Underbelly

Simply amazing. Never had anything bad there. Menu is always changing. One great part of the restaurant is you get to watch the kitchen at work. Its amazing to watch them work and interact

We have eaten at Underbelly several times and it just keeps getting better. The menu is family style but everything is amazing. There is a large drink menu with tons of choices.

Went to Underbelly for a friends birthday and had the best food experience of my life. We had a table of 10 and had everything on the menu over 3 hours. The deep fried beef tounge (personally selected by chef Chris Shepherd) was our "birthday cake" before our actual cake from Rebecca Masson (Fluff Bake Bar) capped the night off. Truly incredible experience.

I ended up thinking a place like underbelly would have more pork products ie pork belly on the menu during lunch time. Food was way better than I expected and the beer selection was great as well. While I wouldnt go out of my way to go to it. I'd definitely go again if in the neighborhood

great service, great food, great wine selection= great experience. Not every dish we had was perfect but all were interesting and well balanced and a few dishes were truly show stoppers

One of the best restaurants I have ever been to. The Korean Style Pork Bulgogi was maybe the single best dish I have ever had. The steak was also exceptional.

My husband and I went there for our anniversary and we let the waitress choose our entire meal! She was great and the food was fantastic! We highly recommend it!!

I absolutely love the food at underbelly. Chris Shepard is an amazing cook and the food is always impressive. I love how the menu constantly changes so each time you go you get a whole new experience.

Underbelly boasts that it tells Houston's food story. This is the best possible description of their menu. Underbelly doesn't necessarily fit into a box with what kind of food it serves, but with all the influences of the rich cultural fabric of Houston Underbelly takes a swatch from each and stiches it together. The wine and the charcuterie stand out as great programs that can stand alone, but the creative menu never ceases to challenge what you think you know about food. The Catch of the Day always stands to impress and the market vegetables show that there is much more to Underbelly than it's ability to cook meat well. Save room for dessert for the ice cream sandwiches are to die for!

Knowledgable servers, pricey but the taste is great. Make reservations!! Got goat dumplings, tamales, butternut squash, and the beef milena. All very excellent.

Always a unique twist on cuisine. Hospitable and fun staff. Menu is a great & entertaining read. Amazing wine list.

A-mazing! Farm to table, chef's selection of the night is usually to die for, and get a variety of dishes as they are typically smaller. Save room for the vinegar pie, trust me: sounds weird but it is delish.

Best experience we’ve had in a very long time, service was on point as was the foo, it was exceptional!!! Would recommend to all to visit at least once if they hadn’t closed. Menu is different everyday.

Love this place. It's become a usual for special events. They are always patient and thorough with my food allergies and we always have a great time and leave extremely pleased with everything we eat. I've never been disappointed with anything I've ordered there.

“A True Diner” Eating at City Cafe is like a step back in time. This diner has been here a long time and it looks like it, and that's okay. There is counter, booth and table seating. The menu is full of breakfast and lunch items, always available. I had a fantastic Reuben, delicious gumbo, and hash browns cooked to perfection. When you're...

My "go to" restaurant when I have business clients in town. The food is so amazing that it will help you win contracts. The menu changes often enough that you will never grow tired of the food. I've dinned here over 20 times and I've never had a bad dish!

Absolutely love this place. My favorite restaurant of all time. Always some unique food that tastes good. Also, they have a have their own garden that they get some of the fruits and veggies from which is awesome. Again love this place!!! Highly recommend.

Wow! What an amazing experience we had tonight at Underbelly! We really loved the personal touches of the place like the menus mounted in old books and the individual personalities of the wait staff. We gt a great personal visit from the chef Chris who literally picked out his favorite things on the menu for the day for us and it was awesome! Can't wait to go back...after we try a few of the many awesome local restaurant suggestions everyone leaves with on their way out of course.

Hands down the best Houston has to offer. I eat out a lot and the best meals I've ever had have been here. The best dishes are the Korean braised goat and dumplings, the pork belly, and the soft shell crab.

I've been here twice, once for lunch and once for dinner. Lunch was a more typical "order for yourself" situation but dinner was family style, where each plate is meant to be shared. We had a group of maybe 6-8 people and we all picked a bunch of plates and the waitress staggered the timing of the plates so we each got to try the same thing at once. It resulted in about 1.5-2 hours of continue tasting and eating and was a great way to spend an evening with friends.

From Florida but I make sure to stop here anytime I'm in Houston. The food is always excellent here - the goat dumplings are worth the trip alone. Go in, stuff your face, then head next door and pick one of the dozens of taps they have available while you talk about how good all the food was.

