(713) 222-6996
1718 Houston Ave
Houston,
TX
77007
29.7731
-95.3722
Neighborhoods: Central, Washington Ave./ Memorial Park
What People Are Saying About Dharma Cafe
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short – While the name, a Sanskrit word meaning "spiritual work one does to remain centered," came to owners Susan Ralph and John Gurney from their Buddhist teachings, the menu is hardly Asian. Instead, it's rooted in the comfort of country French cooking as well as Alice Waters' West Coast fare. Lunch and dinner offer sandwiches, chicken, seafood and homemade pastas. Seating only 44, the restaurant makes for a cozy and romantic hideaway.
Hands on owners, great ambience
by canwetalk at Citysearch
Situated in an old building, with concrete floors & high ceilings, there is a great feeling of openess, not being crowded. There was live music playing, but not so loud as to prevent good conversation. The waiter was very good, familiar with the food (is it fresh, not frozen, what's in the sauce, etc.). I was uncertain about a particular wine, and a sample was brought over before we committed to a whole bottle. Upon leaving, all the ladies were presented with a single, long-stem rose for Valentine's Day. A lovely meal.
PS: One of the owners is ex-Enron, so if you have stories to share ...
- Pros: Live music, great ambience
- Cons: Parking, lack of dinner bread
Over rated, over priced brunch buffet
by sheilabac at Citysearch
The buffet is actually very small, not at all what we were expecting. The soup looked like Italian Wedding, but wasn't. I didn't care for it, but my daughter liked it. The asparagus was undercooked, while the salmon was overcooked, but tasty. There was only 1 pasta dish, and I don't know what they call it, but nothing to call me back for seconds.
It was difficult to get our waiter's attention to order an omelet and cinnamon roll. The omelet was properly cooked, but flavorless. They need better tasting eggs. The filling was skimpy, as well. My daughter said her cinnamon roll was hot, but hard.
For $17 per person we were expecting more variety and higher quality. There was nothing French about the food we had today.
They claim to be kid friendly, yet have no changing station in the restroom.
Wonderful food!
by kuchim at Citysearch
The food is outstanding - flavorful, not fussy, beautiful presentation. The Shrimp Mojo is to die for and the crab cakes a close second. Service is friendly and professional. This a wonderful cozy spot.
The Details on Dharma Cafe
When to Go:
Sunday brunch is served 10am-2pm. The $15 all-you-can-eat buffet is very popular, so reservations are recommended.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Romantic Dining, Quiet, Brunch, Historic Setting, Hidden Find, Business Dining, Lunch Spot, Notable Wine List
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
No









