Mark's American Cuisine

12/10/09

Highly Overrated, much better restaurants out there

by drewno at Citysearch

I took my girlfriend here for her birthday, had read the reviews and heard from friends that it was a good spot. Had a 7 o'clock appointment and had no trouble getting a table. The restaurant is beautiful, the wine cellar that is viewable from the restaurant is very impressive. But that is where my positive experience ended. I browsed the wine list, almost impossible finding something that is under $100. The wine we did have, Caduceus, was actually quite nice at $105, but I'm sure it can be found for less elsewhere. We started with the quail and foie gras appetizer, far from impressed. To many strange flavors that didn't compliment the dish at all. She had the Carribean Lobster special, I had the Shrimp dish. Both were topped with a heavy amount of sauce that completely took away any flavor you would get from the Lobster or Shrimp. Very sour and pungent taste that lingered far too long. She had the Creme Brulee which was the highlight of the meal, I had the Chocolate sampler which was far from memorable. Server seemed to be slammed, and his visits to the table were few and far between. Our table was terrible, against a wall and felt very cramped the whole time.

All in all, I do not understand how this place has gotten such wonderful reviews. Our bill was close to $400 and there are so many restaurants I would have rather gone to. I've eaten at some great restaurants in this city, and Mark's is close to if not THE bottom. Stay away from the Lobster if you do go, it was $94.95 and covered in cream.

• Pros: Wine, beautiful restaurant.
• Cons: Food, service, cramped atmosphere.

01/01/09

this place is not for me

by 123food at Citysearch

Atmosphere is to stiff. Very expensive, to many good resteraunts in Houston to go back. Very small portiones. the dinner was good not great and certainly not worth the money!!

• Pros: service was good
• Cons: no value here

05/02/08

Not that great

by missa1 at Citysearch

The scallops that were the special for the evening were good, but everything else we ordered wasn't anything extraordinary. Service was only ok. I read other reviews about the beautiful ceilings and architecture of the building, as it was a church previously, but we were seated off to the side of the building near like an emergency exit door. I didn't even get to see the rest of the restaurant. The dessert we ordered was not to our liking at all, split between two people we still couldn't get anywhere near to finishing it.

01/21/08

Did you miss the shrine?

by sf2ho at Citysearch

Multiple personality dining, could never figure out what the kitchen was going for. Proportions meant for the horse I rode into town on. The entire wall of "accolades" is as offensive as graffiti. All very forgettable. No go backee Tex.

09/03/02

A Big Disappointment!

by chadwsupan at Citysearch

Found Mark's while searching for a quiet, romantic restaurant. Everything I read made it sound perfect. The setting was nice, and we were seated promptly upstairs with a reservation. Drinks were good, salad was satisfactory, though the server seemed rather uninterested in actually serving us. The problem came with the entree. We ordered beef tenderloin and backstrap of lamb, neither of which were cooked as we ordered, and neither of which were really all that special. The lamb tasted limp and flavorless. Don't get me wrong, the food was decent, but at a place like Mark's paying those prices, I expect to be overwhelmed. Garlic mashed potatoes were quite bland as well. I'm glad we tried it, but I would not recommend nor return to Mark's.

• Pros: quiet upstairs, good cocktails, valet was funny
• Cons: waaaaaay overpriced, server uninterested

07/18/02

Stuffy and for old people

by yahoo99 at Citysearch

This place is good and has an exceptional wine list. However, it is stuffy and for old people. Not really a happy hopping place. It's quiet and bright. I hate bright restaurants.

07/11/02

Still not worth it!

by concon31 at Citysearch

If you don't mind waiting 30+ minutes for your table (with a reservation) and having to make that reservation 2 weeks in advance, go to Mark's. If you'd rather be seated at the time you made the reservation for and can call 2-3 days in advance to make the reservation without getting some snooty attitude telling you they're booked, go just about anywhere else in Houston. They're not the only game in town and hopefully they'll figure that out soon. Their food is great, but so are ALOT of other restaurants in the city, and they're popping up all over the place.

• Pros: food, ambiance
• Cons: service, wait, attitude