Theodore Rex: A Culinary Experience in Houston, TX

Theodore Rex Introduce

The culinary landscape of Houston, Texas, is known for its incredible diversity and innovation, and nestled within this vibrant scene is a restaurant that truly embodies the spirit of New American cuisine: Theodore Rex. Located in the heart of the city, Theodore Rex is more than just a place to eat; it's a destination for those who appreciate thoughtful, seasonal cooking in an intimate and sophisticated setting. This article will provide an in-depth look at what makes Theodore Rex a must-visit spot for locals and tourists alike, from its meticulously crafted menu to its welcoming and stylish ambiance. It’s a place where every detail, from the sourcing of ingredients to the presentation of each plate, is given careful consideration, creating a dining experience that is both memorable and deeply satisfying.

Theodore Rex has carved out a reputation for its commitment to quality and creativity. It's a place where the menu changes to reflect the freshest ingredients available, ensuring that each visit offers something new and exciting. The chefs here take classic American culinary traditions and infuse them with modern techniques and global influences, resulting in dishes that are both familiar and wonderfully surprising. Whether you're looking for a special place for a romantic dinner, a memorable spot for a celebration, or simply want to treat yourself to an exceptional meal, Theodore Rex stands out as a premier choice in Houston's dynamic dining scene. Its reputation for exceptional food and a sophisticated, yet comfortable, atmosphere makes it a go-to destination for those who seek out the very best in dining.

Location and Accessibility

Theodore Rex is conveniently situated at 1302 Nance St unit a, Houston, TX 77002, USA. This location places it in a dynamic and accessible part of the city, making it a viable option for a wide range of diners, whether they are coming from downtown or from the surrounding neighborhoods. The restaurant's address is easy to find, and its location allows for a seamless dining experience from the moment you arrive. When it comes to parking, the area offers both free and paid street parking, providing flexible options depending on your preference and the time of your visit. This combination of a central location and convenient parking makes planning a visit to Theodore Rex straightforward and stress-free.

In addition to its prime location, Theodore Rex is dedicated to ensuring a welcoming environment for all guests, with a strong focus on accessibility. The restaurant features a wheelchair-accessible parking lot, making it easy for those with mobility challenges to get from their vehicle to the entrance. Once inside, the commitment to accessibility continues with a wheelchair-accessible restroom and wheelchair-accessible seating options. These features ensure that every guest can enjoy the exceptional dining experience without any barriers. The thoughtful design of the space and its amenities reflects a genuine desire to be an inclusive and accommodating establishment for everyone in the Houston community and beyond.

Services Offered

Theodore Rex provides a range of services designed to make your dining experience seamless and enjoyable. The primary service options include:

Dine-in: The restaurant offers a full dine-in experience with table service, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the cozy, romantic, and upscale atmosphere.
Takeout: For those who prefer to enjoy the exquisite cuisine at home, a takeout option is available, ensuring you can savor the flavors of Theodore Rex wherever you are.
Dinner: Theodore Rex specializes in dinner service, making it an ideal destination for an evening out. Reservations are required and recommended to secure your spot.
Table Service: The staff provides attentive and professional table service, guiding you through the menu and ensuring your needs are met throughout your meal.
Reservations: The restaurant accepts and recommends making reservations, especially for dinner, to avoid a potential wait and to ensure a table is available upon your arrival. This is a testament to its popularity and allows for a more planned and enjoyable visit.

Features / Highlights

Theodore Rex is celebrated for several standout features that set it apart from other dining establishments. These highlights contribute to its reputation as a top-tier destination for food and drink lovers in Houston:

