Toulouse Reviews

Business lunch $30 good value! We had crab cake & escargots. Both delicious! Salmon as entree. Served hot , salted right, grilled perfectly. Lemon half served w net wrap without asking. Nice touch, vegetables tender & tasty . Creme brûlée done properly, thin & crispy top. Server Filiberto was attentive & not intrusive. Dirty dishes removed promptly. Dining room not noisy

A friend reserved and I was a bit skeptical, but I loved the place. Both food AND service were very good. Short french menú that can't go wrong. Will return

We have been at Toulouse before, soon after they opened. Despite the simple but honest wine list, we enjoyed the casual ambiance and specially the cordial service. Because of that my family and I used to stop by whenever we were in the mall or in search of some casual French restaurant. Unfortunately, I think things changed. Recently, since they became busier, the cordiality seems to have been lost. I requested an outside table for my two kids and wife since it was a nice afternoon and we wanted to enjoy the weather. Despite having plenty of tables available, the concierge pressed to sit us inside and when I requested to wait to be seated outside she refused to give me a waiting time. Next, came the manager with serious attitude saying the concierge would be following his orders. I prefer not to believe the reason for not giving us the table was our casual dressing with jeans and tennis shoes, but unfortunately I cannot be sure about it. We ended up at the Le Colonial, a high end Vietnamese restaurant at the corner of the street with fantasti menu, good wine list and excellent service. We had a left bank Bordeaux, 2009 vintage for a reasonable price. You should try it out!!

Love this restaurant located inside the River Oaks District. It's pricey but that is to be expected in this zip code. I love eating brunch in the covered patio. The pastries, fresh oj, and the potatoes are lovely. I've had quiche and scallops here during lunch, as well. Always enjoyable.

We had dinner at Toulouse Cafe and Bar on October 5, 2016. This place was very busy at 9:00 pm when we arrived, and very loud. It sounded like cheer leader tryouts with all the Houston debutantes seated next to us. Houston's high society, jammed into this place, all trying to out do each other with their fancy fashions, shoes and handbags. But we were there for the food. So, we ordered the Octopus, Steak Tartar and Bouillabaisse ...with a nice bottle of Groth. The steak tartar was too gooey, but had lots of flavor, the tuna tartar was good, but light on the tuna and the bouillabaisse was delicious. No grumbles. This place is in the new, high rent, River Oaks Shopping district, so goes the prices. Happy trails!

When you read the menu item description, it sounds great, but the actual food is nothing like what's described. The "complimentary" bread is so ard, you can't even chew it. Service? Meh...

Good service , terrible food . We were four people , ordered four different plates and they were not good ! The salmon was too salty , quiche is not a real quiche , terrible, chicken was dry and tasteless! I don't recommend

Very nice ambiance. Food is ok, nothing special. Our server made an effort, but with no idea of how to properly serve a meal, fell well short of acceptable.

My first time to Toulouse on Friday evening July 16th. I was disappointed in the quality and quantity of food. My friend and I had the special Chateaubrian which we shared along with the escargot appetizer also. Did not like the escargot at all! I was expecting a butter sauce and the green sauce was awful! Also, there was only one spear of asparagus with the entrée! The meat and sauce was so-so, but tasted a bit mealy. It was not what I expected at all. Wish I would have ordered something else! We were also seated inside next to a loud speaker blaring loud outside, which was very annoying. We asked the waiter to have it turned down, but it just got louder with some quieter music! I doubt that I will every be back there. Too pricey and a noisy atmosphere!

My husband and went for dinner. Had to make a reservation to sit inside. They do have a lovely patio that is covered. On our way out we found that the patio was way quieter than the restaurant. The decor is lovely. Food quite good and nice presentation. My husband had the roasted chicken and I had the beef short ribs. We had oysters and chocolate decadence. Good wine list.

We had a terrible experience at Toulouse on July 26,2023. We went to have dinner here prior to an 8 pm engagement . Unfortunately, our meal was awful as was the experience and treatment received . The mussels were the smallest I have ever seen, most were 1/2 inch in size and it was obvious that they had not been rinsed off prior placing in a garlic wine broth. On the side , I had exchanged out the fries for a simple salad but a few leaf tips were black and not edible . My husbands duck was dried out, very tough and the lentils that accompanied were drowning in vinegar . The waitress although very nice , did not return to our table after our food was served . We asked 3 other employees to speak with management. Finally after the 3 rd attempt and 30 min , a manager showed up to our table . We informed him about our dishes. Following his visit another manager appeared . By this point my husband was very annoyed as we had already explained the issues with our meals and then had to do it once again . The second manager that showed up was arrogant. Both managers showed very little concern about our meals , time spent at the restaurant, poor service and food quality , or that this part of our evening was completely ruined . The second manager took the dishes off the check but left my husbands drink on the bill . Leaving the drink was in very poor taste as we left the restaurant without having any dinner. By the time the bill for my husbands drink arrived , my blood sugar was low and I Ieft feeling nauseous. Needless to say , I do not recommend this restaurant at all . The food and service was not worthy of a star . I can only provide stars for the atmosphere as it reminded me of a large scale Parisian Bistro. Sent from my iPhone

Toulouse has been a favorite spot for me and my friends for years, but our recent visit on October 28, 2024, left us extremely disappointed. I booked a lunch reservation for two to celebrate my friend’s birthday, and she arrived before I did. We ordered the Ahi Tuna Tower and Lobster Tacos and indicated that it would be enough. However, our server, Dany, persistently pushed the day’s special Seabass, which was not on the menu. When we asked for the bill, Dany brought out the payment machine without showing us the detailed check, saying he’d provide it after we paid. Once we saw the total charge of $175, we asked again to see the breakdown. The Seabass was $78, and a bottle of water was $8. The bill had separate charges for cash and non-cash payments, which added to our confusion. I questioned why Dany hadn’t informed us of the Seabass price when he suggested it, especially since $78 seemed excessive for a lunch item. He said he wasn’t allowed to disclose prices unless specifically asked. We spoke to the manager, who initially estimated the Seabass at around $60-$70 but eventually admitted it could reach $78 after we showed him the bill. When we pointed out that Dany hadn’t been transparent, the manager explained " UNLESS you asked", same way without any apology. To make me more upset when my friend told me that she had asked for regular still water, yet Dany served bottled water before I arrived and later charged $8 for it. No gesture was made for the birthday occasion, and although a small discount was eventually offered, this experience shattered our trust in the restaurant. It felt dishonest and disappointing, and we left feeling cheated by the lack of transparency and hospitality.

We had a good lunch here. Their calamari & veggie appetizer, friend in batter, was delicious as were our entrees. Service was good too. You need to make a reservation to get a table & it is pricey.

We enjoyed our meal here - don't miss the crispy calamari. Also the bouillabaise - tasty! The shrimp louie salad was nice as was the veal scallopini. A bit noisy, but excellent attentive wait staff. Will go back!

I went with my husband to this place for a couple dinner. We reserved a table online, and we were seated right away in the patio area. Social distancing is enforced, and mask is required. Our waiter was very friendly, professional and helpful. They had an offer that night 50% off on the French wine, so we order one of their best as the waiter suggested, and it was a great deal. Food was very delicious and fresh.

Located in the River Oaks district, this French-style bistro offers a nice selections of typical French bistro dishes in a lovely environment. They also offer outdoor seating for those courageous enough to brave the elements. Our server was friendly and efficient although a bit on the untrained side. The selection of wines by the glass is adequate, although I had to return my Stags Leap Chardonnay, which was intensely yellow and clearly over its peak. The bartender should know better and screen wines before they are served! The Octopus Niçoise was delicious, perfectly cooked, tender, juicy and flavorful. The Lobster Ceviche had generous chunks of fresh lobster, with just a hint of basic condiments. The Filet was done to perfection (medium rare) and the delicate pepper sauce was lovely. The Duck Confit was delicious, although being deep fried, was heavier that normal. Both the espresso and Americano were delicious. This is a lovely trend in Houston, where until not too long ago you couldn't get a decent cup of coffee in most restaurants. A bottle of Southern Rhone red complemented the meal to make it memorable.

