El Meson

This is a good place for some cubano nachos made with plantains and black beans. Wash it down witha dos xx. The wine list outshines the food by far. Good selections, just not the best food to match it up with

Pros: a close alternative to mi luna

Cons: parking and its tapas

Posted 11/22/09

Took my girlfriend there on a Tuesday night. Ambiance is good, but food was sub par. We ordered the paella de Meson, supposedly their signature paella, the classic mixed meat and seafood. Presented well, but nearly tasteless. No saffron, no tomato, nothing. Rice was soggy too. Steer clear of this $40 plate of rice.

Pros: ambience

Cons: food, service

Posted 08/04/08

I've visited this restaurant several times, some with big groups. Sitting was prompt and service was good. Food is always excellent. Have tried everything from the paellas, tapas to the Cuban dishes - all were yummy! I definitely prefer it to the tapas restaurant a few doors down. This place you could actually hear your party talking.

Posted 08/04/08

El Meson has a nice little spot in Rice Village, lots of street and foot traffic to take advantage of. If you find yourself in the area and looking for great paella, keep looking. We had to pay $4 dollars (actually $5 since the vallet took our $5 bill up front and never offered change) to have the vallet park our car in a spot blocked off in front of the restaurant where we could have parked ourselves- confusing as to why we needed to pay for parking since we were going inside the restaurant to SPEND money. We expected a place like this would be packed on a Saturday night, but walked in for our 7:30 reservation and found it half empty. That was the first sign that we might be disappointed. It was also VERY warm, seemed as though they were trying to save money by keeping the AC off. The service was par, not spectacular, but satisfactory. The wine list is quite extensive- the only request I might make would be for a greater Texas wine selection- my pinot grigio was quite nice and my fiance enjoyed his cab. We had been craving paella for a few days, and were excited to find several choices on the menu. We ordered the "Del Meson" and tried to keep our mind off the heat by watching the Rice Village pedestrians as we waited. The paella was ready right on time within the promised 25-30 min window, and was quite a generous portion for two people. Upon tasting, none of the promised saffron was discernible and a lack of basic seasonings like salt and pepper was also found. The rice had no uniform consistency- some undercooked, some overcooked- and lacked the crispy bottom layer usually found. Overall, El Meson leaves a bit to be desired. I'd only return without the parking fee and to sip on wine, nevermind the food. Will continue the search for good paella.

Pros: Satisfactory Service, Wine List

Cons: Parking, Lack of AC, Food

Posted 08/02/08

I've had good paella from other Cuban and Spanish restaurants before, but THE PAELLA AT EL MESON WAS A HUGE DISSAPPOINTMENT!!! This was my first visit to El Meson. I was eager to try this place because it had such good reviews, but 3 of my friends and I did not enjoy the food here. I've had much better food from other Cuban/Spansh restaurants. The service was satisfactory, the ambiance was nice, and quaint, but the food was very poor! The chef does not properly season the food!!

I ordered Paella Marinera (Saffron Rice w/ prawns, white fish, shrimp, squid, mussels). The rice lacked flavor, which is surprising because of all of the different types of seafood in the paella. The consistency of the rice was sticky but not too mushy, which is typical from Cuban-style paella. Do NOT expect Valencia-style paella from here, where the rice at the bottom of the pan is typically nice and crisp. It did not even taste like they use saffron in their paella. The worst part of all was that the seafood was ABSOLUTELY TASTELESS!!! It tasted as if the meat was boiled without any salt, and cooked completely separate from the rice. Adding our own salt and lemon helped a little, but isn't the chef supposed to season the food and NOT the guests??!!

Gambas al Romesco (Grilled Shrimp served in Almond Pimenton sauce)--Shrimp was covered with an interesting salty sauce with a gritty consistency. Different, but in a good way.

Chipirones Calamares (stuffed w/ onions served in Cuttlefish Ink sauce): Just ok--almost comparable to other restaurants that serve the same dish.

Salmon al Romero Salmon Fillet (pan seared with black pepper and infused with rosemary served Spanish style): Salmon had a heavy oily taste. They call it "pan seared". I call it "burnt to a crisp!!"

