Cafe Express

Off peak hours this is a great consistent lunch option in memorial. However, go any time between 12 – 1 and prepare for absolute chaos. It seems as if the kitchen is overwhelmed with catering orders and the walk in customers suffer as a result. On the last two visits they simply forgot call my order.

Food was alright. Chili was super salty. It was inedible. Told cashier girl, she said that’s how it’s suppose to be. I’ve had chili before. It shouldn’t be that salty.

Food is fine. I came here today because I searched for fast wifi in Houston and one 0f the reviews said Café Express. However, it is just as slow as most Starbucks.
.7 Mps up and down.

Good salad, and they have different spices that you can serve yourself. But it is fast food style. Not too impressive, but service is fast, no waiters, orders food and they deliver to table, that’s it.

While the food at Café express is good this location has given me problems everytime I order food to go. On 3 separate occasions I have ordered food and asked for no bacon and all 3 times I got bacon on my food. It got so bad that we just stopped ordering from this location the last time they did it wrong I called and asked to speak with the manager, someone came on the phone and didn’t seem to concerned that they had just screwed up my meal and was more concerned about getting out of work. I stated that I was coming up to get the correct food which was replied well we close in 5 mins can you make it. After that we just started ordering from the Sam Houston location

My friend and I went to study at Café Express. Had some food. Food was good. Service was decent. Our experience was disturbed by some old man who smelled like a bottle of alcohol. He acted like he was the owner (guess he was) but didn’t look like it. He was very unpleasant. He came up to us because we had some tables side to side so we can have some table space. He wanted us to turn the tables vertically to avoid some «holes» in his row of tables. He also asked us if he should be charging us rent. Keep in mind, this place was not packed. This place was empty. So what does it matter if we had some tables side to side to create some table space? or if we’ve been sitting there? We didn’t pay him any attention and he decided it was appropriate to tell us we didn’t have to be an «@$$» about it. Then he had the decency to go behind the counter and talk to the employees asking how long we’ve been sitting there. WOW! never coming back. We walked out and took our business somewhere else. Currently, typing up this review somewhere else that has way better service. If this rating gave me an option to give a negative star or no star at all, I would.

A great place for lunch or a light dinner. While many of their old menu items no longer appear on the menu, they’re still availabe on request. As others have written, you walk up to the counter, place your order, pay and get your pager. Then go grab some of the delightful condiments, such as olives, pickled carrots, peppers, breadsticks, and many others, grab your silverware and find a table, then wait for your pager to go off so you can claim your prize.
My favorite is the «Triple Salad» (not on the menu, BTW), a combination of pasta salad, tuna salad, and chicken salad. The latter two are as good as I’ve eaten anywhere, as I’d expect from a Robert del Grande kitchen. Their burgers are good, as are their chicken dishes, especially the one with the Romescu sauce. Portions are more than ample, at least for lunch.
Prices are reasonable, noise level is moderate, and if you don’t mind being pestered by birds competing for your food, there is some nice outdoor seating facing Voss. It’s a shame Second Baptist Church will eventually force them (and every other tenant) out of this center to expand its already-​gigantic empire.

3.5 stars
You order your food at the counter and wait for them to call you. Restaurant was clean, but drunk station could be wiped down. Came at noon and coffee was not hot, just warm, good flavor. Ice tea was a disappointment, black currant or decaf green if sweet tea. So minus one-​half star due to beverage choices.
Food came quickly, was hot. Loved you could get fruit as a side. French fries were disappointing. Minus one star on fries.

.shrimp and avocado salad, shrimp is soft and wilted, brown lettuce and a discussing out of the box dressing. This place used to make the best salads in Houston. Not any more.

This is actually one of my favorite locations. I usually get their grandfathered «Comfort Combo» which includes a sandwich, salad, and a cup of soup, but during this visit I decided to give their new lobster roll a try. Although it’s not as rich and hearty as other places, I’m glad to have a healthier alternative to the 1,000 calories that it usually is. The lobster roll was different from other places, because they left the lobster whole. They didn’t mince it up and mix it in a bunch of mayo. I would definitely be coming back more often for my New England fix.

Get the sandwich combo w soup and a big salad for $ 6.95 — best deal ever!

I’m updating this review because I just rediscovered their breakfast and coffee and remembered how much I love them both.
The have a good selection of egg white based skillets that are really good. My favorite is the Florentine– egg whites, turkey/​ham, spinach, parmesan cheese. I add roasted tomatoes and a side of fruit.
My sig-​o usually gets the «Chipolte» skillet with egg whites, crispy onions, potatoes, and guac. Yum.
Their coffee is great too BUT I hate that they don’t have splenda. I mix the stevia and equal for better flavor.
The girl who works in the AM is sweet and always gets my order right.

