Eric's Restaurant: A Culinary Gem on the University of Houston Campus

Eric's Introduce

Introduction / Overview

Tucked away inside the Hilton Hotel at the University of Houston, Eric's is a true hidden jewel for those seeking a delightful and relaxed dining experience. Named after Eric Hilton, the son of the hotel icon Conrad N. Hilton, this restaurant offers a unique blend of modern and classical American cuisine. It's not just a restaurant for hotel guests; it's a popular spot for locals, students, and tourists who are in the know. Eric's provides a comfortable and inviting atmosphere that is both casual and cozy, making it an ideal setting for a variety of occasions, from a business lunch to a family dinner.

The menu at Eric's is thoughtfully crafted to cater to a wide range of tastes. It features a diverse selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and entrees, ensuring there's something to please everyone in your group. From comforting classics like Eric's Burger and the University Club sandwich to more sophisticated dishes such as Grilled Filet Mignon and Shrimp Scampi, the kitchen is dedicated to delivering quality and flavor. As an affiliate of the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership, the restaurant also serves as a hands-on training ground for the future leaders of the hospitality industry, adding a special and educational dimension to the dining experience.

Eric's is a place that feels a little different from a typical restaurant. It’s quiet and never overly crowded, offering a peaceful retreat where you can enjoy your meal without the usual hustle and bustle. The blend of a high-quality menu, a relaxing atmosphere, and a commitment to service makes Eric's a standout choice for anyone in the Houston area looking for a memorable meal.

Location and Accessibility

Eric's is conveniently located at 4450 University Dr, Houston, TX 77204, on the University of Houston campus within the Hilton Hotel. This prime location makes it easily accessible for anyone in the Houston area, whether they're a student, a university employee, a hotel guest, or just a local looking for a new dining spot.

Parking is made simple for patrons of the restaurant. There is free street parking available, and guests can also park in the Hilton garage. The hotel will validate your parking for up to 2 hours, which is a great bonus. The restaurant itself is designed with accessibility in mind, featuring a wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking lot, restroom, and seating. This commitment ensures that all guests, regardless of mobility, can enjoy a comfortable and stress-free dining experience.

The combination of a central location and excellent accessibility makes Eric's a highly convenient and welcoming spot. Its location within the Hilton hotel provides a secure and well-maintained environment, and the availability of parking validation removes a common urban dining concern.

Services Offered

Takeout: For a convenient meal on the go, Eric's offers a takeout service. You can call ahead or order in person and enjoy your favorite dishes wherever you choose, whether it's back in your hotel room or at home.
Dine-in: Enjoy a relaxing meal inside the restaurant's cozy and comfortable dining area. The full table service ensures a pleasant and attentive dining experience, perfect for a leisurely breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Catering: Eric's provides catering services, making it a great option for events, meetings, or gatherings on or off campus. They can accommodate groups and offer a pre-set menu for large parties.
Accepts Reservations: To ensure a seamless dining experience, Eric's accepts reservations, a great option for planning a special dinner or a business meeting.

Features / Highlights

Fast Service: Despite offering a full-service dining experience, Eric's is known for its fast and efficient service, making it a great choice for those on a tight schedule without sacrificing quality.
Versatile Menu: The menu features a wide range of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with offerings that include everything from comfort food to more refined dishes. They also have a kid's menu and high chairs, making it very family-friendly.
Full-Service Bar: Eric's features a bar onsite with a selection of alcohol, beer, cocktails, and wine. This makes it a great spot for a social gathering or a post-work drink. They also serve coffee and other non-alcoholic beverages.
Cozy and Casual Atmosphere: The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting, perfect for a quiet meal or a gathering with friends. It's a place where you can feel at ease and enjoy your time.
Diverse Crowd: The restaurant attracts a diverse crowd, including families, groups, locals, tourists, and is LGBTQ+ friendly, making it an inclusive and welcoming space for everyone.
Amenities: Eric's is well-equipped with amenities, including an onsite bar, a restroom, and Wi-Fi, making it a convenient spot for business meetings or a casual get-together. They also allow dogs outside, a nice touch for pet owners.

