Maison Pucha Bistro Reviews

Food was very good. We ate there on Valentine's Day. Food is not french as identified on Trip Advisor. Wait staff handled the packed crowd well.

Inside, Maison Pucha still has the upscale French bistro look, but I think the faux wood ceiling beams are new since the last time I was here. I ordered from the Houston Restaurant Weeks menu and was treated to excellent service, amazing food and even more amazing presentation. I started with the mushroom timbale -- a wild mushroom cake with a porcini mushroom foam. (A foam usually starts as a puree that is thinned down, then whipped with an immersion blender) The cake was topped with a mushroom cap that had been flattened, then sliced to form a star shape. To which was added a wedge of parmesan cheese -- not grated parmesan, but an actual slice. It got even better. The next course was duck pithivier. A pithivier - this is the first time I've ever had one - is made from two puff pastry bowls, put together to form a hollow dome. This one was stuffed with duck, mushrooms, and foie gras. A sprig of rosemary was stuck in the top. A waitress then flamed the sprig of rosemary at the table before pouring over the madeira wine sauce. For dessert I went with the île flottante, an island of poached meringue floating in crème anglaise, set in bowl that is shaped like a flying saucer, and topped with toffee slivers and caramel sauce. Could such a meal get even better? Yes. There was free parking.

What a wonderful restaurant. Ambiance and great service, ask for Jack!!! Presentation, flavor and the food is served hot. Salmon was perfect!!! Must try when in the heights!!!

Poor service (what there any?), food did not come (well, wrong order), overcharged 3x for the bottle of wine we had, and the manager (was she really the manager?) Was mad and even raised her voice! Where did the usual food and service go? It is hard to get a reputation in a foodie’s market like Houston, and it just takes a day of poor service to lose it! Hope this just was a bad hair day.

Birthday dinner. Had their special which was bouillabaisse & was very pleased with lovely seafood choices. Husband had their French steak & fries. Lovely seasoning with great fries. Service was attentive. Neighborhood jewel. Prices were fair.

Took family for a birthday hearing that the food is unique and flavorful with a twist. The popovers were a hit. The service was a bit spotty-I think they are somewhat understaffed. Our server was very good but was tough to track down. We enjoyed a Peking Duck special (of all things!) for two although it could have fed 3-4. The watermelon salad was better than the burrata but also great. One member had the fish special and was enjoyable. Definitely order the soufflé. Really good wine selection with decent markup- we will make a point of returning

Had an excellent meal in this attractive restaurant in the Heights. Lobster bisque made a great start and our main courses were also very good, in fact the duck confit ($22.) was excellent. Service was good. Our bill for two, not including drinks, but with a shared order of profiteroles two mains and soups was just over $80 plus tip. We will definitely return.

My wife and I were join by to other couples for dinner. We got there early so we were able to take advance happy hour special. The bartender was very friendly and accomodating. After a drink we moved to our table. We had a very good waiter and he described the specials of the day. We all order different items on the menu. Overall all of us described our meals as "amazing." We also shared a souffle - which is a must and its well worth it. This restaurant is expensive but ideal for special occacions. Overall we all recommend this restaurant.

This restaurant is a pleasure to visit, very friendly staff. Good explanation of the dish of the day, which is usually finger licking. Not the usual in and out in 30 minutes but a good lunch or dinner with a perfect choice of wines. Make sure you keep some space for desert, pick the one that takes the longest to prepare and for sure you will go back there.

This place is in the heart of the Heights and is one of the most beautifully decorated that we've visited recently. The service was above average and the food was average. Trying to be upscale but only the decor was. Disappointed. Will not go back again especially with their high prices. This was suggested by a friend that found it on Yelp. I should've said no as Yelp has failed me too many times before. Also, what restaurant only has brunch at 1:30 PM on a Saturday?

This was a very pleasant restaurant. Overall the venue is very nice and there is plenty of parking is available in the back, we went for lunch so I am not sure if that area is taken over by valet in the evenings. But if it were, that would be a no-go for me as I loathe valet parking. The service was good, but before we even got started on our meal the waiter proclaimed that the food here is not only good but exceptional. While I admire his gusto and enthusiasm that set the bar pretty high from the get-go. The food was quite good, I had the Wagyu Steak Frites and my wife the Kale and Ricotta Salad. The steak was extremely tender and had a nice flavor the Bearnaise sauce was homemade and delicious (although it was very little of it and placed in a minuscule container), the fries, on the other hand, were abysmal. By trying to get them extra crispy they cooked them twice, but in the process, they made them nauseatingly greasy. My wife's Kale Salad was extremely flavorful and one of the better ones she has had. For dessert, we shared a Chocolate Souffle (black and white chocolate) and it was exceptionally good, it was light with lots of flavor - as far as desserts go, a true masterpiece. Overall, I found the food to be good, but with the exception of the Souffle, certainly not exceptional.

