Ristorante Cavour

Had brunch with the family recently. Loved the ambience and pleasant wait staff but the food selections were disappointing. The oysters didn’t taste fresh and everything else didn’t look appetizing and were at best, forgettable. I noticed the wait staff weren’t as attentive in the past, when they would continually help with your chairs and refill drinks but they were still very nice.
We had dinner here some months back, and once again, we loved the ambience but the food was unimpressive. We have yet to stay at the hotel which seemed very inviting, so we may do that yet, but the restaurant is quite disappointing.

My companion and I came here for Restaurant Weeks and we had an amazing time. Walking in we were greeted and quickly taken to our table. We were offered the various menus including the Restaurant Weeks menu and the Wine Menu. Our server was very nice and made some wonderful suggestions as well as explaining some of the different dishes.
Drinks
My companion chose a nice cocktail that was tasty and I chose a glass of Chianti that was very nice.
Appetizers
My companion chose the Caesar Salad and I chose the Cream of Broccoli Soup. The salad was great, the lettuce was very fresh, it was lightly sauced and presented well. The soup was very tasty and the cream was done lighter than you would typically find for this type of soup.
Entrée
My companion chose the Beef Tenderloin and I chose the Gnocchi. The Beef was prepared perfectly and was super tasty. The fingerling potatoes and asparagus that accompanied the beef were perfectly prepared and paired wonderfully with the beef. The Gnocchi was excellent. There were purple potato and parmesan gnocchi with tomatoes and mozzarella. The cheese was melted over the top and the gnocchi’s tasted perfect.
Dessert
My companion chose the Affogato and I chose the Chocolate Mousse with Raspberry Sauce. The Affogato was very nice and the Chocolate Mousse was nice and creamy and perfectly complimented by the raspberry sauce.
Overall the Restaurant was fantastic. I had read some of the reviews on here from 2014 about issues that the place had. They must have done major work because none of the issues in those complaints were visible. The service was outstanding, everyone that came to our table did an excellent job and made us feel very special. The manager even came by to see how we were doing and he was very cordial. The atmosphere and décor of the restaurant were great and I would definitely recommend this place to anyone that wants to have a great meal for a special occasion. The place is a little more expensive so do take that into consideration before making a reservation. My companion and I will definitely be returning sometime in the near future.

First off the hotel looks amazing. I will stay there one day soon. That whole area is great. It makes you feel like you are in Italy. Had dinner with my wife a weeks ago. I wanted to treat her to a special night and boy did I choose the right place. The décor makes you feel comfortable and very welcoming. Everyone that works there is very nice and makes you feel important. The food was AMAZING. We finished our entrees and the Manager (I believe his name is John) came over to see how we were doing, just checking in and recommended some desserts. He was so helpful with the dessert menu even though he mentioned to us he has only been working here for a couple of weeks now. He is great and so is the staff. He told us to have some after dinner drinks at the bar, which I didn’t know they have. What a great lounge to sit at after a great meal. We will be back again. What a great experience all around.

Let me start by stating this place reminded me of a fantastic place in Vegas called Joel Robuchon — fantastic French and very elegant. The décor in here is fantastic — made me feel under dressed at first, but after seeing some of the other diners, I felt okay.
Think of this as Italian on steroids — VERY impressive and quite elegant.
Food: ⁴⁄₅ — fantastic, but a bit overpriced. The quality was awesome.
Service: ⁵⁄₅ — outstanding. They were all over us at first but let up after we needed more time. The way they pour their wine was beyond awesome. I can see how they have trained their waitstaff — they have it spot on.
Atmosphere: ⁹⁄₅ if I can rate it that way. BEYOND ⁵⁄₅ on the Unilocal scale — it was over the charts. From the crisp white table cloths to the silver chargers, its fantastic.
This place is awesome and fantastic, its a shame more people don’t go here. The seating, plating, service and quality is over and above normal for a 5 star place.
My only issue is that the Champagne they attempted to serve us was flat — I get it that you don’t want waste a bottle of vintage 2006 Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque, but wow. flat flat flat. But where else can you get a glass of Perrier for the table? I’ve never seen this. Outstanding. They replaced it with even BETTER unopened Champagne that was awesome. Its kinda hard to top Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque, but they did :) Just saying. Over the top service.
Overall, very awesome — I’d be back, especially on a date? ooh la la …
Total 5 star experience. I WILL be back :)