Contact Information

Address: 4450 University Dr, Houston, TX 77204, USA

Phone: (713) 743-2512

What is worth choosing

Choosing Eric's is a decision to embrace a unique dining experience that combines quality, convenience, and a welcoming atmosphere. While some may find the prices to be slightly higher than fast food, the value is evident in the quality of the food and the full-service experience. The menu is diverse and well-executed, with dishes that are a cut above your standard campus or hotel fare. The Fried Calamari is on point, and the Shrimp Scampi offers a delicious choice for seafood lovers. Even simple items like the burger are known for being surprisingly juicy and flavorful.

One of the most compelling reasons to choose Eric's is the atmosphere. It's a place where you can enjoy a quiet meal, away from the typical crowded and noisy restaurant scene. The cozy and comfortable setting makes it perfect for a relaxed dinner or a focused business lunch. The friendly and helpful staff, many of whom are students from the Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership, add to the positive experience, offering great service and a genuine desire to make your visit enjoyable. They are often knowledgeable about the menu and happy to provide recommendations.

Eric's also stands out for its accessibility and convenience. Being located in a hotel means it has great amenities, from validated parking to a full bar and Wi-Fi, making it a versatile choice for various needs. Whether you're a student needing a study break, a local looking for a new favorite spot, or a tourist staying in the hotel, Eric's offers a reliable and satisfying meal. The menu’s variety, the comfortable ambiance, and the excellent service make it a truly worthwhile destination in Houston. While some dishes may be a bit different from what you expect, the overall quality and unique concept make it an adventurous and rewarding choice for any diner.

Eric's Vibe

Appetizers
Lentil Soup $5.00
Soup Of The Day $5.00
Cheese Ravioli $8.00
four breaded cheese ravioli in roasted garlic and basil tomato sauce.
Fresh Mozzarella $8.00
six fresh mozzarella balls with roma tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinegar
Fried Calamari $9.00
lightly battered calamari served with our classic marinara sauce.
Rock Shrimp $9.00
lightly battered rock shrimp accompanied by a lemon cilantro dipping sauce.
Mediterranean Crab Cake $14.00
homemade gulf crab cakes topped with tomato and artichoke balsamic reduction served with citrus white bean relish.

Salads
Erics Salad $13.00
sliced pesto chicken breast, mixed greens, almonds, green onions, crisp wontons, rice noodles, pickled ginger and bean sprouts tossed in pomegranate dressing.

Sandwiches
All Sandwiches Are Served With Your Choice Of French Fries, Fresh Fruit Cup Or House Salad
Eggplant Panini $10.00
marinated eggplant, portobello mushrooms, roasted red pepper, fresh spinach and smoked mozzarella on ciabatta bread dressed with hummus.
Erics Burger $10.00
flame-broiled, topped with cheddar, american, gorgonzola, swiss or pepper jack cheese.
The University Club $10.00
ham, bacon and house smoked turkey, with pepper jack or cheddar cheese
Beef Tenderloin Sandwich $13.00
grilled marinated beef tenderloin with romaine lettuce, caramelized red onions, and mozzarella cheese on toasted focaccia.
Grilled Tuna Burger $12.00
grilled tuna steak on a toasted bun, topped with bacon, spinach, and tomato.

Entrees
Grilled Filet Mignon 8oz. $26.00
topped with cabernet reduction.
Grilled Rib Eye 12oz. $24.00
topped with onion bourbon demi-glaze.
Sauteed Chicken Breast $13.00
tender sauteed chicken breast topped with artichoke, mushrooms, garlic and marinara sauce.
Grilled Tuna Campania $15.00
grilled tuna steak topped with spinach, white bean relish and balsamic vinaigrette.
Shrimp Scampi $16.00
sauteed shrimp with garlic, basil, diced tomatoes and virgin olive oil white wine sauce, served over fettuccini.
Broiled Salmon $15.00
pesto basted salmon filet with garlic mashed potatoes.