Dined here for an early dinner. The service was extraordinary. The food was very good especially the Dover Sole. Looking forward to returning and will be recommending.

Toulouse started out pretty good, but they keep improving both their menu and execution. One of the only restaurants in Houston where. you can sit outside and not be by a busy road. The fresh fish is particularly noteworthy. One of the few places in town with escargots, which are excellent. Service is also very good.

Toulouse Café, Houston: A Slice of Europe in the Heart of the City Toulouse Café is a fun place that feels like a little piece of Europe, making it perfect for both friends’ gatherings and family outings. I make it a point to visit this place at least once a week. The food is consistently great, with the same high quality and full, flavorful taste every time. The portions are generous, and the service is excellent. The managers are very professional, adding to the overall experience. Whether you’re looking for a romantic night out or a spot for a family or friends’ gathering, I highly recommend Toulouse Café.

Shoutout to our server Mo for breaking the restaurant code (no boxing leftovers at the table) to get us to our movie on time. As someone who’s worked in the restaurant industry, I was impressed by his quick assessment and situational judgement to ensure the best service possible. Toulouse truly knows how to make their customers feel like a priority. The food was spectacular as always, we ordered the tasty fried zucchini and Brie starters. The steak frites was perfection & prepared exactly as requested. Spectacular. Thank y’all for being a restaurant we can count on.

We had made a booking, specifically to sit outside (it was the reason we were going to the restaurant on a nice day). When we arrived on time, despite our booking on the patio, and many open tables outside, we were told that “everyone wants to sit outside, too bad, you can sit inside or you can leave”. I asked to speak to the manager, but was told rudely that I was already speaking to the manager and it was “tough” and he refused to do help further, saying “so are you going to leave or what?” It is hard to capture and accurately describe how arrogant, dismissive, and utterly unprofessional the manager was. I will never return and encourage my friends to boycott Toulouse. Just terrible.

The restaurant is nestled in amongst a bunch of upscale retail shopping. The menu offered a decent variety of choices that could suit just about anyone. They have outside seating which was nice this time of year...not sure you would have been able to sit out there a month ago due to the heat. Everyone at the table enjoyed the meal.

The service was very good. The food was pretty good. However, the restaurant is lined with hard surfaces and VERY loud. And, they were playing loud music but all that came through over the crowd noise was drums and some bass. If conversation is a dinner objective, Toulouse probably isn’t a good choice. I know some people enjoy the energy of a noisy place and then Toulouse is a good choice.

Atmosphere is very much like a french brasserie, with the tile floors, bread stand, etc. . The place is actually large, but there are nicely separated rooms so there is some feeling of intimacy. Friendly wait staff. Bread was served in a bag (like La Brasserie 19) but could have used more generous butter dish. .Food is good but a little on the expensive side.. Nice menu selection (for lunch) with a variety of salads, and main plates. The salad nicoise was very good, and well presented the Duck confit was also very good. Dessert menu was enticing, but had to skip.

The food was good but I was a little disappointed of the crab cakes. it was more like small soggy salad and not a cake.everything else was good but I would not order this one again.

We had an extraordinary server , Ana , last night. Ana gave us wonderful recommendations for dinner and even provided off the menu items for the kids. The duck con fitte was delicious, as was the sole and crab cake. We finished the evening with gran Marnie soufflé s. Thank you Ana……hope to see you again!

This is as close as you can get to a traditional Parisian sidewalk cafe in Houston. The place is decorated nicely and has a great outdoor seating area that's air conditioned (its fully enclosed in summer). I've been to Paris many times and this place is the real deal. I just wish the staff spoke French! I've sampled several dishes including the bisque, the escargot, the Croque Madame, and several others. All of them have been outstanding. It's a huge menu, so I've got a lot more to try! The service is also excellent with very attentive staff offering friendly service. The prices are decent considering it's in Houston's swankiest part of town. This is a great place and worth a visit or two!

My husband and I had lunch on Friday. The restaurant is attractive without being fussy. The food and service were so good, we went back for brunch on Sunday. The quiche was to die for. Good wine choices reasonably priced. Our only regret is we don't live in Houston so that we can go on a regular basis.

I’ve been coming here very regularly for years both in Dallas and Houston as a neighbor to both. I just had one of the worst experiences I’ve had at a bar and for sure the worst experience I’ve had there. They let one person sit at the bar with their phone on full blast volume watching countless videos. It was louder than any conversation and the background music. It completely ruined the atmosphere. When asked about it, they said they allow that and said nothing to the person ruining the atmosphere for everyone else. They didn’t comp a drink for anyone or apologize or try to ask the person to turn off or even down her phone. Nothing. There were three people working the hostess station who basically looked at you like - not our problem. For the price, it won’t be something I will put myself in the position to experience again, especially with the “don’t care” attitude from those working. It won’t be my problem again.

The food is terrible. Dishes are massive, tasteless, salty. Flavours are poorly combined. Very noisy. Impossible to have a conversation with friends. Quite expensive. I got a fried chicken with horrible mushrooms. I can cook a similar dish but much better at home.

My family and I enjoyed an excellent Mother’s Day brunch. I highly recommend checking out this restaurant. Our waiter, Carlos, was wonderfully attentive and provided excellent service. For my fellow foodies I highly recommend: the French 77 cocktail (I enjoyed 2 if those :-)), the duck confit, the lamb chops (with wonderful grilled mesquite flavor), the Norwegian salmon, the crab cakes, the shrimp cocktail, and the almond French toast (a heavenly dessert more so than a meal). What I don’t recommend is the Black Forest cake unless you like your cakes refrigerator cold (no one at my table likes that one). All-in-all we enjoyed an excellent Mother’s Day Brunch topped off with a complimentary rose at the end. We will definitely be returning to this gem of a find located in the River Oaks Shopping Center.

We had the worst customer service I have ever seen in my life today because Pedro should not be a manager here given how unprofessional and outrageously rude he is. We come here about once every couple weeks, and we came in today because my ten year old son wanted a souffle for his birthday. We even told the waitress to tell the chef how good the souffle is that a child wants it instead of cake! The bus boy spilled a water glass all over our table when we sat down, and a bracelet I just bought my son and gave him as a gift that he opened was on the table when the bus boy took off the table cloth. When we asked the waitstaff to look in the table cloth and trash for the bracelet, the manager, Pedro, came by and rudely said they don't have it. He did not apologize at all for the spill, taking our item, nothing-just rude and with a demeanor that we were wasting his time and utterly unwilling to make any effort to look for it. The table next to us was appalled also at his behavior noting how gracious we had been to the bus boy, saying don't worry, it happens that there are spills. I then asked Pedro if I could look in the the table cloth myself and check the trash. He rudely said no-and told me to give him a receipt for the item and "get out." I explained to him that the bracelet had sentimental value, and it was the last one at a specialty shop albeit inexpensive, and it is outrageous to speak to us this way. He then told the waitress not to serve us-in front of other guests. It was just me and my ten year old son, and we were nothing but gracious - as Jennifer our waitress and our neighbors witnessed. This man, Pedro, should never be allowed to speak to anyone, let alone his employer's loyal and frequent customers this way. He has no training, no decency as a person, and he should definitely not be a manager at an upscale restaurant like this. I hope his managers will read this post right away and take appropriate action that he is no longer working there so that he can never speak to anyone there that way and so he has no opportunity to behave this way again. He is giving the restaurant a bad name and harming its reputation to say the least, not to mention, not having allowed a little boy to eat a souffle on his birthday and ruined h birthday lunch. Pedro also embarrassed himself in front of everyone sitting around us who expressed to us how outrageous his behavior was-and how unjustified as we were nothing but polite.

