Roost

This is the local "hidden" gem in Houston. Definitely get the cauliflower appetizer and I always get the pickled vegetables of the day. Very cool eclectic menu has some Creole, South Asian and Middle Eastern influences and sometimes a little latin touch. Decent wine list and grab a local beer on tap. The atmosphere is very unpretentious..almost feels like your in your grandma's basement setting, but I am totally OK with it. One of my top go to restaurants in Houston.

Rotating menu, mostly wine and a few selections of draft beer. We had the large pretzel (bread) and stuffed peppers for apps. A Moroccan sausage dish and vodka sauce pasta.

We have come to Roost a handful of times and it is usually a mixed bag. One of my favorite things about Roost is that the menu changes frequently so you can come back often and never be bored. One of my least favorite things is that when you order red wine is room temperature to a little bit warm. On our most recent visit, we came on a Friday night for a date. The service is always very friendly and we were seated right away. I started with a salad and had chicken while my partner had the cauliflower and the duck confit. The foot was very good, but my only caveat is that I asked for my salad to be lightly dressed and despite assuring me that the salad came with very light minimal dressing it was positively swimming in vinaigrette. Lesson learned, I will just order it on the side next time. Outside of that we had a lovely dinner and am always happy to have this restaurant in the neighborhood.

I feel transported every time I eat here. This shout out is because we were there with a group of 8 people. It's a small restaurant, and yet we had plenty of room, server was absolutely wonderful, the food, so fresh and flavorful. We always get the bread service. I love doing this place family style to enjoy multiple dishes. We shared of each dessert at the end, good call. We normally go as a couple or on a double date, but wow they handled the eight of us superbly.

Food was ok, cauliflower was great but everything else was bland. We got the mushroom dumplings, venison meatballs, and chicken sausage - all lacked flavor. The chocolate cake was ok as well. Prices were not bad - dinner for two for about $100.

My partner and I came here to celebrate a birthday. The atmosphere is cozy and the service was pretty okay. We tried several dishes: fried cauliflower, pickled vegetables, oysters Rockefeller, Brussels sprouts, shrimp and grits, duck two ways, and donuts and coffee. The shrimp and grits, Brussels sprouts, and oysters were phenomenal, and everything else was good too. Although this restaurant isn’t at the top of my list, I do plan to return!

I was incredibly underwhelmed overall. First & foremost the good - our server was polite and responsive. The hostess also had set up a high chair for our infant based on the reservation made. That was nice and appreciated. We had 2 adults for a 5p dinner before it was crowded. We had our entire order ready by the 2nd visit, after ordering drinks at the 1st server visit. Additionally, half the order was off the restaurant week menu so one would think that would only simply things. We spent almost 2 hours there. The pickled veggies in the mason jar along with the bread service were good. The cast iron ribeye was plainly a bad recipe along with a really thin, tough steak that just pseudo resembled a ribeye. I am still thinking about how bad it was a week later. We also had a cheesecake that had the taste deleted. I don’t love overly sweet desserts, but this cheesecake was devoid of flavor. Lastly, throwing 2 or 3 mini splits in a restaurant full of people in a Houston summer just doesn’t cut it. At all. I regularly eat outside on covered patios with a young kid in tow. So, I’m not stranger to a warm setting for dinner, but it’s a decision to operate a restaurant in such an untenably hot setup. And for real lastly, bad food and a hot sweltering interior can be partially forgiven if it’s really cheap. Roost was expensive which is fair if you have really well done entrees and good cocktails, but Roost totally lacked these things.

I made reservations for a party of 7 and our table was ready for us when we arrived. We had the bread for an appetizer based on other reviews and it did not disappoint. The butters were very good. Some family members had the chicken and loved it. Some had the fish and liked it as well. I had the ribs which were excellent. Flavorful and meaty. I also had the Thai curry shrimp grits. The grits were so creamy. The curry was well done. I had the pear and ice cream dessert and it was great. The pears were a little tougher than I wanted but would still order again. The whipped cream was very good too. The service started off choppy with it taking a while for us to put in our drink orders and food orders and needing refills for a while but it eventually got much better.

This is the local "hidden" gem in Houston. Definitely get the cauliflower appetizer and I always get the pickled vegetables of the day. Very cool eclectic menu has some Creole, South Asian and Middle Eastern influences and sometimes a little latin touch. Decent wine list and grab a local beer on tap. The atmosphere is very unpretentious..almost feels like your in your grandma's basement setting, but I am totally OK with it. One of my top go to restaurants in Houston.

Rotating menu, mostly wine and a few selections of draft beer. We had the large pretzel (bread) and stuffed peppers for apps. A Moroccan sausage dish and vodka sauce pasta.

We have come to Roost a handful of times and it is usually a mixed bag. One of my favorite things about Roost is that the menu changes frequently so you can come back often and never be bored. One of my least favorite things is that when you order red wine is room temperature to a little bit warm. On our most recent visit, we came on a Friday night for a date. The service is always very friendly and we were seated right away. I started with a salad and had chicken while my partner had the cauliflower and the duck confit. The foot was very good, but my only caveat is that I asked for my salad to be lightly dressed and despite assuring me that the salad came with very light minimal dressing it was positively swimming in vinaigrette. Lesson learned, I will just order it on the side next time. Outside of that we had a lovely dinner and am always happy to have this restaurant in the neighborhood.

