Rainbow Lodge Reviews

Went for Sunday brunch, and was not disappointed. Our table started off with some biscuits that came with butter and grape jelly; out of this world. Next I split the Cobb salad with chicken with someone at my table and the salad was very good (definitely split with someone if not main meal, very big). Then for my entree I ordered the blackened snapper with the creole butter sauce witch was probably the best snapper I have ever had. and I definitely recommend. We were so filled we decided on no dessert but we will for sure be coming back soon.

First thought was how charming! Visited around 5:45 pm on a Saturday not crazy crowded! Asked for a seat at the bar! Very accommodating and very nice staff to greet you. Bar was small itself very rustic and comfortable.. they do have plenty of high tops to sit. Maybe 5 -6 people can sit at the bar. The Bartender was very attentive immediately. With a glass of water and both food and drink menu he introduced himself and the two other bartenders working with him. The drink menu has lots to choose from. From craft cocktails to amazing bottles of wine and also Wine by the glass that is affordable. looking around, I realized the espresso Martinis was popular, four of the people around me had ordered them. The menu itself is very diverse from Buffalo, venison, trout caviar, duck, elk and antelope, Alaskan halibut and scallops I wasn’t feeling very adventurous so I stuck crabcake appetizer, and a nice glass of white wine and for dinner, a filet with a nice glass of red (see picture) it was perfection for me. I will go back and sit outside on the beautiful patio and outdoors For the experience the $106. Was worth every penny. Oh and I must mention the rolls, which came in an iron skillet, looked amazing.

We had a fantastic experience this time. We didn’t expect the weather to be so good for outdoor seating on Christmas Eve, but it worked out perfectly. Lothar, our attentive waiter, was great. The food was delicious, and our kids enjoyed it too. Surprisingly, there were many families and a low noise level. It was a fantastic Christmas Eve!

We selected this place with our friends, since we all enjoy game. The multilevel log cottage provides a cozy atmosphere. Service was friendly and effective. The selection of foods was excellent, with plenty of game to choose from. We shared two orders of Taste of the Wild. While very good, the portions were small, not really large enough to share. The Smoked Duck breast was very good: smoky, tender and juicy, although the skin was too tough to eat (expected from a smoked duck). The Grilled Elk, Grilled Antelope and Grilled Buffalo were all excellent, cooked to perfection and with simple but enjoyable sides. We had a very nice glass of white wine to start (good selection of wines by the glass) and a bottle of Mexican Red Blend (Casa Madero). It is worth mentioning that the Lodge has an excellent wine list, with something special for all tastes. For dessert, we shared a Black Forest Tart (Just OK, not great) and a Croissant Bread Pudding (Better, but not great either). The best part of dessert was the selection of dessert wines (Port, Sherry, Madeira, Sauterne and Tokaj). Overall, a delightful evening, dampened slightly by the high noise level: there was a large wedding or birthday party next to us and they were really happy!

Rainbow Lodge used to be renowned for serving exquisite venison/game.... and having the prices to prove it. Given those reports from the past I was expecting busboys in tuxedos. It's certainly still upper crust, but the busboys' long-sleeve T-shirts with "Rainbow Lodge" printed on the back did add an essence of "Motel' I was not expecting. As did the decor... the walls were meant to mimic a log cabin but looked so phony I'm surprised they even bothered. The hanging dancing balls off the roof rafters didn't really add anything and also gave a cheap feel. The Waiter was very friendly (and the best dressed of all of us). Our food was rather prompt and the dessert was excellent. We went for restaurant week and the menu was quite good. We enjoyed a rather excellent wine pairing. The Pheasant I had was harder to cut than I expected... Maybe I didn't have a good enough knife. Parking is by Valet only. It's certainly good and I would recommend but there are a few surprises. We were dressed semi-formal and were likely among the best dressed there (there were some people in cutoffs and tank tops).

Only been here for lunch so far... THREE times in August alone!! The biz lunches are a really great value. I had their tasty duck gumbo and I know my gumbos... followed by some beautiful halibut...all for fifteen bucks!!!! Can’t beat it. Impressive for your clients and romantic for your sweetie. Top marks!!

This lunch gained me some hubby points, which I can always use. This is a lovely restaurant. Very good food and service. We shared a Caesar salad 4/5. We ordered the wild game mixed grill 4.5/5, pan seared salmon and risotto special 5/5, and croissant bread pudding 5/5. We look forward to returning and hoping for patio.

A nice difference to typical dining with a selection of elk, antelope, wild boar, quail, bison, along with beef, chicken, and seafood. The ambience is Lodge style and the service is on the elegant side. The food does not taste at all "gamey" even when cooked medium rare. They have a full bar, a fair wine list, and a selection of several local specialty beers on tap. Dinner was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

This restaurant experience was fantastic. The atmosphere was very interesting, engaging and fun. The food was even better. The exotic food choices offered at this restaurant is absolutely worth trying. I had the wild game sampler and thoroughly enjoyed it. I would highly recommend the rainbow Lodge.

I have never eaten here for a meal, but did go to Happy Hour with a girlfriend recently and was very pleased! The bartenders were very friendly and conversational. They were also really great about making recommendations, explaining the specials and steering us to good choices. The HH menu gives a decent selection of small bites and is a great way to sample some of the signature items, like the Pesto Shrimp, for only $5! There are only a few choices, but all looked very tasty. The wine selection at HH gives a good cross section at pretty average prices ($6-10/glass) but the martinis are where you definitely get your moneys worth. For $5, they have maybe 6 different types to try. They are with rail liquor, so you need to decide what flavors you want wisely if you're a liquor snob. If you want a basic beer, you can't beat the $3 Brooklyn Lager, Shiner Bock or Miller Lite. I will be back to try other dishes and this definitely on my Happy Hour list going forward.

Fried Texas quail bites appetizer had four moist and tender pieces on delicious grits. Rainbow trout with lump crab and pecan brown butter had a lot of flavor, along with garlic spinach. The mixed grill plate with venison chop, elk filet, wild boar filet, and grilled quail - outstanding - all very moist and super delicious. We had nice service, and the atmosphere and play list were enjoyable. We thought the prices were reasonable for the great quality of the food. We'd been talking about coming here for years, and now we can't wait to return.

Four of us visited and were happy with the choices available on the special holiday menu. Varied game choices are mixed with a blend of cajun comfort food. Service was pretty good too. Worth a revisit when in Houston.

Best rabbit I have tried! Had the game appetizer, all three meat was very good. Had a salad, with with fried oysters as a side. Not bad at all. Tried the famous croissant bread pudding , I thought that was ok; not hugely special. Will visit again, but this is not a cheap place.

Superlative service, nice ambience with fresh flowers on tables, staff was attentive and pleasant to our toddler. We eat there often for lunch and dinner and the food is always excellent. Today they had a wonderful petite dessert for $3--crepe with raspberries and fresh peaches topped with whipped cream.

Never been there before and wanted to visit. Had a reservation at 3 pm which they did not find so they will not going to sit me in for lunch until I showed it to them. Got seated and things did not go much better. Order from HRW menu which quantities were really small compared to much much better options elsewhere. Did not even have bread to offer. In general, poor service and a lot of disappointment.

I come often to Houston for business, normally I dine here but this time on my way to the airport I had lunch, fantastic antilope steak, simple yet delicious and for dessert a great dessert(being a business lunch I do not have recollection of this feature, yet it tasted very good). On top of it, a good local IPA beer and very good service ( we forced the poor waitress to lower air/conditioning, as European we do not go for it all the time, especially when not necessary. Great location. I will definitely go back again

The place is amazing! The restaurant is a wonderful look back into history. The trophy room is a must see. Had the wild game plate and it was heavenly! Prepared spot on and the service was top notch. Finished the meal with the lemon dessert. This will become a routine place to eat each time I visit Houston. First on my list.

I've been coming here for many years. It is an experience you won't forget. Be sure to visit the bar just to see the hand carved cypress bar top with a glass covering. The menu always includes fresh wild game. This visit included quail and also bison (which I had). The bison was cooked to perfection, in my case rare plus.

I have never had the pleasure of dining at this restaurant. I probably wouldn't have eaten there but a friend invited me to go. I was very happy I did. Wild game is on the menu and it was very well presented. The flavor was outstanding. I had Quail, Boer, Venison and Buffalo all of which were very flavorful and cooked perfectly. I recommend this place highly.

My husband and I ate here over 30 years ago when we were dating and decided to see if it was as good as we remembered. And it certainly was. It was even more rustic than I remembered. It feels like you are in a hunting lodge and since the grounds are large, it is hard to believe you are in the middle of Houston. It was very busy with several large parties, but we had good service. My husband tried the appetizer size of the different wild game and enjoyed all of it. My son had the quail bites, which he felt had too much breading, but the meat inside was tender and juicy. He and my husband had the famous duck gumbo which was probably not such a great idea since we are from Louisiana. It was certainly not like our gumbo, but when I told them to stop thinking of it as gumbo, just think of it as soup, they said that the flavor was very good. I had a delicious salad and then the crab cake which was every bit as good as the ones in La. and I also had jalapeno cheese grits which were divine. Since it was my birthday, they treated me to a decorated plate with a tiny, very dense and delicious chocolate cake and we all shared a wonderful key lime pie. We were very glad we returned and plan on doing so again soon-we will not wait 30 years this time!

