Trevisio Restaurant

06/28/07

Finally, a reasonable restaurant in the Texas Medical Center

by rfgagel at Citysearch

I have dined at Trevisio more than 50 times over the several years it has been open. Under the previous managment the food was not particularly interesting. For the past year or so the management of Prego and Backstreet Cafe has been in charge and have brought some life to the menu. I have my favorites (the Risotto, Tricolore salad, prosciutto pizza and the lamb chops). All of the entres are good, but somehow they do not have the same "pizzaz" as dinners at either Prego or the Backstreet Cafe. A part of the reason may be the size of the restaurant. It was designed as a place where members of the various medical cneter institutions could get together. It is very busy for lunch, but is less busy at night and it is the lack of other diners at night that creates the sense one is dining alone in a large room. Perhaps some type of partitioning would eliminate this feeling. The size and lack of busyness also seems to contribute to spotty service. On my last visit it was not possible to get the waitress's attention for 10 min or more to order desert and subsequently to obtain the check. My wife and I have taken friends to the restaurant on at least two occasions on a weekend night. We were pleasantly surprised that there were a number of other people dining, more than we might have expected. Our friends, on both occasions, enjoyed the evening. They were particularly impressed with the water wall funded by the late John McGovern at the entrance to the building. Parking is handy (go up the entrance ramp and park on level 2) and free after 6 PM for employees who have parking cards at other TMC Institutions (note you have to arrive after 6PM so that your TMC parking card will open the gate at arrival and departure). This feature reduces the cost of every meal by $3-4.

We would place this restaurant in the solid to above average category. A great addition to the medical center with a unique ambiance, but the food is not so special that we would rave about the experience.

• Pros: Good food, rarely unable to get a table, ease of parking
• Cons: Service can be spotty, restaurant has a large majestic feel but lacks intimacy

03/09/07

Great decor, great service, poor quality food

by houstonbigeater at Citysearch

We went on Valentine's Day 2007. I was expecting the restaurant has a full house. When I walked in, the place was 1/2 full. The hostess was very nice and pleasant. Service overall was very nice.... decor was nice.... BUT.. the most important thing for the night - the food, it was TERRIBLE!! My boyfriend's food was burnt, my fish had a very strong faul scent. Those crab claws on my plate was BLACK!!! I guess pollution in the sea is REAL! I wish I could post pictures I took during the dinner and share the horrifying experience!!! Never go back and pay for the food again. Maybe happy hour drinks....

• Pros: Ambience, Great View, Easy Parking, Good Service
• Cons: Food

02/15/07

Very Nice, Beautiful View

by jodierenee at Citysearch

I went here for their Valentine's Day Special. They had a specific three course menu you could order off of for $50/person. I had the duck tortellini, the beef tenderloin, and wonderful chocolate cake to finish it off. The place is inside a building in the Medical Center area. There was not that many people there...even for valentine's day!

We ordered a $70 bottle of wine, and when I came home and looked it up on Spec's, it only cost $26!!! Talk about inflation!!

The service was great. Beautiful view of the Medical Center. Their fountain is beautiful too. The jazz singer they had was awful though. This is a nice place for a special evening, but too expensive for everyday.

06/08/06

Disappointed Meal

by jessintexas at Citysearch

We are long time visitors to Prego and Backstreet Cafe. We recently realized Trevisio (as is Hugo) was one of their restaurants and wanted to go. The restaurant is in the middle of the medical center in one of the medical buildings, on top of the water wall. The view was beautiful and reminded me of a place we ate in Prague. The service, however, was not good at all. It was a little shocking given the terrific attention given at Prego and Backstreet. The whole restaurant felt unorganized. There seemed to be one server for our entire area. We watched an army head out to other rooms - maybe a large party was elsewhere. We waited ages for our wine, reminded our server twice, and were eventually given free dessert to make up for it. I overheard our same server comp the drinks for a table near us. The food was OK and the menu good but comparable to Prego. The poor service just really messed up our entire mood for dinner - where you just sit there and watch everyone who walks by hoping they will come take care of you. The food just didn't make up for it - the veal was heavily breaded and everything on the plate was covered by the same sauce.

In the end, I think I would organize a corporate dinner here. I imagine the place is really made for this - there was even a buffet being set up as we left. I will not go back as a couple, however. I will stick with Prego and their outstanding service and bartender.

• Pros: Ambiance (view), nice Italian Wine List
• Cons: Service, parking, locating the restaurant

03/08/06

Upscale flair, modern Italian fare with a Medical Center view.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
A dramatic wall of water dominates the entry of this spacious, top-floor restaurant that twinkles in a sandy-blond setting. Glass walls, pale hardwoods and sheer fabrics billowing from the ceiling create an upscale, airy feel. By day, medical professionals, sales reps and visitors nosh and negotiate. At night, expect special-occasion seekers and discriminating diners.

The Food
Run by veterans of Backstreet Cafe and Prego, Trevisio features a menu rooted in Italian standards. Signature dishes include endive, arugula and radicchio salad, homemade gnocchi with duck ragout; braised rabbit and root vegetables with papardelle; seared tuna with green beans, arugula, and grilled potatoes; crispy duck leg with Chianti glaze and braised cabbage; linguini with potatoes, tiny green beans and pesto; and chocolate cake with espresso icing and candied oranges.

02/15/06

A great date place

by jwkanvik at Citysearch

My wife and I dined at Trevisio for Valentine's Day. We had never been. The ambience is nice...not too dark, but definitely romantic, with a wonderful view of the Medical Center area. They featured a limited menu for Valentine's Day, and the dishes were excellent. The appetizers were almost enough to constitute a meal in and of themselves. The beef tenderloin main course was cooked exquisitely, a perfect medium rare (surprising given the thickness of the steak). And the dessert course was delicious. Service was, I thought, about perfect for a romantic evening. We were left alone until we needed something or a course was to be served, but when that happened, our server appeared promptly. I suppose those others writing reviews here that complained of the service might prefer a more attentive staff, but I prefer to enjoy my experience with my date only. Overall, an excellent experience.

• Pros: Romantic, Menu
• Cons: Pricey

11/21/05

There are growth opportunities here...

by ghortobagi at Citysearch

Lovely atmosphere, light, happy surroundings, central location and a talented chef provide the basis for an excellent restaurant. The Italian dishes are attractive and well prepared. Fish and seafood range from good to excellent. The wine list has improved and has something for everyone at reasonable prices. The 'Achilles' heel' continues to be the service: spotty at best, atrocious at worst. Waiters are unattentive and careless (watch for wine stains on your jackets) and the service, especially in the evenings, is tropical in it's pace. If Trevisio had a good manager, it could become an outstanding restaurant: as is, it will continue its rollercoaster of mediocrity with flashes of brilliance on a good day......

• Pros: food, dining room, location
• Cons: service, service, service

11/20/05

Hope they stay in business

by mmljf at Citysearch

We had the place to ourselves. I had trouble deciding which was better- the food or the view. The salmon was excellent. Leave eraly to give yourself some extra time to locate it.

• Pros: view, food, service
• Cons: price, access

08/15/05

Good Stuff

by marcomman at Citysearch

GReat place for dinner. The service is sometimes "iffy", but earnest. The food was wonderful and it's a great value!!!

05/24/04

Trevisio

by fwlowe at Citysearch

Trevisio gets my vote for best restaurant for either a personal or business dinner: Great menu, excellent service, unique ambiance and acoustically conducive to meaningful conversation

• Pros: great food, attentive service, outdoor dining