I feel transported every time I eat here. This shout out is because we were there with a group of 8 people. It's a small restaurant, and yet we had plenty of room, server was absolutely wonderful, the food, so fresh and flavorful. We always get the bread service. I love doing this place family style to enjoy multiple dishes. We shared of each dessert at the end, good call. We normally go as a couple or on a double date, but wow they handled the eight of us superbly.

Food was ok, cauliflower was great but everything else was bland. We got the mushroom dumplings, venison meatballs, and chicken sausage - all lacked flavor. The chocolate cake was ok as well. Prices were not bad - dinner for two for about $100.

My partner and I came here to celebrate a birthday. The atmosphere is cozy and the service was pretty okay. We tried several dishes: fried cauliflower, pickled vegetables, oysters Rockefeller, Brussels sprouts, shrimp and grits, duck two ways, and donuts and coffee. The shrimp and grits, Brussels sprouts, and oysters were phenomenal, and everything else was good too. Although this restaurant isn’t at the top of my list, I do plan to return!

I was incredibly underwhelmed overall. First & foremost the good - our server was polite and responsive. The hostess also had set up a high chair for our infant based on the reservation made. That was nice and appreciated. We had 2 adults for a 5p dinner before it was crowded. We had our entire order ready by the 2nd visit, after ordering drinks at the 1st server visit. Additionally, half the order was off the restaurant week menu so one would think that would only simply things. We spent almost 2 hours there. The pickled veggies in the mason jar along with the bread service were good. The cast iron ribeye was plainly a bad recipe along with a really thin, tough steak that just pseudo resembled a ribeye. I am still thinking about how bad it was a week later. We also had a cheesecake that had the taste deleted. I don’t love overly sweet desserts, but this cheesecake was devoid of flavor. Lastly, throwing 2 or 3 mini splits in a restaurant full of people in a Houston summer just doesn’t cut it. At all. I regularly eat outside on covered patios with a young kid in tow. So, I’m not stranger to a warm setting for dinner, but it’s a decision to operate a restaurant in such an untenably hot setup. And for real lastly, bad food and a hot sweltering interior can be partially forgiven if it’s really cheap. Roost was expensive which is fair if you have really well done entrees and good cocktails, but Roost totally lacked these things.

I made reservations for a party of 7 and our table was ready for us when we arrived. We had the bread for an appetizer based on other reviews and it did not disappoint. The butters were very good. Some family members had the chicken and loved it. Some had the fish and liked it as well. I had the ribs which were excellent. Flavorful and meaty. I also had the Thai curry shrimp grits. The grits were so creamy. The curry was well done. I had the pear and ice cream dessert and it was great. The pears were a little tougher than I wanted but would still order again. The whipped cream was very good too. The service started off choppy with it taking a while for us to put in our drink orders and food orders and needing refills for a while but it eventually got much better.

Had a great dinner, as always. Abi gave amazing service! I try to go on Mondays or Tuesdays because of the all night happy hour! But also love that the menu changes every two months or so so I keep coming back and trying new things. 5 stars!

Roost is still one of my favorite restaurants in Houston. Its cozy vibe, delicious food and excellent service continue to excite me now as it did 8 years ago, when I visited it for the first time. I visited Roost few weeks ago to celebrate my birthday with my family during Houston's Restaurant Week. Unfortunately, I can't remember what we ate, all I can say is that it was delicious! :)

I saw a giant pretzel with 3 homemade spreads on my Instagram feed, and I immediately made a reservation. The bread service is a must. Their spreads are seasonal, so when I went I had a pimento cheese spread, artichoke lemon butter, and salted passionfruit butter. I honestly can't say which was my favorite, as I ate them all on rotation! For my entree, I ordered the cajun fried chicken livers on a biscuit. The pickled jalapeños were not only a great touch of color to the plate, but they were also bursting with flavor. The chicken livers were fried to perfection. My only qualm would be that the biscuit was rock solid. I was hoping for something softer and doughier. This restaurant has a fun and friendly montrose vibe to it with a menu that changes every 2-3 months. It's rustic, old-fashioned, and very homey ...but make an early reservation if you want to find parking!

Overall, was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant and will definitely be back to try more. The food was different in a good way, they have a menu that rotates about every two months I believe. The calamari we had was Chinese fusion and was my moms favorite dish of the night. I appreciate that they didn't try to call it something like "Szechuan calamari", and the black bean flavor really stood out. We also tried the fish (it may be a recurring menu item) which I didn't realize was with mole sauce until the server gave a brief explanation that it would be a Persian take on the mole sauce since the chef was Persian. Even though I really do not like mole I still decided to give it a try. It was much better than mole I've had and I thought it was well done, but we just weren't used to the flavors so I'm not sure it's something I'd order again. I was a little disappointed in the dessert as it seemed so basic compared to the other dishes we had, but I hope to come back for the famous donuts and coffee! They also have a tasting menu which I would consider next time. Service was great. There's a row of parking spots right in front of the restaurant, but i can't comment on whether it's easy to park during busy hours. We came at around 6pm on a Sunday and we were the one of the only 2 parties there. It started to pick up as we left.

This place is such a joy to go to. The service is exceptionally warm and you can always count on a delicious meal. They take their food and business very seriously without coming off as pretentious or unapproachable. I usually prefer to try new restaurants rather than returning to the same ones, but this place will have me returning again and again. The menu changes often, always presenting new and creative dishes. Everything I've tried has been delicious and I can't wait to return to see what else this place can create! I want to give a special nod to the Valentine's Day special, the duck confit over beet risotto. I didn't think I liked risotto until I tried that. It was so rich and savory. A delicious, indulgent meal and truly one of the best things I've had in a while.

