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Dharma Café
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Canadian (New), Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
1718 Houston AveHouston, TX 77007
Neighbourhood: Sixth Ward
(713) 222-6996
- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11 am - 10 pm
Sat 4 pm - 10 pm
Sun 10 am - 2 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
58 reviews for Dharma Café
Review Highlights
-
"The chocolate bread pudding." In 5 reviews -
"...really enjoyed the Pasta de Jour which featured chicken and..." In 3 reviews -
"Great salads (the confetti salad is my favorite." In 4 reviews
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58 reviews in English
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Review from Zeenat T.
Baytown, TX
Just came here this past Sunday for brunch! me and my boyfriend were looking for somewhere new to eat, so i yelped this place. we decided to try it out. at first when you come here, from the outside its like a shack, but on the inside its very trendy and the atmosphere was relaxing and perfect for a brunch.
Their service was good and didn't bother us unless we needed them. This is a breakfast buffet, so its $17 per person and the first drink is on them and you choose between mimosa and OJ. the food is really good. ESPECIALLY the blueberry scones!!! i could have just ate that all day! the only thing they make for you that is not on the buffet is line is eggs anyway you like it except for Benedict.
the only thing that i can find as a con to this place is that there is not much variety on the buffet. 12 to 14 items. They have pancakes, waffles, scones, biscuits, steamed veggies, pasta, sausage, etc. and for dessert they had chocolate bread pudding which was yummy!
Will come here again after i'm done exploring a little more brunch places! -
Review from Jenn M.
Houston, TX
1/10/2012
Great brunch, a little pricy but worth it. They don't take reservations for brunch so be ready to wait 5 min. So many options.. Try the scones!
The dinner menu is also good, but I prefer brunch. -
Review from David N.
8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Brunch is one of my latest passions, and when you combine it with all you can eat! I'm almost certain to be there.
The Sunday brunch buffet here will set you back 17 bucks. But it comes with a complimentary drink. I had an OJ and my gf had a mimosa.
The serving is area is small but jammed packed. Some of the available items include: fresh fruit, a soup of the day, brisket, potatoes, peppered bacon, chicken and rice, pasta, squash, bread pudding, bisquit and gravy, and muffins.
The service was more to be admired since they were super busy. But overall, it's a great deal for Sunday Brunch, where everyone in the family can find something to eat.Listed in: Best Breakfast
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Review from Ryan L.
6/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Man, they got slammed for Father's Day brunch.
Drinks remained unfilled, or sitting at the bar waiting to come to us (would it anger a waiter if one was to get up and get it yourself?). Eggs to order were finally delivered 40 minutes after the order, done wrong, no less, and apparently the ocd cook will only make even numbers of eggs.
Food was decent, bacon was floppy and over-peppered, sausage was run of the mill, but lamb was pretty darn good. The line was silly, and the way the trays were set up, only one person could access the whole buffet at one time. For $17/head, it was underwhelming. -
Review from Natasha G.
Houston, TX
6/6/2011
Nice, artsy and elegant interior. It has a casual but high end feel to it.
Brunch is $17/ person
The Sunday brunch buffet line at first looked really small, I was a tad worried but it actually wasn't when you start eating.
Our drinks took forever to come out, they give you a complimentary mimosa or orange juice the first round. I believe they were having issues with the bartender and she wasn't doing her job. But we got an additional round of drinks on the house because that took forever.
Had a variety of traditional American breakfast dishes and some Indian dishes. Plus some homemade biscuits and mini blueberry scones. They make you an egg that is included with the buffet and we got the chefs specialty which was scrambled egg with sausage, gravy, and cheese, it was really good, but couldn't finish it all because I was really full.
Their dessert was a chocolate bread pudding, I tasted my bf's because my stomach was going to explode especially with all the bubbly mimosa's I was drinking. -
Review from Kelly R.
7/6/2011
Went for sunday brunch and it was alright. The brunch buffet Dharma has seems rather tiny to me. I mean I have Texas standards here. The food was sort of lacking to me and their coffee was sad--nothing was memorable. It has such a nice atmosphere and I was really hopeful.
I would like to try their regular menu but for now the brunch has turned me off from them. -
Review from MIchelle P.
Houston, TX
2/22/2011
There are some rave reviews going around about brunch at this place.
I am here to say otherwise.
The brunch food was mediocre, unmemorable and just plain boring- a lot of their pre-prepared dishes were cold, and the only thing I hate more than boring food is cold, boring food.
