Marais

So we went here for our anniversary, I have been trying to bring my girl here for quite some time. This is hands down the best cajun restaurant I've been in or around the Houston area. Oh, and yes, Google Maps calls this place an American restaurant. It's really a cajun restaurant. But the service was incredible. Our server always checked on us. They have employees who constantly refill your water glass. The atmosphere makes you feel like you just walked into a restaurant right off from New Orleans. The food, oh lord, the food! That was probably the best shrimp and grits I've ever tasted. If I could, I would rate them higher than a 5. I would absolutely love to come back!

So we went here for our anniversary, I have been trying to bring my girl here for quite some time. This is hands down the best cajun restaurant I've been in or around the Houston area. Oh, and yes, Google Maps calls this place an American restaurant. It's really a cajun restaurant. But the service was incredible. Our server always checked on us. They have employees who constantly refill your water glass. The atmosphere makes you feel like you just walked into a restaurant right off from New Orleans. The food, oh lord, the food! That was probably the best shrimp and grits I've ever tasted. If I could, I would rate them higher than a 5. I would absolutely love to come back!

It was okay. I might go back for happy hour but not for dinner. The place has been around for 7 years. I guess what you order is a hit and miss. The happy hour oysters were very small but of course it could be the time of year... The lobster appetizer was horrible. I couldn't even eat it. I opted to eat the cheese that was around it. The gumbo is amazing!! If you like a dark rou you got to have this one! We had the Thursday special which was half a chicken Nashville style with Cajun green beans and spinach and garlic. The chicken was stringy and very quite awkward. The beans and the spinach made up for it though. They were very delicious. Maybe just a little bit too much salt in the spinach okay... Bar on service is great. Very attentive. Very friendly, very informative!

It was okay. I might go back for happy hour but not for dinner. The place has been around for 7 years. I guess what you order is a hit and miss. The happy hour oysters were very small but of course it could be the time of year... The lobster appetizer was horrible. I couldn't even eat it. I opted to eat the cheese that was around it. The gumbo is amazing!! If you like a dark rou you got to have this one! We had the Thursday special which was half a chicken Nashville style with Cajun green beans and spinach and garlic. The chicken was stringy and very quite awkward. The beans and the spinach made up for it though. They were very delicious. Maybe just a little bit too much salt in the spinach okay... Bar on service is great. Very attentive. Very friendly, very informative!

This was a birthday dinner for my wife and while the food and drinks were amazing, the service was disappointing. At first, our server was very attentive and friendly. But then she was seemingly absent for the rest of the dinner. It turns out that she had a table of seven that demanded more of her attention. While I understand the obvious implications of a table of seven versus three, it’s not my problem. Do better Marais!

This was a birthday dinner for my wife and while the food and drinks were amazing, the service was disappointing. At first, our server was very attentive and friendly. But then she was seemingly absent for the rest of the dinner. It turns out that she had a table of seven that demanded more of her attention. While I understand the obvious implications of a table of seven versus three, it’s not my problem. Do better Marais!

Doug and his team provided an excellent wedding rehearsal dinner in their private dining room for our son and his bride. The food, service, and room ambiance was superb! All 25 guests were so complimentary of the entire experience from start to finish. We plan to return in the future! A huge thank you again to Doug and his team. The Durbin/Cherry Families

Doug and his team provided an excellent wedding rehearsal dinner in their private dining room for our son and his bride. The food, service, and room ambiance was superb! All 25 guests were so complimentary of the entire experience from start to finish. We plan to return in the future! A huge thank you again to Doug and his team. The Durbin/Cherry Families

Dear Marais, We recently dined at your establishment and wanted to share our experience. Our arrival fell between the brunch and lunch rushes, which we believe may have contributed to the level of service we received. While our garçon (Edgar R.)was undoubtedly friendly and possessed excellent menu knowledge, the attentiveness and speed of service seemed to diminish as the rush subsided. This wasn't a major issue, but it did impact our overall experience slightly. However, let me emphasize that the quality of the foods and drink was outstanding. The dishes were expertly prepared and truly delicious, and we were very pleased with the quality of the ingredients. The ambiance of the restaurant was also quite lovely and contributed to a pleasant atmosphere. Overall, despite the minor service lapse, we had a very enjoyable meal and are quite likely to return for another visit. We would encourage you to consider how service might be optimized during the transitional periods between meal services, perhaps through adjustments in staffing or training. But once again, we thoroughly enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Sincerely, Vs White

