Cedar Creek — Restaurant in Houston

Cedar Creek, a Cafe, Bar, and Grill, located at 1034 W 20th St, is a visually entertaining place to be seen. Being my 1st time here, it's a bit of a challenge to comprehend at first. I arrived at 4:45 pm and walked into the establishment through the front door. The place at first was dark, but just needed for my eyes to adjust. Being a cafe, bar, and grill, I didn't know what to expect at first. There was no hostess and no sign to indicate to help yourself to a seat. I walked further into the interior and found many tables reserved for a group party. After finding an open table, I sat down and waited for the wait staff. While waiting, I noticed that there were only 2 barmaids working the Bar. I also notice a couple of staff members running food orders to tables. Although several of these employees locked eyes with me, no one came to offer any service. After watching the crowd grow, I started to see the function on how this establishment runs. Thus, after 10 minutes of waiting, this is what I noticed. So for you first-timers, like myself, Grab a menu, wait in line at the bar, place your order (if ordering food, they'll give you a number on a stand), then find a seat. Sadly, I noticed that quite a few people would place their drink order, wait there at the bar for the drinks to be made and then stay there and drink their drinks; all while others are trying to place their own orders. Thus creating chaos, as some people were skipped over, who were waiting. I noticed others leaving, just because of no consistency in placing orders, in an organized manner. I don't know if they are short staffed, but when you have guests trying to figure out where the line starts or ends, where to place your order, etc... this shows poor management, organization skills. After I placed my order, I was rung up for my order and asked if I wanted to keep an "Open Tab?" I declined, so the bar made closed my order to be closed. Something I don't like is being asked for a tip on a receipt when you haven't even been served or provided any food. However to avoid this, you need to keep an open tab. After signing my receipt, I was again confused. I ordered a Fountain Drink to which I was not provided. The barmaid just kept moving on to the next customers. That's when I noticed the Wait Staffs Serving Station in the corner. As it turns out, the fountain drinks are self-served and on a paid, Honor System. Directly on the opposite side are the straws and condiments. As for my order, I had decided on the Thursday Night Special, which happens to be Steak Night. Sadly, neither on the board or the menu does it specify what it all curtails. So I had to ask, when placing my order. I was told that it consisted of: a 16 oz Steak with a Garlic Butter Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, and Asparagus, all for $27.°°. I also decided to order a side Salad. As far as salads go, the Side Salad was delicious. It had Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, shredded Carrots, and Red Onions, with your choice of Salad Dressing. The Mashed Potatoes were good, but I would have liked to have some Butter for it. So I used the Garlic Butter Sauce from the steak, for the Mashed Potatoes. Topped on the Mashed Potatoes was Cheddar Cheese and Bacon Bits. The Asparagus was perfectly cooked and flavored. The best I've had in a long time. As for the Steak... It was definitely not worth buying. It was a poor quality cut of Beef. The fat, I can live with, but the Gristle... Try and be discreet and nonchalant while spitting that into a napkin several times; with a room of people looking on. As for the rest of the place, it was lively and festive. Plenty of outdoor sitting on the Pet Friendly Patio to enjoy with friends, family and/or pets. Despite my overall 1st time experience in dining here, I will definitely come back to see if they have improved their organization and staffing issues, as well as try their regular menu items. As busy as it was, that definitely has something to say...

Welcome to Cedar Creek Bar and Grill, where the atmosphere is laid-back, the beers are as plentiful as stars in the Texas night sky, and the wings are so generously sized, you'd think the chickens they came from were auditioning for a superhero flick.

This stalwart of neighborhood hangouts boasts an impressive menu that may be standard in its offerings, but stands out in its execution. The burgers and tacos do their job with flair, while the wings take flight into the extraordinary. And when the crawfish are in season, it's a backyard boil right there on your plate.

Cedar Creek's outdoor seating is so expansive, you might mistake it for your own personal prairie. And the parking? It's as vast as the Texas plains, wrapping around the block like a well-worn lasso. Their drink selection is the stuff of legend, boasting enough variety to make even the most indecisive drinker feel like a kid in a candy store.

While it may fall under the umbrella term 'dive bar', the quality of their food paddles hard against that current. Cedar Creek's kitchen serves up dishes that would make any food critic do a double-take.

And, let's not forget about our four-legged friends. Dogs are welcomed with open arms, making Cedar Creek a veritable canine haven. Oh, and those huge fans outside? They're the perfect counter to a hot Texas day, rustling up a cool breeze faster than a cowboy at a hoedown.

Inside, you'll find a dimly lit refuge from the blazing sun. But let's be real, the outside is where it's at. Like a moth to a flame, you'll be drawn to the sun-kissed patio, the heart and soul of Cedar Creek.

So saddle up for a Texas-sized feast, where your expectations will be as outsized as their chicken wings. Remember, folks, everything is bigger at Cedar Creek. That includes their commitment to providing good quality food, great drinks, and a relaxed, friendly...

My daughter's sister held her bachelorette dinner/party at Cedar Creek on Friday, October 6, 2023. Although it's not my kind of crowd-little too hipster/college grad-and even though some of my fellow patrons were quick to smile, polite, and friendly, the rest were rude, snobby, and had no problem cutting in line right in front of me at the bar. The music was a surprising bonus-an awesome variety of old school hip-hop, club, and pop. I didn't have time to order food, but I did get to sample some of it. The fries were huge, and perfectly salty, and the salsa was pretty darn good without being overly hot. The downside is there is no table service, except for the delivery of food. Everything has to be ordered at the bar. Which brings me to Javi. Javi is a fantastic bartender! I'm also a bartender and I know how challenging it can be to remain pleasant and upbeat when facing a busy night. He never let the constant flow of customers ruffle his feathers. He didn't appear stressed or hurried, even though he definitely did not dilly-dally. While waiting my turn, I watched him interacting with other guests, and it gave me (and I'm sure the one he was filling orders for) the impression they were the only one at the bar. It's very obvious to me he truly enjoys people and what he does...one of my favorite qualities in a bartender! He was patient and seemed genuinely happy to help me figure out what shots I should get for the bridal party-blueberry lemon drops (called blue balls😂) which had 2 real blueberries in each one, was delicious, and got a wonderful giggle out of the group when I told them the name. His warm spirit, contagious smile, and skillful mixology, made up for the terribly limited parking, and absence of any sort of table service....