Reservation was spotty, first being rejected, but then a couple of days later accepted so keep trying if you don't get a reservation at first. Location can't be beat for Alley and Wortham Theaters and Jones Hall curtain calls. Table service was impeccable and very timely, food was excellent though a little pricey but that's what it is in downtown Houston these post-pandemic inflationary days. I don't think there's anything really close to it in value for fine dining very close by except the small Italian restaurant Perbacco which is on the south side of Jones Hall and a good alternative if a reservation at Cultivated is not available.
BigFan
I have frequented the restaurant for many years, and it has never disappointed. The renovations made to improve the ambience and seating, have made the restaurant even more inviting and enjoyable. It is located in the heart of the theatre district, which makes it convenient when attending events in the district. I strongly recommend giving them a try; you will not be disappointed!!
JamesM
We had such a great date night dinner experience! Our waiter, Dillon, was great. The bartender made great beverages of choice. The host was very kind and respectful. The food(all courses) were fantastic! So nice and elegant! My wife wants to come back and try the High Tea
ItsRobC
The maitre d was extremely accommodating and friendly. The wait staff was attentive and engaged and the food was outstanding. This will definitely be our "go to" place when we go to the theatre. We had the mussels and onion soup as appetizers, beet salad, and scallops for the main. The lemon tart was a good finish to the dinner.
ISC Chicago
Mussels and Roses (Steamed Mussels with Garlic, Shallots, Fennel, Rose Petals and grilled Sourdough)
WandaS
Food is fresh, quality ingredients and delicious, attentive service, restaurant is small, yet quaint with comfortable seating. This was my second visit. Once for lunch and this visit was brunch before attending the ballet. I am looking forward to the next visit.
ShopGirl1597
OUTSTANDING! Looking forward to coming for brunch one weekend. We came prior to the ballet and were super interested in trying the mussels with roses, superb! Love how beautiful the restaurant is, the service was IMPECCABLE AND ATTENTIVE, food was DELICIOUS plus it was one within a one block radius of the arts district! Perfect spot! We shall be back! Cheers!
Taylor Walker
I dined here with my wife at 6:00 PM on 2/16/2024, the first night of our 3-night stay at The Lancaster Hotel. The service was good and the food tasted good (at the time), but we felt a little cramped at our small table in a high-traffic area.Having not eaten anything else since a very basic breakfast from Chick-Fil-A, I tried several of their seafood items (fried calamari, shrimp scampi, and scallops) and became *violently* ill with food poisoning a few hours later. I spent the first night at the hotel on the toilet for 5-6 hours straight (let's just say I couldn't safely get up) while also projectile vomiting into the nearby trash can as I struggled to retain fluids. I then slept curled up on the bathroom floor until about 9:00 AM while my deeply concerned wife struggled to get sleep on the bed.Instead of enjoying Houston's excellent food and attractions, I spent the following day sick in the bathroom, eventually eating saltine crackers (once I could keep food down). I was finally feeling well enough to leave the room around 7:00 PM that day, thank God. Today, my wife and I had Afternoon Tea at the hotel for about $260 (after tax, the 20% "service charge," and tip). Afterwards, I spoke to a restaurant manager and courteously requested that our dinner be comped (a reasonable gesture of good will, I assumed, after we'd spent $1000+ at the hotel plus $260 for tea and finger foods). My wife and I feel as if we were doubted and looked at like con-men trying to make a quick buck (if you don't believe me, just ask the poor housekeeper who looked into the trashcan and said "oh my God..." after we warned her of its contents). The manager agreed to comp at least some of the food items but nickel-and-dimed us on the soup and beverages, resolving the matter completely unapologetically.I'm posting this (along with Nikita from two months ago) as a warning to others who may be especially sensitive to contaminated foods and in an effort to get some semblance of a genuine apology from management. For an establishment with the motto, "where hospitality is a fine art," I expected more.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
JDS123
The Lancaster used to be the best place to eat after going to the symphony...that was many years ago. Right off the bat, the man working the front desk acted put out when we asked to be directed to the ladies room. I thought maybe I was being too touchy, but after the meal, when my husband went to pay for the valet, the same man was obviously put out again. The Food: The deviled eggs were slimy, the charcuterie was uninspired, the crab cakes had some kind of weird filler that tasted sweet on a bed of bagged lettuce with a bottled Asian sweet sauce drizzled on it. The sea bass was laughable. I think I did laugh. A very small, thin filet swimming in watery lentils. The burger was decent. The cheesecake trio was sad...it was not a traditional cheesecake. No crust...the various flavors were jelly piped into the middle. The menu was very early 90's. They did not have enough waitstaff scheduled. Our waiter was the best part of the evening. The Persian Texan was personable even though he was covering many tables. The wine list was decent. We shared a Chateau NduP that was very good. Lesson learned. Oh...the valets at the hotel were fantastic. They both had smiles on their faces and were very pleasant.
The service was a little slow but it was a Sunday brunch time. My order was incorrect and had to be redone. The wait time for the food was slower than I would have expected for a re-do. Also had to track down another server to get our check when ready to go as our server was very busy. Overall - food was good once we got it.
Michel
This is our regular dinner before the opera and we will not miss it for anything in the world. The staff is very pleasant and we know what to expect. Excellent food and being treated like regular customers
Steven Quance
Awesome dinner with crisp, precise service from Kate who made our pre Hobby Center event dinner fabulous.She’s management material, just saying.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
sonja kristiasej
Kate was excellent. Our food and experience was
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pan-Seared Scallops
Matt Noh
Love love love this place. Anytime I'm in Houston, this is where I go with my fiance.All the food is amazing and the staff are super friendly.