Taking advantage of Restaurant Week in Houston, we tried out a number of French restaurants in west Houston (our favorite Max & Julie, having closed). Toulouse did NOT win - we will not be back. The restaurant gives an authentic appearance, with a closed patio and also an outside eating area. For once in Houston the outside seating is not in a parking lot! I had the crispy duck confit, which was disappointing - the duck was very dry, seemed like it had been sitting round for quite a while. My wife had the Bouef Bourguignon - it was OK, nothing special. For dessert we had the profiteroles .. unusual, with pistachio ice-cream. Acceptable, but prefer the original vanilla ice-cream! The restaurant would have been in three star territory, despite its high cost, but for two big issues: 1) Heavily overcharged! Our waiter charged us for two full meals, while we had one and an entree. No real apology when I pointed this out - a clever manager would have offered a free drink of something: as it was it left a bad taste. 2) Staff started moving away all the surrounding tables at 9:45, in a restaurant billed as being open till 11:00 PM!

My wife and I went here for dinner with another couple. We were extremely pleased. I had the steak frites and my wife had the lamb chops. We both absolutely loved our meal. I had the oysters Rockefeller for an appetizer and they were the best I have ever had. The warm French bread served ahead of time was also very tasty. And lest I forget the profiterole‘s were the perfect end to a great meal. The beignets did not quite live up to expectations though. This is not an inexpensive restaurant, but sometimes you get what you pay for. It has a very good wine list with a selection of wines at various price points. For four of us with appetizers, desserts, and wine plus gratuity $350.

Risotto with asparagus and scallops was fab… as was the chic atmosphere. Most enjoyable and hope to return one day - a must for anyone visiting Houston

Good ,friendly service,in fact the bar waitress (Jennifer) was exceptional , checking everything was fine , not too busy for a lunch time and in a great location .

Amazing food. Beef Bourguignon was very tender. Scallops with risotto well cooked and delicious desserts. Will come back

I visited Toulouse for lunch today, which I was very excited to try. It is rather difficult to find if you are not familiar with the new shopping area. I was in shock!!! My office was just one block East on Westheimer near Highland Village for 15 years and I was lost!!! They call the area River Oaks which is a bit misleading. The area is awesome!!! I can't believe how many businesses and upscale shopping there are. I finally found it after stopping to ask several people. Valet parking was $9. I was going to sit outside because I love outside dining, but the weather was too warm to do so. Mariyen, the wonderful and very pleasant hostess sat me inside which wasn't a big deal since I arrived at 11:10 for an 11:15 a.m. reservation. Our waiter was Renee. I asked Renee what was "Crevettes" which was on the menu, and was I pronouncing it correctly? She replied, "I don't know, I don't know these pronunciations." I said to my girlfriend, that's rather odd, how can you work at a French Restaurant and not know the pronunciations? Renee proceeded to tell us the specials of the day. My girlfriend and I placed our orders, she ordered the chicken liver pate, which was the special of the day and I ordered the Escargots Toulouse. I wanted a drink that was sweet. Renee suggested the Blueberry Mule Cocktail, which was delicious. Renee delivered our drinks and then my friend's appetizer of the day. I asked her where was my appetizer? To which she replied, "I didn't know you ordered." She apologized and said she would rush my order, which she did. The Escargots Toulouse left a lot to be desired. It looked like three sliders. I didn't care for the taste. Renee offered to get me something else, so I asked for the same appetizer my friend had, which was delicious. We were full once we completed the loaf of wonderful tasting French bread, butter, appetizers and a couple of cocktails. My bill was $43 for two cocktails and an appetizer. I was not sticker shocked since I had seen the menu online prior to dining. I didn't find Toulouse to be anymore expensive than any other fine dining restaurant in the area. However, it was too noisy for me. I couldn't wait to get out of there!!! I have never had a headache from the noise at a restaurant before. The noise level was not what I would call energetic!!! Also, I do not enjoy fanning bugs away because the doors to the restaurant are open. We are not in France, it's Houston, Texas!!! If I were seated outside, I know that's what I could expect, but not inside. I would like to revisit the restaurant at a less noisy time of day.

Bussy and trendy.Vale parking only .Good branch atmosphere.Menu interesting however expensive.Overall liked to ambiance.I wonder if it will last...

The food is good, but the restaurant is extremely noisy. No carpet, tile floors and loud music. Moreover, wines are listed WITHOUT VINTAGES! I don't think that I have ever seen this in a restaurant. Is this Bordeaux from a good year, an average year or a bad year? There is no telling.

Haven’t been in a while, so I took our son for lunch and it was just like I remembered. Service was excellent and very helpful with his recommendations. Food was delicious and the cocktails were great. Highly recommend

In the center of the River Oaks district, with ample parking and valet parking available, this restaurant opens to a pedestrian only street. It offers indoor seating and outdoor tables. The atmosphere inside is reminiscent of many bistros and brasseries we and visited in the past. Service is prompt, polite and efficient. Our waitress was quite attentive, without being intrusive. The list of appetizers was quite appealing and contained many of the original French classics. My escargots were very good, although they could have used a little more sauce and garlic. The bread was superb! The frog legs were very small, and again, they could have used more sauce and garlic. My bouillabaisse was very good, loaded with fish and seafood. The grilled octopus was outstanding, arguably the best part of our meal. A generous portion: consider sharing. The wine list was very good, and there was a respectable list of wines offered by the glass. The place certainly deserves a repeat visit.

Toulouse is a unique restaurant for Houston in that it has a wonderful outside seating area, a covered porch, and a formal dining area. This is a place I frequent often, usually sitting at the bar. My favorite bartenders are Josh, Alicia, and Anna. Great selection of wine. The food is very good here. Chef is French and very experienced in fine dining and wine. My favorites are: the quiche, gnocchi, and the burger. Managment is great. Try it.

This is a very nice restaurant located in a new (and very tony) area on the north side of Westheimer just east of 610 and the Galleria. The shops are all very upscale and there is valet parking and a parking garage-- as well as a few street parking spots. The place and the area really starts to get active around 7 PM. Reservations are important if you have a seating preference. The restaurant has a very large (and air conditioned) interior that is very attractive. The outside eating area is attractive, but very warm and humid--it is Houston! However, the upside is that the band is very good and entertaining. We ate outside and sweated a bit. The food is excellent. The steak tartare is very tasty. The risotto is about as good as it gets--done with champagne and includes 6 tasty shrimp. The stakes were excellent as we're the deserts. The service is good and the prices reasonable for what you get. The wine list is small, but very well selected This is one we will visit again. The only downside is the Houston traffic to get here. However, the traffic is a real issue all over the area. Lyft and Uber are excellent alternatives to get into this very popular area

My daughter went to Toulouse for a summer so how we found this place. It was nice to eat out but instead is quite loud, can not hear your partner talking. Food was terrific but the water is Slooww on a slow night. It is Covid season still so not like long lines but everyone was so tight, the only exception is the bussing staff, sweet guys always attentive to detail. Overall we will come back for the fare but hope for better waiters and environment

Great dining for French food...the grilled octopus was awesome and perfectly cooked! The beet carpaccio was very delicate and the bouillabaisse had a rich savory broth filled with great seafood pieces....Tarte Tatin was perfect and the cappuccino pot de crème was to die for!!!!! Not a quiet place but will definitely return ! Lots of server and the manager keeps everything in order

What do you do with your fancy car on a Sunday? Park it area to be in Houston, and have an out door French dinner at Toulouse. The menu has dishes from all over France, with the focus on the long coast line. I had the bouillabaisse and a salad, my wife had the mussels and a salad. The portions were moderately sized, but contained a lot of salt (that must be a new French tradition). The taste was good, but the outdoorsy car look made it great!

The food was okay--tasty but nothing special. There are also many waiters, waitresses and bus boys in a hierarchy of skills or duties. One would, therefore, assume that service would be attentive and timely. Oddly, this was not true. Indeed it is at best unclear why, with so many employees, the service was so bad. Water and ice tea was not refilled. Missing cutlery was not replaced after a polite request. The bill did not come promptly.

