Tiny Boxwoods — Restaurant in Houston

Let me start off by saying the place is really cute. Food was average so considering the area I expected better. Our waitress Emily was really nice and attentive, and so was one of the guys in the kitchen. They checked up on us multiple times. So no complaints there.

Now the real complain: place opened at 9 on Sunday for brunch. Majority of our party was there between 9-9:10am. When I went up to the host I asked if they could accommodate a party of 13, she said that was a big party but to give her a couple of minutes while she put together the table. By 9:20 all of my party had arrived. Then the same girl said the table would be a bit tight due to the chairs being bulky and I said that wasn’t a problem. Once she was about to seat us, another girl (I believe the manager) told us she would be adding another table to make more space and to give them more time. By this time, we had been waiting for 30 minutes. When they finally said the table was ready, the (manager) said and I quote “I was able to fit all of you HOWEVER, next time make sure you book with our event planner if you’re going to have a large party” this comment was not said in a polite nor friendly tone. I said that wasn’t a problem, because I didn’t want it to be a problem, we had already been waiting there since they opened. She then proceeded to say “and there is an automatic 20% gratuity added to your tab and you can’t split it with more than 4 cards” … again not in a friendly or polite tone.

This is where I had the problem. While I was waiting for our table, there were 2 other large groups, who while they waited, were NOT told there was a 20% gratuity added and bill could not be split for more than 4 cards. Want to guess why they weren’t told? Because they weren’t Hispanic. This girl (manager) was rude when she told us, and sounded like she did us a favor by squeezing us in. Meanwhile I’m watching the other 2 large parties go right in.

I have an open table account that I regularly use. I have made 176 reservations there to be exact. Not including yelp or resy. So I’m FAMILIAR with how reservations work. And let me tell you I TRIED to make a reservation. But in their website it clearly states that they do not take reservations for breakfast, brunch or lunch.

So I told her, I tried to book online but it stated you guys don’t accept reservations for brunch. She then says “ oh we don’t take any but you should be contacting our event planner” and again she was rude.

I’m sorry, where in your website does it state you have to contact an event planner? Nowhere. It strictly says they do not take reservations for brunch which is the ONLY reason we were a walk in.

I chose this place to celebrate my husband’s birthday, because I read such good reviews, and this person ruined it. Not only was she rude, but she discriminated. She made me, my husband and my parents feel like she thought we couldn’t afford to have breakfast there. I don’t mind the added gratuity for a large party, it’s not my first rodeo. It was the way she said it. She looked bothered that she had to put an extra table for us, but not once did I see her get bothered accommodating the other groups.

We will...

Let me start by saying I was so excited to enjoy Tiny Boxwoods for my birthday last month. After a beautiful experience at No. 5 in Rice Village, I thought the original location would be a beautiful experience for a birthday dinner. With an early dinner reservation for just my boyfriend and I, we were greeted kindly by the hostess and that is where our hospitality began and ended with our dinner service.

Our server was extremely casual, as if we were dining at an outdoor bar, and not once picked up it was my birthday the entire meal. After having to get her attention multiple times, we decided we would enjoy a nightcap elsewhere. My mother called to surprise us with a bottle of champagne and the server came up to us and said "someone is on the phone trying to buy you guys a bottle of champagne, but you're leaving so I wanted to see what that was about and what was going on." She seemed annoyed to come to our table and completely ruined the nice surprise. It was again I'd mentioned it was my birthday and she didn't acknowledge it and said "Oh, well that's what I'll tell my manager because I already said you were leaving." I saw how kind the other servers were to their tables and couldn't believe that with the managers present they didn't pickup on her attitude.

The only reason I'm giving a 2-stars is because the food is still divine and the kitchen was amazing to watch.

On the way out, the manager (looks similar to Josh Gad) told me he wouldn't share who had called regarding the champagne, but thought it was a nice gesture and he hoped we would come back to enjoy it. I was so shocked that I didn't even tell him our server completely ruined our evening and made it seem that my mom's gesture was inconveniencing her. The only person who wished me any sentiment was the hostess on the way out whom I did tell thank you because she was the only one who seemed to care to wish me a nice birthday.

I'll never come back to this location again unless it's to purchase plants or drink in...

I am not one to normally write reviews but my experience this past time at tiny boxwood was not the best. I have always enjoyed going to this restaurant for brunch because of the atmosphere and staff regardless of how long the wait can be since you can’t make a reservation, but this past time was disappointing. My 2 friends and I arrived at a busy hour and the only option for a seat was at one of the 8 person tables under the gazebo next to the nursery. We shared it with another couple. That couple finished and left so it was only the 3 of us at the table. We had just ordered another round of mimosas when a group of what became probably 15 women surrounded us and placed their things on the table we were sitting at and the one next to it. They repeatedly made comments to the waitress that these were their tables when we left, asked the waitress to start cleaning off the other half of the table and stayed crowded around us. We are pretty easy going people and we would have kindly moved if there was a table available for us, but there was not nor did anyone talk to us and comments were still made. The waitress had already moved other tables and chairs to the one table they were sitting at at this point, but that apparently was not good enough. All at the same time, other big groups and smaller groups that were asking to sit with us were being turned down because these women had claimed it when we left. What happen to no reservations and sitting at a table when it becomes available? We eventually left because we could tell the hostess and waitress were flustered, but I can’t say enough how disappointed I am and the catering to one group of women. Overall 1 star for experience and the restaurant as a whole, 5 stars to the waitress that served us making sure that we knew we could stay. I wish I...