Dharma Cafe's one redeeming quality, which is the reason I am giving it two stars and not adding them to my list of "avoid like the plague" restaurants, is that their service is very friendly, courteous, and is ready to refill your drink at a moment's notice.
While I don't hate this place, I will certainly not be returning any time soon.Listed in: Meh . . .
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Review from Elaine N.
Houston, TX
4/20/2011 47 Check-ins Here
I was originally drawn to Dharma Cafe because of the "hippie" feel of the name (and the reference to a fantastic Jack Keroac novel), and I was not disappointed! My sister and I came on a Friday night to eat dinner and have a cocktail. Our server was polite and prompt, and the food was fantastic. After we finished eating, we noticed there was a live jazz band playing in the background. I don't know how we didn't notice their setup since the restaurant is so small! Anyway, we were delighted by the change and continued to sip our cocktails and relish in the comfortable, musical atmosphere.
After that experience, I was eager to go back for more live music on a Friday with my boyfriend. We went up there for a glass of wine and sat at the bar. The bartender was such a doll, and the manager took the time to make small talk with us about the restaurant. We found out it is family owned, and he is the son of one of the owners. Susan and John (the owners) actually do the cooking. John came out from the kitchen shortly thereafter, and made friendly conversation as well.
Long story short, I love this place. Peace, Love, and Dharma! -
Review from Ravi S.
Houston, TX
12/20/2010
The best part of our experience at Dharma Cafe was meeting up with a great group of old friends for Sunday Brunch. The food and service, on the other hand, was a disappointment.
The scones were the only highlight, while the potatoes were dry, the waffles doughy, the pancakes good but diminished by corn syrup, the pasta out of place, the artichoke-squash mash was almost unidentifiable, complimentary orange juice was not fresh squeezed, there was an anemic serving of mediocre fruit, overall too much starch and meat, and the service was a mess. It took too much effort to get our waitress's attention for coffee or egg orders. Our eggs over-easy were served anonymously in the middle of our table, and an omelet we ordered never arrived at all.
Any of these nuisances would have been forgivable had the buffet not cost $17 per person, plus tax and included service (our waitress did not deserve a tip). We spent $45 for a brunch that would have been better prepared at home. I can't value the food by the fact that it's "all you can eat".
It's a real shame because my expectations were high for Dharma Cafe, but I can't imagine giving it another chance. Overpriced and underwhelming. Pancakes at Barnaby's, Benjy's or Farrago's brunch are all better.
Well, at least we all got together over the holidays! -
Review from Lauren N.
Houston, TX
5/18/2011
My boss had suggested we go try Dharma Cafe because their brunch was delish. So going into it I really had no expectations, when we arrived we were promptly seated and had a quick run down that the brunch buffet included drinks and a mimosa.
The first round of food was experimental because we had no idea what anything was, however it all looked so delicious we were up for trying everything! We soon realized that the banana pancakes and homemade sausage gravy and biscuits were our favorite! The service was good, when we ordered eggs they took a long time to come out but the server was apologetic and explained why.
Overall our experience was awesome and we will all definitely be back. Just make sure your car is small because the parking lot was a tight squeeze! -
Review from Anthony H.
2/8/2009
Shazia and I chose here as neither of us had been before and we decided to go for the 'Two heads are better than one' approach.
Dharma Cafe is easy enough to find but somehow seems to be in totally the wrong location. From the outside it looks a little tatty but parking is good at the rear. There are bistro table out front but we sat inside.
On going in there is plenty of room and an airy feel to it all. Buffet at the rear was not too well laid out and most of it looked sort of unappetising. I ordered off the menu instead.
As it was just after midday I went for an Omelette accompanied by a Bloody Mary. Had to be done! Both perfect. Even Gordon Ramsay would have rated the Omelette, and the BM came with the most vital element, a Celery Stick.
Slight difference for me is that in the US you tend to get the BM with Tabasco rather than Worcestershire sauce but, all good. Nice refreshing nip on the taste buds
Just a note, as have been asked this a few times now. Correct pronunciation of Worcestershire sauce is to say it as "Wooster Sauce"
The general layout and ambiance reminded me a lot of the 202 Nicole Farhi in Chelsea (without the surrounding paraphernalia).
Populated by a mixed crowd of ages and styles and everyone just chatting and enjoying their Sunday brunch.
