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robertcut, anonymous:

Overall:

• Quality:

  5/5

• Vibe:

  4/5

• Service:

  4/5

• Value:

  4/5

A word of warning: If you get here at peak lunch or dinner time you're going to have a long wait, especially since they don't take reservations.

The food here is great! You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The salads are large and reasonably priced, and they're good too.

Good upscale chain restaurant that does its best not feel like a chain.

Blackcrowe, anonymous:

Overall:

• Quality:

  5/5

• Vibe:

  5/5

• Service:

  5/5

• Value:

  4/5

The most consistent restaurant in Dallas.All scratch/fresh ingredients. Well researched recipes. Precision in service and not too expensive. It is also immaculate, even the garbage doesn't stink. Great bar/patio scene(Park Cities only). Rivals the "hot hot" new restaurants in Dallas.

Mark2221, anonymous:

Overall:

• Quality:

  4/5

• Vibe:

  4/5

• Service:

  1/5

• Value:

  3/5

Houston's used to be one of my favorites. Just recently they do not allow split plates. In addition to cocktails and wine, my girlfriend and I split and share an appetizer and entree, and they charged a fee for it - no problem. But when we last dined there in October we were not advised of the new policy. When our ribs came out on one plate, we asked the waiter to take it back to kitchen and split it as we ordered it. He refused. We asked the manager, too. He also refused. He stood there and argued with us about the new policy. Splitting the plate "ruined the presentation." Same answer from Hillstone Restaurant Group.

Guess what, Houston's? A split plate of ribs looks just like a full plate, only slightly smaller; and nobody else in the restaurant gives a flying damn about what our plates of ribs looks like. I hate restaurants who think they know better than I what I want.

Billusa99, anonymous:

Overall:

• Quality:

  4/5

• Vibe:

  4/5

• Service:

  5/5

• Value:

  4/5

Houstons has not disallowed split plates. We did it just 10 days ago.

They no longer split the plate in the kitchen -- saves labor. Instead, they bring you the extra plate so you can split the portion in the sizes you desire.

And because of that, no split fee now (as I recall). Which makes prefect sense to me. Houstons has some of the most professional, accommodating, top-notch servers and managers in the industry. It must take a lot of angst to make one get in an argument with them.

Mark2221, anonymous:

Maybe Houston's resumed splitting plates in the kitchen because of our complaint. Abacus and Capital Grille do it. Come to think of it, I can only think of one restaurant who wouldn't split a plate, and they told us that when we ordered it.

Billusa99, By your logic, it makes sense to go to the kitchen and get our food, saves labor, right?

And if we wanted to split the plate at the table in the portions we desired, then we would have asked for a plate, not asked them to split it (in the kitchen). When we ordered a split plate, we should have been told they don't split plates. And when they didn't do it, they should been "professional, accommodating, top-notch servers and managers" and taken it the kitchen and split it.

Billusa99, anonymous:

Mark2221... the day you joined you posted your first restaurant review. A review in which you complained about the argument you got in with the management.

In your second review, 3 months later, you wrote about the argument you got in with the management.

In your third post, you surmised that "Maybe Houston's resumed splitting plates in the kitchen because of our complaint" despite no evidence to the contrary.

Bees are attracted to honey, not vinegar. IJS

Mark2221, anonymous:

Billusa99 wrote "you complained about the argument you got in with the management." No I didn't, re-read my comment. I wrote that we had a "BAD interaction with the manager."

The service was so bad at that restaurant (now closed) that the manager gave us a comp. When he brought our check to the table he reminded us of the comp and he had the audacity to remind me that I should tip on the total before the comp. There was no argument with that manager.

You also wrote "you surmised that "Maybe Houston's resumed splitting plates in the kitchen because of our complaint" despite no evidence to the contrary." The evidence to the contrary was that you wrote "We did it just 10 days ago." That post appeared to be after our experience there. If it wasn't, then I was mistaken. But so what? When we ate there on October 13, they refused to do it. That's right, refused a very simple request - by god, they're not going to take the plate back to the kitchen and prepare it as the lowly customer ordered it.

I suppose that you, with your honey, not vinegar attitude, would simply say OK when the manager tells you your raw steak is well-done just as you ordered it, and he's not cooking it anymore?

jjdallas, anonymous:

Overall:

• Quality:

  4/5

• Vibe:

  3/5

• Service:

  4/5

• Value:

  3/5

Is there a recession? Because you wouldn't know it at Houston's. The wait here is always super long, and that hasn't changed at all recently. When finally seated, the food is worth it. Nothing earth-shattering or particularly innovative, just good, solid American food and excellent waitstaff. The burger is a solid choice and they have a good fish sandwich too. Salads are another good option.

TX Jim, anonymous:

Overall:

• Quality:

  5/5

• Vibe:

  4/5

• Service:

  5/5

• Value:

  4/5

I have never had a bad meal, or less than excellent service at this Houston's (now Hillstone Park Cities). They simply seem to know how to do everything right.

The only complaint I have is that they don't take reservations, and I think their price on the baby back pork ribs is a bit steep. Then again, they are the best ribs I have ever eaten!