This restaurant has been on my list for so long, finally tried during HRW and can’t wait to come back. Highly recommended. Started with the calamari, so fresh, crisp and delicious. Potatoes au gratin, beef short rib and crab cake were so devine. Try the cheesecake, wow! Outdoor space is shaded and they have fans, a must in Houston. Will be back.

Bistro Menil is a little hidden treasure in the middle of Montrose. Honestly, I never think about coming here. I’m always impressed and wonder why it’s not in my rotation of regular spots. Crab cakes are light, the house salad is fresh and the amount of dressing is perfect. I loved sampling the cask wines.

Exceptional food. Very gluten-free friendly.

I couldnt let my favorite season pass without going. #HoustonRestaurantWeeksFood: B+ very simple. Dont expect anything to blow you away on your palette but its very good, simple American Food. Nothing disappointing but nothing that will bring me back.Service: A- our waiter was so tolerant of me asking for a few pictures. However, my water glass was empty a few times. Otherwise, they are very eager to please. Lets blame the quarantine for the almost empty water glass...Ambiance: A+ Tucked away and you dont hear a lot of street noise. Close to the Menil and a beautiful quaint park. You dont know youre right in the middle of a huge city. Enjoy the patio when the weather permits. Inside is very intimate.The bonus is that there is free, self parking available!!!

Delicious and elegant food. The menu is limited but excellent. Great service. Lovely outdoor seating

Doesnt have a good vibe. A little pretentious and stuck-up. Food was mediocre. Nothing special about this place except its location. If you read their comments to other peoples reviews, youll understand.

Nice place for brunch. I had the avocado toast with smoked salmon and a good americano. If you don’t have a reservation you better get there before noon to get a table.

Over the new year’s eve holiday we dined here under sunny skies and chill temperature. The atmosphere of the restaurant is open, full of light, and with 50% capacity felt airy. The setting of the place in a residential area makes for a slow paced eating affair. We stopped in for brunch where we ordered the Eggs Lyonnaise and Caprese Omelet. Both presented well and served with a side salad. Both well seasoned with balanced flavors. You could take a the freshness of the main dish ingredients and salad was refreshing on the palette. Overall the meal was really good. One thing missing from the restaurant was great coffee. The drip coffee served was not very flavorful nor interesting. Would return for food any time, but walk down the street for a great coffee.

We will definitely come back! Their food was outstanding. The beef short ribs and duck confit were super tender and flavorful and the truffle soup was delicious. It was my first time trying ratatouille and I was not disappointed. Employees were also nice. We had to wait an extra 10-15 minutes for the food, but the wait was worth it. As a suggestion, package the dessert separately from the main foods. Because the lemon tart was in a paper box and in the same bag as the duck, the flavor and smell of the duck had seeped into the tart crust. The tart was still good though.

The saying “two out of three ain’t bad”. Three out of three was out experience at Bistro Menil on Father’s Day - food, service and ambiance! Wonderful brunch in the beautiful side room and such a nicer ouch when the owner / chef stops by to check on everything and to thank you for your patronage. That extra touch is so nice. Of course without good food —- the chicken and waffles a decadent delight! So nice to also park so easily and then walk over to the Menil Collection after. Thanks again Greg and all at Bistro Menil.

