Doesn't Recommend

jbrusovich

Joined 7 years ago

If you love mobs, this place rocks!. First of all, The Tasting Room's Uptown Park location is a notorious meat market. It isn't about wine, principally because it's too loud and obnoxious to even broach the subject, much less sample new varieties. It's really a bar couched as a wine bar. It attracts everyone from upscale, 30-something single professionals, to 50-something married men posing as 30-something single professionals. The same strategy also applies to the women, by the way. There is also a lot of flotsam and jetsam - both male and female - on the prowl for whatever bites. Be prepared for lots of posers in tight, shiny shirts, strippers, con-artists...and what appear to be oily "cage-fighters" straight from Central Casting. Having said this, if you pick an off night that's not too muggy, you can actually have a reasonable evening sitting outside under the patio trees, just watching the rif-raf come and go in search of prey. I think of it like a live version of The Discovery Channel. The location alone makes this place popular. Uptown Park is a gold mine for anyone in this business, with its numerous restaurants and bars keeping traffic raging at all hours of the night. Arguably, it has become Houston's "South Beach." Personally, I would choose The Tasting Room in River Oaks; particularly if you happen to be on a date, or have any interest whatsoever in exploring the world of wine. The staff at this location are quite knowledgeable of wines and always friendly and attentive, given the fact that they're not under enormous pressure to serve six thousand people standing in lines at either ends of a 360 degree bar, with no idea what to order. They usually just say something like "Chardonnay, please";

the same mantra they repeat, ad nauseum, at other hot spots like Bennigans, Applebee's and Chili's.

Recommends

Beachluva

Joined 5 years ago

Different, but in a good way. I liked the place, went with a group of friends and found it to be a great place to enjoy a glass of wine or two, and have an appetizer. I disliked ordering at the bar, and some of the people were a bit as I would say, in love with themselves. They had live music, which was good, and a nice patio.

Recommends

winegig

Joined 5 years ago

good food good wine. Great place to meet people and enjoy a great glass or bottle of wine.

They now have a room where they have great food and they are working on the menu.

I love this place!!!

Recommends

abain

Joined 6 years ago

Fun but beware on special occasions. I paid $50 per person for their Valentine's day event, which I was told included a special dinner and a DJ. The front area was hopping but we were cornered in a back room with only one other couple, we had to serve our own dinner, and there was no DJ. Very awkward. We made the best of it since the food was good, but we had no service and felt ripped off.

Doesn't Recommend

EquitableCritic

Joined 5 years ago

Not customer oriented, only MONEY oriented... Note: Myself and friends visit many wine venues around town and Tasting Room is not a favorite nor a least favorite. It has location/outdoor seating as it's only real benefit to myself and friends. 1)Everytime we have gone there the service is laughable. You walk to the big wall, stare at the wine for a while hoping to find something awesome... no one helps you. They have tried to help before, but it almost like they really don't care. 2)When you buy the wine, they slam some glasses down (which happens every time), take your money, and walk away. You're on your own now. Good luck getting any service afterwards. 3)Everyone that works there just seems either uptight or pist-off at the world. Love how the bus boys run around dumping wine in the bushes, stealing glasses from customers.. entertaining to watch until it's your turn!**My overall impression about this place - It's run like a money machine. Get the customer in and out, don't waste money on service. Money money... in and out.

Recommends

chi2hous

Joined 6 years ago

My Favorite Place in Houston!. This is my favorite place to go in Houston. I work very close to their Uptown Park location and try to stop by at least once at week. I have many friends who work in Uptown and this is our official meeting place after work. We usually come on Wednesdays and enjoy a few bottle of wines together along with some great pizza.

Doesn't Recommend

angry_diner

Joined 6 years ago

APPAULING BEHAVIOR!. I used to work for the company and I've never had such a BAD experience at any establishment! Myself and three friends arrived at TTR Uptown around 12:00, one hour before closing and ordered only one bottle of wine. Not only were the bus boys rude but everyone who was working seemed tipsy (some drunk)! We were rushed from our table at 12:45 and when asked for our wines glasses, which were 1/4 full, the bus boy (who was very tall and lanky) just threw the wine behind him, almost getting it on my jeans, and stood waiting for the other glasses impatiently. We also overheard him saying to another table, who had commented on his rudeness, that he "...didn't care, we're closing..."! I won't go back to TTR nor will I go to Max's Wine Dive if this is how their employees (new or veteren) behave!

Recommends

perpetuallytreu

Joined 11 years ago

Favorite Wine Bar and Wine Retail - The only 10. This has been my favorite wine bar for 5 years now. The staff is knowledgeable and loves wine. This means that if you don?t know what you want, they probably do. The cheese trays are beautiful. The atmosphere is just right, and the $5 tasting are a deal. The sommelier offers Q and A via email and he knows his stuff. Having a dinner party? You can email him to select the right choices, they?ll pull the bottles for you, charge your car and when you get there load them in your car. Try getting Specs to do that!

In my book you cant do better.

Recommends

pinoyvlf

Joined 7 years ago

Great Wine bar. The Tasting Room was the first real wine bar I had ever been too. With a trendy, romantic, and cozy feel to it, The Tasting Room makes for a great place to take a wine-loving date to. The food was tasty and the service friendly. Overall, I had a great experience and I continue to come to this place (or their location in midtown) to enjoy a few glasses of wine and have a little chatter with a special someone. If you are having a hard time deciding what to try, the staff is always willing to help you out. This location is on the uptown plaza, so there are always places to go to before or even after the Tasting Room. I have been to almost every wine bar there is in Houston (except maybe 2), and Tasting Room is up there (but not number 1 in my book).

Recommends

turbobug

Joined 7 years ago

Very Nice.. Nice place to relax. They have a very good selection. Great for after work or on a low key night. Seating outside is nice for spring and fall.