Taste Kitchen + Bar
Brunch restaurant · Downtown ·
Late-night chicken & waffles, fusion Southern fare, cocktails
Late-night chicken & waffles, fusion Southern fare, cocktails
"A Downtown Houston soul-food restaurant sent a seriously filling backstage spread for Beyoncé and Jay‑Z during the Cowboy Carter tour stop: chef Don Bowie collaborated on the order and shared Instagram footage of Bowie with Jay‑Z, who reportedly reacted, “I wasn’t even mad, that’s how good that sh*t was.” The team ordered surf-and-turf (jerk lamb chops and deep-fried lobster), a Taste of New Orleans platter with blackened or fried catfish and shrimp, a Taste of Soul platter featuring smothered chicken with collard greens and candied yams, chicken and waffles, lobster macaroni and cheese, a side of garlic mashed potatoes, and desserts including whiskey butter cake, cheesecake, and deep-fried waffle bread pudding; Angie Beyince also posted video of the spread. Bowie called the compliment one of the best the restaurant has received, and the order followed a recommendation from JR Martins of Alife Hospitality." - Courtney E. Smith
"If you’re craving hearty Southern fare with a touch of chef-driven polish, then Taste Kitchen + Bar in Downtown Houston will surely satisfy. Its spacious bar area features chic industrial design, plenty of seating, and wide windows to let you enjoy the natural light of a summer afternoon while benefiting from the AC. Should you prefer to bask in the sun, then Taste’s outdoor tables make for excellent people-watching perches as you sip on a Bombay Sapphire Sparkling Lemon and dig into a plate of Cajun-seasoned chicken & waffles or smoked Gouda mac & cheese with sweet chunks of lobster meat." - Taylor Tobin
"Highlighted as one of the lineup’s favorites, this Black-owned dining spot participated in Houston’s Black Restaurant Week to reach new customers and gain exposure through the event’s online marketplace. Participation ties the business into a larger movement designed to spotlight African American, African, and Caribbean culinary influences, provide free promotional opportunities, and offer networking and revenue-generating support; organizers report the initiative has helped many businesses increase sales and expand their visibility beyond the weeklong showcase." - Brittany Britto Garley
"A location of popular Houston all-day brunch restaurant Taste Bar and Kitchen, owned by chef Don Bowie, should open on 17th Street at nearby high rise the Atlantic." - Beth McKibben
"I saw Taste Bar + Kitchen, a Midtown brunch destination, publicly support the Turkey Leg Hut and announce on its Instagram account, “We not only support the new Turkey Leg Hut dress code, we will also be enforcing it here at Taste Bar + Kitchen,” adding “We appreciate your cooperation and support!” Like Turkey Leg Hut, it will ban white tank tops (for men), “excessively baggy” pants, “overly distressed” clothing, house shoes, hair bonnets, and slide sandals; the post drew mixed feedback, with some followers calling the request reasonable and others calling it exclusionary—one commenter wrote, “Y’all pretty much told the hood they not welcome if they can’t afford nice clothing.”" - Amy McCarthy