McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks

Food was great and the location and atmosphere were really nice. The place wasn’t crowded for a Wednesday night. We had a group of about 14-15 people. They assigned two servers. The pace of the service was awkward like they were planning to turn the table and get more people into the space. Entrees came out before salads weee finished and we almost always had to pour our own wine. Disappointing when you are spending about $250 per person.

From the Incredible Food All the way to the Ambiance and Service, hands down One of My Favorite Spots in Downtown Houston. The staff are Super Friendly and Attentive as well as the food is Undeniably tasty and beautifully plated. This is Indeed an Experience on a 360 that Everyone needs to try!

Had our anniversary dinner here. Food was great. Emery our server was the best will be back!

This place is perfect for business lunches. The staff are incredible and food amazing

I went on a Taco Tuesday happy hour and I was amazed . Great service by the gentleman behind the bar . The tacos were exceptional, I tried both shrimp and cod tacos. Slight edge to the shrimp tacos but both had their own unique flavor and were fantastic. All fresh ingredients with the sauce and made it all come together for a spectacular bite. Only $3 a piece was an insane deal ! Don’t miss the happy hour ! Check the pics ,margarita’s were perfectly balanced with fresh lime juice

A Disappointing Prelude to The Nutcracker: McCormick & Schmick’s Falls Short

Overview
For our post-Thanksgiving traditional Christmas season kickoff—an evening marked by elegance and nostalgia—we chose McCormick & Schmick’s as the setting for our pre-ballet dinner before viewing The Nutcracker. Given the restaurant’s reputation for high-quality seafood and steak, we expected a meal that complemented the festive occasion. Unfortunately, while the ambiance and service met expectations, the food was anything but memorable.

Ambiance (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Stepping into McCormick & Schmick’s feels like entering a refined sanctuary of classic elegance and warm hospitality. The gentle glow of amber lighting casts an inviting hue over the beautifully set tables, while rich, dark wood accents contrast perfectly with plush seating that invites you to settle in for a luxurious dining experience. The atmosphere is the perfect blend of sophistication and comfort—ideal for special occasions.

Service (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
If only the food had met the same standards as the service. From the moment we arrived, the staff provided an exceptional level of attentiveness. Our waiter, DeVante, was knowledgeable and personable, offering recommendations and ensuring our dining experience felt thoughtfully curated. Service was seamless, professional, and genuinely welcoming—exactly what you’d expect from a restaurant of this caliber.

Food (⭐️⭐️)
Despite the promising start, the food was the biggest letdown of the evening. We began with Oysters Rockefeller, followed by the New York Strip and Seafood Alfredo for our entrées, and concluded with a Classic Crème Brûlée.

• The Oysters Rockefeller and New York Strip were decent—passable, but far from extraordinary. At this price point, I expected something that would impress, not simply meet the baseline of acceptability.

• The Seafood Alfredo, however, was a complete disappointment. If I had unknowingly received a microwaved frozen dinner instead, I might not have noticed a difference in taste. Bland, uninspired, and lacking the creamy richness one expects from a well-executed seafood pasta dish—it was a textbook example of an overpriced meal with no personality.

• Finally, the Classic Crème Brûlée, though beautifully presented, was just okay. While there was nothing inherently wrong with it, there was also nothing that set it apart or made it memorable.

At this level, mediocrity should not be an option—especially not when diners pay premium prices with the expectation of something special.

Final Thoughts
McCormick & Schmick’s has mastered ambiance and hospitality—but when it comes to culinary execution, it falls woefully short. The food failed to rise to the occasion, leaving me with a feeling of disappointment and frustration rather than satisfaction.

This was our first and, unfortunately, last visit to the restaurant. I arrived excited and left disillusioned, feeling as though I had overpaid for subpar food that lacked the quality and refinement expected from such an establishment.

For a restaurant with a brand synonymous with elevated seafood and steakhouse experiences, this meal did little to justify the reputation or the premium pricing.

When dining at a place like McCormick & Schmick’s, one shouldn’t have to wonder if they would have been better off staying home with a well-prepared frozen meal.

We had a fun time celebrating here for my little cousin's high school graduation. I just ordered a variety of appetizers and my daughter had a Caesar salad with chicken. She really liked the salad. I really loved the Brussels Sprouts, they were tangy and flavorful, just like I like them! I didn't enjoy the gumbo too much as I'm used to the New Orleans style! It barely had any seafood and I didn't see or taste any crab! The Strawberry Lemon Drop was delicious and pretty! They made the graduate feel SUPER SPECIAL by adding her name to the dinner menu!!! That was so awesome 😎. We got to keep it as a memento.

Thank you for the amazing food and birthday experience. Thanks to Taela and Richard for excellent service! Highly recommend them.

Legit steak

Good Service, well times for such a big party (11 people). It was a little noisier than expended Meat was good, cooked right

Nice easter brunch. 5 in our party. We had Appetizers, main dishes and dessert. All well above par. Its nice to go to a steakhouse where they include the sides. We had a 5 year old in the party and she loved the mac and cheese! Well worth giving it a try.. Locations are always convenient...

Service was ok , food didn't come out the way we wanted but it was late and we felt rushed and we just paid and left .

great place for lunch if you are downtown. not sure this location meets the M&S normal standards. But, again, fine for a business lunch.

I cannot say enough good things about this experience. It was my birthday outing and it was flawless. Thank you.

The steak tasted great, but was a little overcooked. The shrimp kisses were great! The risotto that came with the salmon was bad. The waiter “forgot” to mention that to substitute vegetables for spinach (with the steak) was $6, which seems too pricey anyways.