Le Petit Chef - Houston — Local services in Houston

The set dinner for two with 2 beers, a bottle of water and 1 non-alcoholic cocktail was almost exactly $500 after tax and (mandatory) tip. This puts Le Petit Chef very firmly in the fine dining category, price-wise, so I will be comparing them to other fine dining experiences.

Ambiance / Experience

The event takes place in a small but nicely decorated private dining room. The tables are set for 4 so if you’re a couple, expect to be share your table with another couple you do not know.

The show is fun, projectors above the table show short animated movies before each course. Apart from when we first sat down, the plates were never placed correctly, they were within maybe an inch of the right place, but for fine dining where plate placement is key to the experience I would expect the staff to take the extra 3 seconds to place it precisely.

Before each of the animations one of the waiters explains what we are about to eat next course. The person presenting was totally disinterested, speaking so fast it was hard to hear what he was saying and in a complete monotone. It was clear he wanted to be anywhere else.

Food

The food was…. Fine. Bland, unimaginative but fine. If you’ve ever had a corporate event with a meal at a nice hotel (Christmas party or similar) you know what I mean.

The first course was seafood soup. It was fine, the broth was a little under seasoned but otherwise fine. There was a good selection of seafood and it was fresh. This is served at the same time as the bread. You get exactly 1 Sysco bulk bread roll each, not fresh.

The second course was a Burrata salad. A ball of Burrata on one side of the plate and small selection of mixed leafy greens and dressing. A basic salad.

The third course was chicken roulade. The chicken was moist but under seasoned.

Fourth course was “ribeye”. I have no reason to think it wasn’t a ribeye cut but we were served a steak about 1/8 inch thick and slightly small. This did explain why no one asked how we would like out steak cooked, at least. Also there was no attempt to sear it or give it grill marks. This steak was uniform grey. It was fine in tenderness and taste, about what I’d expect if I ordered from Texas Roadhouse but I'd be horrified if I were served this at a real steakhouse.

The dessert was Crème Brule Cheesecake. This was a decent but completely standard cheesecake. They had sprinkled some sugar on top and flamed it to give it the crispy crust that a crème brule is served with.

Service

Where to start? As mentioned the experience starts with doors opening and you being left to yourself to find your table. Once we were seated we were offered still, sparkling or tap water and that’s the last interaction we had with the wait staff that they initiated for the whole meal.

Nobody offered anything to drink other than the water so I asked a passing waiter if I could see the drink menu. His response was, “well what do you want to drink?”… I told him maybe a beer so he bought me a drink menu. No one came back to take our order so while the first course was being served I asked our server if I could please order some drinks, she said she can take the order. The menu listed under draft beer options only Modelo and “rotational”. I asked what the rotational is and she had no idea what rotational means but said she’d find out. She went away and the main waiter told me there was no rotational draft, only Bud, Miller Lite and Michelob. So there was absolutely no relationship between the beer on the menu and what they actually had. In the, “Cans and bottles” section they listed rotationals for 5 local breweries. He said they didn’t have rotational in cans or bottles either. I chose a Shiner because it’s easy, luckily they did have that.

The lady in the couple sharing our table asked him a question about wine and he simply replied, “I don’t know”. She ended up going with house red...

Le Petit Chef, nestled within the elegant InterContinental Houston, offers a dining experience that transcends the traditional meal. From the moment you step into the dedicated dining space, you are immersed in a world of whimsical storytelling and culinary artistry. The ambiance, seamlessly integrated into the hotel's sophisticated setting, speaks to the high standards upheld by the InterContinental brand. A special note of commendation must be given to Hotel Manager and host, Sameh Nawar. His exceptional hospitality and engaging presence elevated the evening, ensuring every guest felt welcomed and entertained. Mr. Nawar and his associate’s dedication to creating a memorable experience was evident throughout the meal. The dining experience itself is a multi-sensory journey, featuring a unique blend of projected animation and meticulously crafted dishes. The five-course menu was nothing short of fantastic, each plate a testament to the chef's creativity and skill. The seafood soup, in particular, stood out with its rich, nuanced flavors and perfectly executed ingredients. Each course was a delightful surprise, and the intermittent animated shows were seamlessly woven into the meal, providing engaging entertainment that complemented the culinary offerings. The uniqueness of Le Petit Chef lies in its ability to transform a dinner into a theatrical performance. The combination of innovative technology and gourmet cuisine created an unforgettable experience. The dishes were not only delicious but also visually stunning, reflecting a level of artistry that is rarely seen in traditional dining settings. It is worth noting that the wine pairings, while expertly curated, are offered at an additional cost. While the overall experience justifies the investment, guests should be aware of this separate charge when planning their evening. In conclusion, Le Petit Chef at the InterContinental Houston is a must-try for anyone seeking a truly unique and entertaining dining experience. The combination of exceptional food, captivating entertainment, the warm hospitality of Sameh Nawar and his team made this a truly memorable event.

✨Highly recommended for special occasions and those looking to indulge in a...

I had heard of Le Petit Chef for awhile and was really excited to experience it. Overall, I did not feel like it was worth the $600 for a meal for 2 with one shared wine pairing. The food: this was the best part. Other reviews had said otherwise so I was nervous but I liked everything aside from the steak, which was chewy. My boyfriend’s steak came out medium when ordered medium rare. But the rest was very flavorful. The wine pairing wasn’t worth it. I don’t consider myself a wine snob but couldn’t finish any of them.

Service/ experience: this did not live up to a $600 experience. Basically there’s a little skit lasting a couple minutes before each meal. I would think for this amount of money the timing should be impeccable. But no. We saw the skit then would wait 5-10 minutes for the food to arrive. And then when you’re halfway done eating, the wine pairing would arrive. And then you’d wait until the entire group is done eating and do it again. It’s weird to me that the wine was not delivered in that down time at least. I was hoping the skit with the chef would last the entire experience but the projections just remained still while you ate. Considering this was a premade skit, I don’t feel like the experience was what it could have been. To make matters worse, a 20% gratuity was included already- which effectively makes the staff unlikely to strive for great service.

If you’re looking for a few cute videos for Instagram and a decent meal and willing to pay $300 a person for that, this is your place. Otherwise I’d save the money for better food and entertainment. I usually don’t review but wished I had seen a review like mine before committing to this. Perhaps that’s why the deposit is...