Houston's — Restaurant in New Orleans

My family has been eating at this restaurant for as long as I can remember. I’m now 27 and I bring my toddler with me because the menu is actually quite casual with the amount of finger foods. This last time we had her tablet which has never been a problem because we make sure to keep the volume extremely low not to bother tables around. The servers here have always embraced myself and my daughter with their own stories of their children and even snacks. Yesterday a male working seemed like he had it out for us. While none of the other workers saw an issue he insisted that the tablet be turned off. After turning it to the lowest bar of volume he refused to let us dine. He even implied that we weren’t used to “luxury dining experiences” which is absurd because we eat at Houston’s alone almost weekly. This Houston’s isn’t luxury. They’re serving chips, dips, and fries to people in sandals and shorts. He stood over our table with the most evil smirk until we got up and left ourselves. It was so uncomfortable. I’m assuming he was a manager but he was extremely rude and demeaning to my of course African American family. As we left, the staff that’s used to seeing us was so shocked because they knew they had just seated us. Nobody understood how a quiet tablet could cause more of a disturbance than the drunken saints fans that were allowed to harass customers on the way in and the loud conversations and music on a Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, after the many decades we’ve supported this location for some of our largest milestones, we will never return. I feel extremely sorry for the rest of the vibrant staff. If he was as rude as he was to us, I’m sure he must give everyone working a hard time as well. We had been hearing more and more of discrimination being an issue at this location but we hadn’t experienced it ourselves. Now that we have we completely understand how it feels and he should be removed immediately for the success and hospitality of the company. He was blatantly discriminating. While I did not get his name out of anger and just wanting to get out of there, I can say he is a tall white male. If you are of a darker complexion, I would avoid this restaurant and visit another Hillstone location. We stopped at the next and had a marvelous dinner with amazing service that completely turned our evening around.

After posting about this issue on my social media page, I received so many responses from black males and females that have been harassed on numerous occasions by white males at this location (especially by a man named Andrew). It seems that this is the standard at Houston’s St. Charles, and despite countless complaints, this behavior is upheld and tolerated. One person I spoke with said the same thing happened to them 2 weeks ago and she called back to say how nasty the male was to her family. That same man was the person she was speaking to on the phone. He told her that it says on the website that they can’t have “VOCAL YOUNGSTERS”… he insisted that that was the exact wording. Needless to say, that is nowhere on the website nor does it address...

Wowwww!!!! As many times as I've been here... How have I never written a review? Oh well, here goes nothing.

Houston's is a place for a truly fine dining experience. And when I say "truly" I mean in the sense of a TRUE, AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE, not necessarily speaking to the cost, although the pricing a worth noting. Let me just say, quality has a nice price tag, and this place screams and holler QUALITY.

But one can and will leave here feeling a sense of grandeur. IMHO, one can go and never be dissatisfied. I can't think of a time that I've visited and I've had a bad experience.

I love the ambience of the dining room; it's open yet private at the same time. Idk know they've managed to achieve that feat, but they have. There is a slight chatter-like buzz that can be heard, lite clanking of utensils against plates, but considering the massive dining room and adjacent bar area, it's nominal. Oh and speaking of the bar area, love that it's open seating, as is customary, but the same ambience that is felt in the dining room, flows into the bar area... This is oh so niceeeeeeee.

I love the open kitchen where you can see what's going on, who's preparing what and the like. I'm a lookey-lou, so this suits me just fine.

I love the atmosphere. Quite rich, in a manner of speaking. I mean, this place is nothing to shake a stick at; when you say HOUSTON'S to the locals, you already know what to expect.

I love the modest, but fine, decor, looks like something straight out of a nice, elegant magazine. I could pick up the whole bar and dining room and place it in my living room.

Private, off-street parking is the call for the day and with an armed security guard at the door and manning the parking lot... You feel super duper safe. He's a very friendly and watchful gentlemen. He helps you feel reassured about entering and exiting the restaurant and parking lot.

White linen napkins or black if you're wearing black clothing, I mean that's what you call paying attention to detail.

Oh and did I mention there's a piano bar? I can honestly say, I don't know the schedule or even if the pianist still comes in to play, what with COVID, Omnicron, Flurona and Delta on; but on the occasions that I've come, I've frequently had the pleasure of enjoying lite music while I dine.

You step into this dining facility & you forget your in THE NOLA BABY.

Sadly, this is currently the ONLY LOCATION in the GNO-Area; but in that there's only one, it makes visiting & dining all the more...

MARY; What else can I say? Maybe this Iowa, Midwest, RN has been working too much and doesn't know fine dinning? OK, I came to New Orleans on a whin to get out of the Iowa cold, Now I want a steak,just like back home. Houstons because it is 2 blocks from where I'm staying, approx 5 pm on Super Bowl saturday. I enter this establishment with hopes I might be seated. I'm from the Midwest I have a plan B. I was seated within 30 seconds of asking. Bar side booth.I was then introduced to a young lady, Mary, who assisted me with my soon to be Wonderful dining experience . Mary was able to multi task and hold a conversation, then continue the conversation where we left off. So, besides having a great "waitress " ? Option's were given, then I ordered. Houston staff, you do make a difference. Don't stop having fun at what you do, and never stop smiling. You will never know who is watching. May I be brave enough to recommend the Cesar salid besides a gracious helping they put sweet corn in it! Then add the biscuits with honey. I ordered my Hawaiian rib eye medium but was informed it might be a little more medium, so I went with med plus. Did I mention the old fashions are to die for!! OK OK so you had steak, so what? The staff are magical. A glass or a plate would disappear from my table without being asked.I watched Mary pick a glass up off my table, continue a previous conversation, then gently clasp her hand in front of her,as I ask where did the glass go? The Houston staff work so well together,magic. This Midwest boy had a medium char steak set in front of him, now stay with me as I make the first cut, might as well been with a butter knife, then the explosion of taste, little sweet, the the slight hint of soy sauce followed by the cleansing of ginger. I am a die-hard horseradish on your meat guy. Step out of whatever comfort zone you are in. Taste the char,explosion of flavors, and melt in your mouth rib eye. As I re-read this post, I am not able to capture it in words. The steak is Great, the staff smiles and works seamlessly, the drinks are just right not too strong not watered down.Mary, thank you for the back story your Gram did a great job of taking the rough edges off and I look forward to seeing what you are able to accomplish with you Biology and global warming. HOUSTONS,on St Charles, thank you for a Great dinning...