I called Houston’s and asked if we needed a reservation. They said for parties larger than four we don’t take reservations. When we showed up at 8:30 PM at night they said the wait is somewhere around 50 minutes. We went across the street to the Gulfstream since it is also owned by the Hillstone Restaurant Group. We were seated immediately.
The entrance and waiting area is badly designed. There is no seating for the waiting guests and the hostess doesn’t have a desk, except at the end of the bar. An unused, unopened Grand Piano sits off to the side where I would put seating, behind it hangs one of the most hideous paintings I’ve ever seen.
The hostess has seated us in the bar area because she seems to be doing her best to keep people out of the terribly designed waiting room. We were not given the choice of where we would sit.
Drew is our server he’s very nice and attentive. He offers suggestions without us asking and is personable in his presentation of the specials. Specials include Oysters which Drew insists are in season despite what the menu says. Lousianna Red Fish, Simple Salmon, and Snapper. He also points out the Hawaiin Rib Eye even though it’s on the menu.
My date orders 4 Heavenly Biscuits at $3 per order. They taste great and Drew offers some advice about using the honey to make them taste even better. I order and ice tea and she orders water, which comes in an old style milk jug with two small glasses. Great idea so servers don’t have to waste time filling water glasses. I also liked the Lighthouse shaped pepper shakers.
Drew comes around again and we haven’t decided on our order. He’s fine with this and comes back after about five minutes. My date orders Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes for $32. I order the Hawaiian Rib Eye for $32 on Drew’s recommendation and because I had my mind set on steak this evening.
The bar fills up while we wait for our food.
Our food comes and we tuck in. My Rib Eye is perfectly grilled and firm as a Rib Eye should be. The teriyaki coating blends nicely with the perfectly medium rare steak. The dish comes with a Baked Potato and I ordered it with everything Bacon, Sour Cream, Chives and Cheese, Parmesan I think, a nice touch.
My dates dish however is a different story.
Remember she ordered the crab cakes. Drew said he had been told they are the best crab cakes on the west coast. I assure you this is not true. They taste horribly fishy and are tossed on the plate with peppers soaked in oil but never cooked and plain old coleslaw. The only bright spot of the whole dish is the sauce covering the crab cakes.
As I eat my way through the Rib Eye I realize the steak came with a two ounce blob of fat right in the middle.
The bar is filling up and it’s getting crowded. As an Industrial Engineer I can see flow was not taken into consideration when designing the restaurant. Customers walk in right next to the kitchen so it feels like you’re walking in the backdoor. It’s not a welcoming entrance.
Drew asks us if we want dessert and we ask for our bill. It’s delivered in a timely fashion and far to expensive for the experience we’ve had. My date doesn’t want to come back.
I used the bathroom after we payed and can I just say the televisions with a carwash and rushing water in the men’s bathroom are not a nice addition.
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