08/17/09

What a JOKE

by apbess

Let's see...where do I start?

My husband and I have been to Catalan once before and had a decent time. We dedicided to try it again and made reservations there last Friday night for 8:30PM. We arrived at 8:20 and were told that our table would be ready in about 20 minutes - which was fine with us. We waited for about 15 minutes to even get noticed at the bar but finally were able to order a couple glasses of wine. I found a spot for the both of us to stand near the wall by the crowded bar until my husband notices a giant insect crawling up the wall near me and several other guests - it then starts flying. And things only went downhill from there...

After about 30 minutes, my husband walked over to the hostess stand to check on our table. She said there were 7 tables getting ready to leave and we were up next. After continuing to wait, the Manager/Sommelier Antonio comes over and seats a couple who is standing near us. More waiting and after it had been nearly an hour, my husband and I walk over to the hostess stand to inquire about the status of our long overdue reservation. Antonio tells us that he has two other tables to seat ahead of us. So I say that we had a reservation at 8:30, have been waiting for an hour and we're considering going elsewhere, and Antonio very abruptly dismisses us by saying, "OK, Valet is Complimentary". The nerve of this guy! No apology, no "We're running behind" - NOTHING.

So I tell Antonio that I've been to Catalan before and have had a pleasant experience, but that if we have to order a SECOND round of drinks at the bar WITH a reservation, the least they could do is say "Sorry for the wait". But his "Valet is Complimentary" comment basically just told us "We don't need your business". He then kept cutting me off and saying that he was under-staffed and was "Sorry we took his comment the wrong way". Oh please! We did not misinterpret anything - this guy was just plain arrogant and rude.

After reading other reviews on City Search, it is clear that Catalan needs to evaluate their staffing levels as well as invest in Customer Service training for their employees and management.

I have never been treated so poorly at a restaurant. They could not pay me to return to this low-class establishment.

• Cons: Unprofessional Management, Poor Customer Service

08/02/09

Horrible

by CThouston

Waited over an hour and a half . At 9:30 pm we left after talking to manager who didn't care or have a clue when we might get a table. Hostess is snotty and not very helpful.

Service in the bar was poor at best and they suggest people eat there instead of waiting for a table. Waited 15 minutes for a waiter to stop by the table. Had the over priced signature martini, first one was great the second one was horrible. Guess the recipe is still being developed.

I doubt they will be getting many repeat customers so after the newness wears off so will the crowds.

Other than the name, its not really a spainsh tapas resturant. The menue is a hodge poge of itmes.

• Pros: none
• Cons: service, attitude

05/04/09

Nice place in the 'hood

by colt45

Located in a strip mall next to a CVS. This place looks like a Spanish Pei Wei. When you pull up there are tons of parking spaces around the front door. Unfortunatly they are all blocked with valet cones.

The best thing about this place is their wine list. Tons and tons of great wines. There menu was great too. We had the pork bellies, cockles, sweet breads, and half a dozen other things. Everything we tried was awesome except the stuffed peppers which were boring.

The real downfall was the staff. Our waiter was short with us an the manager was rude.

On our way out, we stopped by the bar for a drink and the bartender was nice. He said next time we come to eat at the bar with him. You should do the same.

Don't let my prevoius comments scare you away. The food was pretty damn good.

• Pros: Awesome wine list. Awsome food.
• Cons: Snotty staff

03/31/09

Bacon Grits = Greatness

by ButterBean

My friends and I love this place! Anytime we need to show anyone that Houston isn't just an uppity, overpriced steak house town, we go to Catalan.

The place is nice enough for me to bring clients & associates (and my parents!), but it is definitely hip enough for me to enjoy a night out with the girls. There are always a good mix of people - always a lot of people - in there, unlike at some places where the bulk of the clientele are older ....

If only they still did Sunday brunch... <sigh> .......

• Pros: Pork! Mmmmmm.....
• Cons: Hard to get last minute reservations, Diet Buster :(

03/31/09

Great Food

by Inside610

I have been here a couple dozen times since they have been opened, and I am impressed with how the food just keeps getting better. Every time I think I have found my favorite, the Chef just supplants it with his newest inspiration - usually something involving swine!

No, the food isn't Spanish, but how many 'Italian' or even 'Mexican' restaurants in this city truly are? Adjust your expectations to coming here for great food with great wine (at prices that are a steal!), rather than having your heart set on what your Grandmama would have made at home, and you will have a great time.

It is not exactly a quiet place for dinner, but I have never had any trouble having a conversation at the table. Service can be spotty at times, but is overall quite acceptable. Try asking for Dennis Or Matt - they are both great!

