01/29/09

The State Grille closed in May, 2008

by glynnroberts

This restaurant has now closed. According to the website, they closed for good on May 31, 2008. There are no plans for a new location.

03/21/08

Will not go back

by kelspivey

I ate there last night and will not go back. It started with a waiter who brought a wine list and did not come back to the table,after 15 min's we asked another waiter to take our drink order.When she brought our drink,she asked for our food order. 10 min's later, the original waiter showed up and said he saw that another waiter got our order.The seafood gumbo was light colored and very,very thick and tasted like flour and nothing else and the seafood was a grand total of 3 crawfish tails. The Country Fried Rib-Eye came out soggy and greasy,like the oil was not hot enough when it was deep fried. The sauteed veg's were so over cooked they were nothing but mush. The only thing that tasted good was the cream gravy that came with the steak. Very disappoinated in the meal we had there.

• Pros: Good Wine List
• Cons: Bad food

10/14/07

Great reinvention

by sdjones

Actually took a friend there for lunch, who previously refused to support the restaurant when it carried the "'Confederate" moniker. Even he enjoyed the food there, and we both found the environment and service anything but what we would expect from a restaurant that once brandished the Confederate Grille name. Keep up the good new work!

• Pros: Food & Service
• Cons: Chairs could be modernized/upgraded.

07/12/06

Content to be a neighborhood restaurant--but the neighborhood's River Oaks.

by Contributor

The Scene
Characterizing the State Grille as "just" a neighborhood restaurant is accurate--though it's important to note the neighborhood is nearby River Oaks, Houston's bastion of big money. Formerly the Confederate House, this clubby operation seems comfortably stuck in time. Wood paneling, soft lights and landscape paintings create an atmosphere of a more genteel period. While some may find this all a bit staid, the target audience--particularly the old school, old money crowd--embrace it as gracious and gratifying.

The Food
The Gulf Coast continental menu matches the traditional setting, with a predictable array of steaks and seafood and even a wedge of iceberg lettuce for real culinary conservatives. A generously thick veal chop is nicely prepared while crab-topped snapper arrives a tad dry and overcooked. One surprise is spinach salad cleverly graced with pan-fried oysters. For dessert, a classic bread pudding provides a hearty conclusion, but skip indifferent apple crisp.

12/08/05

The Mandolas deliver again!

by auramouth

I took my dinner club Eight Friends Out to The State Grille two nights in a row. Usually, we enjoy a cocktail hour in the bar, but the bar was too small and crowded to accomodate. Otherwise, the night was lovely. The staff was very well-informed and well-prepared for us, which always endears me to a restaurant. (We go out alot, and some places are NOT always ready for us.) Food: a peppery hot vegetable medley soup was delightfully different! I enjoyed pasta primavera, as I am a vegetarian, but friends had the tilapia--yes, the anchovies do somewhat overpower, they said, and beef medallions were artfully prepared. I recommend the white and dark chocolate mousse cake, but the cheescake, with a hint of orange glaze, was even better! All served in an atmosphere with thick brochade curtains separating private parties and making us feel quite exclusive! A lovely Christmas treat!

• Pros: Good service, Good food, Romantic
• Cons: Small bar, Crowded bar, Only valet parking

11/14/05

A Politically correct restaurant

by ayeballs

I would not recommend this restaurant for the fact that the owners are politically correct and removed its original name "Confederate House." I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to anyone who is of Confederate ancestry because the owners would rather remove its name and its southern related decor to cater to the liberal and political correct clientel.

I want to go to a restaurant that respects my heritage--not shuns it for the sake of political correctness!

11/02/05

OUR FAVORITE-- now off our list

by janet_knight

Unfortunately, after 3 years of this review on the citysearch, I have to come back and remove our "favorite" listing. The State Grille is where we always had out of town guests, special occassions, etc. We were somewhat "regulars". BUT,

We have been disappointed in the service at this restaurant 2 times in a row. We sat for 15 minutes without a drink or a wine list. And long intervals with no service. We had a regular waiter apologize and then send "doubles" to my husband that he didn't order. That would have been ok as an "on the house" gesture, but we were charged for them. We have always had a good rapport, but after reporting the incident we did not get any satisfaction from the management. What was our favorite date spot, just became a "NO GO". We won't be back.

09/15/05

chicken fried steak

by fason

I have eaten here for 40 years eversince I came here to practice. Their chicken fried steaks are in a class by themselve, served by polite waiters, in an ambience that is conducive to comfort, good conversation, romance and makes one feel that life is really worthwhile. Need I say more?

• Pros: reasonable price

03/24/05

Repeat Customer -

by jimmysearch2005

I have been to State Grille for lunch, dinner and simply drinks (my regular occurence when in town). They have a great staff, a cool crowd mix from old money to young people, you can still smoke!, good food. This is my #1 business meeting place when I need a restaurant because the manager and the rest of the folks make you feel like you were just there and treat you exceptionally.

• Pros: bar, staff, smoking
• Cons: none

06/25/04

Never Disappointing!!

by Manager

Each time I go to The State Grille I am never disappointed. Great food, great price, and great service. What else can you ask for? I love their $24.95 Three Course Dinner Menu.

• Pros: 3 Course Dinner Menu, Great Service, Inexpensive