My husband and I wanted to try out a new restaurant and came across Maison Pucha. It is ok. Best description of the restaurant?! Latin American French cuisine. Decor is very nice. Food is a fusion of Latin America and French cuisine. Servers need to be trained a little more before serving the tables. Instead of asking all the time “are you done?” - they should be asking “May I take your plate?” - proper training makes a difference. It sounds like they are rushing you when they ask if you are done. Waiters shouldn’t be taken dishes off your table when you are still eating or bringing your food when you are done with your appetizer. Again, better training on how to serve people. Cheese platter was good. Branzino was a special tonight. One suggestion, if you are going to serve fish with the skin on, make it crispy. Soufflé dessert is really good! Would I come back? Not really. There are better places for French cuisine with better service.

We went with another couple for our first time to visit the restaurant. The appearance is very nice, staff was very nice and helpful. We had a variety of food including fresh fish and my buddy and I split a "special" steak. It was very good but expensive. For the 4 of us and one $50 bottle of wine the cost was a little over $400.

It was our Anniversary so we wanted something special. We were greeted nicely at the desk and congratulated by the hostess. It’s a cute, trendy place, my wife was excited because she had just been to Ecuador. We spent $180 dollars our meal even though we ordered from the Houston Restaurant Week prix fixe menu. The waiter was no longer interested in us once we decided to order from the special menu. The proceeds from that menu go to a Houston Charity. The food was excellent, the cocktails before the food was skimpy and the Pinot Noir with dinner was a great choice. We ordered the Soufflé as a finish to our meal. The kitchen was backed up with soufflé orders, we didn’t see our waiter for a long time. We really waited for dessert for about 40 minutes. He never offered us coffee or an aperitif, he was done with us. The soufflé was worth the wait, get the soufflé. I am ambivalent about my experience. Hopefully your experience will be better. Fortunately we were not in any hurry.

Great food. Great wine. Excellent service. Can highly recommend and will return. Nice restaurant in the Heights.

We were excited to experience this restaurant with another couple. What killed was a duck confit that was left in the deep fryer for ages becoming inedible. Ok that the manager didn't charge us for both ducks but for a French restaurant to don't have the quality control to avoid serving something like that is inexcusable.

Good food and nice digs are nothing to sneeze at, but my recent experience at Maison Pucha is a reminder -- bad service can sour an experience. A friend and I arrived at MP around 5:15 last Friday. Even though MP opens at 5, when we walked in, the restaurant wasn't ready for guests. A minute or so after sitting down at the bar, we were treated to a heated discussion (disagreement) about "ice bucket duty" (who was on it, who wasn't). Thereafter, I spent the better part of two drinks listening to the bartender quarrel with servers about all manner of cocktail-related issue. For example: Waiter comes to bar and reports that a woman has complained that her champagne is flat. Bartender says it can't be the case -- the bottle was just opened! Waiter suggests pouring a new glass or "just topping off" the current, allegedly flat glass. Bartender won't have it. Says that current glass can't be flat and that's that. After the waiter walked away (who knows how he smoothed this over with the no doubt still unhappy customer), I got to listen to the bartender recount this whole exchange, with a lot of indignation, to another member of the bar staff. Maybe MP isn't aiming to be a spot for "fine dining," but even so, I visit restaurants to escape the annoyances of normal life. I don't want to listen to your staff argue or complain or bemoan. I expect more, and I probably won't be back to MP.

We’ve now been for dinner twice and can say this has become one of our favorite places to dine. Branzino, bouillabaisse, and duck were wonderful. The menu is an interesting blend of French with a Latin twist. The rooms are lively yet intimate, and the stuff yearns to please. A hair pricier than some, but not out of line.

What a wonderful dinner! The space is lovely, we could hear each other, and service was spot on. Then there's the presentation, in most cases, works of art. Order the salmon tartare just to look at it. It's gorgeous. And finally, the food. Tastes even better than it looks. Among us we had fois gras, salmon tartare, coq au vin, and chocolate soufflé. Fabulous, delicious, beautiful... what else could anyone want? Oh, right, half price bottles of wine on Tuesdays. We'll be back. Maybe even tomorrow.