I found this on Open Table. We wanted something different for my birthday. It lived up to all its website promises. The lodge is unique for a city setting and reminded us of the lodge on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Besides its unique log cabin atmosphere, we had a great seat overlooking a small bayou. The service was excellent and the attention to detail phenomenal. Our waiter, Jacek, was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional, The food was outstanding and different. It is a place we have put on our return list. The worst part for us was getting there, but it is worth fighting the traffic on the I-610 loop.

Went there for a business dinner - gumbo was fine the quail appetizer was poor and the lamb was absolutely abysmal. The lamb main course came with artichoke hearts and baby russet potatoes - it was almost laughable if it weren't for the price charged. Recommendation - Go somewhere else the food quality isn't what it once was.

Our family splurged and went to Rainbow Lodge for a wonderful meal after having been together the previous weekend for a wedding. The service was impeccable, the food was wonderful, and the views out the floor to ceiling windows of the beautifully kept grounds was delightful. Several in our party chose the lunch special which included soup or salad, a choice of 2 entrees, and a small dessert. Granted the portions were smaller than on the menu, but they were more than enough for all of us who ordered that special. I chose the fish option. I was halibut and was prepared perfectly! What a great place to visit and eat!

Wife really liked it more than I did, get a reservation, interior decorated like old hunting lodge, been here about 30 years, used to be near downtown Houston. Special occasion kind of place, very friendly, If you like the bread, ask to take some home, they are prepared for your request. Wait staff very knowledgeable, Wild game is the specialty, may be herd or farm raised.

Sorry for the delay in writing this review! We actually went in January 2023 for a birthday. To say that the food was amazing is an understatement! The atmosphere is also very nice! I know we will be back!

We've been here a number of times while in Houston visiting family. They always deliver great meals, excellent service and a top shelf dining experience. We've been here for both large and small groups and always delighted This trip was a modest group that included 2 small children, they were very accommodating. Food was excellent with a great choice of fish or meats. Drinks and desserts were excellent bookends for a very enjoyable meal Great place for events, special occasions or just a great meal

Business dinner here and it was "different" but good. I was told by a co-worker that people will go here for special dinners - anniversaries, birthdays, etc. I was also told it was "business casual" dress but 1 member of the party (of 5) wore jeans and fit right in. This place is know for it's "game menu". This included, bison, elk, etc. We all shared the game appetizer plate - venison, bison and quail. All were tasty. The quail was served on a bed of cheddar grits that were delicious so I asked for them as a substitute side. Also shared some fried oyster - very good. 2 of the party had red snapper, 1 had duck and foie gras, 1 had lamb and I went conservative and had filet. Everyone seemed to enjoy their selections. Service was by a younger gentleman but he seemed prepared, knowledgeable and thorough. Service was very good/excellent. Ambience was OK - kind of lodge feel. We also shared some desserts which were very good.

Cool building and cozy atmosphere. Staff was not very attentive nor friendly including Hostess and server. We heard another server near our table that was very friendly. We just weren't lucky. Food: We had the trout and shrimp risotto entree's. The trout had an oily film on top of it that lingered in your mouth for a few minutes. We're not sure what it was. The trout was cooked well and had a decent flavor outside of the film. The risotto was hardly cooked and crunchy. The mix of safron and pesto(menu identified as salsa verde) was odd and lacked any really creative flavor.

Came here today for a girls brunch. I am giving it an Average rating - the spinach was delicious & the rainbow trout was good, but it wasn't like amazing out of this world or anything. $2 mimosas were okay. They provided our tables with little mini biscuits with butter & jelly: those were good but nothing amazing. The waitress spilled the tray of mimosas over my friend on accident but she did apologize as did two other men who came to our table. It didn't ruin our experience though. The restaurant itself is SUPER cute! Lots of little areas for seating as well as outdoor seating. I would go back just based on the cute ambiance. The food was good, but again, not like amazing. Valet parking only.

I had very high hopes going in to this dinner. I will start off on a positive note by saying the flavors of most everything we had were excellent. The biggest problem was that everything was cold. We had been told that they were busy, but that is no excuse for letting cold food go to the table. Our waiter came over shortly after we were served and asked how our food was, but by this time, we were starving and just wanted to eat. When we mentioned this afterwards, we were basically shut down because we didn't mention it earlier. We didn't "want" anything and we were very gracious, we just wanted to let them know the food was cold. There was no apology. As a side note, when I went to the ladies room, there was no toilet paper. I mentioned this to the host stand and they proceeded to tell me the spare rolls were in a basket behind the toilet. Hello? Not the customers job. A simple "Thank you for telling us, we will take care of it" would have sufficed. I think this is my biggest beef. Who is training the staff with their verbage? Our evening could have been saved if we thought the staff gave a damn. From beginning to end, the level of service was seriously flawed. Too bad. We will not be back.

Went for dinner on a Saturday evening. Had made reservation for the patio. Arrived, valet parking is the way to go, as the parking around the restaurant is limited. Was greeted and seat quickly on a lovely patio with a great view. Our server was very nice and efficient. We never felt rushed and was allowed a nice leasurly meal. My husband starts with the wild game trio, which was very good and allowed him to taste some different meats. I got the salad, which was very fresh, with a great tasting dressing. For the main course I opted for the wild game sampler, which was very good. The sides were equally good. The service is excellent. We finished with coffee, my husband tried the popular Nudge dessert coffee, which was excellent, I opted for plain black coffee which was also very good. Had a wonderful evening.

This was our first experience...we ordered iron skirt steaks and they were so so ~~ as this is our favorite meat we were disappointed as the steak was chewy and had gristle. I expected a smaller serving for lunch but this was a little light. Bread is delicious and I ordered dessert and they were out of what I selected. I then selected strawberries and puff pastry which was beautiful BUT the pastry was tough and needed to be cut with a knife (which I did not have). Setting is beautiful and service was excellent...for the price food was disappointing.

If you like a lot of variety consisting of different game, this is your place. Very difficult and unique here. We were please with the food and the service. We did not like the parking or lack thereof and valet parking. The coming off of available parking is always a turn off for us. We may or may not return as a result.

I had not visited this restaurant in years, but decided to book it for a dinner with friends. All I can say is "Wow." We all ordered different HRW specials and wine pairings. The HRW 3 course menu was $45 and included a starter, main and choice of three desserts. Everything was delicious and well presented. The service was attentive and our waiter (Daniel) had a charming sense of humor. The restaurant looked beautiful with greenery and white lights outside the windows and hunting lodge decor inside. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Back again with a group for Sunday Brunch... Great diverse menu,awesome service and the setting ( building and grounds ) are outstanding.

this restaurant is unique. the ambiance is like a woody mountain lodge. from the inside, you would never know that you were in the middle of busy houston. there is a big picture window overlooking greenery and a small creek. the food was fantastic. i had the red snapper which was beautifully prepared. the lemon ice box cake was like a key lime pie but made with lemon. it was dreamy and creamy. half of the menu is seafood and the other half seems to be steak or wild game. very unique menu. we were here to celebrate a birthday and the staff made it quite special. i will certainly be back. maybe for brunch!

We had Sunday brunch at Rainbow lodge on our anniversary weekend. The lodge is a quaint cabin with different little rooms & nooks. Very unique, comfortable, and set back beside Buffalo Bayou. We were seated in a little private nook with a table for 2. The perfect intimate spot, it overlooked the grounds through spacious windows. We ordered the fried quail with grits, & redfish with crawfish jambalaya. Both very fairly priced. The food was absolutely outstanding. The only reason I did not give 5 stars was that upon entering, the hostesses sort of looked at us as if wondering why we were there, instead of welcoming us. Make sure to read history of new location, & visit the intricately carved trout bar, moved from former location. This restaurant would also be a lovely venue for a rustic chic small wedding~ We will definitely return, possibly at night. My husband is a hunter & domestic chef, so our "tastes" have quite a high bar. Rainbow lodge did not disappoint! Compliments to the chef!

The food is good they did a blend between American and Mexican Cuisine that night. Chef is focus in the seasons and local products, items that are easy to get and valuable for the season. Marc one of the Managers it is really knowledge with the drinks. The bar and patio are relaxing, imagine with a glass of wine it is a perfect match.

I honestly cannot wait to return during winter. Indoors is great for all year around but anyone’s outdoor dining area is impossible right now. Service - Everyone seemed to be fair. We didn’t have to ask for anything or wait for anything. Ambiance - Completely different than all the restaurants I’ve been to in Houston. Indoors was nice and tables next to the window have unexpected views. It’s in the middle of so much and then the restaurant really does seem so tranquil in comparison. The restaurant itself was an old house and the logs are completely exposed; adding to its uniqueness. We stepped outside just to take peek. I’m not sure how many levels to their deck is out there; maybe three. I want to go back just to dine outside. Food - Sea Scallops: I eat scallops about once every couple of weeks. Yes, these were good very well. The texture was pretty much perfect. They were seasoned well also with a good sear. Two scallops with a tiny bit of potato cubes and chowder. There were some greens too, Couldn’t taste bacon. Pesto Grilled Gulf Shrimp: You may not like if you don’t like capers. Good flavor profile with the combination of ingredients. Three shrimp. Lobster Diablo Risotto: YUM!!! Comes with a very spicy oil. You can ask for it on the side and add as you like. It is‘ easy very spicy but delicious. Rainbow Trout: Another good flavor profile due to the combination of ingredients. Very large portion. It’s possible to split it as a side among three people. Hope, hope to go back!

