Dinner Bell Cafe — Restaurant in Houston

A Houston legend since 1952. I’m being very generous with the four star review. Why? My parents/grandparents and I ate here often over the years and it hasn’t changed at all since the 1960’s! As my spouse cleverly put it, “neither has the food”. I always get here around 5pm and the roast beef was dried out like old leather. The last time (yesterday), I opted for the beef tips and rice which was delicious! The gravy was thick, rice was just right. The mashed potatoes were a bit lukewarm, the macaroni and cheese was a bit dried out and not as cheesy as I’d like. The chocolate pie was okay- crust was a little soggy. I think the problem is that these items might’ve been out since the afternoon and, by 5:30pm, they’ve lost all appeal. One day, a lunch time visit will be done and I will compare the two! Like I said though, the beef tips were on point! The chicken and dumplings looked delicious as well. This place scores a 10+ for nostalgia and the food wasn’t inedible BUT, usually, I would’ve given a two or three star review. What they lack in somethings they make up for in the atmosphere, good service, originality. I hope that they NEVER EVER change the decor but maybe tweak the menu, improve the food, maybe add a few soup food dishes. Another legendary Houston restaurant (Fiesta Loma Linda) recently closed after years of turning out authentic, old-school Tex-Mex. Why? I think it’s because the older white people that have been going there for years have started dying off and the younger people found the food to be lacking. The salsa rojo tasted like it was from a can, the enchiladas were not like they were 30 years ago, the tortillas were chewy (who makes tortillas like rubber???) BUT they had some signature dishes that they still did well: pollo con queso, cheese puff, tacos. They never updated the menu, never improved upon the things that weren’t that good. It became a place to go for nostalgia and not for a good meal. Once the older crowd started hitting their 70’s, moved out of the East End, things went downhill. My hope is that the Dinner Bell learns from the Loma Linda lesson and stays around...

It's been over 60 years since I've been in the Dinner Bell Cafeteria!!! My dad took me in there when I was around 4 or 5 and that was about 1959!!! I remember it well because they have the same seating and booths! At that time we sat in a booth and my dad got on to me and told me to turn around and quit talking to the patrons sitting behind us trying to eat their food!!! I told my wife about that story from long ago as my father is interred at Forest Park Cemetery just a little ways down the road and we almost always go by here going to the cemetery. I've been wanting to stop for a long time and we finally got to do that today with my 5 year old!!! The inside is just about the way I remember it from back then. And the food is very good!!! Today's special was Stuffed Bell Peppers which looked delicious, but I opted for the Meat Loaf as did my wife which looked every but as delicious as the stuffed peppers! We passed on getting salads. They also had sliced Roast Beef, Fried Chicken, Baked Cod, Chicken Fried Steak and there were a few other items as well. It all looked really good! We got sides of Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli with Rice and Cheese. My wife had the Mashed Potatoes and Cooked Cabbage with hers. We got Easton our 5 year old a Fried Chicken drumstick and Mac and Cheese. He said his fried chicken was really good!!! He also got himself a strawberry shortcake!!! We all had Iced Tea for our drinks. All in all it was a very great experience to come back in here after so many years and really enjoy our food!!! And I didn't have to get on Easton for talking to the people behind us because of the social distancing protocols being followed!! I really Highly recommend trying out the "Dinner Bell"!!! As a side note, the owner recently lost his son. He was going to close the doors, but there were so many people who wanted to keep it open and even run it for him that he decided that he would keep going for his son and all his faithful patrons. I want to support that endeavour to keep this...

Poor quality food expected a good Thanksgiving dinner but what I got was turkey leftovers and ready made dressing just horrible food and overpriced as well. Quality has gone down prices gone up new management not the same people running the place. Sad to see the place go down hill as it has. I'll eat at lubys from now on. The guy is leasing the place from the other owner. I think I'm gonna be sick. The server behind the line getting my order was wiping her dripping nose with her hand while getting my order, I hope I don't get covid19 from her. This place is a job for the City of Houston Health Dept. Please do the general public a favor and just shut your business down. Bakery items are old and do not taste fresh this guy is cutting corners to try and make more profit. I would be a fool to eat here again. The service is just as terrible as the Food which makes for a perfect receipe for going out of business soon. Now I remember why it had been so long since I have eaten here, and it won't happen again I can assure you of this much. No stars rating for this place. Roaches check-in but they...