State Fare Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Houston

My girlfriend and I came to this State Fare on Thursday, 08/08/24. We were celebrating my girlfriend's birthday and she had been craving a chicken friend steak for some time. So after scouring social media for the best looking chicken friend steak, I landed on State Fare. I had the whole day planned but work ran late. As we headed to the restaurant, I noticed they closed at 9pm. My GPS said we would arrive at 8:40pm. I couldn't change the night I planned due to my hectic work schedule. And plus, she had been craving this and wanted it for her birthday. So I sped as fast as I could so that we walked into the restaurant at 8:42pm. The well dressed, male host, greeted us with a smile and asked if we would like a table for 2. I was certain we were going to be turned away and told the kitchen was closed, but the host never mentioned the time. I had to ask what time they closed to be certain, and he confirmed 9pm. I told him, if it was too late, that it was ok and we would leave. He said nonsense and said they seat until 9pm and that we were welcomed. I thanked him profusely and promised we wouldn't be long. I told him we were celebrating my girlfriend's birthday and this was our first time at the restaurant. He wished my girlfriend a happy birthday and told us we really should come for brunch because it was amazing. We promised we would! We were then greeted by a nice young lady who took our drink order and then lastly by another nice young lady who turned out to be our waitress. We quickly ordered a drink each and gave our order from the Houston Restaurants Weeks menu. As we waited, the host came back and presented us both with champagne to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday. It was such a SWEET gesture and it meant the world after such a crazy day!

Long story, short, the food was amazing even though we ordered at the brink of closing! The staff was amazing, even though we were there about 45 minutes beyond the closing time. Everything was a 10 out of 10. It's places like this where you want to be a regular. Places that care about customers and go above and beyond when they can!

My girlfriend and I, have already scheduled our brunch visit for September! We can't wait to come back to this very location.

Thanks a Million, State Bar staff! Because of you all, I was able to surprise my girlfriend with a trip for her birthday. All while sitting at your beautiful establishment surrounded by your beautiful staff.

THANKS AGAIN AND WE WISH YOU...

I invited my friends here for brunch on New Year’s Day. It was a total disaster. Our server was nice but was clearly stretched with too many tables (about 7 tables or so). Our first round of drinks came in about 10 minutes, but the second round took almost 30 minutes. The food took almost an hour to get there-but we were a group of 8 and we were Kiki-ing, have a good time, however no one communicated with us about the long wait, to apologize or anything. Also we got there before noon on New Year’s Day on purpose, so we knew it wouldn’t be crowded. Then they didn’t have biscuits, even though we all ordered brunch, and 6 of us had ordered either biscuits or a sandwich on a biscuit. They didn’t inform us of that-just hoped we wouldn’t notice. We had to ask them about the biscuits, and they looked at us like we were crazy while serving the food. They said they were 86 biscuits. They served us sliced white bread that was barely toasted. One of our party had ordered a sandwich which was supposed to be on a biscuit and supposed to have a honey sauce on it-it was bone dry. She asked for the sauce to then not receive it for 15 more minutes. Then it was cold so she never ate the sandwich. When the manager came to drop our checks, she had to ask him to remove the sandwich that she didn’t eat, because it didn’t come as she had ordered it, and was ultimately inedible. Of course, after she gave up on the sandwich we all started to notice giant biscuits coming out of the kitchen and being served to the tables around us. Again, there was no apology. The service took forever, and we were there from 11:45am until 3pm! It was wild!

Between the 8 of us at the table there was almost 50 years of restaurant management experience-we all met working for the same company (some of us still work for) 10-15 years ago. We understand call outs on a holiday, short staffing (hello Covid), and sometimes stuff just happens. This was just a nightmare situation with no accommodations or apologies, and since I organized the holiday brunch for 8 friends, I felt embarrassed like I had let them down. I’ve been to State Fare for dinner and a weekday lunch before so I was excited to try brunch. So excited I invited my friends out to try it with me. Now I will never go back, and...

Lovely Atmosphere and Great Service, But Food Fell Short

I recently visited State Fair in Houston, Texas for brunch and wanted to share my full experience.

First, let me say that parking can be a bit of a challenge, especially on busy days. The area is bustling with activity, so you’ll likely end up parking in a nearby parking garage rather than right at the door. That said, the walk from the garage to the restaurant wasn’t bad at all, and the neighborhood itself has a lively vibe with lots going on.

Once inside, I immediately noticed how aesthetically pleasing and spacious the restaurant is. There’s a nice outdoor seating area that would be perfect for a sunny day, and inside there’s plenty of space to enjoy an intimate and comfortable setting without feeling crowded. The decor is modern and cozy, creating a great atmosphere to relax and enjoy your meal.

Now for the food — I started with their pancakes, which were fluffy and quite delicious. That was definitely a highlight. The sausage was impressive as well, made from what tasted like very high-quality meat, cooked perfectly with great flavor.

On the flip side, my bacon and potatoes didn’t impress me. The bacon was seriously overcooked—so much so that it was tough and hard to chew, almost to the point of choking. The potatoes were just okay, nothing memorable. Considering the portion size was generous, I expected better quality overall, especially given the price.

I also had a latte, which was decent but nothing special—just an okay cup of coffee, neither great nor bad.

Customer service was excellent throughout the meal, and the staff were friendly, attentive, and helpful, which really enhanced the overall experience.

To sum it up, while the ambiance, service, and a couple of food items (like the pancakes and sausage) were really enjoyable, the food overall left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. For the price and my personal preferences, I probably wouldn’t return for brunch, but I might consider coming back to try other menu items or just to enjoy the nice atmosphere and outdoor seating.

If you’re looking for a charming place with good vibes and attentive service, this is worth a visit. Just temper your expectations about the...