The Kennedy

Love the beef bacon option. The food was good, but it was not brought out hot and fresh. The drinks are not strong. I would suggest ordering off menu and requesting less ice. The service was pretty good as well. Very cute spot with good portion size for the cost. I will say, brunch options are very limited. A broader menu might be good.

This is definitely a Houston hidden gem. I let my daughter do a little research for a coffee shop, and she found this location. I was expecting to go to a coffee shop; however, it was certainly different, but very nice. I will definitely be visiting again. Very relaxed, gorgeous hidden gem; food was absolutely great and well above my expectations. I will definitely be visiting again. Took a couple of photos felt like I was in a professional photo shoot the place is so gorgeous Houston, Texas. We have a winner. #houston

The Kennedy really is a nice place to have dinner. We dined on a Thursday night and there were not many people. We did have reservations however there was more than enough space for more customers. The Kennedy is valet parking only for the dinner hour but parking attendant stated that during the lunch hour some days it’s self parking. When calling there is a $5 charge for valet before 3 and after 3 that charge is $10. The parking lot is very small. Major turn off is valet is right in front of the door so you’re paying to valet and walk right up to the entrance. If you can find street parking and don’t mind the walk that’s an option as well. They do have a dress code here so if you’re walking your dog and decide to dine, this is not the place for you. It’s nicely decorated and put together, great ambiance and it was not too loud this night. Was able to have conversations without screaming across the table and the pianist most definitely kept us entertained while dining. He was very personable, came and introduced himself. Took requests and has an amazing voice. The restrooms were nice and clean. I liked that the stalls were individually roomed and the black toilets were a good addition to the uniqueness of the decor. On to the food and drinks. I ordered the Cucumber Hibiscus Smash. It was delicious! I thoroughly enjoyed how refreshing and crisp this drink was. It was made just right. For my entree, after seeing the bisque, I chose the Kennedy Caesar Salad with Shrimp added. I also chose to add a side of the Jalapeño Blue Cheese dressing as I wanted to try it. This choice was most definitely the best for me. I’d come here again just for this salad. I also was eyeing the lobster bisque as my entree however a few people ordered and it didn’t give me bisque vibes. It was more on the broth side with no cream in sight. That’s not bisque to me, however there are some that may see this differently. Others in my dinner party made note that the mashed potatoes were on the sweet side so I was glad that I didn’t go with that. Also important to note, don’t come expecting normal size portions. This is more on the tapas side of dining and the portions versus price would leave most wondering why they are still hungry after spending about a hundred bucks on dinner. Choose wisely. I opted out of dessert as I was full from the salad I inhaled. Yes that salad was filling. Others opted out of dessert due to price. Our waitress Jackie was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Gave great advice on dishes to order and suggestions of changes that could be done. It’s important to note, that there is a card acceptance fee charge for each guest(even if all on one check), auto gratuity(normal for our size party), they can only split the check per party three times, and they are a 21 and up restaurant. We opted to have one check. It was just easier for a part of 8. All in all, we had a great dining experience as we should for the amount of money spent.

The food here is genuinely very good, and given the price, I was expecting nothing less. The restaurant itself is beautiful, and the flavors and presentation were excellent. My only comment on the food itself is that the burger, while tasty, was drenched in oil. Still, overall, the food was the strongest part of the experience. Where things fell short was the service and overall professionalism. As someone who has worked in high-end restaurants in multiple roles, I was disappointed with the level of service during our visit. I went on a Sunday morning for a special anniversary meal. While the food was enjoyable, our server looked and acted like they had just woken up. Their demeanor and attire felt more like a franchise restaurant such as Applebee’s or Chili’s—totally acceptable if that were the experience I was looking for. But for the price point and the occasion, I expected the service to match the elevated atmosphere and menu. Beyond appearance and attitude, the actual service was poor: • Inconsistent attention: The server frequently disappeared for long stretches, didn’t refill drinks, and overall seemed disengaged. • Food not served together: My wifes and my meal came out at different times, leaving one plate sitting long enough to cool. In every restaurant I’ve worked at, food for a table is run together—especially for a party of two—so no one is left waiting or eating a cold dish. This is basic service execution in any sit-down establishment. • Payment interaction: The server held the POS device in front of me and looked over my shoulder as I chose the tip amount. In higher-end dining, the device is handed to the guest for privacy. Holding it like a coffee shop tablet felt awkward and out of place. • Valet professionalism: When we approached to hand over our ticket (we were the only guests there), the attendant was on a personal phone call that clearly wasn’t urgent. In every customer-facing job I’ve had, personal calls in front of guests are not allowed—let alone while a guest is waiting for assistance. To give credit where it’s due, the busser did a good job, and the hostess was the only staff member whose attitude and attire matched the standard of a high-end restaurant. But overall, the service did not align with the pricing or ambiance. For the same price, I could have gone to Yiayia’s, Casa do Brasil, or other high-end places nearby where the food and the service consistently justify the cost. If I wanted a franchise-level experience, I would have gone to a franchise and paid those prices—especially for an anniversary. Overall, excellent food and a beautiful place, but the service left me expecting much more.

The Kennedy offers a fantastic ambiance with a beautifully designed space that feels upscale, stylish, and perfect for a night out. The service was genuinely excellent, attentive, warm, and professional…easily one of the highlights of the evening. Unfortunately, the food didn’t quite match the expectations set by the atmosphere and service. Several dishes, including the sea bass, surf and turf, short ribs, and lobster pasta, were all noticeably lacking in flavor. While everything was plated nicely, the seasoning and depth of taste just weren’t there, making the overall meal feel underwhelming. Another surprising detail was the unusual “card acceptance fee” charged per guest, even though only one card was used for the table?? We had four guests, and were charged for 5. It wasn’t a major amount, but it did feel a bit unethical do not disclose or mention that prior to and uncouth for a restaurant of this style. Overall, The Kennedy has a beautiful ambiance and service, but the flavor and execution of the dishes left something to be desired. With adjustments in the kitchen and full transparency with their charges, it has the potential to be a better experience.