American Cuisine Sponsored by Monument Inn Reviews /  Profile Menus Website Beaver's   2310 Decatur St Houston TX 77007 713.864.2328 You might also be interested in these:     American Food    Bar-B-Que    Hamburgers    ZIP 77007   Add Review       MY REVIEW: We'll start with weak points - there are none. As for strong points, starting from the waitstaff, you are made to feel one of the family. The selection of cocktails and beer is impressive. We had fried crispy sweet potato strips, and calamari, both wonderful. My favorite is the peperocini angels. Italian peppers stuffed and fried. Dax McAnear makes his own sausage from scratch. Incredible. The pulled pork was great and the ribs with a dry rub were moist and tender without being sloppy. Dessert was super. The banana pudding seemed to be make from cream it was so good. Butterscotch and pecan squares were super as well. I live in West Texas but stop by everytime I'm in Houston. Can't get enough. NAME: JB SUBMITTED: 6/13/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: June/2008 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: The atmosphere and workers were nice. The Wings are really huge and delicious because they have a very unique taste to them and u can tell the chicken was quality. My friend and I were highly recommended to order the Sloppy BBQ pork and beef sandwhich which turned out to be a disaster. It was very cold and had too much fat and had barely any BBQ sauce, which I thought was very bland. But the Mac and Cheese are grub! If you have a tight budget, this isn't the place to visit because it is very expensive. I'd personally would of rather had a G*oodee Company BBQ sandwhich. But I am sure other unique dishes on the menu are worth a try. NAME: Yoshi SUBMITTED: 5/25/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: May 2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Unique, unpredictable and warm – our initial summation of Beavers. Having read some of the previous reviews and how premature some of the critiques were – being only a 5-month-old establishment, I wonder why these people even bothered to eat there at all! In a nutshell, it’s a classy, yet unpretentious BBQ joint in a triangle mold instead of a square - how refreshing! The place has transformed in a mere 5 months. Most of the complaints - bathrooms, small servings, outdoor seating, etc. have since been addressed. I marvel at how anyone can comment so negatively when the restaurant is still in its embryonic stage. Beavers has evolved and continues to do so. As for the food, the flavors are rich and powerful - once again unpredictable and perfectly balanced with spice and flair. Things we would recommend: the coleslaw - lovely balance of veggies and dressing – not too creamy; pork ribs - not normally a fan but will endeavor to order again. The rub was flavorful and the meat was quite moist. Did not find it fatty at all. Wings - yum yum - get them every time. Stuffed pepperoncini- if you like a spark, this is a must-have. Deliciously creamy with a crisp, chili after bite. Beaver balls - (giggle giggle) - a recommended dessert that did not disappoint. Drinks - any one they suggest! All delightful. Our colleagues also boasted of the apple cobbler. If you want toxic ridden, synthetically slobbered, sub - par ingredients, lathered in gelatinized, exotic sauces to disguise the inferior quality of the raw ingredient, then Beavers is not the place for you. Otherwise, enjoy the quality, enjoy the attention to detail and keep watching as Beavers embraces a non-conformist approach to BBQ with style. NAME: aussie chic SUBMITTED: 4/29/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: April 2008 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: We heard about this from a neighbor who had heard about it from a neighbor, so you know how that goes. Portions were small and expensive Everything is ala carte, even the bread for God's sake! The Mac & Cheese was what was recommended and it was "cup of soup" size and yes, pretty soupy. I did like the pulled pork. It remined me of college days in NC. I might go one more time for a pulled pork sandwich, but I am not in a hurry. NAME: Very experience diner SUBMITTED: 4/19/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 03/08 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: The brisket was ordered lean and it came out fatty, but that’s not what made it the worst brisket I’ve ever been served in TX. It was also old, leathery, and cold. The service, starting with a hostess who did absolutely nothing to welcome arriving patrons, was ultimately reduced to one apology after another. The draft beer was cold –by British standards. In short, I wish the only bad thing I could say about this meal is that it was overpriced. If you insist on visiting, I suggest you call it a day with several of the extensive beer selections or hard liquors. Then again, you could just go to G*ingerman or good bar for that and avoid this place entirely. NAME: multisport SUBMITTED: 4/9/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: April 2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Small portions, BBQ sauce had a cloying sweetness and a lingering orange aftertaste. Cole slaw was also too sweet, vinegary and soupy. Too expensive for what you get. An overabundance of "Beaver" puns cancels out the whole "dam" lot. Good thing the original ice house wasn't named "Woodpecker's". Strong points include the chips and a good selection of beverages. NAME: Woody SUBMITTED: 3/28/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 03/2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: These people should be ashamed