Barnaby's Cafe — Restaurant in Houston

My Barnaby’s Revelation at 1701 Shepherd: Salad, Sips & Chocolate Heaven!

Okay, Houston foodies, listen up. I finally made it to Barnaby’s on Shepherd dr. (1701 Shepherd dr., to be precise!) after hearing the buzz, and wow – it absolutely lived up to the hype. Forget just a meal; it was a full-on flavor experience, and three things absolutely stole the show for me: the Chicken Caesar Salad, the Strawberry Lemonade, and that legendary Chocolate Addiction Cake. Seriously, buckle up.

First, let’s talk salad. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Caesar? Really?” But trust me, Barnaby’s Chicken Caesar Salad ($17.50) is NOT your average limp lettuce situation. This was a masterpiece in a bowl. The romaine was perfectly crisp and cold, tossed generously in a Caesar dressing that hit all the right notes – creamy, tangy, garlicky, and anchovy-rich without being overwhelming. The croutons? Golden, crunchy, and plentiful. But the star of the savory show? That grilled chicken. It was incredibly juicy, seasoned just right, and piled high – seriously, no scrimping here! It wasn’t just a topping; it was a proper protein powerhouse integrated beautifully with the greens and dressing. Every bite was a satisfying crunch, a burst of savory flavor, and that delightful chicken texture. It felt indulgent yet somehow still fresh. Hands down, one of the best Chicken Caesar Salads I’ve had anywhere.

To wash it down? The Strawberry Lemonade ($4.50). Pure, simple, refreshing perfection. None of that overly sweet, artificial-tasting syrup water. This tasted like real lemons got together with ripe strawberries and decided to throw a pool party in my glass. It was tangy, fruity, perfectly balanced, and ice-cold. Exactly what you crave on a Houston day (or any day, really). I might have ordered a second one… no regrets.

Now. The grand finale. The reason you save room (or, let’s be honest, make room): The Chocolate Addiction Cake ($12.00). The name isn’t lying. This slice is iconic for a reason. Imagine layers upon layers of incredibly moist, deeply chocolatey cake, interspersed with rich, smooth chocolate mousse and finished with a decadent chocolate ganache frosting. The texture is pure bliss – a perfect marriage of dense cake and airy mousse. The flavor? Intense, pure chocolate satisfaction, but not cloyingly sweet. It’s sophisticated, rich, and utterly, utterly addictive. I savored every single bite, and by the end, I understood the cult following. It’s less a dessert and more a chocolate experience. Worth every single calorie and then some.

The Vibe? The location at 1701 Shepherd has that classic, cozy Barnaby’s charm – eclectic, a bit retro, bustling but not too loud. Service was friendly and efficient, which is always appreciated.

The Verdict? Barnaby’s on Shepherd Dr. delivered a fantastic meal. That Chicken Caesar Salad is a revelation – proof a salad can be both hearty and delicious. The Strawberry Lemonade is the ultimate thirst-quencher. And the Chocolate Addiction Cake? It’s not just dessert; it’s a mandatory Houston food pilgrimage. I’m already plotting my return, probably just for the cake… and maybe another lemonade. Highly, highly recommend! 5 stars for these three...

By far my #1 favorite comfort food restaurant in Houston. This review will reflect my opinion of the South Shepard location as well as West Gray location.

Where to start…..SERVICE. While just about every restaurant in Houston has friendly staff, Barnaby’s sets the bar high. It is always a great experience with friendly and attentive staff. I’ve even experienced other wait staff check in on me even if I wasn’t their table. They clearly hire people that care about ALL guests. Including dogs, although I don’t have pets.

The ambiance is very playful with a dog theme throughout. Barnaby was the owner’s dogs name (if I remember the story correctly). The South Shepard location has an outside patio (with cooling fan and umbrellas) so you can enjoy your meal with your fur baby.

The best way for me to describe the food is comfort food. Not necessarily in the traditional sense, but in the sense that to me it feels like a very good home cooked meal. My go-to that I’ve probably ordered 50 times is the grilled chicken sandwich. I really love it and often day dream about it LOL. The chicken breast is usually quite large and somehow they can keep it juicy while getting a good grill on it. The salads are quite good as well, and very big. There are no descriptions of the salads on the printed menu, but if you go to their online menu there is a description with pictures. Iced tea, it is as it should be….UNSWEET. I’m one of the only Texans that hate sweet tea. I’ve tried their burger with chilis a few times. It’s been hit and miss for me but I am just really picky with my burgers. Tried the steak, like I said feels like a good home cooked meal (in a good way). I don’t remember what else I’ve tried over the past 10 years but I have NEVER had a bad meal. Oh! The fries! My absolute favorite. They are like McDonalds style fries. Perfect! That and and crinkle cut are my favorites so they win extra points with me.

If you like desserts, they have you covered. Very large portions, good to share. When o have a sweet tooth I get their mini brownie that has a scoop of ice cream. Perfect size for me.

Do yourself a favor and give them a try if you haven’t been there. I recommend them to EVERYONE. Multiple locations to choose from, but South Shepard and West Gray are...

⚠️Severe food poisoning. ⚠️Be careful! This review is not for anyone with a weak stomach. 🤮 I bought 2 Mediterranean salads last night about 20 minutes before closing, around 9:40pm. I knew I was taking a risk but I've been eating that salad for over 17 years and never had an issue. Shortly after eating it I noticed my stomach was bloated and I began burping. I thought it was strange for a salad & even texted my friend about it. I began feeling nauseous. I woke up in the middle of the night to EXCRUCIATING stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea, and was sweating profusely. Huge drops of sweat. My temperature spiked. The stomach pains were so so bad. I could feel whatever it was moving and twisting throughout my intestines trying to make it's way out. It felt like I was birthing an anaconda. AIl I could smell was the salad. I hadn't eaten anything since lunch and didn't have any issues. So I know it was the salad. I was up all night in the bathroom. I woke up feeling like I had a hangover.

I went to work today, but had to leave because my Blood pressure was high. I still felt dizzy, tired and had diarrhea. I called Max, the manager at Barnabys(S. Shepherd), and told him what happened. I didn't want anyone else to get sick like I did. He took my number and said to let him know if I decide to go to the ER.

I called my doctor and they advised me to go to the Urgent Care for possible dehydration and food poisoning. I went and was diagnosed with "acute gastroenteritis likely secondary to foodborne illness." I was given an IV for liquids, meds for nausea and IBS. Later today, I called to update Max but he had left for the day. I spoke to someone else who said they checked and the chicken hadnt expired and the lettuce & tomatoes were refrigerated until used. I spent money on all of this medical care, using my sick days & they didn't even offer to reimburse me for the salads. After over 17 years, I'll never eat at Barnabys again. This makes me very said, but I refuse to risk this happening again. I have an autoimmune disease which probably didn't help.

I'm not sure if it was e-coli in the lettuce but I have never had food poisoning this severe before. I will be contacting the...