go with regular fare instead (things looked so yummy!) and 1 with HRW. Business was pretty slow, the restaurant never filled up while we were there (Monday night though). Love the space, especially the light fixtures. The local map on the wall was a fun touch. Our server was prompt and friendly, and she helped me select my drink - a bit pricey, but tasty and refreshing enough for me to get 3 of them... :) GINGER BEERY COLLINS Cinco Vodka + Sweetened Lime Juice + Blackberries + Mint Leaves. Top with Ginger Beer. Garnish with Mint & Berries. 10.5 - not too sweet, just enough fruit Fried Oyster Rockefeller Fondue | spinach + bacon + tobasco crumbs + flatbread / 14 - great take on a spinach dip. The house-made flatbread is delicious on its own too. East Coast Jumbo Scallops | pan caramelized + smoked bacon + potato hash + clam broth / 25 - PERFECTLY cooked scallops. The rest of the dish was a tad salty, but eaten together with the scallops it was fine. Sweet Potato Ravioli | brown butter sauce + kale + goat cheese + toasted almonds + maple gastrique / 16 - nice pasta, filling had a hint of Indian? spice Brussel Sprouts candied bacon + black pepper / 6 - converted my non-Brussels eating friend HRW Tuna & Salmon Tartare watermelon, golden peach, wasabi breadcrumbs and soy gastrique - great fruit, bright Asian flavors HRW Free Range Fried Chicken biscuit, garlic mashers, braised greens, C&C gravy and a honey jar - nice presentation, juicy chicken, flaky biscuit Butterscotch Pudding Jar pineapple jam and loaded oatmeal raisin cookies - very sweet. My friend enjoyed it thoroughly; I could only handle a single bite. Cookie Dough Brownie nutella fudge and burnt marshmallow - also sweet, also could only have a bite lol We had a great evening of eating and catching up. Street parking is available and meters are free after 6 on weekdays. If it wasn't a Monday I might have gone around the corner to one of the super convenient adjacent bars afterwards.
(4)
Jeremy T.
I came here for happy hour and I first thought the restaurant was closed, because I didn't see any people or lights on. Upon walking further into the space, I entered the actual restaurant and saw a few people sitting in the bar area. We were just grabbing some light food prior to a night of alcohol and debauchery and decided on Cook & Collins since it was highly praised in the HP. Our order consisted of 2 cocktails and 2 small plates. South Padre Collins - sweet, looks like a long island, very weak, mainly tasted a sweet & sour like taste, no taste of Dr pepper (2/5) Pink Martini - stronger drink, but still sweet, mostly hibiscus taste (3/5) Red eye fries - good when hot, handcut fries, one fried egg on top, wish there were 2, not sure the reasoning for the mustard seeds in this dish, you can't taste them (4/5) White Bird Flatbread - this was ok when eating a slice with bacon, but the taste and texture of the creamy garlic sauce makes it almost repulsive (3/5) Service - generally good when seated at the bar This place reminds me of Sparrow, almost like a copy cat version that's easier on the pocket book. I might be willing to return to try other items.
(3)
Wesley C.
So first of brunch is my absolute favorite meal on the weekends. I mean there's nothing like Mimosa's and breakfast food at 1pm in the afternoon. I don't quite know why brunch is so awesome, I just know that I spend much of my weekend searching for the best place to that will serve me breakfast food and alcohol at the same time after noon. And Houston has some of the best places to get brunch and that means you better step up your game when it comes to doing brunch in H-Town. Upon stumbling upon Cooks & Collins in Midtown is was very excited to try this place out. I looks super nice from the outside and the inside has a nice bar/restaurant type style. From the outside this place looks like a hip place to grab a meal during the day and a live place to grab a drink with some small bites with friends at night. One of the things that drew me to Cooks & Collins for brunch was the extensive brunch menu. When you look at the menu you see such a great variety of items from delicious sounding/looking appetizers( the C&C Sinaroll looked amazing), to your staple brunch items, too sandwiches, burgers, and salad...and flatbreads. Can't forget the flatbreads. So with all these factors taken into to account is suspected that I was going to be in for a meal that was really special. Not quite. My meal was just slightly above average. I ordered the Ham and Cheese Omelette and it was pretty decent but that's about it. The omelette was a decent size but it seemed to lack a significant amount of Canadian Bacon or 3 cheeses. This omelette really didn't seem to leave that much to the imagination and for $14 I was expecting something a bit more. The omelette really seemed to lack flavor and ingredients. This by no means is a $14 omelette. I could easily find a better omelette for half the cost. Now i must say that Cook's hashbrowns were pretty delicious! Now maybe I'm being a bit harsh, which is indeed possible. But again, this is Houston! The brunch capital of the world! Cooks & Collins has to step up their brunch game. But hey. I love brunch, so I will probably be back again to try out other items on the menu. Dedicated to Chuck. (LOL!)
(3)
Judy C.
Nice little trendy place to come to for a Saturday brunch... Want to try a place with 5 different variations of Collins drinks? Try Fork and Collins. Came here for Saturday brunch, and enjoyed my time. The place wasn't busy, which was nice for a trendy restaurant, and the service was pretty decent. I got their "feeling guilty" brunch item, and it was overly salty for my taste. The only thing that I didn't like was the fact that you had to valet park your car...not cool. Overall a decent place for brunch.
(4)
TAYLOR C.
Food has been sub-par lately, and is only a choice when the places you want to go are already booked. For a place sandwiched between a bunch of college bars, a liquor store, and a jimmy john's, this place sure does hold itself in high regard. Look elsewhere for great food. You could walk a couple of minutes in any direction to find a viable option.
(2)
Cameron Y.
I had a delicious brunch here with a friend. She had a ham and cheese omelette and I ordered the amazing and alluring BBQ Breakfast: pork belly mac and cheese served with a blackberry muffin. I totally out Whataburgered my dining companion. My mac and cheese was out of this world. We also both ordered a cocktail. My friend ordered a classic Bloody Mary and I ordered a Michelada. Our waitress was the only kink here. She had no idea what a Michelada was and it seems she was too green and/or shy to ask a co-worker what that was. The first drink that arrived appeared to have maybe 1/4 of a beer with loads of bloody mary mix. Yuck. We politely asked her to just bring me about an inch of bloody mary mix in a pint glass with a bottle of beer and call it a day. Also during this confusion, our waitress accidentally cancelled my food order. My friend's omelette came out and there we were staring at her food with no sign of my food arriving nor did anyone update us on the status of my food. She then came up and confessed that she accidentally cancelled the order. A manager came by and apologized and all was resolved. I feel bad for the gal, but I wish she would have been trained better and not been too afraid to ask for help. We will be back for sure. Dying to try those Elvis pancakes!!
(3)
Jen H.
I wanted to check this place out since I saw them on the list for HRW, plus was also recommended from a friend to try it out. First off I love their decore and atmosphere. It was very pretty. Staff was very nice and friendly. The service by our waiter was okay. He got our food out on time and made sure all orders were out. Very attentive to what we needed only thing I dislike was he seems a little irritated and unhappy! I don't know the reason why but the vibe we got from him was too welcoming. Other then that he made sure our ticket order were separate without us requesting that and gratuity was not added on a big party. The appetizers was good. The main course was decent not great. I had the salmon that was good. My friend had the scallop. They were all sent back for another order because it was way too salty. I must say some of the food did taste a little salty the mushrooms on my salmon were salty. Overall, I think it is a great place to hang out at the bar and have a few drinks and enjoy their appetizers but main course was ok.
(3)
Noel S.
I don't know how I have not written a review about this place yet. ...crazy. I come here ALL the time. It's one of my favorite brunch spots in houston. Granted I always come with reservation and have only been on random saturday and sunday mornings. Reading the other prior bad reviews, I have sympathy because normally this place does have amazing food. The brunch food is delish. Much higher quality than your average bar/dinner. I love the mac and cheese/bbq breakfast. If im feeling healthy they have good salads as well. Try their chicken apple breakfast sausage too...so good. The duck tacos are also amazing. Good food.+ relaxed but trendy environment. + good drinks = awesome. Try it.
(5)
Maigen A.
Hello-o-o-o Happy Hour! Absolutely gorgeous, breezy covered patio. Trendy interior, with cushy booths and a nice bar. Cocktails. Huge menu, inspired desserts. It's just about EVERYTHING I'm looking for when it comes to winding down after work, so a gal pal of mine and I decided to head over here to catch up. It's midtown, so you'll have to choose b/w valet or scavenging the streets. If the weather's nice, sit out on the patio - it's covered and has a nice breeze running through it. HH runs from 4-7pm, and it covers cocktails, a few appetizers and flatbreads. My friend and I tried the Red-Eye Fries and Black-Eyed Hummus apps - both were pretty solid! My Ginger Beery Collins cocktail was sweet and had enough kick to keep me talking for hours, which was awesome, but also not-so-awesome because I totally missed out on trying their amazing-sounding Crab "Mac 'n Cheese" Rolls and Fried Oyster Fondue. boooo! I will most definitely be back to try those two...and maybe grab a few more ginger beers afterwards. I absolutely love inspired desserts and C&C's got them. Out of the three desserts offered, we opted for the Butterscotch Pudding Jar w/ oatmeal raisin cookies. Gorgeous to look at, definitely picture worthy, and the pudding was smooth, rich, and paired perfectly with the house-made cookies. Pretty setting. Good eats. Sweet desserts. ...followed by another martini. Or two. Ooooh man, definitely "happy" hour.
(4)
Kim S.
Hmm I would say this place is definitely over rated...the brunch menu is very limited. The food was just OK. Our server was very attentive and accommodating though. Maybe it's a better spot for dinner?
(3)
Kathleen B.
Came here with my mom for brunch. The hostess was very understanding when I called to request an extension of time for our reservation since my mom's luggage got lost at the airport, which caused us to run a little late. The food was fantastic! We had eggs benedict and almond french toast. The chicken sausage was tasty with a bit of spininess added to it. The hash browns with the eggs benedict were so delicious. They were cheesy with some extra flavor of spices that made the potatoes extra comfort-foodey. My only minor complaint, the servers and wait staff were sub par. They took foreer to take our order and only checked on us once. After waiting awhile I had to ask for the check. Food is worth it. Service is not anything special.
(4)
Joe W.
After having a bad experience here...I will say that the management staff did contact me and made it right. I thought that was awesome.
(4)
William C.
Service was good, food is ok, my duck taco had bones, and our lovely Houston humidity doesn't help......o well ......next. o and we came for brunch. I miss Farangos. ....Next
(2)
Patrick M.
I love this restaurant and all their amazing cocktails. Unfortunately the POOR valet service keeps us from visiting this great restaurant. The valet is rude, will take your money to park close and take it a few blocks over. Note to Managment: get a new valet service and I promise you'll see the increase in customers coming back.
(5)
charles c.
Went here for a brunch date and we both just had foodgasms constantly! I can't wait to come back! I'd highly recommend anything with bacon and get some mimosas
(5)
Alison J.
I went here last weekend with a group of 8. Unfortunately, we got seated upstairs which had a cafeteria feel too it. (That said, the upstairs seating will likely be nice in the spring/summer/fall when the weather is nice since it will be open air.) Our waiter had too many tables and with all of the running up and down the stairs to get food and drinks it seemed as if we always had empty glasses. The manager was very accommodating when we complained, but I wish we had not had to complain. The food was decent. I don't plan to go back unless I can get confirmation that my table will be downstairs (the vibe was much better).
(2)
Arash R.
We had a reservation of 11 here and they agreed and accepted. We get there, and they tell us that we have to have our whole crew before they can seat us. Not, 8, not 9, not 10, but every single person. That's ridiculous. We spoke to the manager and he kept stressing that it was policy. Bad first impressions.
(1)
Britney G.
Visited here last week. Fairly new spot in the midtown area. The staff here is amazing & love the atmosphere. You get a lot of bang for your buck so def come hungry. Had the fried chicken and the portion size was big but super tasty. Also the chili topped fries (can't recall the name) are a nice starter. The mustard seeds were a surprisingly tasty addition to them. Wouldn't be a spot that I would crave to go back to eat at but good food.
(3)
R S.
I headed to Cook & Collins recently with my out-of-town'er parents. I wanted to show them a little bit of my Midtown neighborhood and wanted to eat locally. C&C only opened in the last few weeks, so I came in prepared to experience some mild "new restaurant turbulence," if you will. The food was good - there was nothing we ate that we didn't enjoy - but was truthfully not above-and-beyond wonderful. To start, we got the Angry Birds plate - an ode to hot wings featuring fried chicken thigh bits with "sweet heat" and pineapple. I was the resident hot wing lover at the table and I felt soul-satisfied by the incredibly well balanced interplay of spice and sweet. For entrees, we ordered the duck, the buffalo meatloaf, and the ravioli. I thought the duck was far and away the star of the evening, and it was the only thing I ate that I can see myself craving and returning specifically to eat. The jus and the combination of sweet potato dumplings (gnocchi?), roasted Brussels sprouts, candied bacon, roasted mushrooms, and an almost carmelized, crispy duck skin all came together to create this rich and deeply satisfying umami treat for my taste buds. The meatloaf itself was pretty plain - enhanced mostly by the spicy ketchup and being wrapped in bacon. I would've enjoyed a thicker or more generous serving of the ketchup to add more flavor and more moisture to the dish. The garlic mashed potatoes and creamy spinach under the loaf were, to me, severely under seasoned. The ravioli was a gorgeous plate - two large, artisan raviolo with a generous serving of the maple gastrique. The toasted almonds really enhanced the dish by adding texture, and my parents commented that the thick and doughy pasta felt special and satisfying. I enjoyed the dish, but didn't get the strong flavors of goat cheese or even maple that I expected based on the dish's description. We finished off the evening with the Cookie Dough brownie. I was enticed by the description of Nutella and Cookie Dough. Truthfully, I couldn't pinpoint either of those ingredients when I was eating it, but the brownie was huge, piping hot, and molten gooey on the inside - we loved every indulgent bite. My parents were both charmed by the toasted marshmallows on top. I, however, craved a huge scoop of ice cream on top to temper the extreme heat (really, it was super hot, but I liked it that way and wouldn't change a thing). Maybe C&C might consider making ice cream available as an addition to the dish? My parents noted that all three entrees lacked seasoning - I only felt that way about the meatloaf (needed a lot of salt to my palette - as mentioned above, both the "sides" underneath the loaf and the loaf itself were bordering on bland - and I craved a much heartier portion of the spicy ketchup) and the ravioli (needed a little salt to help enhance the overall flavor). I'm curious if this is something they're working out at C&C as they work through their launch period? I was surprised when a waitress offered to bring and then brought salt and pepper shakers to the table. Usually when I'm paying these kinds of prices at a restaurant, I expect the seasoning to be pretty spot-on right out of the kitchen. I'd like to come back a few months down the line and see how this has either changed or stayed the same. We ate everything family style since we (ok, since *I*) wanted to try everything. The portions were all huge. Our waiter warned us that the duck and the ravioli were smaller portions (the ravioli plate is indeed just two items, so quantity wise I see his point - but they were large!) but we found all five dishes to be much larger than expected. In fact,I would tell Yelp readers that C&C is a great destination especially if you're looking for large servings. Our Angry Birds appetizer, for example, came in a large bowl - not the kind of appetizer anybody would typically eat solo, more suited to be shared with the table. Due to the general under seasoning and the take away that only 2 of our 5 dishes (the duck and the brownie) were home runs, I'd give my food experience at C&C a 3 star review. However the service was superb. First, the entire staff clearly worked as a team. We had different waiters taking our orders, checking in on us, bussing the table, etc. No waiting for your specific waiter to wander by for service at this place. Also, we told our initial waiter that we wanted to eat family style. Most waiters would've had this go in one ear and out the other, but we were indeed presented with clean plates for our appetizer and entree rounds, and all dishes were presented in the center with serving utensils. As we walked out, both the hostess and a valet asked us if we enjoyed our experienced and wished us a lovely evening. The ambiance and design were great, and I was thrilled to see a generally busy house as the evening progressed. I wish C&C a ton of success and will return to reassess.
(4)
Kristin D.
Great location in midtown and very well done interior design. Very creative menu across the board. Cocktails were great...shared the flat bread with goat cheese minus truffle oil and was very impressed. Looking forward to trying desserts. Service was mediocre but we went in between lunch and happy hour time, so no worries. Will try again next time I'm in town :)
(4)
Alice L.
Cozy place, our waiter knew the menu well and was able to point out the "Yes" and "No"s of the menu...even this way, I was not impressed by the food.
(3)
Tommy W.
The Sunday dinner menu was awesome, and the service/staff was as great as we've seen. This was a great low-key spot, and we will definitely be back.
(5)
Arun K.
Good food, great atmosphere, and perfect location. One of the very few places in Houston that makes you feel like you are in an actual city and not a suburbia! The waiter was very attentive and we were definitely impressed. Angry Birds are the best!
(4)
Anna M.
Went here for a work happy hour. Drinks were great, the selection of wine was awesome and the food was yummy. We will be back!
(4)
Monique M.
Super cute restaurant with good service. But I've tasted better food. Had the mac and cheese crab rolls that came with a little side salad.. the side salad was the best part of the whole meal. I ordered the fat elvis pancakes and my bf ordered the BBQ breakfast. The pancakes were not fluffy at all and just was all around not impressive. The BBQ breakfast was not that great either. It was a lot of the same texture and the flavors just didn't seem to go well together. Maybe we just didn't order the right things..
(3)
Carlis L.
Came here on Valentines because it was the only place that had a decent reservation slot available. When we arrived we saw how beautiful the downstairs looked and was glad we chose a nice spot. Unfortunately we were ushered upstairs to eat in area that looked like a patio tint with school cafeteria style benches. Fortunately, they were able to move us downstairs for a more romantic evening. The menu didn't have many options, but the items we did receive were between average and good. This place does have potential, they would need to step up the menu first. Otherwise its a decent date place as long as your'e seated downstairs. Lol!!!
(3)
Monica J.