So. I was really very excited to dine here. I brought my two children (11 and 6) to the museum for an outing and we stopped to eat before. Lets say that its not the most kid friendly place and I was aware of that but thought going to a nice meal before a nice museum would be a refining experience for them. I was willing to guide them through a fine dining experience, what I wasnt prepared for was the waiting. ** if youre only interested in the food review and not my experience skip to the last paragraph**Now Im not a complainer, really at all, my husband is a restaurant manager so Im very understanding when things are busy. They were well staffed this afternoon and running about 80% capacity for patronage, I expected things to be a little on the slow side but I was very disappointed with how slow.I made reservations so we were seated right away with menus. Their beverage menu for the non alcoholic drinker is limited to 5 sodas, tea, coffee, and water. I feel that for such a progressive time they should expand that area at least a little bit. It took no less than 5 minutes for drinks, ok, thats a stretch but Ill bend. We were fully ready to order by that time.The children wanted the fruit forward waffle. Ok, easy enough. And I ordered the duck. I had also judged that we would be waiting a while for food so I also put in an order for the roasted potato starter dish. When the started finally arrived by way of the chef, my glass of ice tea was empty. Thats a while wait. Once the starter was finished my 6 year old got antsy so I let him run around in the green area with the other littles whos parents were enjoying their wine with friends and not minding the wait at all. I probably wouldnt have either if it wasnt just me and two kids, but I was alone and I dont care to drink so my patience wasnt at its best. So I bided time by stacking the dishes up for the bussers that were walking by cleaning other tables.When the entrees arrived they looked lovely and we were pretty hungry. My youngest ate his entire plate (his words) like a machine in 8 minutes. My daughter and I enjoyed every bite a bit slower. I was hoping toward the end of our dining the check would arrive but it did not. I pulled out my wallet and had it on the table waiting. ..... nothing. I stacked the plates while my son played some more in hopes that would incite the staff. It worked. He dropped the check I slid my card in he picked up the dishes and said take your time. .... uuuuhhh ok. I waited and waited. Over 10 minutes. I was spent are you kidding? So I got up and walked my check inside. One of the staff made a comment oh you just want to get out of here well yeah. Its lunch and Ive been here longer than I would stay at a busy fine dining resteraunt during dinner service on valentines day! I signed the check left it on our table and walked.I loved the food guys. I did. It was very well made. Temperature and flavor were on point. Duck was silky, fat well rendered. Waffles were very crispy on the outside fluffy on the inside with a pleasant whole grain flavor. Berries were fresh and very sweet. Food is stellar, very impressive. The presentation was lovely. And I will probably go again. Just not alone, and not with kids if I can help it. The review here is based solely on my experience of their service, which was subpar at best. They were nice, just not nearly prompt enough.

The food was fantastic. I met with a friend before he embarks on a new chapter in life. The outdoor patio was beautiful. The food was fantastic. The beer was fresh. And the food... the food was like none other. The chicken and waffles were the best I have ever had!

Lovely spot for afternoon lunch. Good options and nice views of Menil

Used to come here a lot but havent checked in in a while until today! i was around the area and starving so i went in. as soon as i walked in, i immediately realized things have changed... dont know whether its because of covid, but i remember it used to be more bright and welcoming.. and now it seems a bit toned down and casual. honestly didnt feel so welcomed.i ordered their calamari and salmon avocado toast. food is 5/5. their food has been always delicious and im glad it still tastes clean and well-made. price point is pretty good too. i guess i was a bit disappointed regarding the service just because i was expecting more. it just seems like its not up to par anymore compared to all the new ones out there.i feel like if they worked a bit more on their service and go back to their upscale vibes, i would come back more often.**also, not sure if they always didnt have alternative milk choices, but they only had whole milk.

Came here for Houston Restaurant Weeks and tried their lunch specials. Wow we were blown away by the quality of the food and the beauty of the presentation. World class service and beautiful environment. Of course we had to tour the museum when we finished our lunch.

HRW Lunch at Bistro MenilTL;DR - Reliably good food; off-day for service.Just like HRW 2017, the highlights were the slow-cooked beef rib, flavorful and fork tender, and lemon tart, which has a perfectly light, flaky pastry shell and balanced sweet/tangy lemon filling.Service was a bit off: They mixed up the sides for two out of three entrees, didn’t know who ordered what, and served the wrong dishes to the wrong people during both courses. Minor, easily corrected mistakes, but contrary to the usual smooth experience there.My bread plate had some food residue on it (see pic). When I asked for a replacement, the server simply switched plates with an unoccupied table, putting the dirty glass late at another setting. The place was cleared later anyway (when two people ate at the four top), so no harm no foul. But even if she didn’t see it immediately, it was strange that she didn’t inspect the plate. She must’ve thought I was just picky about plates?

Lovely spot and a beautiful area for a short walk after eating. We were lucky that it was a gorgeous day to eat on the patio.The salmon salad was wonderful. We look forward to our next date night or lunch here.

Nice, clean, simple bistro with a nice casual ambience and great food. Right across from The Menil, so a great after-gallery spot to grab a bite! Not too pricey, but in the $2X - 4X range per person for sure.

