Backstreet Cafe — Restaurant in Houston

Today we went to backstreet for a late lunch/early dinner, it was Saturday afternoon around 4:30 PM. They offered to seat us inside, but the space inside around the bar area seemed cramped and the table they showed us was terribly small (my wife and I like to sit close, not across from each other at a skinny little table). I asked if we could sit at a different table and they offered to seat us outside on the patio....

It was a beautiful day today and the patio was very nice. It was comfortable and breezy, and our table was shaded by an umbrella. The atmosphere was perfect for a lovely romantic meal.

My wife picked a wine from the impressive selection, and I tried the house Sangria. The Sangria was just a slight bit tart for my taste, but most folks will probably like it. My wife's wine was much to her liking.

For appetizers we shared the fried green tomato salad and the bacon-wrapped quail. Both were lovely and nicely presented. We enjoyed the variety of flavors that seemed to pair very well with our drinks. The salad was lightly dressed, allowing the flavors of the arrugula, fried green tomatoes, nuts, and bleu cheese crumbles to come through. The bacon wrapped qual had stronger flavors of smokey salted meat, and was served with some cheese grits and a corn bread biscuit (that was either called corn pudding or a biscuit, I can't remember).

My wife had the shellfish risoto and I had the crispy duck for our entrees. Both were well presented and nicely prepared.

The duck was served on a bed of wilted spinach greens with a large dollop of spiced, whipped sweet potato and some halved (roasted or sauteed?) mission figs. The dish was superb in my opinion, a bit on the sweet side but also savory. The duck was beautifully cooked and had just a slight char on the skin to balance the sweetness of the yams and figs.

The shellfish risoto had a nice assortment of scallops, shrimp, clams, and mussels with a small lobster tail. The risoto was well prepared (I dislike overly cooked pasta so I appreciated that this was properly prepared). The shellfish overall were very good, especially the scallops, but I felt that the shrimp could have been fresher. It was good, but could have been better. I'd rate the dish "very good".

For desert I had some lovely Sauterne wine and also we shared the fresh fruit cobbler (it was rasberry). The cobbler was excellent. It was loaded with very fresh fruit and had a nice crispy home-made crust. It was sweetened, but the natural rasberry tartness came though loud and clear. It was served hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top that was perfect to balance the rasberry tartness.

The service was relaxed but efficient, and most of the staff gave attention to the small details that can really make a difference in a meal...from balancing/stabilizing the table for us to keeping our drinks filled and making helpful suggestions for menu selections. The manager checked on us twice, which is something I appreciate.

Overall, I think it's a great palce for foodies who also enjoy a nice wine selection. They incorporate seasonal selections in the cuisine to keep things fresh and fun. The service was good, but this is a plce to relax and enjoy...it's not a quick bite.

They are obviously popular and it's medium sized, so reserve ahead of time. I don't like "2-top" tables and do not want to feel squeezed in or crowded, so I will be careful to specify my table choice and will probably avoid eating there during peak business hours for them.

All that said, I will certainly return for another lovely meal at off-peak hours. We loved it and overall had a...

A Heavenly Brunch Experience at Backstreet Cafe, Houston

I recently visited Backstreet Cafe in Houston, TX, and I can't wait to share my amazing dining experience. If you're looking for a brunch spot with a cozy, welcoming atmosphere and incredible food, this is the place to go.

Located in a charming, converted house, Backstreet Cafe offers both indoor and outdoor seating options. I chose to dine inside, upstairs, which provided a warm and intimate atmosphere. The tasteful decor and comfortable seating made it an ideal setting for a leisurely Saturday brunch.

But let's talk about the real star of the show: the food. I ordered the Crab Cakes & Eggs, and I can confidently say it was one of the best brunch dishes I've ever had. The crab cakes were generously packed with fresh, flavorful crab meat and had just the right amount of seasoning. They were golden brown and crispy on the outside, while still remaining tender and moist on the inside. The accompanying poached eggs were cooked to perfection, with the yolks providing a rich, velvety contrast to the crab cakes.

The dish was served with a tangy, house-made remoulade sauce that elevated the flavors to new heights. I appreciated how the sauce complemented the crab cakes without overpowering them. The side of potatoes, zucchini, and asparagus was a delicious and hearty addition to the plate, making the entire meal feel well-balanced.

The service at Backstreet Cafe was attentive, warm, and friendly. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and offered helpful recommendations when we were having trouble deciding what to order. They checked on us throughout the meal to ensure that everything was to our liking, and their enthusiasm and genuine passion for the food made the experience even more memorable.

In conclusion, Backstreet Cafe is a must-visit brunch spot in Houston. Their Crab Cakes & Eggs dish is a standout, and the overall dining experience was top-notch. I'll definitely be returning to try more of their delightful menu offerings, and I highly recommend you...

This was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. The waiter's name was Arturo. The entire menu was extremely overpriced. Then, when I finally got my food, the portions were so small that I wondered where the rest of it was. The food didn't even come with sides, and left hungry because it wasn't enough food. I paid way too damned much for my food to have left hungry after eating it. On top of that, it didn't even taste good. I have made better pasta dishes than that myself, and I am a terrible, terrible cook.

But the part that really pissed me off was one of their employees spilled my fiance's drink all over her and didn't even bother to apologize or replace the drink they spilled. She had to go to the bathroom to dry her underwear because she was that soaked, and they couldn't even be bothered to apologize. All I wanted was for my fiance to be treated with respect and for her to be able to finish the drink that I paid for. The waiter wound up comping the drink after I raised hell, but still didn't even apologize. I didn't care about paying for the drink. I just wanted him to show my fiance some damned respect and common courtesy. That's not too much to ask. The entire night, he treated us and the rest of our group like we were an inconvenience to him for even being there, and the only reason we didn't leave immediately was because it was our friend's birthday.

After all of that, they ended our night with charging us a 20% gratuity and having the audacity to ask for a tip, when they know that without that gratuity, they would have received a well deserved $0 for a tip for the worst service I have ever experienced. I used to be a waiter. I know how much the job sucks, so I tolerate a lot from my waiters, up to and including extreme incompetence, to which I always make sure to respond with patience, understanding, and a smile. What I do not tolerate is disrespect, especially if it is towards my fiance. If 0 stars was an option I would have given it...