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Down House
Categories: Nightlife Bars Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Cafes Bars, Canadian (New), Cafes [Edit]
1801 Yale StHouston, TX 77008
Neighbourhood: The Heights
(713) 864-3696
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7 am - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
153 reviews for Down House
Review Highlights
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"...friend mike had the pulled pork hash and it was fantastic." In 9 reviews -
"The cheesy ghost-pepper jack was the perfect compliment to..." In 3 reviews -
"and the french press coffee is fantastic." In 3 reviews
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153 reviews in English
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Review from danielle g.
Houston, TX
5/22/2012
Yes Ladies and Gents, I'm giving this 5 stars... for the drinks, the atmosphere/ambiance, and most of all Ben, Jeremy and Jason: three badass dudes behind the bar and behind some of those wicked good cocktails.
Things that keep me coming back:
*the staff and chilled out scene (I feel comfortable wearing a fancy ball gown while showing some ink here)
*Great beers!
*Interesting drinks and cocktail concoctions
* the mussels
* the BEST chicken wings... ever. pair em with the pickle plate and bam, you got a meal.
Check it out. It can get pretty packed in there but it's still a good time. -
Review from Cobalt Z.
Houston, TX
Updated - 5/10/2012
Continue to return here on a regular basis, although not as much as I would like! The draft list challenges and pushes my expectations. Still creating (not just pouring) great cocktails, and the staff has not had much turnover, making for some pleasantly knowledgeable conversations about what is on offer.
One note: the concrete floors do mean that after 730pm on Thursdays through the weekend, it can get quite loud inside. If you want a bit of a quieter cocktail or nosh, I'd recommend coming for lunch or early eve rather than the late-evening rush.
Haven't been yet? Why the heck not?1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/20/2011
Finally, the Heights has a great local gathering spot that makes a great cocktail, and knows that… Read more »
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Review from Aimee P.
Houston, TX
Updated - 4/30/2012
Since my past review I have been back twice. Each time, the service was prompt, professional, and I had no issues whatsoever. The food has been consistent each time, including the time when I gave the bad review.
While, reading from other reviews, I do see there are still some kinks to be worked out, but in all fairness, I am going to bump this place up to 4 stars. I hope the improvements continue! Can't wait for the patio!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/20/2012
After seeing Downhouse on the list of best burgers in town, my husband and I put it on our list to… Read more »
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Review from Jared G.
Chicago, IL
5/23/2012
Easily my favorite quality Cocktail spot. Creative menu that changes seasonally and executes pretty well. Reminds me of a Chicago caliber restaurant...
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Review from Gerardo J.
Houston, TX
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
so far so good :)
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Review from Mal C.
Richmond, TX
5/2/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This is my favorite place in Houston by far! Great food. Great drinks. Enough parking for everyone! ... Even their tap water is awesome! Some say its the best in the city.
My advice is to go with a small group if you're going on a weekend (seating can be difficult) and/or sit at the bar. Good service is guaranteed there. -
Review from Greg D.
Houston, TX
4/5/2012
This is another place you really want to like. The ambience is great, and the beer list is rather small (10 beers or so) but expertly selected.
If you go for drinks, this is a place that deserves 4 or 5 stars. The food, however, is severely disappointing.
First of all, the "Deviled Eggs" are flat out disgusting. In fact, they are not "deviled" at all. They are simply slices of boiled egg served on toast triangles. I mean... really?
On to the entree, the Butternut Squash Risotto is miserably bland. Really the only saving grace on their menu might be their burger, although it is overpriced.
If not for a nice breakfast I had here once (Pork Hash), this place would get one star... despite it's impressive beer selection. That should get my point across about their food.
You can do MUCH better in the Heights for dinner. -
Review from Katherine R.
Houston, TX
3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
I decided to come here after checking out other Yelpers' reviews so thanks y'all! They have a great drink selection of not only alcoholic drinks but also coffee.
I ordered their breakfast taco meal and opted for the vegetarian taco (no eggs!) and another one that had venison in it... totally delicious! Our server did tell us about the vegetarian taco not having eggs in it and I was in a mood where I wanted to try something different so I gave it a shot and was totally satisfied!
I want to come back here for a happy hour or around dinner time to check out the beer selection. The bar looked very well stocked so I'll have to come back here soon to brush up on my beer knowledge and possibly get schooled by the great staff. -
Review from Brent G.
Houston, TX
5/12/2012
The food at this place is definitely awesome! The atmosphere is also a plus, as well as the beers they have rotating on tap. The staff tries to compensate for slow service when busy, but they could still use some improvements. Overall this place is definitely worth checking out and somewhere I will be returning to!