Roost is our go-to restaurant nearly every Friday night. The rotating menu is always fun and allows us to enjoy new things every few months! Service is top notch. Abi is our favorite server and the back-waiter never lets your water glass get empty. Dress up or dress down, it's your neighborhood restaurant! You will love this place!

I have been going to Roost for a decade and love it! They change the menu about every 6 weeks, which we appreciate as we never get bored with the food. We make sure to try every menu and often try each menu several times. We are not vegetarians, but some of the best cooled veggies you can eat are at Roost. Also, Abby is one of the best, if not best, waitresses in HTX.

Excellent service, recommendations, food temperatures, ingredients , presentation . Great ambience , location . Will definitely come back to try other dishes and a good glass of wine . Keep up the amazing work and attention to detail.

Came here for a romantic date night and it was everything we wanted and more! I had had this place bookmarked for a while, but hadn't yet had a reason to check it out. We had a reservation for 2 on a Saturday night - reservations recommended, as the place is small and I can see it easily filling up. Between the two of us, we generally like sharing a variety of dishes, so we ordered mix of appetizers, which only left room for one entree and one dessert. Our appetizers were the Bread Service, Fried Cauliflower, and Panipuri. The Bread Service is a homemade pretzel served alongside pimento cheese spread, truffle honey butter, and strawberry balsamic butter. Each spread was so good, but my favorite was the pimiento cheese spread - this one was the most abundant in serving size too. The Fried Cauliflower was absolutely delicious. Reminiscent of fried cauliflower served at other restaurants, this one had a good savory to it with a sweet miso dressing as a contrast. It was also topped with flakes that are similar to those you see served in takoyaki. The Panipuri was also very tasty. It's pretty similar to panipuri I've had at other Indian restaurants, so bonus points for featuring this amidst other American dishes, but also with a hearty serving of chickpeas in each little cup. Onto the entree. We shared the Teres Steak, which ended up being plenty for two of us after the appetizer "sampler" we got earlier. This steak was served in a red wine sauce with a side of mushrooms and homemade gnocchi. Solid 5/5. The steak was tender and melted in our mouths. I don't think I've ever had steak & gnocchi, but their homemade gnocchi was the perfect carb to go with the meat, and had a nice sear on the outside to give it an extra crisp. The mushrooms made for a delicious vegetable serving. And as if we still had room, we ended up ordering the Coffee n' Donut Holes for dessert, as this is apparently a Roost staple. This was the perfect way to end the night. The donut holes were just that, but way better that what you typically think of when it comes to donut holes. These were a little denser, though not too cakey, and the nutmeg flavor was in no way overpowering. These were served alongside coffee-flavored ice cream and dulce de leche, and topped with pistachios. Everything blended together so well. The coffee ice cream was not bitter at all, and complimented the donut holes perfectly. The dulce de leche added a touch of sweetness, and the pistachios gave the right amount of crunch. We were so full that while we finished the perishable ice cream, we ended up having to pack the donut holes home for future enjoyment. Our waitress for the night was fantastic (can't remember her name, dang it). She made an excellent wine recommendation, an Argentinian Malbec bottle, and gave us the best suggestions on food. We learned that the menu is constantly rotating, and the menu we had at the time in early July 2023 was going to change over the next few weeks. Our server came by often and made sure our waters and wine glasses were always full. Even when we finished our bottle, she asked if we cared for an additional glass of another wine, to which we gladly accepted. While delivering our food to the table, she explained everything in great detail and would often come back to ask for our opinion on her recommendations. I honestly didn't have anything negative to say then and now, as everything was just excellent. We will definitely be returning to Roost! I'm just drooling thinking of that coffee and donut holes. I believe their menu has changed ever since we visited (yes, this review is way overdue), so I'm totally down to return soon.

I guess I just don't get the appeal of this place. I came by with a group of nine on a Monday night. Given the location, the small dining area and the lack of parking were expected, but being crammed in a corner at a table that wasn't nearly big enough was a disappointment since we'd made the reservation over two weeks prior. All of us partook of the EatDrinkHTX menu for the campaign the restaurant was participating in. My wife opted for the fried cauliflower, which was nice but soft and unimpressive. For the main course, we went with the Roost Burger, a signature dish of the restaurant topped with goat cheese and garlic aoli. My burger came out underdone for how I ordered it, which wasn't a surprise. It seemed like those bringing out the food weren't aware of the ways we'd ordered our burgers and I got someone else's by mistake. The flavor of the burger was solid, but the fries were a complete let down. There was a decent portion, but not well seasoned and served with a side of way too little ketchup. I noticed that the collective reaction from everyone at our table was basically "I wouldn't order this again." The chicken milanesa was overcooked and dry according to both people who got it, while the falafel was lacking according to the one person who ordered it. Things only went downhill from there. Between the main course and dessert, the poor quality seating really began to take its toll. I don't know if it's a technique to turn over tables faster but your back hurting while waiting for food is hardly a pleasant experience. Those of us who ordered dessert opted for the salted chocolate budding. Salt was pretty much the only stand out flavor. They could have cut the salt in half and it still would have been the most prominent flavor in the dish. The more you ate, the more overpowering the salt flavor got. A complete miss and easily the worst desserts I've received at a restaurant in years. Service was attentive but the food came out very slowly. They were good about keeping our drinks refilled or replaced, though. The service and burger were the main reasons I didn't opt for a one star review. Regardless, like the majority of my group, I wouldn't come back here again.