In luv with this place from the decor, ambiance, to the food. Me and my friend enjoyed a Saturday afternoon brunch escapade at Cook and Collins we shared a carafe of Mimosas that were heavily sedated. So many great things on the menu so we decided to split a few menu items. The mac n cheese crab appetizer is amazing however the dipping sauce was a tad too sweet for me. We also split the pig porker flatbread which was also great but the main attraction here is the crab cake blt which was just how do i put this everything. Our waiter was polite and very knowledgeable about the menu and gave great suggestions. Valet is useless seeing has how i can just walk to my car however it is complimentary. So no biggie. I'll be back soon to try some of the other menu items, happy hour, and the terrace bar!
(5)
Alex H.
Been here for brunch and dinner so far. Absolutely exquisite. The red fries and mac n' cheese crab rolls were to die for. Mimosas. What more is there in life.
(5)
Pri R.
This place is definitely in the right side of town. A booming young 20-somethings- 30-somethings area. I was actually really excited to try this place out, as I had seen it in a Houston magazine and my hubby and I are huge foodies. So we gave Cook & Collins a try. Here's how the night went besides the food being ok for what it was: -walked in waited to be seated -sat down in the patio (thank God it was covered it was freezing outside) -looked at the menu with excitement - 20 minutes later, waiting for someone to help us -another 15 minutes later, waiting for the waiter to come get our drink order -Finally almost 40 minutes later we were able to put in our order for appetizers and the rest of our food as we felt we were not promised anyone till another hour later. It was such a long wait that my stomach kept cussing and the watered down lemonade wasn't helping. There was an extremely loud group of drunk guys saying "chug chug chug" I mean really? Woodrow's is right next door. And of course the entire patio was echoing "chug chug chug". So further on, we got our food, the hubs got the filet mignon and I ordered the buffalo meatloaf as the staff was raving about it. To be truthful the filet mignon wasn't anything like RDG Bar Annie, and my buffalo meatloaf honestly I think I could of made it. Like really. There wasn't anything awesome about it and I didn't get why the staff would rave about that unless the owners were pumping up everyone with the idea that they need to sell more buffalo meatloafs. The prices honestly I think were a bit too much because of the area. I'm not trying to be mean, I'm being serious here. I really had high hopes on this place as I wanted it to be a place I can have my birthday at or bring friends from NYC. But nothing has me wanting to come back. Like the hubs said "they are trying too hard to be something they are not". I think what sort of food on the menu was unique, but nothing that gave me the "wow" factor. But i'm glad we at least go to try it out. I'm sure later on we can come back again and give this place another try. I understand they are just starting out. But I wanted to be forth coming. My advice: hire more staff to wait on clients, especially if you can figure out your busy days. Don't over hype something that the public hasn't raved about. And be true to yourself as far as food, prices, and everything else that comes with running a food business. Good luck guys wish cook and Collins the very best :)
(3)
Faye R.
Discovered this place on yelp when I wanted to try something new. Delicious Mac 'n' cheese appetizer; had the Cesar salad (SOO GOOD)! The atmosphere and ambiance is great, especially when the weather is nice! Definitely coming back!
(5)
Luna L.
Food is amazing!! The sides are huge! I got Brussels sprouts and Mac and cheese thinking it would be small. It's not. Flatbreads are great and my bf devoured his burger. Cocktails could use some help (I only drank wine because of this) and I HATE the green lights in the patio. John was our server and he was quite friendly and very attentive. Great service and great noms.
(4)
Alexis J.
While we've seen so many restaurants come and go in the same space, I am rather excited for Cook & Collins. With their interesting, intentional menu, I'm looking forward to returning. Excellent melted onion soup, sweet potato ravioli, and definitely give dessert a try-- the butterscotch pudding jar (with pineapple jam) may sound a bit odd, but a fantastic combination.
(4)
Zara S.
I went there for brunch a couple weekends ago and first thing I noticed was the decor and ambiance of the restaurant. We had a seat in the patio area and it was really nice with the sun out and a cool breeze. You must order the giant cinnamon roll with bacon bits. That stuff is divine!! I'm definitely going back to try their other menu items. Server was very attentive too.
(5)
Kenn S.
Amanda greeted our party of six, first-time visitors for Sunday dinner. She explained menu selections were from both the full and brunch menus. Upon Amanda's recommendation, we shared an order of Red Eye Fries - definitely an unexpected favorite, even for our tentative friends from out of town. BBQ Breakfast (basically mac & cheese smothered in goodness) scored highly. The Bleu Burger disappeared quickly and also received high marks. Two of us shared a Chopped Caesar and some Root Beer BBQ Chicken grilled flatbread, a curious combination of flavors that works well together. Cookie Dough Brownie with six spoons topped off the meal - oh those toasted marshmallow chunks. Even the music worked for everyone, a tough challenge given the group's 21 to 60 age range. Service was attentive, friendly, and professional. Our orders arrived quickly. Everything tasted fresh and delightfully different. We all commented it was a five-star experience that we'll try again soon.
(5)
Andy L.
Been here three times and have had a great time trying the different menu options and cocktails. They have a good happy hour-the flatbreads are delicious and large enough for two or three people to share. The meatloaf was cooked just right, their fried chicken and honey is fantastic, and I was pretty impressed by the quinoa burger which is saying something because that's not usually my thing! The atmosphere is open and casual; it's a great place to hang out after work that has both good food and drinks.
(4)
Trujillo F.
went here for dinner with a friend a couple of weeks ago and I was impressed by the decor: clean (architecturally speaking) and contemporary with a slight 'diner-ish' feel. there's also some cute bric-a-brac on shelf display which gave it a comfy, homie feeling. on to the food: had duck tacos appetizers as recommended by chris the gm (not game master) and that was spot on. i had the porterhouse pork which was cooked just right (i asked for medium) aaaannnddd... dang! forgot what she ordered... oh yeah, she had the scallops and they were yummy as well. just go already, i gave it four stars!! :D
(4)
Amanda R.
We were in town for a wedding and made Father's Day brunch reservations via Open Table. We loved this place! They have a great outdoor patio on front, but in Houston in June, we opted to sit indoors. To start off, the 4 of us shared a carafe of the Bellini, made with our favorite Tito's Vodka, and also ordered the Sinaroll (cinnamon roll with bacon icing) and the famous crab rolls (crab meet, macaroni, sun dried tomatoes and truffle dip). For our main dish, I had the classic Benedict. I loved it! One thing that's different is that their hollandaise sauce was citrus-y, which I really liked but my husband didn't. The eggs were perfectly cooked and the biscuit they came on were dense and I think had rosemary in them. My dad also ordered the eggs Benedict, my husband got the Party Fowl flatbread, and my mom ordered the French toast. All the food was delicious, and we're looking forward to coming back next time we're in town!
(5)
Andrew S.
It was ok. Nothing phenomenal but, I enjoyed it. I ate by myself and the service was good and I enjoyed it. Restaurant had a nice vibe to it. Food was good but, nothing to write home about. I had the salmon with quinoa on top and it was placed on top of hummus. Had a lot going on with it. Could be fun for a happy hour in a booth.
(3)
Will F.
I went for brunch this morning and this place does have a great atmosphere. I had the Bloody Mary which was decent at best, nothing special. We ordered the sinnamon roll which was HUGE and I would definitely recommend it and it could feed 5. I had the Morning After which I expected to be a steak with a side of the chili cheese fries with an egg on top. It ended up being a bed of fries with chili and cheese on top and steak cut up on top of that. It was very disappointing as that was not what I was expecting. The steak was bland, the fries were very soggy and the chili was overpowering. Would not order again. Everyone else enjoyed their meal.
(2)
Hannah S.
cool spot for brunch! went on Sunday around noon just in time to get the last table outside (reservations needed for inside) we sat downstairs but there is also an outside patio upstairs with a few tables and a bar. the waiter was nice enough to let us try a sample of the sangria before we committed which we were thankful for because it wasn't the greatest so we opted for a mimosa carafe instead ($12)--just your standard mimosa, could've used more bubbly in my opinion! for our second round of drinks we ordered the Bellini carafe ($21)--a tastier choice! as an appetizer we ordered the mac & cheese "crab rolls"--pretty good; don't skip on the dipping sauce it comes with as it was sweet and added the perfect little kick! the fat Elvis pancakes were every bit of peanut butter, banana-y goodness I was hoping for. tried a bite of the BBQ breakfast--very yummy but wish the brisket that is mixed in with the mac n cheese was more chopped up rather than just one big chunk of meat, this dish also comes with a raspberry muffin that was super moist! also tried a piece of the white bird flatbread which was a lighter, refreshing choice with perfectly crisp crust! the portions are very generous so go hungry and also not too late--brunch ends and the place closes up at 2:30 on Sundays.
(3)
M K.
I recently visited C&C for the 2nd time after having an enjoyable brunch a few weeks prior. This round I decided to bring my parents who were in town. My mom has a food allergy to dairy and a gluten intolerance. As she perused the menu she decided on a omelet dish only to request it without the feta cheese. Our waiter informed us that the feta was "in the mix" as there were several other ingredients in the omelet (spinach, onions,etc). We asked him if the omelets were pre-maid and all server kept saying was it's "in the mix". So basically for a $14 omelette you are getting a pre-maid omelet, who knows how in advance they even make the "mix". When we asked about the oatmeal and if they could substitute another milk guess what we were told..you bet ya, it's "in the mix". I wish the server would have at least gone the extra step to see if they could even prepare a spinach and egg omelet but he revert back to the only words he could remember "it's in the mix". C&C has a great atmosphere but if you need any dietary substitutions forget it. Mix your brunch scene up and try somewhere else, enjoy!
(1)
Mary N.
A 3.5 bumped to a 4th star for ambiance and service. We made reservation for 1pm Sunday. Arrived early, but immediate seating available. Our server was friendly. He answered questions about the menu selections without irritability. The decor was upscale-comfortable. Everything was clean. Make sure you read the menu carefully. There is a real effort to put their stamp on recipes. For example, the Texas style bacon is double smoked. I ordered the crab cake Sandwich and found that the bacon's extra-smokiness to be a bit over the top for a mild crab cake. The aioli was strong, as well. The brioche that it was served on was excellent. I can't fault the preparation of the sandwich. Likewise, I found the sangria to be a bit sweet. The garlic fries were crispy with bursts of garlic. The one disappointment was the gravy. I want to return for dessert. I can see myself meeting friends for drinks. I appreciate an establishment that stocks top shelf selections and is not a carbon copy of formula driven chains.
(4)
Robert J.
All dishes ordered were acceptable & the service was good. Only complaint was with the Oysters??? Rockefeller Fondue. For $14 the dish should absolutely have more than 2 of the smallest oysters I have ever seen. Come on C+C Chef. This was a complete embarrassment & insulting to your guests. Flavor was good but where were the oyster"s"???
(3)
Mike J.
Great menu, good food, great location
(4)
Savannah T.
Cook & Collins could not have chosen a better location! This is definitely going to be my pre-drinking joint to Red Door for dancing! They have some extremely unique and tasty cocktails (I enjoyed a Ghost's of Jacob's Past). Apparently I had the strongest cocktail on the list, and I definitely had a buzz after just one. Now... The food. I got the Hummus plate and the Spinach Salad with a girlfriend and we enjoyed all of it. I am so glad to have found out about this place! Glad that vacant suite found a great tenant.
(5)
Sonya C.
best crab cake burger I've ever had. I wish I had caught our waiters name bc he was fantastic. Friendly, funny, and always around just when we needed him. Blonde guy, so wish I remember. Overall great experience
(4)
Kim K.
The food was delicious but a lot! We both couldn't finish our meal. John our waiter was really nice and attentive! Nice casual restaurant in Midtown.
(4)
Diana Z.
Sorry Cook & Collins. I really wanted to love this spot. The menu and cocktail list looked fantastic, but unfortunately you didn't live up to our expectations. First, the positive: the service was really great, from the hostess who greets you at the door to our chipper server; one out of three cocktails (the martini appleflower) was delicious and nearly worth the price; the fried chicken was hot, just a tad spicy, and tasty. Now, the negative: the hyped up angry birds appetizer was just ok, as was the beet salad and sides for our fried chicken. Excited about the biscuit and gravy our dish came with we were thoroughly disappointed by what seemed to be a rock disguised as a biscuit (pretty sure made of Bisquick). Then the bill came. We're totally used to paying for great food and great service, but we left feeling a bit screwed. Overall, it wasn't a terrible experience it just wasn't worth the money and didn't live up to what we thought could be a really good spot. It sort of reminded me of that Anheuser-Busch beer Shock Top--you think it's sort of like Blue Moon and it looks like a genuine craft beer, only to discover that it's a wanna be craft beer that tastes terrible made by corporate america to fool you. C&C is sort of like that... looks great, but feels little like a chain with everything just a tad under par.
(2)
Andrew A.
Cozy, trendy atmosphere with friendly service and kickass food. Holy cow was dinner a treat last night. Now, Valentine's day (also mother's day, new years eve, fathers day etc) is typically not a night where you get see a restaurant's best effort. That goes double for a restaurant still working the kinks out as it's only been open for a month. But my wife and I had a wonderful dinner there. Mo, I believe was our server's name, was a friendly, attentive waiter. Food was spectacular. The mac and cheese and crab rolls were awesome on their own, but dip them in that truffle vinaigrette and fasten your tasty belts. Ribeye was cooked perfectly, as was the filet. The duck tacos were out of this world with some kind of spicy bean on the plate to kick it up. And I'm so glad they ran out of the brownie (our reservation was for 10pm so completely understandable) because the butterscotch jar was one of those desserts that every spoonful was followed with an outburst along the lines of when harry met sally. We will be back and we will be bringing friends.
(5)
Sara J.
Great service, great food, great atmosphere! Will be back for sure!
(5)
Rachel S.
Just ate here for the first time, and it was great! They make an awesome bloody Mary with some delicious garnish, including a shrimp and slice of bacon. I had the three cheese burger and enjoyed it very much! I would definitely recommend it and will surely go back for round 2!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Hipster Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Tianya W.
Cook & Collins was just "OK" to me. If you're looking for a small, intimate place, then you will love it. I did, however, enjoy the freshness of everything, you can tell they care about the products they use. We ordered the appetizer of mac n cheese crab rolls....they appeared to be more cheese and noodles than grab, but still tasty. For my entree I ordered the Steak & fries....the fries were heavenly. The steak, the meat itself, I could tell was a very good cut of beef, but it lacked seasoning and was kind of dry, the dipping sauce helped it a bit, but not much. Overall....I may return and try something else on the menu. Note: If you have never been...GO HUNGRY....their portions are HUGE! :-)
(3)Thierry T.
1. Service - our waiter (Lane) was very nice and patient. He provided us with good suggestions on what to eat for our first time there. 2. Price - not cheap, but worth the cost. For two people, we had an appetizer, two sodas, one hamburger with fries, and a large chicken salad for $41. 3. Ambiance - the place looks pretty hip. It has a bar and a dining area with lots of booths. It's a nice hang out spot with your crew. Dress code is casual to dressy. Just don't be too under dressed. 4. Food - my c&c cheeseburger was very nice. The burger was cooked well, not too salty, and you can taste the charcoal flavor. Perfect to my taste. The salad was a good dinner size, fresh, and not too soggy. 5. Cleanliness - very clean. There are no dirty plates laying around, no greasy floors or furniture. Bathrooms were clean and no smells.
(5)Houston T.
Not worth the Groupon, not worth the $35.00 Restaurant Weeks, not worth the upset stomach. Starting off with the good: complimentary valet, nice setup, friendly hostess/bartender everyone else wasn't too friendly. For food we ended up getting the salad and flatbread pizza, the salad was drenched in dressing, and the pizza cheese didn't seem of great quality. I had the tortilla crab bisque, chicken fried steak, and didn't eat the dessert; the soup had a lot of cilantro and tasted as it were from a can, the chicken fried steak had a twist which had an egg and salsa on it that over powered the rest of the plate. Based on the 4 out of 5 stars I set my expectations too high.
(2)Cody S.
Came for brunch on a Saturday and was able to get a good table easily. We had the Bloody Mary which uses zing zang as a base and has a shrimp, blue cheese olive, bacon, and pickled tomatillo. We ordered two main dishes: bbq breakfast and eggs Benedict. The Benedict was served on an amazing biscuit baked in house. The bbq breakfast was house Mac and cheese topped with an ultra tender pork belly braised in root beer. Great taste, service and overall ambience. Would definitely return.
(4)Cameron B.
Fantastic combinations of flavors. We came for a quick weeknight happy hour and dinner; we ordered four items: tuna tartare tacos, yucca fries, duck flatbread, and mac & cheese. We also had some of the happy hour cocktails: white sangria and a Pimm's cocktail with tequila. Everything was amazing, with the duck flatbread the star of the show. And with the happy hour specials, we were out the door at about $50. Everything was incredibly fresh, and all the flavors were aggressive; I was especially impressed with the very spicy and flavorful sauce that came with the yucca fries (it was not messing around!). And the service was fantastic--we had lots of questions, special requests, and a toddler who did not feel like listening, and the servers were extremely prompt and accommodating. Will definitely be back. Houston is an amazing place to eat, and this is one of its best!
(5)Fregilia L.
I love beautiful places to go and eat and Cook & Collins gives me that beauty with a yummy dish attached. It wasn't until I left out this place that I realized it use to be El Patio I believe. The place looks nothing like it use to and I love it. The place is adorned with beautiful flowers when you walk in. The decor of this place is simple, clean, and sharp. When you walk into C & C you notice the long thin tables that are great for groups. Once you walk past those you are lead into the other area that is a bit more intimate seating. Also the bar is located in this area. Our server was very kind and mentioned all the specials they had as well as what her favorite thing on the menu was. I decided to order the Caesar salad with grilled chicken. I don't think I have ever finished a salad so quickly. It was absolutely delicious. We decided to do street parking so make sure to pay attention to the signs when you park. Valet parking is available.
(4)Drew K.