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Review from Brandy C.
This place has definite potential. I came in not sure what to expect because my mom went for brunch and was uber unimpressed, but a complaint from my mom usually makes me want to go and like it more. And you know what? You know. I liked it. And not just because my mom told me I wouldn't.
The place is cute. It is decorated with neat stuff, but not in a forced sort of way like other restaurants and cafes around here that make a big show of being like "Ah we're so whimsical! And we duplicated it and did it here too!" The tables and bars are really nice and I love the little touches, like the library book pocket. It could be annoying, but somehow it wasn't.
I liked the food quite a lot and can't wait to go back. I had a great cup of soup and sandwich and it really made my tummy happy. The menu is full of a wide selection of special and delicious items. I hope this place can stick around, I'd like to hit it up some more. -
Review from Gavin L.
Houston, TX
5/5/2012
Great, creative menu items that changes seasonally. Excellent, well balanced, tasty cocktails. Great ambiance. Great location. Good service. These guys take pride in everything they provide and it shows. This place is a treat.
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Review from Matthew B.
Katy, TX
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Best cappuccino ever! Took a sip, a little bitter, tossed in 1 Splenda packet to sweeten and holy crap!
Was disappointed to see that my breakfast came on a giant bread roll. Just about everything breakfast-y was carb loaded. Would have been nice to subtract bread for another egg. -
Review from Not H.
Houston, TX
4/29/2012
Tried it this afternoon b/c we'd heard the beer selection was good. About 10 beers, so not huge, but a nice selection.
We sat at the bar, and were asked what we wanted. I had started to form a sentence when the bartender just walked off. No explanation. After a few minutes he returned and served, but without even a sorry.
He said that the Heights is a dry area, so he needed to see our IDs. Okay. He then took them and swiped them, both without our permission and explaining what he was doing. Then, after leaving them behind the counter for a while and exposing us to identity theft, he gave them back. Texas has very restrictive laws on ID swiping. What he did was technically mostly okay, except for the major point that this business does not advertise that and does not instruct the employees to advise customers what they are doing before they do it.
Another thing I didn't like might have been my lack of knowledge. But we watched a few drinks being made, and it sure looked like that when the drinks didn't come up high enough in the glass, he filled the rest with tonic or something else not in the drink. Also, the drinks were served sloppily--I saw one with a 1" x 1" icecube sitting outside the glass, which would make it impossible to drink.
So not happy, and will certainly tell others about our experience. -
Review from Kristin W.
Houston, TX
2/20/2012
I stopped in for breakfast Saturday morning and placed an order to go. I was greeted right away at the door and directed to place the order at the bar. A young woman whom I believe was the manager, took my order. She was very friendly. I ordered the chicken and waffles with a side of two fried eggs. After seeing another review about how fresh the eggs were, I had to try them. While waiting for my order, I overheard one waitress mention to another staff member that she had a sick child at home. Having once been a young mother, I know how frustrating it is to be at work when your baby is sick. She had a sick child at home, but still did her job very well and had a smile on her face the whole time. The staff seemed to have a good chemistry which is important. The manager let the woman with the sick child leave which I though was really cool.
The decor is really cool. It has a comfy and cozy feel. Very inviting and relaxing.
The chicken and waffles was delicious and the eggs were to die for. The waffles were dark amber color and tasted like molasses. They almost didn't need syrup. The order came with real maple syrup and whipped cream. Next time I am going for the breakfast tacos, also not your typical tacos. I've never had a breakfast taco with pablano peppers or ghost chili peppers. I hope this place does well. I enjoyed it. -
Review from Ryan L.
2/1/2012 2 Check-ins Here
4* until the bill came, plus service, while friendly, was just not there.
The cocktails were pretty good, though watch out for anything with Campari, they love dumping that shit in.
The food requires a trip back. Fried chicken was top-notch, a head above Max's Wine Dive, and it is on the bone, none of this boneless skinless crap (Looking at you, Lola and Zelko). Green bean salad was well though out and balanced. A charcuterie/cheese place was good; they take the trouble of pairing cheeses and a sweet item.
So, damn, this stuff's expensive. All the stuff listed totaled a C-note even with drink specials. And they had two people staffing a full house. -
Review from Hugh N.
2/23/2012
This place is the prime example of the new wave of hipster restaurants hitting Houston. It is kind of cute but offers no real value in the food. The most positive thing here is that the staff are helpful and attentive.