Eric's Details

Service options
Takeout
Dine-in
Delivery

Highlights
Fast service

Popular for
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Coffee
Comfort food
Vegetarian options
Wine

Dining options
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Dessert
Seating
Table service

Amenities
Bar onsite
Restroom
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi

Atmosphere
Casual
Cozy

Crowd
Family-friendly
Groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Locals
Tourists

Planning
Accepts reservations

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
Credit cards

Children
Good for kids
High chairs
Kids' menu

Parking
Free street parking

Pets
Dogs allowed outside

Eric's Photos

Eric's Location

Eric's

Texas Harris County Houston South Side University Drive

4450 University Dr, Houston, TX 77204, USA

Eric's Reviews

An average rating of ★3.9 from 137 user reviews.

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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

BREAKFASTThe good: Service was decent. Our waiter forgot a few things, but was friendly. Atmosphere was calm & quiet. I don’t think this restaurant ever gets busy. Prices are pretty low, but would pay more for a better breakfast. We ordered dinner the night before and most of the food was decent.The bad: the coffee was not hot and pretty weak. I ordered an espresso to help. My steak and eggs were mediocre, and I’m not sure why they cut it up for me. I did not order steak frites. My wife omelet was ok but needed more seasoning. My daughter breakfast sandwich was also mediocre.Overall: even thou the food was not the greatest, the restaurant is convenient for guest, it’s never crowded, and it’s inexpensive. Our bill was $70 for three people.
July 05 · Charles H
Let's start with this place is a hidden jewel. This restaurant is located inside the Hilton Hotel at the University of Houston. It's a nice quiet and cozy atmosphere. If you are just going as a guest for the restaurant, the hotel will validate your parking for up to 2 hours, which is nice. The menu is new as of this weekend. We tried several food items on the menu. The flavors are good if not a little different than what you would normally expect. Overall, i would say what we tried was pretty good, and some of it will bear a repeat performance. Lol. The staff was nice and helpful with the new menu. They did a good job explaining the food items they had seen come out or even tried already. The calamari is on point, and the artichoke dip is pretty tasty, too. The meat lovers flatbread was a little different than what I expected, but it was still good. The cajun seafood pasta was a hit. The braised short rib is not at all what we were thinking. It's more like pot roast if I'm being honest. It's very good, especially if you are looking for comfort food. I don't drink, but my husband does, and he liked both mixed drinks he got. Overall, we will be back again.
April 02 · Myrna Talasek
I enjoyed their seasonal menu — each plate told its own flavor story.
August 15 · Samir Gilliam
I recently had the opportunity to dine at Eric's Restaurant at the Hilton, and while my experience had its moments of promise, it ultimately fell short of the high standards I expected from a full-service Hilton venue.Upon entering, the ambiance was pleasant and welcoming, setting a nice tone for the evening. However, as the meal progressed, it became clear that the food itself was mediocre at best. I was particularly looking forward to the French onion soup, a dish I believe should be a hallmark of any reputable restaurant. Unfortunately, there seemed to be a misunderstanding in its preparation. I had to send it back as it was not OK, which diminished the overall experience.Other dishes on the menu similarly failed to impress. While they were presented nicely, the flavors did not stand out, leaving a sense of disappointment. For a restaurant associated with such a reputable hotel chain, I expected more inventive and thoughtfully executed dishes.Moreover, the service was not as attentive as one might hope. Our server seemed overwhelmed and had difficulty addressing our questions about the menu, which added to the overall sense of disorganization during our meal.In conclusion, while Eric's Restaurant has a lovely setting and some potential, the food and service do not reflect the level of quality expected from a Hilton establishment. It’s unfortunate, as I believe with some adjustments, it could elevate its dining experience significantly. For now, I would recommend exploring other options within the area.
January 16 · Patrick Masterson
The “Texas” Burger didn’t really live up to my expectations of being named after the 2nd largest state in the US (it was dry and the meat wasn’t very flavorful). The shoestring truffle fries were underwhelming as well. Overalls, a Miss in Food, but The server was friendly and under charged for 1 beer, so not a total bad experience. We still left a good tip. There are a limited number of options outside the fast food across the street at the student union for food if you are staying at the Hilton.
January 20 · Aaron Woods