Dharma Cafe Hours: See Profile   1718 Houston Ave @ Crocket Houston TX 77007 713.222.6996   1302 Nance St (MOVED) Houston TX You might also be interested in these:     American Food    Gelato    Sandwiches - Wraps    Sunday Brunch    ZIP 77007 Profile Description: The Dharma Cafe is a unique creature for Houston. Susan and I have tried very hard to create an oasis for our customers. We never rush guests or overbook the restaurant. All of our dishes are freshly prepared from the finest seasonal fare. We are also very sensitive to vegetarians, vegans and people with special needs diets. I like to brag to other restaurant owners that we have the best customers in the world, and of course we do. Thanks for your support! John Gurney & Susan Ralph - Dharma Cafe   Add Review PROFILE     1718 Houston Ave, Houston, Texas 77007  713.222.6996 MY REVIEW: Went for lunch and was absolutely blown away - we had the Shrimp Mojo and the Crab Cake with Dharma salad and bleu cheese dressing and coffee and gelato for dessert. The service was friendly and timely, but professional. The decor was eclectic, but comfortable. We will be returning often NAME: A Dharma Fan SUBMITTED: 10/3/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: Oct 2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1718 Houston Ave, Houston, Texas 77007  713.222.6996 MY REVIEW: Yummy Yummy Yummy! The food was fresh and the service was superb!! I'm def going back. The tuna roll was delish but spicy. (just a warning) They had live music was that wonderful. Drinks are reasonably priced for the atmosphere of the restaraunt. NAME: Dharma Cafe Guroo. SUBMITTED: 6/28/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/28 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1718 Houston Ave, Houston, Texas 77007  713.222.6996 MY REVIEW: This is one of those great, little out of the way places you often hear about but seldom find. Especially in Houston. The "Strip-Center Capital" of planet Earth...mostly filled with whatever inane theme-restaurant-of-the-week happens to be trendy at the moment. Good news is, they don't last long. I have a feeling Dharma Cafe will a near-town fixture long after I am gone. It is simply a great place to eat, drink and meet friends. New & old. The food is excellent. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Example: At Dharma, $9 bucks will buy you possibly the very best Crab Cake in the world. No Joke, I've had'em from Hong Kong to Boston, and they have no equal. One Crab Cake for $9 bucks? Bite into one and you'll discover why it's a bargain. Everywhere else you are paying for what should be called a "Bread Cake" that happens to have a tiny amount of second rate crabmeat in there...somewhere. Dharma's have ZERO bread in the mix and just a dusting for crusting on the top. It is simply a huge mound of premium crabmeat, spiced lightly and cooked to perfection. Am I a fan? Well, I can rarely make a week without one. And most of the menu is about as good. The Osso Bucco takes almost 20 hours to prepare and can be eaten with a spoon. Is everything perfect? No. I still can't get them to add some plain, old basic French Bread to their offering. And with the range of complex flavors available, they really do need something simpler than the highly aromatic Greek bread. It is very tasty but just clashes with a lot of things. And...they need to commit to staying open later. They'll never develop a night crowd when the doors get shuttered by 10:00. Besides, then I wouldn't have to leave and go spend my cocktail money elsewhere. Stop in, see what you think. I'm no food critic, just another native who's always looking for the most pleasant way to help support the local economy. Dharma makes it all too easy too easy to do. Thanks guys! All in all, I really enjoy this spot and take a great deal of pleasure from every visit NAME: Tango SUBMITTED: 4/4/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 04/2008 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... 1718 Houston Ave, Houston, Texas 77007  713.222.6996 MY REVIEW: we had dinner here the other night and it was fantastic! I LOVE the new space!! We had our favorite waiter, Ian. He remembered us from the old location and even brought us our favorite wine! My friends loved it! They had never been before and some of them are kind of picky :-) but the chef was very good about catering to them. The place was packed so they seem like they're doing well so far. We are all so very happy for them and their success! Good luck guys! Se you all again soon! NAME: David SUBMITTED: 2/14/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: Feb/2008 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 1718 Houston Ave, Houston, Texas 77007  713.222.6996 MY REVIEW: Very nice atmosphere in a neat, sparsely decorated lofty space. Good, prompt service. The complimentary diced cheese and olive oil appetizer was a little bland for our tastes. Nice selection of wines and bottled beers We found the blue cheese pizza appetizer to be too richly packed with the cheese making any other ingredients indecipherable. Osso busco beef spare rib special was excellent but expensive ($30). Prices were not mentioned when the specials were described; perhaps they should be when a special is on the high end of the entree price range like this item was. Duck meat salad was overwhelmed by a too vibrant dressing. Cheese cake dessert was excellent. Coffee was adequate. Total ticket was reasonable: 2 entrees, 3 beers, 1 appetizer, 1 desert @ $76 pre-tip. NAME: mike SUBMITTED: 12/12/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1718 Houston Ave, Houston, Texas 77007  713.222.6996 MY REVIEW: I was dissapointed with the new Cafe Dharma.Bigger is not better in this case.With a bigger place came an increase in prices and now the Cafe is too expensive for what they offer.Also the noise level is higher.The smaller older place was much more intimate and had better ambiance.I will not go back very often. NAME: food lover SUBMITTED: 12/8/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: november 07 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times 1718 Houston Ave, Houston, Texas 77007  713.222.6996 MY REVIEW: My cycling group decided to go here this morning for Sunday Brunch. There was about 18 of us and we got there right when they opened. They quickly pushed