This review isn't only for the food, but for the unique experience that Underbelly offers. Inspiration just leaks out of this place's pores. You will leave Underbelly feeling appreciative, exhilarated, and most importantly, satisfied. Let me just start by giving my compliments to their host. I remember that he was the Maitre d' at Hotel Icon a few years back and he'd given me the best service the first time I'd met him. Not much has changed now, and he is still doing what he does best, take care of people. We were very late for our reservation and were offered seats in the community room; we decided to wait for a table instead. After a short wait, we ventured to the dining room, passing a fun collage of photographs in the hall, and passing the community room. Before I go on, I must say I'm a huge sucker for good graphic design, and fun typography. Their menus made me giddy. Each food menu has a different cover. I flipped through the wine list for ten minutes thinking (possibly out loud), "I have that font, I love that font, I want that dingbat, and oOoOoh I've designed a logo with that font..." My nerd was showing all night, so props to whoever put all that time into making each menu so fun. Our waiter was very helpful and gave us a rundown of all the menus. He filled us in on the chef's concept, the in-house butchering, and explained all the local origins of the food. He was so enthusiastic, it felt like he cared just as much about the food as the chef does. By this time I was blown away with appreciation for the dinner I hadn't even ordered yet. Don't expect huge portions. These are definitely not entrees. Like everyone else said, it's a tapas style thing. Order a few and share with a friend. We ordered the Charcuterie Platter, the Warm Flatbread, Arugula Pesto, Lambcetta, Lonza, Mangalitsa Lardo, and the Korean Braised Goat & Dumplings. The Charcuterie was a great start and had an array of wild cured meats, what tasted like a caramelized onion spread, and pickled green beans. The Warm Flatbread was good but not everything I'd hoped it would be. When I read "Lardo" I assumed the Lardo would not have melted into the flat bread already. I've always dreamed of having a really good, solid piece of lardo melt onto my tongue, but not tonight I suppose. The Korean Braised Goat & Dumplings.... oh boy. I closed my eyes and forgot that there were other people around. It was just me and this braised goat and dumplings sharing a moment... You can tell that the goat has been braised for a long time and it just melts away. The dumplings are so interesting, like light pillows inside, and sort of toasty on the outside. It was similar to the crunchy "burnt" rice that people fight over in my country. For dessert I ordered Vinegar Pie with Salt Brittle. Yes, you read right. It was similar to a custardy key-lime pie, but it was unmistakably vinegar. Separately, each piece is incomplete. The vinegar pie is sweet by itself, and the salt brittle is... take a wild guess. It's salty as hell. However, together, the two marry really well and make for a lot of mouth confusion. Salt is a flavor enhancer so it doesn't make the dish saltier, it just makes the vinegar pie taste more like vinegar. Sound weird? Well it was weird, and fun at the same time... like all the great things in life. What made me love it the most is the little pamphlet our waiter gave us at the end. There were lists of all the places that the chef loves to eat or frequent around Houston. Each picture featured in the hallway was a place in the pamphlet. I felt a huge weight of respect for the chef and restaurant at this point, and can't think of a cooler way to have ended the meal. I could go on and on for a long time about each thing I love about this place, but it doesn't mean anything if you don't go and create your own experiences at Underbelly like I did.

Wonderfully prepared menu selections. Drinks particular perfectly with the food. Chris is a master of finding the HEART of Houston and wearing it on his sleeve with every dish he prepares. Great ambiance. Great menu. Great culture. A staple of Houston in Montrose.

Happy Hour + Wine Bar Food Menu is incredible! Half-priced wines plus some amazing food made specifically for the bar (I'm a big fan of the poutine). Enjoy one of Houston's best restaurants without worrying about reservations or pricey bills.

Truly the best restaurant in Houston. Using locally sourced foods and influenced by all the cultures found in the area, Underbelly truly tells the story of Houston through food. I would stay away from lunch; while cheaper and less crowded, my lunch experiences have been hit or miss. Goat and dumplings and the vinegar pies are must get dishes.

Went for lunch. The menu changes daily, but since I got to try three different things and loved all of them I doubt you can go wrong. Such interesting and unique flavors, but all of them done so well. Can't wait to go back and try it again.

Absolutely fantastic. We had the Oysters Rockefeller and Braised Goat Dumplings for starters, which were both flipping fantastic. Then had the Spicy Pork Sausage with Sweet and Sour Cabbage that had obviously been grilled over a wood fire. HOLY. FRIGGIN. AMAZEBALLS. Topped it off with a Vinegar Pie and can say that I completely experienced culinary ecstasy. As I was leaving I shook the Chef's hand and he wished me a Happy Birthday. Thank you Underbelly :)

Loved everything but the vinegar pie, but some people at my table loved it. I think you either love or hate the vinegar pie. Don't worry, plenty of other great desserts, if you don't have the taste buds for the vinegar pie.

One of my favorite dinners in Houston so far--- a farm to table experience where the food clearly had very good ingredients, and was executed beautifully. The service was also very good: friendly, attentive and helpful.

Let’s get the unimportant bits out of the way. The atmosphere is palpably cool. The tables are hardwood and handmade, the chairs are found furniture, the kitchen is open with a lowered counter so you can see everything going on. They have a meat curing room you can see into from any point in the restaurant. The servers are world-class friendly, knowledgeable, and interested in you. They seem to genuinely care about your dining experience and have even stopped me when they thought I might be making an ordering mistake (it can happen). Eating here is an amazing experience, through and through. Sounds pretty good, right? That’s not even the important part. It’s the food. I could eat this food off a garbage can lid, served up by a rail-riding hobo and I’d still give it 5 stars. Our hobo maitre d could serve us an amouse bouche of a bean cooked in a boot, and I’d still be drooling for what came next. I’m sure there are words like “new” or “American” or “Creole” or “fusion” that describe the food, but I don’t care. There are other buzzwords like “hyper-local” and “farm-to-table”, but like I said, I don’t care. All that matters is the food served here. It’s all served family style and the expectation is to get one entree and a bunch of sides. The entrees are things like whole snappers, wagyu beef pot roast, and pork belly. You know, baller food. The wagyu beef is finished for three months on St Arnold Endeavour IPA. Houston beer, in a Houston cow, served at a Houston restaurant. That’s smart. The sides are stand outs in their own right, too. Stars like the korean braised goat and dumplings (I've had more than one dream about these dumplings) or brussel sprouts in fish sauce reduction steal the dang show. I’m getting worked up about brussel sprouts, that’s how good the food is. The bread is fresh and you’ll just tear at it like an animal, because you can’t wait another second to get that bread in your face. The desserts are pretty standard Sysco stock… man, are you some kind of idiot? The desserts are off the chain. Everything is made fresh every day and all of it will blow your mind. The vinegar pie is a must, trust me. Those fried pies are a dream. If you see the words “pot du creme” on the menu, start screaming and don’t stop until you’re licking the inside of that pot clean. Pro tip: If you’re in a large group, get 1-2 entrees. If you’re 2-3 people you might consider skipping the entree and just getting a whole mess of sides. Either way, listen to your server, they’re looking out for you. Don’t go in thinking that you’re coming out with less than a $100 tab under any circumstances. It’s not happening. Suck it up.

