Magic Island

05/04/09

Scary Restaurant

by colt45 at Citysearch

Read the review by Amber6701. Hers was right on.

Anyhow, this restaurant is like Cartoon Network. Great for little kids and grown ups that are high. You really want to laugh at everything. It's so cheesy. That's the only good thing about it. The place is so foul and decrepid you just might laugh the whole time.

By the way. The food is gross. Don't dress up! No one else is.

• Pros: Eerie like a haunted house
• Cons: Eerie like a haunted house

04/02/09

couldnt speak english

by cullinscarp2k at Citysearch

I find it very interesting that people are complaining that the service help coundnt speak english. Isnt that what people want? According to our government thats what we want. We want illegals in this country to do work that we dont want to do. Such work includes, taking our jobs in the construction industry, hotel motel jobs, and most importantly, the job of causing auto accidents and then running back to mexico. Lets not forget about the importance of killing our law enforcement officers also.

The people have spoken, and we are getting what we want. Lets out more product and insorce more employees.

08/30/08

Highly overpriced for the entertainment

by amber6701 at Citysearch

The mandatory valet parking was unnecessary, but i've seen it more expensive. Then you go inside and they ask for a credit card right away so they can open a bill, which you carry around the entire time and give to anyone who wants to charge you anything. The meal is less than expected for a "fine dining" restaurant, then you're herded into a line to wait for the "show" to start. The sho is no more than a children's magician doing lame old tricks from the 60's and what looks to be his teenage daughter in an oversized dress holding his props for him. Then you get free rein of the place, which only includes two rooms of close up magicians, which again are the same tricks from back in the day, and a lobby/bar with a palm reader and a psychic, which are fine if you pay cash, but if you pay with the tab, the 18% service charge gets added to that too, as well as the valet and $8-9 drinks. If you go with 2 people and plan on drinking, bring more than the reccommended $100. Any more, and it'll drain your wallet dry and leave you wondering what was it for.

• Pros: I personally liked the decoration, though the best rooms were not being used.
• Cons: Way too expensive, not that good of food, not very good service.

08/25/08

Recommendable Magic

by partyrecommend at Citysearch

I would highly recommend Magic Island for all occassions. Best service, good food. I had my husbands company function there with ExxonMobil and we really enjoyed the atmosphere (very classy). We received alot of good feed back form our employees and their spouses. I dont understand the out dated bad reviews.

08/25/08

Best restaurant of the year!!

by MJproperty at Citysearch

These reviews are so out dated!!! I've been to Magic Island twice this year... once for a company function and loved it so much that I took my family. The only magic shows available in houston, and for the pricing was very reasonable compared to other restuarants that cost more... with no entertainment! The service was so good the staff made me feel so pampered. I was very surprised to see all of the bad reviews.

I would recommend Magic Island to all my friend and family and for company functions.

08/25/08

My Daughter's Best Birthday Ever!!!!!!

by Percise at Citysearch

I went to Magic Island for my daughters 16th Birthday party. An we had a BLAST! We came with 2 limos! We were a party of 20! When we entered my daughter and her friends took keepsake photos. We then went up an elavotor that was amazing and when the doors opened we were in the lobby. It was really an elegant and classey place! Then my daughter and her friends had there palms read; that was very exciting. We then went to the dinning room where the staff took well care of us and are needs. I enjoyed there service! The food was great there steaks were cooked at the right tempature. We then were escorted to the magic shows where my daughter actual got to get picked to go on stage and help the magacians do a trick! We had a great time at the magic shows! Overall everything was fabulous! My daughter said that she had the best birthday every. Thank you Magic Island for such an awesome time. I will highly recommend Magic Island to anyone who wants to go and have a great time with their love ones or friends!!!!!

• Pros: Service was great!

08/01/08

Awful place

by larry4882 at Citysearch

Absolutely awful..I would give it NO STARS if the review would let me.

They refuse to give you an itemized receipt so you have no idea what all you?ve been charged. I thought the amount too high and all they would say is gratuity was included, but not how much ($ or %). And it was just myself and spouse. .DO DONT LEAVE A TIP !!!! I called several times for an itemized receipt and they continue to refuse to do so. This is a violation of their credit card merchant contract so I disputed the charge.

Food is mediocre. About like eating at Denny?s, TGI Fridays?. Nothing upscale like you?d expect from looking at their web site. Could tell some items (like the crab cakes) were frozen and reheated.

Entertainment mediocre. Do not expect any headliners. Local entertainers only.

Don?t bother with the photo when you arrive. It?s not digital and taken with bad lighting from far away, grainy and unfocused. Not worth the $10. I saw other people using their own cameras anyway.

• Pros: None really..other nicer resturaunts have valet parking
• Cons: about everything..food, service, management (no reciepts)

07/11/08

we wont be back

by Isabella1 at Citysearch

This place is NOT a vegas-style adventure. It smells musty and costs fortune for what you get. The magic island REALLY needs updating, My 13 year old loves David Blaine and Criss Angel and these people are more old school to say the least. (It was hard to stay awake during the card-trick guy and I couldnt really see anyway. ) You feel rushed through your meal to get to the shows, and then the shows are very short. An entertainer/medium/palm reader told my friend that one of her kids was not going to live a full life... I think she REALLY believes shes Sylvia Browne, but that was not "fun"... Anyway, The staff is odd. They do not smile much or care to interact with customers, they look startled if you asked them a question like "Wheres the restroom?" they do not seem to speak english. the kids had a nice time, but they have no concept of $200. Food was not particularly good (probably beause its included-ie cheap) and it started to have a "trapped in the fun-house feeL" as there are no clocks or windows. Long wait to get the car.

• Pros: fun for kids, something different to do
• Cons: bad food, cost

10/22/07

Magic RipoffIsland!

by emilioesquivel at Citysearch

I took my wife for an anniversary celebration at this place. We were expecting a Las Vegas show sort type of thing, but it was as far from it as Houston is from Vegas. The food? You could eat better in Burger King. The price ($37.00 pp) includes just a soup or salad and a main entree. The salad I get from Jack in the Box is by far a lot better than the lettuce tossed in a plate with commercial dressing served at RipoffIsland. About the show, it takes place in a very, very, very small theater and it does not last for more than 15 minutes of the same (three or four) old magic tricks we have seen over and over and over. The only thing we could rescue was the graciousness and beauty of the Magician assistant and yes they know how to dance. But that's it.

Later you can go to see two other mini shows (as if the first one was not a mini too) where you can be fooled by the same guy who came to entertain the children at your neighbor?s' party. Finally, the bill, 18% tip on the whole thing, not just on the food! No questions asked. Oh, there is also a mandatory use of the valet parking $6.00

This was the first and the last time of us at the Ripoffisland. Im sure they are doing some kind of magic to keep this place running.

• Pros: Service and Valet parking
• Cons: Food, quality of the shows, price vs. what you get

08/07/07

This place absolutely bites!!

by cmb1985 at Citysearch

I went here for a friend's birthday 4 years ago and went again recently. Even 4 years ago I felt like this place needed some updating. Now, when I went recently, I thought it was a joke. The food was just as lame the service took forever, the venue looks highly dated (maybe it was "cool" in 1995, but not now). As for the magic, I felt like I was a guest at an elementary school kid's party. And, honestly, I was so frustrated with the service and the staff (who barely spoke English) that I could have cared less about the show(s)... the only magic trick they're able to do is staying in business with such lame decorations, lame staff, and high prices. Also, last time I went, it was practically empty. No wonder.

• Pros: Now knowing never to go back...
• Cons: Service, pricing, time for service, lame shows, decoration, location, and ambience.