Fabulous, as always. Outstanding food, excellent service, lovely atmosphere.

Menu fixe for restaurant week. $49 each. Excellent service. Beautiful presentation.

Definitely a sit down restaurant—not a great place to pick up a quick coffee while at the Mienil

A nice venue for lunch after visiting the Menil Museum. Quite busy over the weekend with its attractive brunch menu. Quiche and crepes are both delicious. Sides need more work. Creative cocktail options. Friendly staffs.

The Bistro Menil is part of the excellent Menil experience and brings casual elegance to your visit. Outdoor dining is available in the lovely garden setting. Make reservations and enjoy brunch, lunch, or dinner. Perfect spot for a date, a group, with room and variety for children without being ‘touristy’ at all.

Chef Greg and the team did a fantastic job setting up an outdoor table and several heaters for our party of six. It was a cold and windy evening but we were comfortable. They’ve put tables on the front deck where you have a fantastic view of the museum, a sculpture, and beautiful trees. It’s one of the best outdoor dining experiences in town. There has been little if any change to the menu over the years, but the food is always very good. We had a wonderful evening and greatly appreciate the opportunity to eat outside during the pandemic. Thanks!

Pricey, but good. If you just want good food near the Menil, get some to go plates at the nearby HEB and enjoy the on site picnic tables. Same ambiance, much lower price

I love the atmosphere and the ambiance of this restaurant. The chief is incredible friendly and welcoming. Great romantic restaurant, I wouldnt save everything is amazing. But the food is excellent, I recommend the beef short rib and the eggplant fries. Would recommend to anyone I know!

Had the duck confit and it was exquisite! Service was A+

Nice experience. Husband had the duck confit which he enjoyed. My asparagus goat cheese crepes were cold. They did reheat. Eggplant fries were good.

Great place for Cocktails and small bites after an afternoon enjoying the Art galleries. Great happy hour menu!

The Afternoon Tea service is amazing. It presents an delicious EuroCentric menu, unfortunately the tea selection could be better. A must if you are High Tea lover 👌

One of the worst experiences Ive ever had at a restaurant. Clearly does not represent Houston in a good way. If youre not white and look like you have tons of money you will not receive any service. If you are any other race besides white they will not serve you until you leave. High amount of elitism here, another example of why human beings are disgusting creatures that should all be wiped from existence. What an evolutionary failure we have become treating each other this way.

Another spectacular meal at Bistro Menil. This place is a Houston treasure. The ambience, food and service are all 10/10. Fantastic.

Great food, service and drinks! However if you are looking for a quiet place to dine, this is not the place to go. .The service was excellent and the atmosphere is very comfortable. Delicious crab, fair prices, generous portions and a fun environment. Its actually great for brunch and party purposes.

We thought the food was really good. One of us got the crab cakes and they were excellent. I got Lemon chicken w/brussel sprouts, also excellent.

I met some friends visiting from out of town. We had a lovely, delicious dinner at Bistro Menil. The service was fantastic. A great choice for the group. Cheers!!

Gorgeous food in a gorgeous setting. Friendly staff and easy parking. Whats not to love?

Amazing food in a beautiful location, friendly and attentive staff, fantastic. Have the eggplant fries!

Good food. Fast service

Really good food and high quality products! One of my favorite spot in Houston

Loved the food and ambianceGreat for brunch on the weekend

By far one of the best restaurant in Houston. Finally a place that can compete with European restaurants!

One of my favorite spot for lunch and dinner, I tried their brunch menu for the first time yesterday.We ordered three dishes, Bianca pizza, pancetta and egg on brioche buns, and crab and mushroom crepes.If you love white sauce pizza, you would like Bianca. Gruyère cheese, pancetta and white sauce, but it is a bit too salty. Other than that, it has a great taste.Pancetta and egg on brioche buns is similar to egg Benedict, switching out the English muffin was a brilliant idea.If you like something light, crab and mushrooms crepe is your go to!

Loved the atmosphere and friendly service!

The place is Great and Ford as well but service a little slow

1st time here! The food was excellent, and the Menil Collection was a truly awesome experience.

It was delicious and for a good cause with the Houston Restaurants Weeks

Nice ambiance convenient to Menil Museo and good wait staff. Loved the Umbria pizza, just a bit expensive.

