Theodore Rex

“Amazing restaurant! The vibe is very hip and casual. The food is very unique but freaking amazing. Definitely a good date night restaurant.”

“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.”

“We were fully aware that TRex is a unique dining experience but unfortunately for us, not somewhere we'd rush back to. The space is very small - I'm sure others would say intimate - but for someone like myself who is 6'4" and 200+ lbs, tables that are inches apart aren't the best option. It also makes for easily overheard conversations. Taste and presentation of the food was very good but overall, spending $200 for 2 seemed to be a bit much.”

“It had been a couple of years since I had last been to T. Rex and I was pretty excited to try the new menu. I set an alarm for when the reservations would open but was still only able to get a patio table for 4. We lucked out with the weather and the patio was actually kind of delightful with only one table for two and then one table for four. Our waiter was extremely friendly and walked us through the new menu. I appreciated his recommendations but we did feel that he led us a tad astray by repeatedly telling us how small the dishes were. The was true for some, but not all and by the time our main courses arrived we were basically full and had to take most of the mains to go. I really enjoyed the cold ratatouille to start. It was light and fresh. The egg was a miss for me. My husband liked it more than I did but said it was, “fine”. Alternately, I enjoyed the French cheese pancake but everyone else at the table felt like it needed to be cheesier. The one dish we agreed on was the Carolina Gold Rice and Chicken. It’s maybe not as good as their old Rice dish but still really yummy. For dessert we ordered the red jello and the dark chocolate torte. The red jello is the can’t miss option here while the dark chocolate torte had a bit of a grainy texture. Overall, I enjoyed coming and trying the new menu but it was pretty expensive for it to feel good not great.”

“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.”