I think I may have found one of my new favorite places in Houston! Roost is a local business that boasts a "farm-to-table" philosophy and changes its menu every 6-8 weeks to always keep things fresh. The atmosphere is super warm and homey, as well as romantic (though not overwhelmingly so--still perfectly acceptable to come with friends or family!). The prices are also very reasonable and the service is quick and friendly. I'll try not to spend too much time recommending specific dishes (since, like I mentioned, their menu is always changing), but I will say that the quality of the food is top-notch, and they are able to concoct unconventional food combinations that just work so well. One such example is the Melon n' Prosciutto! The Mahi Mahi we had was also great, cooked to a perfect crisp. And their famous cauliflower (which is actually always on their menu) is a must-try. Overall, highly recommend! It would also be in your best interest to make a reservation, since the restaurant is fairly small.

What a quint cozy restaurant nestled in a neighborhood. I like that you could go on a date here or bring your family. We came here for HRW and I was not disappointed. We had the nicest waitress. She explained everything so well. The pancetta was not a fave, but everything else was good.

Love this little gem in Montrose!! Came for weekday dinner to try out the Eat Drink HTX menu and was so pleasantly surprised. Firstly, the service here is excellent. Carla was so attentive and kind! The concept of the restaurant is farm to table with a rotating menu. There's an option for a $55 3 course meal. We opted for the eat drink HTX menu but added on a couple of things so we could try more! Fried cauliflower- so good! It's covered in a wonderful sauce and other accoutrements that make it savory and a great texture. Highly recommend! Brussels- also delicious, crispy and savory. A nice portion as well Bread service- mmm I could eat this everyday! The bread is warm and salted, very soft. The pimento cheese and other two dips are a lovely addition. Tuscan burger- love the goat cheese! It's also a pretty large burger and they cooked it perfectly medium rare as I requested. Fries are also crispy but still soft inside. Good filling option. Coffee and donut holes- so fun! The donut holes are warm and there's a good amount of them. They're crispy outside but soft inside and not too sweet. The coffee ice cream pairs perfectly. We had a res, but you should be able to get a table walking in on a weeknight. There's a few parking spaces out front otherwise you have to park on the street in the neighborhood.

We have come to Roost a handful of times and it is usually a mixed bag. One of my favorite things about Roost is that the menu changes frequently so you can come back often and never be bored. One of my least favorite things is that when you order red wine is room temperature to a little bit warm. On our most recent visit, we came on a Friday night for a date. The service is always very friendly and we were seated right away. I started with a salad and had chicken while my partner had the cauliflower and the duck confit. The foot was very good, but my only caveat is that I asked for my salad to be lightly dressed and despite assuring me that the salad came with very light minimal dressing it was positively swimming in vinaigrette. Lesson learned, I will just order it on the side next time. Outside of that we had a lovely dinner and am always happy to have this restaurant in the neighborhood.

Went into town to see a show and grabbed dinner at Roost with friends. It is a cute small house converted to restaurant. The ambiance and staff and food were great. The presentation and flavor of every dish was on point. My partner and I shared the kale and artichoke burger and it was awesome. Our table shared the famous cauliflower appetizer and the bread service (which is really a large homemade pretzel) with dipping sauces. Every dish had a beautiful presentation and excellent flavors. I think this is definitely a gem not to be missed.

This place is so weird, because you actually have to describe the aesthetic and size of this place. This restaurant seems to be an old small converted house on the inside. It's kitchy, it's cute, but it's freaking small. How small? I was with a group of people and the waitress bumped into me and so did another waitress. The waitress was maybe plus sized/curvy, the other waitress was thin and couldn't get around. I'm no walrus sized person, so them having difficulty getting around me is an issue. The space for the 7 or 8 of us didn't make sense. Like why were we squished in a corner, with a reservation? I don't think this restaurant is meant to sit groups larger than three. If a friend came along and said she was going here for her birthday, and said she was inviting more than 4 people, I would politely decline. Those chairs are too uncomfortable and the waitresses who accidentally bumped into me wasn't fun. To be fair the waitresses were always polite and apologized. I wasn't mad at them for bumping into me, because they don't have magical powers to increase the area size of a restaurant. Service was slow. Not sure why it was so slow either as we had a good view of the kitchen and they were hustling, so there's a disconnect somewhere. And the restaurant is way to freaking small to be behind. Food wise it was just okay to mediocre. The burger with the fancy goat cheese, now that was amazing. The cauliflower appetizer, I still haven't figured out if it was amazing or amazing, because I was hungry. They completely skimped on fries and they tasted super average and didn't bother with giving enough ketchup. I tried my husband's dessert. It was super gross. It was supposed to be like this chocolate decadent mousse, but it was way too thin, the mousse didn't know if it was supposed to be salted and crunchy, and it just tasted wrong. I love stealing food from my husband. That was one dessert I was glad to let him have. The waitress of ours was okay. She did do that fake southern thing, where she called everyone "love" and "honey" but it sounded like someone trained her to say that, not that its a natural part of her vocab. This isn't like a deal breaker or anything, but I kept wondering why she kept saying it, when it sounded like she was angry and forced too. Otherwise, she was a decent waitress. The restaurant did not have a lot of variety in terms of non alcoholic drinks and our waitress looked offended to I even asked. Like come on lady, not every restaurant outing is a boozy affair. I got the impression you were suppose to come here for the beer/wine, but hello not everyone drinks. They had sodas. Water. Can't recall if they had tea. Not a place I would venture too again. If you have to check it out for yourself I recommend you do it with a party of three or less and avoid the chocolate mousse and ask upfront for extra french fries and ketchup. A larger party will have you feeling stiff and sore and wondering why your party is squished against a wall.