Decor is rustic and quirky and, Hallelujah, they did not leave the ceiling bare, as seems to be the case in may other H-Town establishments. They have planked it out and it works a treat. Don't ask me why I checked the ceiling. Even I am not sure!
I finished off with a nice glass of Bucks Fizz. Perfectamundo.
One of the other pleasant aspects of it all was the lady who waited on us was so helpful, happy and attentive. You forget sometimes how important that is to the whole experience. Made sure the tip we left showed our appreciation.
Probably could have awarded 4* but will need to come back to be sure.Listed in: The Full Monty for Breakfast
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Review from Eric B.
5/27/2010
The Dharma Cafe offers good Karma, while my Dogma is happily wagging his tail at home with Gayle.
One of my Head Office colleagues took me to dinner here last night. I was prepared to talk about various work subjects, but was pleasantly surprised that our evening turned into a wide ranging discussion about family, including kids, college, dual households, and the fact that both of us got remarried last month.
The Dharma Cafe could easily make it as a Berkeley (or old North Beach) restaurant and offers an eclectic menu, a comfortable and spacious dining room, a welcoming bar area, a decent wine list, a hip atmosphere, and of course a social conscience. I was particularly taken with the smooth concrete floor, the historical brick building, the exposed exposed ducts and pipes, the esoteric collection of books, a nice table in front by the window, and the chance for good conversation.
Contrary to what the name might imply, the Dharma Cafe is not a vegetarian establishment, although the non-meat items are plentiful and fresh. We both really enjoyed the Pasta de Jour which featured chicken and green beans among other things. It was served with a very nice salad and it all complimented very well by a glass of a smooth Spanish Red.
I returned to the hotel very happy with my experience at the Dharma Cafe, and would love to return for another dinner or maybe even brunch. All this reminded me again that business trips don't have to be limited to chain restaurants, hotel, or "grab and go" meals. It's great to hang out with local friends, share their culinary discoveries, and put a little life into our food. -
Review from Farrah A.
11/27/2009
We came here one lazy Sunday afternoon in search of a brunch buffet and bottomless mimosas. With the help of Yelp, we were led to Dharma Cafe ... except that I misread some reviews. Mimosas were not bottomless - however one is complimentary per brunch buffet order.
The buffet consisted of waffles, banana pancakes, butternut squash soup, bacon, eggs (order any way you like), asparagus, fruits, muffins, brisket, chicken and a few other random items. Be sure and leave room for dessert; they bring out a giant cinnamon roll. Five stars just for that. Although not the best brunch buffet in town, it was a pleasant meal and our hangovers were cured.Listed in: Houston - Brunch, Houston - Buffets
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Review from Courtney R.
Houston, TX
8/28/2011
Wanted to try something new for brunch today. Saw mixed reviews but tried it out for my self. First off, why force people to eat the buffet? You should also have a menu available. Second, if you are going to make everyone eat the buffet make it HOT! All the food was cold or room temp! Gross! The made to order eggs were great, service was great, mimosas......great! Food was not even good! My friend and I agree, back to our normal brunch spots. Don't waste the 45 minutes your going to wait for a table.
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Review from Jolyn B.
11/9/2007 3 photos
From the owners- "Dharma" is an ancient Sanskrit word. A good definition for Dharma would be the work that you do in your life to return to your center. Our Dharma is to be of service to others - to feed our friends. " awwww
Dharma is a quaint little restaurant with excellent food and even better service. The Sunday brunch ($15/person) is divine. With the morning sun beaming in and the absence of tableclothes, the casual yet classy atmosphere welcomes you in. A complimentary glass of champagne, mimosa, or fresh OJ is offered. The selection, everything from waffles and omelettes to homemade pasta and vegetables dishes, is wonderful.
Lunch hours----Tues- Fri 11-3pm
Dinner---- Tues and Thurs 6-9pm, Fri and Sat 6-10pm
Sunday brunch-- 10am-2pm
Bar is open Tues- Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 4-10pm and Sun 10am- 2pm -
Review from olivia b.
Houston, TX
5/3/2009
Went here for Sunday Brunch this morning with my husband and two kids. I would agree with other reviewers that the set up of the buffet is awkward at best, but I can see some pluses for it. One, although the space used is small, there are quite a few choices. All the breakfast type foods are grouped together and all the lunch type foods are grouped together. They use very small pans and in the hour or so that we were there they must have refilled every pan at least once, some twice or more. The small pans they use in the small space makes for very fresh food.