We came in for a quick drink before an event so little to say about the food aside from the fact that the pizzas looked great while they zipped by us on waiters' trays. As you enter, they have a portion of the place in a covered open air section that has its own bar and maybe 20 tables. Once you head inside, it's a narrow interior with another bar and maybe 20 more table/booths. There's an upstairs option but they must guard that door with an invisible cloak because I didn't even know that while I was there...It was one drink I promise. Cocktails were great and the bartender was very friendly and attentive. We will have to come back and try the food and give a better explanation beyond our sip and dash experience.
(3)Renia L.
This will be my 3rd time visiting C&C and I have not been let down once, although I haven't been able to visit for dinner, my brunch and lunch experiences have been quite pleasant. But Strikingly the service has always been a bit odd. Today we were seated by a hostess who appeared to be in her workout clothes and our waiter Chris appeared a bit scattered and a little sweaty but I digress because the FOOD is why you come to restaurants and the food we ate today was SLAMMING... The Duck Tacos (black eyed peas + smokey queso + green tomato salsa + tortillas) were so good that I looked down and all of my food had mysteriously walked off my plate. The queso was just right and hit the spot 10x better than simple shredded cheese! My lunch companion ordered the Crab Cakes BLT (minus the B) and said that it was fantastic. She didn't eat all off her fries though, so not sure what that was all about but for what it's worth she took them with her for later! I can't wait to try dinner on the PATIO on the 2nd floor as when asked if we could sit there for lunch were told there weren't enough servers to work both upstairs and downstairs, we were cool with that because they had the doors open on the first level and the breeze was welcomed. Now, the fake flowers while a little dusty was by far a better choice than having real flowers that close to patron's food. I could just imagine all the flying critters and sneezes during pollen season! I will be back..maybe for happy hour leading into dinner. I MUST SIT ON ONE OF THOSE GREEN STOOLS..
(4)Ashley M.
Amazing brunch! Came right before noon on Sunday and got a table on the patio right away. Soon after there was a wait, but seems if you get there early enough you can avoid the wait. The service was friendly and prompt and the food was AMAZING! We got a carafe of Bellini, the sinaroll, BBQ breakfast, and breakfast burrito. The sinaroll with bacon frosting was my favorite! Wasn't overtly sweet, and the bacon was a perfect combo with the sweet frosting. I was also a big fan of my breakfast burrito. The braised beef inside was on point! The BBQ breakfast was pretty good, but not my favorite. I don't think we would order it again. Essentially it a big bowl of mac and cheese with overly sweet BBQ in it. Meh. Pass on it next time. Pricey brunch, but well worth it. Cost about $60.
(4)Debbie K.
After my awful experience, Micheal the manager contacted me and apologized and stated that the kitchen was extra busy the day I went originally went because they were also serving food for the bar filled with people watching the game. I was willing to give it a second chance and try it again. This time my service and the food was much much better. I got the BBQ flatbread, loaded potato fritters (which was okay) and the pink martini. I will definitely be going back again. They've won my business back again!!
(4)Honey B.
One of my favorite places to dine in Houston! The egg rolls were excellent. Hummus is great! Fried oyster was great, albeit a little on the salty side. Main course I had the sweet potato ravioli which I don't think they carry anymore. The flatbread is great. The brown dessert was delicious (I love a hot and cold combination). The best cocktail to order is the ginger collins. Great service, I plan on going back soon!
(4)Ross W.
This is a worthy place to add to your brunch rotation. I've been here twice, and both times were very pleasant experiences. Parking is easy (always a plus) with an overfill lot across the street. We were seated immediately, and the staff was attentive and friendly the whole time. The food is very good. The red-eye fries are awesome. And that's walking in without a hangover. Had you been really drinking the night before, they would probably be enough to restore your faith that there is some good in the world. And the C&C burger was quite tasty, with lots of cheese melted on top. I do kind of wish they would chop the sun dried tomatoes a little bit more, as you tend to pull out a few as you eat it. That's the level of problem I have to turn to dock them point on the food. It's good all the way around. Oh, and fries that came with the burger were great! The drinks are good, but I have yet to have something truly spectacular. But definitely on par with any other restaurant I've tried within the vicinity. I do have to say that it's a little pricier than comparible spots. Not to say it's twice as much, or anything that noticeable, but I feel like the final bill comes out higher than other places. But that just might be a result of the portion size, which is huge! I imagine that I will be back, and if you're coming for brunch, definitely split the Sinaroll, it's way too big for one person!
(4)Kara C.
Came here in January for the first time, & received amazing service. Brunch was amazing!!! I then decided to come back a few weeks ago, arrived on a Saturday at 3 - just missed the brunch, so we decided to try the lunch menu. It was "ok", brunch food was better. The bloody mary wasn't full of shrimp and bacon as it is at brunch. Our waiter forgot about us, several times, the manager was chatting with the table behind us the entire hour - while we sat there with no water, no service, & at one point had to get up and go to the bar & get our own water. She looked at us several times, but continued chatting with her friends at the next table. Very unprofessional. Hopefully this is just a one time thing, but if this is the way their manager acts, I can see why the wait staff doesn't take their job or service serious.
(2)Teresa C.
OMG! Besides the food being to die for the service was AMAZING! Pull up a bar stool and you will have great conversations. Food is 5* on everything I ate!
(5)Stacey M.
We love this place! Fantastic atmosphere great servers outstanding food... There is just not enough space to tell all the great things about this location. Great options for HRW. Great weekly options when it isn't HRW. God beer and wine options as well as mixed drinks.
(5)Christy C.
Came for lunch during the week. Food was really delicious, I had the sweet potatoes ravioli with sage cream sauce and my husband had the steak & fries. We got the duck tacos as an appetizer. They have a nice outdoor patio and the inside is equally as interesting. Cocktails were a little over priced in my opinion for their quality but the food was really good.
(4)Lin Lin S.
The staff and management are nice, so is the open air dining. and there is free parking in the lot across the street (hey, I'm from LA, free parking is worth noting!) Unfortunately, beyond their savory Bloody Mary, the buck stops here. FYI: i like my fried chicken crispy crunchy and moist, my biscuits warm and flaky, and my baked goods fresh with a tender moist crumb. thus, our dishes were a fail. I ordered the Feeling Guilty: eggwhite omelet with a chimichurri sauce (made with "kale" - it was unnoticeable), stuffed with mushrooms and feta, accompanied with potatoes and fruit. it was ok, kinda salty though. my bf got the fried chicken and biscuits. soggy bland dark meat chicken (wing, leg, thigh - perhaps from a cornish game hen? it was small), a cold small split biscuit, with a bit of gravy on the plate, served with a jar of honey. we had to ask for more gravy to help moisten the dish. aren't biscuits with gravy supposed to be smothered? the sinful cinnamon roll made from brioche dough with bacon glaze sounded promising. i imagined buttery eggy airy dough with a bacon bit glaze. nope. it tasted more like a dry tough biscuit. even the glaze was hard, not ooey-gooey lick your fingers type of glaze. the manager was kind enough to swap it for a blackberry muffin, which i eyed upon arrival. the blackberry crumb muffin: huge muffin with 3 berries dotted on the top. no berries on the inside. and also, like the cinnamon roll, it was very very very dry. i love carbs, esp the sweet variety but these 2 options were just too terrible to eat beyond 2-3 bites. the description of the menu is mouth watering: pork belly, kale, bacon, brioche dough. i assume they use quality ingredients: cage free poultry and eggs. but what's the point if the final product is subpar?
(2)Jenny S.
I'm giving it 4 stars, but I can see why this place has a 3 1/2 rating average. My BF and I went here for dinner one evening. I had the sweet potato ravioli and he had the steak and fries. Both were delicious, but the flavor profiles were so different that it's hard to pick a favorite. His steak was perfectly done-huge bonus. My ravioli was good but a little on the small side. Still full but only with extra bites from my BF's plate. We split the cookie dough brownie for dessert. Amazing. Just order it. Now the drinks...one reason we picked this place is because they had 1/2 glasses of wine and we wanted to try a few different ones without getting hammered. They either brought us half-pours like we asked or really sad full pours. When we got the bill, we were charged for full pours. We told the waiter who seemed confused and brought up that happy hour ended. That was confusing because wine isn't even listed as a happy hour special. We showed him the menu and he seemed to get it. But when he brought it back, it just had a bunch of incorrect wines on there. We just paid it because it was about right price-wise. I still don't know why it was so confusing because it's on their menu as an option...? Whatever. They were very nice about it, just kinda dampened an otherwise nice evening. Also our waiter was fairly MIA, but generally good service.
(4)Trip G.
Came here for brunch before but Happy Hour tonight and it was great. Gave it 5 stars for the strong drinks and awesome flat breads for happy hour. Will definitely be back here!
(5)Tiffany J.
Midtown is Back and I attribute that to great dining options!! Cook & Collins reigns supreme when it comes to Brunch!!! The menu is super tasty and I've enjoyed dining here numerous occasions. Everything is mouth watering including the pancakes, eggs, french toast, salads, and don't forget about their signature Bloody Mary's!!!!!
(5)Erika J.
Was really excited about going to this restaurant. The pictures on FB were amazing. Great atmosphere, great looking restaurant, complimentary valet parking, wait staff friendly and attentive. My Bloody Mary was good. Now for the bad. we first started an appetizer recommended by our waitress: the crab Mac & cheese egg rolls. They were the weirdest thing I have eaten in a long time. I cannot even describe the non edible flavor they have. So we sent them back. Next we had the three cheeseburger and the crab cake BLT. The three cheese cheese burger meat patty had no favor and was laying in a plate of cold hard fries that have some weird garlic Parmesan seasoning on them. My crab cake BLT smelled fishy, so fishy that I wasn't able to bring the sandwich to my mouth to bite it without getting nauseated. So I cut a piece off and tried it. The crab cake's consistency was wet and mushy inside and had a super strong fishy taste. I too had the hard, and cold "seasoned" fries, which I ate in order to get the fishy taste out of my mouth. So we sent our items back too.. The manager came to our table was super sweet, apologized, removed the offending items from our bill, gave us gift cards and invited us to come back for brunch. I was soo disappoint and will never go there again. Unless it's just for drinks.
(2)Mina L.
I came here on Saturday for brunch with my boyfriend. I was excited to try this place because I read the reviews but I was a bit disappointed. i ordered the "Feelin' guilty" and the omelet was very bland and the hash browns were not crispy, they were mushy. My boyfriend ordered the "BBQ Breakfast" and we were both extremely impressed with their blackberry muffin. However, the rest was pretty salty. The actual restaurant itself was very cute, our waiter was attentive, free valet parking but the food wasn't that great. Maybe we'll come back for dinner.
(3)Larry B.
My feet are cold. Why? This place knocked my socks off. They hit on all cylinders. Excellence on all fronts, from design to execution. I can't say enough, but OK, for you I will. First, the menu. It has a number of innovative items, along with some comfort standards. The range of meal types can go from burgers to entrees. They have local sources for much of the food. My selection: C&C Salad: Mixed greens (incl. radish slices), with the pepper ranch. The dressing may be a bit hot for the gals, but Texan males will love it. Buffalo Chili Burger: I was worried that chili might cause the bun to get soggy, but that did not happen until almost the end of eating it. The poblano peppers inside are distributed well and the taste was exceptional. Fries were perfectly cooked, herbed and I chose the recommended dip of pickled parsley mayo. I am not a mayo person, but this was different, more flavor, and a very pleasant surprise. Choose this. Drink: Gingerbeery Collins: Nice balance of flavors. (not getting a Collins would be like not inviting half the family of the place) Decor: Generally, black, white and grey. The bar seating area is reminiscent of a diner. Lighting was set dim in the dining area. Music is upbeat, not too peppy nor too loud. There are separate sections for dining. I sat in the long padded booth that faces the bar with two overhanging 42-inch TV's in the back. On the wall there are some plaques with advice on Family. Why? Because the name of the place and a couple of menu items are dedicated to the owner/chef's family heritage. I think that helps set an attitude of comfort. Service: Excellent on all aspects. Keep in mind that I ate dinner at 6:00 pm on a weekday, which means the place is almost empty. However, you can tell that the staff is experienced and professional on customer service aspect. Summary: I think they designed this place for me. I love food quality, and this place delivered that in a comfortable setting. ---------- Footnote ------------- Cook & Collins, from a Paleo perspective: "Cook" is what the native Indians did for 8,500 years using stone ovens at the Wilson-Leonard Site in Williamson County (remember 'Three-Legged Willie' from previous review?). & "Collins", as in Michael B. Collins, is the Paleontologist who researched the site. Most famous find: "Recovery of an early human burial, one of the oldest and most complete in North America. The individual--a young female--was buried roughly 11,000 years ago with a worn grinding-chopping tool placed at her side and a large limestone boulder above her, perhaps to hold a hide wrapping. Archeologists nicknamed her Leanne (or the "Leanderthal Lady"), in reference to the nearby town of Leander, Texas." -- texasbeyondhistory.net/p… Amateur Paleontologist analysis of the above: The "grinding-chopping tool" was an early version of Ron Popeil's Ronco line of Veg-O-matic ( youtube.com/watch?v=FGo7… ) But wait! There's more! The large flat-sided limestone boulder was actually the first prototype of a flat screen TV over the bar.
(5)Gretchen H.
Gingerbeery Collins I hear you calling my name tempting me back to Cook & Collins with your gingery berry goodness! Stopped in here one rainy afternoon for a late lunch and was immediately tempted by the delicious sounding gingerbeery collins cocktail and it most definitely did not disappoint! I immediately began asking the waiter and the bartender as many questions as I could about this delectable concoction so I could try and replicate it at home. I've come close but not close enough to make me forget about the original. The best part about Cook & Collins is that it is not a one trick pony. While I am enamored by their cocktail I would be remiss in not mentioning the food. RED EYE FRIES!! WHAT?!?!? Fries, chilli, cheese, hot sauce,a fried egg. I know these sound like chilli cheese fries (w/ an egg) but they are SO much more! My mouth is watering typing this. The service was impeccable. I love a never empty water glass. But he was also super knowledgeable about the food. He brought over menus for other service hours and was so encouraging to come back. They also have a rewards program that is done via text so you aren't having to keep up with a card.
(5)Mike H.
We stopped here for a late lunch. It was around two o'clock in the afternoon and we were the only ones in the joint. We were ordering off of the lunch menu and it definitely did not disappoint. The Red Eye Fries are insanely good. They are fries with chilli, cheese, hot sauce, an egg, and I don't know what else but they were excellent. I filled up on these, and I want to go back and eat more. They were some of the best fries I have ever eaten. Do not skip these. We also had the Party Fowl which is a duck pizza with pickled shitake mushrooms and blue cheese. The flavours are great especially the pickled mushrooms which add a nice sweetness to the whole shebang. The wife had the Ginger Beery Collins to drink, and it made me immediately regret whatever drink decision I had made. Her drink was light, refreshing and went down way too easy. I think I could plan a day around drinking these and eating those fries. The waiter was friendly and had great recommendations. Everything we ordered was delicious. The free valet parking would come in handy when that part of town gets jumping. It was a great experience and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Jessica B.
I came here once for dinner and once for a business lunch and it's been added to the rotation. It may be slightly overpriced, but the place has a good vibe, decent service, and good food. Can't ask for much more than that in Midtown.
(4)McKenna S.
Excellent! Definitely sit on the covered patio. I didn't have the cinnamon roll, but it looked sooooo good. Instead I had the braised beef burrito and it was amazing! This place is on my list of top brunch places (right after liberty kitchen and baba yega)
(5)Nhi H.
Cute little restaurant in Midtown. Decor seemed a bit modern diner-ish. The hostesses dressed too casual for the place. Short denim shorts...this isn't Twin Peaks or Hollister. The Cook's Bloody Mary comes with a lot of goodies. Poached Shrimp, Pickled Green Tomato, Bleu Cheese Stuffed Olive (although mine wasn't bleu cheese stuffed. It was stuffed with a different cheese), Bacon..Ohhh the bacon was gooood. Bloody Mary was good but was a little too thick. You can't really go wrong when you order a salad at most places. I got the Upstream, which was salmon on top of quinoa, zucchini, tomato, asparagus, feta, and tomato vinaigrette. This was light and a perfect meal if you want to be full but not feel heavy after. My friends got flatbreads and burgers and didn't seem too thrilled with them. As jealous as I was when they ordered all these fat-filled items, it all faded when my meal turned out to be one of the better choices.
(3)Sandy H.
The One Where Sandy Double Booked and Survived. This review is strictly on their happy hour. After reading an article about how they have one of top happy hour menus, I just had to suggest it for (what now seems like) my yearly happy hour with some law school friends. Happy hour takes place all over the venue. Your server will point out, on their regular menu, which items are happy hour prices. Honestly, it was a bit confusing for me. I don't understand why they didn't print out a separate menu. Anyway, we tried their "Angry Birds", "Black Eyed Hummus", "Red Eye Fries", and "Tomato and Mozzarella Flatbread". The Angry Birds was my favorite. It's fried chicken bites tossed in a sweet sauce and sprinkled with almond slices (oh, and there were pineapple bites too). Overall, it was delish and the first clean plate. My number two from our selection is their Red Eye Fries. It's hand cut fries topped with buffalo chili, mustard seeds, and an egg! It's a pretty big bowl and definitely made to share. Both the flatbread and the hummus were okay. I love, love, love hummus, but I didn't care for theirs. The hummus was served with a side of grilled flatbreads. The tomato and mozzarella flatbread was okay. It tastes like any other place. For dessert, we tried their "Cookie Dough Brownie" and "Caramel Apple Bread Pudding". My favorite was the brownie because they drizzled it with NUTELLA fudge! Omg!! I even asked for a scoop of ice cream (because that's the proper way to eat it - ha!) and it was amazing. The bread pudding was okay. It was a bit too rich for my taste. Overall, I had a really good experience here. They have a brunch menu, which I'm excited to try. They also have complimentary valet parking here if you don't want to look for parking.
(4)M S.
Nice place, food was good and tasted fresh. Had a good time plus the drinks were really good.
(4)Jayson K.