Made my way back here after many years! It's a very cozy/quaint spot- good date spot. Did HRW menu- opening dishes set a negative tone. The melon soup was ok, but the watermelon salad was such a disappointment. Everything else that followed was pretty spot on. Farm to table dining, and of course love that the menu changes regularly save the few staples (ie cauliflower). Parking will be neighbourhood street parking- very limited parking in front. Server was great and attentive.

Went here last night and brought some friends with us this time, menu changed a little recently and love the options. The food is great. The service is great and love the atmosphere of this quaint little spot. I definitely recommend reservations as it seems to fill up fast, especially on weekends. For appetizer we had the bread service and the tomato tart. Both were great, but the tomato tart was great flavors!! Entree I had the salmon and my partner had the pork chops, again both were great. And for dessert, I can't help but always get the coffee and donuts. The staff is always great, this time our waitress was amazing, offering suggestions, super friendly and absolutely would come back because of her and the food. I believe her name was Meghan. Try it out you won't be disappointed. Ohh. And the only reason it was 4 stars, lol, it was hotttt in here. Thermostat near the table was reading 85 degrees. I know it's hot in houston right now, but we were all sweating at one point or another lol. Turn up the AC.

It's about time I write a review for Roost! I have been a few times and every single time, it is always such a wonderful experience. The atmosphere is super cozy with limited seating and warm lighting to set the mood. I highly recommend making a reservation if you plan to come during peak dinner hours and especially Friday and Saturday. The menu changes every few weeks, but there are a few core menu items that do not change. Some of the menu items that I have tried that are regular menu items are: bread service (butter flavors do change), fried cauliflower, and coffee n donut holes. There is usually a burger option (toppings change), a pasta, and a variety of protein options. The bread service is a MUST. It is a HUGE pretzel that comes out super fresh and hot. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The spread is usually a pimento cheese and two butter flavors that change every few weeks - one savory and one sweet. This time it is Chinese black bean butter and Vietnamese coffee butter. Both are SO flavorful! Every single dish here does not disappoint! It's all fresh and all sourced locally. Usually chicken is not my favorite protein, but every single chicken dish here has been one of my favorite things on the menu! Right now there is a delicious fried chicken dish with corn soufflé and kale slaw - it is SO good!! The breading is so crispy and the chicken is so juicy! The pasta dish is also a top favorite of mine as well! The pasta is sourced locally from BOH Pasta and Pizza. Give this place a try if you're looking for a cute place for date night or a girls' night out!

I don't think I've ever had such authentically welcoming service in Houston (thanks, Carla!). From seating at our reservation time to leaving, everyone was hospitable and professional. We had to do the bread service and cauliflower - both excellent! I probably ordered wrong w the Szechuan chicken which was ultimately a bit meh, but my husband's steak was a home run! We did feel a bit cramped at the two top stuck against the wall, but it's an intimate environment. We liked that they offered some interesting non alcoholic drinks. Our early dinner time proved helpful w parking out front, but it would be limited if you had a later dinner reservation.

Roost has been on my list for years, finally get a chance to come here on a Friday night. The restaurant is small and cozy, tables are very small but overall it has great neighborhood vibes. We ordered: The famous fried cauliflower: It has scallions, toasted pine nuts, miso dressing, bonito flakes on top. It definitely offers a unique creamy flavor to the cauliflower, the cauliflower was soft and not as crispy as I imagined. Spiced Gulf Fish, pearl couscous, dried fruit, almonds, saffron butter, grilled shrimp, herbs: I highly recommend this dish. The fish they had for Friday was mahi mahi, the fish was tender and the couscous was sweet and savory at the same time, it definitely elevates the whole dish, paired with the beautiful creamy saffron butter, it was delightful. Texas Quail Cacciatore, classic ragout, black olives, capers, grilled lemon, herb orzo pasta: Recommend this dish. Quail was flavorful and juicy, the ragout sauce is rich and thick, big portion. Dessert: Black pepper & berry bread pudding, warm whiskey cream, Creole cream cheese ice cream: we were not impressed with this one. It was okay, bread pudding was moist but nothing really stands out but just the strong taste of black pepper. It is interesting, but I would recommend trying something else.

Roost is our absolute favorite restaurant in Houston. We love the new menus every 5-6 weeks and always can't wait for the next visit. I have never gotten a meal I did not enjoy! The staff is so kind and always willing to give recommendations! We will definitely be back :)

I really like the vibe of this place. Tasty American food in a chill, not pretentious spot. Can be a little hit and Miss on some items but they change menus often to keep up with what is in season so you can keep trying new things. The bread service is amazing. Parking is a little limited but can fine street parking as an alternative. Recommend reservations.

Great restaurant! The bread service is amazing and definitely a must get for everyone who comes here. If you want to really experience the restaurant, I'd recommend doing the prixe fix menu ($55ea, 3 courses, and $5 donated to local food bank). The menu changes every 4-6 weeks and always has a good variety of portions to accommodate anyone's diet or preferences (meat, fish, vegetarian). It's a small restaurant with seating for around 50-60 people, so even when the place is packed, you can still have a nice conversation with the people at your table It's a great spot for a date. If you haven't been, go local! Go Roost!