The bacon was very tasty. I really enjoyed the surprise of bananas in the pancakes. The cinnamon rolls are fab, although they probably have about 85 grams of fat a piece due to all the butter. My omelet was perfectly cooked and they have pretty much everything you could want in your omelet. The sausage wasn't too greasy and had a little spice kick to it. I loved the chicken soup. The celery and carrots were crisp, the chicken was moist and the broth was delicious and loaded with thyme.
One more thing, the complimentary (1) OJ or Mimosa is a really nice touch.
Our server was great. He had a sense of humor about our rambunctious children. The whole staff was great. All our plates were cleared pretty much right when we finished with them. Our cooked to order egg dishes were great and served promptly. The chef or owner even came out to our table to check on everything.
All in all good experience. The location is a but off the beaten path, the buffet is awkward, but other than that...good, but not remarkable. Priced appropriately at $17.00 per adult. -
Review from May P.
Houston, TX
1/14/2011
Delish!!! The only thing is that on a Sunday..... You're gonna wait! We waited 1 hour but it was well worth it, hot coffee, yummy buffet and you can have eggs any way you would like em'
Enjoy! -
Review from Shazia C.
Washington, DC
2/2/2009
Update: So Anthony and I hit this place today.
Went there for Sunday brunch. The place has an old and hippy feel to it. Very laid back , ample sunlight and outdoor seats. Excellent place for groups.
Lets see , the food wasn't the best. I went there especially for their waffles. The Sunday buffet included waffles , sausages , pancakes, fruit tarts , pototoes , fresh fruits (strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe) , biscuits and blueberry scones for breakfast ..fried cat fish , meat , pasta , edamame with corn and beans and lentil soup with peas.
The waffles were kind of salty , I ordered eggs (poached) medium well.
The fruit tarts had soggy shells , the soup was good not too satly or thick. The lentils to pea consistancy was just right the only problem was it wasn't warm enough for me. The blueberry scones did not taste fresh for some reason. The cat fish was cold as well and smelt funny and was a tiny bit salty. The beef I tried was very chewy which usually happens when you do not cut the meat in the right angle.
The buffet wasn't arranged nicely. No effort made on represenation at all. It looked like something serverd in a run down motel for brunch. The service however was spectualr ! Our server was on top of everything and even though it was a bit busy she made sure we were taken care of.
I am glad I tried this place. Their buffet wasn't the greatest maybe their dinner might be better.
Food: 2 star
Ambiance : 4 stars for Houston
Service: 5 stars
Location: 1 star
Parking: 5 stars -
Review from Katie W.
Houston, TX
7/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
My friend moved very close to this cafe, citing it as one of the pluses of moving there. I asked why, but she hadn't even been yet because I guess she is a filthy liar. So, after touring her adorable, old boarding house apartment, we walked in the hot, hot heat to Dharma Cafe.
We were really surprised when we walked in. It was just much nicer than we had expected. Maybe the fact that we were both sweating and in t-shirts embarrassed us a bit, but we were quickly distracted by the lovely art.
It was lunch time, and our waitress was very helpful. I was once again surprised by my simple order of iced tea - it was mint. I'm not particularly fond of mint tea, but I quite enjoyed this one. Upon opening the lunch menu, I was immediately drawn to the appetizer pizzas. The "Bleu Cheese Pizza" with crumbled bleu cheese, fresh mango slices, sweet pepper sprinkles, and pine nuts looked AMAZING! I have a pizza weakness (or maybe just "serious, actual problem") so I didn't want to give in too easily. Pizza rules, though, and I'm totally coming back to destroy these appetizer pizzas at a later date.
I had a really difficult time deciding between the Mediterranean plate (hummus, tabouli, feta, kalamata olives, fresh-baked pita bread and a "marinated tomato salad") and the priced-daily "Pasta Du Jour". When our waitress said "She's known for her pastas", I couldn't refuse. I am vegetarian, and though I didn't see many meatless options on the menu, our waitress said the chef could make many, many things vegetarian for me, including my pasta order. Originally it was a hand-made linguine in a creamy bleu cheese alfredo sauce with shrimp, spinach, and mushrooms. It all sounded so delicious that I ordered it as is, just without the shrimp.