I visited this gem for brunch today for the first time. It was everything I've heard it to be. Very clean, nice decor, and pleasant staff. After the complimentary valet, we walked inside without a reservation and was seated in the patio area which was lovely. As far as the food was concerned, it couldn't be more perfect. I had the French Toast with chicken s)ausage. I wanted to order several more sausages to go, it was that good. Also had the crab bisque which was also quite good. I left there with my girl friend full and satisfied, yet we were already talking about coming back for lunch and dinner. Go, if you aren't there already, I don't know what you're doing with your life.
(5)Kelly L.
I love this new addition to midtown. It is just what the area needed. I have been here so many times, sometimes just for cocktails and sometimes for dinner. My favorite entree would probaby be the C&C burger. I have tried the meatloaf and scallops and they were just ok for the price. The brussels and mushrooms are also amazing as sides. I also love the bar staff here. I have been known to sit at that bar far too long, trying all the cocktails on the menu. If they arent busy they will make something up for you!
(5)Felicia R.
Met a friend here for Happy Hour and the food was pretty decent. We tried several different drinks and weren't big fans of any, really. Service was definitely lacking and it was pretty pricey.
(3)Lonny Y.
Dropped in for a girls brunch last Sunday. Luckily weather was pleasant enough that we were able to sit outside. I think we got 3 carafes of Mimosas between 6 of us, $12 each carafe, so it came out to be VERY affordable =) Because I just came back from gorging myself on vacation, I just ordered a small plate of biscuits and gravy. A bit stingy on the gravy, but good flavor on both. I also tried the pork belly with mac n cheese with a blackberry muffin. Pretty good, but the noodles were so overcooked, very limp and soft. And I tried a spinach omelet I think as well. The pesto on top was a good addition. Because it was a Sunday, we were able to park in the Specs parking lot which really helped out. Otherwise, it's a very small private lot that they have or street parking.
(3)Elise A.
I was really excited to try this place because I heard a lot about it. I went with a party of three on a Thursday night. The dining room was a wait unless you had a reservation, but the patio was able to seat us right away. We opted for the patio instead of waiting because it was a nice summer night and they had an array of fans. It felt wonderful. As soon as we were seated there was ice cold water and the waiter arrived promptly. The menu was so eclectic and everything sounded so yummy it was hard to decide. We ordered the crab mac n' cheese egg roll as an appetizer. They were interesting and defiantly worth the try but I don't know if I would order them again. It came with an arugula salad in a vinaigrette dressing. The dressing was delicious and light. For dinner I ordered the fun guy. This consists of mushrooms, truffle, onion strings and goat cheese on a flat bread. PHENOMENAL! My boyfriend ordered the fried chicken and that was also amazing. The atmosphere, food and service were amazing. I will be back.
(5)Nidhi J.
Great food. Mango chicken is awesome. Best part was the nutella brownie. Will go again just for that brownie....
(5)Chrishelle C.
Had a most wonderful experience here for Sunday Brunch! Food, drinks and service exceeded our expectations. I may have had the best Bloody Mary ever. Benjamin made our visit memorable and we will definitely be back and request Benjamin for sure.
(5)Karen S.
Guess what the adjacent establishment is? I had literally just gone out to Red Door the night before, after which I was almost lured in by the pizza guy selling shitty slices to intoxicated passersby. Now I'm starting the morning with brunch at Cook & Collins, a relatively classy joint. My two worlds collide...very weird feeling. Things always look so different in daylight. I have to hand it to this place for making a strong first impression. Catchy name, self-parking across the street at Specs, takes reservations, spacious patio and a bar on the second level! The menu showcases a bit of imagination-it's not just your typical eggs benedict (although we ordered that too). I had the BBQ breakfast pork belly, which was served on a bed of mac and cheese. Can we just take a moment to admire the excess of this dish? Rich, creamy, and fatty. Everybody knows we shouldn't be eating this, but that's precisely what makes the sin feel so gratifying. Oh yea, it comes with a large blueberry muffin on the side. It doesn't make any sense, but I'm not about to question it. Please accept my sincerest gratitude for the sweet treat. My friends who were supposedly trying to "detox" picked healthier alternatives - quinoa burger and feelin' guilty. Did I mention it came with fries? And that they also devoured crab mac and cheese rolls? I'm no expert on cleanses but...those seem to be forbidden. At least they demonstrated a little restraint from alcohol, while one guy in the group downed an entire carafe of sangria BY HIMSELF. We had to cheer him on toward the end (Chug! Chug! Ch-are we back at Red Door?). Cook & Collins is a solid option for brunch at a reasonable price. Midtown was yearning for a place like this.
(4)Gina W.
Ate here for a farewell dinner. I've heard amazing and great things about this place but was unfortunately disappointed in their dinner menu. I ordered a mozzarella and tomato flatbread... The flatbread was 95% Cheese and 5% bread, I couldn't eat the whole thing because it was just too much. Two of my friends who ordered the fried chicken were also disappointed. The chicken was on the bone with a side of mashed potatoes and a biscuit. The meal was ultimately ruined because there was this hot sauce poured on all three items... I do not personally like my biscuits spicy. They do serve a generous amount of honey. My friend who ordered the C&C burger absolutely loved it. I tried a bite and realized I probably should have ordered that item. The fries, however, were soggy and tasted stale. I was not impressed with the overall menu selection and the waiter did not have any particular recommendations. There were wine bottles at half price which we were happy to order! I think my expectations were set a bit too high. The location is in central midtown, and the inside décor is pretty cool. I could not stop noticing the eclectic music playing though... It went from jazz, to Taylor Swift's song "Fifteen", to Don Henley, to Iggy Azalea, to Frank Sinatra. Very weird.
(2)Wendy T.
I came here during happy hour with group of friends. The flatbreads were a good deal as they were a pretty good size for half price. Everyone pretty much ordered flatbreads and were satisfied. They had a variety of flatbread but most chicken ones had bacon tagged along. In a way, it would be easy to ask them to take it off, but then there's a chance they may forget so I decided to try a chicken one without bacon. All other dishes on menu, including flatbreads, seems rather pricey. Althought I didn't quite like my root beer bbq chicken flatbread, I would like to try the other veggie ones another time during happy hour as they were a good size and the ingredients were fresh.
(3)Nicolas S.
I am really tempted to get extremely plowed this weekend so I can try the Red Eye Fries while grossly hungover. I had them last weekend and wow were they good. It's like Cheech & Chong concocted this dish in a secret, unreleased movie. I'm very wary when it comes to ordering mimosas at a restaurant because I like my mimosas 8/10ths champ. This place does a good job keeping the ratio fair & balanced. The mac & cheese crab rolls aren't as good as they sound. Order more Red Eye Fries in lieu.
(4)Jessie N.
I'm very picky about Boody Mary's and let me tell you...I now have a new favorite! Officially obsessed. Perfect flavor and thickness, not too spicy, not to mention there's bacon and shrimp in it. The brunch menu is heavenly. I ordered the BBQ Mac and cheese and it was too good not to finish. Full of sun dried tomatoes and creamy cheese. PERFECTION. My fiancée ordered the Benedict and the Rosemary biscuits were fabulous. Im going to try and recreate them at home. His eggs were a little too runny for me but that's all up to how you prefer them cooked. Highly suggest going here! The atmosphere is wonderful and the service was fantastic. We joined their rewards program after once visit and cannot wait to go back. :)
(5)Spiro C.
Split cinnamon roll and red eye fries with a group of seven. Plenty of food for all and the fries were awesome. Had the breakfast burrito for an entree. Not too breakfasty but possibly he best burrito I've ever had. Seriously. Smoky Queso and braised beef were perfect. Don't get the Heff beer though. Tasted like the line had mold in it. Service was adequate until Joe came in and saved the day. The hostess told us that they would sit the first full group that arrived. Then she sat a group that came in 20 minutes after us. We had to wait an extra 45 minutes. Then Joe came in. Knocked it out of the park. Split checks no problem. Very courteous. Food was unique and delicious. Would definitely eat here twice
(4)Sarah F.
I would give this five stars but the service I had there doesn't deserve five stars. My girlfriend and I went for brunch on a Sunday. A pitcher of mimosas is $12. I read somewhere it was bottomless, but that is incorrect. We had Mac and cheese crab rolls which were so delicious. We also had the pork flatbread. The food was amazing, and there are many other menu items I would like to try. The reason I gave them a 4 star instead of 5 is the service. Our waiter didn't come by the table to check on us very often. I had to wait a while to ask for red pepper and water. He was friendly and knowledgeable, but needed to check on his section more often.
(4)Corey T.
Stopped in here a couple times in that past few months and have enjoyed their wonderful decor and food. Yes I do agree the wait staff can get a little busy and/or absent minded about our pressence but honestly, there's so much food put on the plate :). Be warned if you decide to get any kind of waffle, know that they will be large, it's a good sharing plate really, but they are good! I loved the bloddy mary, best I've tasted around so far. If you've got a hangover, it's the way to start with. Ask about the loyalty card as well, apparently it's something you'll want in the future as the owners of this place own a few other places as well, that you'll probably find yourselves wanting to frequent. Crossed fingers, they'll interlace the loyalties, kind of like landry's. oh and a pretty good play-list!
(4)Jeremy L.
Met a few ladies here after finding out Proof was closed on Wednesdays (what? for happy hour?). I had heard good things and I was not disappointed. We met around 6:30pm. The waiter was quite quick upon us sitting down, and he immediately did a good thing: "Happy Hour ends at 7." He told the specials ($2 off wine and you-call-its, and half off certain apps and a few flat breads). We shared a chicken flat bread and crab cake/mac cheese app. I was not impressed with the app, the mac & cheese overwhelmed the crab (did not see crab at all). The white chicken flat bread was really tasty. It was bigger than I expected, six large slices. After a couple more drinks (no longer on happy hour), we shared an order of duck tacos (3 to the order). Had black-eyed peas instead of beans. I think the duck was lacking but it was alright. The ambiance is nice, very spacious (i was surprised not more people there), and it became echo-y with groups that came in. They close at 10, but we did not feel rushed. Pete was our server and did an excellent job, he was very back and forth answering our questions of what liquor they had. My friend had a pint grigio that she said tasted like it was watered down. I had a couple kettle and water and then a death door's gin (MI gin, very tasty) and pineapple. The happy hour drinks seemed to be heavy on the mix, but when full price rolled around the drinks became stronger (unsure if this intentional or just happened). I would come back to try a dinner order (the buffalo meatloaf or scallops chowder style looked promising). and to sit on the upstairs terrace (closed for parties and weekends) Only problem we had was with the background music for about 15 minutes. For some reason Cake's "Short skirt, Long Jacket" replayed about 7-8 times in a row. Now I love Cake, but that was too many. We did tell someone and he said he was aware and eventually able to fix.
(4)Yadira T.
Cute trendy place, perfect for brunch with friends. Great selection on the menu, there's something for everyone. I had the "Feeling Guilty" along with a Bloody Mary. You HAVE to order one, it's the perfect combination of spicy and salty, and the little piece of bacon is so unexpected.
(5)Rachel B.
Perfecting the simplest breakfast notions with a dash of pizazz. Walking into C & C, you get a clean, sharp feeling from the interior. Beautiful succulents and orchids (my favorite) line the walls in planter boxes. Long thin tables can be created for massive groups or you can sit at a quaint 2 seater. Full bar is partially visible from the hostess stand. I came here with a group of 20 for my birthday. I've never attempted to get that many people to wake up on a Sunday and be in Midtown to eat by noon. Well.. I was there by noon, our group trickled in until about 1 while the rest of us waited and drank. While we were waiting there were carafes of the Collins bellini's, very spicy bloody mary's with shrimp, bacon, and blue cheese stuff olive garnish, and mimosas. The drinks were well crafted and pretty to look at. The right amount of alcohol for a Sunday morning, as if there were ever a wrong amount of alcohol to be served at brunch. The entire table ordered a little bit of something different but the eggs benedict seemed to be the most ordered and most loved. I ate a little bit off of a bunch of different plates. -- Let us take a moment to talk about how easy it is to f* up an egg, shall we? Poached and over easy are the two most consistently over cooked type of eggs made. Honestly, most cannot pull of the proper way to cook these style of eggs. So, to you, Cook and Collins, thank you for not f*ing up my -or anyone elses eggs.-- The server irked me a bit. He claimed we were his only table but would go missing for very extended periods of time. In fact, there were two occasions that the bartenders came and checked on us. Seemed.. odd. The food was great, the company was better and I left one very happy birthday girl.
(4)Sarah E.
First time here was for sunday brunch with two girlfriends around noon. We made a reservation but didn't get seated on time. While we waited we grabbed a round of drinks at the bar. The staff inside was lively and the cocktails were delicious. When we did get seated on the patio our server was pretty disappointing. He did not smile, he did not offer any suggestions and he was not very present. Other staff members, who were much more pleasant, delivered our food and additional drinks. He dryly greeted us, took the order, checked once after our food arrived, and then brought us the check (without asking about dessert or additional drinks) and that was it. I would have appreciated a smile or a joke or at least a more professional demeanor and some recommendations or some type of enthusiasm. Maybe he was having an off day but there are a lot of great brunch places in Houston and poor service is enough to make me not want to come back, even though all the food was delicious.
(3)Candelaria H.
We went to Cook & Collins for Saturday brunch. The place wasn't too crowded and both inside and patio seating looked comfortable. The mimosa carafe was plenty for 2. Service was great. My water glass was never more than half empty, which is a hard task for most places, since I drink so much water! I had the "feeling guilty" and cleaned my plate! The hash browns were made in more of a casserole form, but were so good! Todd had the "morning after" and was full after half, but he said it was delicious! He agreed that it would be the perfect breakfast after a late night of drinking. We will definitely be back! Tip: if you are planning on going after 11:30am, make a reservation. The place started to get packed.
(4)Tracy D.
I came here on a Thursday night with a party of 16. The restaurant has two levels but it's a little narrow, however the décors were modern and chic. I really like it that they were able to host a big group without giving me a hard time. Appetizers Angry Birds & Red eyes fries was flavorful and tasted good! Mac & Cheese roll was okay because the taste was confusing to me. Entrees Scallops - it was so salty that I had to send it back and order something else. My other two friends did too. Steak and fries - it was dry but tender. However, the fries were good. Salmon - I got to try it and it was good...I think that's the only good entrée. Service The hosts was nice and lovely while our server he didn't seem happy and nice. Places like this I wouldn't expect better service. Overall, it's a good place to grab a drink and snacks because appetizers tasted better than entrees.
(2)Diandra P.
Amazing customer service, ambiance and food was to die for! So impressed we can back for brunch and brought friends to experience it too!!! Would highly recommend to everyone looking for a good time in the city. Beautiful decor!!!
(5)Karen N.
There was a time when you walked in threes in Midtown (and at a brisk pace at that). You only carried cash. And no matter if you didn't have anything in your car, you still feared it would get broken into. I sat in awe in that I was sitting in a restaurant in the SAME Midtown of my yesteryears. This place is just sexy chic. The ambiance and decor here is plain perfect. Five stars. The food. I think they are still working on the kinks on that as every new restaurant may have a few things to work on. The Mac n cheese fried egg rolls were ok (served on over dressed salad). The hollandaise sauce on my main entree was a bit too lemony as well. But that Bloody Mary! If you ever needed a liquid meal, this would be it. Topped with bacon, shrimp and other goodness your hungover face isn't ready for those flavors! All in all, this place has major potential. I'll be back to try those gingersnap waffles!
(3)Nelly R.
I visited here today for a friend's birthday brunch. I won't hold it against them that the air conditioning was not working properly. It was quite warm inside, however, I plan to return soon. I had the French Texas Toast..... I substituted the pineapple syrup for banana syrup since I'm allergic to pineapples. It was good! It's served with Canadian bacon but I also ordered a side of smokey bacon. Mimosas were on point too!
(4)Robert H.
Super disappointed with the entree I received the Sweet Potato Ravioli. One of the only vegetarian meals on the menu so my expectations were high but I was hopeful. How do you overcook and undercook ravioli??? Edges were tough and rubbery the rest gooey and kinda slimy. The sauce was decent but so obvious the large amount of sauce was to cover up the disaster beneath. Oh and I forgot to mention for almost $18 I only got TWO measly ravioli. Never again.
(1)Brittany D.
Yummmmm! We had the C&C Sinaroll, the Fat Elvis Pancakes and the biscuits and gravy. The texture and taste of both the Sinaroll and the biscuits were amazing, so delicious! The pancakes were good too, however, the whipped peanut butter definitely didn't fit like I thought it would. We ended up scraping as much of it off as we could and the pancakes were so much better without it. This is one of the best brunch places I've been to in Houston and I can't wait to come back to try more :) Side note: valet was very off and oddly unprofessional
(4)Erin L.
Decently good food, but nothing special for the Sunday dinner menu. I'd like to come back for brunch and see if my opinion changes. I had the Crab Cake BLT Burger and it was pretty good. My boyfriend thought the Morning after was just okay. The Cookie Dough Brownie was the highlight of the meal.
(3)Samantha H.
So ironically my boyfriend and I had a discussion with Candace the GM about how we just never write reviews on here. It's not that we didn't have an amazing experience, it's just not what we do. However, after visiting this place twice within a 12 hour period, I couldn't ignore the fact how badly I wanted everyone to know how wonderful this place is! The service was outstanding. I mean these folks really care about their costumers and don't just take your order, but actually enjoy having a conversation with you. They are so engaged, know their menu and are truly awesome people. Both times we went we sat at the bar and Collin, Amanda, and Candace all were a part of our experience. I felt like I had been going there since they opened because they were so friendly. They remembered us the next morning and their brunch suggestions were spot on. It is clean, neat, and well put together. Drink menu and beer selection were great, and the food was amazing. The meals surprisingly didn't break the bank by any means considering A) quality of food B) amount of food and C) deliciousness. I just wanted to thank them again for the awesome experience. I know we'll be back and this will definitely be our new go to place.
(5)Mandeh C.