It's been a while since we've been to Roost, so we decided to stop by last night before heading to Montrose for some Halloween fun. I opted to do the tasting menu and got the classic cauliflower, the duck for my entree, and the basque cheesecake for dessert. We also ordered the PEI mussels cooked in this amazing curry broth as an additional appetizer. It was served with grilled bread and honestly was my fav dish of the night. I could have had this for an entree and been completely happy! The cauliflower was prob my second favorite. It's an oldie but goodie. The basque cheesecake was also phenomenal with the luxardo cherries. Overall, roost still has that nice charm that gives it a cozy feel. And the service was fantastic as always!!! Love revisiting a Montrose staple.

My girlfriend and I went to try Roost for a late Valentine's Day. We basically had the entire place to ourselves and I have to wonder if that's because when you visit their site they are so adamant about making reservations. Personally I would add to the site "walk in's welcome" because as first timers it was almost off putting. Andy made us feel really welcome though you really couldn't have asked for better service. We got the famous fried cauliflower and WE GET IT. It was so damn good. I got the braised short ribs and the corn was so good I could have had it as a meal along with the pickled tomatoes. The ribs were excellent taste wise but were slightly chewy. However, my girlfriend's meal was extremely bland she got the crab pasta and it was FILLED with shells. Think watery Alfredo with sand. Also, we got a margarita.... As a bartender i would say It had potential but it was so sour they needed to cut it or at least dress it up with a sugar rim. Lastly, the decor. Paint chipping and I get the shabby chic look but it was only giving shabby. We are gonna give it another try because like I said the service was awesome and my meal was good. Cool little spot.

Visit date: December 22, 2022 ROOST Menu Starting: November 10, 2022 Service - 2/5 Provided feedback on Spiced Chicken Tagine, server expressed demeaning commentary following feedback. Cauliflower - 4/5 Creamy. Pine nuts added texture and chives provided slight change to profile of cauliflower. Bread service - 2/5 Cold. Had potential. Spiced Chicken Tagine - 1/5 Flat. Bites lacked elements of flavor nuances. Returned to Kitchen.

Came here for the Houston Restaurant week menu. Quaint restaurant with a few tables inside - highly recommend making a reservation. The chicken and dumplings were more suited for cold weather dinner. The steak was well flavored. The fried cauliflower is their claim to fame so you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't order it. The donut holes and chocolate tart are tasty desserts. We weren't fans of the appetizer options on the Houston restaurant week menu.

Homerun. On all accounts. Food, ambiance, staff, experience, etc. 5 stars for me = memorable food and I can confidently tell you I'm going to remember this food. The pretzel/bread service dish caught me by surprise- wow, yum. I don't even like pimento cheese and I loved it. The fried cauliflower is a tasty treat and visually pleasing. The burger was cooked to perfection with awesome fries I ate as leftovers heated in my oven today- still delicious. And the finale with donut holes and coffee ice cream was sensational. I look forward to more meals here and want to follow their newsletter for special events. I also want to try their chef's tasting menu. This was an awesome find and I totally recommend!!

Roost has always been on my go to list in Houston for years but for whatever reason I just never got around to going until recently. And boy, do I regret not coming earlier! This restaurant has a really amazing menu, something I wasn't quite expecting from the exterior and interior. It's a very homey restaurant that makes you feel comfortable immediately, with tables that have seen some loving wear and tear. I think what was most striking to me about roost is that the food, ingredients, and modern menu paired in this homey restaurant was just a really refreshing experience. With a group of three we ordered quite a lot of food, favorites were: Bread service - cannot rave enough about how good this was. I'm not usually a big bread person but the spreads and butters they paid it with were just sooooo good. Cauliflower - it came with a miso sauce that just added a lot of depth to the flavor and was just incredible Honestly we ordered a lot of food and I loved every dish. I don't think you can really go wrong with anything here! Definitely adding roost to my rotation of restaurants.

Very creative cuisine and tasty food. The flavor is on the food and not on the hot sauce or dressings. Real food and great experience. One of the few places in Houston with excellent service!

Fantastic chicken, great service, nice casual homey feel. Dessert was wonderful. Great local spot

Had reservations weeks in advance for my sister in laws birthday. We were looking forward to this and it did not disappoint. Everything was outstanding. Absolutely perfect. I have no photos to post because we were all just enjoying the moment. Wonderful time had by all.

*Make a reservation (easy to do online). The place is really small although we had no issue reserving a day in advance. They require a credit card to do so, FYI. **First timers: I highly recommend getting the bread service and the fried cauliflower (the only dish that has consistently remained on their constantly changing menu). Excellent food. The sort that defies expectations. Initially, I wasn't too excited about their current menu. However, the quality of the food truly surprised me. This is the sort of restaurant that could serve you boring vegetables and make them taste good. We tried: -Bread service -- A large, warm pretzel. Delicious. Came with amazing pimento cheese spread and two unique butters (Vietnamese coffee & Texas chili spice). So good. -Fried cauliflower -- Yum. Creamy and flavorful (although not as crispy as I'd anticipated). -Scallop crudo -- Great flavor combo of watermelon and spicy pepper. -Herbed tomato tart -- My least favorite. Oddly, it tasted better reheated in my microwave the next day (the cheese was more melted, I think). -Chilled cantaloupe gazpacho -- Fantastic. One of the best cold soups I've ever had. -Salmon filet with okra stew -- Really tasty. The okra stole the show -- it was perfectly cooked and just the right texture. -Chicken and dumplings -- Really good. Delicious gravy. Even the traditional vegetables (peas and carrots) were somehow exemplary. The textures were just right. It takes talent to make peas and carrots stand out. -Coffee and donut holes -- Delicious. -Dark chocolate flan -- I'm not a huge flan fan but this was really good. I usually think of flan as being jiggly but this was rich and creamy. The ambiance is cute, cozy, and charming. Rustic decor. It is a small place so it can get a bit loud during busy times. Excellent service. Our waiter was very personable and attentive. Would return in a heartbeat (once the menu changes).