My friend ordered the Confetti Salad (walnuts, red onion, mango, dried currants over a bed of fresh seasonal greens topped with crumbled bleu cheese and szechwan vinaigrette) and it was awesome! The appetizer bread slices were amazing dipped in the szechwan vinaigrette, but also just by themselves as they were already dipped in balsamic. Seriously though, that szechwan dressing was paralyzing. I literally caught myself wondering if they would put it in a little to-go ziplock for me, so I could suckle it out of the bag. But then I realized that I am really weird and gross and should not ask for anything. Ever.
My pasta was...how do I put this politely? Look, my pasta was just balls to the wall. It was great. It was perfectly creamy and filling, but not at all heavy as a lunch-time option like I was expecting. It came with a simple side salad, but the dressing I chose was a homemade sun dried tomato thing that really packed a punch. It was basically just sun dried tomato-infused olive oil with a bunch of sun dried tomatoes in it, but I all but licked the salad plate clean. (I didn't actually do it because I am totally NOT weird and gross.)
We were given free homemade vanilla cinnamon ice cream after our meals, and it was naturally to die for. Nothing was too rich or too bland; it all seemed to be exactly what we wanted. We also noticed that the woman who brought us our food was not our waitress; we assumed it to be the chef, who was kind of beaming and proud as she dropped the food off. It was pretty adorable.
The lunch portions and pricing are just right. We will definitely be back, though we expect the prices for dinner and/or brunch to be steeper. If you're interested in a balls to the wall lunch, you should definitely give this place a try. Maybe even if you are weird and gross. -
Review from Chris L.
Houston, TX
2/28/2008
Dharma is great, especially if you go there for Sunday Brunch. But their lunch and dinner are really good too.
I always eat too much at brunch when I go there, but that's because they have so much variety and I always want to try everything.
Often, they have live music. A couple of times we were seated about 10 feet from the musicians which made it hard to carry on a conversation. If you make a reservation, be sure to ask if there is live music and request a table further away. -
Review from Travis D.
Palo Alto, CA
9/16/2008
I visited Dharma Cafe with my Dad on a recent business trip to Houston just as Hurricane Ike was taking aim for the Gulf Coast. I have to admit that sitting by the window and watching car after car drive by with ply wood strapped to the roof was a little bit strange, but it didn't distract me too much from the food.
We went there for lunch. I had the Thai chicken wrap with a side salad topped with cactus fruit dressing. My dad had the confetti salad, of which i had a few bites that were delicious. The dressing on it was unusual and surprisingly spicy, but really fantastic.
My wrap was good, but for the most part just kind of a a run of the mill thai chicken wrap: somewhat bland, unseasoned chicken and some veggies topped with a peanut sauce and wrapped in a tortilla/flatbread hybrid thing. The only thing that was unusual about it was that it was served warm, which i appreciated. The side salad was just a salad, but the cactus fruit dressing i got with it was great.
In general i like the whole funky Heights, vagabond feel to the place (although the irony of a place with these prices having a vagabond theme is not lost on me). Although much like you can't judge an artist based on one song or a director by one scene in a film, i feel like i can't really judge Dharma Cafe yet. Part of that is certainly my fault for ordering a dish destined for mediocrity: the thai chicken wrap. I like the place and feel like it has lots of potential, but i'll have to go for at least one more visit (preferably for dinner instead of lunch) before i am comfortable with setting my opinion (and rating) in stone.Listed in: Houston, Homecoming Trip to Houston…
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Review from Arnel S.
6/23/2010
After going to Dharma Cafe on numerous occasions for brunch on Sunday, I can say that I absolutely love this place. Why do I love this place when its brunch buffet variety is not as large as other places?
Because this place has character:
- The artwork by local artists adorning the walls
- The intimate, one-room dining area
- The host (don't know his name, but he always wears a cap and glasses) who always make sure to accommodate my party, whether it be getting a glass of milk for my baby niece one time or adding 3 more chairs to my table when I originally told him only 4 and 3 more showed up 30 minutes later, all while trying to please the many other customers waiting for tables
- The super friendly and adept staff--the bartender, the servers, the busboys
- The chef/owner taking some time out of a busy Father's Day to visit with my sister and my niece
- The free bad ties handed out to all the dads on Father's Day
- The free bloody marys to fathers on Father's Day
And I really enjoy the food, too!
- The banana pancakes are delicious
- The blueberry scones that are soft and sweet
- The broccoli or green beans that are never overcooked
- The lamb, which always surprised me that someone's serving lamb for breakfast
- The bacon that is all peppery
- The chocolate bread pudding
- The eggs that are specially made for you
Tip: this place tends to get busy during the later hours of the brunch period, which is from 10am to 2pm.