Even though its called Rainbow Lodge, if you haven't been there before, its hard to wrap your head around an old log cabin restaurant decorated with hunting and fishing paraphernalia centrally located in the heart of Houston, and as one should anticipate the menu is all about Wild Game and since its Houston they also offer Regional Gulf Seafood. As a borderline vegetarian restaurants like this are always a but of a challenge for me but there were enough salad and side dish options to keep me satisfied. My family said everything was excellent. Our server was professional and well-informed and was able to steer us all in the right direction. I would definitely go back.

Made reservation weeks in advance and got put at dimly light table by the back door. Not a nice view of anything. Food was ok have had better at this same price point. Will not return.

So we went yesterday evening and everyone enjoyed it all. Start at the beginning. We went for my wife’s birthday and she loved it. The valet parking is easy and the cost is what you tip so that is reasonable. The setting, ambiance, staff and decor were amazing. There were 12 of us including 6 “kids” ages 8-17. We sat at two tables with the adults at one table by the beautiful fireplace all in one beautiful room, so we thank them for that accommodating effort. We had several starter/appetizers. All delicious, including the duck and sausage gumbo that hit the spot. Wife had a salad with candied pecans. Plus taste of the wild and the quail. We rated the quail and the gumbo a 10. The quail was the best ever rating. All were delicious. Our main courses included trout, duck, lamb and a tuna special. The trout and duck were rated the highest by the group, the lamb slightly less, and the tuna was we will say unusual and would not recommend. Having said that they didn’t hesitate to make it right on the tuna which made giving five stars easy. They have a childrens menu and the kids all loved being there. All said they really liked their dishes, which were mostly chicken fried steak fingers and mashed potatoes. They brought a nice dessert and card acknowledgment of my wife’s birthday which was kind and the rest of us shared the bread pudding. All said and done we highly recommend this restaurant and would love to return.

What a great experience, from completing our last minute booking (literally called while we were on the way over and they were happy to accommodate us) to exceeding our culinary expectations. We started with the "taste of the wild" appetizer which had venison with chimichurri sauce, chicken fried rabbit with rissoto, and bison steak over whipped sweet potatoes - all 3 were flavorful and perfectly cooked, though the venison was the standout. I had the pecan rainbow trout which was a huge portion (and I can eat!), I saved half for lunch the next day. The trout was rich with lump crab meat and perfect crispy skin. My husband had the red snapper and jambalaya which was even better than the trout! The wait staff is super attentive and makes you feel like an honored guest. We will definitely be returning soon to try more of the game meats and the chef's tasting menu. I can't believe we waited so long to try Rainbow Lodge, definitely recommend

Made a reservation for a Friday night for my 21s anniversary. Arrived 15 minutes early. A male host said it was a 45 minute wait and snotily pointed me to where I could wait in the bar. An hour later still no table. Finally got a table on the hall even though I had told them in the reservation it was a special occasion. The waiter was excellent. The food was ok. The meat was cold and the portions on the tasting menu were extremely small. For the price we were disappointed

Always a delightful and delicious meal with attentive service. We particularly enjoyed the burratta with figs!

This is my favorite restaurant in Houston. Everything is always perfect, and the food is always magnificent! Their specialty is wild game meats and seafood, but the steak is top notch as well! I have always had amazing service here, and actually, my wife and I got married here! Perfect spot for a romantic dinner or a Sunday Funday at the bar or on the amazing multi-level patio! Be adventurous. Try something different here and I am sure you will be pleased. Oh and DO NOT I repeat DO NOT skip the Bread Pudding.

Ambiance, romance, and good food all in the same place! This place is very unique, the layout and the food. There is a beautiful garden in the back that is truly beautiful at night. Make your reservation and enjoy your meal, every item I have had on this menu is most worthy!

I am a connoisseur of gumbo, and have NEVER had gumbo as good as the duck gumbo at Rainbow Lodge. Maybe close to the Petroleum Club's gumbo, but still the best.

We had the Friday Burger, Crab Cake and Croissant Bread Pudding. OMG!!! Everything’s was fantastic, but I need to make an special mention to the bread pudding: is AMAZING. I truly recommend this place. It’s a bit pricy but worth if. It’s a perfect place for an special date or event to celebrate. —- Pedimos la hamburguesa, el crabk cake y el postre de bread pudding se croissant. TODO estaba delicioso. Ningún pero. El precio es más caro que la media pero la calidad lo merece. El postre fue lo más delicioso del lugar. Es el sitio perfecto para celebrar algo privado o una cita. El patio interior es una maravilla

What a nice Valentines Day celebration here! Comped valet, organized hostess station, great start. The crab-cake appetizer was delish. The wife and I were "game" to try something wild, their specialty here, so I went with the Elk and she with the antelope. We shared bites and both were tender, with the Elk having a more game taste. Both were tender though. A friend at our table had the bison for an up/charge. We shared bites here too and this was the best of all tasted. We likewise shared bites of dessert, and the bread pudding was outstanding. Service was on-par as usual, perhaps we'll visit on the next holiday.

Such flavor!!! The food was really amazing, its a wonderful place to beand enjoy a dinner with your bae!!

Overlooking a pretty green space with ample tropical trees and local birds, the cuisine also rises to the setting. Upscale, relaxing lunch or dinner venue, Rainbow Lodge offers some classic seafood and wild game entrees. Business lunch special is a moderately priced option featuring fish of the day, the duck andouille soup and a petite treat. Parking is limited but valet is available for dinner. Servers are friendly and professional but be prepared for a slower but attentive pace.

Had a great meal at one of the oldies but goodies restaurant. We even got to take advantage of Houston's Restaurant Week menu. Their duck gumbo to start along with snapper as the entree & a bit of chocolate to finish the meal off was enough to make our weekend. Love the log house & the wait staff. Can't wait to try something else during our next visit!!

I recently broke my hip while at home alone and was very lucky to have some friends just happen to drop by. Had they not, I could have died, being unable to reach the phone. During my recovery, friends and family were extremely generous in helping me through the surgery, rehab, and beyond. So I wanted to say thanks to those who live in Houston, treating them to dinner at the Rainbow Lodge. This is a rare and unique find in this city -- a true log cabin that was expanded and remodeled into a great dining establishment. We had dinner there in a romantic setting -- a log cabin room overlooking a small brook stocked with fish and outdoor dining tables. Our server, Lonnie, was outstanding -- funny, ensuring we had a great time, and attentive to our needs at all times. The food was outstanding -- for main courses, our group had elk, duck, shrimp-stuffed rainbow trout, and a beautiful steak. These followed appetizers including the best crab cakes I've had west of the Chesapeake, quail wings, pate de fois gras, and others. And dessert-a chocolate mousse that rivaled those I had when I lived in France was excellent. Fair warning. It's expensive. But worth it.

Dined for the first time at Rainbow Lodge thoroughly enjoyed it! Started with happy hour drinks in the bar along with live music, then a delicious dinner from the HRW menu. Loved the duck gumbo, lobster risotto and bread pudding. Great service and a very unique restaurant inside. Look forward to returning!

We had the small bites chef's choice with wine pairings. This is six courses with accompanying wine selections selected by the sommelier. Each plate was relatively small, but with six we finished feeling satisfied and full. Our courses on the evening we were there were roasted eggplant, sautéed red snapper, roasted pepper and duck risotto, bison with mushrooms, venison ,and a cheese crostini. This choice is a splurge, but was a great introduction to what is served. The sommelier introduced each wine and our waiter talked about each course. It was an entertaining evening.

This is a great place to celebrate a special occasion. We made a reservation online and had a wonderful experience. Our waiter was fantastic and the food was great. Loved the buffalo tenderloin, antelope loin, and bread pudding!

Food was excellent, service was personal and top notch. And I always appreciate a restaurant that doesn't feel the need to gouge you on their wine pricing, which by the way consists of an excellent selection of wines.

This place is amazing -like a hunting lodge hidden in the middle of the downtown Houston. Exotic meats and great service i like the views and the awesome atmosphere too. Steak is excellent.

Visiting area and a local recommended. We weren't disappointed. Great service and food. We visited for awhile after our meal but we weren't rushed out. Get a reservation. Someone in front of us was not able to be seated. Be prepared to valet park. Didn't see any close self parking.

My now-deceased husband and I used to go here in the 80s, and going last week was like a trip back in time. The same high quality food, excellent service, and classic decor! Love it and will certainly be back.

Went to meet a friend after work and enjoy the nice weather. Outside of this place is beautiful and relaxing. We had the happy hour martinis and to our surprise, they ARE NOT in martini glass. That kind of defeats the purpose. According to the wait staff, then do not have martini glasses. Kills the mood real quick. This place has been around for many years, you would think something as simple as a martini glass would be common. Nope!

