MKT Bar — Restaurant in Houston

MKT Bar, you guys are a love and hate hang out place to be. MKT Bar is the extension of the Phoenica Market downtown as the market closes, this bar stays open and utilize the kitchen of Phoenica's for the hot food while they already have a gelato stand and a decently stock bar in this establishment, oh, and a stage for live music performance. This review consist of some of the past visitations and most importantly, the most recent visit of their Thursday (and also on Tuesday) night steak night. Let's talk about the love part on what's so great about this place. First, the list of the beer is decent and good priced. Second, the food is also good tasting and priced too. Third, from time to time, there's live music performances almost every night of the week and they are all great acts. Lastly, it's also right across from Discovery Green so whenever there's an after party, it is likely to be at this place.

Now there's always something that does not live up to the expectations when one visit an establishment. On our most recent visit for their Thursday night steak night, it was pretty packed and the stage is playing Afro pop music. Everyone looks like having a good time and dining their steak mainly. It was so packed that we had to share with another party at one of the long table away from the stage area. Once we sat down, we saw not one, but 2 servers and a manager walking pass by us and not greeting us at all. It was about possibly 8 minutes later when they finally decided which server will be serving us and finally giving us a menu and take our drink order. The thing is that they have this certain Trappist beer on the menu but every time for the past 3-4 visits I want to order it, they seem to never have it anymore. I always had to settle on my second choice or sometime third because my second choice isn't available either. Speaking of things not available on the menu, there's this one gelato dessert that my girlfriend always wanted to get but past visits they say it's out, but this time, the server finally stated that it's a dessert they no longer have available. If it's not available, at least cross it off the menu than making the customer a bit disappointed.

Now I want to say that we sat down on the long table first and then another party of 3 ask if the other side's taken and we welcome them to the table. They were actually being served by a manager (based on the clothing) and now we ordered our food and drink first, and the manager took their order a few minutes after. Yet somehow they were able to get their food and drink to them first. At least the salad that came with the steak came out in good time and it was decent mixed salad.

By the time our steaks came out, we were still pretty hungry. The steak, at its price of $12, was a bit lacking. The portion is a bit smaller than my stomach's imagining. The twice baked potato was a bit small too and we were hoping to be at least a bit loaded. We gulp up the steak in record time due to our hunger from earlier the night but it wasn't too satisfying as compared to their menu food such as the pizza or the sliders. I will still come back to this place but just don't expect everything on the menu to be available and the service will be vary depending on...

Nice atmosphere, but Will Not Return.

Walked in and took a seat at the bar height tables. Got a menu, but no hello or asked what we would like to drink. Thought that was the hostess, but turns out it was in fact our waiter. After 10 minutes and having to ask, we finally got water and asked what we wanted to drink. I inquired about the advertised flight of beers, which said "Try all four on a flight". I asked what four they were, and he said you pick which four. Kinda weird to me since I really only wanted a Blonde Ale, so I ordered an EastCider. When the drinks came, we ordered the Cheese Tray appetizer, and it was very good. When we did order our meal, we requested the steak meal and the sliders. It took over an hour for the food to come out, and that was after we asked and were told the kitchen was backed up. It was busy, but not that busy, since there were plenty of tables left open. People who came in after us were getting their food before us. and they ordered the same things we did.... Our steak was ordered medium rare, it came out well done and dry. The baked potatoes were cold. Not cool, or room temperature, but COLD. The sliders were good, but dry. It was obvious the waiter forgot about our food and it was left sitting, but the poor temperature told us the kitchen staff was sub-par. We complained about the poor service and bad food, and were comped the steak dinner, but not before we had to have them correct the bill for charging us for 2 cheese trays, instead of the one we ordered. We felt they did this in hopes of us overlooking it so they wouldn't lose that much on the meal.

Food could've been good, but was poorly cooked and presented.

Being dismissed the way we were is the worst thing to do in the restaurant business.

Wait for our drink order and food was far too long. Made us late for our event. (came in at 6, didn't leave until 8:30, and that was because total wait time for appetizers and meal was 1.5+ hours).

Sorry for the bad review, but it would've been good had our experience...

This place was incredible! Over four years we’ve lived in Texas and rarely get up to Houston for any exploration. Found this place on Yelp. It didn’t strike us as overly impressive when we went in. We came in on the side and didn’t know if we had to wait to be seated or what. After speaking with someone at the bar (super pleasant individual) we were told we could sit anywhere we like. Service was prompt and really great. The menu didn’t have a “ton” of options. We were looking for a brunch spot. Think artisan dishes. Okay, we’re here. Let’s eat something. The food was flat out incredible! My wife and I split a pizza, each half with different toppings. We couldn’t finish it all and I really didn’t want to leave it but we had other places to visit. The salad was equally impressive. Get the fries. I’ve never had anything like them. They were magical. They also make (and serve with the fries) a house made Mayo. I’m normally not a big Mayo-on-my-fries kind of guy but this stuff was made from unicorn tears whipped in rainbows or something. I ate almost all of it and didn’t feel a bit bad about that! Service continued to be awesome throughout the visit. But then! The young lady waiting on us asked if we’d been there before. We had not so she suggested we check out the market just last the bar. This was a Willy Wonka wonderland of impressiveness. I can’t even detail it well enough to do it justice. Simply go. Go now. And go hungry. They have all these counters set up to make all of these dishes and meals to go. The place was packed. Where did all of these people come and how did we not see them come in? Well, they have like four entrances. This is clearly the place that everyone downtown goes for lunch. Likely breakfast and dinner too. I’m certain you can find absolutely anything here and probably the very best version of it. Go. You will not be...