of themselves. My girlfriend and I decided to try this restaurant, despite knowing in advance that the food here is a bit more expensive than other BBQ places. Sometimes restaurants will charge more in order to attract a more "exclusive" crowd and maintain a trendy atmosphere, i.e., keep the riff-raff out. This is problematic in itself, but if the snobbishness is balanced with quality food one can forgive them, at least while one is chewing and so long as one can afford it. Unfortunately (or fortunately), the riff-raff isn't missing anything at Beaver's. These people do not understand BBQ and their confusion is evident at the first bite. The sauce on the chicken can't decide if it's from Alabama or Tuscany, and the indecision is not a happy one. The salads are small, which can be fine so long as they taste good, which they do not here, due to an overly aggressive vinegar dressing. To be fair, we did not try the beef or pork and thus it is possible that the shame the owners should be feeling should be limited to the poultry. Also, the service was prompt and friendly. With a parking lot full of BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, etc., we expected to be treated to delicious, overpriced food in a yuppified environment, which we were, except for the "delicious" part. Playing old blues tunes doesn't make the food good. We are disappointed. It's not easy to get healthier meats in Houston and any place that offers it should rightly do well. But taste is important, as is pricing the food appropriately. If we wanted food that tasted like it came from a cafeteria, we'd go to a cafeteria and pay less than half what Beaver's is charging. NAME: BBQ Fan SUBMITTED: 3/14/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 3/2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: After a wonderful afternoon seeing the Azalea Trail a friend and I thought we would try Monica Popes new place. After several attempts to park the car we thought we would enjoy some good food. The place was pretty full, but we got a table right away. The seating is a little too cozy for comfort and hearing. The service was prompt and items were recomended. After a visit to the "restroom" (nothing restful about it-you had to work at it). I fell sorry for the lady in the wheelchair if she had "to go". The food arrived quickly. We order the sampler:ribs,brisket,pork shoulder and sausage for $16. Sounds like plenty of food for a couple of women...right? I ate a rib,three or four pieces of sausage and one slice of brisket/pork shoulder each. The slices were sooo thin and fatty I could not tell which one was which. That was it! Did I eat? I'm still hungry! How do you cut meat so thin! You should be able to hold a piece of brisket in your fingers and bite into it.The only way to eat this with your fingers was maybe to roll it up and pop it in your mouth.Even then you would wonder what what you were eating! Then you could rinse it down with your three sips of iced tea(that's the whole glass).We were very disappointed. My friend who doesn't eat that much was still wanting more. Then the bill came.So for $25 plus tip (sampler,salad,tea) we left hungry. NAME: Still hungry SUBMITTED: 3/10/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 3-09/08 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I just left Beaver's for lunch. This is my second time visiting this establishment. The first time I was there was sometime early December 2007. We, group of three, were there to check out the place. We had a couple of drinks and were taking in the ambiance. Nice look. The bartender was very nice and helpful. Full bar and great selection of wine and beer. As we talked to the bartender he ended up bringing out samples of the meat that is sold on the menu. The sausage was great, almost tasted like sausage from Lockhart, TX. The brisket we very flavorful. We had decided then that we would come back at a later time to try out the food. Well, that was today. To say I am disappointed is an understatement. The menu lacked variety. I was hoping for sliced beef and a link of sausage. There was nothing near that on the menu. I ordered the beef brisket and fried pickles. The friend I was with ordered a salad and a cup of soup. The beef brisket was good, but lacked spice. The sandwich was filling. The homemade chips were interesting, but a good interesting. They were both original and good. The coleslaw was pretty good too, and I don't normally like coleslaw. Overall, my meal was good and tasty -- but the service sucked (for lack of a better word). We asked our waiter questions about the menu and his response was usually, "uuhh...yeah I don't know, everything is good here.' My friend ordered the salad and said it was very good, but he wasn't satisfied and so he ordered a cup of soup...Caldo de Pollo (Chicken soup). When he got the soup it had pieces of chicken skin and hardly any vegetables. He sent it back and received real chicken and plenty of vegetables. This was truly a cup of soup (8oz). Very small portion for which he paid $5.00. The fried pickles were $6.00 for 4 slices cut long ways. The brisket sandwich was $8.00+ and I cannot tell you how much the salad cost, but I think around $6.00. It was very disappointing, since I had such high hopes from my former visit. I know you don't go out to eat to save money, but there is no reason for a lack of Customer Service -- especially if you are over pricing the customers. I do not recommend Beavers, unless you are there for drinks only. I will most likely not go there again. NAME: Mel SUBMITTED: 2/21/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 2/2008 