Great! So much better than March!
My boyfriend took me here to celebrate my birthday. We both got their tasting menu with wine pairings. The food was exceptional and so was the service. Both our server and the sommelier were awesome. The food is a work of art and tells a story. The whole experience was an absolute delight and we can’t wait to return. Easily my favorite restaurant in Houston.
when we first came in, it was a nice experience, host and hostess were nice.Was then visibly judged by the server, Noah, because we wanted to share the $165 seasonal expression rather than getting 3 courses a la carte because we wanted to try the food first before ordering more than 1 plate of it. Then, when the bread came out, the person explaining each bread stated “if you know what that is,” which came off as rude and condescending. Made the whole experience awkward and unpleasant.Best dish was the risotto, absolutely delicious and would come back just for that. We got the wagyu beef in place of the lamb. When you first cut the steak, it was so tough, the table started shaking. Eating the seared crust of the steak and inner piece together, it was good. But eating solely the outside, it tasted burnt and it ruined our appetite.The gentlemen who were bringing out the food, were polite and pleasant.+ 1 star for risotto. +1 for plating, very beautiful
Le Jardiniere is a nice upscale restaurant. My wife and I parked in the garage for the glassell building. We didn't see any dedicated (free) parking for restaurant guests. While our reservation was for 6pm, we finished exploring the museum a bit early and the restaurant opened somewhere between 5:15pm and 5:30pm. Even though we got there 30min early, they sat us down right away. The table arrangements were fine, but I wouldn't recommend this place for large groups. The round table design seemed awkward for the large groups sitting near us. Service was excellent! Our server was the best. Very friendly and helpful, looking out for what was best for us. The sommelier was good, giving us some personalized wine pairings to go with our a la carte food selections. Out of the dishes we had, the stand outs were the burrata and the steak. My wife and I both agreed we'd go sit at the bar and order both of those with a glass of wine any time and be happy. They both had that 'melt in your mouth' quality to them. Of the dishes we had, the halibut was a bit underwhelming. It was a little salty and over cooked. We passed the feedback along to the staff so hopefully that won't be an issue in the future. The desserts were delicious as you'd expect. This was one of the most expensive meals I've ever had. I only mention that so if you do choose to partake, be prepared. If you share dishes and skip alcohol, it could be affordable. But in general, this is a pricey restaurant.
Everything is good!
Le Jardinière is one of the finest ~ of not the finest- restaurants in Houston, you can tell that behind each amazing dish, stands the pedigree of a Michelin starred Chef! Nous aimons le jardiniere!
This is a tough review to write. The creative culinary options such as what Le Jardinier offers are not easily found in the Houston area. BCN is the closest.This is an ultra chic atmosphere, one I’d expect to find in Manhattan or Los Angeles. From the moment you step through the doors and are greater by the hostess, you realize this is not a typical dining experience. I was surprised there is no dress code and people were dining in jeans and tennis shoes. Adding a dress code would help to elevate the atmosphere.My friend and I ordered our cocktails, I had the gin and tonic and when one component is added it turns colors. It’s a fun party trick but not one I need to have repeated. We did not opt for the tasting menus but instead ordered the burrata cheese, creamy delicate texture and paired perfectly with watercress pistou and slivers of strawberries. One of the highlights of the menu. Secondly we had the scallops. This dish was inspired by the MC Esher exhibit at the museum. Scallops were cooked perfectly, the flavors were delicate and not over powering. Third, we opted for the beet salad over faro. This was the least impressive dish of the evening. We still ate it but did not care for the overpowering faro with the beets. For the entrees we started with the risotto. This was outstanding. Light and layered with many flavors. Lastly we had the wagyu beef. Our absolute favorite dish of the evening. The slices of beef were seasoned and cooked perfectly.While the food was outstanding, the service was less than so. We averaged 20-30 minutes between each dish. I’ve had a 22 course meal that took 3 hours. The staff was not attentive to the details such as water glasses needing refilled and my friend waiting to catch a servers eye for another glass of wine. While the food is superb, the service will be the death of Le Jardinier. The staff needs some guidance and training. For the cost of the meal, expectations are higher than normal.
PHENOMENAL!We went here for my birthday celebration.If you live in Houston, I'd definitely recommend you to give a visit. They are located within Museum of Fine Arts, so if you wanna enjoy Houston museums on Free Thursdays and treat yourself. I can't say enough how much I enjoyed their food and fantastic service.All the staffs were very professional, friendly and well dressed. Especially our server Elvio was a total rockstar! He was very professional and knowledgeable. You can see he has real passion for his customers and the food he is serving. He really took his time to introduce the restaurant and engaged with us to make our dining experience wholesome.We both left this place with full belly and heart. This place really made my birthday celebration special.The interior has relaxing yet vibrant green color theme. Feels like you are sitting in the museum's secret garden. If you wear something like hot pink dress or light purple you'll be really popping.Highly recommend this place for romantic dates, celebrations & just if you wanna quick gateway from those hipster restaurants now rampant among fine dining restaurants.Please make reservations to have full experience. Don't let that $100 No-Show Fee scare you away. As long as you communicate any changes before your reservation time, it won't be a hassle.
Came for dinner and it was excellent. You can either do a la carte or the seasonal expression but not both. We chose the a la carte and got the cured hiramasa and scallops for apps and the chestnut and ricotta agnolotti and green chicken for entrees. Everything was so flavorful. Before the food, they bring out a small glass with kale, fennel, ginger, and apple juice to clear the palate and an assortment of gluten free bread and olive oil which I thought was tasty. Overall a great experience
Great place to finish museum experience. Great food, great presentation - piece of culinary art! Cocktail bar is wonderful - sophisticated tastes and beautifully presented. Definitely coming back!