Brennan's Houston
Quick info
About Brennan's Houston
Brennan's Houston is a creole restaurant on Smith Street in Houston, serving New Orleans character and cuisine through turtle soup, oysters, and more. Much of its character comes from a menu built around composed classics that anchor the dining room's focus on Creole tradition. The signature starter is Snapping Turtle Soup with a Finishing Sherry, Brennan’s Bananas Foster anchors the dessert side as a tableside classic, and Pralines round out the meal as a popular sweet. Mains span a broad range, giving the menu room to move from lighter fare to larger plates without leaving the Creole core. Reservations are advised, as the dining room draws steady interest for its established New Orleans presence and signature dishes.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Paid street parking · Plenty of parking
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible car park · Has wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Good for kidsHas changing table(s) · High chairs available · Has kids' menu
- DietaryServes organic dishes
Menu & Prices
20 dishes · mains $13–149
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention crème brûlée, attentive service, happy hour cocktails and delicious food.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention crème brûlée, attentive service, happy hour cocktails and delicious food.
Customer Review Summary
Diners consistently single out Brennan's Bananas Foster as the standout, with several calling it a must-have dessert and one noting they would have liked more ice cream alongside it. The crabmeat cheesecake also draws praise as a rich shareable option, and the crème brûlée earns repeated mentions as a highlight. Service is a recurring theme on both sides: many describe the staff as friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive, with some noting well-paced meals, while others report slow or inattentive service, particularly during busy stretches or large parties, and one reviewer mentions food sitting waiting to be delivered to the table. The atmosphere earns consistent praise for its old-school fine dining character, with dim lighting suited to romantic evenings, and the courtyard bar draws positive mentions for happy hour oysters and cocktails. A few diners note that entrees can be just ok or arrive lukewarm, and one points out a coordination gap between servers that affected the meal.
Customer Review Summary
Diners consistently single out Brennan's Bananas Foster as the standout, with several calling it a must-have dessert and one noting they would have liked more ice cream alongside it. The crabmeat cheesecake also draws praise as a rich shareable option, and the crème brûlée earns repeated mentions as a highlight. Service is a recurring theme on both sides: many describe the staff as friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive, with some noting well-paced meals, while others report slow or inattentive service, particularly during busy stretches or large parties, and one reviewer mentions food sitting waiting to be delivered to the table. The atmosphere earns consistent praise for its old-school fine dining character, with dim lighting suited to romantic evenings, and the courtyard bar draws positive mentions for happy hour oysters and cocktails. A few diners note that entrees can be just ok or arrive lukewarm, and one points out a coordination gap between servers that affected the meal.
Featured reviews
- Edward Vasquez
“This place was fantastic. Great and friendly service. Delicious food. The desserts tasted so delicious. Would recommend for any occasion!”
- Ryan Diefenderfer
“Haven’t been to the restaurant itself but the happy hour at the Courtyard Bar has great food, including $2 oysters. Classy vibes, attentive service, and great deals. The happy hour cocktails ($8) are solid. Sit outside for great NOLA vibes!”
- A S
“Service was wonderful. Everything was brought out at a good pace. We especially loved the dessert we had. The crème brûlée is a must have! The crabmeat cheesecake was good but heavy, so it’s perfect for sharing”
- Betty Witte
“I had the best experience Saturday the 28th of February. The young girl bar tender was most kind at the bar for a light lunch . I was reminiscing to her that my husband and I were there 50 yrs ago for our rehearsal. She was so sweet and giving as I explained I was now a widow reliving our favorite restaurant ❤️”
- Tom Newsom
“The food was good but could have been hotter. There was a lack of coordination between our server and his assistant. Our food came out and sat nearby but the assistant waited for the main waiter to come to the table. So, the food cooled down.Food portions were generous, except I could have used more ice cream for my bananas foster.😀 Jazz band was great.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
“New Orleans character & cuisine shine at this decadent eatery serving turtle soup, oysters & more.”
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Has great tea selection
- 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
- Offers delivery
Show more amenities
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
- Family friendly
- Has bar on site
- Historic
- On-site services not available
- Offerings· 10
- Serves alcohol
- Serves beer
- Serves cocktails
- Serves coffee
- Serves comfort food
- Serves happy-hour drinks
- Serves organic dishes
- Has private dining room
- Serves spirits
- Serves wine
- Crowd· 3
- Good for groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Popular with tourists
- Family-friendly· 3
- Has changing table(s)
- High chairs available
- Has kids' menu
- Highlights· 7
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Has great tea selection
- Has great wine list
- Has live music
- Serves local speciality
- Popular for· 3
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Accessibility· 3
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Planning· 3
- Brunch reservations recommended
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Dining options· 6
- Serves brunch
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Atmosphere· 5
- Cosy
- Quiet
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Upmarket
- Parking· 3
- Paid street parking
- Plenty of parking
- Valet parking
Location
How Brennan's Houston compares to nearby restaurants
- Brennan's Houston · This shop4.63,327 reviews
Mentioned in reviews: crème brûlée, attentive service, happy hour cocktails
- 6,491 reviews0.6 mi
Mentioned in reviews: all you can eat, fried rice, new york steak
- Lucio's4.7303 reviews1.1 mi
Mentioned in reviews: braised short rib with risotto, crème brûlée, duck breast
- Hull & Oak4.61,196 reviews1.3 mi
Mentioned in reviews: biscuit and gravy, peaches and cream waffle, challah french toast
Brennan's Houston This shop | Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ | Lucio's | Hull & Oak | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6(3,327) | 4.7(6,491) | 4.7(303) | 4.6(1,196) | |
| Price | $50–100 | $20–70 | $50–100 | $20–30 |
| Distance | — | 0.6 mi | 1.1 mi | 1.3 mi |
| Open today | ||||
| Good for kids | — | ✓ | — | ✓ |
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How this listing is sourced
Hours, contact details, and amenities are sourced from publicly available business data and re-checked regularly. Listings are ranked independently — no paid placement.