benjy's   2424 Dunstan Rd Houston TX 77005 713.522.7602 You might also be interested in these:     American Food    Business Lunches    Sunday Brunch    ZIP 77005   Add Review       MY REVIEW: I like to think of ourselves as regulars because we live within a couple blocks, but as my wife reminds me, we only go here a couple times a year. That said, we really enjoy it. The food in the main restaurant is excellent, although you could go through the menu pretty fast if you visited frequently. We DO visit the upstairs lounge every 1-2 months, though. It has always been one of our favorite spots for a drink, even before they started the extensive happy hour food specials. I must admit that it has become frustrating to go to the lounge now, not because anything has really changed, but because it has become almost impossible to get a seat. We've had to give up a few times, but we were successful last week, and we were rewarded with what amounts to a full meal and drinks for about $40. The appetizers are huge and cheap, but not any different in quality than what you're getting downstairs. Last time, we had calamari, dumplings, and pizzas. If the prospect of eating appetizers makes you worry about being left hungry, just order the pizza and that won't be a problem. Quite frankly, I'm not sure they're making money on the food at those prices, but the customers are so happy that they end up drinking more. Servers and bartenders are great. They tend to remember faces and are friendly. Some of the patrons are another story, but that's not benjy's fault. NAME: Dave7 SUBMITTED: 1/16/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: January 2008 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: This was my first time at Benjy's. It was a company lunch and we had a table reserved. Our table was upstairs in the big dining area. The restaurant is really nice with nice decor. The waiter was wonderful and very attentive. For appetizers, we ordered the wontons, the seared tuna spring rolls, and crab cakes. They were all really good! The wontons don't taste like the typical wontons at chinese restaurants and had a flair to them. The tuna spring rolls were very tasty and excellent. The crab cakes had huge chunks of real crab in there as well. For lunch, I ordered the goat cheese risotto... it was pretty good, but I probably won't be ordering it again. It is a bit plain. The surf and turf was brought out for my coworker and looked soooo good. I'll definitely try that next time. The salmon also looked tasty as well. The dessert menu looked really good as well. I ordered the creme brulee, which is the best one I've ever had! The fudge cake with ice cream looked awesome, although I didn't try any, but plan on sharing that because it is huge for a dessert dish. The fudge was just oozing on the chocolate cake. Some of the desserts are actually bigger than the presentations on the dessert plate, so you can share yours with another... Overall, definitely will be back--good waitstaff, service, and food. I hope I don't have the bad experiences some people say they have. NAME: Anonymous SUBMITTED: 12/10/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: We planned to go to another restaurant, but it was closed. Our guest was waiting for us and saw many people went to Benjy's and suggested to go there. It was a good experience! We ordered French Toast and Chicken stack. The French Toast was scrumptious (sp?) and the Chicken stack is not bad. The FT is crusted with nuts. I wished they put more coulis. NAME: palm SUBMITTED: 10/7/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: Sep 2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I called around 10:00 a.m. for a table for two at 11:00 a.m. since it was Sunday of the Labor Day weekend. We arrived promptly to a restauraant with plenty of seating. We were shown to a less than advantageous table. When I asked to be seated at another open table, we was told it was either that table which we did not want, or the winebar upstairs, which by that time was filled with parents and their small children. When I asked why we could not sit at the table of our choice I was faced with an arguement by the two hostesses saying that the table was reserved. We reminded them that I too had made a reservation and that there was no name or any other indication that the table was occupied. They left us standing there while they went somewhere to decide our situation. Finally but quite begrudginly we were permitted to dine at the table we preferred. Although many diners arrived after us, there remained many 4-tops available throughot our whole meal. This lack of cordial hospitality, which I think should be "job #1" at any eatery in Houston started our brunch on a sour note. Thankfully the waiter had more sense and treated us with the respect due any one dining in this restaurant. Unfortunately, to make their impression worse,our exit was parsimoniusly acknowledged. It'll be a while before we return, unless you take your "cold shoulder of hostess" off the menu. NAME: 50-something couple SUBMITTED: 9/2/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 09/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: Our first visit was on Father's Day, for the Sunday brunch. It was packed of course, but the service was excellent. The food was wonderful! I had the quiche, unlike any I have ever had before. I could order that every time. One of my friends’s had the Texas omelet, and the other had the crab cakes benedict. Everything was delicious. The Bellini’s were excellent too. We went back the next Sunday and will be back again soon. NAME: Cthrneld SUBMITTED: 7/7/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/07 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: I went here for Saturday brunch 2 weeks in a row! I had some family from out of town come in and they loved the menu. I highly recommend the crab cake and eggs, salmon omlette, and the french toast is huge! Great atmosphere and the bottomless strawberry lemonade was awesome! Not sure how Sundays are but my Saturdays have been great! NAME: PickyEater SUBMITTED: 11/13/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: November/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: I went to Benjy's today and had the misfortune of taking my Administrative Assistant and our HR Director for lunch. I have been dining at Benjy's for years. I