Reviews / Profile Menus / Delivery/Catering Website Bistro Provence Hours: See Profile   13616 Memorial Dr Houston TX 77079 713.827.8008   11920-J Westheimer Rd (CLOSED) Houston TX You might also be interested in these:     French Restaurants    ZIP 77079 Profile Description: Jean Philippe Guy,and his wife Geneviève invite you to come and experience fine French food in a cozy and casual atmosphere, where the flavors of the plate are as important as the content. All of their menu items are prepared daily from scratch by Chef Gerard Vettraino; one might experience the full flavors of his osso bucco simmered in a garden of fresh herbs, or maybe his Bouillabaisse, garnished with an assortment of fresh snapper, sea bass, shrimp, scallops and mussels.   Add Review PROFILE     13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: Lovely atmosphere, skillful service, beautifully prepared and deliciuos food; very satisfying experience. One suggestion: rethink complimentary dipping oil recipe-- it was a little bitter, and slightly stale. On every other point, though, the restaurant was lovely. Thank you for a wonderful evening!! NAME: clangridge SUBMITTED: 6/1/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 5/27/2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: went there last night and loved it. we meet the chef a few weeks ago and very nice young man. we came on a wensday night and like i said loved it the sea bass out standing. we love the flourless chocolate cake it is to die for. We would like to say Thank you to the Chef for coming out to the table and saying hello it means alot keep up the good work. we will see you again soon. NAME: gb SUBMITTED: 3/6/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 02/08 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: went there Saturday Night it was great. The service was good and so was the Sea Bass and the Rack of Wild Boar I suggest you go and try it the flavors where out standing. The Chef and the Kitchen are fun to watch as they push out the food. We had the tulip the mousse was great. I highly suggest that you try this place friends told us to come and we feel in love with it. NAME: good guest SUBMITTED: 3/4/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 3/3/08 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: Really disappointing. We haven’t been in an over a year and got there early b/c the waits used to be long, but this time we were sat immediately. They were pushing a sparkling rose @ $8/glass which wasn’t spectacular but not bad. We were really looking forward to their bread and olive oil dip, which used to be a highlight, but it wasn’t fresh out of the oven warm, doughy and addictive like we remembered. The escargot was about the same, but one of them was extremely gritty and the bread that previously made it was mostly flat and uninteresting crust. Mains were also disappointing – the place has tight seating and we had a great conversation with another couple who were disappointed with the snapper (they said since the chef left about a year ago it hasn’t been 100%), the rib eye au poive really wasn’t a au poive and was more of an uninteresting veal demi which was just about the same sauce as the really poor rack of boar. It was ordered medium rare and it came out barely cooked and cold in the center. They refired it and came back very much same – raw and full of sinew and silverskin which might have been passible if it was even close to cooked as ordered. We left before desert and experienced the worst price/value ratio dinner we have had in a long time. With the empty tables on Friday, it seems like others have noticed the step down as well. There are too many other great places in town to give this one another chance. NAME: finnadat SUBMITTED: 3/1/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 2/08 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: food was very good enjoyed the short ribs and the chef came out to visit us at our table. The setting was very nice and everyone very friendly. the manager greeted us at the door and sat us I recomed you and try the chefs foie gras torchon. enjoyed it and will be coming back NAME: tmac SUBMITTED: 1/28/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/22/08 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: My husband and I had dinner there at 7:00 p.m. on a Thursday night with another couple and got rushed every step of the way. We had a hard time relaxing and talking as the waitress kept trying to move us along even though it was way before their closing time and no one was waiting for our table. Ruined an expensive meal. The salads were excellent as were the profiteroles for dessert. Braised ribs listed on their chalk board menu were way too fatty but great flavor. My husband's veal chop was slightly over-salted and over-cooked, but again, very good flavor to the dish. NAME: J SUBMITTED: 1/4/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/08 FREQUENCY: Visited once 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: You just can't go wrong with the level of this French Comfort food. The wine choices are incredible, the wait staff is French and knowledgeable, the food is inventive and the experience is authentic. We have come to dine here at least once a month. Its not kid friendly in any way, but if you children are well behaved it is a great experience for them too. No reservations are taken so if you want a spot on the weekends be there by 6:00. And just like Paris, the crowd comes in at 9:00. NAME: Memorialite SUBMITTED: 12/12/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/1/07 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: We tried Cafe Provence for lunch and sat outside, which was lovely. The woman who served us definitely spoke French, a big plus, and combined with the weather i almost felt as if i could be in Provence. The lunch specials on the chalkboard were quite reasonably priced, and the chicken raspberry was excellent, as was the salmon from the regular menu (and try the foie gras!). Altogether a very pleasant experience, and one that i would certainly like to enjoy again -- a mini vacation abroad. NAME: la française factice SUBMITTED: 12/12/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited once 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: My boyfriend and I originally planned on Cafe Toulouse to celebrate