PS: I am surprised by how many people complain about valet service - 1) its complimentary - also known as 'free' & 2) it is not exactly unheard of anywhere inside the loop. If you don't want to valet, take a cab.

• Pros: Apps, Entrees, Wine, Location
• Cons: Service and Desserts could be fine tuned

03/31/09

Example: great place for good bread

by Tres32

Second visit here, I only wish I had found it sooner! This is a very unique restaurant in every way, I love the small plates to share, it's great to be able to try so many different dishes, in two visits I haven't even made it to entrees, but they look great. Wine list - phenomenal! Incredible selection of off the beaten path wines at ridiculously low prices, wino heaven!!! Service has been spectacular on both occasions and the ambiance is hard to beat. This is my new weekly hangout!

• Pros: Great vibe, wine and food!
• Cons: None

03/25/09

How do they remain busy ?

by Scot

I come to Houston on business every few weeks and love to work my way through the list of great restaurants. Occasionally, I am disappointed with a 3 star restaurant but seldom with a 4 star...an then there is Catalan.

This is the worst dining experience in my history of dining in Houston. It started with the valet. Every self parking space is full and and 7 spaces opposite the front door were empty. They virtually force you to valet.

The hostess was very friendly but the wait staff were obviously unhappy in their jobs and as the night progressed I understood why.

The food was overpriced and the chef must have been drunk. Not one person at my table had a good word to say. The lamb was fatty. The fish was over cooked and one friend had a dish that can only be described as a "disgusting mess on the plate".

We complained to the Manager which was a waste of time. I guess he receives complaints every evening and never offered to do anything to resolve the issues.

For all you readers that have not tried Catalan. Stay away and spend your hard earned money elsewhere.

If the owners are reading these reviews, they need to fire their management and staff and start again.

Terrible experience.

• Pros: People watching, Interior design
• Cons: Food, staff and Management

02/06/09

Horrible service - misleading name - this is American Food not food from Spain.

by TexasAudit

I am an Auditor from a Big 4 Accounting firm -so I eat a lot. I was expecting to eat from the Catalan region of Spain - nope not a chance. They should rename restaurant to "Local Cuisine" as that is what the waiter said where they get most of the ingredients. The cocktails are so-so, appetizers - I had one good one and the other was something like they would serve at Joe's Crab Shack. You will get mash potatoes with your extremely meal. Service well - I only had 2 glasses of water and I had to fight for it. Crowd is a trendy wanna-be and place was really loud. The Bone marrow was good.

• Pros: Bone Marrow
• Cons: Crowd, Noise, super poor waiter service, lame entrees

01/26/09

Best Food in Houston!

by Allison86

I am incredibly surprised to see so many negative reviews about Catalan. I went there a few nights ago and yes it was crowded and a bit loud (we were seated next to the kitchen) but if you're enjoying the company you're with, that shouldn't be a bother. Our waiter was attentive without being annoying, and there was a good length of time between the appetizers and the main course. I hate when I feel like I'm being rushed, and this place did not rush us at all. The lamb stuffed peppers were amazing, and I mean AMAZING, and everything else I tried was fabulous as well. I highly recommend this restaurant for a night out with friends, or a romantic evening. If noise level does bother you, then just ask to be seated in the back by the wines when you call to make your reservations, because you will need them. I will definitely be going here again - hopefully soon!

• Pros: Food, Service, Wine List
• Cons: Noise Level, Closeness of Tables - if that bothers you

01/05/09

Wholly Unimpressive

by beamwalker

I went here with a few friends thinking it would be a fine experience. It was not. They do have an excellent wine list, and at very reasonable prices. The aesthetic inside is very well done and evokes the response I think they are looking for. However, that all goes out the window with the awful wait staff and the thoroughly mediocre food. Our waitress, when we could get her attention, was downright hostile to us, a group of 5-6 25-28 year olds. I don't know if it was her 'thing', sassy waitress or something, but it didn't work well. I don't know if she was having a bad night but she just plain sucked. Then, after we finally got our orders placed, and after waiting with dry glasses because she wouldn't come back to fill them up, our food came. The food would have been perfectly acceptable in a tower tier restaurant, but this place is trying to be among the best, and failed miserably. No one was impressed with their meals, and more than a few were actually angry.

The experience was so awful that "Lets go to Catalan" has become a running joke among my friends when deciding where to go eat. I will not be coming back.

• Pros: Ambiance, Wine List
• Cons: Waitstaff, Food, Price,