Jonathan's The Rub — Restaurant in Houston

Jonathan’s the Rub has been my go-to burger spot for now over a decade. Their old spot near the library was a quaint little gem. This new spot is a big rock of a gem.

We’ve been getting burgers as takeout throughout the pandemic, but last night was the first time we dined in. The place was popping on a Saturday night at 8pm. The four of us, including friends visiting from New Orleans, sat outside.

We had a lot of catching up and admittedly were slow to order - and never once did we feel rushed, which I really credit to the staff. The service was understated but respectful and present without being intrusive, which I really feel is the best kind.

We ordered two bottles of Antinori, plus the following: Ceviche Meatballs Gumbo Burger Shrimp & Grits Chicken piccata with capellini

I’ll start with the ugly. The ceviche was straight up disgusting. I had never used that word in any of my reviews until now. It was warm, had cooked shrimp, had salmon, was fishy (especially the oilier dark parts of some fish), and didn’t have nearly enough lime or lemon - this list alone bothers me because that’s way too many things wrong with a dish, and it was the worst $24 spent on what was supposed to be an exciting appetizer. We were sharing, and I normally kill ceviches on my own, but no one wanted any more than what we had placed on our plates, so it was eventually removed from our table with a quarter of it remaining.

I should also mention the price points for dishes being high for what you get. $24 for chicken piccata and pasta, $36 for shrimp/scallop and grits, for example - each dish feels at least 30-40% above their price levels. And I seem to remember the burgers being $13 just last year, not $18. I understand logistics and supply chain pressures have been driving up costs, but that’s a lot. Then again, Jonathan’s the Rub has always catered to the Memorial folks and at higher than average price points. Maybe this additional increase is also to recoup on the rent for this beautiful spot. I love the 30’ vaulted ceiling and the decor.

On the other hand - and now to the pretty - The wine markup is some of the lowest I’ve seen, eg. Duckhorn for under $70. Cakebread is also offered at about 60-70% markup. Sure, some of the lesser bottles are still at about double the retailer cost, but even that’s still good considering some steakhouses around town sell their wines at a triple. Makes adding a bottle or two easier on the checkbook. The list is decent, leaning more heavily on American offerings but with some Italian old vines (caveat emptor: I was only paying attention to the reds). Hope to see more affordable and juicy Australian reds on it.

And onto the yumminess! The burger here is 5/5. I recommend ordering medium rare to end up with a medium. I didn’t have the gumbo but the friend from NOLA loved it :) I’ve never ordered meatballs at a restaurant because my partner makes them well, but these were something special. The best meatballs I’ve ever had, perfectly paired with tart-ish marinara and grilled garlic bread. $14 for four, but I would get them again and again. 5/5 The shrimp/scallops and grits were good. I tend to like thicker/more heavily rendered bouillabaisse, but the scallops really stood out. 4/5 Price aside, this is excellently executed chicken piccata. Lovely wine butter reduction with lemon juice and capers. Perfect with capellini. On flavors and execution alone, 5/5.

In sum, Jonathan’s the Rub is a long-time favorite and really avails itself to both casual dining and special occasions. Know what to get, and enjoy a...

Jonathan's The Rub welcomes you into a beautiful, modern yet cozy space as soon as you enter.

The décor has a soft, plush vibe, and the lighting sets a relaxing tone.

A comfortable buzz of conversation hangs in the air; enough to tell you this is a favorite spot where folks are at ease, but not so much that it gets in the way of conversation.

We Ubered there to celebrate my husband's birthday. By plan, we started at the bar.

This is no ordinary bar: The bartop is one single slab of solid, shiny marble; bottles are on display in a beautiful array behind the bar; they have a gorgeous cappuccino machine (I don't know the proper name for this machine) that reminds me of a 1940s Cadillac because of its sleek design; their cocktail garnish station is full of fresh ingredients, which confirms you're in a place that can make you an incredible drink.

But the bar team is what really blew me away. Elizabeth, Devin and Phil were behind the bar that night.

These folks are stunning professionals who operate at the highest level. They not only served up amazing craft cocktails, but they also had a glowing comradery between them.

They clearly like working together and what they do.

For you, as a guest, that means you get to enjoy high-quality beverages and watch a charismatic team who knows how to have fun with each other. It's a truly special touch that you rarely see.

After about an hour sipping a drink or two at the bar, we took a seat at a high-top table that was also in the bar area.

Elizabeth, one of the amazing bartenders, served us, and man alive, did she steer us in the right direction!

She helped us navigate the menu like the seasoned all-star she is. We could not have had a better meal!

We started with bacon-wrapped scallops topped with a gruyere sauce that was so masterfully made it was like a velvet robe for your mouth.

For the entrée, we shared the 22 ounce cowboy ribeye.

My mouth is literally watering, thinking about this steak again.

It was so tender and perfectly seasoned. They had melted butter over it, too, for an extra special, extra indulgent touch. Perfect for a birthday or anniversary celebration, or just to celebrate free will and being alive. This is a steak I will think about for years to come.

Toward the end of our meal, Teangelo, a manager that night, stopped by to check on us.

We had the most delightful conversation. He was so genuine and engaging, and he was dressed to impress with a handsome suit and stunning lapel pin.

His demeanor and style expression communicated great pride in his work, and our visit wouldn't have been the same had he not stopped by.

Jonathan's The Rub offers everything you're looking for, whether you just want some good food nearby, are celebrating a special occasion or hosting a corporate party (they have a lovely private dining room; I caught a glimpse of it while we were there).

Do yourself and your loved ones a favor and go visit Elizabeth, Phil, Devin and Teangelo; enjoy the inviting vibes and devour some...

Jonathan's Rub has great food, an outdoor eating environment, and attracts the Memorial community. So why a 3-star rating.

Accomodations for the handicapped. Until recently, I didn't fully understand the perspective of a wheelchair bound customer or the people that are supports in their lives. Rolling up on Jonathan's The Rub first thing that struck me was that there was only one handicap parking space, two if you count Dish Society next door. No problem, there was room to unload, leave my brother in the chair, while I went to find a place to park.

Unfortunately, we needed to role him to the restroom before we could go to a table. The hallway to the bathroom was lined with chairs, and barely enough room to fit the wheelchair through the door, get it down the hall, and I had to move chairs in order to turn into the private restrooms, which BTW were very nice and had ample room for accommodating him.

We went outside, got a table, only to be told we could not be served there. Upon complaining, we were told the tables in the front were reserved, and we were moved to the very back of the patio, and completely ignored for service until again we complained.

Juan, the person assigned to our table was great. He provided good service and provided special attention to support my brothers ability to only use his right arm. Kudos to Juan.

What was upsetting is the tables in the front were never occupied the entire time we were there. While we were move to the back and faced very strong winds, the front area was much more protected...

My goal in writing this is not to bring bad attention to Jonathan's... I'm sure the staff likely has not had to accommodate the handicapped very often. They likely just didn't understand, neither did I until facing the situation personally; but they need to, we all do.

Will I return? Maybe. Will I recommend it to my friends? Not if handicapped or advocating for someone who is. Does it make them a bad restaurant? Absolutely not, please refer to the first sentence. Could they learn from their mistakes? I hope so... they have...