Black Walnut Kitchen & Bar - Vintage Park — Restaurant in Jersey Village

First and foremost, HUGE KUDOS to our server, MIKAELA. She made our visit well worth the trouble and is definitely an asset to your franchise. Great job Mikaela, keep up the good work!

My friends and I have chosen, on three occasions, to meet at this particular Black Walnut because of its convenient location. During these past visits, we all noticed the same recurring issues. Hopefully, measures can be taken to minimize or eliminate them altogether? GOOD REMARKS: Physical location: Recently 'refreshed' with a new 'look'. Facade has been updated with a fresh paint job and light fixtures making it look more modern. Convenient meeting point. Easily accessible from Hwy. 249 and Louetta Road. Spacious interior. Seating in either open area tables, confined section (to the left as you walk in), booth area (across from the bar), at the bar, or in nice sized outdoor covered patio, and they offer a private dining room as well. Food: Quoting directly from their own description: "..offering American fare for breakfast, lunch & dinner & a full bar".. The menu is diverse with plenty of choices that include a children's menu section too.

NOT SO 'GOOD' REMARKS: On our latest last visit, we went during Happy Hour and again chose to sit in the patio section. Unfortunately, here's where this franchise lacks clarity in their services and prices. If you're familiar with the way the Black Walnut operates, you know that the patrons, place and pay for their food orders at the register counter. There are no 'servers' that bring your order out to the patio area so, customers are given a buzzer that lets them know when food is ready to be picked up back inside the restaurant. When they take your order, it's require that a tip amount (suggested by system), be added to the total before payment. Although I understand that this happens to be a growing trend, this is where it becomes a problem. In my book, tips go towards services rendered. If you sit in the patio during Happy Hour, and want to order any 'bar bites' or drinks, you have to go to the register counter to order food items and then to the bar to place your drink orders - yet at the patio, there is scarce table bussing or any servers taking additional orders (or at least, not during our times there). Every time we needed to order more food or drinks, we had to get up and go inside the restaurant, place the order and of course, tip again! If a tip is requested, one should be able to order food and drinks at the same time/place, and have a server bring them out to you in the patio section. I noticed two bartenders and only one patron at the bar (picture attached). At least one of the bartenders should handle orders and delivery to the patrons out in the patio (which is just right outside the actual bar). Mikaela showed up, said she was the server and, although she couldn't place orders, she did offer to bring us water, tableware and bring out the food and drinks. The Happy Hour menu can only be found online by using a QR code - which is seemingly not compatible with Android phones (it 'crashed' my friend's phone when she scanned the QR code) Drinks and food items on the Happy Hour menu, don't show prices like the regular menu does (see attached pictures). So, if you decide to get a different item during your next order, you have to go inside and ask.

In conclusion, with so many restaurants and pubs competing for business in such close proximity, a few simple changes and corrections will make Black Walnut Kitchen & Bar at Vintage Park, a great place to meet and enjoy Happy...

8/8/2025: Overall, I was satisfied with our dinner. I want to say that first, as my reviews are very detailed and it may initially communicate a bad experience. It wasn't. It just wasn't what I anticipated for the atmosphere. We had a group of 6 dining before a community theater play starring one of our friends, so we wanted something fast to make our theater time. I checked the website prior to arriving and noted a photo showing white linen tablecloths. This suggested a higher dining experience. This restaurant is a seat yourself, walk up order process, pay at the counter, get your own drink, and then they bring the food to you based on the location disk you take to your table after ordering. I will give compliments to the servers. They brought salt & pepper upon request, fixed one of my friend's salads as it was skimpy on the chicken, brought water to the table, and brought extra dressing upon request. We had 3 people assisting. When I was at the counter to pay (before the assistance at the table), I chose to not tip. I feel like if I'm doing the waitstaff work, what am I tipping for and to whom. After the waitstaff assistance at our table, I felt bad for not tipping. No cash on hand, so now I look like a cheap dining attendant. This is something to note in hopes of helping you before dining. Waitstaff deserves a tip. The food arrived fairly quickly at our table. I ordered the cauliflower bites to share with everyone and a chicken cobb salad. The cauliflower was absolutely the hit of the table. They were tempura fried, sesame seed sprinkled, sauced to perfection, large bites of deliciousness. The flavor was terrific! My salad was mixed greens with cubed chicken, egg, bacon, pickled onions (personally not an onion fan - forgot to remove them, but if you like onions, they looked good), tomatoes, and parmesan cheese. It was very good, but next time I will remember to request romaine lettuce. Spring mix always gets wilted after applying the dressing. It's my personal preference to have a crunch. Everyone at the table seemed pleased with their orders. The menu is a good size with several items I wanted to try. My meal was $33.84 in total. Still feel bad about not tipping. The staff were all friendly, the seating was great! They have tables with very comfortable chairs, bar seating, booth options, and also an outdoor patio. I would have given 5 stars if the food order process was different. I prefer the waitstaff to take my order when I am dining in a true restaurant. Walk up service is for fast food and BBQ places in my opinion. Their staff would have received a better tip if the layout was different or if we at least knew someone would be tending to our table. I know for sure, one other person in my group thought the same as me, so she did not tip either. We eat out a lot together and we are both 20% on a basic experience, but more like 22-25% on a great experience. If they don't change their setup, I would at least suggest for the order taker to give a rundown, especially for new people. A "how it works", if you will. A manager even came to our table to check on us. That's usually what a higher dining experience place does. I think they have the resources to make this place elevated. Our dining area was super cold. It was a very hot day, so I'd rather it be cold than warm. Even my always hot friend thought it was cold. Not complaining. Just suggesting to bring a sweater. I had a sweater, so I was fine. The parking lot is large with lots of spaces....

A Delightful Culinary Experience Stepping into Black Walnut Cafe is like entering a haven of culinary delights, where a casual dining atmosphere meets high-quality, thoughtfully prepared dishes. Located conveniently and exuding a welcoming charm, this cafe stands out as a versatile spot perfect for any meal of the day.

The ambiance at Black Walnut Cafe is warm and inviting, with a modern yet cozy decor that makes you feel right at home. The layout accommodates a variety of dining preferences, whether you're there for a quiet breakfast, a bustling lunch, or a relaxed dinner with friends. The staff are friendly and attentive, striking the right balance between being helpful and giving diners space to enjoy their meals.

The breakfast and brunch offerings are exceptional, featuring classics with a twist. The Eggs Benedict, served with perfectly poached eggs and a rich hollandaise sauce, is a standout. For those with a sweet tooth, the Nutella French Toast is a must-try, decadently coated with Nutella and topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

For lunch and dinner, the menu expands to include a variety of salads, sandwiches, pastas, and entrees. The Black Walnut Signature Salad is a refreshing mix of greens, candied pecans, cranberries, and goat cheese, tossed in a light balsamic vinaigrette. The Chicken Marsala, tender chicken breasts sautéed in a savory marsala wine sauce with mushrooms, is another highlight, perfectly balanced and satisfying.

Desserts at Black Walnut Cafe are not to be missed. The Tres Leches Cake is a rich and moist delight, soaked in three types of milk and topped with a light cream. The beverage selection is equally impressive, with a range of specialty coffees, teas, and a well-curated wine and beer

In conclusion, Black Walnut Cafe is a gem that combines great food, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere, making it a top choice for any dining occasion. If you haven't yet visited, it’s definitely...