This is an awesome place to eat. Great atmosphere and exceptional service. Food is on a level of it's own. Would recommend for a date night or casual lunch. Two Thumbs Up!!!

So good!! We love this place. The service is outstanding (our waitress accomodated allergies no problem and even helped us through the menu to find what dishes we would like best). The food they say is spicy, definitely does have a kick to it, but they taste DIVINE. Such good flavors. It's amazing how they can do so many cuisines so creatively and well!!

Delicious, unique dishes prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Everything was good! We had the goat with green papaya salad, pot roast over delicious skillet-cooked collard greens and tender potatoes, roasted cauliflower, braised kale with golden raisins and pecans, vinegar pie with salt brittle, and so much more. The wine list is extensive and unique--try the "underbelly" wines that are quite unusual.

We looked for a late lunch place near the museum district after touring The Menil Collection and found Underbelly. It is definitely a foodie favorite and a great way to sample Houston food influences. Two of us shared three dishes. Actually, my favorite was the crispy market vegetables, which was cauliflower with a sweet-tangy-savory fish sauce. Yummy -- we wolfed those down with chopsticks. Dish two was the Vietnamese beef stew -- delicious comfort food with a big crispy French bread roll to soak up the juice. We weren't as crazy about number three, although we both picked it from the menu. It was crispy pork schnitzel with red cabbage. It just wasn't an attractive dish, and was a little bland, both components. Our server was very helpful and on the spot. They have only bottled/canned beer and wine, including wine cocktails. Would be a perfect spot for craft cocktails if they get a full license. They grow fresh vegetables right outside. Valet parking was plus.

We went to Underbelly for our wedding anniversary and let our server and the chef pick our courses. It...was...awesome. After we finished the house cured prosciutto starter we were sure it was going to be the highlight of the evening, but by the time dinner was done, it came in a distant third to the red snapper with mushroom dashi and the duck course. We spent more time talking about the food than our decade of marriage. Can't recommend this place enough.

This is ranked as one of the US's best restaurants. I couldn't agree more. I personally like them better for lunch than dinner. The food is outstanding and incredibly good no matter what you get. I like lunch better because it isn't drawn out like dinner can be. Dinner is made to share, and lunch is made to be eaten individually and to get in and out. Their are known for their Koren Goat Dumplings, Alison Cook rated those in the top ten dishes of Houston. While they are not my favorite, they are quite good. I personally love the poutine. My only thing that I don't love are their infused wine cocktails. They do not serve liquor here, nor draft beer. I am certain I am alone in that I don't like my wine infused with a lot of different flavors. You should make reservations for lunch, and parking can be a little challenging. They do have valet. Now go enjoy a delicious meal here.

Amazing!! The service was awesome! The drinks were great and the meats as well. I loved the goat dumplings, they were spicy but I could taste all the flavors. The park belly was my second favorite dish!

Love the atmosphere at Underbelly. Pork belly was so good! Kimchi was so good! I can't say enough about how delicious each dish was. We loved sharing everything. The wine selection is great, complimented our food well. Seeing the kitchen and the chef added to the feel-good vibes. Fun place to eat at and worth every penny.

This is the best restaurant in Houston, better than Uchi and Oxheart. Yes, I said it. The menu has some variation on it seasonally so check before you go. They dry age meat in house. I enjoy the fact that they use inspiration from everywhere. The restaurant is gorgeous, it feels like a library. Happy hour is great with 50% wine by the glass at the bar, and they have an awesome wine program. They have a very specific selection of beer that goes with the menu items, not extensive, but a good selection of top shelf beers. If you don't go here, you're doing a disservice to yourself. If you're lucky you will see Chris walking around checking on things.

My friend and I visited here after hearing about it on the national news, when Chef Chris Shepherd won a national award. Hearing his food described made us want to come and experience it. He is a fusion cook and wants to use the foods that are freshest in Houston, and represent Korean influence on the city. This was probably the best eating experience I've had in almost three quarters of a century. The wait staff was extremely attentive and we got fresh plates and silverware with each order. We started with the Roasted Beets, Whipped Goat Cheese, Preserved Lemon & Roasted Garlic Puree, Dill. The beets came out decorated with a goat cheese sauce and flowers that had a little hint of fresh cabbage plus just a hint of dill To bite into this mix of flavors was divine. We next had the Wagyu Satay, Red Curry Tapioca Crushed Peanut. The meat was totally different from any satay I've had, soft and oh so flavorful. And the tapioca was a delight of tasty smooth balls. We came to try the Korean braised goat and dumplings and had it next. Again we had to almost lick the plate. We decided we could hold one more item and ordered the Korean Buffalo Style Fried Oysters Kim Chi Butter, and Nuoc Mam Slaw. This was divine. The oysters had a little red sauce of some kind in the batter and were fried very crisp on the outside and oh so soft and sweet on the inside. The slaw was very delicately flavored with vinegar so perfectly complemented the the oysters. Just as we were deciding that we had had the golden mean of portions, the waitress appeared with the dessert menu. One look at the Fried Strawberry Pie with Toasted Rice Ice Cream made us change our minds. What a wonderful contrast. We halved the beautiful turnover pastry and the small ball of ice cream. The sweet and slightly salty mix was totally wonderful as was the toasted dough with the gooey, sweet strawberries. If you love adventure in your eating experiences, this is definitely the place for you. And if you want fresh, come here. All their food is local and in season. They even buy their meat by the animal and have an in-house butcher. And if you want perfection in the preparation of your food, this is as close as you can get. We didn't order wine but they have an extensive wind list and offer great Texas wines.