Food forward restaurant! Great service! Excellent quaint atmosphere! Will definitely go back!

Wanted to try Roost, and chose to get curbside dinner on a weekend during HRW. For their $45 3-course dinner, I chose the bacalao fritters, 8 oz angus teres major steak, and the warm apple cake for dessert. The fritters were tasty little bites and I enjoyed the saffron aioli very much. One star down for the steak, as it was supposed to be cooked to medium. I found it to be tough. The apple cake was delightful and not overly sweet. I docked this place another star for the portion size. For $45/dinner, I expected larger portions for the price. Although service was prompt and I appreciated their curbside pickup process, maybe it would have been a more pleasurable dining experience had I just dined in.

Everyhting is bigger in Texas except Roost, in a good way! We came here as part of a bachelor party celebration and this was the perfect dinner to start the night. All aspects of our experience were top notch. As alluded to, the atmosphere was intimate as the dining area was very small with not many tables. Our waitress was attentive and provided recommendations to our group, which is always appreciated. Lastly and most importantly, the food was excellent. For apps, we got the fried cauliflower and "bread service". Bread service in quotes as the bread was actually a delectable huge pretzel, not disappointed at all. For my entree, I got the steak frites. Steak was incredible and the fries, mushrooms, and sauce complemented perfectly. For anyone visiting Houston or locals trying to find a new spot, go to Roost! You will not be disappointed and you're welcome in advance.

Delicious and creative food. Very cute restaurant, nice ambiance. Great service! Great for any occasion.

Came here for Houston Restaurant Week! Was able to get a reservation on Open Table & was seated right away. This restaurant is cute & feels like home. An intimate dinner away. Went with some girls & we all ordered the fried cauliflower, their 8oz steak & dessert from the HRW menu. The fried cauliflower is probably some of the best I have had. Super good! Steak was cooked just right (medium rare) and the sauce/potatoes were super yummy. Dessert was perfect. The donut holes were so good topped with ice cream. A great place to catch up with friends or have a cute date night.

Come here for the desserts! The main menu changes depending on what is in season. Was not blown away by the food for what it was priced at.

I was pleased to discover this past weekend that Roost is still one of the finest restaurants in Houston, pandemic be damned. However, take heed of the mandatory 10% gratuity added to all takeout orders. Roost is synonymous with elevated rustic fare that toys with compelling flavor combinations and is prepared with high-quality ingredients. The menu rotates regularly, but I'll give you an accounting of our experience to give you a taste for what to expect: Soup du Jour - happened to be a phenomenal sweet potato bisque with toasted pumpkin seeds, and I think balsamic vinegar? It was rich and creamy with a dash of tanginess. Persian Eggplant Dip - excellent profile of sweet and sour between caramelized shallots and the lactic acid from goat's whey yogurt, brightened by mint oil and parsley. Fresh Gulf Fish - best dish of the evening in the form of perfectly cooked, flaky and tender Mahi Mahi served aside an eye-poppingly flavorful medley of pickled vegetables and spicy corn salad. Roost at its best. Bacalao Fritters - I quite enjoyed these little fried spheres of fish and potato with a creamy saffron aioli and some fruity heat from red peppers, but my wife found them mediocre. I do wish it were more seafood-forward. Local Pork Belly Dan-Dan noodles - The only misstep I think of our meal. Definitely wasn't bad, but don't think it went far enough to be considered an innovative take on a Chinese classic and you'll find much more compelling flavors in many of the Sichuanese powerhouses in town. My vegetarian co-diners fashioned their own 5-course meal from the menu and came away thoroughly impressed. Some of the dishes are on the pricier end, but you get what you pay for in terms of quality, with premium ingredients combined with exquisite technique.

It was really good... for everybody but me. My mom ordered the summer tomato with a side of artichoke soup and she really liked her entree and her side. My dad ordered the chicken saltimbocca and he really liked his too. I got to try some of it and the texture was spot on . Although MINE was not the best I know I gave them a five star overall but mine was about a three star. I ordered the Louisiana shrimp and crab cake. This is my first time having a crab cake, so I might just not be a crab cake guy, but in my opinion, it wasn't that good. Also because the salad was covered with dressing, but it was covered in the crab cake sauce too, which together was not very appetizing.

Definitely gonna be one of my go to here on out! Bread service was delicious, not sure what that spread was but it complimented the pretzel very well. Scallops and escargot were very good. But I would say that the fried cauliflower topped with Bonito flakes was the star and very creative. Not a huge fan of the Rockefeller oysters which were fried or the coffee donut dessert. But overall a great experience! They have a rotating menu so I'm excited to try some different when I go back!