was told there was a private party and we had to eat upstairs in the bar area. That was fine. I was shocked when were marched out of the restaurant, in 95 degree heat, to a back door and staircase reeking of cigarette smoke. When we left after lunch, a waiter pointed to a corner as we were leaving and said "There's the door." NO apologies. No consideration of the core business and customers of the restaurant. I was told by the hostess that the offer from a publishing company for the party was "too good to refuse" and the party insisted no one walk through the dining room. That is a condition that should have been refused out of hand as unacceptable. There could easily have been set up a discrete roped barrier to allow direct access to the stairs for regualr customers. I was disappointed in the lack of customer service attitude (for his type of business) of the restaurant's management toward its primary customers. I hope there are a lot of private parties booked, as I would have reservations on returning with guests anytime soon. NAME: gdsmd SUBMITTED: 5/25/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 5/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: What an incredible experience! Dined there for the fifth time last week with a group of six doctors in town for a conference in the Med Center. It was the first time dining at Benjy's for all of my guests and the constant raving really made my head swell. We arrived early to have some drinks upstairs for happy hour. The consensus was "The best Mojito ANYWHERE!" We were seated promptly at our reservation time by a cheerful host. From the appetizers to the desserts the meal was exceptional. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! NAME: foodie 111 SUBMITTED: 5/23/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: May 2006 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: Absolutely miserable experience, and rather costly too. After waiting for nearly 2 hours after being told only a 25 minute wait by 3 snotty young ladies in head to toe herion-chic black, we are ushered around to various corners of the place, drinks in hand, by a man with a serious attitude. Once finally seated we were served bread flakes with a gritty vegetable paste that was as flavourless as bathub grout (I'd imagine anyway). Our appetiser of fried calamari was large and fresh but overly salted and served with ketchup. I ordered the Filet with pureed potatoes and fresh spinach. The filet was cooked within an inch of its life and grey on the top most inner layers while vaguely pink in the centre. The potatoes were flavourless and the spinach was gritty, bitter, and swimming in oil. I finished the filet because I was starving and it was 27 dollars, but left the rest. Guest had tea smoked duck with rice pilaf. Duck was fair in flavour but nothing extraordinary, pilaf was dull and uninspired--carrots were flavoured with maple syrup. So rather like eating duck flavoured carrot pancakes. In addition to very slow and unhelpful waiter (he dropped the food and left until it was time for him to drop the CHEQUE and run!!) I had to spend my evening listening to 3 very drunk VERY single girls throwing themselves at men who were clearly more interested in our half starved hostesses. Conversation at our own table was very nearly impossible!! Prices were outrageous for the quality and the atmosphere and service, and we are not shy about dropping a tidy amount for an incredible dining experience. Pretention and desperation and nothing short of arrogance are the only attributes that could be applied to a place like Benjy's NAME: b sharpe SUBMITTED: 4/4/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 2-06 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I was a bit irritated when our table wasn't ready at our reservation time and we were asked to go upstairs for a dink in the lounge. To add to the irritation, the waitress upstairs had no sooner brought our drinks when we were told our table was now ready. Then, we couldn't add the drinks to our dinner bill--not a big deal, but annoying. However, once seated, our waitress was delightful, very pleasant and charming, even indulging one of my freind's often bizarre sense of humor. The food was delicious, and even the wine by the glass was very respectable. All in all, after a shaky start, a very enojoyable dining experience for a reasonable price. NAME: Johnny M SUBMITTED: 3/16/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 03/06 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Starting from the time I called for directions till the waiter brought out my complimentary birthday cake I felt very spoiled by the staff at benjys. I got the feeling they were genuinely excited that my husband and I were coming in for the first time just talking to the person who answered the phone. The food was amazing (the salmon portion was HUGE and well complimented by a light sauce w/ shrimp over the top) We went w/ our waiter's suggestions and were not disappointed, the beef filet is one of the best we've had and again the portion was more than generous. My husband found a bottle of wine on the list that he is always looking for, which was reasonably priced and just an added bonus to our evening. We will defintely return to our new favorite spot! NAME: Farah SUBMITTED: 9/20/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/19/05 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: My boyfriend and I ate at Benjy's on a Friday night. We made reservations for 8 o'clock and were seated promptly upon arrival. The staff was attentive and so was the manager on duty. We had ahi tuna wrapped in rice paper for an appetizer. It was sushi grade tuna and excellant. For our entrees, I order the special of the evening and my boyfriend order the asian thai curry noodles (don't remember the exact name but it came with steak and shrimp). It was much better than my dish and I would highly recommend it if you like thai red curry. We each had a drink and shared a dessert. In total our bill came out to $90 with tax and tip. In my book, it was a splurge. The amibance is very modern and hip. They have a great wine bar upstairs and have great drinks specials on the weekdays. The only weak point I can think of was the parking, but Friday night in Rice Village is always bad. Overall, the experince was wonderful and I would definitely go back- perhaps at lunch