A whimsical menu, with some points higher than others. Our table of 3 had food restrictions concerning cilantro, pork and seafood, all of which greatly reduced the menu options. However, our waiter, Ryan, navigated us through the menu. Our trust in Ryan served us well. We were entertained with a variety of dishes bit we all agreed that the broccoli and deserts were outstanding. And the cream and root beer sodas were excellent. The food was good, but more than anything, Ryan's passion for food engaged our table. Well done!

What a diamond in the rough! Don't let the menu fool you. Everything here is fantastic. I was blown away by the shredded goat shoulder, goat dumplings, beef face cheese, and everything else we got. Think of a tapas style service but larger portions. And the staff is on top of things. They'll order everything for you if you can't make up your mind, and they're VERY friendly. One of the coolest restaurants I've ever been to!

Don't let the name fool you, this place is UPPER shelf cuisine. Far from the taste the name puts in your mouth, Underbelly has more than just pig on the menu. In fact it has a full service butcher shop if you're cured meat supply is running low (who's isn't these days?) Served family style, it is recommended to order 1-2 dishes per person. You will definitely pay for the experience, but don't let that turn you away, as it's one of my favorite restaurant ambiances in Montrose. Price Tag: 30% ambiance / 70% ingredients If the refurbished book menu wasn't intriguing enough, you'll be delighted to know that the menu's dishes change daily - mic check - DAILY. The wait staff were all too helpful and informative, but Diana C. went above the call of duty, and set us up with an armoury of explosive dishes. One of which was the Korean Braised Goat and Dumplings. Perfectly spicy and savory, something we saved for the end and suggest you do the same (if it's on your day's menu). Guest parking in the back, or valet if you so choose. Make a reservation, or come early. The crowds can be very loud inside the main dining hall, but there are several private rooms if you're lucky - or loaded. Highly recommended by #mrandmrsplace

The one restaurant I really wanted to try in Houston and it did not disappoint. Every dish I had was delicious with a fantastic combination of flavours. Daily menus means you may never get to try those other dishes but I have confidence their new concoctions will be equally well received.

Just recently visited Undervelly for the second time, and once again had a phenomenal meal with great service. They do not serve liquor, but you won't miss it with their awesome and reasonably priced wine selection. The menu changes daily so you'll always get to try something new with each trip. This time we had the hill country sausage with cucumber tomato salad (well smoked, lean meat that retains a nice moisture and spiciness), braised duck neck (a little challenging to eat, but the meat is very juicy and tender), crispy broccoli cooked in fish sauce (tangy, salty, crunchy deliciousness), and the pork belly (served with fried bao buns, kimchi, and sauces). This is one of the most innovative and exciting restaurants in the city.

love love love love underbelly. One of my favorite restaurants in Houston. I like that the menu is always changing depending on the season and availability of local produce. The goat dumplings is a staple on the menu and is a must have. The beer selection is also good for those that are into beer. Most of the time we sit at the full service bar.

"I came here for my 2 year anniversary, and after reviewing the menu I decided there was nothing that I would even consider trying.. However... My boyfriend convinced me into staying for at least one dish, considering the amazing reviews. We opted for the Meatball dish with Fish Sauce.. I let Nabeel take the first bite and his face really concerned me as he immediately lost all expression... when he finally spoke his exact words were "This is the best food I have ever had in my Entire Life." I gave in and tried the Meatball with Fish Sauce.. and immediately I realized that everything I had eaten up to this point in my life had been a waste of time and taste buds. The food is like nothing Houston has ever offered - and to be honest, unlike anything I thought was even imaginable. At that moment I understood a Chef's passion.. to make their clients experience this! We requested the waiter to make two more selections which included Goat and a Lamb Macaroni. I could not have been happier with the evening and I have recommended Underbelly to everyone I come across. I am still craving the food and cannot wait for our return. " **Many dishes avg. $15/dish. There are a few selections at $30-$55/dish. We do not drink wine or alcohol so I apologize that I cannot give further insight to the cost of beverages.

This place was quite the experience. It is so different and quirky, the menus are in childrens book covers, there are jars of fermenting foods and an aging room for their meats. It was absolutely delicious and I enjoy visiting a place where I can see the head chef/owner so interactive within the restaurant.

Super inventive, extremely delicious, and a great vibe. Underbelly is one of our special occasion places that we head to a couple times of year. The Korean dumplings, which often come recommended, are spectacular, as is the vinegar pie. The wine by the glass and beer selection is good. One of my favorite places in Houston.

In terms of family-style/share-plates restaurants, it's no contest that Underbelly is the best in town. They have so many options of endless combinations of delicious plates to share between a large or small group. The best part of the restaurant is the fact that you get to drag friends along with you to share the plates so you know you are going to have good company. The staff gave wonderful recommendations and were extremely attentive. They had a great drink list as well. The decor is very upscale but relaxing. Definitely see myself going back here with large groups.