I think what I have learned is this place must be awesome for Sunday Brunch based on the reviews, but don't come on a Friday or Saturday evening when they primarily have group events. My husband and I were frequent regulars here back when it was owned and operated by La Tour d'argent. We got engaged there and had our rehearsal dinner there. So we know the grounds and ambiance is fabulous. Back then, they also had a Harpist present or some other very nice music akin to fine dining. You won't find fine dining music now by any stretch. Rainbow lodge has really annihilated that place. They moved in 2006/2007 I believe and we have gone 3 times since - and each time is a greater disappointment than the one before. We are done there. Let me start with the service: My husband and I (table of two) ordered drinks. Later we ordered small plates / appetizers (still no drinks). Not only do we still not have our drinks by the time our appetizers arrive which is inexcusable, but the waiter hasn't taken our dinner order either so when they put the appetizers down (along with the bread and water already present), we had to lean our menus against another empty table nearby which is also unacceptable. Staff saw it but did nothing. Our waiter never once brought out our food (always other severs) and that was another problem. If there were ever any issues, he wasn't around. But we did finally get our drinks after finishing the bread and appetizers with our water. Our menus had been leaning against the adjoining table for almost 30 minutes before we flagged down our waiter and asked him to take our dinner order. I honestly think he totally forgot he had not taken it. He seemed to be much more interested in serving a table of 4 near us. Maybe because its twice the tip? I have no idea why they had all of his attention. We would have ordered more alcohol had he ever checked on us. So let's get to the food. Appetizers were scallops (very good) and the wild game tasting plate (very mediocre, which is upsetting because there are several places to get good seafood in Houston, but not wild game). When they brought our dinner out and my husband ordered elk, no one asked him to cut into his meat to see if it was cooked to his liking. Thats also unacceptable for fine dining. Unfortunately, it wasn't cooked to my husbands liking but we weren't aware until everyone was gone (because no one asked him to cut into it) and it was so hard to get anyone's attention, he just ate about 2/3rds of it and called it a day. I had lobster risotto and it was unbelievably spicy. I'm from Texas and like my Mexican food but its almost like someone spilled paprika in this dish. The heat was all I could taste - not the flavors of lobster or risotto that I also hoped to enjoy. If the spiciness was indeed intentional and not a mess up, they should either have that noted in the menu as being spicy, or when ordered, the wait staff should ask if spicy is okay. Give some type of warning. Horrendous service, not great food, and a tab of $180 for 2 with each of us only having one drink (sure could have used another one). Lots of group events seemed planned and set up so I think this place should maybe stick to sunday brunch or go down to a more casual fare because fine dining is not what we got, even though we paid for it.

We went today my husband and myself for our anniversary. I did reserved via open table. Service was great. Our waiter Cyrus was so friendly and professional. We went on Sunday noon, so they have brunch special so you could order either breakfast or entree. Mimosa is for $2. I tried the Texas blood Mary drink but I didn’t like it. It was super spicy for me. We ordered fried flounder and chicken artichoke. The fish was the best fried fish I had ever tried in my life. My husband loved his chicken as well. Crème brûle was not that special, but everything else was phenomenal. There is complimentary banana bread and biscuit with jam and butter. Decorations is nice. Very country style. Place is really worth a visit. Highly recommended.

Very much the hunting lodge feel. Pleasant staff with efficient service over a business lunch. The gumbo starter was tasty as was the pork so pretty good from my seat. My colleague had the wild combo. Pretty handy place with atmosphere

We went there to celebrate our birthdays and the experience was very positive! The view of the gardens was spectacular, I ordered the trout dish and it was really delicious! My friends ordered different things and they were all very happy with their selections. Blake the server was extra nice and friendly and made the occasion very special!! We will be back!!

Food was excellent, well prepared, well arranged. Service disappointing, not the attention that I expected. Waiter's assistant was struggling to place the water glasses, Some of us ordered the HRW option, the attitude of the server changed instantly Dirty silverware stayed on the table. Steak knives were not placed until after the entrees were on the table. After the first glass of wine (over poured) was poured we had to pour our self. Bread and butter was still on the table during dessert. Birthday dessert that was offered during the reservation was never served until I brought it to the attention of the Hostess. Overall no attention to detail.

Been here many many times love it, great game meats but also elegant entrees and desserts... Has a wonderful flare for dinner dates and amazing garden views

We had dinner there Sunday (21 April) with Marko as our waiter in the bar area. Nice ambiance, comfortable setting etc. We perused the wine and food menus and chose our drinks and dishes. Let me say the menu does not describe the dishes accurately. We ordered the Pan Seared Halibut - described as - "Wilted Escarole, Roasted Baby Artichokes, Spanish Green Olive Salsa Verde" - nowhere in this description does it say "spicy" "hot peppers" nothing. My wife has issues with spice - had to send that back. "Roasted Garlic Sautéed Kale" - sounds delicious - unless they sprinkle cayenne pepper over the top - again - too spicy and had to send that back. My meal was the Seared Duck Breast and Foie Gras - the duck and foie gras were very good - the "Sweet Potato Puree, Greens, Figs and Pecans" were all cold. Even the side of Jalapeno and Bacon Cheddar Grits for me was cold. Marko the waiter was more concerned about what was on the TV as he came in from the patio than looking over at our table to see if everything was okay. We flagged down another waitress and she assisted with correcting the dishes. He didn't even apologize on behalf of the restaurant. Sometimes, that is all it takes is a nice heartfelt apology. They ended up taking our side dishes off the bill, but no manager came by to speak with us. As we were leaving, the hostess was going to let us leave without saying goodbye, or come back soon, or thanks for coming, and as an afterthought we went and told her about our meal issues. - Couldn't care less. That kind of attitude from staff comes from the top.

Went before heading to airport to catch our flight, It was a wise choice. Food is good, warm service, classy ambiance. Def a winner.

We were invited to Sunday brunch here while in town. We had not heard of the restaurant before. Seriously such GREAT food and service!!! I can not even choose one food item to recommend. There were 8 of us and ALL of our dishes were outstanding. Out waiter was as good as it gets (Cant remember his name. It was a bit long and unusual). We will 100% come back here next time we are in town.

Reservations suggested, for dinner anyway. I booked a table two days in advance. The menu has all kinds of wild game on it. I ordered the Wild Game Mixed Grill: venison, elk, quail, wild boar, mashed potatoes, asparagus, game sauce. A monster meal, which gave me a chance to sample various wild game items. A variety of tastes, some a bit gamey but not in a negative way. I had two glasses of Malbec from Argentina, one of my favorite red wines. The robust wine married well with the red meats. Expensive meal but worth it. Plenty of food, enough so I had a doggie bag when I left. Very fine service.

Rainbow Lodge is a unique dining experience with great food in a quiet and rustic setting. I have had both business and casual lunches there but strongly recommend making a reservation first. It’s a little on the pricey side but not your typical restaurant and well worth it.

Service was slow and waiter was surly not customer friendly. We have been here a number of times but will be difficult to go back again

Three of us visited for a midweek business dinner for a debrief after a recent project. Two of us had never visited prior - the venue was picked by our guest. We had no reservation but they found an outside table at the back and we were seated quickly. We shared the “Big Board” appetiser charcuterie arrangement, and each chose a different main. Bone in Elk, Ribeye, and Nilgai (Antelope) - Keto friendly substitutions came with the ribeye. The ribeye was mine, I’d originally thought to go with the Snapper, then the Wild Game Mixed grill but bottled out at the last minute. It was very nice but regretted it on the basis that I should have ordered some game while there. Anyway, what a special night! The Big Board was big, and almost everything on it was unique - we did not finish everything. The mains were superbly presented and the member of our group who ordered the Nilgai talked about it all the way home. The decor and general layout of the restaurant are spectacular with lots of attention to detail. Fin, feather and fur mounts, replicas, paintings and various associated paraphernalia adorn the interior in a tasteful, well thought out manner. This restaurant made me think I really need to eat out more when at home base. I gave four and not five out of five as it did take us a long time to order. Not a complaint rather an explanation of why no top marks. Four is harsh, wish there was a four and a half. All the staff were very good and made us feel welcome even when we seemed to be the last folk to leave.

The atmosphere of this place can mute about every minor negative that it may have. The food is great, but probably not a great as they think it is. It is too expensive. The wine list is extraordinary, but massively over priced. The service is friendly, but not necessarily welcoming nor engaging. The environment is, however, second to none.

We had an great team lunch today. The cabin feel is beautiful, rustic and charming. The Lobster Risotto and chili did not disappoint. It was my first visit but i will definitely return very soon.

Y’all... not only do they have delicious food and a great drink menu, the patio is the ambience you are looking for to enjoy a lovely date or fun night with your best friend. The servers were well versed on wine pairings and allergies when we asked. We enjoyed everything! Be ready to try some new foods if you aren’t accustomed to wild came or creative flavor combos. 10/10 will be back soon. Business casual type attire and moderately priced with a steakhouse feel to the menu.

My wife and I visited with friends during Houston Restaurant Week and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. The restaurant is located in a log cabin built to look like a hunting lodge and decorated with mounted game and fish. The building overlooks beautiful wooded gorge -- totally unexpected for an Inner Loop location in Houston. In keeping with the hunting lodge theme, the menu tilts toward game Food was terrific. I rabbit as an appetizer: Two nuggets of rabbit breaded and fried, served over grits accented by a peppery sauce. For the main I had very tender roast loin of venison. Dessert was a chocolate ganache cake, really a slab of chocolate with garnishes. The wine list is pricy, with few offerings below $80. This is a great location for a romantic dinner, but definitely in the Splurge category.