Sangria: VERY BAD! If you like cheap wine mixed with orange juice--go for it! They may call it homemade, but I doubt if they even soak any fruit in the wine.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE!!!

Pros: Nice, quiet, and quaint ambience.

Cons: Paella is NOT prepared well.

Posted 03/07/08

This was our first time dining at el meson,which was recommended to us by a friend. The service was so friendly our server was a young gentleman who was very knowledgeable about everything on the menu.He guided us towards the paella,but warned us it would take at least 30 minutes to preapare but it would be worth the wait.The young latino waiter was correct the paella was worth the wait. We finished of our evening with a tres leches and an expresso.All i can say is that el meson has a customer for their next 25 years.

Pros: Serice,Food

Cons: paying valet before you enter restaurant

Posted 01/12/08

The Ropa Vieja and Pollo al Ajillo are the best around! Then, consider that you can truly tell it is still owned by the same family; and you have a great place to enjoy dinner! The wine list is notable, but Peter's Bloody Mary is the as good as mine.... That's hard for me to admit. MUST TRY

Posted 11/05/07

Most of the menu was Mexican or perhaps Mexican inspired Cuban food, but everything was good.
The service wasn't terrific, but it far exceeded that of their neighbor Mi Luna.
Definitely worth a try if you're in the Village.

Pros: Interesting dishes and great plantains

Cons: Not really the most Cuban of Cuban places, but still great.

Posted 01/28/07

I have been a big fan for years. I used to always get the yummy sangrias with friends, but they have an amazing wine list. I think they've even been noted in the Wine Spectator. Every year the decor gets better and the service has always been fantastic. I meet my husband there for our first date four years ago today and we'll be there again tonight.

Pros: service, wine list, cuban food

Cons: parking (it's in Rice Village)

Posted 11/21/06

Yesh- it has latin-flare food, but it also has cool neon signs that makes the place more fun than it would be without it. Bueno!

Posted 10/25/06

My wife and I ate at El Meson the other evening. Our verdict: absolutely wonderful. We came on a Wednesday evening and were treated to flamenco peformed live by a very talented guitarist. The haunting sounds of Southern Spain piqued my appetite for some wine and tapas, and I was not dissappointed. The wine list---wow!! The best selection of Spanish wines I have ever seen. And I have been to Spanish restaurants in Caliornia, Washington, even Spain!! Our waiter, a tall, handsome young man helped us choose a fabolous Rioja, which paired wonderfully with the garlic shrimp and pork tenderloin tapas we ate as a starter. As an entree my wife chose the red snapper with the cuban accompaniment (white rice, black beans, and plantains) and I chose the ropa vieja with the saffron rice. Delicious. Having eaten the waiter suggested we try the tres leches for dessert, but unfortunately, we were already stuffed. Maybe next time. All in all, I loved my experience at El Meson. Non-corporate, family-owned, with a personable staff that caters to regulars and new-comers, and splendid food and wine, I recommend it. It is a gem and I want to come back soon to try their Paella, maybe with a Priorat, which I have seen only once or twice on a restaurant wine list.

Pros: great food, great service, great wine

Cons: a little crowded and busy

Posted 10/11/06

I had been trying to go to El Meson for a long time and it was never the right time...until now. My mood for good Cuban food was rapidly deflated when I opened the menu and saw mostly Mexicand food. I mean MOSTLY!! I think there were two or three Cuban dishes and that was it!
I ordered "Ropa Vieja" and it was very good. But very good is not enough for me. I am not planning to go back over and over to repeat the same dish. The quality of the food was very good but the variety...well... I think I said it all. Please make it a real Cuban restaurant or call it Mexican but don't try to be it all (they also serve Spanih food!!)
I am sorry but I don't think I will go back there and that is a shame because it seems like a good place but for Mexican food I can go to many other places in my neighborhood.

Pros: Better than average food quality

Cons: Not enough variety

Posted 10/04/06

El Meson is addictive!......Great flavors and a casual fun atmosphere you won't find anywhere else in Houston.