And, if you aren't already stuffed by the food that is out there, remember to try the cinnamon rolls at the end of the meal. They're awesome too. -
Review from Toonces ..
Austin, TX
3/23/2008
After reading different reviews on Yelp and B4-U-Eat, I figured I'd try out Dharma Cafe for Easter Brunch. I'm from Austin and don't visit Houston very often, but now I find myself here for the next 2 months.
The place is really great! It's in a sketchy looking area, but don't let that discourage you. The restaurant has a very nice ambience and is clean and spacious on the inside. The floors are stained concrete and the feel of the place is eclectic.
We walked in about 30 minutes before brunch ended and only had to wait for about 10 minutes. The host greeted us at the door and the bartender served us our brunch beverages while we waited.
The food was great for the money! It's not anything special that's going to blow you away, but it's good solid American food. You can check out their brunch menu on their website. Their made to order eggs are really good, we had the Chef's special omelette and two scrambled eggs which were so light and fluffy. The service was also very friendly and responsive.
I'm only giving this place 4 stars, because there were a few small items that I wasn't too keen on. First of all, they say that they have the best cinnamon rolls in the city, but they were definitely not the kind that I would like. There are several places in Austin that I would rate before these.
Also, their homemade biscuits were a bit too dense for my taste. Since we were there late, they had run out of most of their homemade biscuits, so they were having to serve some pre-packaged biscuits (like Grands), and we definitely liked the prepackaged ones much better smothered in the sausage gravy. Actually, the dough for the biscuits seemed very similar to the dough for the cinnamon rolls.
The place was otherwise very charming. I would definitely recommend it and plan on being back for more! -
Review from Stasa C.
Houston, TX
9/17/2009
Went last night for dinner with my husband and another couple. What a gem. Love the space and I'm looking forward to coming back and pulling up to that lovely bar.
Service was outstanding and not intrusive. I had the seared ahi tuna over mixed greens and I loved it -- it came with roasted bell peppers that had been artfully arranged into flowers with wasabi squiggles in the center. Yum -- wasabi squiggles. Tuna needed a quick dusting of salt (and I'm not a big salt person) and it was then perfect. Solid amount of food also...
Husband had the plank salmon and was very happy... we started with the crab cake, which was small, but hey, it's an appetizer meant for one person (he was nice to share). No filler at all just great flavor.
I loved the quirky location and enjoyed the artwork and music. I'll definitely be back. -
Review from Lisa C.
Austin, TX
2/20/2008
Two words. Sunday Brunch.
Ok, I have more than two works to say about this place. If you want to eat here, MAKE RESERVATIONS! or expect to wait. and then be fed very delicious food and mimosas.
This reminds me, I am way overdue to do some brunching. -
Review from Kelly N.
7/7/2009
I didn't really read all of the reviews before going here, but it had an average of 4 stars, and the brunch menu looked like it had everything I wanted to eat.
The boyfriend and I drove right past the restaurant. The outside looked like a rundown looking building/warehouse and the sign wasn't large enough. Luckily we remembered the address of the place and knew we had gone too far.
The inside of the restaurant was very spacious and quaint. Not a big, big place, but I guess the layout made it feel very open. When I walked in, I was thinking, "Man, where is the buffet??" I was expecting the usual buffet line like normal buffet places, but nope, it was tucked away in a little corner. So of course, this kind of worried me b/c the selection didn't look as much as I had planned. And I was expecting a larger crowd for some reason.
So I started out with a waffle, pancake, sausage, bacon, potatoes, and a biscuit. The waffle was ok, it blended with the sausage since the sausage was a little salty but good. They used good bacon. The biscuits looked dry and pathetic though. I was hoping it was be really soft and flaky. Potatoes were the average herbed potatoes..can't go too wrong with that.
As far as other entrees, I only tried the chicken and the chicken tomato creamed pasta. They were both fairly decent. The chicken had a Meditteranean or Indian spice in there..couldn't pinpoint what it was, but nevertheless, it was pleasant...I love chicken skin!!! :)
I enjoyed my glass of mimosa and was wondering where the heck those best in Houston cinnamon rolls were since it wasn't out on the buffet. At the end, the waitress asked if I wanted one, and of course, I couldn't decline! But when I took a bite out of it, I thought... I'm sorry, this thing is not the best cinnamon roll in Houston. It was hard, and reminded me more of those Little Debbie pecan rolls but even pecan rolls were softer than that. I tried to dig in the middle b/c it's usually where it's the most moist, but it was still fairly hard. So, sorry... the award still goes to Cinnabon.