Ambiance very nice, with log cabin features. Go and see the hand carved cypress bar. Food cannot be beat.

I am a foodie so I look for restaurants that offer something out of the norm. When I read the reviews and the menu I figured this spot would be ideal as my birthday treat. The setting is pretty unique and that is a plus. The service was decent but our server a little too eclectic. Now to the food.. the best bites of the night were my scallop app and the lemon ice box dessert but what was supposed to be the star ( the mixed wild game grill) was underwhelming. Right away I had to send back my plate as the venison was hammered and would have been tough as leather. My second plate was better but still not perfect ( at the price for this plate it should be, especially if this is what you are known for). The elk was very good, the quail perfect but the venison was bland and unevenly cooked and the boar was inedible along with the rice side dish. All of the meats would benefit from some nice fruit based glaze or sauce. Now I cook venison and know how it should be done and the song and dance from the server was just flat out bull but I was not about to send the plate back a second time. The guy behind me had no problem raising some noise about the same plate and got some nice comps for it but I did not. My wife’s steak was very nicely done so we were batting 500 between the apps and mains ( her pork belly app was dry and over done-yes I cook that one as well). I really am torn as to whether or not to return. There are some great sounding items I would love to try-antelope and pheasant to name two but at 2 C notes for dinner it better be perfect and this was not. Maybe we were just unlucky on this night , I am not sure but I wished that the experience lived up to my hopes and expectations of a finer dining establishment.

This place is been around for about 25 years I came here a long time ago for their game menu since then the food is not as good as I remembered it most of them each were overcooked and it took forever for the service in the food to come out

What a great place to come and eat with a good company!! Their attention was excellent and the food too, really liked the visit!

We were there for brunch. Ordered the red snapper dish and it was fabulous and the salad was great as well. The atmosphere and the service were amazing. We were there for hours and it was very enjoyable.

I have not been to the Rainbow lodge in almost 20 years, and decided to go celebrate my girlfriends birthday there this past week. Times have changed sums it up. The food is excellent, but in the old days the Rainbow lodge was one of those places that you went for elegance and fine dining. There is basically no dress code anymore and although we were dressed appropriately, there were people around us that couldn't care less about how they were dressed. Kind of took away from the mood of the evening. Our service was sub-par as our waitress used the term "i will be right back to take care of that" the whole evening. The question that came to mind was why were we the ones that had to wait? But, it seemed to be a standard. An example was that we had a table of 5. After the bread was brought out it was quickly consumed by the table and I asked for some additional bread. I was told by the waitress that she would be right back to take care of that. Well, about 5 minutes later she came to take the basket and go refill it. It would have been more efficient to just have brought 2 baskets of bread and take away the empty one. It is only bread, not gold. Another point to bring up was that after the evening came to a close, our desserts were brought out and served. Just as we started our desserts, the waitress then brought out the "Happy Birthday" dessert. Timing was terrible. Maybe our waitress was having a bad night, but I just think that the "birthday" dessert should have been brought out before any of the other desserts. Other than the timing of service, the evening was nice and the Rainbow lodge stood up to provide a nice venue for a birthday celebration. But, I truly feel that the restaurant should divert back to the way things were done in the old days.

Wow, wow, wow.... great food, over the top wine list, great staff... what more do you want?? This is a very nice property. We went for lunch and we were treated like we owned the place. I had the duck gumbo then the wild game trio... really good. A must visit in Houston. This restaurant was really busy and I noticed that there were several business meeting going on as we enjoyed our lunch. If business people take clients to a high end restaurant to do a deal, the place has to be good!!

Regardless of the reason you want to enjoy a great meal in a wonderful atmosphere with very friendly and attentive staff, Rainbow Lodge is the place to dine. It is located in a rather unusual place but worth the drive. I miss the old location on Memorial Drive but at least the food is still exceptional.

So the salad was amazing! One of the best things I've ever eaten. My husband had the elk, pheasant combo and it was very good. The desserts are exceptional. I had the chocolate torte with ganache and tried my husband's bread pudding. I would come back just for the desserts alone (and the spinach salad) We are 2 + hours from Houston and will come back here. I had the scallops because I wasn't very hungry and they were good, but the portions are small.

My wife and I reserved the small private room for ten for this past Saturday November 5, 2022. The assigned server and wait staff were excellent. The food was beyond compare! However, there was one persistent issue that plagued our experience that night. The room has three entrances, one of which led to the bar (which I was okay with as long as it was the only access for our reservation), second led to another room where a large party was seated that night – they were not disturbed as the door that led to that room was kept closed all evening, the third went to the general seating area. During the course of the evening staff that was not assigned to our room continually used our ‘private’ room as a corridor between the bar and the general seating area. In addition, there were multiple occasions in the middle of our dinner when bussers would casually come into that room and restock the server station with glasses and silverware that weren't being severely depleted. The members of our party made an effort to keep the door closed that led to the general seating room to try and curtail the traffic, but to no avail. It continued throughout the night. We asked the server and staff assigned to our room to keep the door closed as well as they would enter or exit the room, but also to no avail as unassigned staff continued to utilize our room as a corridor. The first two hours or so of our dinner were quite interruptive with staff and even a male manager cutting through our ‘private’ room. I mentioned the abundance of staff coming in and out of this room to a manager and got the standardized apology. But nothing was done. From a customer’s point of view, this needs to be addressed and communicated to management and all staff regarding the usage of a cut-through for this room. It’s simply the staff being too lazy to walk around these private rooms to get to the bar. I have been to Rainbow Lodge on multiple occasions in the past and had great experiences; however, I will not rent this particular room again nor recommend to others in good conscience. This is the reason for the four stars instead of five.

Just wow. Speechless 😶 Good food and drinks amazing. Been here many times and always been happy. For sure one of the best restaurants I’ve done

Several times a year, we have a business meeting at the restaurant and the service is always good, the food is delicious with a good wine selection. The inside is like a huge log cabin with an eclectic flair. They have a lite business lunch menu as well as a full menu.

Pleasant surroundings, service fine, food left us underwhelmed,and overpriced.the best part of dinner was the bread pudding desert.I had lobster thermadore,my wife venison and my son fish,small portions, average presentation

Went for a special dinner with out of town guests, wanting to have a superb evening. Our night was a DISASTER. Started out fine, with good soup and bread, okay salads. (Don't get the lobster salad ($28)as there is NO lobster to speak of.) The main problem was our main dishes. Ordered bison and elk and lamb. Oh my...came cold. Not lukewarm, but cold on cold plates. Sent them back to be re-done..came back OVERCOOKED, not au jus left an dry...still not hot! Sent them away...we left hungry. They DID comp the meals, but were far from professional in any kind of apology. Maybe someone from the kitchen to tell us the issue? AND..why would they heat up RARE meat..to a well done. START again and serve it the way it was ordered. Sad...all around. Spent $200 on wine and salads and a soup. Please don't accept your meal any other way then the way you ordered it. The kitchen has some learning to do.

Has been a favorite of our family for years and was excited to host a number of friends and family for an Easter supper. The entire meal was about extremes. From the cold and I mean cold duck gumbo for two of us to the ice cold crab cake for another. The next bowls of gumbo were piping hot and delicious but the replacement crab cake took another 15 min or so. One of our group ordered a filet medium and it came out so well done it really looked it was an April fools joke. By the time the medium filet arrived the rest of us had just about finished eating. To be fair the snapper special over asparagus and pea risotto was wonderful as was the ribeye . The service was intermittent and inconsistent , while the desserts were incredible especially the lemon ice box pie. No service recovery and no apology from mgmt.about this experience.....just a check bearing nearly four figures and a shocked group of 8 who wonder what happened to the rainbow lodge. Too many other choices in Houston at this price point to have such shortcomings. Sadly don't think anyone in our party will be back.

The wild game features provide a unique and delicious experience. It had been years since we had been there (not sure why). We started with sea scallops & taste of wild appetizers. Their duck gumbo was excellent. I had the tomahawk elk chop which was amazing (bring your appetite for this dish). My wife and son had the snapper which they thoroughly enjoyed. My daughter in law had the bison filet which was “cut with your fork” tender and loaded with flavor. Their roasted brussel sprouts were a terrific side dish. We will return soon.

We went to the Rainbow Lodge for an early Easter brunch and loved the experience. The food was wonderful and the portions were just right. Our server was very nice and timely with her checkups on the table. The dining room varies in noise level, but it was never overwhelming. Rainbow Lodge is a great place to go for a special occasion and have an excellent meal. I highly recommend the jumbo crab cake.

A fantastic cocktail menu featuring both modern and classic cocktails, there is a fairly long wine list. We didn't feel rushed from one course to the next since we took our time enjoying the atmosphere, which is a big reason to go. Even an anniversary card that had been personally signed was served with dessert. The servers, valets, and the rest of the staff were all top-notch. I've been driving by it countless times while living in the area for years, and I'm glad I went inside. If you want to have a truly amazing dining experience, whether you are celebrating or not, I would definitely recommend Rainbow Lodge.

