Brenner's Steakhouse on the Bayou

Doesn't Recommend

Doug K.

Joined 1 month ago

Watch out for the restaurant police!!! I went there last night to celebrate my girlfriends getting her real estate license... just champagne and appetizers. We sat down and I put my unbranded carbonated water on the table that I carry to avoid dehydration... Soda Stream... the bottles cost about $7 and I carbonate filtered water at home. When the waiter came to take our order he picked up my 1/4 full bottle and said you are not allowed to have that in here shall I throw it away?... I said it's only water for God's sake, Within a few minutes some punk shows up wired like a police officer with a microphone on his shirt and spiral cord over his shoulder and says the TABC will shut us down for you having that here... I once again said it is just water!!! He says I will either confiscate it or you can put it away... there's nothing like paying someone to ruin a celebration. Tillman Fertitta, owner of Landry's has many restaurants and I have never had a great experience at any of them... from now on I will make sure I avoid any restaurant owned by him.

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CasieLynn

Joined 2 years ago

Nice View!. I ate here for my 22nd birthday. We had a reservation dinner, but we were not seated immediately. We had to wait for about 30-40 minutes to be seated. Our table was in a nice spot, and I thought the view would be wonderful especially in the morning or if you are having lunch. The food was alright, and it wasn't all that great nor will i put it in my top 10 list. Service was decent, staff were nice but the food took so long before it was served. I would go back and give it another chance, Only if a friend recommend to eat here again.

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meichang

Joined 6 years ago

Awesome Steak. I went with a large group from work. For appetizers, we shared the blackened scallops, crab cake and Texas quails, they were all tasty and well prepared.

The highlight was the steak. I had a medium rare 6 oz. fillet. It was perfectly cooked and truly was one of the most tender steaks that I've ever eaten. Every steak ordered at our table came out perfect.

However, the weakling was the dessert. I had the fruit cobbler and it was disappointing. Other people had the mousse cake and that tasted ok.

Doesn't Recommend

alisoncompton5

Joined 3 years ago

Room for improvement. My boyfriend and I dined at Brenners this past Saturday. I have to say this is the worst restaurant I have been to in a long time. The setting is fantastic. I should not be able to purchase and cook a better steak myself than a high end steak house. Both of our steaks were over cooked. I guess the chef does not know what medium rare is. The steaks came out in the consistency of shoe leather. No moisture, grey in color. The service was mediocre at best. It is such a shame, the setting is so nice. None the less, I cannot recommend this restaurant, the setting cannot make up for what is lacking in every other aspect of this steak house. Certainly try somewhere else. I checked city search reviews prior to dining here and was on the fence, as half were good and half were bad. I have to write, the negative reviews proved to be more accurate. Hope this helps.

Doesn't Recommend

duran4469

Joined 3 years ago

Terrible Experience. I ordered a market price bone in ribeye medium rare. I recieved a well done steak. Without taking a bite, I showed the server. He agreed it was well done and said he would take it back. Instead of the $48 market ribeye, for the re-do I requested the $35 non-bone in ribeye. The waiter said that he would talk to the manager and work something out. After my my wife was complete with her meal, my steak came out. The bone in ribeye (which I did not ask for) it was cooked medium, which was okay. After the dinner the server dropped the bill at our table without aknowledging the steak issue. There was nothing "taken care of" and they charged me for the bone in ribeye (even though that is what he brought, it was not what I ordered). I called the server over and asked if he had talked to the manager. He said he did and nothing was to be taken off because I was happy with the steak and that they quickly brought it out (my wife was already finished with her meal). I told him that want to talk to the manager, the waiter said good because he thought something needed to be done and that the management at Brenners is the worst that he has ever worked for. The manager then came out and briskley set the revised bill on the table and said that he comped two glasses of wine. With those two glasses of wine comped it brought the bill to what it should have been (I changed my steak to the cheaper after they scorched the original). This was a birthday dinner for my wife. I cannot say how angry this made me. I am saying for your benefit, do NOT go to this restaurant. There are too many in Houston that work for your business and appreciate their costumers.

Doesn't Recommend

houstonuser

Joined 8 years ago

Will not return. Last night, we visited Brenner's on the Bayou to celebrate my mom's birthday. Sadly, it was a very disappointing experience. The hostess, waitstaff AND management were very rude and even condescending at times. We did not get the table location we requested and were confirmed for over the phone with a manager. They ran out of two things on the menu after we already ordered and couldn't even suggest a substitute. And among other things, when making our reservation, we made sure to ask if they can put a candle in our dessert for the birthday girl. They said yes. But last night, after getting our desserts without a candle, I asked our waiter why there wasn't one. I made sure to tell him this when we first got there. I made sure to point out whose birthday it was. The waiter told me the restaurant doesn't bring out candles and that they don't even have any. However, there were TWO tables around us celebrating birthdays, and they both received candles. Our waiter told us that they probably brought their own candles from home. Really?