time when the prices are cheaper. NAME: Cindy H. SUBMITTED: 9/14/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/2005 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I love this place! The food is always interesting and tasty. Reasonable prices and great atmosphere coupled with attentive, if casual service. Wine list has a lot of interesting and affordable selections. Definitely recommend you check it out! NAME: Wineguy SUBMITTED: 9/13/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: Sept, 2005 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: We had a party of 9 on Monday night and yet the service was very poor. We had four to five different waiters attend to us and each time had to repeat what we wanted. Getting our check was another issue. It took a while. One of my friend's wanted a to-go box and it literally took almost 15mins. Needless to say, he told the waiter to forget about it 'cuz he was angry. The food was OK, nothing spectacular about the menu at all. Other than the beautiful, laid-back ambiance, this restaurant had nothing much to offer. Overall, we were quite disappointed. Unless u live close by I say don't bother. NAME: I.O. SUBMITTED: 9/12/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 09/2005 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Benjy's provides a fabulous dining experience! From the service to the food to the atmosphere -- this restaurant is one of my favorites in Houston. The crunchy chicken is by far the best chicken dish I've ever had, though the corn crusted sea bass wasn't all that impressive. The calamari is different but tasty (definitely worth trying), and mama's chocolate cake with mexican vanilla ice cream is an excellent, decadent dessert. The service was impeccable and beyond friendly. We'll be going to Benjy's for a long time! NAME: Marissa SUBMITTED: 5/5/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 04/05 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: This was our first visit. I decided to take my mother here for brunch since I've heard and read wonderful things about their brunch. They were indeed right! I tried the stuffed french toast and it was excellent! My parents and husband enjoyed their dining experience. The waitstaff was wonderful. I highly recommend going here for brunch. I can't wait to try their lunch and dinner menu. Be sure to make reservations! NAME: pinaybabae SUBMITTED: 12/12/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: December/2004 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: mimosas are great for weekend brunch tuna roll is excellent. Great Asian/European mix of dishes. Their breakfast menu leaves a lot to be desired. Kinda uninspiring and bulky (considering some of their regular dishes). Usually TOO loud for conversation. They need to soundproof their ceilings walls, etc. NAME: LoveToEat SUBMITTED: 9/28/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/04 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: Service was good overall, ambience was very good--until we found out we were seated upstairs in the little "wine room." It was absolutely FREEZING up there. The AC was blowing so hard it was moving the curtains. All 3 of us were so miserable (even though we asked the air to be turned down), we skipped appetizers, dessert, and ate as fast as possible to get out of there. Having said that, we did like the entrees, and prices were more reasonable than I expected. I would try the place again, but make certain that I was seated downstairs. NAME: GBSheridan SUBMITTED: 5/7/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: April 2004 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Excellent small initimate bar upstairs - don't overlook it; however, it is in the dining room (actually the kitchen) where the magic happens. Very unique Pacific Rim Caesar Salad. The Crunchy Chicken was to die for. Reasonable wines by the glass NAME: RDoherty SUBMITTED: 4/6/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: April/2004 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: Excellent and inventive food on a consistent basis. I have eaten at Benjy's many more times than I can remember. All of the staff is friendly and helpful. I take out of town guests to Benjy's to experience something out of the ordinary (for Houston). NAME: KD SUBMITTED: 1/22/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: December 2003 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: This place is way over-rated. The service was excellent and the salads were very good, but the entrees were anything but special. I hardly ate any of my stir fry chicken dish. My wife didn't enjoy her shrimp tempura either. We didn't care to even take home our leftovers which was A LOT of food. The lounge upstairs was nice. Not too loud or crowded. Probably won't go back to eat. I recommend M*rk's, Pr*go, or Am*ricas way over Benjy's. NAME: walkingbass SUBMITTED: 10/11/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/03 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: This place is great for lunch and dinner. The staff was nice and hardworking. The food was yummy. Big fan of the white bean hummus-like dip to start off. The plates are filling and quality. Don't recommend the rasberry lemonade. It's bright, but lacks the flavor. NAME: HoustonAggie SUBMITTED: 8/7/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: August/ 2003 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: Although we've only eaten there once I already know it will be one of our favorite places to eat. The appetizer, oven roasted brie & protobello mushroom enchiladas, was incredible. I also highly recommend the crunchy chicken. The atmosphere is casual and the prices are execellent, especially for the quality of food you get. It definetly ranks in my top five places to eat in Houston! NAME: amyj SUBMITTED: 7/16/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: 7/15/03 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: nice, hip atmoshpere in the village. good selection for brunch. prices reasonable. french toast really good. mozzarella, basil, tomato omelette not very flavorful. crab cake salad was very good. we'll be back for dinner sometime. NAME: jgarcia SUBMITTED: 7/15/2002   LAST VISIT WAS: 7-14-2002 FREQUENCY: Visited once ©Copyright 1991 - 2008 B4-U-EAT.COM. All rights reserved. Design and database by B4-U-BUY