Treebeards

Treebeards is a downtown staple for a reason. The atmosphere is fantastic, the room has a great vibe! especially given the location. I tried the bake chicken - half portion (was enough for me) which came with dirty rice and coleslaw (loved the blue cheese twist). The food was flavorful and the portion was enough for lunch time. It’s hard to find a meal this good for $11 in this area. Highly recommend for a solid, affordable lunch.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Lunch only cloister restaurant in Christ Church Cathedral

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Carrot Cake, Jalapeno Cornbread, Trio Plate

Some of the best Gumbo in town! Yellow cake is a must have. Awesome service and one of a kind environment!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I love their red beans and rice and butter cake

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Buttercake

An old Houston tradition in a Houston landmark. Red beans and rice are simple and wonderful. Shrimp Étouffée is always so good. Cornbread brick is large enough to share but there is complimentary bread and butter if you prefer. Don't skip the carrot cake. The service and seating is cafeteria style. One of Downtown's traditions!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 3

It was a nice experience here. The food was great... desert my favorite part as always.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

You would not know there is a restaurant open to the public that is inside a church that have your cafeteria style food and you can check the website to see what they have on the menu as it change. It is very peace inside here. The food was good and the price is fair. It is a very unique spot for lunch in downtown Houston.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Red Beans and Rice, Chicken Fried Chicken

Tree beards has been around for decades. It's a cafeteria inside of a Church. The food is decent (ettufee, seafood Gumbo (mediocre), good cornbread, HUGE portions, and the prices are VERY reasonable. Good venue but for walking distance as parking can be a challenge. You will LIKELY run into the local legal community there (Judge's, attorneys, etc.) They like place because it's a staple. But try it!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 4

I loved every bit of this place. The food was really good. I got the fried chicken with white gravy, dirty rice, greens, and some red beans and rice topped with cheese. Everything was immaculately good. The butter cake was sweet from my pallet, but good as well. I will be coming back, definitely.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Have been going to Treebeards for 30+ years and the food is as good as ever. The only thing missing is the original mothership location with Dan, Jaime and Matt dishing out the best lunch downtown in their perfectly starched and pressed white dress shirts!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The gumbo and seafood gumbo are outstanding. I could eat Treebeards' gumbo everyday. The food, service and atmosphere can't be beat for the price in downtown Houston.

12.18.2025 update: I tried the Rookie Plate today. With red beans and rice, sausage, shrimp etoufee, cheese, green onions, and hot sauce, it may be the best dish in all of Houston for the price. Cravings.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Red Beans and Rice, Seafood Gumbo, Chicken Gumbo, Crawfish Etouffee and Jalapeño Cornbread, Beef \u0026 Bean Chili, Beef Chili with Rice, Chicken Çsausage Gumbo, Shrimp Etouffee, Chicken \u0026 Sausage Gumbo and Bread Pudding

Consistently good Louisiana style food with a healthy twist.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Red Beans and Rice, Seafood Gumbo, Crawfish Etouffee and Jalapeño Cornbread, Chicken \u0026 Sausage Gumbo and Bread Pudding

Jose runs this place like a tight ship - I always order here for my mom and I - and he ensures every order is right and will always fix it when it isn't. Consistent quality - really enjoy/recommend the fried catfish, red beans, chili and yellow cake. Order early - they do sell out. For improvements - I would say - please ensure the greens & vegetables used in the garden salad - stay fresh. Great location by the way - if you enjoy cathedrals...gothic architecture, the pointed arches thru the hallways and stained glass windows are worth lunch and a visit. Also, I wish this location offered some of the selection that the Bunker Hill location has, but alas Treebeards' downtown brick and mortars are lunch, cafeteria style only.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food is delicious!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Overall positive experience. Very busy during lunch time as expected. A bit ducked off and had to ask for directions to find it. Food came out fast though the waiting area for to-go order was a bit chaotic since it was right next to the drinks area. The person bringing out the food usually said the order number at a normal tone of voice but remember that this is a loud cafeteria so if you go sit down further out you may not hear what is said. Just something to consider. Would return if I am in the area.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Red Beans and Rice