Came here on a Wednesday night. I arrived a little early for my reservation so i was escorted to a beautiful, cozy waiting area.
The servers are very friendly and accommodating. One who caught my attention throughout the night is Candida! She is extremely professional and at the same time has a little humor side that will surely cheer your night up!
The salads were tasty and delicate.
We had the feature of the night and we were blown away.
I will definitely be returning soon.

A hidden gem with food made from the freshest ingredients, highest level of service and elegant style and décor and to top it off, they have the best Sunday brunch!

Stay away! Love the man playing the piano but they cheat you on overpriced drinks that they half-​fill. (See attached picture).

This is the definition of fine dining. You can tell that the ownership here really has their finger on the pulse of Italy. Honestly, one of the more authentic experiences I have had in Houston. Try the gnocchi!

Horrible service. Took us a very long time to wait for a wrong dish and then quite a while to get the right one. Not a friendly waitress. They completely forgot about drinks and never brought me my cappuccino. At the end of the dinner, a manager did not offer any discount or anything to make up the service. But she apologized, at least…

I decided to take a chance on afternoon tea, since St. Regis was fully booked. When we arrived and inquired to where tea was, the gentleman seemed confused. After a while, he found our reservation and brought us to a table. The atmosphere felt a little stale and loud.
Once seated, it was about 10 minutes before anyone came to wait on us. My friend was missing a spoon and there was no cream on the table. A lady came to take our order and it was several more minutes before a gentleman returned with our tea. He poured mine first, spilling it all down the side of the table. After this, he left for a good 5 minutes, leaving my friends with no tea.
When the first course came, it was 4 finger sandwiches. I requested a gluten free selection and I don’t expect amazing, but the bread was meh. The sandwiches were just ok.
The second course consisted of macarons, tarts, but my plate was 3 sad stale gf cookies. I pointed out to the waitress that Macarons are gluten free and she did bring me a plate.
The third course was the scones for my friends and for me… Nothing. They hadn’t planned to offer anything for me. The scones my friends received were burnt and crumbly. Ultimately, they didn’t finish them.
In defense, one of our teas was comped. However, at $ 40 per person, I felt this was haphazardly put together. The service was lackluster and it seemed like every course was served by a different person. I hope to save others from going here for tea.

I rarely slam a place with a bad review but in Ristorante Cavour’s case, I must. If I can save just one of you from wasting your date night and a sizable amount of your life savings I will be able to rest easier.
That being said, let’s begin.
Like you, I too was once scouring the Internet in search of that perfect place to bring a date for a romantic evening. Like you I was also thinking Italian or French, one of the romantic languages. That was when I stumbled upon Ristorante Cavour.
Wide-​Eyed and full of hope I read review after review and like you found some favorable and others telling me to turn back. I decided to dismiss these warning signs as coming from those people who find problems with everything.
Oh! Alas! had I only listened instead of becoming one of the very same warning signs posted along this dark, decrepit road! I had made my decision. It was Ristorante Cavour.
Now I don’t think anyone will tell you differently the place is expensive, but since you are in search of a date night that is probably what you are looking for, show off that paycheck and flash some green. We all do that, it’s fine but when I want to flash the pocketbook I want to be treated with some class and Cavour messed up just about every rule in the book.
Granted, my date and I were on the younger side of clientele but that is no excuse. I will elaborate my grievances.
First, there was never a waiter around (You will see many other reviews with this complaint, it is real). Took ages and when I mean ages we were sitting around waiting for water to be put on our table for maybe 15 minutes with no menus or anything just waiting there like we were waiting for the bus.
Then when they finally came and I was able to check the wine lists, the waiters could barely understand me, I don’t know if they were foreign but at a restaurant you might spend $ 400 at, this is unacceptable.
I asked some questions about the wine and no one knew any of the answers not even the managers, (they didn’t have a sommelier) and they were not hard questions either. It was things like «Tell me about this bottle?» or «What is special about this limited release?» to which I got answers like «I don’t know» And «because of the year». That is low level stuff right there.
THEN!!! when we finally got the wine they poured it for my girlfriend to try!!! I ordered it and they poured it to the wrong person. It was no big deal, I played it cool and was like «Sure baby, I want to see if you like it» and I know what your thinking «damn, this guy is smooth» and sure I am, after that line she was ready to bounce out of the restaurant and right into the boudoir but behind that cool smile was an insurmountable rage that was ready to smash that bottle over the managers face.
Then the food was aggressively average. Like I could make it at home. There are recipes on
that will make the same thing.
I hope after this review and the many other tombstones like it on this website you will find that this place just sucks and it might as well by a black whole in which all money, class and sophistication have passed beyond the event horizon. Hopefully, you have decided «you know what I might just go try that little bistro down the street», THAT’S GREAT! DO THAT! Just don’t come here and go anywhere else. You could have a great date at some little small place in Montrose or in the heights, or if you are looking for an expensive place just go to one of the tried and trues.
You’re Welcome