Toulouse is a great, casual French addition to Houston's restaurant scene. Try the saffron Bouillabaisse or Beef Bourguignon. Nice wine by the glass selections. Grand Marnier soufflé was excellent and perfect for sharing. Setting is delightful. Don't let reviews ding a restaurant for what it isn't (and isn't trying to be); enjoy Toulouse!

For lovers of French fare, this is the place to be. I love the outside seating which is nice in a beautiful November weather in Houston. Great and friendly service. We enjoyed our dinner.

Pleasant bar. Typical bistro food but all in all an enjoyable experience. Nice happy hour specials for food and wine — the mushrooms stuffed with crab were very good. Parking on this center is always a chore. The wine list is decent with ample choices in a wide range of price points.

Just went to the bar for cocktails. Ordered an old fashioned and it was delicious. My sister-in-law ordered a white martini and it wS impressive with an orchid inside the ice. They have outside and inside seating for dinner. Valet parking or meter parking in the street.

If you’re looking for a special occasion spot, this it. $316.01 including tax and tip for chopped Toulouse salad, 1/2 dozen oysters, grilled lamb chops, lobster roll, crab Benedict, tea and one bottle of Coule rose. Very pleasant sitting outside with live music and attentive Esteban to take care of us. Portions weren’t huge, but adequate with very nice taste.

We went for a late lunch on this beautiful day. There was fun music in the outdoor seating area. When we entered the hostess was short tempered, seemed hurried and informed us there were no tables outside. It would be minimum 45 minutes. It was 2:00. So we opted for a nice table on the patio behind plastic sheeting. We did have a nice view. We noticed three tables empty and clean outside. Over the next hour, we watched people being seated at the three. Our server brought our menus which were brunch. When I asked if we could order from the menu on display outside the restaurant, she said they only have the brunch menu today, but I could have whatever I wanted. When I asked her to what that meant, she said I could order whatever I wanted (???). I’m not sure if I should make something up or get out of my seat, do outside and look at the display menu. So we started with a glass of wine and fried calamari which had wonderfully fried fresh vegetables along with calamari (tough, not edible). My wine took quite sometime, and after the server poured the wine into a very pretty bell, I noticed lipstick. I sent it back. She returned quickly this time stating she had gotten me a new glass and new wine....as I would think she would. I ordered carpaccio with grilled vegetables, and my son had salmon. He said his fish was the best he’d had in a long time. The vegetables were soaked in butter. My carpaccio was good, but not much flavor. I added salt. After we finished our food, the server informed me that the kitchen had sautéed my vegetables instead of grilling them, was in the process of grilling them now, but since we were done, I wouldn’t be required to have them. That was fine with me. All in all, the restaurant was nice. It would be a fun place for afternoon cocktails. I’d skip the food and recommend you expect attitude and nonchalance from servers. I’m not sure we will return unfortunately.

We are residents next door and could not be happier to have Tommy/Pedro and their crew looking after us just 50 yards from our front door. The tomato basil soup and the Green room muscles are knock out. Keep it up guys. Thanks

Ok, its not 100% french, but it feels and tastes like a true Brasserie. Alberto has put a little bit of Paris in the heart of Houston's shopping district. I've read some of the reviews here and it seems that most of the bad reviews came early. My wife and I have eaten here twice now and have had a great meal and great time sitting on the patio and watching the people go by. The menu is well thought out and the quality is high. These factors along with the ambiance makes for a wonderful experience.

Did not have three different bottles of wine ordered, burgers came out without buns - and the server didn’t say anything!, salmon came out skin up - yucky, and service took forever. Will not return - this place needs to close.

Enjoyed the warm and relaxing environment. The food was seasoned nicely. Our server was attentive and not over bearing. We didn't feel rushed to turn over our table. We will definitely return for other wonderful French food delights.

We checked out the menu before entering. We thought it had a good vibe and it seemed like the food would be nice as well. We ordered the shrimp, steak and the cheeseburger. The shrimp was terrible. We sent it back. We decided to give them another chance with the entrees. All of the meat smelled like it was rotten. We took one bite of our meals, ate our french fries and left. We came here for a family celebration, we were pretty disappointed.

Very nice location, good parking, terrific atmosphere. I have eaten at this restaurant before and enjoyed the meal quite a lot. I found the entrée well proportioned and delicious, and the service was professional and such a pleasure. For these reasons I returned with a friend to celebrate my birthday this evening. I’m sorry to say the experience was not similar to the one I had before. My entrée was good, but the service was poor. Our waitress was more interested in fraternizing with her coworkers than she was in attending our table. She stood taking to them while we patiently waited for her to finally turn around and come take our order (we were one of the only tables seated at the time). When I ordered French onion soup with very limited cheese, it was delivered with so much cheese There was a little room for the soup itself in the bowl. I have some significant dietary restrictions, so it meant that I really wasn’t able to eat it. The waitress did not inquire when she noticed I had tried to remove cheese, and when I mentioned it she shrugged it off, telling me she ordered it the way I had requested. At no time did she ever offer to rectify the situation or at minimal, acknowledge it was not as requested . As the meal progressed, she did not return to the table to see if we needed anything, and seemed to be there more to foster her own social life than work. I am not angry, but I was incredibly disappointed. Such a pity.

If you’re like me and you miss France....the ambience, the style and the delicious, delicious food then you’ll want to visit Toulouse Cafe and Bistro time and time again. Its in a very fun shopping area. I enjoy the salad and also the boeuf bourguignon. My husband enjoys the sole menuiere. The food is wonderful like France. Relaxed atmosphere that does a really good job of bring a bit of Paris to us! Enjoy!

This is the River Oaks District... I’ve been her many times. I just had dinner by my self and was told the restaurant was closed and couldn’t have anything more. This was fine. I saw the manager do some sign to the bartender crossing his finger across his neck when I requested to speak to him why I did not have any last call notice. I left and was talking to my friends on the way out. He the came aggressively marching towards me. I pulled out my phone to film the awkward violent situation. He then grabbed my phone out of my hand and refused to give it back to me. I had to get the river oaks district security involved to retrieve my phone or threaten to call the cops. Customers were screaming in disbelief. This guy was violent and he is a manager working at Toulouse? What kind of management training do they have I wonder. I called the restaurant manager the next day. He did't seem to think there was anything wrong with one of his guys stealing customers phones. This is unacceptable....further more the security wanted me to delete pictures to get my phone back... there were no pictures. I shouldn't have to get police involved to get my stolen phone back, but I was searching for police and found a nice security guard to help me out. This guy is really violent and obviously feels comfortable stealing customers property. I will never go here again.

Excellent French food and drinks with memorable service. Atmosphere is great, and we were able to get a table for lunch without a reservation. Highly recommended!

Great restaurant for wine and people watching. The food is good but not outstanding. I love the location. We like to come during Happy Hour, they have a nice hors d'oeuvre menu.

Three course lunch menu $30. Good value Lunch there twice. Not too noisy Attentive service Escargots delicious. Creme brûlée & warm chocolate mousse cake delicious. Salmon cooked right medium well, not over cooked. Lemon on plate.

We don’t get here often because it us quite a drive, but when we want to treat ourselves thus is one of the places on our list. We get the scallops and the beef bourguignon. All food was cooked great. We always get the chocolate soufflé. It was raining outside and the didn’t pressure us to leave which was appreciated.

This place reminds me of several neighborhood brasserie experiences in France, except it is located in an exclusive shopping area and the dining room is spacious, with lots of windows. For lunch we found the place only about two-thirds full, so we were comfortable, there was plenty of distance between tables and the noise level was quite comfortable. We had a good waiter, who was helpful and accommodated us in our various needs and quirks. The escargots were a very good start, with plenty of garlic butter, and a touch of Pernod for added flavor. the breadstick was outstanding and just what you need to dunk up all the butter sauce. The lobster bisque was good, but a bit too tomatoey for our taste. The roast chicken was delicious: moist, tender and flavorful. The Petite Filet au Poivre was outstanding, although it was more a mushroom filet than a pepper steak, so I would not advertise it as "Filet au Poivre". However, it was outstanding (whatever you call it!): prime cut, perfectly done to medium rare, tender and juicy, so clearly deserving a repeat. Because of our selections, we took advantage of the wines-by-the-glass feature and were quite happy with all our selections. The coffees were excellent, so, overall, this was a satisfying visit, with outstanding food and very good service.

