The '401 — Restaurant in Bellaire

I recently had the pleasure of dining at The ‘401, a remarkable American restaurant, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. I was on a tight schedule with only a few minutes to spare before my next meeting, but The ‘ 401 exceeded my expectations in both the quality of food and the efficiency of service.

As soon as I walked in, I was greeted warmly by the friendly staff, who made me feel right at home. The ambiance of the restaurant is inviting, with a perfect blend of modern decor and traditional Mediterranean elements that create a cozy and relaxed atmosphere.

The menu offers a wide variety of Mediterranean dishes, each sounding more delicious than the last. I decided to try the falafel wrap, accompanied by a fresh Greek salad and a side of hummus. The food arrived promptly, and I was immediately impressed by the presentation. The colors and aromas were tantalizing, and I could tell that a lot of care had gone into the preparation.

The falafel wrap was absolutely delightful – crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside, with a perfect balance of spices. The Gyro pita with the Greek salad was fresh and crisp, with juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, and a generous amount of feta cheese. The hummus was creamy and smooth, with just the right amount of garlic and lemon. Each bite was a burst of Mediterranean goodness.

What stood out the most was the impeccable timing. Despite my tight schedule, I was able to enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal without feeling rushed. The efficiency of the service was truly commendable, allowing me to savor every bite and still make it to my next meeting on time.

The ‘401 not only provided a delicious meal but also a wonderful dining experience. The combination of excellent food, friendly service, and inviting atmosphere makes it a standout restaurant. I highly recommend The ‘401 to anyone looking for authentic Mediterranean cuisine served with a smile. I will definitely be returning to explore more of their delectable menu.

Thank you, The ‘401, for a memorable dining experience and for accommodating my schedule so seamlessly. This restaurant is a true gem, and I can't wait to...

Rarely do I have the misfortune of experiencing a meal at a place that fails so miserably to have both terrible service and terrible food. Usually one will at least be decent enough to make up for the other. 401 managed to miss both.

I walked in to the host area, looked for a seat yourself sign, didn't see one, so I waited for someone to come and seat me. A waiter comes up after a while, and straight away starts entering orders into the computer at the station. Doesn't even acknowledge me. He goes back, runs some menus to some people that were waiting. Comes back, doesn't even look at me. Runs back again to some lady that wants to place an order. Comes back, doesn't look at me and starts entering her order. I want to stress that I am a pretty patient man. I get it if you're super busy, but it came to a point where I only waiting to see if he would ever acknowledge me. All I ever wanted was a little reassurance that things were going to be okay. I had a vision at one point where I saw myself, abandoned near the entrance, starved to death. Still spurned by the waiter. I finally say 'excuse me' and he just holds up a hand. A freakin hand. Finally he asks if I needed anything. YEAH, DUDE. I want to be seated!

I finally got seated at the bar. The bartender was great, though. Nice and personable. He took my order and they brought it out to me in a pretty quick way. The fries were nicely seasoned, but soggy and soft. Bleh. They came with The Crispy Chicken. I'm pretty sure they burnt it because it was very dark brown, not golden. It is a fried chicken of the spicy variety, so I wasn't sure if the spicy batter would make it darker. I gave that a dubious pass. However the spiciness drowned out all the other flavors of the sandwich. At this point I just wanted to leave. I'd have cried into my fries, but they were soggy...

The ‘401 Table and Tap

“Airy, informal gathering place with indoor & outdoor areas, dispensing cocktails, wine & bar snacks.”

Here’s what I ordered ⬇️:

🔶 BAKED GOAT CHEESE. Topped with your choice of homemade bacon jam or crumbled candied walnuts and dried apricots and served with a toasted baguette. $14

🔷 PARMESAN-CRUSTED RAINBOW TROUT. Crispy, pan-seared rainbow trout served with sweet chili-glazed Brussels sprouts and sun-dried tomato-lemon pasta. $24 🤔 I prefer a little more seasoning on my fish and pasta but these were still good.

Here’s what I thought 💭:

✅ Free, easy, and convenient parking 🅿️ in a strip mall like surface lot ✅ Good customer service. I was greeted promptly and the staff were attentive. Ashley was my server. The manager Keyonna welcomed me introduced herself. Mary also checked on me throughout my visit and they all were great. ✅ Good food ✅ Food was prepared and delivered to my table quickly ✅ Great price point - affordable ✅ Variety of menu options including gluten free, vegan and vegetarian dishes ✅ Good portion sizes ✅ Full bar and kitchen ✅ Indoor and outdoor seating (including covered area) ✅ Clean ✅ Cozy ✅ Family friendly ✅ Spacious ✅ Offers catering ✅ I recommend and plan to return

At the time of posting, I dined here once on Tuesday August 6, 2024 around 2:30 pm EST.

📍6700 Ferris...