I had the good fortune to go here on a business trip last week. There were 6 of us so I got to see the food and get the feedback from everyone. We all loved it. First of all the presentation of all of the food and drinks was extraordinary. This is fine dining at its finest. The bread/rolls provided were to die for. I got steak tartar as a starter and it was outstanding. The flavors were amazing. A colleague got the ceviche and said the same. My main course was grilled octopus and it was amazing. Cooked and seasoned perfectly. There was also a lot of steaks and lamb ordered - all excellent. The deserts were delicious and very artistic. I got lemon tree mousse with raspberry sorbet. It came served on a little silver tree with handmade little sugar fruits on each limb. The person who booked it said the Chef came from another restaurant he really liked. Look him up if you are a foodie. Not sure of his name but he is from Ecuador and his wife is from Brazil. You can see those influences on the menu. Maybe kind of Latin-fusion fine dining? The service was excellent as well. Highly recommended.

Great menu, Duck, Pork wonderful but James made our night Caesar salad and onion soup amazing. This place is a must!

If you like French food you will surely enjoy having dinner at Maison Pucha Bistro. They have one of the most extensive wine lists in Houston, not to be missed.

The onion soup was the best 2 of my lunch partners ever had! The waiter suggested a soup that was not on the menu! It was fantastic!!! It had clams, mussels, branzino and salmon with a light sauce. It was my main course. Wonderful cocktails and the atmosphere was perfect! Looking forward to going back!!

Excellent meal, starting with the complimentary gougere, followers by lovely branzino for me and salmon for my companions, and finished with an amazing souffle. Great atmosphere and service

I can’t believe this place is so quiet this morning. The brunch here is amazing, and sitting on the patio is a joy. French inspired menu, with fresh ingredients, well plated and delivered with great service. Brioche French toast loaded with beautiful fruit, and pork cheek with grits and an over easy egg. Great coffee. A neighborhood gem. Three of us today, and three thumbs up.

A group of about 15 family members from the US and Mexico had a wonderful time in the private dining room where we were served a multi-course chef's choice menu that was a delightful and tasty surprise. This was a very memorable meal that thrilled all of us. The care we were afforded was terrific ... wish we could do this every year.

Went for Sunday brunch on August 5, 2018. Will definitely return to the restaurant for dinner. The food quality is exceptional, the presentation is artistic and beautiful, the restaurant atmosphere is outstanding and the service was fantastic. I had the french toast and it was the best I have ever had. I also tried some of the eggs benedict and it was amazing. For dessert, I had a true work of art, both in presentation and flavor. The dessert is call Coconut Sunset and name of the dessert does not do it justice. That is how great the dessert was. I rarely get desserts when I eat out, but this is one I would not miss.

We visited Maison Pucha twice during Houston restaurant weeks. Both experiences were excellent. I judge a restaurant by each course. At Maison Pucha every dish was well designed, perfectly prepared and tasted amazing. It is obvious the kitchen and staff take great pride in what they do. The portion sizes were just right. Everything left us satisfied but wanting one more bite. Our server, Gabriella, was attentive and cordial. We'll be back. Give it a try.

I consider myself a "foodie" and so I'm pretty picky. Maison Pucha exceeded my expectations and is now at the top of my list for restaurants in Houston. Do not miss the souffle for desert....it takes a little longer but well worth the wait as it's the best I've had in the U.S.

We had a wonderful experience with a party of nine on St. Patty's night. The restaurant placed us in the wine room without imposing the $1,200 minimum charge for the room, which was greatly appreciated, as it allowed us to carry on our conversations with the great noise in the main part of the restaurant itself. We had a number of different dishes, all of which was beautifully plated and delicious. The appetizers included a huge wedge salad (definitely big enough for two), several bowls of lobster bisque, a goat cheese and beet salad, and an Ecuadorian shrimp ceviche. Our entrees included a Filet Mignon, several orders of Trout Almondine, a Lamb Shank (special), and a Branzino (special). The only complaint is that virtually no vegetables came with the entrees--only a token two baby carrots, for example. Three couples shared the fabulous Chef Victor's Famous Duo Chocolate Souffle--don't miss this dessert. The other couple and their daughter had an Apple Tart Tatin, Profiteroles, and a fruit tart of some type. We noticed when leaving that the main part of the restaurant is very noisy, which to us, is the reason for loss of a star, as we like to be able to carry on a conversation at dinner without screaming at each other. If you dine in the wine room, however, it's a 5-star experience!

Wow. Everything was superb from the service to the exquisite food. Recommend ordering dishes and sharing to be able to experience the wonderful variety. Great East Coast raw oysters. The watermelon salad was a real treat. Parking could be a challenge unless want to do valet parking, but easy to have a drop off service by a taxi-type service. Gin martinis were great as were our wine by the glass. We loved everything and think this was one of the top ten restaurant experiences of our life. We will definitely put this on our regular list to visit when in Houston. We dined for both lunch and dinner and were so impressed with each setting as they were very different and yet very much a fine dining experience in a small restaurant setting. This experience could really spoil you. Try it!