Matthew C.'s 2013 review of this joint first put it on my radar of hidden gems to try, as Matthew was never wrong about any of the opinions he put out the good word on through the yelp - at the time I was still fawning over Ray Salti's Sorrel which had knocked farm to table out of the park, before it closed down and became the pizza shoppe in the same space. After Matthew quit posting on yelp I tried chanting his name three times in the mirror but he did not appear to give more updated local hidden gem recommendations so this review did not become the first five minutes of an episode of the CW's Supernatural where the pandemic brought us final answers that (a) #Destiel is canon and (b) Castiel is replaced by a dog. Now that the full Teen Wolf series is added to the Amazon I intend to use my remaining quarantine/isolation time before the vaccines to determine if #Sterek is canon as much as Destiel, and if Stiles is ultimately replaced by a cat, or a particularly interesting piece of lettuce if the Supernatural formula holds true. Roost is a Houston institution that I am glad has navigated the pandemic, and continues to put out that fire magick hashtag emoji delightful food on the delivery apps for now. I can best explain Roost to the uninitiated that they are laser focused on the best ingredients, the best combinations of flavours, and ensuring that everything you taste is a flavour bomb that can become your version of Proust's madeleine - a delightful, memorable food experience. Roost really is one of those things that you can get pretty much everyone that enjoys food to agree on - while you mention anywhere else, even Xochi, there is always an edgelord or three that is going to disagree with you. Pre-pandemic their usual appearance on the Houston Restaurant Weeks were how they came to find new fans each year - and to demonstrate they are in it for the community and for a good cause, which is important in the type of restaurants we should continue to support. If you even drop in on their presence on the world wide webpages one of the neat things you learn is that Kevin Naderi volunteers with Recipe For Success, so he is a good guy. Roost is probably most famous for the bread service and the cauliflower so once they hit the delivery apps I was hashtag here for it. Also eggplant is my favourite everything (it goes with everything and on everything, like hummus in You Don't Mess With the Zohan film) so I had to get the Persian eggplant dip to round out my spread of things that pair well with having been drinking heavily all afternoon like a true Rick Sanchez would do. A review of Roost's delightful sides and small dishes in three acts. The famous bread service is Slow Dough fresh bread with spreads of house pimento cheese, garden herb garlic butter, and summer peach butter which clocks in at $8. There was nothing not to like here but it is not a main, so you need to go bigger whilst you stay home and that brings you to the veggies since you already have the pimento cheese covered. The famous fried cauliflower with scallions, toasted pine nuts, miso dressing, and bonito flakes clocks in at $9. The best word to use for this is decadent, as other words would miss the mark. People that are not the biggest fan of vegetables come to this biz specifically for this side if that tells you anything. Whatever your version of decadent, luxurious, pampered, etc. this is the side that you need to live that best life and it is in a convenient cauliflower package. Persian eggplant dip with caramelized shallots, goat's whey yogurt, mint oil, and warm naan clocks in at $10. I have tried to capture that the bread service and cauliflower were good/decadent, but the eggplant dip was absolutely brilliant. Anything eggplant gets my motor running but this one added a turbocharger and was clocked doing 88mph on one of our many pothole laden streets inside the loop. The menu is seasonal and changes to keep your life interesting through the seasons - hashtag 525,600 minutes. Things that remain consistent through the year are utilising high quality ingredients, the attention to detail in blending and layering flavours to make good ingredients become amazingly memorable dishes, and that Roost/Kevin seem to be doing all of the right things for the community (HRW, Recipe for Success, etc.) Roost is one of those places on my short list that are my edition of Houston when colleagues or whatever are only in town for a day and need recommendations for what to see and do with their limited time. Their menu is expansive enough you need to keep going back (or getting delivery) to reach all four corners. I love roost, heart eyes emoji.

I know that they don't make their own breads but I love their bread service. The butter or stuff that they make to put on the butter is always so good. They also have one of the best fried cauliflower dish. Love their donuts afterwards for dessert.

Service: 2 Soooooo slooooooooow. We came here for dinner on a week night and waited so long for everything. Water, appetizers, entrees, check. All took an abnormal amount of time. There was no line so not sure why the wait time was so significant. Food: 4 Not the best, not terrible. The bread plate was a pretzel, at dinner I'm not typically a fan of a pretzel. The Nutella butter was our favorite item from the whole night. Absolutely delicious.

Great place! Really good food. We had the salmon dish and scallops with grits it's was all really delicious. Great wine nice relaxing dinner and amazing service. We def will be regulars

My visit was last week to sample their Houston Restaurant Weeks menu. When arriving, I noticed that Roost has about 7-8 parking spaces in front of the building and then all of the street parking you can find in the neighborhood. Walking in, it has one medium size dining room with windows only on the street side. Reservations are recommended. The HRW menu had a $35 price and included 3 courses. From the options listed for each course, I chose the summer tomato salad to start then the 8 oz. airline chicken breast as the main and then to finish the rum and plantains foster along with a glass of Malbec wine. Starting with the salad, I fell in love with it at the first bite. The flavors were incredibly popping in my mouth with each fork full. The goat cheese mousse, dill, shallots and kalamata truffle were perfect and those beautiful light red tomato slices must have come from heaven. The perfect tomato. This dish was so good, I could have also had it for my second and third courses and left happy. The best I have ever had. The chicken breast arrived later with braised cabbage, fennel, tarragon creme and croutons. It's flavors while milder were still very satisfying. It was a very good entree that I enjoyed. Finally, the dessert arrived with a nice sized scoop of rum raisin ice cream on a bed of vanilla cake, walnuts and of course, plantains. The ice cream was totally delish with that rum flavor. Give me a pint! Also, I really liked the other ingredients including the plantains which while different were tasty. An excellent dessert. This meal was a 4-5 in my opinion but what put it over the top was the table service. The waitress was excellent. Rachel performed her job very professionally and there wasn't a need at the table that wasn't fulfilled in a timely manner. Even though this was my first visit here, I feel comfortable giving a 5 for an excellent experience. I plan to return soon.

Great food and service. Good food and ambiance for casual dinner. Menu had a good variety of options.