Great ambiance and delicious fiod

Amazing service... thank you Alex! Great atmosphere and absolutely delicious food.

I have to admit, I was skeptical about this spot before coming here for brunch. I was afraid itd be overpriced and under-portioned, leaving my wallet and stomach empty. Boy, was I wrong!We made an earlier reservation (10:30 am) and pretty much had the place to ourselves (really started to fill up about an hour later). Our server was friendly and attentive and drinks and food came out fast.I had the avocado toast and it was delicious. It was a sizeable piece of bread, mashed avocado, with smoked salmon and egg whites. All the ingredients worked well together and were noticeably fresh.My friends tried the caprese omelette and Belgian waffle with fruit and raved about both. Tried the bloody Mary, which had a good kick and reasonable amount of alcohol. It was certainly a pricier breakfast spot, but worth it for what it offered.

Great place! Loved the atmosphere. Food was great.

Fantastic as always! Delicious food and great wine choices.

The team at Menil Bistro pulled out the stops for a birthday dinner in spite of the fact the air conditioning was out in the main dining room. With fans surrounding us, we enjoyed the patio and the landscape area surrounding us. Hats off to the staff!

The food was great and the dessert was delicious! Will definitely come back other menu options.

Nice place and great food!

Normally i would have posted a pic but food looked so good i couldnt stop. i had a cousin come into town and she asked me to go back here. this place has a cool atmosphere.

Great place, food and service! Let the people recommend dishes we where pleasantly surprised

The duck confit salad is perfection!

Came here with a friend during HRW to try out their lunch... I loved the atmosphere, great service. The 12-hour beef short rib was delicious! My dessert was so so.

Nice atmosphere and very good food. Away from traditional American take on European dishes making it closet to the original.

I celebrated my PhD earlier this evening in this fine place. I am glad to say that we had a outstanding evening and the place was surely the reason for the outstanding event. The waiters cooperated in a very nice manner, the cooking was tasty and my friends were very pleased. We shall surely visit again for more celebrations. Thank you very much.

Wonderful serene spot for a lunch date with my friend. Beautiful food and beautiful service. Will visit again soon and often xo

The menu had a great selection, ambience was spectacular.

Nice Mothers Day treat! Friendly staff.

Beautiful and quaint restaurant located just across the street from the Menil Collection. Food is surprisingly delicious. A great spot in the area for sitting outside and enjoying the weather.

Ordered 24 hours in advance...try the afternoon tea menu. Absolutely delicious combination of savories and sweets. The Earl Grey was delicious and the champagne was lovey! Every bite a treat!

Got there near five, it wasnt very busy. The service was friendly and observant. The bill was appropriate for the quality. Reminds me of a place in New York I liked to visit.

We cant get enough of this place. Moved to Houston around 1.5 months and have eaten here 3 times. Superb service, good portion sizes even on appetizers, and everything is fresh. Literally we have loved each dish we have ordered.

Always amazing food & service!

The food was phenomenal

The food is fantastic!! First time visit, specifically for HRW, but will absolutely be back. The staff is absolutely lacking some polish though. We ordered drinks at the bar, waiting on our reserved table to become available. Host did not offer to carry drinks to the table for us. A slick floor in heels and a full coupe glass can be tricky and his help wouldve been appreciated! We didnt get a side dish that we ordered. And when clearing plates, the server put someone elses dirty silverware down in front of me on my plate so she could stack my plate with theirs. Unsanitary at best, but truly concerning during COVID! Again, food was spot on, but staff could use some additional training.

A little awkward at first, but loved the patio, the coffee was delightful, and the staff was friendly. The food had the right idea, however, not too memorable.

Wonderful fesh food presented very nicely

My experience with this place was horrible... Seriously service was very sad. Owner/the cook had a bad Tempers to the waitress then she took it out to our tables... the food wasn’t Worth the price charged... My friends and I am sure not to go back... I have been enjoyed many restaurants in town... sad to say “Bistro Menil has been my first bad experienced. When approaching the restaurant one tables we pass was not happy...I over heard from one customer said the cook is a A hole here. Wasn’t sure what was going on!Reply to Mr. Martin, no need to save yourself by responding My review. Everyone in Houston restaurant business knows how you are? Amid it. You don’t even know which table I was sitting. BTW no customer dare to bully any of their own server’s in my opinion... I only tell the truth that happened to me in your restaurant. Bad temper your staff won’t give you Good business....Now I know why people given you a nickname. Sad.