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: I don't know why there are so many negative reviews on this place! I went to dinner recently with a friend because we had both heard a good buzz about the place, and when I signed on here to check out the reviews before we went, I was almost scared to go! What I found was a fresh approach to both bar-b-que and casual dining. This is not an "LA" style place as one person commented. The atmosphere is relaxing and casual. Booths are a little close together. If you are expecting Texas style bbq, this is not the place. Its certainly different, but tasty. We had the wings (A+), the briskit, the pulled pork, and the mac and cheese. All good. True that the buns are a little greasy, and the meat does have a sweeter than Texan taste. Service was acceptable for this style place. All in all, was a good dinner, will be back! NAME: Rob SUBMITTED: 2/6/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 2/08 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I was not that impressed with the food or restaurant. The "sloppy pork" sandwich was good, but was served on "French bread" as oppose to a regular bun. The potato salad was not that flavorful and runny. I hope they start serving that great barbecue I tried at the T*afia Farmer's Market back in September. On a positive note, I believe the beer list is great! Every other barbecue restaurant in the city usually only serves Miller, Bud, Coors, Shiner, and Corona. NAME: ex-chef SUBMITTED: 2/1/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/30/08 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I am writing this with a cup o raman in hand and my wife eating some cereal AFTER our meal at Beavers. We are 2 normal sized, healthy couple in our 30's (we wouldn't put the fear of God in a buffet owner). Our order consisted of 1lb of brisket, 1 order of chicken, 1 order of greens and a side salad ($32). The brisket was so fatty it looked like bacon and we had to discard more than 1/2 the order (so $16 for .4lb of chewy brisket). The chicken (quail sized)was decent but nothing to brag about. The only saving grace was the greens and the salad dressing. I hate to say this since I used to really enjoy B*oulevard Bistro but save your money and go to a real BBQ joint (plenty around in a 2 mile radius of Beavers). NAME: Still starving Richard SUBMITTED: 2/1/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 02/2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I, like others, ventured out to Beaver's with high hopes. With the word "ice house" in the name, I expected the restaurant to be a casual order at the counter joint with a gourmet Monica twist. It was not. The atmosphere, while casual was more upscale than I had anticipated, which I can get over. The food, on the other hand, was a huge disappointment. The pulled pork was not even "pulled." It was just chopped up like beef and lacked the authentic Carolina flavor. The NOLA baked beans were cloyingly sweet and the bread was just white BREAD; although you would think it was some artisanal specialty with a price tag of 4 dollars for 4 pieces. Everything on the menu is a la carte, and the portions are smallish. Believe me, I think our country can stand to lose some pounds and cutting back on portion sizes is a great thing, but let's cut back the price too! Monica will drive people to her restaurant due to her great reputation, but unless things change at Beaver's she won't be getting many repeat visitors. NAME: starvin marvin SUBMITTED: 1/29/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/08 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I too truly wanted to like this restaurant. After all...a Monica Pope restaurant has to be good right? WRONG! There were 3 of us, we each tried the corn puppies, the oysters,etc. Everything was tasteless. As far as we are concerned, these items were either dropped in a batter and fried or smothered with a sauce that no one bothered to season. Too many great restaurants to have to eat at a bad one! We left and had to go to another restaurant just to get over this quite unremarkable meal! NAME: Sharon W SUBMITTED: 1/21/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/20/08 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Decor - nice, service-great, beer/wine list-good, food - half good, half tasteless. I am evidently not the only one who noticed the dipping sauce is tasteless. The corn puppies and potato salad also tasteless. I had a very nice salad of spinach, greens, green apples and some pulled pork. Accompanying the salad was cream of sweet potato soup that contained some form of beef rendering that was really objectionable when I was anticipating creamy, sweet potatoes. I believe I am pretty opened minded about different styles of potato salad but theirs had to be the worst I have ever had. Cold, firm tasteless pieces of new potatoes in a mayonaise/mustard broth was very unappetizing. My dining companion took one look at it and set it on the next table. I had to give it a try and just could not eat it. My dining companion then pointed out that his brisket was not cooked. I told him that could not possibly be true. How could someone undercook brisket? I had to see for myself and it was true. I have had bad food all over town but was really expecting more here. NAME: bummed SUBMITTED: 1/18/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I went with a friend last night and we generally liked it. Got there about 7:20 on a Thursday night and were seated immediately. Big selection of beers... I couldn't decide so our server recommended a light draft and you could tell it was high quality stuff. I had the