I loved this log cabin with cozy rooms serving fresh game and fish! Elegant salads and amazing service. This white table cloth dining is for special events prom night or the surprise wedding proposal I saw! Our labor day dinner was so beautifully prepared and delicious. So pheasant, I mean pleasant! A real treasure hidden in Houston near Memorial Park.Thanks to all who work there! And bravo to the owners.

There is no shortage of good places to eat here in Houston, but what about a venue that has a real character outside and in, that's a bit more of a challenge. So where to head for date night? After a bit of a search I found Rainbow Lodge online, the pictures made it look interesting, so I booked for a date night, the pictures don't really do it justice, this is an awesome place, with great service and quality food. The entrance confused me until I realized it just funnels us to the front door and the valet. The restaurant has a number of rooms, our table was in the trophy room (Vegans, maybe this is not for you). Our server was great and willing to share an opinion on what he liked in the menu. We had the quails and the sweetbreads to start, game and fish for the mains, and then while almost to stuffed to consider the desert menu, decided to try the highly recommended croissant bread pudding..... oh my goodness, when they say it is good, they really aren't doing it justice, it's way beyond good. So go enjoy and after dinner head out to the back deck to relax, you won't be disappointed.

The service was super slow. One couple got there after us and left before we ordered. It was 30 minutes until we got drinks. My food was not, but it was tasty. The ambience was top notch setting outside, but there was.a raccoon they could not get rid of.

We went with business friends for the monthly wine tasting paired with food and it was fabulous. It was also a celebration of their 40th year, so it was extra special. There was an exuberant band and a good time was had by all. My favorite dish was a bit of breaded quail and some delicious potatoes paired with a pinot noir. There was also a Vermont whiskey that the chef and sommelier sought out for the occasion. Whistlepig I think was the name, they brought a barrel home for the restaurant to use after carefully selecting their favorite iteration. It went great with the chocolate dessert.

Came here for our 6 year anniversary and from the moment we walked in the decor was unique, we had reservations and had no problem being seated quickly. Our server JoJo was awesome with the recommendations she had I had he choice of the day which was bison at chefs temp and if was really good had a gray experience.

Apparently the Sunday brunch is where it’s at because unfortunately it’s not dinner. Ambience: much older crowd - the restaurant has been in Houston for +25 years so I think it maybe a lot of those folks that’s been coming for years are still coming out of loyalty. Service: Dawn was our server and did a good job. No complaints. Food: We had (3) appetizers - fried quail bites, shrimp bruschetta and sweetbreads. All were mediocre at best. Personally if the quail and sweetbreads were grilled I think they would be much better. There were (2) of us but we received three shrimp on the bruschetta, cmon really?! We split the mix wild game grill.. the venison and elk were cold, the pork and quail were warm - all bland. Even the pork was bland and it had a glaze on it. The bread is good although I believe the butter they use is packaged spread and is just not very good.. fine dining?? .. Food was not that good, it was all just very bland. You’re going to spend $200 here for two and based on our experience I have to say there are much better places to spend the same money that are truly fine dining.

My dad and I went to dinner on the way back home and I thought it would be better but the food was pretty nasty and didnt have enough season.

Lovely restaurant, not your typical Sunday brunch fare. Great service, lovely location. Had not been here in a while. Definitely will be back.

The service was magnificent! I was there visiting from Boston to celebrate my son's 23rd birthday. They accomodated all of us as soon as we got there. Thank you

PRO'S: We came here to celebrate birthdays and realized we should be coming more often to visit. This is a carnivores delight. The hunting lodge interior design including fireplaces is a great setting. We all had grilled or smoked wild dishes. The assorted grilled game of quail, buffalo, venison and lamb proved to be excellent. My starter beet salad was the only dish that didn't sizzle. The excellent wine list is full of reasonable red wines ideal for grilled game. CON'S: This spot is a little off the beaten path but that isn't necessarily bad. SUMMARY: Fine dining, high caliber food and wine quality in a hunting lodge setting makes for a fun night out.

A good choice for restaurant week. Lovely setting and wonderful service. The shaved salad was very fresh and tasty. The quail was excellent and the buffalo was a hit. The patio and back yard are lovely.

Everything about it was superb. This was my first time here & I guess I expected lodge food (whatever that might be). I instead got an amazing trout with a perfect Chardonnay & the dessert was awesome as well. The service was perfectly timed-not too much & not too little. The ambiance was great as it was a beautiful day to sit outside & enjoy the greenery. I highly recommend.

What a disappointment. Last I was at this restaurant was when I lived in Tx 25 yrs ago. The restaurant was housed in a gorgeous building with lush gardens and a walkway along the bayou. I remember the food as being exquisite. Now it is located in an ugly area and the view from the restaurant is of an adjacent apartment building. The space is rustic with requisite animal heads, guns etc befitting a restaurant that specializes in game. The menu is exciting but the chef failed to deliver. Starters on quail bites and a Caesar salad were delivered within minutes of the order. The quail bites were clearly not freshly made. They tasted good but were not hot and probably left over from the special Easter lunch earlier that day. The mixed game meat consisted of various bits that were either over or undercooked. The bison that was ordered medium rare was blue. The chef recooked the same piece of meet that we rejected. A new steak arrived 15 min later and it was cooked well but over salted and by that time we were no longer interested. The restaurant did not charge fir the bison. The half bottle if stag leap cab was excellent.

A unique location with plenty of romantic elements. Our waiter was excellent, everything you would expect for an upscale retesting. Great food.

Great for game. Very interesting restaurant tematic with good menu I tried bufalo filet but they have great variety of game option. Meat was taste and tender, deep beef flavor. Very well treated. This restaurant is a nice experience. By the way daily menu Opcion is very good and cheaper. Para comer cacería este restaurant es ideal, además es temático al estilo de Africa. Pedi un lomito de Buffalo y estaba suave y con excelente sabor, la carne muy bien tratada y cocida. Este restaurant es una excelente experiencia por su ambiente y comida. Por cierto el menú del día es muy ecónomico y bueno. @ebbbq

The food was bland, and service was slow. We waited an hour and a half for our entrees. We were celebrating our 25th anniversary which was notated in the reservations, and we informed them when seated. There was no fanfare, the manager didn't check on us or introduce himself. Expect to valet, the parking lot is very small. I wish we had eaten outdoors, then I would have felt like I received all this restaurant had to offer. Though, I'm not looking back.

Made Sunday brunch reservations as a friend suggested. And we are sure glad we made the trip. We had an absolutely wonderful brunch here. The staff was informative and well mannered. The Cabin is full of old relics from simpler times and some of the staff was able to provide the history. The view was a nice and relaxing. The food was amazing and the drinks were perfect. We would most certainly recommend this for a more upscale dining experience.

I had a breakfast here, Really very good cooked, Awesome taste.. The staff here truly cares about their guests. Very nice place,

View overlooking Bayou is pastoral - perfect for evenings or Brunch. Food always superb. Staff excels at small private luncheons.

My son chose this restaurant for Houston Restaurant Weeks and off we went. I did make a reservation, but we arrived about an hour early (early enough to self park) and were seated shortly after we arrived. We wound around to the very back of the restaurant and had a great view of the outdoor part, which looked like it would be beautiful at night. Trees rapped in lights and colorful lanterns hanging from the deck of the restaurant. My son chose the Southern Fried Rabbit Loin, Herb, Apricot and Almond stuffed Venison Loin and Bread Pudding for his meal. I chose; Smoked Duck Gumbo, Pan Seared Gulf Snapper with Lump Crab and Chocolate Ganache Torte. The Southern Fried Rabbit Loin was fantastic, as were the grits that came with it. My son said he could eat a lot more of that. He also enjoyed the stuffed venison. Bread pudding was excellent and a large portion as well. I mostly ordered the smoked duck gumbo for my son as well. But I ate a bit of it as well. It was better than I expected. The duck was very rich. Gumbo was very smooth. The pan seared snapper was very good, the portion seemed small at first, but was very filling. It was served with a Carolina Gold Rice - which I was not that fond of. It was kind of creamy, and I just didn't like the texture of it. The Chocolate Ganache Torte was SO rich. It wasn't very sweet and the whipped cream it was served with didn't taste sweet at all. But it was a nice balance with the rich, chocolate torte. The candied almonds and the vanilla-peach compote was excellent. A nice fruity, compliment to the chocolate torte. Our server was awesome. So personable and easy to talk to. We enjoyed him and he made our visit pleasant. Glad we were able to check it out during HRW, definitely would like to return for dinner sometime.

Rainbow Lodge is a fine dining experience, in a cozy wood cabin in the middle of trees and a small creek. Although inside Houston's loop, it feels hundreds of miles away, giving you the sensation you are in the middle of the countryside. The place can get crowded, so get reservations if possible. The atmosphere is beautiful, and the food is excellent, with special mention to game meats and their seafood. A bit pricey, but worth the cost. The only negative has been the service, twice the waiters have not been as attentive as usual in similar Houston establishments. But this is a must visit in Houston!