Great food and service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Reservation was spotty, first being rejected, but then a couple of days later accepted so keep trying if you don't get a reservation at first. Location can't be beat for Alley and Wortham Theaters and Jones Hall curtain calls. Table service was impeccable and very timely, food was excellent though a little pricey but that's what it is in downtown Houston these post-pandemic inflationary days. I don't think there's anything really close to it in value for fine dining very close by except the small Italian restaurant Perbacco which is on the south side of Jones Hall and a good alternative if a reservation at Cultivated is not available.
I have frequented the restaurant for many years, and it has never disappointed. The renovations made to improve the ambience and seating, have made the restaurant even more inviting and enjoyable. It is located in the heart of the theatre district, which makes it convenient when attending events in the district. I strongly recommend giving them a try; you will not be disappointed!!
We had such a great date night dinner experience! Our waiter, Dillon, was great. The bartender made great beverages of choice. The host was very kind and respectful. The food(all courses) were fantastic! So nice and elegant! My wife wants to come back and try the High Tea
The maitre d was extremely accommodating and friendly. The wait staff was attentive and engaged and the food was outstanding. This will definitely be our "go to" place when we go to the theatre. We had the mussels and onion soup as appetizers, beet salad, and scallops for the main. The lemon tart was a good finish to the dinner.
Mussels and Roses (Steamed Mussels with Garlic, Shallots, Fennel, Rose Petals and grilled Sourdough)
Food is fresh, quality ingredients and delicious, attentive service, restaurant is small, yet quaint with comfortable seating. This was my second visit. Once for lunch and this visit was brunch before attending the ballet. I am looking forward to the next visit.
OUTSTANDING! Looking forward to coming for brunch one weekend. We came prior to the ballet and were super interested in trying the mussels with roses, superb! Love how beautiful the restaurant is, the service was IMPECCABLE AND ATTENTIVE, food was DELICIOUS plus it was one within a one block radius of the arts district! Perfect spot! We shall be back! Cheers!
I dined here with my wife at 6:00 PM on 2/16/2024, the first night of our 3-night stay at The Lancaster Hotel. The service was good and the food tasted good (at the time), but we felt a little cramped at our small table in a high-traffic area.Having not eaten anything else since a very basic breakfast from Chick-Fil-A, I tried several of their seafood items (fried calamari, shrimp scampi, and scallops) and became *violently* ill with food poisoning a few hours later. I spent the first night at the hotel on the toilet for 5-6 hours straight (let's just say I couldn't safely get up) while also projectile vomiting into the nearby trash can as I struggled to retain fluids. I then slept curled up on the bathroom floor until about 9:00 AM while my deeply concerned wife struggled to get sleep on the bed.Instead of enjoying Houston's excellent food and attractions, I spent the following day sick in the bathroom, eventually eating saltine crackers (once I could keep food down). I was finally feeling well enough to leave the room around 7:00 PM that day, thank God. Today, my wife and I had Afternoon Tea at the hotel for about $260 (after tax, the 20% "service charge," and tip). Afterwards, I spoke to a restaurant manager and courteously requested that our dinner be comped (a reasonable gesture of good will, I assumed, after we'd spent $1000+ at the hotel plus $260 for tea and finger foods). My wife and I feel as if we were doubted and looked at like con-men trying to make a quick buck (if you don't believe me, just ask the poor housekeeper who looked into the trashcan and said "oh my God..." after we warned her of its contents). The manager agreed to comp at least some of the food items but nickel-and-dimed us on the soup and beverages, resolving the matter completely unapologetically.I'm posting this (along with Nikita from two months ago) as a warning to others who may be especially sensitive to contaminated foods and in an effort to get some semblance of a genuine apology from management. For an establishment with the motto, "where hospitality is a fine art," I expected more.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
The Lancaster used to be the best place to eat after going to the symphony...that was many years ago. Right off the bat, the man working the front desk acted put out when we asked to be directed to the ladies room. I thought maybe I was being too touchy, but after the meal, when my husband went to pay for the valet, the same man was obviously put out again. The Food: The deviled eggs were slimy, the charcuterie was uninspired, the crab cakes had some kind of weird filler that tasted sweet on a bed of bagged lettuce with a bottled Asian sweet sauce drizzled on it. The sea bass was laughable. I think I did laugh. A very small, thin filet swimming in watery lentils. The burger was decent. The cheesecake trio was sad...it was not a traditional cheesecake. No crust...the various flavors were jelly piped into the middle. The menu was very early 90's. They did not have enough waitstaff scheduled. Our waiter was the best part of the evening. The Persian Texan was personable even though he was covering many tables. The wine list was decent. We shared a Chateau NduP that was very good. Lesson learned. Oh...the valets at the hotel were fantastic. They both had smiles on their faces and were very pleasant.
Restaurantji Recommends
The service was a little slow but it was a Sunday brunch time. My order was incorrect and had to be redone. The wait time for the food was slower than I would have expected for a re-do. Also had to track down another server to get our check when ready to go as our server was very busy. Overall - food was good once we got it.
This is our regular dinner before the opera and we will not miss it for anything in the world. The staff is very pleasant and we know what to expect. Excellent food and being treated like regular customers
Awesome dinner with crisp, precise service from Kate who made our pre Hobby Center event dinner fabulous.She’s management material, just saying.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kate was excellent. Our food and experience was
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pan-Seared Scallops
Love love love this place. Anytime I'm in Houston, this is where I go with my fiance.All the food is amazing and the staff are super friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5