What a lovely place. Exquisite crab salad.

Great service and a short menu but with delicious entrees and several starters that allow you to just enjoy the beautiful setting and location, having a wine and a snack. Perfect place to spend the afternoon outdoors.

Lovely food, staff, cocktails, and wonderful atmosphere. Short rib is amazing! And never pass on one of their signature cocktails or fantastic finds wine list.

Wonderful atmosphere and food is outstanding. Will definitely be back.

Nice with seating outside

FANTASTIC!! Will definitely be back!!

Great service. Excellent food.

Are server was great. I cant remember his name, But he was excellent. thanks for the extra chocolate creme burle. The food was great my short ribs were super the meat was was so good it just came off the bone. Thanks . Delicious..

I love this place always quality food & service. The staff was very helpful and welcoming. Prices were fair for the quality of the food.

Fantastic! Friendly staff. Clean restaurant. I had the HRW duck salad and almond lemon tort. Great value for $20. Would recommend!

Perfect bistro!

Great food with great service and lots of tables outside to spread out in a relaxing setting.

Just had a most fantastic meal! Deep sea scallops and risotto. The scallops were cooked to perfection and the risotto was a terrific complement! We chose the chardonnay from their cask wine list which was a terrific choice with the seafood. The waitstaff are cordial and a really lovely and convenient setting. Will definitely be back!

Great burgers and out door dining.

This place is wonderful! Crab cakes are delicious and the wine was excellent. The mussels were good as well. The scallops melted in your mouth. Very clean. Overall an amazing experience! Definitely will be back. My whole family loved it!

Delicious and existing meals.

I went here with some friends for happy hour drinks and asked for a refill on my travel mug of hot water just before leaving. I was informed that I would be charged a small fee, to which I replied that was fine; however, when the bill came I had been charged 4.00! First of all, what kind of place charges that price for tea, let alone water, when my drink itself had been just 5.00? Secondly, when I asked for a tea bag, since I had been charged for tea and not water, I was denied! I asked to talk to the manager because this was absolutely unreasonable. I am fairly certain it cost them about 2 cents for the electricity to hear the water. Thoroughly disappointed in this place and the management.

Fresh, delicious food and friendly staff. Loved the HRW menu.

Excellent food. The chef came out and spoke with us. It was intimate, but also grand at the same time!

Too expensive.

Was in the area for work, this place was recommended by a colleague for dinner. Generous portions side dishes, roasted salmon was delicious. Carrot cake with peanut butter ice cream was different, cake was light and fluffy. Service was excellent.

Divine afternoon tea experience, even had GF options which were tasty and artfully done.

This is truly a wonderful bistro. The food never disappoints. Very European. It’s great for brunch, it’s great for eating outside for those 8 days a year when that happens, and it’s great for dinner. Very low turnover for waiters, which I think says a lot about the place. Also, the parking is close, easy, and always available.

The prompt here says tell people why you loved this place, and Ill tell you up front that I didnt love this place. Its not my favorite brunch spot. I felt underdressed the whole time. But I respect the offerings and the quality of what I had.My wife and I went for brunch, and it was honestly good. I had a couple very good blood orange mimosas. The Eggs Lyonnaise were fantastic, not too heavy, eggs perfectly runny. The dressing on the side salad brought a bitter note that I didnt really enjoy but that made sense as a palate cleanser.As a whole, the quality of the meal was high and the flavors were complex and well-developed, but the vibe was a little more uptight, which the price reflected.

First time going really nice hip spot that I didnt even know existed in H Town. Great craft beer and wine selection, priced very reasonably. Food was good as well. The patio is a great way to kill a couple of hours on a lazy weekend afternoon.

Outstanding. Could use some more variety, but Im also guilty of not being adventurous enough.Pancetta and waffles are my two favorite, they may be an overdose of salty and sweet respectively, but they never disappoint.Appetizers could use some work, but desserts are some of the best in town.