We came here for Saturday bunch at 11a. The patio is nice and breezy, getting a table was fast as was receiving our food. I do not recommend the BBQ breakfast. I ordered it on the waitresses recommendation. It sounds like it's pork belly with a side of Mac n cheese and a muffin. No. It's a disgusting, cold Mac and cheese soup with gravy on it. Soggy noodles and almost no real substance. If I wasn't starving by the time it got there I would have sent it back for being mislead. The mimosas were good, but how hard is it really to make a good mimosa, really.. Overpriced and overhyped. The waitress was terrible, brought our checks at a random times. Everything was horribly overpriced for the quality of food and service. Location is the only thing they have going for them. Overall very disappointing, we will not be returning.
(1)Shavonda S.
Went to Cook & Collins for brunch this past Sunday with family. We got there fairly early around 11ish and still had to wait about 30 mins to be seated. They don't really have any outdoor seating while you wait so you'll be forced to either stand out in the blazing sun or sit on 1 of their 2 mini couches also placed on their outdoor patio. (I hear that you can RSVP in advance and they recommend that you do so at least 24hrs before your anticipated arrival.) Onto the food shall we? I had their Bellini Collins (yum) and the Cinnamon Crunch French Toast and it was just OKAY. Didn't seem to have alot of cinnamony (is that even a word?) flavor the way I was expecting so it tasted rather bland. The chicken apple sausage was a little spicy, but decent. My hubs had the C & C burger. He let me taste it and I thought it was pretty good, but a little loaded down with mayo (which he hated). I'd say just ask for the mayo on the side and you should be good with this one. The customer service was great and the indoor ambiance was really nice but the food just didn't totally win me over here. Overall, this place is a popular brunch spot in midtown (like many other spots). If you're looking for somewhere lively to go on a Sunday then this could work. Just don't get your hopes up too high with the food. Tip: The parking lot at C & C is really small with limited spaces, but you can park in the parking lot located diagonally across the street from here for free.
(3)Sabrina F.
I came here for Saturday brunch. Whenever there's an opportunity to combine a cinnamon roll with bacon icing.......I'm fully taking advantage. Needless to say, the C&C's Sinaroll was as amazing as I anticipated. It's HUGE. Definitely big enough to split with a table of 4. Unfortunately, the mimosas weren't that great. Waaaaay too much orange juice and not enough champaign :( - isn't that illegal for brunch? Valet is complimentary, but don't be a douche bag and tip!
(5)Valerie H.
It was OK. My sis and I came in for Sunday brunch. The menu wasn't very extensive, but the food was good. She had a turkey sandwich, and it was huge! I had pancakes, and they were huge as well. Delicious peanut buttery...this was my favorite dish. The cocktails we ordered were tasty. The dining area is on the small side, with small tables, not very good for a large party.
(3)Priscilla G.
Great brunch!! Get the carafe mimosas, two mimosas is practically the price of the carafe. Great pumpkin spiced waffle! Amazing PB&J pancakes! The ambiance is great and this place is really beautiful! Good service and a place to take someone u really like!!!
(5)Krystle G.
My friend and I tried this place out for a 4th of July brunch. I had the BBQ breakfast and my friend had the Elvis pancakes. Although her pancakes were delicious, they were too decadent to finish. My BBQ breakfast was good and I would re-order. We ordered a carafe of the Bellini Collins (nothing special ... In fact we didn't even care to finish it). Ambience is great. Staff was friendly. Food was good (not great). I would definitely try this place out again if I'm ever back in Houston.
(4)Tiffany J.
I returned here yesterday for a low key birthday dinner. Our waitress was super friendly and attentive. The service is one of the high points of the dining experience. There were only three of us, but we ended up ordering so much food (our eyes are bigger than our stomachs I guess). Upstream - this is not your typical salmon salad. They actually ask you how you want your salmon cooked (well, medium well, etc). I've never been asked that question in regards to salmon before. The salmon was incredible! The seasoning was so good. The salad is arugula based so if you don't like arugula you may want to try something else (or see if they will substitute it for something different like spinach or romaine). It also had quinoa, chopped asparagus, sliced cherry tomatoes, feta, diced zucchini, and tomato vinaigrette. There was some sort of spicy pesto garnished on the side which was pretty good too. So far, this is certainly my favorite entree. Loaded Potato Fritters - I wasn't expecting large potato balls, I was picturing the cheap potato skins you get at a chain sports bar. I should have known better. The crispy skin with the soft potatoes and the sauce that was drizzled over was on point. My friend and I were scraping the plate with our spoons for more sauce. If we weren't in public, one of us probably would have licked the plate clean (kidding...kind of). Black Eyed Hummus - So much yes happening with this dish. The soft pita bread with the seasoning, the vegetables (almost reminded me of pico de gallo) with the black bean hummus was just damn good. I could have eaten this for my entree. Crock O' Mac & Cheese - I only had a few bites because I was stuffed from all of the other food, but it was good. I'm not a fan of spicy food, but the Tabasco crumbs weren't as spicy as I thought they were going to be. Cookie Dough Brownie - Let's be honest...the reason why I wanted to come back here was to try this dessert. It was delicious! I honestly couldn't taste any cookie dough. It just tasted like a gooey yummy brownie. The strawberries would have been better if they didn't have the stems on them! I know it looks pretty with the stems, but I didn't really eat them because of that. We got a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side for an extra $3. It was good, but with the Blue Bell recall, it was Hagen Dazs and it's just not the same. I can't wait for the Blue Bell recall to be officially over because Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla with that dessert would be out of this world. My friend had the Free Range Fried Chicken. I tried a little bit of it. First of all the portion is huge. Unfortunately the batter could have used a lot more seasoning. It tasted like gourmet fried chicken rather than just simple southern, down home friend chicken. I think my standards for fried chicken are high since I grew up eating soul food. But my friend said she absolutely loved the honey and biscuits. My other friend had the Ruby Beets salad with chicken. She said it was okay, but wished she would have ordered the Upstream. She had a side of Sticky Brussel Sprouts. To me they weren't as good as they were the first time I tried them. The piece that I had tasted burned and I couldn't taste the bacon or Parmesan cheese. I was tempted to order a side of asparagus, but my salad had asparagus in it so I passed. Maybe next time. As you can see, we ordered a ton of food! The side dishes and appetizers are large just like the entrees. The first few dishes, we finished with no problem, but by the time we got to dessert, we were stuffed. It was hard to stop eating though because the food is just so delicious!
(5)Chenchen H.
Convenient location downtown, chic atmosphere, perfect for groups and for date night. The dishes come in creative twists of all-american classics. The Mac and Cheese Crab rolls: very cheesy, with an extra kick of crab meat, intricately plated. The outer layer was fried to perfection, definitely worth a try! Oyster Fondue: don't let the appetizer title fool you, it's definitely a hefty portion of gooey goodness mixed topped with a healthy portion of oysters, laced with a huge serving of flat bread. Definitely an interesting use of oysters. Pecan and Pear Salad with Salmon: my healthy choice for the night. The salad was very fresh, the pears and candied pecans paired perfectly with the vinaigrette. I added Salmon to my salad, which was prepared very well. Good first experience at C&C, looking forward to next time!
(4)Mark B.
Went back for their Texas happy hour, but stayed for dinner. Happy hour is always legit. One thing I can say is the flat bread is plenty big for one person to have a meal. We also had the crab cake BLT and angry chicken. Both were good. The breading was a little thick on the chicken but flavors were on point. Crab cake seemed like it was made in-house. Opted for the lettuce cup was a little more difficult to eat, but that was on us. One thing I always like is the bartender gives you happy hour last call.
(4)Ben S.
Cool spot in Houston near all the bars. Great choice for dinner prior to a night on the town. We had very friendly, knowledgable service. The menu was varied and had something for everyone. The food is inspired and has a nice southern twist, and the cocktails were pretty good too. Definitely worth a try!
(4)Amanda L.
Sunday brunch. We arrived at 10am and there wasn't a wait, even though we had a reservation. I had a bloody mary - it was good, a little more on the sour side than the spicy/umami side, but still good. He had a mimosa (single) - it came in a regular wine glass, pretty good. I had the bbq breakfast - the menu is kind of misleading, i thought it would be a piece of pork belly with the sides of mac and a muffin. But it's really mixed in with the mac. There was too much cheese sauce and not enough noodles in the mac, but it still tasted good. The muffin too was good, but it only had 2 blackberries in the whole thing. And it was huge! So I think whoever is cooking needs to stop skimping, because if there had been a better noodle/sauce ratio and muffin/berry ratio, this would be 5 stars. Easy to fix!!! He had the breakfast burrito, which he said was good. A lot of meat. Huge portions all around. The service was fine, nothing remarkable either way. I liked the shaded outdoor patio area, perfect for a nice day. I want to come back and try the happy hour.
(4)Priyanka B.
Had brunch here with my cousin and the service was fantastic. The hostesses acted as though us having to wait for a table was the worst thing in the world. They were so sweet and considerate. I ordered the 'feeling guilty' which was an egg white omelet with mushrooms and spinach and a side of potatoes. My potatoes were a tad dry. The rest of it was pretty good, but our appetizer--the crab and macaroni rolls--was waaaay better. We also ordered a carafe of sangria, which was delicious (and surprisingly strong). I enjoyed the brunch very much and the server was great, so I will be going back soon.
(5)Kathleen A.
Me & my boyfriend went for brunch today (Sunday) because I was craving their oatmeal. We were greeted at the door by Candice and seated immediately. Our waitress Georgia recommended the feelin guilty omelette for my boyfriend as a healthy brunch option and he loved it! It was a Light and fluffy omelette and the flavor combination was spot on between the mushroom Spinach and their special kale chimi churri. I'm a very light eater and never finish an entire plate, but Their oatmeal is so light and flavorful, I ate it with a side of fruit and completely finished both! Candice even sat wit us a couple of times to chat and check on us. It was exactly what I needed/wanted on this beautiful Sunday. I will definitely be coming back & bringing all of my friends.
(5)Taj J.
Everything about This place inside was on point. Tye staff was attentive the food was great and the atmosphere was pleasing. The only reason I didn't give five stars is because of parking. Although it is complimentary valet, I like to park my own car. Please go and try this place. You will not be disappointed.
(4)Zain R.
Go HUNGRY and leave SATIATED! This is a cute all American eatery in midtown very close to Spec's. It's also by Red Door. Usually I don't valet but upon arrival I just handed my car to the valet guy because I was not in the mood for parking because it had been one of those days at work. We went inside and the hostess greeted us after seating two different parties. It was a little odd that she didn't acknowledge us once she returned from seating the first party and tending to a party of two who only had one individual and the other person joined them and they announced authoritatively that THEY WERE READY. I think the hostess was bewildered by these ladies but I think it was mostly because she lacked confidence but I think she could have greeted with a little more apt finesse. Once seated we were promptly brought water with straws with them in the glass. I like to open my own straws. Sorry. Those two things knocked the rating a little. The food was delicious. The pictures really do speak volumes in this case. I can't stop raving about the duck tacos. I don't even like black eyed peas and I liked black eyed peas in my duck tacos. The Crock O'Mac & Cheese could have used a little gentler hand when using the truffle oil. Not entirely sure what ingredient was used that produced a beer-y taste. If you like beer then don't forget to have some! They definitely bring plenty so if you can't finish you'll have some leftovers for lunch the next day! The C&C Burger speaks for itself. It's exactly like the description says on the menu: grass fed beef + three cheeses + melted onion + sundried tomato + parm chip + truffle mayo. I am particularly not a fan of parmesan in excess on my food but OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was such a rich burger. I think I am going to have to do an hour long cardio tomorrow but this was totally worth breaking my calorie bank for! Our server Shady was very prompt in mediating and took care of a little issue that came up with the order. He was very busy with several tables and I sensed that the place was a bit of understaffed. Overall, it was a pleasant experience and if you like modern American food with an intimate setting then this is it.
(4)Arthur H.
10/14/14 Four words: 10 dollar lunch special I came in on a Tuesday and their lunch was a soup (hatch chili and crab bisque) or house salad and the entrée was an Xtra large bison meatball served with spaghetti. I also ordered their red eye fries (bison meat chili queso fries). Soup was awesome! It could be a little rich for some people's taste, but I loved it! Crab bisque done right and the hatch chili makes it the perfect amount of Texan. Entrée was good. The bison meatball was the star of the dish, and it was prepared well. Meatball was tender, which is hard to do for bison meat. Spaghetti was average, but it was cooked well. Red eye fries were delicious! The fries were extra crispy (the way I like them!) and topped with bison chili, cream cheese queso, and mustard seed. Perfect for sharing! Basically an upscale version of chili and queso fries Service was satisfactory as the server was attentive and courtesy. 4 stars because service and food was very good. Never would have found them if it I hadn't stumbled upon them on Instagram. Def worth a visit if you're into contemporary southern comfort food!
(4)Cammy L.
Candace was amazing! Got us a table as a big group, so friendly and offered assistance next time for us to come in- I live in New Orleans but will no doubt come back every time I'm in Houston! The bloody Mary's are Sooo good- the crab Mac and cheese is amazing and the C&C burger took the cake! Our server Benjamin was patient with our drinking group and gave us excellent service! Thanks to all of you! We had a blast!
(5)Alvin J.
I have to echo a previous review from Nupur as far as the food being a 3-star experience but the potential of the place plus the great service bumped it up to a 4-star We came here for Valentine's Day as it was one of the few places on that night WITHOUT a prix fixe menu. The atmosphere was very laid-back and even quieter on the upstairs area where we were seated. Our server was very friendly and we didn't experience any issues with slow service, other than our cocktails being a bit slow to arrive They have a nice list of cocktails with several Collins drinks. I tried the Ginger Beery Collins which honestly tasted more like a mojito. It was a good choice nonetheless. My wife's drink was a tad too sour for my liking The appetizer of crab cake was perfect. It was big chunks of crab meat with very little breading, topped with tuna carpaccio. At $18 it is pricey but it was so delicious we felt it was worth it Entree time. My steak with fries was just OK, to be honest. It was a bit too oily and the seasoning wasn't quite there. My wife order the duck leg. It was a bit on the heavy side but the duck was nice and tender and the sauce was great. My wife's meal made her happy so as they say happy wife = happy life = 4-star Yelp review. I'm hoping they can iron out the kinks as far as the food.
(4)Amber S.
So, we gave this place a try for brunch and it was pretty damn good! The Angry Birds are so so good! Great sweet and spicy sauce, plus the almond slivers give it a great texture! The White Bird flatbread was also great- we hated ourselves just a little after demolishing all of it with no thought to moderation or "calories." The crab bisque was also really great, although it was not quite up to temperature. All the portions were pretty good. My only complaint is their bar- okay beer selection but the mixed drinks lacked something. Definitely would go back!
(4)Zakia S.
One of the better outdoor patios in Midtown. Food is consistently good at great prices. I do prefer the brunch over their lunch menu. Ion two separate occasions I had the BBQ Breakfast and the Pumpkin Spiced Waffles. I would recommend both. I've also had the C&C's Sinaroll. Albeit delicious, it is HUGE. Must be shared with at least 2 adults and followed with a light meal. Or perhaps order it afterwards for dessert with a cup of coffee. I wish I had done the latter.
(4)Vanesa V.
Unimpressed. Food was extremely blah but at least service was terrific. I was also disappointed in their cocktail menu, I really think they could use a revamp. South padre collins - 0/5 stars (was so bad I exchanged it for a beer) Oyster rockefeller fondue - 3/5 stars party fowl flatbread - 2/5 stars free range fried chicken - 4/5 stars Complimentary valet provided.
(3)Brinn M.
Came for Saturday brunch for the first time. Sat inside and ordered the duck tacos and a sinaroll. Tacos were the perfect size and tasted fantastic. The cinnamon roll was good but nothing amazing. Hubby had the red eye fries and it was also delicious. Mother in law opted for the biscuits and gravy which was a dinner plate full of biscuits and was some of the best she'd ever had (I was too focused on trying to finish my plate to try them). Will be back.
(5)Michael B.
I've been eagerly awaiting this new locally sourced restaurant and it did not diasppoint. The food was great and the service even better. For starters we had the party fowl pizza and brussel sprouts. The brussel sprouts could have been crispier, but overall were pretty good. The party fowl pizza was advertised as having a strong bleu cheese flavor, however, our first pizza had none. After asking the waiter, the manager promptly came over and gave us a new pizza. The initial pizza was good, but the addition of the bleu cheese put it over the top. We then split the melted onion soup which was probably the best French onion soup either of us had ever had. I will definitely be ordering this again in the future. We also split the C&C burger which was quite good. I'm not a huge fan of mayo so we got the truffle mayo on the side, however, the truffle flavor overpowered the mayo so it was actually pretty good. The parmesean crisp was a nice addition for added texture to the burger. While a little on the expensive side, the cocktails were expertly crafted and quite strong. While there are still some small kinks to iron out, overall, Cook and Collins was a great experience and we will definitely be going back. As the weather gets nicer, the patio area will definitely be nice for having a drink or a long relaxing brunch. Welcome to the neighborhood, Cook and Collins!
(4)Rachel M.
I really liked the open air space, but the food was bland and the drinks were weak. The vibe is very modern diner with cute atmosphere. That's pretty much where the good stops. There are better brunch spots with outdoor areas nearby. I might give it a second try, but wouldn't recommend it.
(3)Robert F.
This was my first time dining at Cook & Collins. I had a Bleu Cheese and Bacon burger. It was awesome! The windows were open on a comfortable night, which was enjoyable. Good comfort food. Good service. Nice atmosphere. Glad we went.
(3)Jeanette J. G.
We love the food, service, and location. Open and friendly atmosphere. Great Happy hour deals. And, my husband loves the burgers.
(5)Safeena W.
I was SUPER excited to go here after driving past it a million times and seeing how cute and trendy it is. The decor and ambiance are really impressive, and it's great to see trends like that coming to Houston. It was packed for brunch and the crowd was fun. While reading the menu, everything sounded amazing.. it took me forever to decide what to get. I was with 5 others, so we decided to get a bunch of different things and try it all! We were all quite disappointed in the food, though. There was nothing special about it; in fact, it almost seemed like they were trying too hard. Here are the dishes we ordered: - Gingersnap Waffles-- the waffles were really dry, and the fruit compote just wasn't that good. - Fat Elvis Pancakes- the flavors didn't blend well together at all. - C&C Burger- the only item everyone liked. - Mac & Cheese crab rolls- hardly any cheese or crab, so the pasta tasted really dry. - French Texas Toast- dry and flavorless They do have reasonably priced pitchers of mimosas, though! Won't be coming back here, but I sure hope they get a new chef, because I LOVE the ambiance.. it reminds me of LA, where I lived for 4 years, and the patio is just too cute. Maybe I'll go back for drinks-only.
