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Since 1969, restaurant, hotel, travel & other witty reviews by a handpicked, worldwide team of discerning professionals—and your views, too.

Sambuca

Rice Lofts
909 Texas Ave. (Travis St.) Send to Phone
Houston, TX 77002
713-224-5299 | Menu
sambucarestaurant.com
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Happening night scene with varied live music and eclectic American dining.

Cuisine

Open

Lunch Mon.-Fri., Dinner nightly

Features

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Sambuca Restaurant Review

: Anchored in the historic Rice Lofts, this ultra-cool spot swings with animal print upholstery, funky sculpture suspended from the ceiling and curvy banquettes reminiscent of the supper clubs of the '30s and '40s. Sambuca offers live music nightly, but you have to eat if you're going to listen to the music, so consider the sampler platter, which includes the standard fried calamari along with some not-so-standard tiger shrimp with harissa sauce, skewered beef tenderloin with pesto couscous and mushroom crostini. From there, move on to a pasta, like the colorful zebra pasta pocket with lobster, shrimps and scallops in a lobster-cream sauce. Entrée high notes include the Chilean sea bass in a citrus beurre blanc and the honey-glazed pork medallions on a bed of mango, pineapple and avocado. Desserts include the Italian favorite tiramisu as well as a chocolate decadence cheesecake.

User Ratings & Reviews for Sambuca
Average rating    3
Reviews 1 - 1 of 11
Dance the Night Away
by AlainHarvey on Sat Jun 18, 2011 12:28 pm
 
Sambuca has become a nationally recognized name for combining fine dining with live music seven nights a week. Sambuca Houston, located in Houston’s historic Rice Hotel, offers a variety of American cuisine satisfying every taste bud. From pizzas, calamari and other shared appetizers to grilled beef tenderloin and miso-glazed sea bass, the menu is sure to please everyone.

Sambuca features live music, which spans a variety of styles, including soft rock, pop, classic rock, sultry singers, jazz, R & B, crooners, and Latin rhythms. Live jazz entertainment plays nightly. Bands are mostly local, but the management books at least one national act a month. A cover charge only applies for national acts, and the amount varies. Think of a lounge with a bordello-like appeal and you are probably thinking of this downtown hot spot. The cigar room alone is worth a visit. The menu features seafood and Mediterranean-style pasta dishes.

The Good:
Food:
Excellent with good-sized of the portions.
Excellent Osso Buco, amazing new sea bass, and outstanding crab cakes.

Service:
The service at Sambuca is good. The staff were attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and very helpful. All in all, the service here is very good.

Atmosphere:
Sambuca is hard to beat with its combination of romantic ambiance, music and friendly service.

The Bad:
Noise. It can get quite noisy in this particular restaurant. In all fairness, this should come as no surprise considering the live music and popular dance floor. If you are looking for a quiet evening I recommend you go elsewhere.

Sambuca is not cheap. Prices are on the high side, but the quality of the food helps to soften the blow.

The Final Verdict:
I recommend Sambuca for the great atmosphere, the wonderful food, live music and dancing.
 
Reviews 1 - 1 of 11



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