This establishment would’ve received a 0 star rating if at all possible. We’ve dined here for Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day and sometimes Valentine’s Day since we gave up on the Four Seasons’ brunch offering. It’s a «stuffy» place. We’ve always asked, and our request honored, for main dining room seating. Apparently after consistent years of patronage and early reservations, i.e., I’m usually one of the 1^st 2 to make reservations, they decided this was the year to seat us with our out-​of-​town guests in the back room set up like an annex to the kitchen for Christmas brunch. We were not even offered bottled water. If you expect loyal guest treatment, this place will FAIL to deliver anything above mediocre expectations, particularly with the General Manager, Mary Grace at the helm.

Showcasing a new level of incompetence. Made a reservation more than a month in advance of Christmas, requested the main dining room, and called back to confirm. We were seated at a banquet table set up for the day in the back corner of the hotel and the general manager, Mary Grace, was completely unapologetic. We were not offered bottled water with our meal, not coffee or tea with dessert. Have spent several Christmases and Easters here, but will not be back.

Went here 2 weeks ago with my best friend for Restaurant Week, and we had a great time. They provided exceptional service, and the setting was very intimate, and my friends and I were able to talk and catch up the whole time without being interrupted by others around us. The food was tasty, and surprisingly creative. The dessert was beautifully prepared. Also, the hotel itself was gorgeous, we walked around a little bit after dinner and decided we will need to come back and have lunch by the pool because it looked wonderful.

Came here for my birthday. It was VERY formal, calling us «Mr. and Mrs. (last name)» all night.
We had at least 3 different people waiting on us. One brought us the food, one took our order of drinks and food, and would check on us, and the other would clear the table and check on us.
They would only approach the table if we had closed the menu or put our utensils down. They were very friendly and non-​invasive.
We began with an amuse bouche of mini cheese pizza with a perfectly ripe and sliced in half green grape tomato and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. It was delicious.
Then they brought the bread basket of olive loaf and sour dough. I couldn’t really taste the different between the two, but both were good. There was a balsamic vinegar, herbs and olive oil, and honey butter to accompany the bread. All were very tasty.
I ordered the striped marlin carpaccio with two kinds of caviar and a small salad. I’d never had anything like this before and was pleasantly surprised. My boyfriend had a salad with green apple slices, cheese, etc. that was really good as well.
I had the nantucket bay scallops and pea risotto made with a pureed foie gras base instead of butter. I was disappointed because the risotto was soupy. I should have sent it back but I ate it anyway. It did have a good flavor (and I don’t like foie gras) and the scallops were really good, but the consistency was soupy instead of creamy like risotto should be. My boyfriend had the pappardelle pasta with a bison ragu sauce. It was so rich in flavor, it had a red sauce but was very creamy. I wish I had ordered that it was so good.
We were stuffed by dessert time, but they brought out a chocolate mousse that looked like a volcano with a raspberry sauce dripping down the side and a small piece of chocolate waving like a flag that said «Happy Birthday» there was even a small candle. It was VERY rich and a great way to end our dinner.