This is a Michelin class restaurant, superb food, drinks and nice atmosphere. They could use more waitstaff, but every bite was a gem. Highly recommend

My SIL had the fish special of the day and she really loved it. I had the shrimp cerviche (really good) and the Thai chicken salad (superb!). It was pricey ($40.00 for the special and $32.00 for my two items) but it was a special occasion. Something to be aware of - they bring a bottle of Pellegrino ( $7.00) to the table immediately and ask if you'd like some. If you don't really care what type of water you want, ask for tap.

We visited during Hstn Restaurant Weeks and it was busy. It's French with a feel of Latin America bc the chef is Hispanic and French trained. The HRW menu was not skimpy unlike some other HRW participated restos that is why we selected it. The menu includes foie, gazpacho, duck, filet, etc. There is an outdoor patio to enjoy in nicer weather. The foie served with fruit preserve was very good but the bread was oily and too spongy. Not a good contrast for melt-in-your-mouth liver. The kitchen recommended serving duck at medium. I asked for medium-rare—good decision since our table mate had his medium and it was too cooked. The elements accompanied the main ingredients, such as vegetables, could be more creative. The duck was served with creamy mash potato, delicious. Steak was perfectly cooked but nobody liked the sauce it came with. My partner liked the choco souffle but I wish there was more ice cream served with it. ;) Service needs a lot of training. Here were our experiences at Maison Pucha in regards to service: - Inattentive. Not filling up glasses of water even though we had an extra bottle left. - Our Waiter was a bit intrusive and interrupted our conversation without apologizing. - He was confused about drinks we ordered. We had to go back and forth a few times to correct it. - Reaching across the table to place a dessert spoon haphazardly is impolite. - Asking "are you done?" sound rushing. - A waiter was about to take my plate when I was still holding the silverware, which prompted me to rush and finish up. - Not bringing soup spoons prior to the soup bowls arriving. We had to ask for it. Attention to details need to be addressed and improved. Although, my friend said it's possible our waiter was a relative helping with the service that night. We noticed the other older gentleman who waited tables around us was much better.

We are so happy that Maison Pucha moved into the neighborhood! The food and service is always fantastic. We have had brunch, lunch and dinner here and have loved every meal. The shrimp ceviche is not to be missed!!

We dined here for a friends Holiday lunch and the food was extraordinary both in presentation and taste. Houston is lucky to have such an exceptional restaurant. Check out photos. Yes the food tastes as good as it looks.

My friend and I went here to eat lunch. She had been here before, but I had not. We were greeted and seated. First off, the restaurant is just beautiful with its open kitchen areas, two bar areas, restaurant seating with a lot of light, and the woodwork is divine. It appears that they have a community dining table, too. My hat's off to the architect/designer. Loved seeing the gleaming silver covers (to cover the food dishes) on the kitchen ledge. We enjoyed a glass of chardonnay and some rose before ordering. The soup of the day was a cream of mushroom and it was beautifully presented, served very hot, and it was downright delicious. I am not sure what type of real mushrooms were in the soup, but they were wonderful. (I have never met a mushroom I did not like.) I had the appetizer shrimp ceviche which was, also, beautifully presented. Very tasty and quite spicey. My friend had the smoked chicken sandwich that came with fries. She said it was wonderful, and we shared the fries which were very tasty. Our server was Alberto and he was most attentive and took care of our every need. He told us about the chocolate ice cream, which we are sure was heavenly, but we passed and will have to go back to try it. We also saw a beautiful sorbet dish being delivered to another customer's table. Note that the sizes are not American size (which are way too big anyway), but French size (why do you think the French are not obese like Americans?).

We tried this spot for the first time for a double birthday celebration. It was also HRW, so we tried the special menu, along with a nice bottle of wine. Our waiter was very professional and helpful. I started with the Shrimp Ceviche which was crisp and fresh. Others tried the beet salad which was beautiful and fresh and something else I don't recall. I followed mine with the smoked salmon. I'm picky about my salmon, and very pleased to find this one perfectly cooked—not overcooked. It was seasoned just right and presented with lobster bisque foam. Another of our group tried the duck and wasn't wowed, however, the petit filet was a hit. Desserts were incredibly good. The soufflé was nicely presented and tasty. The crème brûlée was beautifully plated I had the coconut sunset—so good! We had a Two Hands Sexy Beast (always good) with our meal. My only complaint was that the busing of the table was too fast. Plates for those who had finished were whisked away while others were still finishing. This always makes the slower eaters feel rushed. Food quality, taste, and presentation were excellent. I would definitely return.

The food was excellent: crab cakes, salmon with risotto, duck breast, gougeres to start. So beautifully presented, and so very yummy. We celebrated one person’s new job with a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne. Service was first rate, not especially noisy. Highly recommend this restaurant.