I had their fried chicken. It is a less delicious cousin of Korean fried chicken. The pieces were slightly burned on the outside but raw on the inside.Despite the fact that I returned the thing, they kept bringing back the raw stuff. It must have resulted from cooking techniques. Well, this is fried chicken 101: slow and low. Take that to heart, then fry some chicken.
I also ordered couple of drinks. The first two were some kinds of coffee cocktails, which did not impress much. Being disappointed but still wanting to get buzzed, I ended up ordering OJ and vodka. With my experience being below average, I don't think I will come back. -
Review from Alvin J.
1/13/2012
Pretty disappointing experience at Down House. Went there on a Thursday night and the place was packed, although we were able to find a spot in their parking lot. I really loved the look and the vibe of the place with all the books and the periodic table on the wall. All cool touches. We sat at the only available table which involved sharing a couch with the next table over. The hostess was extremely nice and personable.
The menu had a list of cocktails that sounded very cool as well as wines. However since it was half off on half-pints special, I wanted a beer. I asked the waiter about the beer selection and he said that all the beers were listed on a blackboard...way the hell over by the bar. I don't expect him to memorize the thing but at least have the beer list handy. We just told him what kind of beer we usually like and then he mentioned a couple of choices. We had to give our driver licenses to him in order to be part of their "club"...due to some dry laws over at the Heights. After 10 minutes we got our license, and somebody else brought the beers over after 5 more minutes. I'm almost dehydrated by this point.
We put in our food order. We got a poutine (fries with gravy and cheese curds...perfect for that New Year's resolution of increasing my cholesterol). I ordered a burger and my fiancee got the fried chicken. The poutine was quite good, although a bit more gravy would have made me happier. The entrees took forever to come out...at least 30 minutes. Stupidly i ordered my burger medium-well. The burger was pretty much nuked to oblivion. The fried chicken was tasty but the mashed potatoes that came with it were bland.
Our waiter disappeared for long stretches of time while our beer glasses remained empty. I wish our waiter put as much effort into service as he did into his outfit.
Consider this a 2.5-star rating. I liked the concept and I liked the place, but the food was forgettable and the service was sloppy. I would probably come back for drinks and that's about it. -
Review from Luke S.
Independence Heights, Houston, TX
1/25/2012
Ok, I like the Hipster concept, but the SERVICE is horrible! Three of us went this past Saturday for brunch. No refills on drinks, unless you hunted someone down or poured it yourself, the food took one hour to come out of the kitchen once ordered, and had to hunt down (yet again) someone to check out! We were there for a total of TWO hours, which should've taken 45 min... MAX.
As for food, we all ordered breakfast tacos which were served cold. Not good. -
Review from Kayley N.
Updated - 1/3/2012 1 photo
WTF...
Seriously, what happened to this place? When it first opened, I wrote a glowing review about how much I loved coming here for breakfast. It's been several months, I came back (thank you Army for taking up all my free time), and I had to walk out it was so bad.
The Hubs suggested we come here for a weekday breakfast. Weekday! Like, it's not even busy so we should be helped right? Wrong. We walked in and the place was not full. There were five tables with people, that's it. We were told to sit anywhere but the tables that were empty had not been cleaned off. Napkins, empty glasses, crumbs everywhere, tables left sticky. We tried to pick the best one with the least amount of eating debris and waited to be helped. And we waited. And we waited. At one point a waitress made eye contact with us but never came over. 15 minutes went by before I went up to someone and asked for water. She apologized and brought some by. Noticing the dirty napkins and empty creamer at our table, she asked if these were ours which clearly they weren't. Kind of gross.
When I got up previously to ask for water, I grabbed two menus. Woah. I know this place serves seasonal fare (which is great!) but they changed some of the best items on the menu. No more muffins (wtf)! No more chicken and waffles (wtf)! 22 minutes since we sat down, someone came over to ask us if we wanted something to drink. The Hubs asked for some coffee but as you may have guessed, it was a no show. 10 minutes after that, he flagged down a waiter and said we were leaving and to cancel his coffee order.
And that my friends is why I won't be coming back here. What started out as something fantastic (it was!) has lost its footing and turned into something gone bad.Listed in: Breakfast Glory
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/20/2011
This is my new favorite Saturday morning breakfast spot. Please don't go because that means there is… Read more »
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Review from Daniel K.
Houston, TX
1/2/2012
I lived in Austin for seven years, so I know what crappy service is all about.