Not sure if it was worth $17 a person though. I think maybe if they had more selection or work on improving some it, it would be nice. It's a cute little place though and service was good. -
Review from Kristine H.
Houston, TX
3/1/2010
This is my 100th review so this occasion is worthy of a haiku.
The Dharma Cafe!
Good brunch buffet on Sundays;
Free coffee and tea
This is the place to go for brunch if you want a little bit of everything.
For $17 you get a good buffet that's a mix of breakfast and lunch foods. I'd never thought I'd be scooping myself a bowl of minestrone and place it next to my waffle, and going back for a piece of brisket and salmon.
The first round of mimosa and fresh OJ are on the house. For those who love bloody marys, they look really good and are stacked really high in a red wine glass with a big ol' piece of celery.
Eggs are made to order and included with your fare. It's the perfect buffet size and maybe equivalent to an egg and a half.
Other notable buffet items: homemade scones (the REAL blueberry ooooozed), biscuits & really good gravy.
The waitstaff did an exceptional job especially considering the fact that it was a full house and there were only 2 waiters for the entire place. Thanks!
A warning to those who are sensitive to salt. You'll feel the after effects after a meal here. Food is on the salty side.Listed in: Keeping you in the Loop, Brunch
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Review from Tawny T.
2/3/2010 1 Check-in Here
Dharma's new location is bigger, so reviews with space concerns can be mostly ignored. We got in without any wait, and our service was speedy.
The brunch is good and gourmet, pretty much what you'd expect for $17/plate. I didn't indulge in a mimosa, but the americano I had in its place was mild and enjoyable.
Basically, this place is exactly what it claims to be, and if you can afford it and have a big appetite, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Katie F.
Houston, TX
2/3/2010
While I've never been here for dinner, Dharma Cafe's brunch is seriously one of, if not the best, in town. It may not be as big as Baba Yega, as packed as Baby Barnaby's, or as upscale as Hugo's, but it strikes the perfect balance of all of them.
The dining room's spacious, light, and airy, and there were just enough seats for everyone, without it being too packed or too empty. The service is prompt and attentive, without being overly in your face. The buffet's just the right size, and the food is as high-quality I've ever seen in that kind of setup.
Speaking of food...before going through the buffet line, order a mimosa and a made-to-order omelet. I got an egg white omelet with salmon, feta, and asparagus - it was the best omelet I've ever eaten! They have a nice mix of breakfast and lunch options on the buffet. Make sure not to miss the two casserole-type sides. Not sure what one of them was, and the other was a mixture of different types of corn/hominy. Whatever was in it doesn't matter...you will want seconds, I promise. There is also typical brunch fare - pancakes, waffles, bacon, eggs, and more.
There are two buffet items that are so good they deserve their own paragraph: the blueberry scones and the chocolate bread pudding. Oh wow. If I had eaten them first, I would have saved room to go back for thirds and brought a bigger purse to snag some leftovers :)Listed in: Romancing the Stone
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Review from Jeremy G.
Houston, TX
2/3/2010
A strange evening it turned out to be, especially after I asked what kind of crab meat was in the crab cakes.
When they came out, they were not the described jumbo lump, just lump and obviously so from both texture and taste. I mentioned it to our server in passing and he retreated to tell the chef.
From there on the entire experience was a nightmare, with the chef constantly sniping verbally and making all kinds of outrageous claims trying to provoke a response. Finally he worked himself into such a state that when we tried to order another course, everything was suddenly off the menu.
The food was actually quite good, but I will never bother with the place again, there are so many places that are friendly, even to somebody who answers a question about the food honestly. -
Review from Cory N.
Houston, TX
11/13/2010
Very intimate in an offbeat way. And the scones are the best.
Service is friendly as well -
Review from Brandon L.
Houston, TX
8/28/2011
An unexpected find! Loved the all you can eat $17 Sunday brunch at this quirky and trendy place just north of downtown Houston. The menu items at this place vary each Sunday with some traditional breakfast favs like banana pancakes and moving into some surprising introductions like a sweet pork loin, cheesy hominy, and decadent chocolate bread pudding. You'll find it hard to keep yourself from making that third trip especially after they've served you one of their specialty omelets or even one made to order! Waitstaff was great and hospitable and very attentive. Definitely a future staple in our Sunday dining excursions.
