Hearsay Market Square
Quick info
About Hearsay Market Square
On Travis Street in Houston, Hearsay Market Square occupies an 1880s brick building, one of the oldest in the city, with high ceilings and a bar inside. Seating spans the main floor, a balcony that overlooks the room, and an outdoor patio for those who want to dine outside. The menu draws on American cooking, with deviled eggs served alongside dishes like fried chicken and waffles, cheesesteak egg rolls, shrimp and grits, and Korean short ribs. The bar covers cocktails and mocktails, including mimosas, ranch water, an espresso martini mocktail, and a cucumber cooler. Servers take orders at the table and offer recommendations from the menu. Reservations are recommended, including for birthdays and anniversaries, though a wait is common. The restaurant opens daily, welcomes dogs, and provides high chairs for families with young children. A step-free entrance serves visitors with mobility needs, and takeaway and delivery are both available for eating off site.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Paid multi-storey car park · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible car park · Has wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs available · Has kids' menu
- DietaryServes vegan dishes · Serves vegetarian dishes
Menu & Prices
5 dishes · mains $8–12- Deviled Eggs$12.00
- Creme Brulee$8.00
- Hearsay Fried Chicken & Waffle
- Fish Tacos
- Braised Beef Short Rib
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention food served cold, specialty mocktails, outdoor patio seating and unfriendly hostess.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention food served cold, specialty mocktails, outdoor patio seating and unfriendly hostess.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often circle back to the fried chicken and waffles, with several calling out the shrimp and grits and the poblano soup as standout entrees alongside starters like the deviled eggs, cheesesteak egg rolls, and samosas with mint and tamarind chutney. Cocktails and mocktails draw consistent praise too, from the pineapple mimosas and expresso martini mocktail to the cucumber cooler with coconut water and a well-liked margarita, and the 1880s brick building with its patio and balcony seating comes up repeatedly as part of the draw. Service is mostly described as attentive and fast, with staff frequently singled out by reviewers for going out of their way, like swapping a too-sweet coffee or bringing out a birthday dessert unprompted. That said, a real minority describe food arriving cold, including a crab-crusted redfish, cold sides, and an entire table's order served cold on a slow night, plus one reviewer's crispy mashed potatoes panned as poorly executed. Two reviewers report more serious service breakdowns, one describing tiny brunch tacos and an indifferent hostess, another recounting a wrong drink order, an uncooperative kitchen, and a manager described as rude. Several reviewers say they'd return specifically for the fried chicken.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers most often circle back to the fried chicken and waffles, with several calling out the shrimp and grits and the poblano soup as standout entrees alongside starters like the deviled eggs, cheesesteak egg rolls, and samosas with mint and tamarind chutney. Cocktails and mocktails draw consistent praise too, from the pineapple mimosas and expresso martini mocktail to the cucumber cooler with coconut water and a well-liked margarita, and the 1880s brick building with its patio and balcony seating comes up repeatedly as part of the draw. Service is mostly described as attentive and fast, with staff frequently singled out by reviewers for going out of their way, like swapping a too-sweet coffee or bringing out a birthday dessert unprompted. That said, a real minority describe food arriving cold, including a crab-crusted redfish, cold sides, and an entire table's order served cold on a slow night, plus one reviewer's crispy mashed potatoes panned as poorly executed. Two reviewers report more serious service breakdowns, one describing tiny brunch tacos and an indifferent hostess, another recounting a wrong drink order, an uncooperative kitchen, and a manager described as rude. Several reviewers say they'd return specifically for the fried chicken.
Featured reviews
- Pegah Kh
“The chicken sandwich was honestly pretty tasteless and forgettable, but the salad surprised me in a good way. The waitress was amazing though — not just polite, she was genuinely cool and super helpful. She even replaced my coffee because the vanilla syrup made it way too sweet for me. I’m giving this place 5 stars mostly because of the atmosphere and service rather than the food itself. The vibe was relaxing and enjoyable but the food was not that good.”
- Daniel Moran
“Amazing sexy vibe, but y'all should never serve whatever this "Crispy mashed potatoes" is supposed to be. It's like you took the fried part of a stale chicken tender and cupped day old mashed potatoes into it. With a filet mignon! The filet was indeed great, as were the broccolini and the drinks. But for the love of Pete DON'T order the crispy mashed”
- Robert Ratto
“Food was amazing. Service was good at first but then the bartender changed out and he was more concerned with his phone and other things. We were maybe 2 of 10 people in the restaurant.”
- Staci Palomo
“We loved it, great service. We didn't have a reservation so we got a nice seat at the bar. Busy, but not too loud. Great place to wait out an event. The food was amazing! I loved the burger 🍔. Try the texas charcuterie!!! It came with a pretzel.”
- Vivian Wei
“A perfect dining experience! Hearsay Market Square has such a rich history, moving from an 1852 theater and hotel into this stunning restaurant. Eating under the high chandeliers is a vibe. Special shoutout to Jonathan for his amazing, warm service that made our night complete! 😍”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“Upscale-casual pub & New American eatery serving innovative drinks in an 1880s brick building.”
- Has fast service
- Has great beer selection
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great dessert
- Has great wine list
- Has live music
Amenities
- Has Wi-Fi
- Has wheelchair-accessible car park
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Has outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed outside
Show more amenities
- Offers delivery
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
- Family friendly
- Serves vegan dishes
- Has bar on site
- Offerings· 12
- Serves alcohol
- Serves beer
- Serves cocktails
- Serves coffee
- Serves comfort food
- Serves happy-hour drinks
- Serves happy-hour food
- Serves late-night food
- Serves small plates
- Serves spirits
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Serves wine
- Popular for· 3
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Family-friendly· 3
- Good for kids
- High chairs available
- Has kids' menu
- Service options· 1
- On-site services available
- Dining options· 7
- Serves breakfast
- Serves brunch
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Atmosphere· 6
- Casual
- Cosy
- Historic
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Upmarket
- Accessibility· 3
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Highlights· 7
- Has fast service
- Has great beer selection
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great dessert
- Has great wine list
- Has live music
- Serves local speciality
- Crowd· 2
- Good for groups
- Popular with tourists
- Parking· 4
- Paid multi-storey car park
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
- Somewhat difficult to find a space
- Planning· 4
- Brunch reservations recommended
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Usually has a wait
Location
American restaurants near Hearsay Market Square
- Late August4.41932.3 mi$50–100
chef's tasting menu, wine and drink pairings, dressed oysters and strip loin
- Hudson House4.71,5132.8 mi$30–80
inattentive bar service, key lime pie, burger
- 3.1 mi$20–80
complimentary prosecco on arrival, crab hush puppies, shrimp scampi
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hearsay Market Square | 4.42,266 | — | $20–30 | food served cold, specialty mocktails, outdoor patio seating |
| Late August | 4.4193 | 2.3 mi | $50–100 | chef's tasting menu, wine and drink pairings, dressed oysters and strip loin |
| Hudson House | 4.71,513 | 2.8 mi | $30–80 | inattentive bar service, key lime pie, burger |
| Granger's Restaurant & Bar | 4.5572 | 3.1 mi | $20–80 | complimentary prosecco on arrival, crab hush puppies, shrimp scampi |
The 3 nearest american restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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