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Mockingbird Bistro1985 Welch St, Houston, TX | Directions 77019
29.748157 -95.407821 View Website
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“I love the location, the understated but classy decor, and the well-priced wine list.”
“The food was really delicious from apps to dessert.”
“Should they have bad wine on the menu there, I think not!”
“But the grilled lamb was decent, as were the salads.”
“thoroughly enjoyed the menu choices and the wine list had a nice range of lower priced drinks and the upper priced ones, but well within the range of acceptable.”
“Good food and wine list plus a really nice restaurant.”
“The service was terrible.”
“The food was excellent, and the wine list was very affordable.”
“While the decor looked great, the service was slow, inconsistent, and not very knowledgeable, the food overpriced, relatively uninspired, and bland.”

The decor at this neighborhood bistro is crazy-gothic, but that's part of the charm & food is solid. My fave is their Kobe Burger. The long bar (renovated a few years ago to accommodate more people) is perfect for single diners; happy hour specials and drinks are also solid.

Well Executed food & Stellar Service. When I want well executed food & stellar service I think of Mockingbird, They also have one of the best bar menus in town, I always order the burger.
Excellent Seafood Special. The red snapper special we had for dinner last night was the best fish dish I have ever had in my life. Hail to the chef!
Expectations Not met. I made a reservation for me and three others; two of us were having a birthday. They tried to seat us with "the prom crowd" at the back of the restaurant when there were plenty of tables at the front (a much nicer spot). The food was cold, the service was not good and they never acknowledged the birthdays even though I had spoken to them by phone twice prior to our arrival. Very disappointed.... Won't do again when Houston has so many other more attentive places to go to for that much money.
This place is a treat!!. I've lived in Houston 40 plus years and did not know this restaurant existed. It was a very charming experiernce. Great wait staff, resonably priced wine selection, awesome food. It's highly recommended for a special dinner with adults.
Worst dining experience ever! Avoid at all cost!. I'm never going to Mockingbird Bistro again. I picked this place for dinner on New Year's Eve because I've been there once before and I thought the food was good and it had a nice romantic cosy atmosphere. We booked an early dinner, 5:45 pm, to avoid the crowds. When we got there the place was practically empty, but when the hostess tried to seat us at a tiny table near the kitchen and I asked for a nicer table, she gave us nasty look and said that all the other tables were booked. I've been a restaurant hostess before in college, so I knew she was talking total BS. So, I told her that we wouldn't take long to eat and to check with her boss and she walked away with an attitude to go check. Then her boss came up to us with an equally nasty attitude and told us amongst all the empty tables that the only other table she could give us was in the wine room but we had to be out of there by 7:30 pm. So we took the table and whole time we sat there the hostesses and wait staff kept giving us dirty looks. We were totally ignored while the other customers who were obviously rich regulars got star treatment. We felt so uncomfortable that we ordered our food, ate it quickly, and skipped dessert just to get out of there. The food was good but the way we were treated didn't make for a good dining experience. This was not the dining experience I got the last time I was here. The atmosphere was extremely stuffy and snobby. I expected more for a restaurant of this caliber. Thanks Mockingbird Bistro for ruining our New Year's Eve dinner!
Excellent Food, Wine, Atmosphere and Service.
I would like to echo the same sentiments as most of the patrons and reviewers of the wonderfull eating establishment. I've been wanting to, for sometime, try this resturant out and finally got the chance this past weekend. When arriving parking was not an issue nor was getting a table, though we did not arrive till around 9 pm. Once we were seated and settled in I enjoyed looking over the area and decor. It was nice looking out the windows because it gave you a little sense you were looking out your dining room windo w at home inspecting the dimily lit neighborhood. I thoroughly enjoyed the menu choices and the wine list had a nice range of lower priced drinks and the upper priced ones, but well within the range of acceptable. I ended up choosing the 'mountain trout' first course while my companion had the 'king salmon'. I would have to say that was one of the best dishes I've eaten in a long time.
I would highly encourage anyone to try this place out and definitely will visit this eatery soon.
If I had only one issue, its not with the resturant but with Citysearch dispalaying that this place is a $$ meal price eatery. Its really $$$ - $$$ 1/2 bills, because the average main entree is over $32.
Fantastic Food, Great PRICEY Wine List.
You can't beat the food at MB, it's fantastic. However, unless you're one who just rolled in from River Oaks, the wines are a bit pricey for the upper middle class. It's really a shame they don't offer some of the nicer wines retailed at $18 to $35 a bottle, cause even after they put their 2-2.5 times mark-up, we'd still be paying $50-$80 a bottle. $46 for a $16 bottle of Groth Sav Blanc is pushing it a bit; and the $50 for the $20 bottle of Becker Cab Sav is way out there. Too bad the wine prices aren't in line with the food prices.
So when I want a good wine, I go elsewhere and have my nice wine at a fair price along with a great meal. When I go to MB, I have an excellent meal without the wine. Oh well....
Thank you very much for your comments and patronage.
With over 80 wines on our list, representing 25% of the selections available, priced under $50, we do not believe that our wine list is overpriced. Also, without the purchasing power of Houston's larger retail outlets, we are forced to pay more for wine than they are and in addition we also pay a 14% tax to the state on all wine sales. I am always happy to help my dining guests find great wine within their budget, no matter how small.
Eric Hastings
Wine Director
Mockingbird Bistro
Neighborhood Spot. Great little restaurant in the quaint Montrose neighborhood. Upscale but comfortable decor and food with pretensions to haute cuisine that hits the mark. The chef, John Scheely is personable and very creative. Not much bar action but a great place to take a date. I highly reccommend.
Not what I expected.... It was even better!!. My Husband and I decided to go treat ourselves before we went to have our taxes done... Boy, did we feel great after eating such a wonderful lunch! The Beef Carpaccio made me think "This is the reason for cows!" The prime steak was another devine beef plate... cooked to perfection and served with some of the world's best pommes frites (or as we call them... french fries). The prices are steep, but what you would expect from a classically trained Chef who operates a beautiful top notch bistro in the middle of River Oaks!?
simply SUPERB!. My wife and I recently had lunch together. I could not have asked for anything more. Considering the menu's offerings, it was fairly priced. A bit on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for. The service was prompt and attentive, while far from intrusive. My wife enjoyed her meal immensely, and the mussels were to die for! Not an everyday hangout, but well worth a trip. Kudos to the Chef!
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