This place is formal. The crowd could be all the rich people from Tanglewood and River Oaks.
The service is fantastic. Servers are very attentive.
I had the Carpaccio salad and the rabbit.-both delicious. The drinks were exceptional. Besides the wine, I had the mojito and it was about the best one I’ve had in town.
Now, the restaurant per se is very narrow. The tables were very closed to each other which made me feel a little claustrophobic. On the plus side, dining is available outside as well.
They bring a different assortments of bread to the table which I thought it was pretty cool. We closed with the dessert sampler, crème brulee, chocolate mousse, strawberry tart, Italian gelato. Just delicious.
Wine is pricey and food is not cheap so be ready to bring some big bucks. And please get the vegetable terrine (excellent)

Except for a mishap with a bad filet mignon, this was an excellent meal. We began with amuse bouche – a spinach quiche, which, frankly, was nothing special.
Our party of six shared a number of different apps, including the quartet of soups and the tomatoes, basil & burrata cheese (I can’t recall the others). We then moved on to mains, which included barramundi, dorade, veal chop, and osso bucco, all of which were excellent, and one filet mignon, which had to be returned to the kitchen because the meat was mealy. The guest changed the order to a veal chop, and was very satisfied with the substitution.
One of the serving team overheard us toasting each other’s birthdays (three within 10 days), so they brought three complimentary desserts at dinner’s end.
The food, other than the filet, was excellent, although the plating was nothing special. The service was, without question, the absolute best we have experienced in Houston. It is not designed for a quick meal, but for an evening of dining. Service is moderately paced, yet attentive, and no need goes unattended.
Valet parking is validated without asking. The atmosphere is white tablecloths, older quieter crowd. In short, this is refined dining – no loud music or loud conversation. Most of the gentlemen wore sports coats or suits & ties (flip-​flops are definitely not appropriate here).
Do not rely on the menu shown on the website, as the menu changes seasonally, and the website does not necessarily reflect the current menu.

Formal atmosphere, we felt afraid to talk. Excellent service. Beautiful bread service with dipping oil, balsamic vinegar, and honey butter
Smoked salmon amuse bouche: perfect bite of smoky, briny, creamy, crunchy
Heirloom Tomato Salad with burrata soufflé & tuscan olive oil: firm tender tomatoes with a melt in your mouth cheese soufflé
Foie stuffed scallop w/​black truffle: oh my, so many of my favorite things all in one dish!
Oyster service: presented daintily on a pedestal dish with cocktail and mignonette
Lasagnette with duck ragu & imported asiago fondue: doesn’t seem large, but is rich and filling, cheese sauce wasn’t too heavy
Piedmontese Rib Eye Tagliata over grilled radicchio with goat cheese & balsamic reduction: bitterness of the radicchio paired well with the sweet and tangy balsamic and goat cheese, great steak too :)
Grilled Mackerel Fillets with herbs & lemon sauce, coffee dusted cauliflower & caper flan: I don’t think I tried this… it was inhaled by someone else too quickly so I assume it was good!
Tiramisu: good flavor, extra good presentation — constructed of dollops of all the ingredients into a single cake
Chocolate Mousse with raspberry coulis: smooth and creamy
Mixed Berries with vanilla gelato: standard, but a large portion

We went for HRW and thought that they did a very good job. Please note the restaurant is very formal. Waitstaff wear suits. The staff is very attentive. First we recieved bread sticks. Then we received bread with olive oil, balsalmic vinegar, and herbs on the side.
Amuse Bouche: Risotto and mozarella fried which was good but on the not so hot side… Damian’s downtown does it better.
Appetizers: salmon carpaccio which was very good. heirloom salad which was good. Proportions are that of a fancy restaurant, smallish.
Dinner: Laganette with duck ragu and asiago fondue was very good. I like my food flaming hot in temperature so it wasn’t as hot as I would have liked but it was definitely not cold. Grilled Mackeral Fillets were not overdone and were tender. The coffee dusted cauliflower was unusual combo but quite tasty.
Dessert: Tiramisu had a very unusual presentation see photos from other Unilocaler for picture but was delicious. It was accompanied by a hazelnut gelato that was heavenly. The Mixed Berries with vanilla ice cream is a no brainer, not fancy but a strong solid tasty combination.
Note: ambiance a little different. We saw many people who were at the farther end of retirement and then some very dressed up thin modelesque ladies with not so attractive men that looked like they had lots of money to spend. Very weird group of diners.