shredded pork and coleslaw, and I thought both were spectacular. The pork does come in a vinegar sauce so be prepared for that, but it is good. My friend had the pork ribs and they were disappointing. The rub used on them was good, but the meat was tough and difficult to eat. I wouldn't order them again. Service was friendly and the food came out quickly. A return visit is definitely coming soon. NAME: Jim A. SUBMITTED: 1/18/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: Jan. 2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I'd heard from a chef friend who went to Beaver's opening that the place had promise, but still needed work. A group of friends and I decided to try it. After sampling a large portion of the menu, I have to agree with my chef friend - Beaver's has promise but isn't quite there yet. I'd strongly recommend: the inventive cocktails (delightfully inventive), Beaver's wings (crispy with nice spicy flavor), pork sausage, meatloaf (my husband said was fantastic), and Beaver's nut burger (delicious, but I'd get it with a dry bun because the bread was overly greased for toasting). We had the fried pickles, which are almost perfect, and the chick pea two fry, which I wouldn't recommend. The friend pickles were vertically-halved, tempura fried pickles, which was a fresh new perspective on an old favorite. The dipping sauce, however, was bland. We all thought that having a more traditional (and flavorful) ranch dip would have made the app. really satisfying - comfort food with a twist. My friends said that the quail was okay, but that the brisket was a bit too sweet. I was most disappointed with the mac & cheese, because, again, it was almost right. Their side now consists of some bland sauce with no discernible cheese flavor and pocketbook-shaped pasta, topped with a chunky tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. I loved the different pasta and the tomatoes - if only they'd added a generous helping of cheddar (or other tasty cheese) to the sauce! Like the previous reviewer, I really want to like this place because they're doing many things right. They have a great concept and interesting menu with reasonable prices, but it still needs a little tweaking. NAME: Ms. Martin SUBMITTED: 1/12/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/08 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I've been here 3 times now, and although I really want to like it, Beaver's is still somewhat lacking. The biggest or most obvious problem is that most of the dishes have too much sugar, especially the brisket and the beans. Other than that, the brisket is inconsistent and not very good. I'm not expecting Central Texas brisket (a la K*ruez/S*mitty's in Lockhart, C*ity Market in Luling), but on my most recent visit it was really dry and was apparently garnished with a sprinkle of sugar. The veggie burger is great, as is the sausage and the banana pudding. The owners seem like really nice people with a good concept. I really hope they succeed, but when one of your primary dishes is barbecue, you should really try to make a passable brisket. That said, for whatever reason, this is not unique to Beaver's, as Houston on the whole has a dearth of good barbecue places. NAME: Representinheightsfolifefoolz SUBMITTED: 1/9/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/08 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: Well where to begin...First off service is horrendous at best. Can't remember how many times we had to ask for drinks..Brought the wrong order to one person in our group. Food was ok nothing to write home about. (brisket ok but there are better options around here, burger bland don't bother.) I guess on a good not is that you won't be out much money when you leave disappointed. I think most of the people there are on the Monica Pope bandwagon and would eat dogfood if she served it and say its the best thing since sliced bread. I was looking forward towards this visit but left knowing that I will not be back and will not be recomending it to others. NAME: Duncan SUBMITTED: 1/9/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 01-08 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: visited while in houston for the holidays... totally LOVED it. I have to agree with a previous review that maybe some people get it and some don't. the food was terrific. our server Tyler was a peach (and handsome to boot - woop woop!). We tried almost everything on the menu, and enjoyed each bite. the plates are a welcome size in a city that overdoes everything, and the price is perfectly reasonable if you understand the quality of the ingredients you're getting. it's really special stuff. they put a heavy focus on local and natural - something we see all over the place up here in seattle, but is a rarity indeed in TX. special mention for the bartender bobby. he's an enigma. an old school mixologist that you don't encounter much these days. i'll go back every time i'm in town. love the location, love the crowd, love the decor, and it's a fun, easy place to hang with friends. great work, monica & gang! NAME: bigHungry SUBMITTED: 1/8/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: My boyfriend and I were excited to try out something on the Washington corridor that was tasty and casual. The interior definitely has a Los Angeles vibe. The walls decorated in CAKE music-like album covers. We arrived at 5:30PM and there were more wait staff than diners. The wings are definitely recommended -- tangy barbaque and very crispy too. I had the beaver burger -- a little bland and too much on the healthy side. I was hoping for fries, but the closest they had were