Toulouse is one of my favorites in Houston! Located in the luxurious River Oaks District, it boasts great food and even better cocktails! I lived within walking distance of this restaurant and couldn't go enough!

Situated in an elegant shopping venue, this wannabe French "Resto" is a great place to be seen, people watch (ah the ladies of lunch) and enjoy a good meal. It is a far cry from an authentic French restaurant. It is somewhat reminiscent of those glossy foreign restaurants at Epcot: beautiful, pleasant and good enough if you are at theme park with the kids. It is NOT an authentic French restaurant featuring high end culinary dishes --- but its good enough for lunch.

Terrific bartenders and eating at this elegant Parisian style bar is always a treat. Their outdoor patio is a great option on a mild Houston afternoon and the indoor veranda provides a casually, urban retreat with a patio and shop views. The dining room is reminiscent of fine NYC or European cafes. Food and drink always spot on.

Houston Restaurant Weeks offers us a chance to explore our city's burgeoning restaurant scene. We went on a rainy Wednesday night and were greeted by a plastic bucket catching ceiling drips at the front door - foreshadowing of our experience. We were seated in an awkward corner banquette facing the kitchen and their uninteresting dinnerware storage. It's a small attractive place, but the front space is probably the place to be. Restaurant Weeks offers a prix fix menu so we went with that to try an appetizer, entree and dessert. Overall - not great. My appetizer of shrimp and salad with fine, my filet was perfectly cooked but a touch on the salty side with au gratin potatoes - no pomp frites in a bistro? and truly lackluster apple tartin. My husband's duck leg was below average. Our nice, but untrained server brought us Beaujolais by the glass versus Burgundy. We'll never go again. No photos as everything was average and rather disappointing.

This place is a decent scene for brunch on a Sunday. It gives an air of European chicness, but the service and the food simply do not measure up. Service is poor, staff is unfriendly (or just come of as generally uninterested). Food is mediocre. This place is definitely resting on its location and scene. There are simply too many options in Houston for a great brunch or coffee and pastries. They need to step it up because the shopping center is almost always empty, so without a good reputation or a faithful following, they'll be closed soon.

We there for lunch the whole group had the calamari, and salad for starters then I ordered the crab cakes a fairly generous portion. My niece had the sole fish and our friends ordered the almond crusted fish. The crab dish was the most popular. Desserts were delicious. The staff were very attentive and friendly. Great Service. I cannot comment on the "value" or the pricing as we were guests .

Toulouse is set in the very upscale new River Oaks District shopping center. I see it has gotten some pretty bad reviews on Yelp and on Trip Advisor. I found it to be a nice place to sit on the outside patio and enjoy some moules et frites and people watch. All the standard French bistro options are here. Service is very good, they are trying to please. I would rather sit here and have a nice bistro meal than to wait in line for an hour down the block at Hopdoddy for an overpriced hamburger.

We went for dinner. The service was poor. The food was very average and not warm. Very expensive and not good. The restaurant is pretty. The only reason to go to this restaurant is to see the people and cars. There is lots of cleavage, interesting posers, and expensive cars.

The waiter was very slow. The Shrimp Louie salad was lacking flavor. The omlet was ordered with gruyere cheese and it came with Feta cheese. My guest opted not to send it back, but rather eat with the group.

Super cute Bistrot, the lively ambiance outside is amazing. High quality food, French and European as well, and the choices of Wine are impressive. I’ve been there 5 times, and they won’t disappoint me! The servers, especially Esteban, are great!

This is my new favorite French restaurant, the environment of the restaurant is great, if you want to you can establish a conversation with neighbors. Food is espectacular, yo should try the Huittres, the escargots, the duck and the famous créeme brûlée. Service was awesome. I strongly recommend this restaurant.

The server recommended smoked salmon appetizer and it was good! The service was great. Also enjoyed the warm Brie, and crab cakes. Lobster salad is very good

It is an attractive space, though a bit noisy, and the service was very good unfortunately two of the three dishes we ad were disappointing. Started with frog legs which were good, as was the hot bread they provide. That was followed by the homemade gnocchi and a quiche neither of which would make me ever want to order them again. Entrees run twenty dollars and up and the frog legs appertizer was $19. We were both disappointed jwith the food which is a shame given it is a nice space with very good service.

Good ambiance just a little too loud at the terrace. Service was good and the food was good too. Would go back mostly for the ambiance and Gin drinks.

Don’t listen to those bad reviews. Our experience has been fantastic. Food is great. Recommend crabcake salad, the quiche of the day, beet salad w/shrimp. anything on the menu even burgers. Service was exceptional. For dessert order the strawberry Melba. Recommend eating outside.

A true French sensation in River Oaks, Houston. Great location in this upscale plaza. My server was attentive and knowledgeable - with a hint of fun as well. I had an early, quiet lunch.

Typically Parisian decor. Nice atmosphere and food. Great spot for drinks. Food is good, not the best I've had in Houston but average good.

A colleague and I needed to pass some time so we decided to visit for a late lunch. 3-course Business Lunch @$30/person was delicious! Our server was fantastic as well. Definitely would return.

Very nice dinner at Toulouse. We had the mussels and shared the burger. Food was excellent, burger was cooked medium rare to perfection. Our waitress Kristen was very attentive and very sweet.

My wife and I had walked by this place many times in the evening. The patio area was usually filled with people and nice music. On my Friday off we decided to drop in for their happy hour. I was surprised to find the place very empty for prime time happy hour on a Friday, but would soon understand why. The happy hour menu lists some nice sounding appetizers but unfortunately doesn’t have a single drink on it. I mean come on that’s what happy hour is...drink specials and appetizers. I ordered a small Miller lite ($6) and two of the $7 appetizers. Caramelized chicken wings and crab cake stuffed mushrooms. The mushrooms came out first and looked good but just a little bland. Not bad but nothing special. The chicken wings came out second. They had a rock hard caramel coating which was forever stuck to the plate. After prying the wings up and some of the chicken ripping off stuck to the plate we tasted them. They were absolutely disgusting. It made us think of 6 month old freezer burnt chicken or burnt old popcorn covered in concrete caramel. They were not edible. We left shortly after and were not charged for the uneaten “chicken wings”.

Husband and I went there for Christmas lunch. My husband had the diver scallop special in puff pastry. I had the beef Bourguignon. We both loved our meal. We decided to have the dark chocolate soufflé for dessert. It was so light and airy and delicious. We don’t live in this part of town, but we will go back for special occasions.

For our second trip to Toulouse, my wife and I went with another couple who had recently received great news about treatment for the Big C, so we were in a festive mood. The weather was perfect, certainly unusual for Houston, and the crowd lively, animated and loud. We were seated in the bar area, but requested another table in the main dining area and were immediately moved. Our waiter was a delightful young man by the name of Nigel, and even though it was his second day on the job after his training period, he was remarkable. Efficient, talkative and attentive, and he knew his stuff. He recommended a Cab from Argentina for my friend, and it was so good we all ended up having a glass. The bread, made on premises, with the French county butter, could have served as the meal. For appetizers, we had crab cakes and escargots, both of which were very tasty. One of us had chicken for the main course, another scallops, and two of us had the strip steak with fries. The steaks were not the best either of us had ever eaten, but good enough to make us smile. For dessert, we tried the beignets, which of course were delicious. The only negative was the location of my chair, which in somewhat cramped quarters got jostled more than a few times. Management seems to genuinely care that you are enjoying the experience. A fun time was had by all, and we highly recommend the restaurant. We will return.