We ate there last Friday night - it was indeed an excellent French meal, nice selection of wine and we enjoyed the beautiful evening dining Al Fresco!

My wife and I have just returned from a great lunch. We had read some reviews about poor service and were ready to be disappointed. We had great service from Joy our server and the helpers who served water were most attentive. We did the HRW menu and were most pleased with the ceviche to start. We had the salmon and steak which were both excellent. We each had the soufflé which was most delicious. The table next to us was three and they ordered one of each HRW selection and were happy. Joy told us about the three brothers who own the restaurant and we saw lots of happy folks enjoying their meals. Definitely a place to keep enjoying. They have lots of room which would make a good place for a business meeting.

The food was incredible! Truly out of this world, very well done and presented beautifully. Taste-wise it was also outstanding and I would recommend this place to anyone. The only complaint is that the waiter did take a while to check on our table to take our order when we just got there but he recovered quickly and paid attention to us.

Excellent staff ( thank you, Russel!), food & ambiance. Busy mid- day and no glitches. Just need additional valet staff.

First time visit and loved it. It helped that our waiter was top-notch. This is a low-key restaurant that excels in its presentation and quality of its food. Our octopus, which was magnificent, was sourced from the Mediterranean, for example. Half-price wines on Sunday really boosted the value too.

Maison Pucha is a relatively new restaurant in the Heights area, easy to find on Studewood. The menu offers both old standards and exceptional new dishes, particularly the Rabbit Civet that I had this week. The first delight was the little Parmesan puff pastries served before dinner. Our party of four enjoyed three different kinds of seafood -- salmon, trout, and wild-caught red snapper -- and each one was fantastic. The gazpacho appetizer was spicy and smooth, and the creamed potatoes had a great flavor. Service was outstanding: attentive and friendly without being intrusive. The only disappointment was the frites, which lacked the desired crispness. We were too full to try the desserts, but they were tempting. Prices were in line with other haute cuisine establishments in the area. Valet parking. A great place for a special evening.

Maison was highly recommended to us by good friends who eat out a great deal. Maybe our expectations were too high. It was ok, maybe good. But I slid my rating down a star as their price points are high - we don’t mind higher prices for great food but this was not great - maybe good. Our salads (garden) - one lacked dressing. But the romaine was tasteless. Entrees were nothing to write home about - good to ok. This is a happening place. Loud, lots of hard surfaces to reflect noise. It’s attractive - quite modern. Menu was limited. Purporting to be French - would think - but they have only 2 items on the menu that my wife would classify as French. And she knows.

Visit #1: excellent. Visit #2: Awful. Service was terrible -- slow beyond belief -- and their policy of making you order starters and mains at the same time means, in effect, that if you want to enjoy a drink before dinner it will be a LONG time before you taste any food. Visit #3: Not going to happen.

We have never been disappointed at Maison Pucha. The food is very tasty and flavorful. It's always a great culinary experience. Our last meal was the to-go Thanksgiving dinner. Everything was absolutely delicious. The taste and the quality of the food were outstanding. Above and beyond a standard Thanksgiving dinner. From a practical perspective, I liked that it came with the warm-up instructions for all single items. Besides, the owners are very friendly and helpful. They offer excellent customer service. I really recommend Maison Pucha for a nice meal.

I give a big Covid Pass to make-shift restaurant staff when it is obvious that the management is struggling with acquiring good help. This was the case here. They were well intentioned, but sorely lacking in proper training. The food was outstanding. The seared foie gras was perfectly prepared. The accompanying chutney was Devine. The perfect toast points were, well, perfect. The second course duck à l’orange was sublime. The soufflé was the pièce de résistance. The wine list was sufficient though not up to the standards of the kitchen. All in all, this crew would have gotten 4 stars if service would have been better. BTW only 1%-2% of the restaurants I eat in get 5 stars. I have a Michelinesque view of stars. There should only really be 1,2 or 3 stars.

We had lunch at Maison Pucha and while it was overall good, I don’t see it as the #14 best restaurant in Houston. Great onion soup and cerviche. Bread puffs were good and fun. Soup of the day (Butternut squash) was wanting. We did not like the Caesar salad with chicken. Service was ok.

Visited this restaurant for our son's birthday. We got to the restaurant before happy hour ended and were able to purchase wine at happy hour pricing that the bartender brought to our table (quite a savings!). Three of us ordered the bouillabaisse which had a very good flavor but at $33 for a bowl with one of each type of seafood in it, it was disappointing, as was the portions for the other entrees we had (short ribs and market fish). I'd like to say we'd come back as the food quality and flavor were good, but I don't think we will. BTW, they automatically added 20% tip for our party of 5, but never pointed it out when the bill came....a little cheeky as the CC bill had an added line for the tip.

