El Venado - Houston

I visited on a Sunday around 1 PM and was surprised it wasn’t busier. There was plenty of seating available, and our waiter (whose name I can't remember) was excellent. They played some Bad Bunny at a comfortable volume, which is a nice change from the overly loud brunch music I often encounter. I ordered the shrimp tacos, and they were delicious. My friend had the pancakes and thought they were just average. Overall, I’ll definitely return; it’s such a charming place!

I visited during Houston Restaurant Week and had a disappointing experience. The frozen margarita tasted off. Both the Mahi Mahi and the Shrimp Diablo were overcooked. The Banana Foster dessert was essentially just banana pudding served in a cocktail glass. Overall, it was a letdown, especially considering the price. We won’t be returning.

We ordered from the Houston Restaurant Weeks Menu and were thoroughly disappointed. The food lacked excitement and creativity. The biggest issue was when my main course was served a full nine minutes before my wife's, which was quite frustrating. Overall, I feel that El Venado did not deliver enough to justify its price.

The menu is pretty basic with not many options other than tacos. Food is good, just wish there were a few more options. Been a couple times for lunch for business meetings and service was spotty. Maybe this is a better dinner spot?

Did t eat because they forgot about and didn’t care about our reservation…