Such a beautiful restaurant, with terrible management! Food was average. My steak was overcooked to the temperature I ordered. Too many other restaurants in Houston where I can walk away happy to waste my time here again. Sadly.

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GulfCoastWade

Joined 5 years ago

Memorable Evening. We tried Brenner's On The Bayou this past stormy, rainy Saturday night, after reading many reviews here on CitySearch about it. We arrived on time and had to wait a few minutes at the bar for our table. But Brenner's sat us at a wonderful corner table overlooking the back garden and bayou; a perfect perspective of their expansive property. Three out of four of us, chose their Lobster Bisque as a starting appetizer, which was simply delicious. My daughter opted for the wedge salad with Italian dressing, which she enjoyed very much. My fiancee and I ordered the Franciscan red cabernet wine from among their varied wine selections; a great choice from among the many moderately priced red wines. For main courses we all chose among the ribeyes, lamb chops and petite filet. All of us loved our main course selections as well as the attention to detail in meat preparation, subdued music overhead, and venue selection. We also loved the side dishes that we chose as accompaniements; scalloped cheesy potatoes, grilled mushrooms and creamed spinach. The creamed spinach is prepared with a smoky, melted cheese which is unusually delightful and delicate. Our waiter was always on-point, professional, yet unobtrusive. After completing our dinner, my fiancee and daughter tried the chocolate souffle while my son and I just enjoyed watching them delight in their dessert selections so thouroughly. After completing the meal, we all took pictures in front of the restaurant, and along Brenner's picturesque outdoor garden. The valet parking attendants were equally professional and very polite. It really could not have been a more perfect dinner evening spent with family; what a great venue for a special occasion, prom night, or just an impressive formal dinner with someone special!

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food snobs

Joined 4 years ago

Breath taking view. I went here for dinner one evening and had a cool table upstairs. We felt like we were sitting in a tree. The outside views are beyond words, you don't feel like you are on a bayou. It is majestic. The food was good, not great, but good. The 3 course meal deal they are offering is of fair price, and they did make a salad substitution for my boyfriend. some of table were put in wierd locations, and I am glad we didn't have any of those!!

We also went for a wine tasting event on a Saturday afternoon. What a treat to be in gardens, drinking wine, and tasting food. The duck confeit was great, but of course this was after A LOT of wine. This wasn't your average wine tasting, as it was America vs. France with 10 almost full glasses for each country. I had a blast and hope they have another tasting in the fall.

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KitchenInc

Joined 3 years ago

Testosterone-fed Oil Exec playground. When you picture an expensive steakhouse in your head, odds are that the picture you paint comes out looking a lot like Brenners. All the dark woods, leather, and corporate spending accounts you may desire are here. The whole place reeks of testosterone and Vp's trying to impress clients; don't get me wrong, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just kinda funny to see so many power suits/ties/cars/watches/etc. And yes, unless Shell/Exxon/Conoco are fronting the bill, it will be a tough cookie to swallow.

As is expected form a place designed to impress a client that is going to spend millions, the whole menu is impeccable and the wine list is as expansive as it is overpriced. My favourite is the NY Strip, but all the other cuts I have sampled have been nothing short of perfect. They will cook your steak exactly to how you prefer it, top it with whatever Jus you ask them to, and present it to you in the most delicate and elegant manner possible. When you're paying $45 for it, they damn well better. The high end steakhouse is the holy grail of waiters, so expect nothing but the best here, most of them are career waiters, and as such they are incredibly knowledgeable and skilled in their trade.

The salads are equally good, with the blue cheese iceberg taking the cake. Desserts as well are what you would expect, nothing falling short of the mark set by their bloated prices. You really can't go wrong by coming here, the problem is, do you really want to?

Now we arrive at my issue with all the high end steakhouses. The corporate accounts creates a false demand that drives the prices skyward and make it almost impossible to afford. If you're at the point where you're spending $70 for a steak, a dessert, and a glass of wine, it makes more sense to just simply buy the best meat at the market and an expensive bottle of wine and make it yourself. It will be just as good, if not better.

Doesn't Recommend

Kasekaki

Joined 3 years ago

Unbelievably disappointing!. We selected this restaurant for a special occasion. We were seated in a very cramped space near a walkway. The waiter was very nice, but we were unable to hear anything he said due to the obnoxiously loud drunks at the table behind us. These people stood out, and it was unbelievable that no one said anything to them. When we couldn't stand it any longer, we asked for the check. It took us another 30 mins before we go out. The manager apologized numerous times, but offered nothing in return. Not that we expected anything, but usually something is comped if a customer has a horrible experience. To top it off, as we walked out there was a guy sitting at the bar wearing a "Roca Wear" T-Shirt. I don't drop $150 for a dinner for two to be around drunks and G-Unit thugs. They let anyone in this place. .30 Blood alcohol limit, No Problem!!