Great Cocktails: The bar at Theodore Rex offers a selection of expertly crafted cocktails, perfect for starting your meal or enjoying on their own. The mixologists are skilled in creating unique and balanced drinks that complement the food menu beautifully.
Great Coffee: For those who appreciate a quality cup of coffee, Theodore Rex delivers. Whether you need a warm beverage to end your meal or a pick-me-up, the coffee program is designed to impress.
Great Dessert: The dessert menu is a highlight, featuring creative and delicious options like the Frozen Dark Chocolate Mousse with mushroom and maple or the Warm Blueberry Buttercake with cold cream. These dishes provide the perfect conclusion to an unforgettable meal.
Great Wine List: The restaurant boasts a carefully curated wine list with a variety of selections to pair with every dish. The knowledgeable staff can assist in finding the perfect wine to enhance your dining experience.
Menu Offerings: The menu is extensive and includes a wide range of options to cater to various preferences, including alcohol, beer, hard liquor, organic dishes, and vegetarian options. This variety ensures there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Atmosphere and Vibe: The ambiance is described as cozy, romantic, trendy, and upscale. It’s a perfect setting for a quiet date night or a special occasion. The atmosphere is also LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender-safe space, fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. It attracts a sophisticated crowd of locals and tourists alike who appreciate high-quality food and a refined setting.
Amenities: The restaurant features a well-stocked bar on-site and clean restrooms. High chairs are also available for families dining with young children, showing a consideration for all types of guests.

Contact Information

To make a reservation or inquire about the menu, you can contact Theodore Rex using the following information:

Address: 1302 Nance St unit a, Houston, TX 77002, USA

Phone: (832) 830-8592

What is Worth Choosing

The menu at Theodore Rex is a testament to the kitchen's creativity and dedication to quality ingredients. The dishes are seasonal and inventive, with a focus on fresh, local, and organic produce when possible. The New American style shines through in plates that are both visually stunning and packed with flavor.

The "Small Plates" section offers an exciting start to the meal. The Tomato Toast is a standout, described as "deeply caramelized and crusty rye sourdough, topped with rich savory and acidic tomato paste and plump sweet grape tomatoes." Another excellent choice is the Gulf Oysters with savory almond milk, fig leaf, and Meyer lemon. For those seeking something truly unique, the Spring Peas with kombu and grapefruit, flounder sashimi, and fumet is a delightful surprise. The Crudo of Lightly Smoked Trout is also a sophisticated and refreshing option.

Moving on to the "Second" and "Large" sections, the pasta dishes are particularly noteworthy. The Tagliolini warmed in cultured butter is a rich and decadent choice, while the Boiled Dumplings stuffed with grass-fed beef, Parmigiano-Reggiano, ricotta, and celery offer a comforting and flavorful experience. For main courses, the Gulf Snapper with Soupe Au Pistou is a dish praised for its buttery texture and appealing savory flavor. The Roasted Cap of Beef is a premium option, priced at $69, and promises a truly luxurious meal with jus roti, chestnut mushrooms, and leek ash. The chicken dishes, such as the Roast Chicken Leg in French curry and the Chicken Breast glazed in coconut, are also popular and well-received choices, demonstrating the chefs' versatility.

Dessert is a must at Theodore Rex, with options that are both innovative and delicious. The Warm Blueberry Buttercake with cold cream is a comforting and sweet way to end the meal, while the Frozen Dark Chocolate Mousse offers a richer, more complex flavor profile with mushroom and maple notes. Each dessert is a perfect final flourish to an exceptional dining experience. While some diners have noted variations in the quality of certain dishes, the consensus among many patrons is that Theodore Rex offers an extraordinary and high-quality meal that is worth the premium price, providing a unique and unforgettable culinary journey that is hard to replicate elsewhere in Houston.

Theodore Rex Menu

SMALL PLATES
TOMATO TOAST $15.00
GULF OYSTERS WITH SAVORY ALMOND MILK, FIG LEAF, AND MEYER LEMON $15.00
SPRING PEAS WITH KOMBU AND GRAPEFRUIT, FLOUNDER SASHIMI AND FUMET $19.00
CRUDO OF LIGHTLY SMOKED TROUT, WINTER RADISH ASPIC, GARDEN CRESS $20.00
CREPE OF MUNG BEANS STUFFED WITH ALPINE CHEESE AND ONIONS, LAVENDER $16.00
SOURED PORK SAUSAGE WITH CHORIZO SPICES, GARDEN CUCUMBERS, LIME LEAF $16.00
SWEET, MELTED ONIONS IN BUTTERMILK, ROASTING HERBS, WARM BREADCRUMBS $16.00

