Rainbow Lodge

If you see the buffalo tenderloin on the menu, order it. Unbelievable! I also had a braised short rib, which was good but not memorable. On my last visit, my companion had lobster tail on a bed of risotto cooked in champagne butter--very tasty. The service is good, and the atmosphere is unique: a sprawling log cabin in the middle of Houston. In all, I've only had great dining experiences at Rainbow Lodge. It's becoming one of my favorite places to eat, though I can only afford it on occasion.

Service is hit-or-miss, and prices are high, but make no mistake - if you're in the mood for expertly-cooked game, this is the place. Pay particular attention to whatever is on special - the pheasant, buffalo tenderloin with penne in gouda sauce, and buffalo ribeye have all been outstanding.

Word of caution though - the "mixed game" appetizer platter will consist of two or three morsels of food at a whopping $15. And the "comfort food" specials are not as impressive as the higher-dollar entrees.

We tried The Rainbow Lodge for the first time this past Valentine's Day weekend, and really enjoyed the cozy, rustic cabin setting of the interior. The appetizers, main courses, and deserts were all delectable and creative. For the main course, I opted for the beef tenderloin cooked with a side of fresh "smashed" (instead of mashed) potatoes, and served with a port wine reduction sauce. My fiance tried the wild game mixed grill, and also loved every bit of it.
The service from the front entrance hostess to our table waiter, was top-notched, and exectuted with a very professional style. If I had to make a few suggested improvements, I would suggest bigger portion sizes on the appetizers and main courses, and the addition of a few more lower to medium-range Napa Valley Cabernet's to their wine list; some with more aged character, such as Beauliew Vineyards, St Francis, Monticello, Merryvale, Sebastiani, Dry Creek Vineyards, etc.
We enjoyed the service, food, and the unique location which lends itself to quiet, intimate, romantic dinners.

What a disappointment! While the lodge feel and ambiance are nice and the outdoor deck is lovely, our trip to the Rainbow Lodge was a total disappointment. The menu choices were average, and when our food finally came (after very slow service!) what we got did not match the price tag. I could have had a much better brunch (with much better service) for half the cost at so many other places in town. The service was lacking to say the least, starting with a downright snotty hostess who was anything but welcoming. Our waiter had to be flagged down anytime we needed something and for the cost, we expected so much more. To sum it up, why go here when there are so many other wonderful restaurants in Houston with better food and better service.

We were excited to try Rainbow Lodge at its new location on Ella. Unfortunately, my family and I were appalled at the terrible service we received almost from the time we entered the parking lot. We had heard that this was a classy local institution and we expected better. In fact, we would have been happy with courteous service. Instead, the hostesses at the front were downright rude and, amazingly, completely unapologetic. The wait staff, though pleasant, was slow to the point of aggravating our entire table. Every time we needed something, we had to track him down. At least to me, this is unacceptable when you are about to spend $40-50/person on brunch. As for the food, that was the icing on the bitter cake. The brunch options were nothing special either on the menu or on our plates. The crab omelette was the only thing I would consider coming back for. Otherwise, the salads (both the duck salad and the shrimp and lobster salad) were boring and could have been found in 1,000 other restaurants anywhere else in Houston (and with better service!). All in all, the food was nothing special and the service was bad. Even with a wonderful view of the garden, I can think of dozens if not hundreds of restaurants in town where the food and service would be more worth the trip.