On arriving we were enthused by the decor and ambience of the restaurant. The menu at brunch is quite limited and not particularly exciting. We had a selection of food, including Caesar salad, lamb burger, quiche, ceviche. For the most part the food was fairly bland. I had a Bloody Mary which had the most ridiculously sized piece of celery poked in it, to the point that I had to lay this on the table to be able to drink it! The servers were not very good, having to come back to the table on several occasions to reconfirm the order. They also left plates and dishes at the table long after they were used and had to be prompted to clear them. We were a group of 4 adult and 2 kids, and brunch ended up being around $300 for mains and one drink each, plus coffees. Pretty over priced all things considered.

This was a huge surprise. I had the venison trio that was tremendous. Not gamey. A venison chop, chili in bone marrow and venison sausage. French onion soup had a slight kick with some sort of Ecuadorian spice. This spice shows up quite a bit and is good. Good wine list. I wouldn't order the ceviche here. Steak fries were excellent. The cut of beef used was awesome. We'll definitely go back next visit to Houston.

We sat outside on a nice evening. Our server Carina was great. Great wine list with very modest mark-ups. Started with delicious gougeres which we don't often see in Houston. Lots of gluten-free choices for my celiac husband and they knew the ropes on that. Food was excellent. Only very little quibble was that they had a tendency to take some plates before everyone was finished. We will probably make this one of our regular dinner spots.

We were 12 people celebrating a bday and the reserved place it was very good. Quality of the drinks, ceviche and duck flatbread, and mussels was excellent. It’s a little overpriced in my opinion, but service was great!

First let me say that my wife and I have been to this place several times alone and with friends. Each time was a good experience and we will go again. It is quite a nice place and has survived the pandemic in style. Now for the title, you cannot self park at this place nor can you park close to the place and walk. You have no choice. Valet parking in Houston is turning into a racket! I valet park when I need to and don't mind paying for the service. With MP all the entrances to the lot are blocked off and the tiny valet parking area means the sometimes you need to wait in the street (busy street) to get in. If the parking situation was improved they would get 4 stars from me but the parking is a big! frustration that I won't put up with. I'll go else where in Houston (many fine restaurants here). Right now they are suffering from the same problems ( hard to get staff.) as many places, so the service was slow.

Lately I've felt like some of Houston's leading restaurants have been letting me down, so I was especially pleased when a friend invited me and a former colleague to Maison Pucha Bistro for dinner for the first time. Between the service and the food, the experience could not have been better. It was a mid-week night and rather quiet. Our waiter was highly informed, personable, and attentive but not intrusive. For my dinner I choseI the ricotta kale salad and bouillabaisse. The salad was tasty (and rather a large amount for a starter) and included kale, TX wild honey, whipped ricotta, fennel, Mexican green papaya, candied pecans, and orange segments with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The kale was not chewy or tough as it can be and the various flavors melded beautifully. The bouillabaisse was truly outstanding -- the best I've had in Houston (rivaling my own, which I make from an excellent old Town and Country recipe). The first key to a superb bouillabaisse is always the making of a proper fish stock from the ground up, which was clearly the case here. The fish/seafood pieces were fresh and not overly cooked in a delightfully light and tomato-y broth. It just reminded me how in the hands of a master chef, the true classics do not need special "twists" or to somehow be made clever, but more just to be properly executed -- that is true sophistication in food. I believe the bouillabaisse was a dinner special that night as it appears to be every Wednesday night and I would definitely try to return when that was on the menu (and would love to see it there permanently). There were also some delicious small fluffy butter/cheese rolls that accompanied our dinner. We did not try desserts. Finally, the setting is both cool and charming making this a great spot for date night, either insdie or on the outdoor patio. I can highly recommend Maison Pucha Restaurant which is should surely appear on the list of Houston's top restaurants.

Front dining room is light, airy, modern, of light gray marble and coppery lighting. Back room is more atmospheric, with an impressive glass walled wine room. Waitress was slim and pretty and very knowledgable about food. Service was efficient and professional. The seared foi gras, the smoked duck breast, and the Ecudorean chocolate souffle with passionfruit cream were all excellent and beautifully presented.

The place is very well decorated. The server, Isreal, was great. Such a nice guy. The food was also great. I had a shrimp cocktail and a filet. Both were awesome. It’s a nice place.