A memorable meal. Chris Shepherd basically delivers on his promise of Houston food with a mish-mash of flavors and inspirations. Still, I feel he could have gone further and some dishes could be a bit better. The menu is constantly changing, but the Korean Braised Goat & Dumplings are a standard. And, trying it, I can see why. Warning - it's spicy. I usually avoid this (high) level of spice, but in this dish it surprised me how well it worked. I don't think I've ever had a dish that spicy that worked that well. The slow cooked pork belly was good and came with grits and a guinea egg. It was very good, but I think I would have preferred the pork belly crispier - it make me wish for the pork belly at Artisans. The French bean / pole bean / sweet bean dish was a standout dish, a salad with an interesting variety of beans and a great dressing. The butcher's cut, for the night, was a wagyu ribeye steak. I usually avoid steaks (steakhouses are a dime-a-dozen in this city), but this was pretty amazing. It came with kale chimichurri (very good, but not necessary with the great meat) and sweet potato au gratin (good, not great... would have preferred a sweet potato mash). To end the night, we got zucchini bread - I could have eaten the whole loaf - with lemon basil cream (a bit out of place in the mix) and toasted oat ice cream (could have eaten the pint). We'd definitely come here again. Though, in the future, I would probably consider not bothering with reservations and just grabbing a bar or patio table. I should mention - the wine menu I thought was great, had a section on Texas wines, and had a section for half bottles (better, I think, for two than a full bottle). The place is very cool as well. The service was good, but our waitress was a bit on the awkward side and spoke very quickly and quietly. Good service, but we've had better. Then again, it was good food and we've also had better, but it's all of a very high quality anyways.

Muy recomendable para cenar o comer con familia, grupo o pareja. La comida es muy rica

Amazing food and service! I brought some friends here from out of town and it did not disappoint. I love the fact that it's family style, and that it comes out as it's done. That really helps to create a friendly, comfortable environment. Each dish was better than the last. The vegetables are always a good start, and any of the entrees will wow you. I like getting a steak and then something different, such as the braised goat and dumplings. Some of the best food I've had in Houston, and that says a lot!

Quality food, service, and atmosphere. This restaurant has been on my list for a while and I'm glad I got to go this last week. Since the menu changes every week, I can only speak for the food that I was served. It had a Korean feel to the menu because it reflected a lot of Korean dishes such as pork belly wraps and ddukbokki. That's not negative or positive in any way, just an observation. Regardless, it was undoubtedly delicious. The bread was a great starter that I would love to get the recipe for. Every dish we were served had a pleasant twist that I wasn't ready for. (We had 5) Our server spent time at our table and went through the menu along with answer the slew of questions I had. We checked out other tables while we were waiting and saw some family style dishes that I might order next time. They looked amazing and smelled even better. Is it pricier than your usual restaurant? Yes. More importantly, is it worth it? Yes.

Server was really nice and attentive. They have a huge selection of wine but a small selection of beer. However both the beer and wine is carefully chosen to be paired with the food items.

This is my first time dining at one of Chef Shepard's restaurant and I'm totally blown away. Underbelly menu is somehow very Asian fusion that will sure to tingle every section of your taste bud. Rabbit leg tikka masala and pork collar noodle is my fav. Korean goat dumpling is similar as Korean Tteok-bokki so there's nothing to shout about. The food was prepared exactly the same as the origin which I truly applauded. Menu changes frequently so do check their website first before making a visit.

+2

For $36-38 Cha Ca dish, it should not be served in a plastic bowl. Very unappealing in appearance. Luckily, the whole snapper dish was delicious and already deboned so it earned an extra star. Strawberry and lard biscuit is a MUST!

The service is fantastic and the food very unique and each an experience. Be sure to get the bread. The atmosphere is busy and wooded, urban, you'll love it.

'Small plate' style. So for sharing. Kind of cool, but caught my business partner and I off guard. Really good food. Huge wine list. No liquor. Good beer. If you search BBQ and this place comes up, it isn't a BBQ place. They won't split checks FYI.

I've been a customer for over 13 years (long before they opened the 'new' and larger facility 10 years ago). The spices department has always offered value for money. (Never hurts to comparison shop the prices). Outstanding cheeses, imported meats, and the bread department. You can watch them making the breads!

I just would like to say that I really did not like this restaurant. I also did not research it before going. Unfortunately It is quite pretentious place and the prices are outrageous. If you are going to charge $50 for a steak you might as well give your customers some bread. $7 from bread and butter. I was so turned off by the restaurant that I only ordered the 4 slices of beats salad for $16. The food may be excellent but I don't have money to throw away and paying double what other restaurants on the same street charge for larger portions is not fun. Enjoy your success but others I have mentioned this to feels the same way.

I've back and forth to Houston as my mother is undergoing Cancer treatment at MD Anderson so I've become quite familiar with the restaurants here, or at least I like to think I have. I had read a ton about this place and all of it was positive so I made it a bit of a mission to head over and have a bite. Finally did that today and it was good, I don't know what I was expecting to be honest but I was not blown away. That doesn't mean the place wasn't good, because I thought it was and I would come again. The food as a whole was well put together in my opinion.

Really fabulous space which is welcoming and interesting from the minute you enter - you pass the bar first and then go down a short hallway to the main dining area which is low-lit, full but not crammed, and open to the kitchen. Loved the natural wood tables and the strings of lights. This was my first visit and we went with friends who were familiar with the menu so gave us a great taste of all the specialties. I liked everything but probably the snapper dip with crackers, which we had first up, was my favourite. The goat dumplings are famous and deservedly so and I enjoyed them too - especially the texture of the rice dumplings - but they didn't take top spot for me. Loved both the drinks I had, particularly the Winter Fern. Wish I hadn't taken so long to get here as it closes soon and I wish I could try a few more things before it does!

Very good food, excellent atmosphere, and good customer service. However, portions are small. I ordered a flank steak which had amazing flavor and was unbelievably tender considering the fact that it's a cheaper cut of meat. 5-6 oz, and cost over $30. I arrived hungry. I ate. I enjoyed it. I left hungry.

Loved this place! Such a fun idea to be able to pick and cook your own meats. My boyfriend and I split the Meat Lover's choice & also added spring rolls. It was PLENTY of food! The meats were nicely seasoned and marinated which made them very flavorful. The service was also excellent. Our server explained how to cook each meat, and for how long, constantly refilled our waters, and was very attentive overall.