homemade potato chips (that weren't that crunchy). My boyfriend's meatloaf came with a small dinner salad. We liked the shrooms, very juicy, and a nice portion for him. The bathrooms are really small -- I can't imagine that any wheelchairs could pass through. Service was good, attentive, but not too obstrusive. Next time we'll order some drinks and dessert! Not bad for our first time. Definitely recommended! We'll be back for sure. We laughed when we left -- just a bunch of humble regular diners...in their Land Rovers, Mercedes, Jaquars!!! NAME: drfoodie SUBMITTED: 1/3/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/3/08 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: My husband and I ate here at the recommendation of a friend who loved the place. I am not sure what we were expecting but nevertheless, we were disappointed. The service could be improve (we had to ask for our drinks several times). I think there was a table with more people getting his attention. Also, my husband order the pork chop special. Although it was the biggest pork chop (and flavorable) that we had ever seen, it was cold. My husband was hungry so he ate it but we definitely didn;t stay for dessert. The knife we has also wasn't sharp but we had to use it because they told us it was all they had. Not sure I will go back soon. Maybe I will try them at lunch in a few months. NAME: Brown's of Houston SUBMITTED: 12/30/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Firstly, I have to commend any restaurant that is open on Christmas day and Beaver's was certainly well staffed. Unfortunately the staff was lacking in attentiveness and the service was lacking. Regarding the food - all I can say is Beaver's is trying to be WAY-WAY-TOO-GOURMET! This is NOT the BBQ joint they make it out to be but a bar getting way to fancy and missing the mark. That said, for being a bar with food, the appetizers are just so/so. The BarBar brisket that festusbodine references is a generous portion (though $6), and quite good but the corn/polenta fried donuts and the cream cheese stuffed peppericini were too plain and too few - also $6 each (not a deal or a pleasure). For even smaller portions, order an entree! The pulled pork sandwich (which comes with a scoop of coleslaw - NOT a small salad), also $6, was approximately 1.5" wide and 5" long. It was one of the smallest sandwiches I've ever eaten. My partner had the burger, which had the same size bread and the patty only slightly peeked out from the edges. The tastes weren't much more acceptable, the pork has a STRONG vinegar addition - not the Carolina subtle taste they were going for (found in the sampler and the sandwich) and the burger was completely unoriginal, even though it is toted as being a Gourmet delight. Additionally, the sides were listed as Gourmet works of art but fell flat and overpriced. KILLER coleslaw? Kidding, right (?) because you couldn't get much plainer cabbage.... OLD SCHOOL potato salad just means PLAIN and BORING and $4. But the whopper was the $4 side of potato chips - coated in cayenne pepper and served with a plastic cup of lemon juice. A waste of all the ingredients and is why I say this place is trying to be WAY-WAY-TOO-GOURMET! NAME: Charles Clark II SUBMITTED: 12/26/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: December 25, 2007 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: LOVED it! The folks complaining below are missing the whole point behind Monica Pope's creativity. Houston does not need another mediocre East TX BBQ joint. Nor does the Heights need another dumpy traditional ice house that can't serve up some good bar food. (O*nion Creek is the closest, but they don't serve liquor and their food usually sucks.) Pope does new/fun twists on the familiar. We just stopped in for drinks to check the place out late on Fri nite but ended up ordering the "Bar Bar" chopped brisket with onion, jalapeno, served with tortilla chips. The brisket was some of the BEST I have ever tasted. Perfectly tender, great texture, delicious sauce. Just enough fat on it. Melt in your mouth - and a very generous serving for a $6 appetizer/snack. We also ordered the banana pudding. No, it's not a traditional one with vanilla wafers. Stop whining about it - you can get that anywhere. This one is served as a smooth dense custardy pudding, the banana pureed right into the mix, with plenty of fresh cream flavor. Topped with a wonderful housemade vanilla scented cookie. The $5 organic cabernet (the first listed on the menu) was WONDERFUL and I don't typically order cab - esp when it's the least expensive red on a menu. The service was very friendly, but green. Our waiter admitted this was the first day he had ever waited tables. They're open on Xmas Day so we'll go back for some of the larger dishes. Can't wait to try the ribs. Monica - some of us "get it." Thanks for choosing the edge of Heights for your new place. NAME: festusbodine SUBMITTED: 12/23/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/21/07 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: Went Friday.. can tell the crowds will be here before long.. they were pulling up left and right and it was only 6:30PM. Lots of Height-sy people about.. their blogs must be working overtime. We sampled almost all the appetizers.. big complaint from my chef hubby... too much sugar in everything. But the price was right so we left giving the place a B-. I think reviews are right here... they need to work out the kinks. NAME: e4t SUBMITTED: 12/2/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/07 FREQUENCY: Visited once More reviews 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