We got the chicken romesco and spicy black bean burger, both were good:)

Lovely outdoor seating, clean, staff competent and helpful, pigeons, another story. Beautiful to sit out and whiz by the afternoon watching idiot drivers.
Have dined at every location in Houston, this one haunts me, in a good way. Consistent, although when they change the menu, i.e., the shrimp salad with a salsa dressing, that was over 3 years ago, have not adjusted to that year. The petite sandwich/​salad/​soup is a bargain, somewhat healthy. One half of a chicken salad sandwich on chibalta bread, orzo soup and ceasar salad and their award winning black currant tea, yum, their southwester chili is a fav too. Small bar, maybe 5 seats close to outdoor space.
Desserts are good, slide them on your thighs gently.
Excellent parking, fair prices, casual, crazy crowded from 11:00 — 1:00 p.m.

Café Express is always a safe choice for me.
There is plenty of parking available at this location and I like their outdoor seating area. Customer service is always great. People that work there are nice.
I am a huge fan of their Classic Greek Salad. It is super delicious. Their Warm Bread Pudding is the best I have tasted. Definitely a must every time I go.
The pricing is decent as well.

Location: plenty of parking available in strip center.
Ambience: café restaurant is casual chic.
Service: counter service, order at counter and get pager to pick up your food.
Food: Love the self service condiment bar. Yum Yum. I love being able to add extra goodies to my food. Favorite dish: chicken deli pasta pesto salad.
Consistently delicious and well prepared.

I get the same thing every time I go here: the turkey burger with fries and their awesome iced tea. It’s always the same, and it never disappoints me. I think I got something else one time, but I don’t remember.
The TVs are much too small for the size of the place, but there are some really good-​looking young women walking around, especially on Sunday after church when they’re feeling all guilty.
While you’re waiting for your food, get some crispy bread sticks and dip them in the mango salsa. Mmmm, mmmm, good.

Like a lot of selection for a casual lunch? Café Express won’t disappoint then. Their assortment of sandwiches, salads, burgers, and pastas should satisfy anyone who doesn’t just eat junk.
I usually end up getting the petite sandwich combo which comes with your choice of a small plain sandwich, Caesar or side salad, and a choice of soup. It’s a lot of food for seven dollars. Condiments and extras are self served on an island with silverware, hot sauce, mustard, crispy breadsticks, pickle spears, whole olives, roasted garlic, peppers, and oils to enhance your dish. They offer three types of fresh brewed teas, which are all tasty. You receive a buzzer after you pay for your food at the cash register, and you return to pick your food up.
As for the food, I wouldn’t say I have ever had anything outstanding there, but I have never had anything awful either… The soups are too salty. Don’t bother with the chicken strips as they are small and overpriced. The pasta dishes I have tried have been okay, but again, nothing outstanding… I do like that you can get sweet potato fries here. There are definitely healthy selections that can be made here without too much looking. An assortment of baked deserts are also offered.
A limited wine and beer bar is present as well and some good looking breakfast items that I have never tried.
This location easily accommodates large parties. I meet up with fifty people once a month here with no problem. They also have a decent outdoor patio for those nice weather days.
The bathrooms are always clean!

Great casual dining for a quick, clean, and tasty meal. Friendly staff, nice casual atmosphere, and good food makes this a stable for me.
The food is always fresh and great every time with good size portions for the price.
Favorites:
Turkey Chili
Mediterranean Salmon
Turkey Burgers
Oh and the best ice tea around… Black Currant Tea

I’ve been here twice already in the span of a few weeks. Can’t believe haven’t I discovered this lunchtime gem until now. So far I get the same thing — the turkey sandwich combo with a Caesar salad and the soup of the day. The turkey sandwhich was very good, fresh and made without condiments so you can add mayo or mustard to your liking. The Caesar salad can easily be limp and overdressed at your average joint but here it was well executed and the romaine leaves were still fairly crisp though it was clear they make the salad in big batches and it had been sitting for some time. You can’t go wrong with the soup du jour but some are better than others. I enjoy the black bean soup.
All in an excellent value for this particular meal though they have a pretty good menu overall. This combo is $ 7.17 including tax so it’s hard to beat for a sit-​down lunch option. The free WiFi makes this a great lunch location to grab lunch for those annoying noontime conference calls or training sessions.