Okto — Restaurant in Houston

TL;DR: Poor service at Okto caused us to miss the symphony despite assurances from the manager that we'd be out on time. Our entrees were delayed over an hour, and while the manager apologized and promised to cover our meal, we were still charged for drinks and an appetizer. Decent food, but subpar hospitality — better fine dining Mediterranean options available.

Our visit to Okto was less than ideal. Let me preface this review by saying that I don’t judge an establishment for making a mistake — we’re all human — but I do evaluate how they handle those mistakes. A friend and I decided to dine at Okto before attending a 7:30 PM symphony performance. She arrived at the restaurant at 5:50 PM and was greeted by the restaurant manager at the host stand. She informed him that we needed to leave by 7:00 PM sharp, and he assured her that would not be a problem. She placed our entire order at 5:55 PM. I arrived shortly after, and our octopus appetizer was served promptly at 6:05 PM. At 6:15 PM, our waitress checked in and assured us that our entrees would be out shortly. However, by 6:30 PM, they still had not arrived, even as guests who were seated after us received their meals. We checked in with her again, and she reassured us that the food would be out any minute. By 6:45 PM, still without entrees, we reminded her that we needed to leave by 7:00 PM and had placed our order 50 minutes earlier. She apologized and went to speak with the manager. The manager, who had originally assured us we’d be out on time, came by to apologize as well, explaining that there had been a mistake. He assured us that the chef was preparing our meals immediately and that our meal would be on the house. Despite these reassurances, our food didn’t arrive until 7:10 PM. By this point, we felt compelled to wait because they kept telling us it would be out “any second.” When the food finally arrived, we had no choice but to ask for to-go boxes. To our surprise, we were also presented with a bill. While the entrees were covered, our drinks and appetizer were not. As someone who has dined at several of Houston’s finest restaurants, this was an incredibly poor display of hospitality. Charging us for minor items after telling us our meal would be taken care of seems petty, especially when we only dined at Okto because of their assurance that we’d be out by 7:00 PM. In the end, we missed the symphony because this particular performance did not allow late entries and were left with cold takeout instead of the experience we were assured. While the food was decent, the level of hospitality at Okto leaves much to be desired. If you’re looking for Mediterranean cuisine, I’d recommend Rumi’s, Hamsa, or Doris...

We understand that last night was opening night for this restaurant. So, a certain amount of grace can easily be extended. We were impressed by the interior of the restaurant and the outdoor patio. The bar is a jewel that has been well designed. Our server, Elonn, was a delight and eager to ensure that we enjoyed our experience, as were all other servers. However, we feel that Okto failed when it came to the main event, the food and beverages. The cocktail menu is limiting if you don't like tequila, whiskey, bourbon, etc. Nothing on this menu spoke to me. Elonn kindly had the bar modify a cocktail to make it a vodka version. It wasn't great at all. Though the effort was appreciated. My friend then ordered the espresso martini, and I ordered a French 75. Two popular drinks that we always enjoy and should be easy to make for a seasoned bar staff. Neither of us could get halfway through the drinks. The martini was beautifully presented but way too bitter. The French 75 had a hint of rye (like whiskey) and was awful. So the drinks were a major fail and disappointing. The food menu was also limiting in its offerings, though presented some exciting options. The sea bass carpaccio was beautifully plated, though extremely disappointing. The toppings/garnishes stole the flavor, and it was void of any citrus flavor or juices as we had hoped from its description. It was odd, and we wouldn't order it again. The octopus was tender with a decent flavored sauce, though it was too salty to eat. The dish felt too complex with too many ingredients. Sometimes less is more. We were reluctant to try any mains after these two appetizers and opted to end with a dessert. We ordered the rose dessert, and it was perfection. Everything about it was excellent. The unveiling of Sof Hospitality's Okto might be impressive to most, however we both decided we will not return for several months in the hopes that it settles into the great food and drinks we've come to expect from this group. I've dined extensively at Doris for many years. I'm a fan of this group and hope they are able to raise the bar on our first...

I can’t say enough bad things about the interior design. It’s the illicit union of a seedy nightclub and a Best Western breakfast space. It is an assault on the senses that instantly undermines your confidence when you walk in the door. It tells you, quite loudly, to turn around. Sometimes a kitchen is a jewel for display. This is not one, but still there is a giant window into it. The copper hung about is perfunctory. The scene seems like the sad insides of a Chucky Cheese, the workers dejected and often in ballcaps. This is not a “yes, Chef” spectacle for all to behold.

It takes bravery and fortitude to power through the first look and lingering visuals. And I’m glad I ignored my instincts because the food was quite good. So was the service, with the exception of the managers. They made no contact with the diners, though there was a manageable number. The only exception was the fawning one did over two hot chicks at the bar. It was unseemly. See comment above about the seedy nightclub. This manager (slick dark haired) was not misaligned with that vibe.

The cocktails were also enjoyable. They use spicy flavors to make the drinks seem stronger than they are. It’s a magic trick I find entirely tolerable. No complaint there, just an observation.

I f’s with pistachios, so I was in luck. The frena, Greek salad, and dessert all featured them. But this note didn’t grow tiresome. It was good each time (and i already had a handful in my morning yogurt). Denver steak was also quite good and paired well with the walnut old fashioned (but only a drinker would likely detect a synergy).

Both bartenders were cool and friendly. One had a sniffle. I choose to believe it was due to drug use because I find that far less culpable than showing up to a food service job with a cold. But time will tell.

Final note: There are too many homeless nearby. The businesses should insist on some sort of cleanup. I know it’s westheimer, but it’s also Texas. So...