Sarah F.
Yelp
My guy friend and I were so excited to support this beautiful looking black business. Annnnd YIkEs!
Leighton's is located in a poppin clublike district in Houston. Parking is limited and space inside the restaurant is even more so. The photos and videos online make sure to strategically disguise the sheer "tinyness" of the space. Literally two highboy tables, one large booth, a checkout counter, and a hallways of bathrooms. Luckily we were ordering to go so the cramped environment didn't stop the show. But this is definitely not the place to come with a big group, at all! (They do have patio seating, which can hold a few more groups, which I could see as a major plus, given the neighborhood.)
The menu is vast, with everything from their famous ramen, to tacos, quesadillas, catfish, lobster shrimp! We were so excited to eat!!! The food DOES come out fast with is a MAJOR PLUS, especially when it comes to dishes that would seemingly take lots of time. But maybe that is the setback. In efforts to make food fast and accessible, maybe they are skimping in the flavor department. Maybe in conscientious effort to look out for OUR COMMUNITY, they are holding back on the salt and fat, because those two were certainly lacking, IN MY OPINION!
We ordered the shrimp and lobster Cajun pasta and the oxtail ramen. However as we sat, waiting for our food, I decided to also order a side of Mac and Cheese, to eat on the ride home. To wet our whistles, if you will.
The Mac happened to be the tipping point!
It was off putting to have to fight for parking. It was concerning to see the size of the restaurant. But when that $7.99 palm sized amount of watery Mac and cheese came out. My faith was lost.
Here we go again, yet another BOB, that's literally out here to gyp their customers.
The Mac was the size of my hand, literally! (See the photos) Leightons could have put this in a cup sized to-go container and it still wouldn't make up for the watery consistency and the over garlic powdered taste. But, for it to be the size of my right pinky and cost me almost $10 with tip, the Mac was a LACK! Lacking in flavor and consistency!
The protein on the cajun pasta wasn't bad. But the noodles are overcooked and the alfredoesque sauce was completely lacking in flavor and texture. I want an Alfredo to be alfredoing and this ain't that!
The only thing that save the entire $80+ meal was the oxtail ramen. The oxtails were small and sparing, which I wasn't surprised by, but the flavor was BUSSIN! The noodles weren't over cooked or soggy, even after a 20 minutes drive home, with piping hot food. But the sauce and the oxtails truly saved this entire experience!!!
Overall my friend and I agreed that we were let down, disappointed even, but that the ramen stole the show! As leighton's states that this is their famous dish, I'm glad not to be dissatisfied by it, but I would really hope that if they stay at this price point, and in this neighborhood, in that small space, that they at least step it up in be flavor department.
I'm not trying to be harsh, I'm just trying to be honest.
I want to support us, but I also don't want to just give money away for the sake of giving it.