Toulouse Café is a chic little café. After we were seated, I looked at the brunch menu and got my first Mimosa. After the first sip I said to my husband "I think this might be my new favorite brunch spot". He laughed because we hadn't ordered food yet. We started with the beignets ($9 for 5) which were bad and the accompanying cappuccino sauce (which was yummy) couldn't make up for the weird texture (more like a Duncan Hines powdered donut). My husband ordered the Almond French Toast entrée and the Steak and Eggs entrée (he was hungry). The steak and eggs and the accompanying fries were good. However, instead of the Almond French Toast entrée, he was served a side order of French toast which was (literally) 1/2 a slice of bread (cut diagonally) served on a side plate with ketchup (no syrup). First, the portion size was absurd (1/2 a slice of bread?). Secondly, to serve french toast on a side plate with ketchup?! This was clearly an oversight on someone's part but I couldn't believe the server brought it to the table. I was a waitress and that is unacceptable. My eggs benedict was good and I opted for fresh fruit (pineapple, cantaloupe and melon) instead of the breakfast potatoes. After being served our food, we didn't see the waiter to ask for syrup. By the time we finished eating, I was ready to leave and a little frustrated that it was so disappointing. Our bill was $75 (not including tip) for 2 mimosas, beignets ($9), eggs benedict, steak and eggs and a side of French toast ($3).

The service was bad so i decided to tip only $5. then the bartender came to me saying "is this $5?" i said yes then he said people here normally tip 10% minimum. you just cant talk like this to your customers and beg for the tip. Very bad experience and horrible watery drinks. the bartender looks hispanic with long hair and normal body size

Sunday Brunch is nice but nothing special. Eggs benedict were good. Coffee was good but had to ask for a top off after a long wait for them to ask. Frioend likes the escargot.

Poor food quality and VERY slow service. Hard to believe they call this a French bistro. Interior is extremely loud and the bar is overcrowded. Outdoor seating is pleasant, but does not make up for the other issues. Won't return

We just moved into the apartments opposite the café and we've been regulars since. Being Scottish we love seafood, their oysters (east coast) are great and the jalapeño ginger muscles are to die for. their 1/2 price wine and bubble promotions are a great deal too. Tommy, Pedro, John and the crew keep up the good work.

Came in for Sunday brunch for two. First time I had been into this new VERY UPSCALE shopping center. We had made reservations but did not need them this day. It did start to get more crowded by the time we left so you might want to go ahead and make them to be on the safe side. Our waiter was very attentive with a bright classic atmosphere. The wines were reasonably priced and the food delicious. I had the Gravalax Benedict. It was awesome and the perfect amount of food for me after sharing Escargots to start with. We are going to Paris in a few months and this certainly helped increase our anticipation for our trip. We were too full for dessert and coffee -- but there were several tables around us having their final course and they looked/smelled amazing. I will definitely go again - and may just pop in for Dessert and Coffee before a movie at IPic which is in the same center.

We stopped by this place while walking around the shops in River Oaks, mainly because it was highly recommended by a few sales people from different shops. The service was satisfactory but the food was awful. We ordered crab cakes to start, as we do with any new place to see how they match up. When the plate reach the table we immediately could smell seafood gone bad. We smelled the food and knew the crab cakes were off. We even tried tasting a bit to make sure, we were positive after that. We informed our waitress and she quickly asked if it wasn't the dressing that was giving us the off flavor. We assured her, it was the crab. She removed the plate, apologized and sent it back to the kitchen. She brought back another plate and explained that the chef is allergic to crab and couldn't taste it to see if it was bad. She then suggested that the new plate would be better. We were put off by the smell again... and decided not to touch it or complain anymore. She did come back to check on things and we told her we were put off. She removed the crab cakes from our bill. The rest of the food from this point on was lackluster with the exception of desert. We had a fluffy puff pastry with fresh strawberries and creme. It was light, and refreshing. It good way to close a bad meal. We were a bit surprised that no manger or supervisor came to our table after the crab cake incident. We won't be returning.

Have visited many times with pleasure. Musicians should know that they are not the primary reason we visit. Please turn down the volume on the patio! Table of 14 and we had trouble carrying on conversations.

Went with a friend for lunch. The shrimp louie, which is an “old school” favorite, was pretty good but at $26, and with only three very large shrimp, seemed a bit pricey. The desserts, however, were extraordinary. The profiteroles stuffed with pistachio ice cream and topped with warm chocolate sauce were fantastic. The strawberry Napoleon was also exceptional. Would have given four stars based on that alone but see below. One thing that was disappointing was the service. The restaurant was not full but other than bringing our food, the waiter was inattentive. We were brought some bread after we sat down but when it was finished, we were never asked if we might have wanted more. We didn’t but should have been asked. And tea or beverage refills had to be requested rather than noticed and replenished. We even observed one waiter, not ours, checking his cell phone at some length in the dining room. Never a good sign at a well run restaurant.

There is no better service at any Houston restaurant than you are going to receive at Toulouse Cafe and Bar. The manager, Tommy, is constantly circulating and monitoring the staff and seeing that all customers are enjoying themselves. The Nicoise Salad is superb!! Good bar service as well. SUNDAY's the rose's are half price. A great time to order a rose champagne!!! Our go to Sunday brunch restaurant!

A charming bistro and with all of the classic foods. Well prepared and a wonderful spot. Can sit outside but is usually too hot! Just go inside.

We ate outside and service was good in terms of drinks and getting the menus. We started of with some shares dishes which were okay (grilled octopus, fish cakes). However, the main courses were nothing special despite the quite hefty price. I had the scallops with risotto, 3 small scallops on overdone risotto. Could have been better. My colleagues had similar experiences with the seabass and duck confit. Just before we were served our mains, a mariachi band started playing for an elderly couple behind us. The 1st 2 songs were fun but they stayed for 20 minutes, meaning we could not hear eachother talk. The maitre d only took action after several patrons pointed out that the noise was overwhelming. Overall, an okay visit but I would try something else the next time.

Had a lovely lunch of Beef Bourguigon, a glass of wine and the strawberry Napoleon. Food was fantastic and had excellent service. Expensive for lunch, but delicious

We visited during Houston Restaurant Weeks. We visited multiple restaurants during this celebration. The service was great, the selections were great choices and the serving portions were surprising full portions. The desserts were larger than most restaurants serve during Houston Restaurant Weeks. The food was well prepared and seasoned well. Our only negative feedback is that the music was so loud that we could not understand the waitress and we could not have a conversation with the persons at the other side of the table. The table we had was for four persons facing each other. After making a request to turn down the music, it was reduced, but only slightly.

An outstanding location restaurant with a terribly disappointed quality of dishes. House salad is plain and WARM !!! Tuna tartare and escargot are not thing to be proud of. Strawberry napoleon is no where near that of La Madeleine. Coffee might be a highlight of the entire meal. A wasted and disappointed new establishment for such a prestige location. More

It was nice to have dinner on the patio of this upscale eatery. A chance to watch sophisticated people and wishing you were one of them. LOL... don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the experience! The food was good but not going to awe you. Although we didn't order their fame mussels or quiche. I had octopus served on a bed of lentils. It is an appetizer but plenty enough to become an entree for me. The lentils was tangy with caramelized onion that balanced out the savory of the grilled octopus. I have had octopus fresh off the ocean so I can tell this one isn't as fresh because of its gummy texture and hint of fishy smell. But it's cooked well and tender. One of my companions had Lobster Salad. She voiced that it was too small a salad for over $20. The other had trout with mashed potato. I think it was good since she killed it. Staff were very attentive and friendly. The manager and the owner walked around and greeted everyone. A nice personal touch.

Took time to have a midweek lunch with the wife. Toulouse does a very nice three course business lunch special for $31. Very good choices and excellent portions. Also French wines are half-price Monday and Tuesday . Nice outdoor patio - very European. Will be back.