SECOND
TAGLIOLINI WARMED IN CULTURED BUTTER, SEASONED WITH GULF OYSTER LIQUOR, MIGNONETTE $26.00
CRESC’TAJAT, A PASTA FROM LE MARCHE, FERMENTED RADISH CRISP, MUSHROOM AND DILL $22.00
BOILED DUMPLINGS STUFFED WITH GRASS-FED BEEF, PARMAGIANO-REGGIANO, RICOTTA, CELERY $28.00

LARGE
SMOKED, BRAISED HEARTY GREENS, RICH LIKKER AND BEANS, RADICCHIO ZUKE $20.00
ROAST CHICKEN LEG IN FRENCH CURRY, CRISPY POTATO $25.00
CHICKEN BREAST GLAZED IN COCONUT, WITH ANCHOVY-GARLIC-CHILI-GINGER $25.00
GULF SNAPPER, SOUPE AU PISTOU $36.00
ROASTED CAP OF BEEF, JUS ROTI, CHESTNUT MUSHROOMS, LEEK ASH $69.00

DESSERTS
FROZEN DARK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE, MUSHROOM, MAPLE $14.00
WARM BLUEBERRY BUTTERCAKE, COLD CREAM $15.00
PANNA COTTA WITH SEA SALT $12.00

Theodore Rex Details

Service options
Takeout
Dine-in
Delivery

Highlights
Great cocktails
Great coffee
Great dessert
Great wine list

Popular for
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Cocktails
Coffee
Hard liquor
Organic dishes
Vegetarian options
Wine

Dining options
Dinner
Dessert
Seating
Table service

Amenities
Bar onsite
Restroom

Atmosphere
Cozy
Romantic
Trendy
Upscale

Crowd
LGBTQ+ friendly
Tourists
Transgender safespace

Planning
Reservations required
Dinner reservations recommended
Accepts reservations
Usually a wait

Payments
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
High chairs

Parking
Free street parking
Paid street parking
Parking

Theodore Rex Photos

Theodore Rex Location

Theodore Rex

Texas Harris County Houston Downtown Houston Nance Street

1302 Nance St unit a, Houston, TX 77002, USA

Theodore Rex Reviews

An average rating of ★4.6 from 614 user reviews.

tomato toastdumplingsbutter cakewine listsnapperwagyuchicken breasttagliolinibrothitalian bread