The chef has a nice pedigree and the style of cuisine is right up my alley. French food with a South American accent. That's the best way to describe the menu which is not bad at all. The place is easy to get to on Studemont a few blocks north of I-10 so getting there is not an issue. The place also offers complementary Valet parking which is also nice. The building and decor also look the part being modern and hip if not slightly eclectic. We had reservations for a specific time and managed to get there a few minutes earlier. When we checked in we were told that we had to wait which rubbed immediately wrong with me, (what's the point of making a reservation if you cannot get your table at the time of your reservation?). Fortunately, a table just cleared and so the wait only lasted about two minutes. The first thing I noticed is that the place is extremely loud which is something I've been seeing more often lately. The floor is polished cement and the high-ceilings have no acoustic baffles at all so every one's conversations just bounced up and down reverberating in the loudest of fashion. It actually makes it sort of hard to talk and if you are in a romantic date, this would not do you any favors. The menu looked very interesting with mostly French fare with the exception of some Peruvian dishes like Ceviche (love that one). I ordered the French onion soup as a starter and then the Coq au vin. Our server was nice and the water glasses never went dry so that was good. Unfortunately, that was the end of good. Everything took an eternity, I ordered a Bloody Mary with Grey Goose Vodka. after about ten minutes the server showed up without the drink. "The bartender seems to have misplaced the Bloody Mary Mix". So no drink. We ordered two glasses of Chardonnay wine but I still wanted my Bloody Mary. How do you loose a gallon bottle of mix in a bar? We were seated at 8:32pm. Sometime past 9:20 we got our soups. The soup had plenty of cheese and looked great but it wasn't great, it was about average for a French onion soup. That's not necessarily a bad thing but one would expect more from a place that strives to make a culinary difference. The rest of the food took forever and more to get to out table. At one point the maitre d' brought us more wine on the house because it was too obvious that the food was delayed way more than it should have. I heard good things about the chef's dessert soufflé so we made sure to ordered it at the beginning of the meal since we are aware that these dishes take extra time to make. We were assure that everything was fine and the desert should come out pretty much whenever we would finish with our main course. We had a baby sitting from 7:00pm until 11:00pm. That would give us plenty of time to make it to the restaurant and back to our part of town which is in west Houston. Our main courses made it very late and they were fine flavor-wise but by this time my wife and I were somewhat irritated for everything being so late. My wife had a Trout Almondine and I had the Coq au vin. Her dish was superior to mine. My chicken was well cooked and the meat just fell off the bone which was nice. The details didn't go unperceived as I noticed that my vegetables had still some slight crispness to them which is nice because if everything had been cooked together form the beginning, my veggies would have been a pile of mush but they weren't. However, lacking was the wine notes of the dish and it could have had a little more salt to it. Again, it wasn't bad but it wasn't memorable neither. My wife's trout was indeed the better dish. The presentation was very nice and the overall flavor was really , really good. It all would have been much enjoyable if the timing of things would have been at least at par with most restaurants out there. By the time our dessert came out, it was 10:20pm which meant that it took approximately two hours just to get all of our food. By this time we had to leave so we had the soufflé put in a box (which pretty much guarantees destruction but we had no choice). We paid our bill and left. The valet was prompt in getting our car back to us which we appreciated given the fact that we were now in a rush to get back home. The place shows promise and most of the food is really good and above average but we must take into account the context of the place. This is supposed to be a high-end French restaurant from a well-respected chef who has the background and chops to back up his offerings. It is because of all the wait, the less than stellar French onion soup and a coq au vin that's not quite at par with others in town that I gave the restaurant only two stars. If I were comparing this place to your average restaurant, everything on it would shine with the exception of the speed of service and the noise level. I suggest they put acoustic ceiling baffles and even some sound deadening acoustic baffles on some of the walls (they have them this days where you can print artwork or photographs on them). Lowering the sound level would definitely help the ambience of the place. I may give this place another chance in the future just to make sure I just didn't catch the chef on a bad night. However until then, there are several other restaurants that I like to check out first.

Food was good as was the service. However they violated one of my dining out no no’s. They added a 20% service charge to my bill without telling me & left space on tab for tip. I’ll never go back, I don’t do business with sneaky places

Service abysmal. Server realized he was getting his 20% on a thousand dollar tab so he did nothing. Bus girl great. She should have got the 20%. So disappointed. Don’t waste your time, there are so many other options