Terrible restaurant. There are so many great restaurants in Houston don't waste your time or money here. The food was good but the server is the worst server I've ever had. She was pompous and incompetent. And on top of that, she added a 20% tip for herself on the bill for a table of 4 and didn't tell us so she could double dip. Absolutely horrible experience.

Amazing restaurant...new; located in upscale shopping area off of Westheimer, just inside the loop. Not far from Galleria area. Wonderful service;great outside dining as well. All dishes presented beautifully and were delicious.

I came here for the first time for lunch and ordered the dover sole, not realizing that it is their signature dish. It's not listed on the menu, rather it is simply hand written on the chalk boards with the other daily additions. Nor did they explain to me what I'd just ordered or the cost. There are other fish dishes on the menu and I assumed this one would be comparable.... They brought out an entire fish, and filleted it in front of me. The presentation and technique were impeccable, but the fish itself did. not. taste. good... I was so disappointed! To boot, it was served with 3 sad little fingerling potatoes, and flavorless mixed vegetables. All for $60.. Yikes. I'd give Toulouse less stars, but they have pretty good bar scene and serve my favorite rose.

It's unclear to me what the Venn diagram of afficionados of French bistro cuisine and fans of Def Leppard look like, but if you are in the union of those two sets, get to Toulouse at your earliest convenience. A lot of the pleasure of eating at a restaurant is the ambience. That was completely lost here. The whole time we ate our meal - early dinner on Saturday, they were playing 1980s hair metal at a fairly loud volume. My wife and I were trying to enjoy a romantic meal and that wasn't going to happen. You can make up for poor ambience with great food. The meals we had were unremarkable. Not bad, but nothing to come back for. The best thing we ordered was the shrimp louie. Nice dressing, well prepared shrimp, the salad really held together. The other starter we had was escargot, which like pretty much everything else was mediocre - it lacked any distinctive flavor. For mains, my wife and I both had duck confit - meh. Desserts weren't bad, but I've had better creme brulee at a lot of places and the peach cobbler appeared to have no cobbler - searching for crust was a challenge. It was hot peaches and vanilla ice cream. Service was also less than stellar. We ordered the petit gougeres as a pre-starter and they never showed up. Fortunately, they weren't on on our bill either. They appeared to be in a huge rush to get us out. We were 3/4 of the way done with a course, and people were ready to clear the table. Considering 90% of the place was empty, perhaps a few minute delay would have been ok. If you're looking for French food, there are probably a dozen better places within a ten minute drive of here. It probably does well because of its location in River Oaks District. I'm not sure how it has lasted as long as it has. We will not be going back.

It is located in the River Oaks District . I think it is ok for a regular lunch but nothing special or fancy . It is overpriced . The portions are good in size . You have so great options in that area that I don't think I will go back . One thing I do have to admit is that the waiters are amazing and they do take care of you .

Terrible. Just terrible. You want 100 words when one will do. It was horrible. The food was cold. The waitress wasn’t wearing a mask and the place smells awful. No social distancing and no good food.

I love this French rest with tiled floors great servers and real french food, including beinets. Looking out at lit trees in the new River Oaks District, I love the romantic view, and the happy sounds of happy diners. Onion soup with french bread, lobster bisque, and my favorite crab cake, full of crab...great coffee, and I spied a real souffle and veal at the other table. Mostly, the ataff and atmosphere lift you away to pure pleasure and elegance. So charming and fun. Thanks Toulouse, for coming to Houston right near the galleria.

Had a remarkable dinner at this restaurant last night. They had a special truffle menu and the veal was exceptional. Our French waitress was marvelous and Chef Emanuel also French came out to talk to us. Chocolate dessert was to die for. All in all it was a wonderful experience and we will definitely return soon.

From a 3 course lunch special to evening dining, we always receive excellent service and good food at this atmospheric French restaurant. Located in the River Oaks District of Houston, Texas, this restaurant is close to expensive shops and iPic theatre. If you're off to see a movie then this is a great place to stop before or after for a good bite. Our favorite appetizer is the Moules Provenciale and you can't go wrong with the Steak Frites. The waiters are excellent and you will be well taken care of while you listen to the calming music that thankfully isn't too loud.

Had Friday night dinner reservations on our way to the Alley Theatre, and I’m so glad we chose this place. The atmosphere is very nice, especially now while temperatures are comfortable enough for patio dining. The open doors, revealing the patio lighting, somehow connecting you with the night itself, add a romantic ambiance to the well decorated interior. Table spacing is generous, service is cordial and timely—Thanks Carlos V. Bartender, Domingo, is top notch. Menu has good selection and everything we had was delicious.

Pedro was excellent in accommodating our large group and even turned the music down so we could make some toasts A great menu and super service !

Great concept, and excellent location, but tough to compete when you have so many new, trendy, posh competitors within a one block walk. Menu is great - classic traditional French bistro, and there are some great deals on wine to be had if you go on the right night. Service was good, the food was just meh. Had a salad to start, very under-dressed and bland. Steak tartare as my entree and it was very basic - no real outstanding flavor or character to it. Person sitting next to me had the mussels and a surprising number of them didn't open - not a great sign. I won't be going back; as I said too many other choices, but not an issue, given all the new places opening in that River Oaks district this summer, I doubt they'll be there by year-end.

I met some colleagues here on a Tuesday evening. The service was excellent. The menu has a wide variety of dishes that you would not normally see at the Chains in Houston. But back to that in a while. We had Calamari as an appetizer - excellent. Foie Gras - fantastic. Nice wine selection. I ordered Branzino & Ratatouille. Surprise - Pappa’s Seafood has a crisper, more flavorful offering. Two of my colleagues ordered Dover Sole - very good - de-boned tableside. Great dessert selection - including a soufflé that was unbelievably good and a sight to see.

I have no complaints about the restaurant at all but noise of the band playing this afternoon was obnoxious. This restaurant is known for its charm, sophistication and ambience - but not today! Only ‘joints’ allow loud unattenuated bands to play because the sound produced can camouflage the vacuousness of the inarticulate. Is it too much to ask for a restaurant of such high standing to allow conversation without having to raise one’s voice and compete against the triple digit decibels catapulted through patrons hearing cheapening and dining experience that should memorable for the food and atmosphere and the free rock concert that is unwelcome and frankly bizarre in such a purportedly relaxing setting. My wife and I went across the street to Bart instead and had the most excellent dining experience instead!

The food and service here are exceptional, and the setting close to an authentic French brasserie. A wonderful discovery.

My friend and I stopped to have a glass of wine at Toulouse after dining at Le Colonial in the same area. I love the fact that you can park your car in the multi-level garage for free (!!) and walk around the area from restaurant to restaurant or shop to shop. (Very high end shops - so we just window shopped.) Anyhoo....we went to sit at the bar at Toulouse, which is a big, big bar. The décor/color scheme at Toulouse reminds me of Brasserie 19. Maybe there is a connection? (I know not.) We ordered two glasses of Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay (one of my favorite Chards) at $14 a glass. (It is River Oaks, after all.) My friend ordered the Beignets Pot de Crème dessert. (She said she had actually lost 6 pounds and needed to put on weight. Isn't that adorable?) I said I would have none, and next thing she passes over one of the beignets, so I indulge. Oh my goodness! Yum, yum, yum! The real "yum" is the Pot de Crème that comes on the side and you dip, or slather, it on the little donut. Well, you know the end of the story. I shared the dish with my friend. (There are five beignets and a pot of cream.) Our server behind the bar was very attentive. (However, he did make us nervous when he was standing on the edge of the bar to dust the bottles on the shelves.)

Had dinner on Friday night with a friend. I loved the ambience, but thought the food was just only a bit above average. Service was terrific. We had the crispy calamari, which was excellent, and the beet salad, just ok. Pommes frites were good for American fries but not up to French standards. We both had a filet mignon which was on the restaurant week menu. Nice quality beef. This is a restaurant which is part of a high end restaurant group.