(3)Lauren R.
I found this place on Instagram by searching #houstonbrunch. Ate brunch on a Sunday morning & it was great! I had the Pig Popper flatbread--good size, I had enough to bring home & share with my husband. Also, the Bloody Mary is spicy but not too much to handle-I recommend it!
(5)Simmi A.
Came for a happy hour and enjoyed the food and service. I had the crock Mac and cheese, which had a slightly spicy but flavorful taste! The drinks were good and the waiters constantly came by to check on us. Would definitely come back!
(4)Shishi M.
Very cool atmosphere for dinner and drinks in midtown and the servers are on point! The macaroni and cheese? Nothing short of a spectacle! (See picture below) Another night we went and tried the sour cream potato balls.. Quite possibly the best potato creation ever. Cheesy, flavorful, seasoned, and over a tangy spicy queso sauce. Everything after that point was good, but not up to the standard I held after the mac and cheese.. I tried a cheese burger once and the Cobb Louie. I liked their cobb louie and will probably get it next time. The dressing needs to come on the side and used only as a dip for the shrimp (if anything).. it does NOT go with the salad.. This salad needs a light creamy dressing. It is a cobb after all.. I wish they had thousand island but ranch was just fine.. The burger was good but I'm not one to typically order a burger. I think i just ordered that because everything else was in a higher price tier and i didn't feel like eating steak or scallops... The cookie dough brownie wasn't exactly everything i had hoped either. I mean. It had all of my favorite things in the description but it didn't taste that way. The brownie just tasted like a normal brownie.. Everything we got looked amazing both times though. Maybe the descriptions were overreaching, or maybe if I hadn't eaten such great appetizers before the meal I would have been really appreciative--it was good.. it just didn't floor me like the appetizers did. I'll definitely be back because has such a great vibe.
(4)Scott T.
This place is off to a great start! This was my first time here, and the menu was very well designed and executed. The pros: Every wine on the menu is served by the glass. I even got to indulge in a couple of glasses of Caymus Cabernet. The atmosphere was great. Very classic (60s era) with employees in bowling type polo shirts and even the bar stools are the round spinner type. Very modern yet classic. The ambiance was very good, as well. The bar was not overly crowded and the atmosphere was light where you could still capture some great 60s music. (Doors, Beatles, Cars, etc.). We started dinner off with Mac n cheese crab egg rolls. They were exceptional in flavor and were paired with a creamy Italian type dipping sauce. The food choices are endless. I got the fried chicken, and if you choose to order it, you will not be disappointed. It comes with kale, a biscuit, and mashed potatoes (still had chunks of potatoes and are not "over" whipped). The flatbread pizza was also amazing. We had "The Fun Guy." The crust is handmade to order and not overly thin. Great consistency throughout and not greasy. The goat cheese, spinach, onion strings and sauce all worked very well together. The side of Mac-N-Cheese was also superb. It is not overly cheesy and has a nice light bread crumbling on the top. The cheese has hints of spice but not so spicy that it is even a medium spicy. It's just a hint of spicy. Which is hard to do. The con: There is always room for improvement. If I were to go again, I would request a table away from the bar. My date kept getting bumped into as people were trying to maneuver their way around. It's typical but unpleasant. The wine. Because it is by the glass they need to keep it in a refrigerated environment. These types of systems and dispensers can leave wine inconsistent in taste over time. I was almost served the end of one bottle and some of a new bottle in my glass of wine. I kindly asked my bartender if I could have a glass straight from the new bottle, to which she obliged. In conclusion- The service from door to table was top notch. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable of the menu and accommodating. The food preparation was masterful and the flavors of every meal were perfectly balanced. I would strongly recommend this place to others!
(4)Kate A.
My boss took me here on Administrative Professionals' Day and overall we enjoyed the meal and atmosphere. We made a reservation because we were not sure how busy it would be that day. Luckily, it wasn't too busy! The strange this was though, no one greeted us and took us to a table... we seated ourselves. It was only after we ordered our food that our server asked us if we had a reservation. The food looked amazing. My boss got the fried chicken which was absolutely divine! It was cooked just right, had the right amount of batter, and the sides looked yummy too. My dish was so filling that I thought I might have had to be carried out of the restaurant. It's a great place to come to for lunch.
(3)Geo J.
Had a great meal here for halfy hour. Adult beverages sourced from Texas, two flatbreads, one shared salad; all less than $40, wow! Our server Shady was great, lots of good advice about the menu as it was our first visit. My wife was impressed with the non-meat choices and had the Fun Guy flatbread. I opted for the Root Beer BBQ Chicken flatbread. They were both very well cooked with tasty, fresh ingredients. We sat out on the patio and had a thoroughly enjoyable early evening. Shady took very good care of us and comped the indulgent brownie desert which was OTT. Even though we live in EaDo now, we'll come back to Midtown just to revisit Cook and Collins.
(5)Mary L.
Taking a word out of my friend's dictionary - AMAZE-BALLS! A group of us girls came her for one of my bestie's 36th birthday because she's been dying to try it, and what a great pick! Simple set up but fantastic ambience, music, and food. I ordered a Sangria which was fruity to my liking. I wish it had a tad more alcohol in it but still good. For starters I ordered the the Mac and Cheese Crab rolls that complemented really well with the truffle vinaigrette salad which had the perfect taste of sweetness to it. For the piece de resistance I chose the Cook's Classic Benedict which took the experience over the top. I was hesitant about citrus hollandaise sauce when I read it on the menu, but I was worried for nothing! Loved it and everything that came on my plate. The poached eggs were cooked to the right degree - the yolks oozed out and nicely covered the biscuit and Canadian bacon - every bite was like chocolate melting in your mouth - utterly scrumptious! Apparently the draw for everyone was the Crab Cake BLT - 8 out of the 10 girls ordered this! The crab cake patty is HUGE, and plenty of French fries to go with it. Looking forward to my next visit and this time I want to check out the view from the upstairs patio!
(5)Nancy L.
We went for happy hour on a Friday night and got their half off flatbreads (3-7pm). Menu price for the flatbreads are $14 so figured it was worth a try for $7. Try the "Party Fowl" - grilled flatbread w/ roasted duck, candied bacon, pickled shiitake, bleu cheese, and arugula. It was really tasty and good, I would order it again!! We also ordered the root beer BBQ chicken since I loveee root beer, but utter disappointment for me. It had a weird taste and dry. I enjoyed the atmosphere (partly because our table was facing a tv for the bball games) but service was attentive and good hangout place for happy hour.
(3)Sarah D.
I woke up this morning to a joking text from a friend talking about pancake cravings. Now I am ALWAYS craving pancakes so I couldn't pass up a chance to stuff my face with fluffy deliciousness. I'd heard about the Fat Elvis pancakes at Cook & Collins so we went for it. I'd heard mixed reviews about this place so I went in with tempered expectations, which were definitely more than met. This is good and bad, because this place is literally 50 feet from my front door, so I see a dangerously obsessive codependent relationship forming. We started with a carafe of bellinis (good, definitely strong, but I didn't get as much of the peach taste as I expected) plus I had an Americano and later a latte (both great). Next time will for sure give the sangria a try, or maybe the alcoholic coffee cocktails which sounded fantastic. Our appetizers were the Red Eye Fries (chili fries on crack - AMAZING) and the Sinaroll (good, scratches the cinnamon roll itch, but a little too dry and chewy to call it excellent - but it is topped with BACON ICING. So you can't not get it). For our meal we got the omelet, a flat bread, and OF COURSE the pancakes. The omelet and flat bread were enjoyed by those who ordered them - I did try their hash browns on the side and those were perfectly cheesy, salty, and delicious - the cheese or spices or something on it gave it a nice savory tangy taste. Yum! But my pancakes...omg my PANCAKES. The pancakes deserve their own paragraph. They were amazing. Now, for my fellow pancake enthusiasts, I will warn you that they are not the super-thick super-fluffy variety - they are more on the crepe-y end and cooked to dark brown (you know the kind I mean). I actually prefer the former variety but the flavor more than made up for it. They are stuffed with bananas and flavored with cinnamon and peanut butter with a peanut butter whipped cream and sauce on top. Then it was finished with a couple of bacon slices, cooked crispy (note for the chef: don't cook them so crispy. Otherwise, it was great). I cleaned my plate, with help from friends who also loved it as well. The service was pretty good, a little more hands-off at first than I prefer but they were more than attentive during the meal. The poor server made the mistake of trying to clear plates a little early and almost lost a hand to our stuffed-but-somehow-still-eating butts. We had to remind him about minor things a couple times (to go boxes, silverware) so not perfect but still good. Will be back and will definitely recommend to others!
(4)Monique K.
I visited this week with a friend for Happy Hour and we found that there were no special Happy Hour specials and were a little disappointed but we both ordered beers and sat outside on the patio on the first floor. I ordered an appetizer of three duck tacos and loved them. They were tasty and filling enough for a dinner, partnered with my Karbach and a warm Houston evening (with low Humidity) it was a very nice experience. Our waiter seemed very concerned that we weren't ordering more food and checked in on our about 5 times but when it came time for us to ask for our check he was nowhere to be found. I'd be interested in returning for a brunch or dinner to experience more of the menu.
(4)stacie k.
Had a great lunch on Saturday. We sat on the patio. The Angry Bird was spicy and delicious. A good portion size as a starter. Their mimosa was good. They only annoyance were the gnats bugging us and they were getting into our drinks. Had take the coaster to cover our drinks. Our waiters had to replace our carafe mimosa and flutes. The Crab Cake BLT and the BBQ Breakfast was good. Valet parking is complimentary. I will definitely be back to check out their dinner menu.
(4)Wendi B.
Our boss took us here for a celebratory lunch. Pretty place, great food. We shared the Fried Oyster Rockefeller Fondue as an appetizer, which was to die for! Two of us had the crab cake sandwich as our entree and another had the roasted chicken. The Crab Cake BLT was lite yet very satisfying and super filling. The challah bun was about as fresh as I've ever had. The french fries were addictingly great and drizzled with what I think might be either truffle oil or garlic aioli. The roasted chicken smelled equally good, although I didn't try any, I was told it was delish. Looking forward to going back once the weather cools off to enjoy a bite on one of their open-air patios. PROS: great food friendly staff 2 open-air patios location decor CONS: menu lacking variety
(4)Doris D.
Just had dinner at C&C and not impressed with their food. We normally will order a few appetizers and entree to try out a newbie restaurant. So we decided on Angry birds and oyster fondue with flat bread as our appetizers. Well, Angry birds is basically buffalo boneless wings like you get at Buffalo Wild Wings with an extra pineapple salsa. I was disappointed with their fondue as basically it is a bowl of spinach with breadcrumbs on top with over fried tiny oysters and not cheesy at all that you would expected when you ordered a fondue. Entree goat cheese ravioli is totally a joke. It came with 2 pieces of ravioli wrapped in a big chunk of goat cheese and bland which costs $17. Over priced menu with mediocre food but nice interior!
(2)Matthew C.
Sinfully decadent Sinfully delicious Sinfully...bacony?! Indeed, THE reason to visit Cook & Collins is to experience the artery-clogging, diabetes-inducing deliciousness of the Sinaroll: A dangerously awesome combination of brioche, almonds, and BACON icing. And as opposed to many of the over-the-top Man-vs-Food-esque concoctions I've had, this actually tastes good--just be sure to enjoy responsibly. Other than that, the remainder of the brunch menu has unique takes on traditional American brunch favorites. Exhibit A: creamsicle-batter French toast. You can really taste the orange and cream flavors. The BBQ Breakfast is also good, but a bit too heavy for my taste. Though if you're a fan of pork BBQ and macceroni and cheese, you can't go wrong with it--to each his own. I've had a couple things off the non-brunch menus (e.g., Upstream Salad) but haven't been blown away by anything. For the time being, I'll stick to the brunch menu.
(4)Jessica H.
What a great renovation, good food, and good service. I had a great experience at this new midtown spot. We started with the mushroom flatbread, French onion soup and macaroni and cheese Rolls. The flatbread and macaroni rolls were delicious, I wasn't crazy about the French onion soup but it pretty good. There was a complaint from my friend about the duck tacos served cold with a cold tortilla. I had the filet with crab meat and asparagus and it was delicious. It was all a good value and all good tasting. I'll be back to try the burgers!
(4)Caleb T.
American comfort food, fine American fare and a fresh twist on culinary creation, is what this place claims to deliver. Far, far, from it is what I experienced. I do not know where to start, the poor service, dry bread, over seasoned everything (too much sage) and much more. Chef Jared Estes needs to pull back on the rains and evaluate what his culinary team delivers when he is not around. Their one redeeming quality is Amanda (Manager). I do not know if this was just a bad day for the restaurant, but the intention behind their food was honest and pure. I will come back and try this place again, as I feel it needs a chance to redeem itself.
(2)Nicole G.
I had their duck tacos and crab bisque. Both were fantastic. I just wish the duck tacos were a bigger portion. The atmosphere is very trendy and relaxing. I'll definitely want to try more items on their menu in the future.
(4)Rosie M.
It is really difficult to write a complete review of Cook & Collins because we never got our meal. We came in (party of 4) for brunch on New Years Day. We called at around 11:30am and were told there was no wait. We immediately left and arrived 10 minutes later to a 50 minute wait. We have all been servers in the industry and understand peak times and rushes. No big deal we waited at the bar upstairs for our table. The bartender was amicable and we ordered the Bellini Collins and a Bloody Mary. Both were fine. Although the menu says titos vodka and they used svedka. We closed our drink tab and went downstairs to get some brunch. Once we were seated we ordered coffee and apps. My father ordered a shot of rum to go in his coffee that we had to ask for several times as well as sugar. It was busy.. again no big deal.. it happens. We ordered the duck tacos and crab rolls for apps and our entrees at the same time. The duck tacos came out with an order of the Red Eye Fries but the waiter told us to keep those and he would bring out the crab rolls. The Red Eye Fries that we had not ordered turned out to be the favorite. About 30 minutes after finishing our apps we started wondering about our entrees. When we couldn't find our server we tried to stop several of the other servers whom quickly walked past us avoiding eye contact. An ENTIRE HOUR after receiving our apps we finally got the attention of one of the servers and asked if she would check on what was going on. A few minutes later a manager came up to our table to "explain" what had happened. At this point our server is still MIA. The manager explains to us that our order had gone in after a large party and they were working on it now. They have only been open a year and didn't expect this rush of people and so and so on. We explained that after waiting over an hour for our entrees no one was hungry anymore and at this point we just wanted to cancel and get our check. She begrudgingly apologized and said she would of course comp our apps and hoped we would give them another shot in the future. As Cook and Collins is around the corner from all of our jobs we nodded and said we would. We waited for our check for our two coffees and shot of rum for about 15 minutes as we laughed and talked about the funny but disappointing start to 2015. When neither our server nor the manager came back by we assumed everything was settled and got up to leave joking that if they wanted to come get us for walking out on our coffee tab it would be an hour before they even noticed we were gone. Turns out we were wrong. Our server (yep we found him!) stopped us on the way out saying we had to wait the manager was adjusting our bill. After we stood in the aisle waiting we were given our check... The manager had indeed comped all of our entrees... The entrees that we never tasted let alone saw. We were charged for 2 of our apps that she had previously told us she would "of course" comp. At this point we were all pretty exasperated and just wanted to get out of there. Our bill ended up being about $40 dollars. Obviously disappointed and upset we paid with the manager and expressed our displeasure. She threw her arms in the air and said "what do you want me to do?!". She gave us a $25 gift card. We paid our bill and got out of there. I discussed my experience with several of my industry friends in Houston. Apparently Cook & Collins has a reputation for situations such as these. We had high hopes for Michael Paolucci's newest concept as Pub Fiction one of our regular spots. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an acceptable level of service. But there is a silver lining. I gave the gift card to my ex-boyfriend.
(1)Tanner C.
Came here for brunch and the food was good but it's hard to give a raving review when you've got fruit flies all over your food, around/in your drink. Take care of this problem and this place gets a better review.
(3)Blake E.
We had very high hopes for dinner at Cook and Collins. Unfortunately, we had a very bad experience. The building was incredibly hot; the server said it had been like that for a week. The server seemed to know very little about the menu, the food was overpriced, and we thought the food was bland. I will say the drinks were good; great bartender. Our biggest issue was the valet. We had planned to walk across the street for a drink with friends, but the valet stopped us and told us we would be charged if we went to any other establishments. I've never heard of that, and it's a pretty big negative given how difficult it can be to park in midtown. As much as we'd hoped for a great experience, my recommendation is to avoid this place at all cost. There are much better options at this price level.
(1)Ying C.
Came here because it was listed as one of the top brunch places in Houston. Thankfully I made a reservation because I cam at 10:30 and there was already a wait (SCUUURRYYY). So for sure make a reservation. Red eye fries (4/5) - Pretty good with all the chili drizzled over it, and of course I love fried egg on everything. Unfortunately the fries themselves were not very crispy, but since they were drenched in chili who cares lol. Pretty good. Feelin guilty (3/5) - It was ok. Literally taste like the ingredients put together (spinach and cheese with egg white). Would have tasted the same if someone just made it at home. I guess I thought even if I were feeling guilty I still want it to tasted better than what I can do. Cinammon crunch "french" toast (3.5/5) - It was not bad, but nothing spectacular. The chicken sausage was good, but the dish just didn't have unity. There were french toast and spots of apple preserves on random areas of the plate. It was not super crunchy. Wouldn't recommend getting this unless you can't live without french toast. The restaurant is actually super hip, but did not live up to all the hype.
