Grooves of Houston

Visiting family for the holidays and they talked Grooves up before I even made it to town. Pros: The atmosphere was pretty chill and the food… amazing. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like. We went during HH so the prices were great. HH til 9… on a Friday night?!? That’s practically unheard of in LA. I recommend the chicken wings and the fried crawfish tails! Yuuuummm! Almost wanna go back for carry-​out. Music was a mix of old school and early 90s/​2000s and so was the crowd. The bathrooms were clean and the area seemed safe. Cons: The waitress we had sucked. There were about 10 of us and she could not keep things together. This is somewhat a Hookah spot (didn’t know this before entering) and some of it smelled like mesquite BBQ??? Never had that flavor before. lol They guys are pretty aggressive so go to the restroom in pairs.
In the end, I’d stop by for a chill night again. (Forgot to take pictures of my food, I was just too hungry.)

Don’t waste your time and money going here. $ 20 cover charge without a drink card. Barely anyone there on a saturday night. I wish we’d seen the inside first before going in, it would have been an automatic no. Just a few men on the dance floor singing the down south songs to each other that the DJ was playing. No one truly dancing. Overpriced drinks, I mean overpriced. Will not ever go here again, and trust me, you’re better off elsewhere.

This is based on Happy hour and Friday /​Saturday night scene. Creepy mix between young & lost and old and thirsty.
Food is good. But that is it! Pay to park. Drinks that are not strong. DJ was so bad that we had to ask our server why. Her answer: «He’s the owner’s (son or nephew).»
This place should be repurposed as an upscale soul food/​creole restaurant that happens to stay open late. They would get better reviews.

Not a huge fan of this place even though I end up here too often for happy hour. Its a hit or miss crowd. Sometimes packed sometimes empty. They usually have drink specials but servers are crappy and bartenders are slow. The crowd is mostly black and a mix of blue collar and professionals. Its a place to stop by before going to your final destination but I wouldnt make a night of it. However, I will try the brunch sometime and maybe add to this review.

Drinks are too high & not even that strong. I shouldn’t have to go up to the bartender & literally school him on how to fix my drink if I’m going to be paying $ 13 for a drink. That’s the most I’ve ever paid for any drink in any Houston club. That’s just insane. The music is pretty good. The food is really good but expensive. Parking is scarce if you don’t get there early. There are also restrictions on the RSVP «free before a certain time» crap they send to your email. Seems like they will find any way to not honor it. I’ve also noticed that they will have this LONGGGGGGGGGGGG ass «no cover charge» line & then they have a pay $ 10 to get in quicker line. What a joke. The place is really spacious so they really have you just standing in the no cover charge line to purposely get you frustrated so you will end up paying. Which is not really good business. Overall this place is just ok

I won’t be going back to this place again. I went on a Friday around 9:30 and it was already pretty crowded and full of drunk people. There was a live local Dj and the music was ok which is why I gave it the 2 stars. Didn’t mind the really loud music but the old speakers sucked. Kept cutting in and out. Though the place is decent looking inside the crowd is not. 25 to 30 mainly and then a few older people trying to be young again. Bouncer made my bf pay $ 20 because he had tennis shoes on! This is a no cover establishment! They pat men down before you walk in and the self parking is nasty and muddy.
We got one beer and a strawberry martini which was great and the price was decent. Didn’t stay longer than an hour. Overall this place is not my scene. As I said before, Definitely won’t be going back…

Four of us went for Sunday Jazz Brunch. All of the staff were really friendly and polite. There’s not a lot of parking so you’ll probably end up parking in the street. The drinks are good but they didn’t seem to have a lot of alcohol. The French toast casserole was excellent. Sadly they didn’t have the fried chicken. They did have chicken strips and they were pretty darn good.

I wish I could give this establishment negative stars… Hearing about their happy hour specials i was very excited about going to Grooves. But that excitement waned the minute I got in… The décor is a bit dated. Looks like a club from the 70s.(minus one star) When I asked the B the bartender what beer they have on tap I was told there were none (minus another star). B then informed that happy hour specials are $ 1 gin and tonic, $ 1 tequila shots and $scotch and coke (I think it was scotch). I chose to get the gin and tonic and I understand I would be getting low end gin but Darn! It was the lowest of the low and undrinkable. I wound up getting a $ 6 version with Bombay (Minus 2 stars). When I checked into Unilocal the free drink coupon popped up but was told by B that was only for the $ 1 drinks I asked can I take the dollar off my &6 drink and he told me no. (Minus 2 stars for false advertisement) AppetiZers were ½ off so we decides to order two. We canceled our order after we spotted the hugest of roaches chilling by the bar area. (Minus 10 stars). No one from the restaurant came to apologize to is. Poor management, customer service (minus 3 stars). So when I calculate my rating it’s –14.

We went to Grooves for Sunday brunch and the food was really good! Both the breakfast options and the lunch/​dinner food were very tasty and seasoned to perfection. My only complaint would be that they opened late. If you want to go for brunch, make your reservation after 11am. We had a reservation and got there early so we decided to go in and see if we could be seated. Well, they didn’t end up opening the doors until 10:45am. While we waited out in the car, we saw quite a few staff members pull up and run into the building (late), and there were other guests waiting outside as well. Other than that, the food was great and the music was nice to have in the background.