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Review from Rudy M.
9/30/2008
Upon my arrival back to Houston, my best friends took me to Dharma for a brunch. I had never been there before and was pleasantly surprised by the menu and the great bloody marys offered.
The chef came to our table and sat down with us to inquire about our meal and experience. To me, this is the best service ever. Anytime the chef or manager sits at the table and wants to know an opinion ranks high.
Best: Great bar and service.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Eric S.
Houston, TX
8/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Brunch seems a little pricey, but everything is fresh. Attention to detail is given. Bacon is maple''ly and peppery. Different kinds of sausage; some better than others.
It appeared they are known for their blueberry scones and now I know why. Really delicious. Even though the crust was hard on the edges, the inside was pillowy soft and had a great, sweet flavor. Didn't need the jam, but it was even better with it.
They had succotash - really good. Granted, the selection is small, but the food is good. Coffee is good too, but ask for half and half, they kept trying to give us milk.
Definitely an artsy, neighborhood type of crowd. A few families there too. They seem to attract large groups, bu the place isn't that big. -
Review from Kelly G.
Houston, TX
8/28/2008
Occasionally, while dining out you stumble upon the perfect experience. This was Dharma last night.
Everything - from our beautiful waitress with the lovely Scottish accent, to the delicious food and wine, not to mention the atmosphere - was incredible. In my opinion it's pointless to describe the extraordinary meal that we ate. I believe this restaurant and its food will be best discovered on your own and I can't recommend it highly enough. -
Review from Hideki H.
Houston, TX
5/16/2009
Steak de JOUR!!!!
It was as good as the steak I have at Cattlemen's in Petaluma, CA or ToT in Houston TX.
Overall taste of other plates are good as well... some what makes me feel as if I am dining in Cali.... from tasting those... don't know why...
Steak de jour!!!!!!!!!!!
Third time, it was last night... still taste wonderful and I won't get tired of eating it....
Steak de jour!!!!!!!!!
hahahaha.... -
Review from Lisfrancs C.
Houston, TX
8/21/2010
Yummy brunch.
We just tried brunch at the new location. We were big fans of the original Dharma and were happy to see their new spot still has the great personality of the original. The warehouse decor is roomy and bright, with more seating than the former spot.
Brunch was just a good as all the times I remembered. Made to order omelets, great waffles and scones that must have crack as their main ingredient.
Bring in un-peppered bacon and I will add a star.
Really good decaf coffee too and I don't say that often. -
Review from Melody W.
Houston, TX
3/23/2010
Oh Dharma...
i started going to Dharma Cafe back in the day when they were still on Nance street, near L*ast Concert Cafe. even though the place was small and in an isolated location at the time, lunchtime was ALWAYS packed.
fast forward to the present: great new location, but the sunday brunch leaves much to be desired. for $17, you get a subpar brunch buffet, with one free round of mimosas. perhaps it's a common problem with buffets, but a lot of their brunch food tasted either a) cold or b) overcooked (ex: the salmon). they had some highlights (ex: scones and waffles), but nothing to get that excited about. there are other great brunch joints around town, so i probably won't be coming back for brunch. however...
i will say that the lunch menu is still very good. i'm a huge fan of their salads. try the confetti salad; when mangos are in season, you can't lose out on this. for folks out there with a big appetite: beware, lunch portions here are not Texas size! -
Review from karen c.
Houston, TX
4/11/2010
So many reviews about brunch - so few about dinner... here I am to fill the gap!
I walked in and immediately liked the place. It was quiet, with a low hum of conversation, and live background music that never distracted from your dinner conversation. The waitstaff was exceptionally helpful and offered complimentary bread and soup. Our waitress made everything on the menu sound drool-worthy.
The wine selection wasn't extensive but affordable and delicious. The menu itself was full of interesting things.
Crab cake is excellent and crabby (not full of filler). Salads are large and fresh. We had specials and the entree size was more than sufficient. There wasn't room for dessert, but we will definitely be back to sample the rest of the menu.
There's a parking lot behind the restaurant - bonus! -
Review from Kevin W.
San Francisco, CA
10/1/2010
One of my favorite places in Houston to eat. Reminds me of a place down the street from where I live that gets a lot of my hungry-time business. Great salads, entrees, and pizzas at reasonable prices.
Can't wait to go back.