I have heard Down House has fantastic food. I went this morning to try to find out. Sadly, I can't report on the quality of the food, because I sat in the place for 15 minutes and none of the four servers (despite not being terribly busy) could find the time to give me or my wife a menu (we got wine lists instead), much less take a drink order or a food order.
I will probably go back and give it another shot, but still, give me a break. There was no host or hostess at the door. It was unclear to me, a first time visitor, whether it was wait to be seated or seat yourself. Hell, even IHOP has a sign telling you that. Unclear as to whether you order at the counter or wait for someone to take your order. When I asked an employee that question, he told me he was busy and he'd be right back. He came back 5 minutes later with two wine lists instead of a menu.
There were several tables that sat un-bussed for the entire time my wife and I were there this morning. I am hopeful this place has a better run kitchen that its floor, because it was a pathetic mess today.
Worst service I've ever had at any place that served food. Hell, you can't even call it service, since no one even bothered to take my order. -
Review from Michael E.
Sugar Land, TX
2/5/2012
I don't often make the trip to The Heights, but when I do, it's to visit Down House. Located off of Yale, this bar/restaurant provides a cozy environment making it perfect to gather around with some friends and enjoy some beers and good food. If you're of the adventurous type, they offer an assortment of beers that cater to all tastes. The food, is just as appetizing and much better than one would expect from a bar.
I came here with a group of friends on a Saturday night. Reservations were made before hand and are highly advised if you're gonna be a large group since this place fills up. We were placed in a private room off to the side when you enter - greeted by a large table and an assortment of cacti. After looking over the beer menu, I decided to go with a Deep Ellum IPA ($6) to start me off while I looked over the menu. The Deep Ellum has a citrus flavor with a piney aftertaste.
I've heard plenty of great things about their fish tacos (or shrimp tacos on this particular night) and opted to go with an order of those. 2 tacos with a side of black beans ($15) definitely did not disappoint. The shrimp was delicious and the red cabbage with sauce complimented the dish really well. The corn tortillas were not anything special, but overall the meal was great. While I would order these again, they offer an assortment of other dishes I would like to try before ordering another entree of tacos.
The service here is phenomenal. Our waiter offered great advice and attentive service, making sure everyone was nothing short of satisfied. The pricing is a little high (expect to pay about $20/person) but Down House provides a relaxing environment that makes the price worth it. I'm definitely a fan and see myself making my way up to the Heights more often with this little discovery. -
Review from Marisa P.
4/6/2012
Food was good: fried chicken with some type of sesame crust, cheese platter was excellent, salad was fresh and flavorful. The service was a bit spotty. It took awhile to get drinks, and the place wasn't that packed so I don't know what was going on. The beer selection is really good, wine by the glass list is pretty small, cocktails delicious with in-house made syrups. Would visit again, but only if I'm not in a hurry.
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Review from David N.
12/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Like 50 cent said now you're "In the club" was the first statement out of our waiter's mouth after we signed up to be a part of the membership that is down house. It is completely free and basically a work around to allow drinking in this area. It was only funny because the waiter looked exactly like Daniel Faraday from Lost, and it was not expected out of his mouth.
We came here for a late night dinner.
We started our meal off with the deviled eggs. These deviled eggs were not your normal eggs, served three different ways, but all of which were awesome.
As far as our entrees my gf had the fish tacos and I had the fried chicken. WOW, both dishes were spectacular. The fried chicken was a hearty serving sized and filled me up. We also had some of their specialty cocktails.
The Normandy Tart was spectacular with Calvados, allspice dram, orange liqueur, fresh citrus, cinnamon, sugar, apple.
It's a cool, unique little spot. Has a very different atmosphere that makes you feel like you're on the east coast.Listed in: Best American Food, Houston: Best Lounges
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Review from Jan R.
Houston, TX
2/22/2012
I REALLY want to like this place. We've been three times now, since we live very nearby.
1) Two of three times the service was somewhere between poor and ..... weird?... But! our most recent visit, our waitress was very good. I hadn't seen her before.
Odd service moment of the day: We sat at recently vacated table, so the hostess bussed it.... one item at a time?! I think she made 3 trips. It wasn't rude. Just strange... I could go on about prior, "the staff passed the j before lunch rush" experiences, but I will move on. ;)
2) The above is not a big deal for me. Truth is the food disappointing. Great menu, poor execution. My last meal: pulled pork torta. It was 80% cabbage sauerkrat, which was decent kraut. But I was sad about the low amount of pork, and the avocado is just insulting. Too bad because you can tell the chef that came up with this sammy probably made a great sammy.