I don't see what all the hype is about when it comes to Underbelly. Went there with a friend and ordered 5 dishes and still came out hungry. Its a unique experience but for me it was definitely a one time thing. The food was not exceptional enough for me to want to return.

All the skills and techniques to be great, but it's lacking a story. Food is all over the place and it's hard to put dishes together to make a complete dining experience. I had high hopes for here, but at the end of the day I was left looking for something more.

Did I eat at a different restaurant. No one in my group liked this place. The bread and butter was bland, the goat dish was drenched in wine, the salad dressing tasted rotten, and the leaves were wilted. To top it all off the steaks were inedible. Extremely chewy. Could not eat it. The waitress even knew when we said we didn't like it. "Oh, is the steak sinewy"? She told us they way they butcher it makes it that way and that we were just used to our lower quality grocery store beef. WHAT?! The desserts didn't get any better. Vinegar pie is a dessert that should never exist. Friend literally spit out his strawberry pie. And the pot of crème is the absolute worst dessert I've had, EVER. Disgusting! We were all very surprised with this place because of all the great review. Maybe it was just an off day for them. I don't know. But it's a problem when the best someone can say about your restaurant is "well, the fries weren't bad". Nothing about this place reminds me of Houston. If you gave me one of their dishes I wouldn't say oh yeah H-town food! No. This is food from a hipster chef trying too hard to be cool. It's pompous and snob food. And not even good snob food. What a great concept too. Makes me want to open a restaurant across the street and serve some real Houston food. They don't even have lemonade! Come on.

Although delicious, the food didn't wow me like other Chris Shepherd restaurants. The concept is interesting, and I believe this combined with atmosphere is the reason it receives such high reviews. When considering the cost of entrees, I'd much rather head right next door and grab a brew and burger at Hay Merchant. I simply believe there are better places to eat. That being said, the menu is constantly changing.

I love the concept; however, I tend to favor Hay Merchant in terms of food quality and overall service. They're all owned by the same group as far as I am to understand. I ordered the roast at Underbelly which was tough as a boot and bone dry (the lamb had already sold out). I would like to give this place another shot; however at $60 a pop, I am hard pressed to come back again.

I found food to be quite overrated for the price level and the hype surrounding the venue. I understand the appeal of hyper-local and farm-to-table, but it shouldn't be at the expense of taste or creativity. The service was overly attentive not in a good way.

We had reservation for 8:45, but arrived at 8:15 and were told if we waited at the bar a private table may open sooner. We ordered a "meat sample" and bread while we waited. The house-cured meat came out first and had 6 different meats...balogna, chorizo, and several fatty meats. They were okay, but after trying a sample of each it was like we were only eating it because it was there, not because it was good. Then there bread came out with some cheese and that was better, hard to mess up with bread. We finished the appetizer and looked at watch, it was 9pm 15 minutes past our reservation time but still no table. We decided to get the check and go to another restaurant for main course. After leaving, at 9:07 we received a text from the reservation number that our table was ready, we replied that we left due to the wait. We won't be back...

I went to underbelly when it first opened. The Korean goat braised dumplings were to off the charts. But since then the portion seems to have shrunk by half or more than half. Maybe with this 3 star post, someone will Make some changes and the next time I go, there will be a larger portion. Fingers crossed!

The service is great. The food is good but nothing mind blowing. We pretty much selected one of everything on the menu. Unfortunately, if you arrive at a certain time in the evening they will run out of certain dishes. I was pretty bummed we didn't get to try the lamb but the chef whipped up red snapper instead. The bar is wine only so no cocktails. Solid food but not memorable. The menu changes so it's worth trying!

This restaurant has a menu that is designed to share with the table. Cool idea, but hard to do with a far variety of food and extremely small portion sizes. The food itself was good, but it wasn't anything outstanding. My father and I were very let down. I would have rather went to Katz's Deli a few blocks away.

Honestly I can't decide to give this a two or a three star. I'm going with a three but only because I feel like I must be wrong that this meal could really warrant a two being such a well known highly rated restaurant. For $200 for two people I feel I should get more. The Pork belly was good, but the Thai style oyster Rockefeller was completely inedible. Seriously bad. The southern plate thing was ok at best. Nothing special. There are definitely better places to pay $200 at in Houston. Honestly to pay that much you should walk away saying "wow." We won't be going back. Service was great, no complaints there.

Been here three times, so I guess it's time for a review. Underbelly has a nice ambiance if you're feeling a little fancy, but honestly, I'm not really convinced about the pricing. Lunch is probably a better value in terms of portion size. Shrimp & grits - yum. Pork schnitzel - first time i've had such dish and pork was tender and delicious. The cabbage was interesting with its tartness but I got a little tired of it. wagyu bucatini w/ egg - had a bite of my friend's, sweet tasting sauce which I enjoy. Egg was interesting with it's fried exterior. Been awhile since I had dinner there so I can't really remember everything well. The korean goat dumplings that everyone raves about is just alright in my opinion and the portion is a bit too small, knowing that it's inspired from korean dukbokki and how cheap you can get it.

The bread with leek butter was the best thing we ate here. It was REALLY GOOD bread, though. The jalapeno cheddar sausage with blackened okra was pretty good. The alligator with jasmine rice was not good. It was described to us as fried alligator in a sauce similar to general tso sauce. It was way too spicy and in NO way was sweet heart with a vinegary touch. I love spicy food; but I want to taste other flavors too. Couldn't taste anything. (When I say I love spicy I mean I love Thai spicy where I get my burn but can still taste cilantro, green onions, ginger, garlic and such.) Also, NO full bar. We wanted a cocktail prior to dinner...has to settle for wine and beer. We might go back (so many other restaurants we LOVE though) but definitely didn't leave raving about our meal. One more comment...the service was great!

