Brennan's Houston

09/21/08

Favorite, most memorable place I have been.

by guillot at Citysearch

I have taken dozens of employees to eat at Brennan's for their 5 year anniversary with our business. Many look forward to going to Brennan's for lunch. I was to take another employee next month and now very sad that we will have to choose another place. I hope they plan on rebuilding as I will miss greatly those special occasions for lunch. Alex, our prayers are with your family during this time. Chris Smith, Grace Community Church.

09/17/08

Please rebuild; Houston needs you

by polishcaramel at Citysearch

Our love for Brennan's began in New Orleans, where we lived until Katrina blew us away. When we settled in Houston, discovering a Brennan's here was truly something that allowed us to keep going, to keep hope alive. Knowing that the family supported their workers displaced after Katrina made us feel proud to call this one of our favorite restaurants, and our family, both local and those who have visited Houston, had many memorable dining experiences here. The food is sublime; a treat for palate and senses combined. Never did we have an experience that was not memorable; never did we have a meal that was not exquisite. Thank you for the memories.

• Pros: Sevice, cuisine
• Cons: None

08/28/08

The worst restaurant experience ever...my stomach still hurts a day later!

by giuls21 at Citysearch

Though I would not define myself as a renowned food critic, I try my best to dine at the finer institutions in the various cities in the US I visit. Upon seeing Brennan's Dirona award, I put it on my list to visit while in Houston this past week.

I do not think it is possible for a restaurant to be worse than this one. They charge $5 to valet your car...so they enter your valet before you even walk in the door. When you walk in, it looks like a cheap antique store...I really thought I was going to come away with a lamp from 1920. Enough about the awful ambiance...when we were finally seated in the backroom (we didnt have a jacket...so we weren't allowed to sit with the "regular people") we sat by ourselves for a few minutes and then were handed a menu...I honestly had to spend 10 minutes trying to figure out what would hurt my stomach the least. Before they took our order, they brought out a single piece of bread...it was stale on the outside and frozen on the inside...awesome start to the dinner!

I ordered the seafood gumbo to start...major letdown. My wife makes gumbo that is about a thousand times better....so based on what I eat at home, I felt like I should be paid to eat Brennan's gumbo. Still it was marginal, so I thought okay....maybe the entree will be better. Not so...I got a pecan crusted Amberjack. The fish was obviously not fresh and the pecan encrusting of the fish was poorly done and done with very low quality pecans. I love pecans...and I had to choke down these "chewy pecans". My stomach gave me the headsup that it was in no shape to eat dessert after the two disheds erstwhile...and therefore I declined dessert. My dining partner had the chicken and grits...and he was also amazed at how bad it was...

If anyone has eaten at Cheesecake Bistro or Cheesecake Factory....think of this place as a worse Cheesecake Factory. If you care about your wallet, your stomach, and having a great dinner...skip this overrated restaurant.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Ambience, food, parking, everything and anything