3) The crux is that I have tried something different every time and not really found something I'd order again. My hub likes the open-faced sandwich/ soup combo, but even that was a disappointment the last time. The tomato bisque had seeds that were chewy/ crunchy and got into my teeth. They weren't there in the past, like maybe they cut the straining process out to save time?
4) Positives: the blood mary,
the coffee drinks [NOT the awful chai],
farm eggs! with yolks nearly orange they are so vitamin-packed.
If there is a next time, I will probably just get eggs and toast. :) -
Review from Sonia T.
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is will be added to the Sunday brunch rotation. It is EGG-CELLENT--LOL
After reading some reviews on the place, we decided to check it out on Sunday. Wandered in around 9, the place was pretty busy, but there was space to be seated.
The atmosphere is hip/funky coffee shop decor, but elevated for growups, not 21 year olds looking to sit around and drink coffee all day on their ipads.
The service was great, very quick and friendly. The menu had a good variety of eggs, chicken and waffles, and breakfast tacos.
The coffee alone, I would go back for! French press, very fresh, and DELIGHTFUL! $2.
The breakfast tacos with pulled pork and a fried egg were heaven, I ordered the plate that came with black beans for $10-and could barely finish half! DE LISH!
The bf ordered the wheat waffles, as a Northerner he was baffled why one would eat fried chicken at 9a.m., and I gave up the argument.
The place is a great way to spend a Sunday brunch, and has a good vibe/energy about it. The prices were extremely reasonable, and without a doubt I would go back. -
Review from Natalie T.
Houston, TX
2/18/2012
Love this place! Down House is beautiful and cozy, complete with both amazing food and drinks. The menu boasts unusual, impressive craft cocktails and dishes that change seasonally. I've enjoyed every cocktail I've ordered, my favorites being the lavender-infused Queen B, Whiskey-based Autumn Joe, and their version of a Pimm's Cup. The Fried Chicken is my favorite dish here. I have to admit that I've made the trek to the Heights just because some serious cravings were kicking in. (More than once) :)
I'm surprised by the negative staff reviews; perhaps they've updated their staff recently, but I've always had friendly, attentive servers and been greeted by a hostess.
Overall, it's a little pricey, but certainly worth it. -
Review from Colleen L.
Houston, TX
3/27/2012
Loved the ambience & cocktails. A little pricy, but we had a good time. We had heard the service was a little slow, so we made sure to go when we were not in a hurry. The food menu was not very exciting, but my dinner (risotto) was very good. My guest had the steak which was pretty fatty. Considering the price, we thought it would have been a better quality. I heard their burgers and breakfast is pretty good, so I will have to try that next. We ended with their coffee and desserts which transformed the evening. We ordered a cappuccino and double espresso, both were impressive. My guest thought it was the best cappuccino he had ever had. The croissant bread pudding was rich and delicious. I would go back just for that. I would definately recommend to someone looking for a new spot for good classic cocktails & craft beers, or just coffee and desserts. I would probably skip dinner.
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Review from Tien T.
2/16/2012 2 Check-ins Here
after seeing this place on the yelp email, i had to make the trip. not a very long trip from school, i stopped by the heights to see the what the hubbub was about.
despite the other reviews about lackluster service, i was actually helped by some awesome waitresses. seated in the nice comfy booth, i got my menu and a nice cup of the french vanilla cappuccino. they pulled a heart on the top of my coffee, adorable! since it was still in the realm of breakfast time, i went ahead and had the breakfast torta. oh boy it was good.
breakfast torta (sandwhich) had pulled pork, red cabbage(pickled?), locally fried egg, and their special sauces (i forget.)
now the pork was good and the sandwich was the BOMB (dont worry, we're not in an airport), but the one thing that stood out to me was the fried egg. now fried eggs are awesome anywhere, but from here, theyre FRESH. and i mean so fresh the yolk is ORANGE. (yeah, reevaluate the yellow yolks you get at home, its not fresh eggs my boy. sorry) the egg tasted heavenly, the way eggs are meant to be.
my waitress was helpful and alert, didnt forget or skip me at all. the bill came clamped inside a DARWANISM book, which i found pretty funny. its a good place to sit back and relax, grab some nice fresh good food. btw, free wifi! :) -
Review from Diane Y.
12/19/2011
Disregard the whole Twitter fiasco that happened here, and this place can be a pretty cool hang out. Laid back but with a pretty solid (but small) menu, Down House does not disappoint. The menu changes quite often, so some favorites from your first visit may not be available on your second visit. Whomp whomp. Nonetheless, the food is still good. My go-to dish is the fried chicken which is crunchy and tasty with a touch of honey. Chicken and waffles are great if available (I believe this is a standard brunch item, but very rarely on the dinner menu). I haven't really had anything else, but no one in my group had any complaints on their dishes.