(3)Betty H.
Surprised at the 3 1/2 star rating; this place is great! Had dinner last night, attentive and friendly service, very good food. I love when the waitress gives you plenty of time to look over the menu and never felt rushed. I had the pear salad, which was very good, and the Blue burger, which came with perfect fries. I couldn't really taste the candied bacon, but I think it's because the blue cheese overpowered it so that was a little disappointing. Had the pudding for dessert (regular w/raisins, not the butterscotch) and ordered it a la mode. It was really good, but definitely would have been too sweet for my taste w/o the ice cream. Only issue was that the center of the pudding was super dry and the caramel sauce had a weird consistency. I wish yelp let us give half stars so I could add a little more for the great service. Can't wait to return to try the crab cake blt!
(4)Castro S.
I think this might be my new favorite Brunch place. Came here with a girlfriend because I had a $25 off text to redeem from my previous visit. Go online and register for their points system. You have a year to redeem, but why wait! They also brought us a complimentary drink on the house to share. It was delicious! The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 was because we waited for AWHILE to get our check or see our waiter to ask for it. And for some reason, valet was not available this day. Normally I wouldn't care, but it would have been nice with the unexpected rainstorm. I love this place and will definitely return again... maybe even tomorrow for dinner :)
(4)Sue N.
Omg!!! We will definitely be coming back here! Candy is amazing! The ambience is to die for and the food is scrumptious! I wanted to jump inside the bowl of Mac and Cheese!!!
(5)Priscilla D.
Delicious bloody Mary's and the outside patio is very nice, service was good. The eggs Benedict was outstanding. Will definitely go again
(5)Nawar F.
Decided to come here for dinner last Thursday night. We walked in without a reservation and the place was not busy at all so we got lucky. There was valet parking next to this place and some metered spots as well. The place has a large outdoor covered patio and smaller indoor dining area. Reviewing the menu, we were amused with the fancy names trying to Jazz up the appetizer selection. Angry brids means wings, black eyed pees means hummus...lol We ordered two cocktails and we certainly did not taste much other than tonic, I asked the waiter and he confirmed, they measure precisely so heads up on that. Many other establishment would have done something to please their patrons, these guys, no effort spent. Dinner was meh, we ordered seared Ahi tuna, and steak & fries. Ahi tuna had a clash of species that is was confusing what chef was trying to do. Steak was ok, but was charged $3 when I swapped fries for Asparagus, waiter failed to mention there was a charge for that. Sum it up for our dinner experience, not too great. What is offered is bar food without bar drinks.
(2)Kameo T.
Delicious and modern brunch spot. Open-air restaurant with plenty of fans(no air conditioning) and about a 25 minute wait around 11 on a Sunday. The staff was very friendly but I gave them 4 stars because the menu selection is small(though it all sounds delicious) and their definition of a macchiato seems different than most. My French toast was delicious,almond crusted, and satisfied my sweet tooth. However, the iced macchiato seemed to be a single shot of espresso with a small dash of milk instead of foam. My friend's un-iced macchiato was even smaller and appeared to have less milk. So if you're looking for a good size cup of coffee with your meal, the macchiato is not the best choice(although it still tasted good). I would recommend for those looking for a modern brunch spot close to downtown.
(4)Erin C.
5 stars for creative & delicious takes on trendy dishes, INCREDIBLE service, and an overall wonderful dining experience. Ate here back in March with my parents who were visiting from out of town, and my dad was disgruntled by the "short pour" he received on his white wine. After half-heartedly joking (but pretty serious) about it with the waiter, the general manager Amanda gracefully took over service of our table. The next pour my dad received was generous, and the whole night she gave us attentive and comedically entertaining service. As if that weren't enough, she gave us the bread pudding (which was AMAZING) for dessert on the house and gave me, the resident Houstonian, a card for a free C&C Sinnaroll on my next visit. I was completely blown away by how seriously and generously my dad's disgruntled comments were attended to. As for the food: had the mac n cheese crab rolls as an appetizer, which were flavorful without being too cheesy, had the nice guy flatbread for dinner, which was a complementary and savory mix of favors, and of course, the outstanding bread pudding for dessert. Definitely coming back to try their brunch and for a date night with my boyfriend sometime soon. Thanks for the great first impression!
(5)Victoria M.
HRW (sort of) Got together with some of my oldest girlfriends to check out C&C for HRW. After looking over the menu, 2 of us decided to go with regular fare instead (things looked so yummy!) and 1 with HRW. Business was pretty slow, the restaurant never filled up while we were there (Monday night though). Love the space, especially the light fixtures. The local map on the wall was a fun touch. Our server was prompt and friendly, and she helped me select my drink - a bit pricey, but tasty and refreshing enough for me to get 3 of them... :) GINGER BEERY COLLINS Cinco Vodka + Sweetened Lime Juice + Blackberries + Mint Leaves. Top with Ginger Beer. Garnish with Mint & Berries. 10.5 - not too sweet, just enough fruit Fried Oyster Rockefeller Fondue | spinach + bacon + tobasco crumbs + flatbread / 14 - great take on a spinach dip. The house-made flatbread is delicious on its own too. East Coast Jumbo Scallops | pan caramelized + smoked bacon + potato hash + clam broth / 25 - PERFECTLY cooked scallops. The rest of the dish was a tad salty, but eaten together with the scallops it was fine. Sweet Potato Ravioli | brown butter sauce + kale + goat cheese + toasted almonds + maple gastrique / 16 - nice pasta, filling had a hint of Indian? spice Brussel Sprouts candied bacon + black pepper / 6 - converted my non-Brussels eating friend HRW Tuna & Salmon Tartare watermelon, golden peach, wasabi breadcrumbs and soy gastrique - great fruit, bright Asian flavors HRW Free Range Fried Chicken biscuit, garlic mashers, braised greens, C&C gravy and a honey jar - nice presentation, juicy chicken, flaky biscuit Butterscotch Pudding Jar pineapple jam and loaded oatmeal raisin cookies - very sweet. My friend enjoyed it thoroughly; I could only handle a single bite. Cookie Dough Brownie nutella fudge and burnt marshmallow - also sweet, also could only have a bite lol We had a great evening of eating and catching up. Street parking is available and meters are free after 6 on weekdays. If it wasn't a Monday I might have gone around the corner to one of the super convenient adjacent bars afterwards.
(4)Jeremy T.
I came here for happy hour and I first thought the restaurant was closed, because I didn't see any people or lights on. Upon walking further into the space, I entered the actual restaurant and saw a few people sitting in the bar area. We were just grabbing some light food prior to a night of alcohol and debauchery and decided on Cook & Collins since it was highly praised in the HP. Our order consisted of 2 cocktails and 2 small plates. South Padre Collins - sweet, looks like a long island, very weak, mainly tasted a sweet & sour like taste, no taste of Dr pepper (2/5) Pink Martini - stronger drink, but still sweet, mostly hibiscus taste (3/5) Red eye fries - good when hot, handcut fries, one fried egg on top, wish there were 2, not sure the reasoning for the mustard seeds in this dish, you can't taste them (4/5) White Bird Flatbread - this was ok when eating a slice with bacon, but the taste and texture of the creamy garlic sauce makes it almost repulsive (3/5) Service - generally good when seated at the bar This place reminds me of Sparrow, almost like a copy cat version that's easier on the pocket book. I might be willing to return to try other items.
(3)Wesley C.
So first of brunch is my absolute favorite meal on the weekends. I mean there's nothing like Mimosa's and breakfast food at 1pm in the afternoon. I don't quite know why brunch is so awesome, I just know that I spend much of my weekend searching for the best place to that will serve me breakfast food and alcohol at the same time after noon. And Houston has some of the best places to get brunch and that means you better step up your game when it comes to doing brunch in H-Town. Upon stumbling upon Cooks & Collins in Midtown is was very excited to try this place out. I looks super nice from the outside and the inside has a nice bar/restaurant type style. From the outside this place looks like a hip place to grab a meal during the day and a live place to grab a drink with some small bites with friends at night. One of the things that drew me to Cooks & Collins for brunch was the extensive brunch menu. When you look at the menu you see such a great variety of items from delicious sounding/looking appetizers( the C&C Sinaroll looked amazing), to your staple brunch items, too sandwiches, burgers, and salad...and flatbreads. Can't forget the flatbreads. So with all these factors taken into to account is suspected that I was going to be in for a meal that was really special. Not quite. My meal was just slightly above average. I ordered the Ham and Cheese Omelette and it was pretty decent but that's about it. The omelette was a decent size but it seemed to lack a significant amount of Canadian Bacon or 3 cheeses. This omelette really didn't seem to leave that much to the imagination and for $14 I was expecting something a bit more. The omelette really seemed to lack flavor and ingredients. This by no means is a $14 omelette. I could easily find a better omelette for half the cost. Now i must say that Cook's hashbrowns were pretty delicious! Now maybe I'm being a bit harsh, which is indeed possible. But again, this is Houston! The brunch capital of the world! Cooks & Collins has to step up their brunch game. But hey. I love brunch, so I will probably be back again to try out other items on the menu. Dedicated to Chuck. (LOL!)
(3)Judy C.
Nice little trendy place to come to for a Saturday brunch... Want to try a place with 5 different variations of Collins drinks? Try Fork and Collins. Came here for Saturday brunch, and enjoyed my time. The place wasn't busy, which was nice for a trendy restaurant, and the service was pretty decent. I got their "feeling guilty" brunch item, and it was overly salty for my taste. The only thing that I didn't like was the fact that you had to valet park your car...not cool. Overall a decent place for brunch.
(4)TAYLOR C.
Food has been sub-par lately, and is only a choice when the places you want to go are already booked. For a place sandwiched between a bunch of college bars, a liquor store, and a jimmy john's, this place sure does hold itself in high regard. Look elsewhere for great food. You could walk a couple of minutes in any direction to find a viable option.
(2)Cameron Y.
I had a delicious brunch here with a friend. She had a ham and cheese omelette and I ordered the amazing and alluring BBQ Breakfast: pork belly mac and cheese served with a blackberry muffin. I totally out Whataburgered my dining companion. My mac and cheese was out of this world. We also both ordered a cocktail. My friend ordered a classic Bloody Mary and I ordered a Michelada. Our waitress was the only kink here. She had no idea what a Michelada was and it seems she was too green and/or shy to ask a co-worker what that was. The first drink that arrived appeared to have maybe 1/4 of a beer with loads of bloody mary mix. Yuck. We politely asked her to just bring me about an inch of bloody mary mix in a pint glass with a bottle of beer and call it a day. Also during this confusion, our waitress accidentally cancelled my food order. My friend's omelette came out and there we were staring at her food with no sign of my food arriving nor did anyone update us on the status of my food. She then came up and confessed that she accidentally cancelled the order. A manager came by and apologized and all was resolved. I feel bad for the gal, but I wish she would have been trained better and not been too afraid to ask for help. We will be back for sure. Dying to try those Elvis pancakes!!
(3)Jen H.
I wanted to check this place out since I saw them on the list for HRW, plus was also recommended from a friend to try it out. First off I love their decore and atmosphere. It was very pretty. Staff was very nice and friendly. The service by our waiter was okay. He got our food out on time and made sure all orders were out. Very attentive to what we needed only thing I dislike was he seems a little irritated and unhappy! I don't know the reason why but the vibe we got from him was too welcoming. Other then that he made sure our ticket order were separate without us requesting that and gratuity was not added on a big party. The appetizers was good. The main course was decent not great. I had the salmon that was good. My friend had the scallop. They were all sent back for another order because it was way too salty. I must say some of the food did taste a little salty the mushrooms on my salmon were salty. Overall, I think it is a great place to hang out at the bar and have a few drinks and enjoy their appetizers but main course was ok.
(3)Noel S.
I don't know how I have not written a review about this place yet. ...crazy. I come here ALL the time. It's one of my favorite brunch spots in houston. Granted I always come with reservation and have only been on random saturday and sunday mornings. Reading the other prior bad reviews, I have sympathy because normally this place does have amazing food. The brunch food is delish. Much higher quality than your average bar/dinner. I love the mac and cheese/bbq breakfast. If im feeling healthy they have good salads as well. Try their chicken apple breakfast sausage too...so good. The duck tacos are also amazing. Good food.+ relaxed but trendy environment. + good drinks = awesome. Try it.
(5)Maigen A.
Hello-o-o-o Happy Hour! Absolutely gorgeous, breezy covered patio. Trendy interior, with cushy booths and a nice bar. Cocktails. Huge menu, inspired desserts. It's just about EVERYTHING I'm looking for when it comes to winding down after work, so a gal pal of mine and I decided to head over here to catch up. It's midtown, so you'll have to choose b/w valet or scavenging the streets. If the weather's nice, sit out on the patio - it's covered and has a nice breeze running through it. HH runs from 4-7pm, and it covers cocktails, a few appetizers and flatbreads. My friend and I tried the Red-Eye Fries and Black-Eyed Hummus apps - both were pretty solid! My Ginger Beery Collins cocktail was sweet and had enough kick to keep me talking for hours, which was awesome, but also not-so-awesome because I totally missed out on trying their amazing-sounding Crab "Mac 'n Cheese" Rolls and Fried Oyster Fondue. boooo! I will most definitely be back to try those two...and maybe grab a few more ginger beers afterwards. I absolutely love inspired desserts and C&C's got them. Out of the three desserts offered, we opted for the Butterscotch Pudding Jar w/ oatmeal raisin cookies. Gorgeous to look at, definitely picture worthy, and the pudding was smooth, rich, and paired perfectly with the house-made cookies. Pretty setting. Good eats. Sweet desserts. ...followed by another martini. Or two. Ooooh man, definitely "happy" hour.
(4)Kim S.
Hmm I would say this place is definitely over rated...the brunch menu is very limited. The food was just OK. Our server was very attentive and accommodating though. Maybe it's a better spot for dinner?
(3)Kathleen B.
Came here with my mom for brunch. The hostess was very understanding when I called to request an extension of time for our reservation since my mom's luggage got lost at the airport, which caused us to run a little late. The food was fantastic! We had eggs benedict and almond french toast. The chicken sausage was tasty with a bit of spininess added to it. The hash browns with the eggs benedict were so delicious. They were cheesy with some extra flavor of spices that made the potatoes extra comfort-foodey. My only minor complaint, the servers and wait staff were sub par. They took foreer to take our order and only checked on us once. After waiting awhile I had to ask for the check. Food is worth it. Service is not anything special.
(4)Joe W.
After having a bad experience here...I will say that the management staff did contact me and made it right. I thought that was awesome.
(4)William C.
Service was good, food is ok, my duck taco had bones, and our lovely Houston humidity doesn't help......o well ......next. o and we came for brunch. I miss Farangos. ....Next
(2)Patrick M.
I love this restaurant and all their amazing cocktails. Unfortunately the POOR valet service keeps us from visiting this great restaurant. The valet is rude, will take your money to park close and take it a few blocks over. Note to Managment: get a new valet service and I promise you'll see the increase in customers coming back.
(5)charles c.
Went here for a brunch date and we both just had foodgasms constantly! I can't wait to come back! I'd highly recommend anything with bacon and get some mimosas
(5)Alison J.
I went here last weekend with a group of 8. Unfortunately, we got seated upstairs which had a cafeteria feel too it. (That said, the upstairs seating will likely be nice in the spring/summer/fall when the weather is nice since it will be open air.) Our waiter had too many tables and with all of the running up and down the stairs to get food and drinks it seemed as if we always had empty glasses. The manager was very accommodating when we complained, but I wish we had not had to complain. The food was decent. I don't plan to go back unless I can get confirmation that my table will be downstairs (the vibe was much better).
(2)Arash R.
We had a reservation of 11 here and they agreed and accepted. We get there, and they tell us that we have to have our whole crew before they can seat us. Not, 8, not 9, not 10, but every single person. That's ridiculous. We spoke to the manager and he kept stressing that it was policy. Bad first impressions.
(1)Britney G.
Visited here last week. Fairly new spot in the midtown area. The staff here is amazing & love the atmosphere. You get a lot of bang for your buck so def come hungry. Had the fried chicken and the portion size was big but super tasty. Also the chili topped fries (can't recall the name) are a nice starter. The mustard seeds were a surprisingly tasty addition to them. Wouldn't be a spot that I would crave to go back to eat at but good food.
(3)R S.
