The Ultimate Kitchen — Restaurant in Houston

Review: Ultimate Kitchen – A Culinary Experience Worth Trying

Nestled in a location that might initially give you pause, Ultimate Kitchen proves that first impressions aren’t everything. While the exterior and parking situation (limited spaces, including spots at a nearby gas station) leave room for improvement, the food and atmosphere make this establishment a hidden gem.

The Ambiance

Step inside, and you’re greeted by an amazing vibe. The music selection is on point, creating an inviting and upbeat atmosphere that immediately puts you at ease. While the tables are short and paired with bar stools, the energy in the room more than makes up for the unconventional seating arrangement.

The Food

Now, let’s talk about what really matters: the food. Ultimate Kitchen delivers flavors that exceed expectations, proving they are a force to be reckoned with.

Oxtail Loaded Fries These are nothing short of phenomenal. The fries are served hot and crispy, topped with tender, perfectly seasoned oxtail meat. The rich, savory sauce ties everything together. This dish is an easy 10/10.

Shrimp, Catfish, and Grits This Southern classic was executed to perfection. The catfish was fried hard, but not overly so, maintaining a satisfying crunch. The shrimp were sautéed and well-seasoned, while the grits had the ideal creamy consistency. The sauce? Simply amazing.

Chicken and Waffles The waffle was hot, fluffy, and cooked just right, while the chicken was crispy, well-seasoned, and fried thoroughly. Together, they made for a dish that hits all the right notes.

Breakfast Platter From perfectly cooked eggs to buttery grits that didn’t need a single additional seasoning, this platter was a breakfast lover’s dream. The bacon was crisp, the waffle was perfectly powdered, and every element was cooked to perfection.

Margarita Flight The margarita flight was a standout. Each flavor was balanced and blended consistently, offering the perfect complement to the meal.

The Concerns

As much as Ultimate Kitchen shines in the food department, there are areas for improvement: • Plastic Utensils and Napkins: The utensils and napkins seemed flimsy, more in line with dollar store quality than what you’d expect from a restaurant serving such high-quality food. • Toast Pricing: Charging $2 for a single slice of toast, listed as a dinner roll on the receipt, felt excessive—especially since the toast itself was barely toasted. • Gratuity: The 20% gratuity is automatically added, which some may find inconvenient, especially when dining in smaller groups.

Final Thoughts

Ultimate Kitchen opened its doors on November 4, 2023, and it’s already making waves as a standout spot. This Black-owned business, led by Ms. Tammy and her son, deserves recognition—not just because of their story, but because their food truly delivers.

Support this gem for its exceptional culinary offerings and help spread the word. Despite minor concerns, the flavors, vibe, and heart behind this establishment make it a must-visit.

4529 Old Spanish Trail #C...

Let me start from the beginning to end. Parking Horrible it’s in a gas station parking lot so basically it’s get in where you fit in to park. The establishment was a small place it was nice inside the seats are bar style, it was EXTREMELY HOT inside I didn’t see any A/C vents or anything it felt like Hell. The place is CASHLESS beware of all the fees mix drink tax, two state tax, at the end they have multiple taxes & gratuity was already added. The customer service started good I was seated at the bar because it was nowhere else to sit, the bar area is very small, the bartender started off nice, the menu had an ok selection the reason I said ok is because when it came to beverages they only service alcohol and water if they had other drink choices such as soda, tea, or lemonade it would have been great because everyone don’t drink. Now back to the customer service I tried ordering a frozen drink but none of the frozen drinks was frozen yet so I ordered a lemon drop that I never got (because the bartender got mad because I moved because it was hard to eat at the small bar so she said she never put in to make my lemon drop which probably was a good thing because it was extremely to hot in there to drink) I moved directly across from the bar so when my food came out the bartender just slid my food to the side & never said anything I was watching to see if she would & she never did so my husband went and got it. I ordered chicken & waffles the chicken was seasoned good my waffle was good as well just a little cold. My husband ordered the sliders they was very very small and hard. The waitress I end up getting she was nice you just had to flag her down a lot to get condiments or water because she never ask. As for coming back it...

Gave this place a shot because the pics looks amazing. Also wanted to support my people’s. I did not expect the location to look like it did externally. It’s located in a gas station parking lot on a busy corner. The parking is not good at all. You kind of have get in where you fit in. The inside of the restaurant is decorated cute, neon signs for a photo opp, bar style seating, but it’s a tiny place so I’m sure on a super busy day you’ll have a nice wait. There was a DJ there on Sat. He played mostly trap music and the music was SOOO loud you could hardly hear the waitresses or your own thoughts 🫨 My ears were ringing by time we left. As far as the food, it was mediocre. I expected much more judging by pics and reviews. Here’s the real. I ordered the salmon bites, they were fried nicely but zero seasoning, they come with no type of dipping sauce or anything. I asked the kitchen staff if they had some type of sauce to compliment the salmon, he says”we have hot sauce, ranch, and ketchup.” 😐 I also ordered the candied yams, they were ok, could use a bit more flavor as well. My friend ordered the chicken and waffles. The chicken still had it’s feathers on it(BIG ick) and wasn’t super crispy as we’d prefer. We ordered the fried fish to go just to try later on, mediocre as well. All of the food was just ok, no razzle dazzle. As for the drinks they were pretty good! We ordered 2 reg happy hour margs($6 each) and also 1 who’s house and lemon drop. Our waitresses were really sweet and accommodating. Customer service all in all was pretty good.. Also beware of the added gratuity if you’re paying cashless. In the initial screen it just lists the amount as”other fees” in actuality it is gratuity once...