Sambuca - Houston

I celebrated my birthday at this restaurant, but I wish I had checked the menu before offering to cover everyone's meal. There were only eight of us, and Sambuca adds a 20% gratuity for parties of six or more. In the end, I ended up spending $800. That being said, the food was fantastic, the band Mambo Jazz Kings was excellent, and everyone had a wonderful time.

The manager, Emmett, went above and beyond to ensure that everyone was well taken care of. Rachel and Enrique are masters at crafting exceptional drinks, and the magic that Rob creates in the kitchen is simply mind-blowing. I would rate it a perfect 10 out of 10. I live nearby, so it's easy for me to drop in, and I was so impressed that I invited my family who were visiting from out of town. They were equally impressed and had a great time enjoying the live band.

The food was just okay. Maybe the restaurant was too crowded with not enough staff, but being a Friday night, that should have been taken into consideration when scheduling. Our total bill came to $165, and my boyfriend and I left feeling it wasn't worth it. When you go out to eat, you expect attentive service, and we definitely didn’t receive that. We probably won’t return.

Will go back for the ambiance, great customer service and live music nightly. I think they are getting back to what people come to expect from Sambuca. When you go share a true review so they can make improvements. It's a nice establishment in DowntownHouston. The food just needs a little more love. Glows: They have remodeled the place on the inside and it is very nice andcomfortable!. Customer service was awesome from the door to the table. The service was fast. Atmosphere is fun and upbeat. Theyhave live music nightly. The drinks and wine selection are on point. You can expect a grown-up pour. Emmitt came to our tableand spoke with us to ensure we were having a great time. Hector and Sashay were great as well!! Grows: The food came out fast,but it wasn't super hot. Everything was warm in temperature. We ordered 3 sides for $19. We chose green beans, potato croquettesand Mac n cheese. They have great green beans but the Mac n cheese is not what you would expect. It was penne pasta with baconpieces and some cheese I guess. It was not the best. I was expecting typical Mac with a twist but this dish gave me pastasalad vibes. My dish had to be remade because I wanted my salmon cooked medium and it came out well done. They made it perfectlythe 2nd time. My husband's dish was good, but he mentioned it lacked the flavor of what you expect from etoufee. We paid $190for our meal and we didn't really enjoy it enough for that price. Once things get better we will definitely go back. We don'tmind paying for a meal as long as the taste and quality matches the dollar! Note: Valet is the best option when coming to thisrestaurant. Don't bother parking and walking. Smart to business casual is acceptable attire. They have a section upstairs thatfits up to 40 people you can reserve that overlook the stage where the live band performs.

My husband I visited on our anniversary and we loved it. The food was very good. The staff made us feel at home...very friendly. They seemed to really love their jobs. Emmitt personally wished us a Happy Anniversary! Live music provided by MandiPowell and she has very a beautiful voice. If you're in Houston, you have to stop by! Valet parking is available