TRIBUTE at The Houstonian

February 23rd was an unforgettable night. I celebrated my birthday at Bloom & Bee. My reservation was at 8:00 pm. The closing time on a Tuesday night is 9:00pm. My Partner and I arrived 10-15 minutes late due to not knowing where the entrance was. I became frustrated knowing that we would only have 45 minutes to order and dine. When we arrived, Abel (hoping that’s the correct spelling) greeted us with a huge smile and was very welcoming and accommodating. He was in no rush to seat us. He asked if we would like to feel the temperature outside in case we wanted to sit on the patio. I requested to be seated indoors where the dining area’s decor is filled with pinks and floral designs. Abel (our waiter) was very attentive. He placed the menus on the table and gave us suggestions on drinks. He assured us that there was no rush and that we could take our time. Abel noticed my attempt to capture the perfect photo of my crafty cocktail. He rearranged the table setting and said,” there, now the photo will look much nicer”. When we asked if he would take a photo of us, he not only took the photo, but took many from several angles and looked happy to do it! At almost closing time, most servers would be rushing to take our order and get us out of there! He seemed so happy to be serving us. He gave me the impression that he was happy to be working. This is what most establishments lack; employees with a serving heart. When I placed my dessert order, I was not only given what I ordered, but surprised with a complimentary dessert and a candle! Abel was one of the best waiters I’ve ever met and I did not feel rushed at all that night. I write mostly about my customer service experience because I feel this is what matters the most to me. As for the food, it also gets 5 stars! They are very generous with the amount of crab in their crab cake. The cauliflower soup was delectable. We also ordered the scallops and tortellini which were very tasty! My partner is so picky and said,” we will definitely be coming back!”.

Service, food, and ambiance are always outstanding here. Everything makes you feel special. The only reason I took off a star was for the wait both coming and going for the valet.

We ate here several times during our two day stay at the Houstonian. I really wanted to give the place a 5 star because just about all the staff were fantastic except for one waitress at 10:02 PM wouldn't get us another beer because the bar closed at 10 PM. But the food wasn't quite 5 star. The bread they serve as an appetizer with honey butter is phenomenal. The King Inn salad is great. But the $45 ribeye was just marginal. I requested it medium rare and it came out a good medium. The seasoning was decent but the marbling was mediocre. It was much more like a strip but not as tender. I had the tres leches cake for dessert and it was marginal. It was kind of clumpy with uneveness in consistency. Probably should have had the pear tart. I had a burger for lunch the next day and while HUGE and filling wasn't particularly flavorful.nPortions were good. Staff followed good COVID precautions and were courteous. I'll go again.

Great food. Angustia meta was great

Great food, amazing service, and lovely setting. Great for a memorable family dinner, romantic night, or any event we want to celebrate, or just a great dinner any night of the week. Thanks to the entire Tribute team!