Cool place, don't get the okra. That dish was so crazy salty and I am not sensitive to salt. They do have a BYOB option so keep that in mind. The best thing to do is to try a few dishes. Some dishes you may like more than others. Keep in mind it's kind of pricey and you may leave a bit hungry as the portions are more for sampling the chef's creations more so than a value proposition.

Two of us ordered 4 items from the main menu, a vegie, a salad and 2 entrees. Brought vegie first; when finished, brought salad; when finished, brought shrimp entree; when finished brought meat entree. Strange!! The vegie (crispy green beans) was good. Roasted butternut squash salad was a large slab of tasteless squash w/a small side of greens. The shrimp in a bland red sauce had little taste. Tenderloin was lukewarm, served w/cold noodles and cold boiled egg. The meal did not qualify as even mediocre which surprised since we recall the chef receiving much praise.

Yesterday I went to Underbelly during happy hour about 3:30 because I'd been talking to my coworker's about the poutine there. I've eaten at underbelly several times before and so I was disappointed in yesterday's encounter. I got there and no hostess was at the door, so I walked in looking kinda puzzled and then the bartender ask if he could help me and I let him know I wanted to order the poutine to go and he said sure I'll put that in for you. Ok that was great and we had a great exchange in dialog about the different cuisines there and other places of dinning cuisines about Cuban foods. At this point everything seemed to be pleasantly fine until he brings out my food to go, he meaning the bartender handed me my food and with a pleasant smile said here you go. I checked my order and I was surprised that so much pork meat was on the poutine and I don't remember it being so much on there before but that wasn't my complaint. My complaint comes into play is when I asked for to go utensils and a bag for my to go carry out, the same bartender politely says I don't have to go utensils I only have chopsticks and didn't take the time or effort to check with the kitchen or other staff to see if there was any available he just stood there and didn't particularly interested of how I would enjoy my meal without eating utensils. So this turned me off because my past dinning in experience has always been so lovely, courtesy and attentive. Needless to say I don't believe I'll be going back for happy hour maybe just dinning in because my experience in the past was much better and I had already signed my bill before he brought out my food and left a tip because we had such a nice conversation about different cuisine and different food shows and the next food show that they were being featured in. Ugh so disappointed when I know it's such a better place and service than this. Please have Carry Out Bags and To Go Utensils when offering To Go or Carryout Service. This is the only reason I gave them a 2 star rating today and it was solely based on the end of service encounter it just bought down my whole dinning experience with them on this particular day. I'm disappointed and had to stop and get eating utensils somewhere else before I went back to my job. Smh

For the hype that this place gets, it is honestly not worth it. I have been here twice and it has been underwhelming each time. I honestly don't understand what is the hype is or I just have a different taste palette than everyone else on here. I figured it was because of the menu so I have tried the different menus they offered in the summer and fall of 2013. I was really looking forward to this place because my friend speak nothing but good things about it. Paul Qui even suggested this in "Where Chef Eats." The atmosphere was very laid back, loud, and a bit cozy. The first time I sat at the bar and ordered food/wine. Bartender was snobbish and off-putting. I saw him again the second time and you can imagine how ecstatic I was. My friend really liked the carpaccio and their bread there. So we ordered that. The carpaccio was okay, nothing out of the ordinary. I really wish Hawthrone was still open because their carpaccio was to DIE FOR. Literally. Back to Underbelly, their carpaccio doesn't come with any carbs to balance out the raw meat which was what I really am use to. I figured if they seasoned it well then it wouldn't be a problem. The carpaccio left me yearning for something better. The dish as a whole was missing an element that I can't place my finger on. Their sourdough bread with butter is once again, alright. We also ordered the dukbokki which a korean dish. The difference with Underbelly and the authentic is that Underbelly is fried with a crunch where as the authentic one is softer and stir-fried. Now with dukbokki in generally, you can get really tired of the flavor quickly because it's one note. Underbelly was no exception even if it was crunchy. Their dessert was mediocre at best. It's a warm fruit pie with ice cream... not much to say, but you can get one at your grocery store and there will be no differences. The second time, I went with a bigger group of friends so we opt out for the family style. I really really want to like the food but seriously I can't find anything I liked there. Our bill came out to be almost $500. We had a couple bottles of wine and a bunch of food. It was definitely a good time, but I most likely will not come back. We had the Pork Roast and the Fried Fish. We ordered dukbokki again because my friend really wanted to try that even though I already told them that it was not good. The Pork Roast was a bit overcooked so it was dry. The sauce lacked the oomph. The Fried Fish taste the same as you would get from Chinatown just really marked up. At least in Chinatown, we get it from that tank. For Dessert, we had panna cotta and peanut butter brownie. Panna cotta definitely wins the race in this case but only in this case. Their was waffle cookies in there to provide that crunch. The peanut butter brownie was decent. My verdict: It's a nice contemporary place with a big group of friends. If you are coming here to eat...horrible idea, you won't find a lot of food that you would be in love with.

