Charivari Restaurant-Home of European Cuisine

Recommends

E Jane H.

Joined 10 months ago

Sophisticated delicious food, lovely quite atmosphere

Doesn't Recommend

FoodandDine

Joined 2 years ago

Mediocre Food and rude service. I went here with high expectations. I find that Houston generally has wonderful restaurants. But was I ever dissapointed, and rudely so. Too bad, really. The food was mediocre and some of it cold. The service slow and inattentive. We got through dinner as best we could but we could have just as easily gone to Luby's. Oh...and the chef comes out just to belittle the staff. He is crude.

Well, I would not recommend this place if you are looking for good European food and well-mannered people. I wish there were negative stars to give.

Recommends

chubbs123

Joined 2 years ago

Good food, slightly overpriced. Some creative and unique flavors. Helpful staff.

Doesn't Recommend

CNRG

Joined 2 years ago

Another forgotten table on Valentine's Day. My husband and I experienced something similar to JRPR's evening.

We've dined at Charivari before and wanted to spend Valentine's evening at a nice restaurant. (Even though the atmosphere is simplistic and not what I consider appropriate for such an expensive menu.)

We ordered wine, appetizers, and dinner. We received the wine and appetizers but then waited almost an hour for the entrees to arrive after completion of the appetizers. No one offered us more wine at any point during the meal. The waitress ignored our table for most of the 2-hour evening, especially after waving her down because we hadn't yet received our meal.

We requested that the owner's wife come speak with us regarding the service or lack thereof. Maria delivered the food and came back a second time to see how the food was. She never apologized for the extreme delay in service. In fact, NO ONE ever once said they were sorry. We didn't stay for dessert. I just wanted to leave ASAP. In hindsight, we should’ve asked for the check after realizing they forgot about our table.

I expect much more from a restaurant that charges $45 a plate. We won't waste our money here again.

Doesn't Recommend

JRPR

Joined 2 years ago

I think they forgot about our table. So disappointing.

I went with my husband for Valentines Day dinner. We had read good reviews so were excited about the meal. We were greeted in an enthusiastic manner. We ordered our meals and drinks. Then...everyone was MIA. My glass of wine went empty and after a long wait I finally waved someone down for a refill. I mean, why not have another drink? Our appetizers were a distant memory and we still hadn't seen the main course. After a long wait the main course came. I ordered my ribeye steak rare and it arrived medium. I didn't bother to send it back. Sending it back would have required someone to show up at the table at some point to check on us. We finished our meals. After a long wait the table was cleared. We waited longer. Finally my husband waved someone down to bring us the check. We were never even offered dessert. At that point though we would have turned it down because of the long wait we would have been in for.

HORRIBLE SERVICE.

Doesn't Recommend

hfood

Joined 2 years ago

You are got to be kidding me!. Shocked to say the least… in the most unpleasant way! As true gourmands who have traveled many continents we were so delighted to discover and experience Zagat’s only “29” for Houston in food regardless of the “20” in ambiance, if that. We quickly understood the low ambiance rating as we arrived at a strip shopping center in midtown but were willing to look aside for a hidden gem as true foodies. After the first course of bouillon of Atlantic (a signature dish) and Dracula's Garlic Cream Soup we felt there MIGHT have a menu worth sharing with others. Once the entrees were served the menu quickly and completely turned SOUTH. The Weiner Schnitzel was breaded in the most disgusting coating and brown gravy. The presentation could easily compare to a hospital cafeteria and I’m sad to say it actually trumped the Lamb Chops (another signature dish). The lamp chops were over-cooked without a hint of pink and lacked any flavor. Don’t even get me started about the presentation. Irmgard-Maria, wife of the chef, waited on us and I was cheering the restaurant on as both her and chef made the traditional rounds throughout the dining room. After the entrees I had enough disappointment. Dessert was not even an option. When will Houston step up and how in the world did Zagat give them this rating.

Recommends

NarcisaNJ

Joined 3 years ago

My newest favorite restaurant!!!!. My newest favorite restaurant!!!! If you are in Houston, and are looking for something special Charivari is the place to go! Everything was of exceptional quality. Food was delicious, well prepared and presented. The staff courteous and very attentive. The atmosphere very pleasant and inviting.



Narcisa

Recommends

johnnybob23

Joined 3 years ago

My Favorite Restaurant in Houston---Period. Chef Shuster and his wife Maria have continued to surprise me every time we have dined at Charivari over the last several years. My latest visit was for lunch with two friends who never dined there before. I asked them about the special spread served with the homemade bread. No one ever quesses correctly. My friend did. It is caviar moose. He had to talk to Maria to find out who her supplier was. Of course, it is made by Maria. The lunch was so outstanding that he had to see the dinner menu. I know that they will dine there again.

One more thing. The service is outstanding and the table is yours for as long as you want. No rushing. it is an experience to remember.

Recommends

gabecortez

Joined 5 years ago

Fantastic Birthday Celebration!. This Friday I took my wife to Charivari for her birthday celebration. This is a fantastic restaurant for any occasion but Chef Schuster and his wife, Maria, made this evening perhaps the finest dining experience of our lives. We had Beluga Blinis and Prosecco as an appetizer. The small buckwheat crepes were covered with sour cream and a large portion of Russian caviar. The explosion of flavors from that combination perked up our taste buds for rest of our meal. This was followed by butternut squash and lobster bisque. This is an amazing bisque that we have not found anywhere else in Houston. There is a synergistic effect of the combination of butternut squash and lobster that almost cannot be described but must be tasted. Raspberry sorbet cleared our palates for the entree of date stuffed Berkshire pork. This is an inspired dish that combines the extraordinary flavor of dates and the Berkshire pork. It was juicy but fully cooked and very lean. The chef recommended wine, Tacama Sinfonia, is a Peruvian wine that can only be found at Charivari. It complemented the stuffed Berkshire pork perfectly. For dessert we had panna cotta with fruit. The panna cotta melted in one's mouth. We were in food heaven the entire evening. What a memorable dining experience! In addition, there were five young German men at the bar who ordered weiner schitzel. They said the weinerschitzel was the finest they had ever had. From the glow on their smiling faces I believe them. Charivari should be your next fine dining destination. This is an amazing restaurant and a great value for the quality of the food and service.

Recommends

RotoWii

Joined 4 years ago

Great place for European food.. The lady and i went for Valentines day dinner. We had reservations at 6pm so the restaurant was not too packed yet. Service was exceptional during this point. As time went by, the service started getting slower and slower as the restaurant got up to full capacity. As once being a waiter myself, I understand waiters being busy but tonight seemed like they were understaffed. Although the food was exceptional, the desserts were not up to par. I expected something to sweep me off my seat at the end of my meal as our main courses and appetizers were excellent. Overall, this is a great restaurant to go to when they are not busy. Free valet and the restaurant is within a shopping strip. Once they hire 4-5 more waiters/waitresses, I'm sure this restaurant will become one of the best places in Houston.