Relish — Restaurant in Houston

I've been to The Relish in River Oaks several times and was so pleased to see one going in closer to home.

I've tried the Memorial location twice now. The first time was awful but wanted to try a second time hoping it was just a one off.

The first time we went they stuck us at a table so small our knees knocked and could barely fit any plates on it. I was told my service animal was only allowed to be at this one tiny table. It took over 30 minutes for our drinks to arrive and another 20 for the lobster roll. At $35 we were hoping for something filling with obvious pieces of lobster. It was more a lobster salad on a soggy piece of bread served with cold fries.

The 2nd time the manager quickly arrived at the hostess stand saying my service animal wasn't allowed inside. I told him he was a seizure alert animal and needed to sit quietly next to me. He's 5 pounds and has been professionally trained.

He said he "went to the class" and doesn't have to allow service animals in his store.

I will never be back. Shame on you, Relish for not following the law:

A restaurant in Texas cannot refuse entry to a person accompanied by a seizure alert service animal, and the animal is generally permitted to be on the handler's lap if it can be done safely and does not obstruct access to...

This is just what the Memorial area needed. A stylish, semi upscale, non-stuffy eatery. They are only open for dinner right now, but as they grow, I would think they will open the doors for lunch business. We were trying to get to a 6:30 PM movie, so we went early to enjoy the happy hour menu. Doors open at 4:30 PM, and even though we were the first to walk in that day, I was amazed how many people trailed in behind us. I think this place will be a hit! We started with the deviled eggs. Oh, my! They were fantastic. They fry a small piece of chicken and place it on top. The whipped section of the deviled eggs was so flavorful. I could have made a meal on those! We then ordered the classic hamburger. It was good. A little salty, but good. I love salt, so for me to say it was salty, that's huge. The fries were perfectly seasoned. They serve unsweetened tea, no sweet tea. I got the lemonade and had to add a little water to cut the tart. It was still good though. Our service was great. We were never without a drink and multiple people came to clear the table as we ate. I love the bar area centered in the middle of the main dining area. I might saddle up there next time and try something from the dinner menu. For sure will order those...

Memorial is extremely lucky to have a restaurant like this. A few things really stand out: I) the restaurant is absolutely beautiful, with very nice finishes and an inviting setting. It’s an environment you want to eat in; ii) the layout is excellent. The owners have managed to make every table seem like a corner table which means you can feel the bustle without feeling like strangers are next to you. Very few restaurants do this well (Balboa does for instance); iii) the staff is humming. Everyone is very well trained from the hostess to those pouring water. Even the valet is friendly and well dressed, and opens the door for you if he can. It is rare for a new spot to be running so well and for any restaurant to have so many strong players. The owner or manager is also going to visit you personally at the table; iv) the food is excellent and priced right.

This was one of the best restaurant experiences I’ve had in a while. We were the last to leave on a Saturday night and really enjoyed the whole restaurant, not just the food. Make a rez, and treat yourself. Thank you to the owners for finally bringing a tier 1 restaurant to our...