Artista Restaurant
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 278-4782
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Hempstead Road
- Best of Citysearch:
- View 2005
- Hours:
- Sun-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
Editorial Review for Artista Restaurant – by Eric Gerber
The Scene
Reaction to the hulking Hobby Center for the Performing Arts downtown has been mixed, but its in-house restaurant deserves a standing ovation. Created by Michael Cordua, of Americas and Churrascos fame, this stylish eatery offers sophisticated fare in a stunning setting. The large, open dining room on the second level offers a panoramic view of the Theater District through ample windows. An inviting terrace provides a memorable alfresco experience.
The Food
The menu lists a dozen or so entrees, heavy on seafood like scallops, swordfish and tilapia, each with a suggested sauce and side dish. But you're allowed to mix those three components any way you like. Don't want the habanero-citrus sauce on the salmon? Then switch to the herb meuniere (which comes on the snapper). The appetizers are remarkable, particularly a petite taco with crawfish, cilantro and hoisin sauce.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
The ExtrasTrying to make curtain at the Hobby (or nearby)? Tell your waiter. The staff can shift gears for ultra-quick service.
Know Before You GoOn evenings when there are performances at the Hobby, reservations are an absolute must.
User Reviews for Artista Restaurant
06/30/2008 Posted by GraciousHost
HoustonGal, that is TOTALLY UNEXCUSABLE!!!!! I would leave a comment on their website so Mr. Cordua can see it. I left a positive comment for Americas long ago (when it was still in the right decade, CULINARILY SPEAKING), and I am guessing they still have that feature on the site. The nerve of that server... and for him/her to use the Manager as an excuse is terrible respresentation! On to my experience which was a few months back. My family and I were in for lunch before Jersey Boys, and we had a very mediocre experience. The food was definitley nothing to write home about, and I have always despised places who want you to design your own meal with mix-and-match sauces, proteins, and sides. Isn't that why you hire a skilled chef?...... to create something the layman wouldn't think of? Whoever came up with this concept is either lazy, not a real chef, or just plain ignorant to what true diners want. Can we say "revamp time"? The prices at Artista suggest ALL the food is spectacular, and don't get me wrong, the asian-inspired crawfish taquito appetizer, and the Angel Wings (fancy chicken wings in brown butter and blue cheese) are delicious-- but thats where it ends as far as I'm concerned. I would suggest drinks and appetizers in the bar only. Service: Our waitress seemed like she was on another planet. "Glazed look" service including a lack of menu knowledge, AND... slow refills, slow clearing of plates, forgot requested sauces, cleared entrees before mom was finished, served coffee with milk instead of cream, had to flag down for the check, and she would NOT return o the table to do anything past the time we paid the bill (or should I say, "the tip"?) And incase you are wondering, we tipped 15%, and NOT the usual 20% because of it. Thank goodness we didn't get "called out"...... In summary, nice patio and beautiful decor, but if you want fine dining food and service, your money (and tip) is better spent elsewhere!
06/02/2008 Posted by Houston727Gal
I used to love Artista. I am a frequent theater patron and always enjoyed having dinner at Artista before a show. That was before the Great Insult of 2008. A good friend of mine is from London and her parents were visiting Houston. I invited them to the theater as my guests. My friend's father wanted to treat us all to dinner. I recommended Artista believing that it would be a wonderful experience for them. We had a lovely dinner - food was great, had a super bottle of wine. This kindly old gentleman paid our bill, and we sat enjoying our coffee for a few minutes waiting for showtime. The waiter approached him and asked if there was a problem with our service. Mr. U.K. said that everything was fine. The waiter then said that his manager insisted that he ask becuase the tip was so low! I couldn't believe it! I found out later that my dinner host had tipped 10%. But please bear in mind, this was not out of being cheap or unsatisfied with the meal. In Europe, they don't tip at all for meals. It's just the way it is. This sweet little old man thought he had tipped generously and simply wasn't quite in tuned with the American rules of the road. But he was thoroughly humiliated by the Artista staff, and I simply can't forgive them for that! I will never return.
Pros: Great view and good food
Cons: Terrible (and insulting) service staff
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