our one year anniversary but when we arrived they were having a private wine tasting. No wonder they never answered their phone! He had read about Bistro Provence on this site and we decided to try it. We arrived a little before 9p and when I walked in, I immediately felt as though we were in another country. The decor and feel of the place is very quaint and dim lit, and warmed by the fire of a brick oven. The waiter wanted to seat us at a corner table right next to another party, and we quickly asked for a different table (the place is very small if you don't mind sharing conversation with others). He was the same waiter who took our order, and wasn't very personable but I'd rather have no talk than a chatty waiter. Because the place is so quaint and has a foreign feel, I almost wished our waiter spoke a little French, or at least said 'oui' or 'merci'. We both ordered house wine, one red and one white, both excellent, and the appetizer of meats and pate. A little salty for my taste. The warm bread and butter is yummy. The menu has a wide variety of choices but it didn't take long to focus on the cornish hen for me and the duck for him. We both traded bites and were extremely happy with what we ordered. I tore into my feast, fingers and all, until there was nothing left on that bird! It was served with mashed potatoes and vegetables, both scrumptious!! Even my boyfriend said he should've ordered the cornish hen and has been teasing me ever since. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate cake along with glasses of port and sherry (I didn't like the sherry and sent it back, my first time to taste) and they kindly removed it from the bill. The "chocolate cake" was really three layers of mousse and we gobbled it down. We were so full by the time we left, and it was an awesome dining experience. It's truly a hidden gem, right smack dab in a small strip shopping center off of Memorial. If you want a unique experience with your honey, and made to feel like you're on vacation in another country, THIS is the place to go! We will definitely go back on any night! p.s. They close at 9:30 but a patron walked in at 9:25p and they seated him and he ordered a huge meal which they were more than happy to prepare. To me, that is a sure sign of warmth and hospitality. NAME: Sherri SUBMITTED: 8/2/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/24/06 FREQUENCY: Visited once 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: quaint, small space. great, big flavor. service was very attentive, maybe a little stuffy, but good none the less. food was exquisite. scallop in herb butter for appetizer was excellent. i had goat cheese ravioli with grilled shrimp and scallop skewer - fabulous. my wife got the cornish game hen and it might have been even better than mine! call for a reservation, there are only about twenty tables, we barely got in, and only because we hit it about 6:30 great dining experience NAME: o4 SUBMITTED: 6/5/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 02.2006 FREQUENCY: Visited once 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: This was my first time dining at Bistro Provence. My sister and I decided to have lunch there this afternoon and were instantly charmed by its cozy ambience. I ordered the Pork Skewer with a creamy peppercorn sauce! It was absolutely tender,juicy, and delicious!! It practically melted in my mouth! The potatoes were well salted and seasoned with herbs. The mixed vegetables were a delectable addition to the plate as well. My sis ordered the rabbit stew---divine!! It was tender and juicy and the sauce was exquisite.THis was our first and NOT our last visit to Bistro Provence. We will be dining there soon! NAME: April SUBMITTED: 3/17/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 03/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited once 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: Lured by the promise of authentic French fare, this Francophile foodie trooped all the way out to west Houston to meet a friend for lunch at Bistro Provence. Reviewers were enthusiastic, so I threw my gasoline budget out the window and braved I-10. Here's what I found: an authentically small French bistro, with excellent fougasse, really good escargots, OK onion soup, and ravishingly perfect viniagrette for my perfect little salad. I ordered a special from the black board (very FRENCH)--salmon and grouper with veggies and pasta in a buerre blanc sauce. It was a little overcooked, and on the bland side. However, the waiter had suggested a perfect wine pairing from the "by the glass" selections, and the service was excellent. One blah version of a not so typically French dish was more poor ordering on my part than a black eye on their kitchen. I will go again, when I have rested up from the effort of travelling outside the loop. "Il vaut le voyage." It was almost like being on a Latin Quarter side street, without the airfare or the jetlag. NAME: Timbergrove Tess SUBMITTED: 1/20/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/06 FREQUENCY: Visited once 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: My favourite restaurant in Houston. If you want someting that is intimate and not just another Houston chain go here. Its owner operated, has daily specials, excellent food, great service.... never been disapointed yet. They also have one of the most knowledageable wine waiters in Houston. Ask him for advice and he is superb at expalining complex wines to diners. Enjoy NAME: Jace SUBMITTED: 1/13/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/06 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: This is one of my 'most' FAVORITE restaurants in Houston. The ambiance is nice and cozy (a bit romantic also). It's small and quant. I've been to Paris w/my husband and everytime I come to Bistro Provence I get that feeling of being in Paris again! I get the mussels for appetizer and the lamb shank. It's so delicious. The warm, fresh bread they bring to you with the herbs is out of this world! The wine menu is wonderful as well. Whenever we have company, we bring them here. Everyone should try it. You won't regret it. NAME: Rhoda Mountfield SUBMITTED: 9/15/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/05 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: The wife and I fell in love with this place the moment we walked in and