together enough tables to accommodate our group and, even though our waitress was new, she was attentive and handled our huge party pretty well. The brunch is excellent. I know the items change but the yellow squash dish was incredible, and everything else was equally as good. There wasn't a single thing I tried that I didn't like. We were all very happy with the food and service. The new location is great and a group this big would have been impossible at their old location, so we'll definitely be back again. NAME: Sealock SUBMITTED: 12/2/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 1718 Houston Ave, Houston, Texas 77007  713.222.6996 MY REVIEW: First time at the new Dharma. The new location is great, the food as always was fantastic, but the service was very lacking. The waitress was not very friendly, and seemed upset that we wanted to take our time vs. rushing through the meal. NAME: MD SUBMITTED: 11/5/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 1718 Houston Ave, Houston, Texas 77007  713.222.6996 MY REVIEW: We visited Dharma for the first time on a Saturday evening. Their new location on Houston Avenue is in a nicely restored old building. The service was attentive and the owner came around to ensure that everything was satisfactory. The food was good & prices were fair, highlights included the salmon carpaccio, the mojo shrimp & pasta entre, and their foccacia bread. Overall a very pleasant & relaxed dining experience. A welcomed addition to the area. NAME: PM SUBMITTED: 10/23/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1718 Houston Ave, Houston, Texas 77007  713.222.6996 MY REVIEW: 1st time visiting and was pretty impressed. their sunday brunch was very reasonable for the type of food offered. They had a teryaki style salmon that was excellent. Chef's special omelet with smoked salmon, capers, and sour cream was great. NAME: sclude SUBMITTED: 10/22/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: Wow... first visit.... was really impressed with the quality of the food, quaint atmosphere, incredibly personal service... Susan (the owner) came out when she noticed our table was looking at the ceiling to join in... after coming by a couple of times to ensure we were enjoying everything... The only thing that I would have wished for was that it was bit cooler inside... Will DEFINITELY go back ... even after they move to their new location in late August... Bottom Line: Food quality was great; value for the price was great; service was great, atmosphere was great! NAME: Dave C SUBMITTED: 7/29/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 7/07 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: We wandered in here on a rainy Saturday night without a reservation; we were greeted courteously and seated immediately. The food and service were superb - two of us had the special of filet mignon with lump crab and bernaise sauce, accompanied by asparagus and sugar snap peas. Other had a pasta dish with shrimp. For dessert we had the apple pie - best apple pie I have ever had in a restaurant, and the apple-pie expert at the table agreed wholeheartedly. We will definitely return! NAME: DakotaBlue SUBMITTED: 7/5/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: June 2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: Everything we had was wonderful. The salmon carpaccio appetizer, the lobster ravioli the Garlic shrimp..........More grilled tuna please! Very fair pricing. Can't say enough about the Bonterra Viogner either. Went with our seafood perfectly. Excellent service in this family run place. We were planning our return before we left. Book very early or call ahead as the place is VERY small but do go as it is wonderful. NAME: Cole M. SUBMITTED: 6/18/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: I was first introduced to the little restaurant a couple months ago for their sunday brunch buffet and decided to return for dinner this past wednesday night. The food and wine were excellent and the service was outstanding! Thw waitor was able to help us pair wines with our entrees and seemed very knowledgable. Very different atmosphere at night vs. brunch and not quite as crowded.. Though I do recommend trying to get in early before the crowds for a good table and because parking spots are hard to find. strong points: -homemade pasta - very attentive staff - delicious desserts - great atmosphere weak points: -Parking - need a reservation Thank you darma! we will definitely be back! NAME: MC SUBMITTED: 5/29/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 05/07 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: Dharma cafe hit on all cylinders when I had dinner there with 3 friends. Very unique warehouse location, cool space, great service and outstanding food. Though not a place I would describe as "low priced", you clearly get the quality you expect for the price paid. The waitstaff was well informed and enthusiastic, not only about how the food is prepared, but also about the wine selection. The appetizer, a tuna dish covered in fresh crab, was mouth-watering, soup as flavorful as if grandma from the old country had made it with love. The lobster ravioli (which is flown in from Boston) was first class. We will be back. NAME: GW SUBMITTED: 4/9/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: Strong points: Atmosphere, service, reasonable wine selection, some very good entrees, cheese spread for bread Weak points: price, some entrees Entrees tasted: the raviolis are very good, the shrimp mojo is good but the sauce is slighly bland and the blueberry chicken has been overcooked all 3 times it has been ordered. Overall: A great atmosphere for a restaurant, very good service and generally good entrees (except for the blueberry chicken) make the meal a pleasant experience, almost like visiting a friend's house for dinner. NAME: TexFoodie SUBMITTED: 1/28/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/07 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: I had brunch this morning with some friends at Dharma Cafe and just HAD to rave on how great it was. $15 will get you omelets made to order, a buffet consisting of homemade cinnamon buns, scones, bacon, sausage, homemade pastas, fresh fruits, soup, waffles and pancakes, cobbler, and various fresh organic entrees PLUS your choice of a