The restaurant has a full bar with suggested cocktails on their menu. There's also plenty of craft beers available. Be sure to ask about their specials for the night. They're also written on their board at the bar, but it may be hard to see depending on where you're sitting. This place is worth a shot to check out if you're in the mood for something new. -
Review from Kari M.
12/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a cool place. I love the vibe here. The decorations are really chill and yet sort of fancy at the same time. Beautiful leather booths, old antique tables and cool finds. I felt like I was in a secret club, especially when they asked for my ID to put into the system since it's technically a dry part of the city.
The prices were really decent for the brunch menu. $3 mimosas? Yes please! The food was also really delicious. The Down Breakfast was yummy, eggs, potatoes, and DELICIOUS bacon....seriously, some of the best bacon I've had in a very long time. Every was fresh. I think that everything they have on the menu is raised in the area, which makes it much more appealing to me.
I loved the music selection playing as well. It was a lot of really chill indie music that I don't get to hear at most places. I also thought it was cool that there was a lot of parking, and plenty of places to sit. I will definitely be going back to Down House....although I will say, if you are in a hurry, don't go here. They are really laid back and it took a bit longer to eat and be served than we anticipated. -
Review from Greg C.
Houston, TX
11/26/2011
Finally tried Down House last night and I was generally not overly impressed. The ambiance was great and the selection of unique artisan cocktails & draft beers was decent, but the place runs very short on value. The drinks were all priced over $10 and were poured very short.
I had the burger with slab bacon and an egg, but the bacon was way undercooked and the egg was equally over-cooked. The medium rare ordered burger was predictably served medium well. In a city with great gourmet burgers, this $15 selection was well below average (I recommend the Kobe burger at the Mockingbird Bistro - the $9 burger ordered at the bar versus the $28 one at the table).
My wife had the kale and feta salad which was quite good, however, they attempted to charge us $13 for what was listed at $8 on the menu. They did correct it without hesitation.
There are so many other better restaurants in the Heights where you can spend at Down House prices and get a better value & experience (i.e., Stella Sola or the Glass Wall). And Onion Creek, though a different atmosphere, is a far greater value for a good burger.
Lastly, the whole specialty cocktail thing is a cool trend, but if you want to be like Anvil, well then you have to be Anvil. -
Review from Georgia S.
Houston, TX
10/30/2011
We stopped by 4pm Sunday for food but the website is not current. On the website it indicates that after 3pm, dinner service is available. When we come, the waiter informs us that brunch is over and dinner service is not available until 6pm. All he can offer us is the bar menu, which consisted of cheese or meats, and 1 type of hamburger.
Atmosphere is cute but maybe we'll just return for coffee. It seems like dessert would be great, but I didn't see it on the website. -
Review from Margo S.
Austin, TX
10/9/2011
Oh, Downhouse. I really, really wanted to love you. I read the mixed reviews on Yelp and Eater and thought "Oh, but the brunch sounds so good, and things have probably changed!" Sadly, I was wrong.
All of the service problems I'd heard about were definitely still issues. The waitstaff was not only inconsistent and slow but unfriendly as well. I'm all for European-style relaxed dining experiences... but this wasn't it. Glass bottles for water are a lovely aesthetic choice, but not super practical for tables larger than 2, so we were usually asking for more water. No one came around with fresh coffee until we asked. And one dish came out 10 minutes after the others. The coffee (pressed? brewed? not sure) was warm and almost bitter. (I wish I had ordered a latte, because the attention to espresso drinks looked great.)
The food was pretty good. I love seeing all of the local suppliers, even though it inflated the prices a bit. I really loved the Gouda Sandwich (gouda + chevre cheese with tomato, avocado and a fried egg on really good bread). Definitely don't order the side of fruit. We got 2 strawberries, 1 blackberry, 4 pieces of watermelon and "melon water" (watermelon juice?) for $5. Ridiculous.
However, the interior alone is one of the best in Houston and makes for a great atmosphere. Whenever I was sad about the service, I admired the pretty old German science posters, pretty booths and nice lighting. If anything, I'd skip the food service and go back for a drink at the bar. -
Review from Natasha G.
Houston, TX
10/15/2011
Went here last night with the bf after work and WOW! everything was delicious!