[ Food: ³⁄₅ ] [ Ambiance: ³⁄₅ ] [ Services: ²⁄₅ ]
Prices: $ 69/​person 5-​course Valentine’s Day Menu
Oh boy, where should I begin…
Oh well, lets start from the beginning… I stumbled upon this place by accident and after perusing their website, the pre-​fix Valentine’s menu, and the reviews on the web, I gave them a call and was pleasantly surprised by how proper & professional the lady on the other side of the call. So, I was quite looking forward to the evening…
Our reservation is for 7.30 and we arrive 7.20pm. Went we drove into this hotel, we were impressed with the exclusive resort look-​alike setting. As we walked into the lobby, smiley staff were greetings us all the way and were were promptly seated in a converted function room with about 20 tables that are specifically setup for the love-​birds to celebrate Valentine’s Day. There were PLASTIC rose petals on each table and a flutist playing very boring & unromantic songs. Unfortunately, the evening turned into one of our worst dining experience ever and here’s how our supposedly romantic Valentine’s dinner unfold…
After sitting for nearly 20mins and looking at the 5 wait staff walking around aimlessly, we had to wave one to get the wine list. After we ordered our Chianti, we pretty much just sitting there awaiting something to happen… 20mins later, we get our first course and some cold bread. 45mins after our first course, and looking at the staff walking around with their plates in hand and not knowing where they goes and the irritation of seeing them constantly conferring to each other in the plain sights of the diners just made it worst and very unprofessional… We both were hungry & angry at the same time. So, after my partner agreed that we should just go, I asked a waitress to call for the manager. He came and apologized and even offer to comp our dinner for the evening, we were unsure and that was not our intention… as we speak, the 2^nd course arrived in front of us. We had no choice but stayed… and as the evening progresses, at least 4 more staff were called in to help up with the serving… So, here’s the 5-​course dinner we had:
Kusshi Oyster with Prosecco Foam & Caviar: With oyster and caviar, you cant get more fishy taste than that combo… though the oyster was pretty plump but with a good squeeze of a lemon wedge could have really help.
Maine Lobster Salad with Bitter Greens & Passion Fruit Dressing: After waiting for over 45mins, my first bite from this plate was a huge shell from the claw… But i was very zen & tried to enjoy it. The lobster was already too cold & slightly firm, could have been much better if its was placed on the plate fresh from the boiler.
Baked Risotto with Stinging Nettles, Crescenza Cheese, Prawns & Strawberies: The best dish of the evening. The 2 prawns were scrumptiously sauteed with lots of butter, still crunchy. The risotto was al-​dente, not too rich & balanced by the strawberry relish.
Porcini Crusted Veal Tenderloin with Chocolate Sauce & Eggplant Caponata: The chocolate sauce worked well with the slightly bland eggplant & pine nuts but didnt work with the veal which was quite tender.
Chocolate Mousse with Champagne Sauce and Strawberry Compote: The mousse was very well done, smooth with right texture and rich with cocoa, however, could have been just nice with the strawberry compote coz the slight bitterness of the champagne sauce just didnt work together.
Overall, the food were OK but Cavour just over-​estimate the logistic for the evening. If they could have halved the tables in the room and focus on the theme of a romantic dining experience, it could have turn out better. Eventhough its a set menu, there’s only one captain taking charge of the wait staff that I believe are just temp for the evening. She radioed the kitchen as she observed each table progresses for the next course but as the plates are ready, the wait staff have no idea where the plates should go… thus, lack of OWNERSHIP. We did get our $ 178 dinner comp and we left a very generous tips. So, this proved my partner point that Valentine’s Day is over-​rated, over-​commercialized, and businesses tried to take advantage of it. Nevertheless, I still think that Cavour deserve another chance as their food has potential…