was greeted by several native french speaking staff members. I speak a little french, yet most everyone, including the patrons spoke fluently. Nice touch. The food was good, yet the wait for it took awhile and my wife ended up with the rack of lamb instead of the lamb shank. They apologized for the error and offered a free slice of very tasty key-lime pie. Ends up the cost of the pie was the same as the difference of the shank and the rack, which they kept on the bill anyways. I had the shrimp and scallop ravioli and she was thrilled with her food. I will be back soon and hope to bring some friends to share in the experience. NAME: Presto SUBMITTED: 12/15/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/04 FREQUENCY: Visited once 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: I've returned here several times in an effort to enjoy this nice little place next to the fire station on Memorial...... finally I picked the right menu items and was rewarded for my efforts (onion soup, filet mignon and the cheese plate for dessert). The service has always been great and the food authentic (i.e. not some microwaved junk). The wine list is first class. The ambiance is friendly, close (you will meet people whether you like to or not, it is a small place) and comfortable (the restroom is pretty sad however). NAME: McTex SUBMITTED: 6/17/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 05/04 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 11920-J Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: I have enjoyed at least 5 good trips to Bistro Provence. On my last visit I ordered the lamb shank and my colleague ordered the game hen. We each enjoyed an appetizer and enjoyed it. 45 minutes after the appetizer is finished we finish our wine. We still are waiting for the entree asked the waiter what was going on. He said the lamb shank is slowly roasted and takes a long time. He is right. BUT is takes 2-3 hours and is prepared earlier in the day, which I told him. He said we prepare it to order here as the reason for the delay. I was disappointed at the lie. A little commotion in the kitchen followed and 5 minutes later I see my lamb shank come out of the pot of boiling water in a vacuum bag. A simple apology for the busy kitchen would have sufficed. My colleagues game hen was as dry as jerky. I would give this place one more chance only because of the good experiences in the past. NAME: MJ SUBMITTED: 1/22/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: January 2004 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: This restaurant is a splendid surprise nestled in an odd strip mall. Do not let the location fool you; bring your appetite for a sumptuous suburban experience. I enjoyed the beef stew and goat cheese ravioli. The space is intimate and the chatter is hushed; it is hard to resist ordering a bottle (or two) of wine. Bistro Provence is extremely popular with the refined diners in Memorial, so there is typically a long wait for a table. It is only regrettable that there is no bar to wait at! The attire is casually elegant- I enjoyed being around others with good taste in dining as well as appearance. NAME: new to Houston SUBMITTED: 1/2/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/03 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: I've been to France twice now before i went to Paris this time i went to Provence. My wife and i love the seafood there and my wife loves the olive oil and bread. I have been to a few french bistros but this one is a stand out. The staff are really friendly and the wine tastes great! Try the salmon. NAME: Joseph Apty SUBMITTED: 9/16/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: 8/2003 FREQUENCY: Visited once 11920-J Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: We go to France frequently and this really is like the French bistros. Food is excellent and authentic bistro fare. The homemade bread and olive oil are fantastic. I usually get their fish specials while my wife can't get away from the grilled salmom. Their bernaise sauce is great. The ambience is very cozy and romantic. The staff under owner Jean Phillie Guy is very professional and polite. Nice French wine selection and good prices. Try the cappucino! NAME: Wests SUBMITTED: 9/15/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/2003 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... 11920-J Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: My husband and I discovered this wonderful place a couple of years ago. It's small, so you get great attention and service from the staff. The food is delicious. We always have a hard time choosing. They have fabulous "not on the menu" specials. Their desserts are some of the best we have ever had. It is also very romantic atmosphere. We usually go for a "never have a bad time" anniversary meal. The prices are moderate, so it won't break the bank, compared to other french restaurants in the city. Frankly, it's better food than most of them, for a lot less. NAME: sonja SUBMITTED: 8/11/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: August 2003 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times 13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, Texas 77079  713.827.8008 MY REVIEW: What a lovely place! I'd love to keep it a secret. I went with a regular customer and the staff could not have been more welcoming. Wonderful menu, beautifully prepared food. But it's real small, and they tell me it's almost always full. I can't wait to go back. NAME: Donna SUBMITTED: 12/20/2002   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/02 FREQUENCY: Visited once 11920-J Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: This is truly an authentic French bistro! I lived in France, and this reminds me of many of the bistros I frequented there. The service was good. Relaxed atmosphere--no rush. The food was excellant. Highly recommended. NAME: RebeccaB SUBMITTED: 6/3/2002   LAST VISIT WAS: June/2002 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times If you don't agree with these comments, agree with them or have additional comments, click here to Add Your Review. Restaurant Owners & Managers Curious about your Activity and Ranking on b4-u-eat? Want to Create or Update your Free Profile Page? Click here to Login. ©Copyright 1991 - 2008 B4-U-EAT.COM. All rights reserved. Design and database by B4-U-BUY