Sambuca
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: (713) 224-5299
Fax: (713) 224-5290
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Travis Street
- Best of Citysearch:
- Date Spot 2007, After-Work Bar 2006, Romantic Dining 2005
- Hours:
- Mon-Wed 11am-12pm, Thu 11am-1am, Fri-Sat 11am-2am, Sun 11am-3pm
Editorial Review for Sambuca – by Citysearch Editors
The Scene
The music isn't always jazz, and the upscale menu isn't really cafe fare, but there's no quibbling about Sambuca's success. Outfitted in faux leopard-skin prints and black decor, tables and booths are at interesting angles so patrons can get cozy without missing out on the energy. Live music performs all week on the other side of the bar and at perfect background decibels. Dining policies may rankle: two-hour limit on tables; $17 minimum per person; 15-percent tip required.
The Food
There's a pricey, competently prepared array of favorites, like blackened snapper perked up with lemon-butter sauce or a preposterously oversized platter of osso buco and polenta. Spinach salad with Creole-mustard dressing strikes just the right note, as does an eye-catching order of shrimp fettuccine stir fried with assorted Asian vegetables. Desserts are delicious and are sized for two.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Where to SitThe two-hour limit is for dining tables. At the bar, you can stay as long as you like.
Look GoodAlley Theatre attendees can enjoy a three-course meal before or after any performance for just $35. Mention this promotion when you make your reservation.
User Reviews for Sambuca
07/03/2008 Posted by Zibapari
We were really surprised by the bartender's attitude...absolutely unacceptable. You think a named restaurant/bar in downtown would care about its staff behavior toward customers no matter what color of skin they may have!!! I'd never been treated so rudely and out of place by a bartender and even when I walked away and asked other staff about being served, they sent us back to the bar where we only had two options of choosing someone overly ill mannered or someone who was really busy working and couldn't even talk to us to get our orders....We know we're NEVER going back there and making sure any of friends and family step into this establishment where you get service based on your looks....
Pros: Location
Cons: Lack of Service
07/03/2008 Posted by zhossein
We were really surprised by the bartender's attitude...absolutely unacceptable. You think a named restaurant bar in downtown would care about its staff behavior toward customers no matter what color of skin they may have!!! I'd never been treated so rudely and out of place by a bartender and even what I walked away and asked other staff about being served, they sent us back to the bar where we only had two options of choosing someone overly ill mannered or someone who was really busy working and couldn't even talk to us to get our orders....We know we're NEVER going back there and making sure any of friends and family step into this establishment where you get service based on your looks....
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