***Review is for Sunday Jazz Brunch***
This is one of those places you drive up to and think, «Am I in the right place?» but then you enter and BAM! Full of life!
First, I don’t normally comment on staff because I care more about the food, but I must say the staff is SO friendly and fantastic and works as a team — the hostesses, waiters and busboys are all going out of their way to make sure you’re taken care of. And they acted happy to take our living social coupon and Unilocal checkin rather than annoyed as many are…
Second, $ 1 mimosas! (Check in and get yummy bellini).
Buffet is huuuuuge; don’t miss the country sausage, french toast casserole, cabbage, chicken tenders, twice baked taters and homemade banana pudding.
Live jazz band is terrific and makes for wonderful atmosphere — you’ll be hard-​pressed to find a similar atmosphere elsewhere in Houston.
Many seem to reserve tables, but 2 can easily get in with just a short wait at the bar without one. Many were dressed up a bit and seemed to come from church, but you’ll still fit in with jeans.

Came here for Sunday brunch on 8/​31, using the Groupon. Let’s just say I would have been very upset if I had paid full price. The concept is good, but the SERVICE needs a lot of improvement. The wait at the omelet station was ridiculous, ie close to 30 minutes. The guy didn’t have a clue as to what he was doing. The other food items were not replenished in a timely manner and I literally had to try and find someone to replenish several stations. The food itself was a bit sub par, not very flavorful (sweet potatoes, mac and cheese-​yuck) and not hot temperature-​wise either. The jazz band was ok, but they were playing too loud. When I go to a jazz brunch, I’m expecting some soft jazz, relaxing music. This was like an African jazz band, so they were beating on drums etc… didn’t help my overall dissatisfaction.
I never write reviews but I had to this time. I left a comment card at the place as well. I’ll go back to my fave — Phil and Derek’s where you get unlimited mimosas included in at the same regular price as here, plus the food is great.

The French Toast Casserole was out of this world! $ 1 mimosas which is really nice. Jazz music was rockin’ the house! Staff was all very nice and helpful. Even saw Clyde Drexler brunching with his family. I will def be back to visit.

All I have to say is this place is Awesome! We are here for the Sunday Jazz Brunch and if you have not been here, please come and you are in for a treat! The food is flavorful, superb and the staff is just splendid. The live jazz band makes you feel like your in a great concert with active participation. It is a nice mixed crowed and plenty of room to move around to. Please patronize this awesome establishment. I promise you will not be disappointed! I do not reviews to often so if this sweet baby is typing, you should be listening! Tell then K sent you:)
Hearts,
K :)

The Sunday brunch is magnificent! But the service is less than. Had to wait 13 mins for silverware after already making my plate. The service was sucky last time I went also. 27. 04 for brunch, and everything is delecious. Gotta try the Groovy Crème brûlée french toast. ;) The Jazz band was great too. 3 stars because of service. Four stars for the food and selection. $ 1.00 mimosas

A group of us went Valentines weekend, and we had a BLAST! The VIP section was on point, and our waitress for the night was great. I can’t say anything about the food because we didn’t eat there. But the bottle serves was excellent. Would I return, yes I would. Would recommend this this to anyone, YEAP!

I was in town visiting my cousin and we decided to check to place out. All I can say is this place is horrible. First off coming from DC I’m use to high cost drink, but $ 13 bucks for a crown royal and coke ?? There was a cover charge of $ 20, it should be free to get in this horrible spot. Theres bingo tables in the middle of the dance floor with cheap black table cloths. Bunch of big bears that rather sit and eat wings and ppl watch than actually socialize.
After about 30 mins or so we were standing near the dance floor and out of the blue this unseen creature try to dance with my cousin and I; we had to literally retreat towards the bar to get away. Ppl are dress horrible the females are out of shape and have the most ratchet outfits I seen.
I hope this not what the rest of Houston had to offer. Oh and to top this off, I had a girl literally Eye rape me twice, the. She decides to head my way near the bar looking at me dead in the eye, comes up to me and the ask me to move out the comes up to me and the ask me to move out the way to order a drink. Im sure she got nervous and didn’t know what to say.
To top this off; STAY AWAY !! If your looking for an urban professional setting this is not the spot. Expect EBT cardholders and low income housing citizen in the crowd. Did I say $ 20 cover charge ?? What a joke !!

I came with a few friends on a Friday night. It was free to get in but the line was so long we almost turned around. We ended up paying to skip the line which is probably their plans from the beginning. Firstly, let me make it clear, the club isn’t ratchet its the crowd. Couples dry humping on the floor, lol not real classy. The club itself is really nice however. There’s a hookah room and you can also order food but we opted out of both. The dj was good and there were fans around thank goodness. I didn’t like how we had to pay 15 to park, that was whack as hell. From paying to get in on a FREE night and 15 dollar parking, I felt… I felt swindled to say the least lol. But yeah won;t go back but I did have a decent time.

This place does not represent Houston hospitality or fairness. They do not fairly enforce the dress code. It is one thing, when you have a dress code — but when you clearly deny entry of one and not the other is totally unacceptable. We should NOT continue to let people get away with this foolishness. The door keepers are rude and unfair. So if you want fun look else where, this is NOT the place!

Food was awful, service lack luster and drink offer wasn’t accepted = not returning!
I orderd the groove’s nachos (after hearing the ill reviews of the chicken wings, catfish and chicken tenders) — they were like movie theatre nachos with that cheap cheese. It was a mess, with all the chips being at the bottom swimming in a sea of beef and cheese!
The 2 dirty martini’s were ok, I perfer my extra olives on a tooth pick.
FREE DRINK OFFER wasn’t excepted because the head bartender Niki was too busy trying to be rude about me having the free offer that she wasn’t clear in her instructions to me nor did she state (or the offer) that it was for well drinks only.
boo…

I did enjoy myself at this place. They need to have cheaper parking. They also need to lower their price as the club is about to end. $ 20 with your business only being open for 1 more hour is just too much.