Dear Marais, We recently dined at your establishment and wanted to share our experience. Our arrival fell between the brunch and lunch rushes, which we believe may have contributed to the level of service we received. While our garçon (Edgar R.)was undoubtedly friendly and possessed excellent menu knowledge, the attentiveness and speed of service seemed to diminish as the rush subsided. This wasn't a major issue, but it did impact our overall experience slightly. However, let me emphasize that the quality of the foods and drink was outstanding. The dishes were expertly prepared and truly delicious, and we were very pleased with the quality of the ingredients. The ambiance of the restaurant was also quite lovely and contributed to a pleasant atmosphere. Overall, despite the minor service lapse, we had a very enjoyable meal and are quite likely to return for another visit. We would encourage you to consider how service might be optimized during the transitional periods between meal services, perhaps through adjustments in staffing or training. But once again, we thoroughly enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Sincerely, Vs White

Top notch! Atmosphere is beautiful and creative. Food is high-end quality. Very unique and fabulous. Service is extremely professional and friendly. Highly recommend enjoying some time here. We sat outside and had drinks and appetizers…perfect. Next visit will be inside dinning area.

Top notch! Atmosphere is beautiful and creative. Food is high-end quality. Very unique and fabulous. Service is extremely professional and friendly. Highly recommend enjoying some time here. We sat outside and had drinks and appetizers…perfect. Next visit will be inside dinning area.

I'd heard about this place before but had never found the right time to visit. I was in the area to meet an old friend for dinner and Marais was suggested, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try it out. We were greeted warmly by a maitre'd as we walked in and were seated at a table immediately. Our server showed up just a moment later and she was professional, efficient, and knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered a couple of drinks, which promptly arrived and had a sufficient quantity of alcohol. We also ordered a dozen Gulf oysters on the half shell (not the best time of the year for them, but they were still "okay"), the candied pork belly bites (7/10), and the smoked redfish dip, which was absolutely fantastic (9.5/10). For entrees, I got the paneed chicken breast topped with fried shrimp served over jambalaya. I don't even usually like jambalaya, but everything on the plate was top notch (9/10). My friend ordered the redfish plate and enjoyed it, as well. Throughout our meal, both our server and a woman I assume is the owner were attentive and friendly, checking in on us regularly. While I'll have to go back a couple more times to see if they're consistent, this first visit made for one of the better dining experiences I've had south of Houston these past few years. I was impressed and will be back soon to try some other dishes. Highly recommend. UPDATE: I have returned 2 times since my initial review and am happy to report that if anything, Marais has gotten even better. The food is still fantastic, our service last night was the best we’ve had, and the host/manager was professional and courteous as he checked in during our meal. The pecan-crusted redfish is still so good and the wild salmon over Brussels sprouts was also absolutely delicious.

I'd heard about this place before but had never found the right time to visit. I was in the area to meet an old friend for dinner and Marais was suggested, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try it out. We were greeted warmly by a maitre'd as we walked in and were seated at a table immediately. Our server showed up just a moment later and she was professional, efficient, and knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered a couple of drinks, which promptly arrived and had a sufficient quantity of alcohol. We also ordered a dozen Gulf oysters on the half shell (not the best time of the year for them, but they were still "okay"), the candied pork belly bites (7/10), and the smoked redfish dip, which was absolutely fantastic (9.5/10). For entrees, I got the paneed chicken breast topped with fried shrimp served over jambalaya. I don't even usually like jambalaya, but everything on the plate was top notch (9/10). My friend ordered the redfish plate and enjoyed it, as well. Throughout our meal, both our server and a woman I assume is the owner were attentive and friendly, checking in on us regularly. While I'll have to go back a couple more times to see if they're consistent, this first visit made for one of the better dining experiences I've had south of Houston these past few years. I was impressed and will be back soon to try some other dishes. Highly recommend. UPDATE: I have returned 2 times since my initial review and am happy to report that if anything, Marais has gotten even better. The food is still fantastic, our service last night was the best we’ve had, and the host/manager was professional and courteous as he checked in during our meal. The pecan-crusted redfish is still so good and the wild salmon over Brussels sprouts was also absolutely delicious.