So this place is a quaint restaurant but has my vote forever .. do hands down the best bread pudding... among other things. Came here for a business dinner 2-3 weeks ago. Service was top notch, with food selections you don’t find everywhere. I had the rainbow trout which was delicious and very flavorful. The buffalo was super tender and very good as well. But, let’s get back to this bread pudding. Man... I even ordered one to take home and my kids were amazed. Cute lodge with tons of charm and flavor. Whether you need a spot for a good date night, business dinner, rehearsal dinner or just don’t want to cook tonight dinner.. head over. This spot did not disappoint!!

As an Englishman visiting this great restaurant, I was certainly impressed. The interior decor with it's wild game trophies and rustic rooms was great. Staff were very efficient and friendly and the menu had some wonderfully unusual dishes to die for. We only had to opt for the businessmen's dish of the day to get a really excellent lunch. Well done team. Keep it up!

The lodge is quite attractive, though the steps are a hazard. The food was good, but not great. I had the rainbow trout, which had nice crab on top. It was good, but not anything out of the ordinary. The spinach side dish was wonderful, but the tiny strings of sweet potato were difficult to eat. The bread, which has to be purchased with several spreads, was good, but considering the cost of the meal should have been included. The carrot cake was really very poor, but the banana cram pie was tasty. In future, will go elsewhere.

Exceptional brunch experience. The food quality, the atmosphere and service were outstanding. This is a beautiful place for any celebration.

We went for brunch. The food was excellent for everyone in our party. Service was also excellent. The overall ambience of the restaurant is warm and inviting.

This is a great place for any kind of meal. From business,special event,brunch or just a fine meal. Staff is awesome and our waiter Stoney was over the top this visit.

The view on the back patio is one of the best in Houston. The food is on the same level. It's great to get to eat wild game and they are very accommodating to food allergies and explain all the menu items very well. They have a really nice wine and cocktail list. Great place for a date night or a group.

We ate her twice- once with my colleagues in a great cabin room and the other outside with heat lamps. Good service in both- varying degrees of success on the food. On the first the trout was delicious and everyone's steak was perfect. It was a give star meal. On the second, outside, I had the Chicken Paillard which was nice but could have had a lot more zip to it ( not enough capers and the sauce was not delicate. It was good but not great. My daughter at the trout- and it was veyr good again. /we ordered the bread pudding which is amazing. But the drinks were kind of a flop. It was a coffee nudge- it was tepid no t hot.. and tour waiter said he had no way of micro waving it- and definitely didn't offer to do it offer. But this is an atmospheric place and even with its flaws- very much worth doing. Just a note- its very popular. If you want to sit inside on a weekend,, , you have to book relatively far in advance.They serve all kinds of game- so that could make for a fun evening on its own.

Enjoyed our dinner here - beyond our expectations. It had been several years since we'd eaten at the Rainbow Lodge and we certainly will not wait so long to go back again. Cocktails were perfectly prepared. I started with with lobster wedge salad - perfect amount of lettuce and lobster and dressed perfectly. I had the wild game grill as my entree - all item were moist/succulent and seasoned correctly. The quail was the surprise of the dish - the best quail I've ever had. Try the foie gras as a side - creamy goodness. The bread pudding was a treat for dessert. Service was terrific - we could not have had a more pleasant evening - highly recommend this restaurant.

This was my first time to the Rainbow Lodge. Friendly staff, great service. Food and drinks were great. I loved the atmosphere...and hope to have a group event in one of their party rooms soon.

We went tonight for a friend’s birthday and were captivated by the ambiance of the restaurant. The very cabin feel lent a lot to the experience. Our waitress (I wish I like recall her name) was so professional and pleasant, recommending menu items and sides. While I’m not a fan of eating “game”, if you enjoy elk, venison or antipope, then this is the place for you. I was just grateful to see a nice piece of beef on the menu. Lol. Everything was cooked to perfection.

We had a wonderful experience there. The Coffee Rubbbed Elk was great. The younger folks loved the mixed grill. Service as outstanding and the whole experience was great.

We had a sensational meal there recently. We split the wild game plate comprised of quail, boar, venison and elk. Each one was better than the previous one. The service was spot on. We even got into the hippie music from the 60s. Well done, Rainbow Lodge!

We have made this an anniversary ritual! Romantic. Amazing menu. Chefs table too! The best celebration dinner for exotic main dishes! You have to check this place out!

Rainbow Lodge never disappoints with tasty food combinations in a very unique atmosphere. From the location off Ella to the restaurant itself, you would never know you are actually still in the city once you get there! The food choices include a variety of flavor combinations that you will likely find nowhere else and the wild game selections make this a must for those looking for a food adventure! My husband and I continue to be repeat customers. Rainbow Lodge is not inexpensive! Plan to spend as much as $80-100 per person with food, drinks and tip before you leave. You could make selections that lower the bill, but if you are going to go here for dinner, I would plan accordingly to keep from limiting yourself on the menu. It is worth a visit even with the price!

Everything thing you have read or heard about this place is spot on. Great menu, service, food and setting. Lovely grounds too!

This was the former spot for La Tour D'Argent and little has changed for the decor of this historic 100+ year old log building. My wife and I were guests at a private dinner held in one of their dining rooms complete with a beautiful fire place and many mounted trophies from around the world. I guess if animals mounted on the wall bother some it would not be a pleasant evening but we enjoyed ourselves. Dinner started with the friendly smiles of the ladies at the reception desk. Our party of 20 was seated and we talked while reading our menu and making choices. My ordered a lovely bottle of French Cabernet and placed our orders. My wife enjoyed the seared diver scallops in a saffron infused crab chowder and then the beef tenderloin with mushrooms, samphire and roast baby potatoes. I had a dungeness crab cake topped with lump blue crab, bacon and a mustard sauce and then the mixed game grill which included elk, venison, quail and a wild boar chop. For dessert we shared the warm croissant bread pudding. Incredible meal, great service and food. We will be back.

We’ve been passing Rainbow Lodge for years (between work and Home) and don’t ask why we have not tried..Probably because I’m an “adventurous” eater and my lovely wife isn’t...She is a bit nervous about the “wild” game or non-beef entries..I finally convinced her to go...We tried the small plate “taste of the wild”:small lamb lollipop, Fried rabbit; and venison. All plated on polenta, sweet potato..This way I could get her to try a little and not have to “commit”..She liked it all..Got her to try the 16 Oz Ribeye and did the Grilled Lamb..Knew she would like the Ribeye, but wanted her to try the Lamb..Everything was excellent..Our Server (Jeff) was great..we had the Maple Syrup old fashioned, (then wine with the meal. And for dessert (which WILL NOT help the blood sugar...but what the h...) It was Outstanding.... The atmosphere was over the top and is great for date night.. we will be back so I can try other things that I KNOW my “darln” bride of 38 years wouldn’t try on her own...but I know I can get her now to try...because of the high quality of meat, service that the Rainbow Lodge provides, she’ll trust it to at least try the different entries.. Great food, service,atmosphere!

I doubt I can say any more about Rainbow Lodge than has already been said. Gorgeous inside and out, warm and inviting decor. The duck and sausage gumbo is a favorite. Highly recommend the patio when the weather is nice. It's a great place for date nights, brunch or any special occasion.

Celebrating wife & mother in law birthdays we choose Sunday brunch at rainbow lodge for lovely views and nice ambience. We were not disappointed. $2 mimosas for the girls . Nice bread to start. Fish n chips for 2, chicken salad, veggie frittata, lobster roll, Texas breakfast. All nice and tasty. Then some nice desserts . Around $29 each inclusive drinks , excluding tip. A relaxing relaxing place for a Sunday brunch. You should try it

our experience at Rainbow Lodge was very positive. I made a reservation for a Sunday Brunch over the phone. We were a party of 11, 5 kids ages from 3 thru 9 and 6 adults. When we arrived at the restaurant the table was settled up already. The menu is rich and have options for all ages and taste. Our server was the only low. She wasn't helpful and seemed impatient, but I do recommend the restaurant for families.

An absolutely unique dining experience. Housed in an old cabin on Ella Blvd, nestled in a forrest like property, this restaurant offers an amazing array of wild game, seafood, delicious side dishes and exceptional desserts! The service is exemplary and the staff will guide you through the menu ensuring that you have a dining experience worthy of a five star review!

Took several family members to the RL to celebrate the holidays. My wife and I have driven by it for seven years when visiting my daughter but never had eaten there. Big mistake! This place was fantastic. We took our not quite two year old grandson and he liked the shrimp and mashed potatoes. The rest of us had bison, halibut, snapper and at least three of the wonderful deserts. Also had a nice wine selection. The ambiance was great as well. We will definitely be stopping in again - soon!

a great an highly reasonable lunch menu-I wanted everything on it-delicious--I had pork sliders and I wished for more pork and slaw instead of so much bread but it was quite good. next time I would go for the wonderful array of salads-but seriously it all looks great.