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

I write this review out of utmost respect and concern for the person reading it. I strongly advise against visiting this restaurant. The service is slow, and the waiters aren't welcoming. After the appetizers, they told us that the main courses would be "Coming out immediately". It then took 22 more minutes for the next dish to come. Beyond just the timing issue, the service also had a timing issue. They brought out the tomato toast as its own course, then the buttermilk onions as a separate course, when either of these two dishes could have easily been held at temperature and served together. The agnolotti and ravioli then came out, followed by the mains. We did not order dessert as we did not want to wait another 30 minutes and were already put off by our experience.The tomato toast was by far the most delicious thing on the menu. Deeply caramelized and crusty rye sourdough, topped with rich savory and acidic tomato paste and plump sweet grape tomatoes. Like bruschetta's cousin that goes to the gym. A phenomenal dish and I'd order it every time if I ever wanted to come back.The melted onions were delicious, I won't deny it. The only issue is that the dish feels quite incomplete. The sweet and tender onions with a rich and sweet buttermilk that gives a little tang to balance it out, the flavor components were there. One could say it needed salt and I would be inclined to agree, but as it is the dish is a very delicate and pleasing dish. It wasn't satisfactory at all however. As in satisfying to eat, because the meager amount of breadcrumbs didn't succeed in giving enough texture or substance to the dish.The agnolotti was wonderful. A very sweet and slightly salty ricotta and parmesan filled pasta, with grapes that splash with fruity sweet moisture to refresh the mouth. I very much enjoyed this dish.The beef dumplings were awful. My friend compared the texture of the beef to DQ steak fingers and I only laughed at the accuracy of the statement. Nothing redeeming about the dish. The ground beef was not succulent, not flavorful, and it did not stand out in any way.The chicken breast was relatively tender, albeit tough on the thin end. The coconut sauce the chicken sat in was nice but it needed punchiness from acidity or to lean in more savory. As it was, it just tasted watered down, and it wasn't thick enough to cling to the chicken to provide an adequate amount of flavor and seasoning.The chicken thigh was probably the most delicious main course, having ridiculously crispy skin and the seasoning was very much adequate. The soy sauce stood out and the flesh was bouncy yet tender to eat.The redfish was my most anticipated dish, and it did taste similar to how I thought it would. A buttery and rich fish with a toast crust instead of skin, the savory flavor of the redfish was very appealing and the strongest point of the dish, but the meat itself didn't have a texture that impressed me. It wasn't soft or flaky, just something reminiscent of grilling tuna all the way through. The toast was a cool add though.The main sentiment to take away from this review is that there is not anything in this restaurant justifying the premium you're paying to dine here. The service is mediocre, and the food is easily replicable after one taste, i.e. there's no magic at this restaurant. And I hate to be the person that complains about food cost when dining out but serving a single piece of chicken breast and a single piece of thigh for $26 and $28 respectively feels like a kick in the nuts when they’re not doing anything impressive with the protein. When I think about my visit here, I feel like someone that was teased with a dream by the tomato toast, only to be strung along and let down at the very end. Please take your hard-earned money somewhere else to a place that respects it. Their sister restaurant Squable is very good, I have no idea why they missed the mark so hard with this one.
August 21 · Jeffery Williams
A 10/10 meal. Definitely one of the best dinners I’ve had not just in Texas, but the entire US. Everything was delicious, but a special shoutout goes to the Gulf Redfish, which was a singularly tasty and well-constructed plate of food.Phenomenal. Make the time to come here if you’re in Houston; you won’t be disappointed.
August 16 · Robin Andrews
I've been wanting to go to Theodore Rex for years now, so when my wife booked us to come for my birthday, I was very excited, but I was also nervous if it would live up to the hype. I can honestly say that they absolutely nailed it! The service was great and all of the chefs and waiters we spoke to explained the menu seamlessly. The food had simple plating and felt like it had unique combinations of flavors that somehow still made me feel reminiscent of food made by my parents. For me, this is one of the best restaurants in Houston, I can't wait to come back and try some of their other dishes!
March 06 · Victor Lee
I think this place is a bit overhyped.Ambiance is nice it's romantic, very small maybe 6 tables plus bar seating. Be prepared to sit here for 2 hours atleast (they slowly bring out dishes, extremely slowly)I don't appreciate the 22% gratuity imo it's not warranted. This is just personal, six tables with slow wait times is not very demanding from a service perspective imo.Now for the food: I ordered the tomatoe toast, dumplings, tagliatelle, the red fish, and the strawberry cakeThe toast - the tomatoe topping was fantastic the bread is deep fried in butter I believe, this isn't needed imo the bread is so heavy I felt bloated the rest of the meal becawue it was so heavy due to the deep frying. Would have been fine with just 5he bread itself plus spreadDumplings - fantastic tasteTagliatelle - fantastic taste but small portionRed fish - probabaly the most flavorful dish and very nice with the touch of honey on the crustDesert - this dessert has an almost crem brulee top with the burnt sugar. It's a big piece, the first bite was really good but the more I ate it the more burnt sugar taste just overwhelmed me.I would say 3 dishes were fantastic but the price / experience ratio is way too high
July 06 · Baha
Former post office with a chamber atmosphere - only 7 tables plus a kitchen counter. The service was very attentive and food was delicious. Finally, a HTX restaurant that is absolutely worth Bib Gourmand Michelin guide rating.However, no espresso or espresso-based coffee drinks.
June 25 · Aleksandrs P.