We had reservations for my boyfriend's birthday last Friday night. I had been to Underbelly years ago when they first opened and had a fantastic experience. I still talk about the one time I had rabbit kidneys. Stellar service, delicious food, great atmosphere (casual smart attire). Although we had a pleasant server and the decor hadn't changed, the vibe was much different this time. For one, our table wasn't ready nor did they have any idea when it would be available. I thought this was strange seeing as how I had booked a reservation only and not any specific table.. I was cool about it and just asked if it was going to be close to 30 minutes or an hour. Both ladies said no and I was told it would be closer to 10-15 minutes and offered the wine bar while we waited. The bar was a little hectic for a wine bar... 35 minutes later. We finally got sat. Server was nice, personable, had a good attitude...all of the things you look for in a quality server. He must have a much healthier appetite than us because he recommended that we get 4-5 plates off the menu. For two people! We ordered the snapper with some pickled fennel, meatballs, Korean dumplings and pork collar bone. Our "snapper" dish was replaced with grouper without mentioning it to us that they had ran out of snapper. The fish was delicious...but still, tell us you're out of something we order, man. The rest of the food was mediocre, bland and served on cheap, plastic Chinese buffet plates. Every table around us was served with porcelain. Maybe it's what they ordered...but what's the deal with the cheap ass plates? We had hoped to be eating something you could only find at a legit butcher shop, but instead had someone else cook us the same meals we could have made at home. The pickled fennel was the most creative attempt on that menu. We wasted about half of our food that night. Dessert was good, we ate all of that. Yeah...for $200, I am going to take my money elsewhere next time. Please put more emphasis on special occasions. Not a single person wished my boyfriend a happy birthday, We went to Uchi the following night and were completely wowed!

Don't waste your time going to the Underbelly for Dinner. My husband and I were very disappointed in the prices and in the quality of the food. The menu has a statement that says, "no appetizers or entrees just food". I beg to differ. You pay for everything except water. We purchased 4 items and asked for bread which was $7. The items ordered were as follows: Fried eggplant (3 strips) $14, Melon and Fig salad $14, Pasta and Shrimp $24 and Mahi Mahi with veggies $36. The eggplant and Melon salad were very good, I would even say excellent. Which made us think that the two entrees (which they don't call entrees) would also be very good. They were not. Both were very bland with no seasoning. I give this restaurant a thumbs down. 8-22-14

I have been to Underbelly twice, the first time about a year or so ago and the second time last night. I vaguely remembered the first dining experience as underwhelming but decided to give it a another try. Last night confirmed my prior impression. I frankly don't get it; the food here, particularly at these prices, is just average. I ordered the fried eggplant and the grilled shrimp dish. The eggplant was all of about four bites: the tiny portion came centered on a huge plate, emphasizing the almost comically small portion. The four grilled shrimp, which came in a spicy, Szechuan type of sauce, were underdone, even somewhat gelatinous. My dinner companion's dish was no better. Still hungry, we paid up and went to another place in the Heights and there had a very good dinner. Well, live and learn. This one is now off the list.

I know I'm generally going against the grain here, but honestly, I think this is one of most overpriced, underwhelming restaurants I've been to. Okay, I won't lie, I went with a group, and was really frustrated that, after ordering the family style pork dish, it took 30 minutes to come tell us that they were now out of it, and the best they could offer to substitute it with was brisket. Ugh, as a non-red meat eater, that left me eating only the snapper, whose flavor was totally lackluster, and the price high for the portion. I would have liked to have taken part in the family style salad, but we waited quite a long time for it (30 minutes) for it, and it arrived with the dressing mixed in although we absolutely asked for it on the side. The waitress did offer to remake it, but we all rolled our eyes at that point and I agreed to take one for the team (who knows how long it would take to get a replacement). While I do not mind paying a nice sum for a great meal, when it is underwhelming on all fronts, that changes. I would not return.

Visited the restaurant in early February. Made a reservation, arrived to find out they gave our table away even though we came within the time window we booked. Waitress was very unfriendly, condescending, and rude. Did not want to accomodate the vegetarians in the group. She did not provide a dessert menu until we asked for one. She never asked us if we were ready to order drinks until we finally flagged her colleague down. I asked for straws for the water, she gave us 4 (there were 6 of us). She brought 4 plates (again there were 6 of us). At every turn she was condescending and dismissive. One member of our party was adhering to a special diet for personal reasons. She is only able to eat cut up fruit in the evenings. She brought her fruit in a tupperwear and took it out when our meals came out. Immediately, out of nowhere the waitress zoomed in on her. "Did you ACTUALLY bring your own food??!" she asked incredulously. My friend was too stunned to speak. A few moments later the manager appears. He informs us that outside food is not allowed and it's a violation of the health code. We tried to explain the reason behind the special diet but he was not interested in it. All in all, a poor experience and would never spend my hard earned dollars there.

The atmosphere is pleasant and inviting, it's a good place to eat without being rush. With that said, I was very disappointed, understanding the menu was difficult even with a waiter trying to explain to you what it's. He said that it was something between home and cajun, you order like a tapas restaurant and you share, we had 3 plates, the pork plate was ok, the other plate was a carnitas, looks like something you cook and serve at home, no presentation and it had a lot of fat, we couldn't eat it. We order two glasses of house pinot noire, the waiter came back with a half bottle of wine, he suggested that it was a better value, after the meal we order another two glasses. In conclusion, 3 portions are not enough for two people, one portion we couldn't eat and the four glasses of wine cost $110. the total bill for both of us was $230 + tip. There are so many 5 star restaurants in Houston, I recommend you try another for half the price and better food.

The food is overrated and over priced. Eating there feels like a scam. The seafood tower ($135) contains about $20 in mediocre seafood. Even getting to the food that was served is a chore. The Korean Dumplings ($15) was a dissonant assault on the senses...smokes BBQ pork and Korean Kim chi paste is a pretty terrible combo. The softshell crab ($24) was bland. The pork belly ($27) was edible. The sides that come with any of the aforementioned dishes were terribly bland and a chore to eat.

Overpriced food. Ugly place and atmosphere. They sat us on the annex of the restaurant which looks like a cattle stable. Grey walls showing pipes and not even a picture 4 decoration. The meals seem original on paper but they just dont taste any good. We ordered 2 appetizers and they combine it in one plate. Waiter service was quite good though. In summary they serve bad tasting food, in a hole in the wall at the price of a Michelin starred restaurant.