I very rarely write negative reviews and I know places can be hit or miss, but after the rave reviews I've heard about this place, I had to try it... We were a group of 6... After, seated we ordered a bottle champagne, which was flat and tasted very off... the wine guy came over practically offended and offered us another choice, but was passive aggressive when i suggested to send it back to the vendor to get a credit... we ordered a pinot which was very good, actually, 2 bottles of pinot noir... the waiter was very stiff, ith zero personality... he knew his stuff but seemed as if he chose the wrong profession in life... we just felt really uncomfortable... i ordered the gnocci, which was delicious but the portion was so small, i could of eaten 3 more... we had to send an undercooked filet back, which came back much better... we sat underneath a register station and I'm not insecure, but the looks we were getting from the waiter were a bit excruciating... eye rolling, muddy looks, almost as if he couldn't wait for us to leave... "the nudge" was a very tasty after dinner drink... the filet tasted strange, as if it wasn't a filet, was weird... overall, we spent almost $1,000 and the whole experience was extraordinarly lame... i don't mind spending the money on a good experience, but for that kind of money it was worthless and disappointing... the venue (inside and out) asthetically were cool, but I'll never go back if I can help it... the food runners and hostess were very friendly though, so I'll give them that!

I had a friend treat me to dinner at the Rainbow Lodge and I was amazed at the experience. I am frankly tired of the high end chain steak houses with their equally high end pricing for each and every part of a meal. The Rainbow Lodge was not inexpensive but the unique experience was well worth the cost. The menu features some wild game items and I had a buffalo steak that was excellent. The Lodge has first class service, valet parking and excellent food. If your date does not like dining under a collection of trophy mounts this may not be your best choice. Otherwise, you will get your money's worth.

My husband and I went for lunch at the Rainbow Lodge on a weekday. Parking was very scarce. Very nice ambiance. Food very good. Service average. Waiter did not give the price of the daily specials. Our water glasses were not replenished. Waiter only came to our table when he was announcing the specials and when he brought our food. Business lunch special was reasonably. Otherwise food and wine were very pricey.

Enjoyed very much a group lunch today with friends. First time at the Rainbow Lodge and we were very happy with our experience. Staff were super and the food delicious! Known for serving game food, it also caters for every taste. I really enjoyed the Garden Gnocchi with morels, asparagus and garden peas in an amazing sauce. We decided immediately that we would definitely return to enjoy a dinner so I can try a meat dish - plus they had an amazing dessert menu. Probably would have to go again just for dessert!! Original lodge was built in 1909 and there have been additions. About wheelchair access, would recommend you call to check as there are steps throughout, but it looks as though they can accommodate in the very front.

This old place has authentic charm. We were pleased by the savvy server, the antelope, the venison and the wine.. I’ve been to dozens of Houston restaurants and cannot remember one like this. We were impressed but not overwhelmed.

Beautiful setting, great food, service that exudes "old world" elegance. My husband loves to call and ask for seating in a certain room, and they never disappoint. I think any room would be great. We've been here numerous times and they make a point to accommodate - making sure my vegetarian daughter had substitutions when there was a fixed menu on a holiday, to switching sides when asked by finicky eaters!

As a pricing manager I feel obliged to always look at cost versus relative value of service. I can say this place is amazing! In Houston we have a lot patio bars and restaurants, but none quite like this. This patio makes you feel like you are far away in the hill country and the log cabin adds to the ambiance. Prices on the menu are typical of any fine dining establishment, but on Friday afternoons you can order the game burger special and literally come out of there paying less than $15 (incl tax/tip). Burger is super good, but the atmosphere and opportunity to eat at this place is what makes it worth the trip.

We celebrated our friends 85th Birthday at lunch time during Houston Restaurant Week. During our arrival at 1 pm the restaurant was busy with parking all but not existent. The parking attendant worked quickly to direct us to a parking spot. We entered a beautiful restaurant with the look of a hunting lodge in the north woods. The view off the back deck was very well designed and displayed outside tables and walk-ways. Truly a beautiful setting. We were seated and handed the $20.00 lunch menu. The selections were multiple and we experienced a very good lunch. Great place to take your wife or a date to enjoy an atmosphere of romance. Could be a good place for a group of Business persons to hold a Business lunch.

We had reservations the fateful night of the horrific storm May 16, 2024. We sat at a corner window and within minutes the storm raged and the lights were out. Nothing Rainbow Lodge could do about that, so we tipped our valet and left in the torrential downpour. Later we realized there was damage to our rear quarter panel of our Lariat F150. When we contacted the restaurant the following morning, Tim said "your cell call is breaking up, I cannot understand you?" So I sent an email explaining what we discovered. A week rolls by. I understand they were repairing damage to their facility and no power. So I reached out to Tim and his reply was simply, "you left and did not notify us before leaving, we are not responsible." We had heard great reports of a fine dining establishment and I truly expected more than an immediate dismissal from management about what we discovered. Bear in mind, the storm was raging that night, no power, we patiently awaited the "valet only" return of our vehicle. Naturally the entrance was blocked from debris, the valet was soaking wet, the rain is pouring down and I'm to inspect my vehicle? The vehicle he hurriedly exited, soaking wet leather seats? We jumped in and left. We entrusted our vehicle to them and they did not want to take ANY responsibility? A word to the wise, check your vehicle especially when it's "valet only" otherwise it's on you, not The Rainbow Lodge. I'll never return, I'll never refer them to a soul. I guess it's all about the Benjamin's $$$?

The best food I've ever had!! I was delighted, they have excellent service and the food is delicious, I highly recommend it, I would definitely go back a thousand times!

The ambience is amazing, the place is incredibly decorated, the view to the park is beautiful. We were today with a friends couple and had different brunches. The service was super as well and the quality of the food... super tasty!!

My now husband and I are Rainbow Lodge fans. Every meal we have had is incredible. Last weekend we had our wedding ceremony and reception here and guests are still reaching out to us to tell us how amazing the food was and beautiful the venue. Rainbow Lodge surpassed all expectations.

Quaint setting with al table by a window was a nice start. We tried the snapper off the Food Week menu and was disappointed. The fish was cooked okay but the rice polenta (not sure what it was) had no taste and was lumpy. Now the chocolate dessert was outstanding although you did needed to press very hard to break it apart. Our friend had the meat dish and it’s portion size was very small. Waiter was very personable but empty dishes & glasses were not removed from the table.

I doubt I can say any more about Rainbow Lodge than has already been said but it's such a unique spot worthy of another review. It's rustic decor and unusual menu is worth traveling to from any area of Houston, especially if you're entertaining non Texans and want them to experience some of the city's finest dining. It's warm and inviting rustic decor is suitable for so many occasions. The duck and sausage gumbo is a favorite that I never get tired of ordering. The Caesar salad is fresh and a good start if you're ordering an entree. Highly recommend the patio when the weather is nice. It's a great place for date nights, brunch or any special occasion. Desserts are a good size to share between two people. I tried the Hibiscus Margarita even though I'm not a margarita drinker typically. It's made with white tequila and was delicious and well balanced flavors. I'd say it hits the "bliss point" of salty and sweet. Whether it's your first time trying Rainbow Lodge or you're a longtime customer, there are always new off the menu specials worth trying. Advance reservations can be made on OpenTable but you can often get in seating in the bar area without one.

My wife and I, along with another couple had dinner at Rainbow Lodge this past weekend. We ordered some appetizers for the table including the jumbo lump crab cake & the Taste of the Wild sampler. Both appetizers were fantastic. The Taste of the Wild is truly something you have to try. For our entrees, our friends both ordered the Lobster & Summer Corn Risotto, while my wife had the Sea Bass, and I ordered the Elk Chop. We typically try of little of each person's dish and no one was disappointed with anything. For dessert, the table ordered the bread pudding which was great. The staff was knowledgeable of beverage pairings to suit our orders, the food was served promptly, and the valet was quick to bring our car around. A great experience all around. We have been to Rainbow Lodge many times and will continue to go.

Exquisite atmosphere. Excellent food. A fantastic place for a quite meal. Got there early and service was a bit slow, but was corrected. Duck gumbo super, a must have.

We came for Sunday brunch with friends to celebrate our birthdays and were thrilled with our experience. Daniel was an awesome server and the food was excellent!

The lunch I had at Rainbow Lodge was the best I had in five days in the Houston area. I had the buffalo special served over polenta with blue cheese. Even though I normally like blue cheese, it didn't work for me in this dish. But it was delicious overall. My son ordered a beer but they brought him a mixed drink, which he thought was pretty good anyway. The lodge decor was nice without being too hunter-y and our server was professional, knowlegeable, and efficient.

There were six of us there for brunch and everyone loved their meal. I had the rainbow trout topped with crabmeat and the others had braised buffalo short ribs benedict, chicken fried venison cutlets and the mixed grill. The mimosas were delicious too. We were seated in a lovely dining room with a view out towards the wooded area. All in all, a wonderful brunch experience.

I went for the Chicken fried steak. They do Chicken fried steak the first Sunday of every month for $15. It could’ve been $20 or $25 and still been Worth the trip and the money. I have never had Chicken fried steak that good. My husband, daughter and son-in-law had steak and said it was one of the best steaks they had ever had. This place is a must. And the wine was 1/2 price what a Bonus .

worst restaurant in Houston. server was lazy chef was lazy hostess tried to seat a party of 4 at a table for 2 . 4th time , will never go back , will never recommend .

This place is amazing! The food and service is outstanding. If you have a husband who loves to hunt this is the place to go! We will be going back for sure!

We booked here for a Thanksgiving dinner and we were not disappointed in any shape or form. We enjoyed our menu choices, our server was attentive, but not intrusive. All in all an enjoyable experience .