Nice time out on Houston especially if you get live music and outside table. Service sometimes is not great but the cuisine is worth it.

Great brunch and/or dinner spot. You have the option of being seated indoors or outdoors. In this beautiful Texas weather we of course went with outdoors. The food was delicious and filling. . . very greasy but if that's how you like it then this is the place to eat! My table ordered the octopus, charcuterie board, caviar tacos, the duck, and the carbonara a la francaise. All deliciously made! The alcoholic beverages are ascetically pleasing and tasty as well. Chanel No. 6 was my favorite.

Atmosphere inside and out both beautiful—service excellent. Beautiful outdoor patio. Starting with dessert—chocolate soufflé is amazing—and huge—as are braised beef tips and excellent chopped salad with everything in it. Large portions. In River Oaks district so very nice to walk around day or evening. Ask for Miguel.

My wife and I took a friend to dinner at Toulouse last night. The food was actually delicious, but the evening was ruined by the amateur waitstaff and abysmal service. Our waiter had poor command of English and seemed unable to communicate adequately with any of us at the table. In a less expensive restaurant, I could understand this, but situated among the poshest stores in Houston, Toulouse banks on having well-heeled guests and tourists frequent its establishment and pay top dollar, but it doesn’t keep up its end of the bargain. Several examples: 1. I ordered tap water from the waiter for the table when he first greeted me. Five minutes later, when our guest arrived, the waiter came to get her drink order but still had not brought the water. I said, “First the water, then we may order drinks.” Then I reminded him that I had already requested tap water several minutes earlier. He said, “Yes, the water is on its way, don’t you want a cocktail?” I repeated, “Please bring the water, then we will order drinks.” He brought the water, then he basically ignored us after that. 2. We had to request silverware for the last two courses. 3. When I finished my glass of Rosé, the waiter asked if I would like another glass of wine. I said “Yes, a glass of the white burgundy.” I am still waiting for it. 4. As the sun set and the room darkened, I asked the manager to light the candle at our candle (our waiter was oblivious). A few minutes later, a busboy plunked a battery-powered flicker light into the votive holder, but it didn’t work. A few minutes later another busboy placed a second light on top of the first which also did not work. I finally went to an empty table and moved the lit votive off their table to ours and explained to our waiter what I had done in his absence. He appeared perplexed then moved on. 5. Our order for dinner was finally taken 45 minutes after we arrived, then we waited that long again for the food to arrive. The restaurant was not crowded so I knew the kitchen was not over taxed. 6. The manager stood at the front door during our meal flicking through his cell phone and glancing outside as if he was bored and could not wait to go home. 7. When it was time for the bill, another waiter brought it to us. We had never seen him before. In fact, our food was brought to us by different waiters instead of the waiter who took our order. So we played the game of “Which one of you ordered the house salad, and who gets the lobster bisque?” All in all, very amateur and disappointing. I doubt this restaurant will cultivate a strong following from locals. It will depend on one-time suckers (out-of-towners who are shopping) and get lured inside by the charming facade.

Tommy blue eyes got this place off the ground, then his fine work was continued by Marco, who is Sirio's son. Marco would never tell you, because he is far too modest, but he was trained by the best--his father, Sirio, of Le Cirque fame. The restaurant is legendary, and it is a credit to Houston that it has such fine management and waitstaff. You will toast your friends, fall in love over dinner, and dance the night away on New Year's Eve.

We ate at Toulouse on their 4th night in Houston's sparkling new River Oaks District. We found the food excellent and the service already quite good. The place bustled with activity and lots of conversation--and hugs. We tried the Nicoise Salad, the Crab Cake, and Ratatouille--all were well prepared and at perfect temperatures. We live close by and have been eagerly anticipating their opening--we were not disappointed and will be back.

We went with another couple for dinner on a Saturday night. The place was so loud one had to speak loudly just to be heard. The food was nothing special, especially if you look at the prices. I'm happy to pay for excellent food and service but this just did not have it together. The location is excellent in the River Oaks District, very upscale and pleasant. Maybe when they are open longer the quality of the whole operation will improve.

Nice decor with average food and rude manager. Someone who has never been to Paris or tried good French food may be impressed by this place. The food is not traditional French fare, but some kind of fusion cuisine. The menu does not have a French translation and none of the staff speak French. The place is pretty but fake with no character. I bumped it down to a one star because the manager was rude to our table.

We came here for lunch and had a really good lunch sitting outside. I had the set menu and it was very good. Service is very attentive

We forgot a bag there, went back for it. The manager and a tall guy, who must be the host, told us to get the "F" out of here!. We were appalled by this behavior. Hope the owner reads this. The only good thing is the live music offered certain days. Food is greasy or salty, service is bad. Expensive $$$

This restaurant is a total MISMATCH for the upscale luxury shopping center it is in. If you want a true French (and/or upscale) experience, PLEASE run to Etoile (Uptown Park) or La Table (BLVD Place on Post Oak Blvd) -- both in the Galleria area and both brilliant! This place is casual (and loud), and the food is ok (bread is hard as rocks-ugh). My waiter (Alan), on the other hand, was professional and courteous, and the food was ok. (Does anyone else see the resemblance of Cheesecake Factory in the décor/atmosphere?) Either way, I hope it improves with time, but will do in a pinch if you are loaded down with shopping bags (if you are, you surely have a chauffeur to help with that ..... ).

One of many choices in the River Oaks District. We dine here frequently while shopping here. We have never left disappointed.

Horrible. Just have a drink and don't eat at this place. The artificial canard confit has the flavor and the breaded seafood is very salty, the scargot tastes like nothing more than cilantro. The soffle is a meringue... very expensive and the food is a disaster. Have a cocktail and enjoy the music, the musician is the only thing redeemable about the place and its tables outside to spend a little time.

The food was okay and pricey, the service was poor, our waiter argued with us; not the desired ingredients for a lunch date.

Three couples and a friend’s birthday at Toulouse last night in the plush new River oaks District. Clearly an in place on a wonderful Saturday evening to see and be seen and sit on the patio with a glass of wine if you can find a waiter to serve you! Very disappointing service, understaffed and under trained, hadn’t a clue what they were serving, nor the difference between a béarnaise (had to be applied with a knife, way too thick) and Roquefort sauce! The Octopus and Steak Tartare were excellent as was the Dover sole, albeit way overpriced at $58. Overcooked both filet mignons. the scallops were average at best, the Foie Gras uninspired, and if you like escargot served as a bite sized burger then this is the place for you!. Better get act together quickly, Houston’s a very unforgiving market in this price range.

My octopus must have been a salt dome shaped like octopus, and it was covered in a revolting pile of deep fried something. My companion’s calamari was so salty, greasy, and over-fried that it was hard to recognize as calamari or any other kind of actual food. On top of it, the service was both mediocre and pretentious - a very unpleasant combination. I am reluctantly giving this place 2 stars only for the nice outdoor patio.

The perfect spot for a business lunch, nice social views and general food is very good Its like the trend spot for the Houstonians high society

Went to Toulouse on Saturday night for a dinner with a business associate. Sat on the patio. Live solo artist singing oldies music in the courtyard. Excruciatingly loud. Toulouse seemed to be sponsoring the show. If it were Christmas songs it may have been tolerable? So happy when he finally stopped after an hour of not being able to talk to each other at all. The waitress was constantly bugging us to order. Obviously trying to rush us so she could turn the table. The female manager was rude when we complained about the music being so loud that the waitress could not hear our order. Also, she was unapologetic when we asked for a replacement dish of asparagus after the server sneezed on it while walking to our table. She acted like she didn't see it happen even though she was helping him carry other plates to our table and winced at him after the sneeze. Should of kept the first plate because the replacement plate of asparagus had a black hair in. All we got from the was "sorry" when I showed it to the waitress. Not sure what is happening to this place it used to be our favorite restaurant inside the loop. We will not return until management and service improves, if ever. Too many other places in Houston to spend $$$ per person, for a lot better food and service!