Pros: delicious food, killer margaritas, top notch wines

Posted 06/05/05

El Meson has mastered the art of rustic Cuban cuisine. Chef Peter Garcia's fare is perfected simplicity. Try the award-winning Peaella, or the Pollo al Ajillo; the most succulent chicken you have ever eaten! Combined with a wonderfully relaxing environment and one of the most extensive wine lists in Houston, El Meson promises to be an enjoyable experience.

Pros: Animated Staff, Brilliant Menu, Wine! Wine! Wine!

Cons: , Valet Parking

Posted 05/23/05

El Meson is a place I discovered about 7 years ago, and it quickly became my favorite restaurant ever!! The cuban food is amazing and the service has always nothing but exceptional. I am a monthly visiter and it's nice to be recognized as a regular customer whenver I go. If you only go once, the meal you MUST try is Fajitas Salteadas, Cuban Style. The meat is so soft and tender, while the plantains are to die for! The rice and the black bean soup complement this meal perfectly.

Pros: Food, Ambiance, Good Service

Cons: , hard to exit

Posted 06/02/04

El Meson may not be the most romantic place to eat, and perhaps the service is unlike Pappasitos (where there are twenty servers, waiters, busboys, etc. per table). However, if you go in with a more relaxed and casual attitude, you will be pleased to find an abundance of dishes unlike any other in Houston. There is a reason this place has been in business for 20-some odd years! The paella is authentic and delicious, the plantains with rice and black beans are always a crowd pleaser, and the chicken al ajillo is to die for...and I generally hate chicken! For a Mexican dish, the steak Tampiquena combo always hits the spot. Don't expect white tablecloth service, but do go...It's worth it!

Pros: Food, Consistency, Wine List

Cons: Village Parking, Service

Posted 09/26/03

We eat out fairly frequently, and have been eating at El Meson for a while. I'm surprised to see the negative reviews on this site.

The Cuban food at El Meson is very good and often imaginative (try the "Cuban nachos"). The dishes always taste fresh and carefully prepared. The Tex-Mex is better than average for Houston, but not great, I'd say because the recepies are a little uninspired.

I would agree that the service is not doting, but I have never had serious problems with it either. The staff is very accommodating of kids, but it doesn't have the feel of a "restaurant for kids." We've eaten here as young adults with lots of friends, and now that we have kids we feel just as comfortable and have just as much fun.

Pros: Good cuban, Good for all ages, great location

Cons: Difficult parking, sometimes hectic

Posted 08/25/03

I tried this place out with a group of friends and we were sorely disappointed. The food was terrible, the service was awful, and for what you pay, the portions are really small.

Cons: overpriced, bad service, terrible food

Posted 07/10/03

My experience with El Meson has been very unpleasant. When placing an order over the telephone, the restaurant manager was rude. When I commented on the lack of kindness on her part, she responded with I have plenty of customers and do not need a customer like you and hung up.

Posted 12/17/02

Maybe we chose a bad night, A Saturday, but our experience was not good. Four of us went and only one person got what they ordered. The sevice was spotty and our waiter never informed us that they were out of rice and plantains. We may never had known this because the waiter never asked us what we wanted as side dishes. We were also there at closing and they made it quite clear at 11:00 that they wanted us to leave (They were dimming the lights)...I don't think a second chance is warrented.

Pros: Sangria, Salsa, Pork dishes

Cons: Service, Price, Value

Posted 11/18/02

My expectation was that the food presentation and flavor were not up to par with the reviews I read before going to the restaurant.. Very disapointed with the garlic fish.

Posted 11/13/02

The food is an 8, the service a 5 but the Sangria is a 10+. The fresh snapper with olive oil and garlic is a great lite meal though the portion is huge. I love the Tex-Mex and the Cuban fare. The nachos would be a 10 if they would just cook the Jalapenos on the nachos the way it was ment to be. It seems though that no place in Houston does that right anyway.

Pros: Sangria, Food

Cons: Service, Parking

Posted 07/07/02