I headed to Cook & Collins recently with my out-of-town'er parents. I wanted to show them a little bit of my Midtown neighborhood and wanted to eat locally. C&C only opened in the last few weeks, so I came in prepared to experience some mild "new restaurant turbulence," if you will. The food was good - there was nothing we ate that we didn't enjoy - but was truthfully not above-and-beyond wonderful. To start, we got the Angry Birds plate - an ode to hot wings featuring fried chicken thigh bits with "sweet heat" and pineapple. I was the resident hot wing lover at the table and I felt soul-satisfied by the incredibly well balanced interplay of spice and sweet. For entrees, we ordered the duck, the buffalo meatloaf, and the ravioli. I thought the duck was far and away the star of the evening, and it was the only thing I ate that I can see myself craving and returning specifically to eat. The jus and the combination of sweet potato dumplings (gnocchi?), roasted Brussels sprouts, candied bacon, roasted mushrooms, and an almost carmelized, crispy duck skin all came together to create this rich and deeply satisfying umami treat for my taste buds. The meatloaf itself was pretty plain - enhanced mostly by the spicy ketchup and being wrapped in bacon. I would've enjoyed a thicker or more generous serving of the ketchup to add more flavor and more moisture to the dish. The garlic mashed potatoes and creamy spinach under the loaf were, to me, severely under seasoned. The ravioli was a gorgeous plate - two large, artisan raviolo with a generous serving of the maple gastrique. The toasted almonds really enhanced the dish by adding texture, and my parents commented that the thick and doughy pasta felt special and satisfying. I enjoyed the dish, but didn't get the strong flavors of goat cheese or even maple that I expected based on the dish's description. We finished off the evening with the Cookie Dough brownie. I was enticed by the description of Nutella and Cookie Dough. Truthfully, I couldn't pinpoint either of those ingredients when I was eating it, but the brownie was huge, piping hot, and molten gooey on the inside - we loved every indulgent bite. My parents were both charmed by the toasted marshmallows on top. I, however, craved a huge scoop of ice cream on top to temper the extreme heat (really, it was super hot, but I liked it that way and wouldn't change a thing). Maybe C&C might consider making ice cream available as an addition to the dish? My parents noted that all three entrees lacked seasoning - I only felt that way about the meatloaf (needed a lot of salt to my palette - as mentioned above, both the "sides" underneath the loaf and the loaf itself were bordering on bland - and I craved a much heartier portion of the spicy ketchup) and the ravioli (needed a little salt to help enhance the overall flavor). I'm curious if this is something they're working out at C&C as they work through their launch period? I was surprised when a waitress offered to bring and then brought salt and pepper shakers to the table. Usually when I'm paying these kinds of prices at a restaurant, I expect the seasoning to be pretty spot-on right out of the kitchen. I'd like to come back a few months down the line and see how this has either changed or stayed the same. We ate everything family style since we (ok, since *I*) wanted to try everything. The portions were all huge. Our waiter warned us that the duck and the ravioli were smaller portions (the ravioli plate is indeed just two items, so quantity wise I see his point - but they were large!) but we found all five dishes to be much larger than expected. In fact,I would tell Yelp readers that C&C is a great destination especially if you're looking for large servings. Our Angry Birds appetizer, for example, came in a large bowl - not the kind of appetizer anybody would typically eat solo, more suited to be shared with the table. Due to the general under seasoning and the take away that only 2 of our 5 dishes (the duck and the brownie) were home runs, I'd give my food experience at C&C a 3 star review. However the service was superb. First, the entire staff clearly worked as a team. We had different waiters taking our orders, checking in on us, bussing the table, etc. No waiting for your specific waiter to wander by for service at this place. Also, we told our initial waiter that we wanted to eat family style. Most waiters would've had this go in one ear and out the other, but we were indeed presented with clean plates for our appetizer and entree rounds, and all dishes were presented in the center with serving utensils. As we walked out, both the hostess and a valet asked us if we enjoyed our experienced and wished us a lovely evening. The ambiance and design were great, and I was thrilled to see a generally busy house as the evening progressed. I wish C&C a ton of success and will return to reassess.
(4)Kristin D.
Great location in midtown and very well done interior design. Very creative menu across the board. Cocktails were great...shared the flat bread with goat cheese minus truffle oil and was very impressed. Looking forward to trying desserts. Service was mediocre but we went in between lunch and happy hour time, so no worries. Will try again next time I'm in town :)
(4)Alice L.
Cozy place, our waiter knew the menu well and was able to point out the "Yes" and "No"s of the menu...even this way, I was not impressed by the food.
(3)Tommy W.
The Sunday dinner menu was awesome, and the service/staff was as great as we've seen. This was a great low-key spot, and we will definitely be back.
(5)Arun K.
Good food, great atmosphere, and perfect location. One of the very few places in Houston that makes you feel like you are in an actual city and not a suburbia! The waiter was very attentive and we were definitely impressed. Angry Birds are the best!
(4)Anna M.
Went here for a work happy hour. Drinks were great, the selection of wine was awesome and the food was yummy. We will be back!
(4)Monique M.
Super cute restaurant with good service. But I've tasted better food. Had the mac and cheese crab rolls that came with a little side salad.. the side salad was the best part of the whole meal. I ordered the fat elvis pancakes and my bf ordered the BBQ breakfast. The pancakes were not fluffy at all and just was all around not impressive. The BBQ breakfast was not that great either. It was a lot of the same texture and the flavors just didn't seem to go well together. Maybe we just didn't order the right things..
(3)Carlis L.
Came here on Valentines because it was the only place that had a decent reservation slot available. When we arrived we saw how beautiful the downstairs looked and was glad we chose a nice spot. Unfortunately we were ushered upstairs to eat in area that looked like a patio tint with school cafeteria style benches. Fortunately, they were able to move us downstairs for a more romantic evening. The menu didn't have many options, but the items we did receive were between average and good. This place does have potential, they would need to step up the menu first. Otherwise its a decent date place as long as your'e seated downstairs. Lol!!!
(3)Monica J.
In luv with this place from the decor, ambiance, to the food. Me and my friend enjoyed a Saturday afternoon brunch escapade at Cook and Collins we shared a carafe of Mimosas that were heavily sedated. So many great things on the menu so we decided to split a few menu items. The mac n cheese crab appetizer is amazing however the dipping sauce was a tad too sweet for me. We also split the pig porker flatbread which was also great but the main attraction here is the crab cake blt which was just how do i put this everything. Our waiter was polite and very knowledgeable about the menu and gave great suggestions. Valet is useless seeing has how i can just walk to my car however it is complimentary. So no biggie. I'll be back soon to try some of the other menu items, happy hour, and the terrace bar!
(5)Alex H.
Been here for brunch and dinner so far. Absolutely exquisite. The red fries and mac n' cheese crab rolls were to die for. Mimosas. What more is there in life.
(5)Pri R.
This place is definitely in the right side of town. A booming young 20-somethings- 30-somethings area. I was actually really excited to try this place out, as I had seen it in a Houston magazine and my hubby and I are huge foodies. So we gave Cook & Collins a try. Here's how the night went besides the food being ok for what it was: -walked in waited to be seated -sat down in the patio (thank God it was covered it was freezing outside) -looked at the menu with excitement - 20 minutes later, waiting for someone to help us -another 15 minutes later, waiting for the waiter to come get our drink order -Finally almost 40 minutes later we were able to put in our order for appetizers and the rest of our food as we felt we were not promised anyone till another hour later. It was such a long wait that my stomach kept cussing and the watered down lemonade wasn't helping. There was an extremely loud group of drunk guys saying "chug chug chug" I mean really? Woodrow's is right next door. And of course the entire patio was echoing "chug chug chug". So further on, we got our food, the hubs got the filet mignon and I ordered the buffalo meatloaf as the staff was raving about it. To be truthful the filet mignon wasn't anything like RDG Bar Annie, and my buffalo meatloaf honestly I think I could of made it. Like really. There wasn't anything awesome about it and I didn't get why the staff would rave about that unless the owners were pumping up everyone with the idea that they need to sell more buffalo meatloafs. The prices honestly I think were a bit too much because of the area. I'm not trying to be mean, I'm being serious here. I really had high hopes on this place as I wanted it to be a place I can have my birthday at or bring friends from NYC. But nothing has me wanting to come back. Like the hubs said "they are trying too hard to be something they are not". I think what sort of food on the menu was unique, but nothing that gave me the "wow" factor. But i'm glad we at least go to try it out. I'm sure later on we can come back again and give this place another try. I understand they are just starting out. But I wanted to be forth coming. My advice: hire more staff to wait on clients, especially if you can figure out your busy days. Don't over hype something that the public hasn't raved about. And be true to yourself as far as food, prices, and everything else that comes with running a food business. Good luck guys wish cook and Collins the very best :)
(3)Faye R.
Discovered this place on yelp when I wanted to try something new. Delicious Mac 'n' cheese appetizer; had the Cesar salad (SOO GOOD)! The atmosphere and ambiance is great, especially when the weather is nice! Definitely coming back!
(5)Luna L.
Food is amazing!! The sides are huge! I got Brussels sprouts and Mac and cheese thinking it would be small. It's not. Flatbreads are great and my bf devoured his burger. Cocktails could use some help (I only drank wine because of this) and I HATE the green lights in the patio. John was our server and he was quite friendly and very attentive. Great service and great noms.
(4)Alexis J.
While we've seen so many restaurants come and go in the same space, I am rather excited for Cook & Collins. With their interesting, intentional menu, I'm looking forward to returning. Excellent melted onion soup, sweet potato ravioli, and definitely give dessert a try-- the butterscotch pudding jar (with pineapple jam) may sound a bit odd, but a fantastic combination.
(4)Zara S.
I went there for brunch a couple weekends ago and first thing I noticed was the decor and ambiance of the restaurant. We had a seat in the patio area and it was really nice with the sun out and a cool breeze. You must order the giant cinnamon roll with bacon bits. That stuff is divine!! I'm definitely going back to try their other menu items. Server was very attentive too.
(5)Kenn S.
Amanda greeted our party of six, first-time visitors for Sunday dinner. She explained menu selections were from both the full and brunch menus. Upon Amanda's recommendation, we shared an order of Red Eye Fries - definitely an unexpected favorite, even for our tentative friends from out of town. BBQ Breakfast (basically mac & cheese smothered in goodness) scored highly. The Bleu Burger disappeared quickly and also received high marks. Two of us shared a Chopped Caesar and some Root Beer BBQ Chicken grilled flatbread, a curious combination of flavors that works well together. Cookie Dough Brownie with six spoons topped off the meal - oh those toasted marshmallow chunks. Even the music worked for everyone, a tough challenge given the group's 21 to 60 age range. Service was attentive, friendly, and professional. Our orders arrived quickly. Everything tasted fresh and delightfully different. We all commented it was a five-star experience that we'll try again soon.
(5)Andy L.
Been here three times and have had a great time trying the different menu options and cocktails. They have a good happy hour-the flatbreads are delicious and large enough for two or three people to share. The meatloaf was cooked just right, their fried chicken and honey is fantastic, and I was pretty impressed by the quinoa burger which is saying something because that's not usually my thing! The atmosphere is open and casual; it's a great place to hang out after work that has both good food and drinks.
(4)Trujillo F.
went here for dinner with a friend a couple of weeks ago and I was impressed by the decor: clean (architecturally speaking) and contemporary with a slight 'diner-ish' feel. there's also some cute bric-a-brac on shelf display which gave it a comfy, homie feeling. on to the food: had duck tacos appetizers as recommended by chris the gm (not game master) and that was spot on. i had the porterhouse pork which was cooked just right (i asked for medium) aaaannnddd... dang! forgot what she ordered... oh yeah, she had the scallops and they were yummy as well. just go already, i gave it four stars!! :D
(4)Amanda R.
We were in town for a wedding and made Father's Day brunch reservations via Open Table. We loved this place! They have a great outdoor patio on front, but in Houston in June, we opted to sit indoors. To start off, the 4 of us shared a carafe of the Bellini, made with our favorite Tito's Vodka, and also ordered the Sinaroll (cinnamon roll with bacon icing) and the famous crab rolls (crab meet, macaroni, sun dried tomatoes and truffle dip). For our main dish, I had the classic Benedict. I loved it! One thing that's different is that their hollandaise sauce was citrus-y, which I really liked but my husband didn't. The eggs were perfectly cooked and the biscuit they came on were dense and I think had rosemary in them. My dad also ordered the eggs Benedict, my husband got the Party Fowl flatbread, and my mom ordered the French toast. All the food was delicious, and we're looking forward to coming back next time we're in town!
(5)Andrew S.
It was ok. Nothing phenomenal but, I enjoyed it. I ate by myself and the service was good and I enjoyed it. Restaurant had a nice vibe to it. Food was good but, nothing to write home about. I had the salmon with quinoa on top and it was placed on top of hummus. Had a lot going on with it. Could be fun for a happy hour in a booth.
(3)Will F.
I went for brunch this morning and this place does have a great atmosphere. I had the Bloody Mary which was decent at best, nothing special. We ordered the sinnamon roll which was HUGE and I would definitely recommend it and it could feed 5. I had the Morning After which I expected to be a steak with a side of the chili cheese fries with an egg on top. It ended up being a bed of fries with chili and cheese on top and steak cut up on top of that. It was very disappointing as that was not what I was expecting. The steak was bland, the fries were very soggy and the chili was overpowering. Would not order again. Everyone else enjoyed their meal.
(2)Hannah S.
cool spot for brunch! went on Sunday around noon just in time to get the last table outside (reservations needed for inside) we sat downstairs but there is also an outside patio upstairs with a few tables and a bar. the waiter was nice enough to let us try a sample of the sangria before we committed which we were thankful for because it wasn't the greatest so we opted for a mimosa carafe instead ($12)--just your standard mimosa, could've used more bubbly in my opinion! for our second round of drinks we ordered the Bellini carafe ($21)--a tastier choice! as an appetizer we ordered the mac & cheese "crab rolls"--pretty good; don't skip on the dipping sauce it comes with as it was sweet and added the perfect little kick! the fat Elvis pancakes were every bit of peanut butter, banana-y goodness I was hoping for. tried a bite of the BBQ breakfast--very yummy but wish the brisket that is mixed in with the mac n cheese was more chopped up rather than just one big chunk of meat, this dish also comes with a raspberry muffin that was super moist! also tried a piece of the white bird flatbread which was a lighter, refreshing choice with perfectly crisp crust! the portions are very generous so go hungry and also not too late--brunch ends and the place closes up at 2:30 on Sundays.
(3)M K.
I recently visited C&C for the 2nd time after having an enjoyable brunch a few weeks prior. This round I decided to bring my parents who were in town. My mom has a food allergy to dairy and a gluten intolerance. As she perused the menu she decided on a omelet dish only to request it without the feta cheese. Our waiter informed us that the feta was "in the mix" as there were several other ingredients in the omelet (spinach, onions,etc). We asked him if the omelets were pre-maid and all server kept saying was it's "in the mix". So basically for a $14 omelette you are getting a pre-maid omelet, who knows how in advance they even make the "mix". When we asked about the oatmeal and if they could substitute another milk guess what we were told..you bet ya, it's "in the mix". I wish the server would have at least gone the extra step to see if they could even prepare a spinach and egg omelet but he revert back to the only words he could remember "it's in the mix". C&C has a great atmosphere but if you need any dietary substitutions forget it. Mix your brunch scene up and try somewhere else, enjoy!
(1)Mary N.
A 3.5 bumped to a 4th star for ambiance and service. We made reservation for 1pm Sunday. Arrived early, but immediate seating available. Our server was friendly. He answered questions about the menu selections without irritability. The decor was upscale-comfortable. Everything was clean. Make sure you read the menu carefully. There is a real effort to put their stamp on recipes. For example, the Texas style bacon is double smoked. I ordered the crab cake Sandwich and found that the bacon's extra-smokiness to be a bit over the top for a mild crab cake. The aioli was strong, as well. The brioche that it was served on was excellent. I can't fault the preparation of the sandwich. Likewise, I found the sangria to be a bit sweet. The garlic fries were crispy with bursts of garlic. The one disappointment was the gravy. I want to return for dessert. I can see myself meeting friends for drinks. I appreciate an establishment that stocks top shelf selections and is not a carbon copy of formula driven chains.
(4)Robert J.
All dishes ordered were acceptable & the service was good. Only complaint was with the Oysters??? Rockefeller Fondue. For $14 the dish should absolutely have more than 2 of the smallest oysters I have ever seen. Come on C+C Chef. This was a complete embarrassment & insulting to your guests. Flavor was good but where were the oyster"s"???
(3)Mike J.
Great menu, good food, great location
(4)Savannah T.
Cook & Collins could not have chosen a better location! This is definitely going to be my pre-drinking joint to Red Door for dancing! They have some extremely unique and tasty cocktails (I enjoyed a Ghost's of Jacob's Past). Apparently I had the strongest cocktail on the list, and I definitely had a buzz after just one. Now... The food. I got the Hummus plate and the Spinach Salad with a girlfriend and we enjoyed all of it. I am so glad to have found out about this place! Glad that vacant suite found a great tenant.
(5)Sonya C.
best crab cake burger I've ever had. I wish I had caught our waiters name bc he was fantastic. Friendly, funny, and always around just when we needed him. Blonde guy, so wish I remember. Overall great experience
(4)Kim K.
The food was delicious but a lot! We both couldn't finish our meal. John our waiter was really nice and attentive! Nice casual restaurant in Midtown.
(4)Diana Z.
Sorry Cook & Collins. I really wanted to love this spot. The menu and cocktail list looked fantastic, but unfortunately you didn't live up to our expectations. First, the positive: the service was really great, from the hostess who greets you at the door to our chipper server; one out of three cocktails (the martini appleflower) was delicious and nearly worth the price; the fried chicken was hot, just a tad spicy, and tasty. Now, the negative: the hyped up angry birds appetizer was just ok, as was the beet salad and sides for our fried chicken. Excited about the biscuit and gravy our dish came with we were thoroughly disappointed by what seemed to be a rock disguised as a biscuit (pretty sure made of Bisquick). Then the bill came. We're totally used to paying for great food and great service, but we left feeling a bit screwed. Overall, it wasn't a terrible experience it just wasn't worth the money and didn't live up to what we thought could be a really good spot. It sort of reminded me of that Anheuser-Busch beer Shock Top--you think it's sort of like Blue Moon and it looks like a genuine craft beer, only to discover that it's a wanna be craft beer that tastes terrible made by corporate america to fool you. C&C is sort of like that... looks great, but feels little like a chain with everything just a tad under par.
(2)Andrew A.
Cozy, trendy atmosphere with friendly service and kickass food. Holy cow was dinner a treat last night. Now, Valentine's day (also mother's day, new years eve, fathers day etc) is typically not a night where you get see a restaurant's best effort. That goes double for a restaurant still working the kinks out as it's only been open for a month. But my wife and I had a wonderful dinner there. Mo, I believe was our server's name, was a friendly, attentive waiter. Food was spectacular. The mac and cheese and crab rolls were awesome on their own, but dip them in that truffle vinaigrette and fasten your tasty belts. Ribeye was cooked perfectly, as was the filet. The duck tacos were out of this world with some kind of spicy bean on the plate to kick it up. And I'm so glad they ran out of the brownie (our reservation was for 10pm so completely understandable) because the butterscotch jar was one of those desserts that every spoonful was followed with an outburst along the lines of when harry met sally. We will be back and we will be bringing friends.
(5)Sara J.
Great service, great food, great atmosphere! Will be back for sure!
(5)Rachel S.
Just ate here for the first time, and it was great! They make an awesome bloody Mary with some delicious garnish, including a shrimp and slice of bacon. I had the three cheese burger and enjoyed it very much! I would definitely recommend it and will surely go back for round 2!
(5)