I got a specialty cocktail I forgot what it's actual name is :( but it started with an "N" and was on the House specialties page, 2nd from the bottom. haha
It was really good, and different! May I also add pretty & cute!
We ordered
The Deviled Eggs:
3 different crispy yet soft french bread half slices topped with 3 sliced deviled eggs, each with a different sauce and garnish. This was the most different order of deviled eggs we've had. Normally when we order this it's the plain & simple kind. This had some extra effort.
The Fried Chicken with mashed potatoes and salad:
So good! the chicken was so tender and the breading not too thick and overwhelming. It tasted like the chicken was marinated so it had a lot of flavor to it. Of course mashed potatoes are good because.... they are mashed potatoes end of story. The salad was good, I enjoyed the dressing and it also had some type of nuts in it.
The Grouper Fish Tacos (2 tacos) with salsa dressing on the side with a bowl of black beans with a dab of sour cream.
Very tasty and a good amount of fish per taco. I enjoyed them. the black beans were also good as well, They were really soft yet not smashed together.
The service was very nice and welcoming throughout the evening. Our waiter at the beginning was super nice, helpful, and had some humor. Towards the end of our visit, we were checked on by 2 other people who were both very nice and welcoming as well.
They have to take your drivers license & have you sign a little something to "get into the club." So if you're not into doing that at all, then don't come until your willing. It's not a big deal, unless you're afraid and have warrants for your arrest or something. lol
Love it! -
Review from Janna L.
11/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I like the concept of Down House- bar/coffee house/restaurant hybrid. Anything goes! Perfect pretty much for any time of the day. Unfortunately, I wish I had a better experience there.
The inside is cute. It's a little vintage-y and themed, but not overdone. I went for breakfast and as usual, started off with a cup of coffee. Their coffee is all French-pressed, which means it's a little (ok, A LOT) darker than your average cup of Joe. After using the standard amount of creamer, it still looked black to me.
I ordered the smoked salmon and spinach omelet for breakfast, and when she told me it came with a side salad, I wasn't convinced. Salad for breakfast? Hm, no thanks. I went with a side of bacon instead. When the food came out, I was initially disappointed in the omelet. The spinach wasn't cooked, so it just sort of fell out of the omelet. The eggs were dense and too heavy- I prefer mine much fluffier.
But the bacon? O.M.G. All three stars in this review are dedicated to Down House's bacon. It's perfection. Thick, crispy and soft at the same time (how is that even possible?!), and perfectly sweet. When my date and I finished our meal, we ordered a second round of bacon. Turns out the side of bacon (2 strips) costs $4, but I would have paid even more.
Yeahh, the bill was way overpriced for breakfast. Especially when Lola is right down the street and kills Down House in terms of value. But if you do go, please get the bacon. You will not regret this, and in fact, you might even get addicted.Listed in: Highest Rated Heights
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Review from Monica K.
9/15/2011
This place is super duper cool inside, but MAN do they have some problems! First off, beware if you're going for breakfast, because the "morning" menu posted online is actually a weekend brunch menu. The actual breakfast menu has like 4 things on it, and they were "out of" two of them (no pulled pork). bummer.
Second, food takes FOR-EVER to come out of the kitchen, even if you're the only people there. And we are not talking fancy food here, people. I'm talking eggs. 40 minutes, really?!
Third, service. Holy space cadet. Our waitress was early-season Phoebe meets Lady in the Water, 16 y/o edition. Yikes. -
Review from Julie P.
Houston, TX
1/21/2012
I want to recommend this place, but they present so many deal-breakers that I just can't do it. That said, I'll definitely go back.
I don't live in Houston, so when a marathon or parade blocks my comfortable route, I just submit and go wherever I can get. This is how I wound up in the Heights early on a recent Saturday morning without a real destination and stumbled upon Downhouse. They must've just opened, because I was the first one in. The server told me that all the pork stuff was great and that they have wonderful coffee, so I should get an espresso drink (but, what about the coffee? that was a little confusing - whatever). I don't eat meat, so I got the taco with ghost pepper jack cheese. My bro recently told me an exciting story about the magic of ghost peppers, and I was ready to go to war with the spiciness. Unfortunately, it wasn't even hot. In fact, it was a little bland, even though I poured the entire thingy of salsa on it. The novelty of the ghost pepper cheese made up for my disappointment at the lack of fire, and I was actually happy with my taco. I had brunch plans at 9 so couldn't really eat too much, but I was starving and had to have a bite. One taco turned out to be the perfect amount of food to help suspend me between hangry and full for my brunch date. The coffee was okay coffee. I guess maybe the espresso really was what the server meant to brag about? But really, I'm not knocking the coffee - I was super happy to have it. It seemed like as soon as there were 2 tables in the place (me and one other), the server just decided that I had been there too long and stopped visiting me, even though I needed coffee, water, and my check. Then the place got super packed, and I had to really advocate for myself. But no big whoop. I was happy with my experience and actually....