mimosa, champagne, orange juice, or coffee. It was really yummy! It's a small quaint place in the warehouse district that has a patio for dining al fresco when the weather allows it. Since it's small and their brunch is very popular, it's a good idea to make a reservation. We were a party of 10 plus 1 child and their staff was very friendly and accomodating. A++++++++++ NAME: pqwerty SUBMITTED: 10/22/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: October/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: John and Susan create Sunday Brunch bliss! This was our second time to Dharma Cafe. The first time was for dinner and that was two months ago.. the waiter remembered us. So back to the brunch... everything was awesome! Fresh peach cobbler, tasty waffles, veggies and scones. Everything was fresh, made from scratch on premises. Even the orange marmalade was from scratch, unique and sweet. The restaurant is very cozy and quaint which adds to the experience. Make reservations (a must!) for a nice window or patio view. A must try! NAME: danalu SUBMITTED: 7/2/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 07/06 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: The Sunday brunch is what we were there for; food is pretty straight forward, pancakes, bacon, etc. They did have some scones that were fantastic, but overall, OK. The setting is very VERY cozy, cute, but don't plan on getting too comfortable, there is only SEATING FOR 20 IN THE WHOLE PLACE. Make sure you make reservations and ask how long you have to be there, they will hurry you out and have no problem letting you know your seat is needed for the next person! Pretty tough to find unless someone gives you specific directions. Not overly impressed, probably won't go again. NAME: SundayBruncher SUBMITTED: 7/2/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: June 2006 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: I went here on a first date and it was fantastic! This food is great and the atmosphere is very charming. It is a small dining room and is a little hard to find but worth the effort. Try it out!! NAME: David SUBMITTED: 6/19/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 5/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: Dharma is a charming intimate dining spot with excellent food and well trained staff. Apetizers, main course and deserts are always well thought out prepared and delivered. Never a disapointment. NAME: John Krug SUBMITTED: 5/11/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/06 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: I love the skyline view, face Houston when you request a table. My girlfriend loved the romantic setting and it was a delightful experience. The owner (John) came over and introduced himself, and shared some of his background which we found very interesting. We had the supreme pizza and the seared salmon, both were wonderful. The iced tea had mint in it which gave it a special taste. The free bread with olive oil and cheese and tomato topping is out of this world. I found the prices to be low. Take your romantic intrest here to increase the depth of your love. NAME: Lou Janos III SUBMITTED: 12/4/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/05 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: Intimate and private setting, delicious food and personable wait staff. At noontime, parking may be a problem, but well worth the effort. Daily specials are exceptional - I miss this place, the crab rangu and the man that used to take me here! NAME: WobblyParts SUBMITTED: 11/7/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: Nov 2005 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: While searching for an art exhibit, we ran into the Dharma Cafe last Friday night, and decided to eat there afterwards. Parking was no problem. We had no reservation, so they gave us one of their outside tables. Despite the highway sound, it was less than the background in a crowded Manhattan restaurant, so we could speak across the table; moreover, it was a beautiful night, with an eerie crescent moon that was perfect for Halloween season. Although not very hungry after some Exhibit munchies, we did select two entrees, which were both excellent and more than generous. Unexpectedly, they first served a free starter of diced tomatoes and diced mild cheese, with home-made focaccio bread on olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The Mediterranean Plate entree had a homemade pita that was softer than usual, a hummus made with no scrimping on tahini (the most expensive component), a lovely mild feta-like cheese (perhaps their "Italian feta"), and a tabouli that I didn't taste (it was my wife's plate). The fresh tuna, sushi style - a dish that I've been told requires an excellent tuna - was superb, and there was more of it than I could eat (although I made room, and my wife helped). The American coffee, to charge me for the 1.5 hour drive home, was fine, but not as special as the other items. Note that the pancake-like focaccio was made with very little rosemary (an unsubtle herb that I usually despise) and a bit of sugar; it seemed to me that, with no herbs and a bit of powdered sugar on top, this would make an excellent desert served with a small scoop of ricotta and a small amount of berry sauce. For the price, as good as I've had. May the owners prosper, but not so much that I can't find parking or get a weeknight table without a reservation. NAME: out-of-towner214 SUBMITTED: 11/6/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: Nov.4, 2005 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1302 Nance St, Houston, Texas    MY REVIEW: We had the Sunday brunch, the food was so delicious! They had a wide variety of dishes, all fresh, all delicious. My favorites were the black eyed peas and the banana pancakes. The ambiance was very relaxed, with fresh flowers on the table and books in the bookshelves, I felt as if I were brunching in a friends living room, but the service was amazing, the waiters were friendly and prompt, they made sure everyone at our table had everything they wanted or needed. NAME: Loralee SUBMITTED: 10/27/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: October 2005 FREQUENCY: Visited once ©Copyright 1991 - 2008 B4-U-EAT.COM. All rights reserved. Design and database by B4-U-BUY