My friends and I visited Maison Pucha Bistro for Houston Restaurant Week, and while we had high hopes, the experience turned out to be hit-or-miss. We started with the Cucumber & Watermelon Gazpacho, Shrimp Ceviche, and Wagyu Beef Empanadas—and this was by far the best part of the meal. The gazpacho and ceviche were refreshing, well-balanced, and flavorful. The beef empanadas were rich, savory, and packed with flavor. We were genuinely excited for what was to come. Unfortunately, the main courses didn’t live up to the appetizers. -Eggs Benedict: A classic dish done... a bit too plainly. It wasn’t bad, but the “seasonal vegetables” on the plate felt like an afterthought—more garnish than actual side. -Trout Almondine: The fish itself lacked seasoning and felt underwhelming overall. -Chicken & Waffle: One of the most disappointing dishes. The waffle was forgettable and the chicken was dry, with a presentation that felt flat. -Duck Confit à L’Orange: This had potential, but sadly the duck leg was overcooked and ended up dry. As for the dessert we tried the Crêpe à L’Orange, Chocolate Moelleux, and Vanilla Crème Caramel. The desserts were passable, but not memorable. The Chocolate Moelleux, which we expected to be a lava cake, had no molten center—which was a letdown. The service was generally good, but the host stand was disorganized. Even though we had a reservation and arrived early, we weren’t seated until five minutes after our reserved time with no communication as to why we weren't being seated. The ambiance had a charming French bistro vibe, we even noticed French music playing outside. Inside, the music was likely the same, but difficult to hear over the general noise—not overwhelming, but enough to lose the mood. Lastly, 2 out of 3 bathroom stalls were out of order, which felt like a detail that shouldn’t be overlooked in a nice restaurant. Overall, this place has potential, especially based on the appetizers—but the entrées and desserts need refinement to match the ambiance and concept. I’d consider returning if the menu is reworked, but for now, it feels more style than substance.

This place is fantastic. Delicious food set in a beautiful restaurant. The drinks are excellent and they have a wonderful wine selection. Our waiter was very kind and very attentive to our needs. Definitely a gem of a place in the Heights. One of our favorite restaurants in all of Houston.

This is currently one of my favorite restaurants. We always sit in Alberto's section and usually never order off the menu. We ask Chef Manuel to serve us family style and he never disappoints. My husband and brother dance like little boys for cookies over the souffle. It is enjoyed equally as well by my Aunt, Cousin and I when we are ladies who lunch.

Went for NYE 4-course meal which was $75/person. It was a little pricey for what was included (first course was a small shared plate for the table). But the food was outstanding and the restaurant is impeccably well designed with interesting decor and architectural details. Our guests thought the branzino fish and filet were the best entrees. The quail was a little tricky to get off the bone but very tasty. All of the dishes were thoughtfully prepared and well seasoned. The service was very good and everyone was friendly from the moment we walked in. I didn’t see a manager walking around or greeting people at tables though which I feel like is always a nice touch to make guests feel welcome, especially on NYE. We enjoyed the dining experience and would go back again.

Had a wonderful date night Saturday evening. We were the first guests that night, promptly seated, and even though the team was meeting to get the evening going, one of team members came over to offer us water or a drink order. We were personally greeted by the Chef. The food is amazing, full of different flavors and textures. Our waitress was very attentive. The cocktails were also great. We'll be back next weekend for our early birthday celebration. Go and enjoy a nice relaxing evening with excellent food and drink.

I met one of the owners Christian who is very friendly and explained the history of the restaurant and how he and his brothers created it. The food was excellent. The Hanger Steak was fantastic and the French Onion Soup was also very good. A friend invited me to this restaurant as I did not know about it and I will certainly be back. Super place

It was our first visit to this restaurant, and are we glad that we took the waiter's advice! We started with the Ecuadorean take on ceviche - delicious and colorful! Then, I had the onion soup (a satisfying meal in itself) while my husband had the "pick two" for brunch. He chose the kale salad and smoked salmon eggs Benedict (yowza, it looked good!). The service was great since it really wasn't busy. We sat outside and enjoyed the slightly cooler temperature on that Sunday. I definitely want to come back for dinner!

We're huge fans of Houston's Restaurant Week--getting a 3- or 4-course meal for either $35 or $45 per person. One of the best experiences we've ever had was a dinner at Maison Pucha Bistro in the Heights. The food (and cocktail menu) was fabulous, the atmosphere vibrant (a rarity nowadays) and the service was topnotch. You can tell that the staff--from the hostess, servers and chefs--take great pride in giving you a first-class experience. I'm a huge fan of foie gras, and Maison Pucha's version is tremendous. Served with crispy brioche and fruit chutney, it's a perfect starter. My wife and friends both went for the petit filet mignon--and were very happy--but I chose the smoked salmon with green pea risotto. It's served in a refreshing asparagus foam and is beautifully presented. The salmon was hard seared and kept mid-rare---the only way to go. We closed out the wonderful meal with the pistachio vanilla creme brulee and assorted berries. This bistro is a real hidden gem and one that we will soon return to.

We had an early Sunday dinner here before an astros game. After great starters and entrees we had to try dessert! All were fabulous! Well done and great service. We walked into the game late but it was well worth it. We will go again! (Had to try it after great review in the chronicle- which was spot on so I will say no more. 😀)