...went back that night with my parents for dinner. Again, the place was pretty empty when we got there at some early hour. One dude had his bare feet up on the booth across from where he was sitting, which appalled my mother and made me kind of wonder if he was a plant to give the place "character." The service was promising at first but when downhill really really quickly. The server kept saying ridiculous things that made me feel sorry for him, like a horrible date that should just be ended abruptly to salvage the night. Anyway, the service was beyond horrible. We even tried to appeal to other staff people who weren't assigned to our table, but nobody seemed to give a flip about (any of the things that you need and expect when you go to a restaurant). My stepdad is a real meat-and-potatoes guy who got the fried chicken and mashed potatoes and loved it. It was all he could do to not also order the charcuterie, but my mom scolded him about all the fat and he backed down. Mom got the fish tacos and liked them. She's kind of a fish taco lover, and she was complimentary about these but probably only because she is a polite Southern woman. I don't think they blew her away. I got the kale salad and - wow - was I disappointed. I want to assure you that I eat kale - usually in its raw form in a huge bowl by itself - probably three times a week. I know what kale tastes like. I know lots of ways to prepare it. I like and am very familiar with kale. So when it's on a menu (so rare), I flip and order it, no matter what. This was almost inedible. It was dripping with vinegar, for one. I don't need to go on about all the ways that it could've been saved or done right or....it was just horrible horrible. I would not have let that kale leave the kitchen. I can't believe they were serving it to people. Then again, I might've been the only one who ordered it. When the server asked how our food was, I decided to give him a chance to redeem himself, so I told him about my kale situation. He acted sympathetic and said he was going to try it himself and report back, but we were there for another hour and a half, and I heard nothing. My kale was sent back to the kitchen relatively untouched, with no offer or condolence or anything. I should also say that I *hate* to waste food and will eat almost anything. It broke my heart into a million pieces to leave that kale on my plate, but I just couldn't do it. My mom ordered some kind of dessert wine, and the server explained the concept of dessert wine to her as if she had never ventured beyond Bud Lite. My mom absolutely knew what she was ordering, and the server once again just made himself look bad unnecessarily. I ordered the bread pudding, which I split with my stepdad, and we both liked it, but I wasn't beside myself with delight. All of the cocktails looked delicious, and I want someone to take me on a date here - during off hours so we *might* get decent service. Really, the service was so terrible that it was the center of our experience, and I doubt my parents will ever go back there. I don't blame them.
Somehow, I'm going to try it again, but I think I'm crazy for doing it. -
Review from Jodi M.
11/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
So I have now been to Down House twice and was really debating whether or not to give it 3 or 4 stars but after last week, im giving it a 3.
The atmosphere is really cool and different. I almost feel like I am in an old school house-there is free wifi, its nice, quiet, and big (so never hard to find a table). Plus, they have their own lot for parking. The menu had changed since the first time I went in and they didn't have the BLT I had been thinking about...all day! So, I ended up splitting a cheese plate with my boss which was really good. It was a nice snack and we were able to combine 3 cheeses of our choice. It came with slices of slightly toasted bread, apple slices, and raisins.
The only thing that sucks here is the service. It took forever to get anything ordered or delivered (both times). At one point I ordered a peach tea, but it was definitely a raspberry tea and when I said something she didn't do anything about it.
Im gonna give it one more try, hopefully the third times a charm:)Listed in: Coffee Spots
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Review from Matt R.
2/29/2012
I'm a fan of Downhouse. I like the style, I like the drink selection, and I like the food. Breakfast is what I would recommend the most here - the bacon and eggs were gone almost as soon as the plate hit the table and the latte had the leaf design in it in addition to being one of the best I've had outside of Europe!
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Review from Nate E.
Houston, TX
3/14/2012
Only 1 reason I do not give DH 5 stars:
1. Service. Servers are fairly courteous (hit or miss), however very disorganized. It takes a long time for the waiters to make it to your table, and they seldom come back. They are also presumptuous that you know what you want (which for me is OK b/c I know the place well), so they don't offer suggestions unless prompted. This can be disorienting to newcomers.
Otherwise, DH is an outstanding establishment in the Heights and it's our go-to when we have friends in from out of town.
