Mary'z Mediteranean Cuisine

by Avery R.

My visit to this venue was positive. It's certainly not fine dining and I wasn't expecting that when I agreed to give the place a try. I'm not a expert in all things hookah and didn't have a desire to try it, but it was interesting to watch other patrons on the outdoor patio who seemed to enjoy it. I was taken back by the required valet parking but my vehicle was placed right up front by the door as I requested. The attendant was pleasant and accommodating. The service was good however, one of the guests in my party did seem to know everyone there so, having a regular in our group  perhaps made for a better experience. We stayed for quite a while and didn't feel rushed although they did need the table. Even after midnight the place was crowded. My food was OK although I didn't have enough Mediteranean fare to make an honest assessment. The place is worth a try. It's an experience  I'm glad I tried.

by Eric M.

The two star rating is harsher than I'd like, but I just can't give Mary'z an "A-OK," despite it's handful of good traits.  2.5 or 2.75, perhaps.Let's start with the good.The hummus here is great.  Of course, what some people like in hummus, others might despise.  Myself, I like it to be tangy and smooth, with just enough oil to keep it from tasting dry like spackle.   Mary'z hits this spot on.The tenderloin kabob wasn't bad either.  Tastewise, it had decent flavor, and the sides were a good size.  My mother wasn't too happy with her chicken dish, however, and thought the prices were too high for the platters (based on taste, not on size).  I tend to agree, though they are not so high as to be outrageous. If you stick to the sandwiches, it should be much cheaper.Now for the not so good.Through no fault of their own, Mary'z tends to attract large numbers of high school kids to their outdoor patio.  It gets really crowded (including the parking lot), and that in turn strains the waitstaff.  The building itself is narrow, fostering a cramped feeling even when there are few patrons.  In addition, the hookah at Mary'z is probably the least smooth pipe I've had in Houston -- it felt like someone had rubbed the back of my throat with a pipe cleaner by the time I left.The service here is spotty, at best.  If you get there before peak time (before 8:30 or so), it should be ok, but once the crowd hits, you'll have to actively flag down a passing server every time you need something.Overall, it could definitely be worse.  But it could certainly be better.

by Khalid S.

I was seeing some friends here and was already full, so didn't eat but had mint tea. Food looked quite tempting though and the place is nice. It gets pretty full on Friday and Saturday nights.

by Yvonne B.

Go for the great tabouleh, potatoes and cauliflower. I've been to this place numerous times, brought friends and they always take great care of me.

by Rahiel Q.

I'm leaning towards the 3.5 more than the 4.The parking lot is TINY! I always feel like i won't find a spot but somehow do. It's a below average place for hookah. The hookahs have entirely too much tobacco, what i do sometimes is if the head looks a little too packed i take some of the tobacco out so the foil goes on without really touching it.. ends up smoking excellent.The food is great, whenever i go i order the humus. But beware, the portion for the humus is not the biggest so if you have 3-4 people taking bites here and there off of you, it vanishes pretty quickly. I love that they have the huge screen outside, great place to watch PPV events. Last time i was there we watched the UFC fight, only complaint was bobbing my head around trying to get a view as servers and frequent restroom visitors would hinder my view lol.. not that big of a dealPrices are not high. usually end up spending 10-15 with food and splitting a hookah with a friend.I would recommend you go here, fun atmosphere, bring good friends, great place to be loud, i don't see anyone leaving truly disappointed.

by jan m.

Nice patio for some snacks, tea and hookah. Food was decent, apps better than entrees...good value for the sandwiches. Service was slow but were very nice.

by sarah p.

I'll agree with Eric M. Though I'd like to give an A-OK, the experience in a whole wasn't thrilling.good food, decent prices, nice hostess but*the second we were seated we had to flag someone down for EVERYTHING including water refills*yes it was busy, however,i saw no less than three people ask for a hookah after me and get them quickly. I had to wait over  a half hour (no exaggeration)*tip was added to my party of two*the mandatory valet cost $, they didn't open my door for me (as the driver) and when I saw them go get my car the windows were WIDE open (I am positive I didn't have them open when I pulled up)ALSOwhen I didn't realize I had to pay (no sign indicating such) and acted surprised the guy started to literally lecture me on "what is complementary in America? Nothing"  how extremely rude is that?The food was good and from what I gather so far hookah bars are slim pickins in Houston - I don't know that I'll be going back It really seemed like to get any real service I had to be a regular

by Ahmad S.

Good enough food, much more reasonable prices than most places, and a nice patio.  On the other hand it's dingy, in the middle of strip mall central, and out of the way for me - if I'm going to that neighborhood there's better options.

by Elizabeth T.

My Lebanese friends adore this place, so I was very excited to try it. I love Mediterranean food, but this place did not live up to it's reputation.There were definitely stellar points on the menu. The hummus is delicious and thick, and the portion is huge. I love it when hummus it topped with a good dose of olive oil. The very lemony maqanik sausage was delicious, but my companions had the complete opposite opinion towards them and the portion was pretty small. The quail stood out, and was actually outstanding. It was tender, had a wonderful flavor, and was grilled perfectly. They also bring out this garlic sauce that was incredible. My breath was repulsive after the meal because I topped every bite of my food with it, but I prefer to have people stand 3 feet away from me anyway. The fresh fruits drinks are actually pretty good too, especially in the Houston heat. Since they have a full bar, I asked them to add some rum to my mango strawberry drink, which made it even better.The vibe of the place is casual and fun, and they do serve hookah, which is a bonus if you're a fan. The outside patio also has a huge screen if you want to catch the game.Now, here are the reason I probably won't come back....The beef shawarma came out as a wrap, and it was incredibly dry. It had little flavor and I felt like i was chewing cardboard.My mango strawberry juice with rum was RIDICULOUSLY priced for that one shot of rum added to it. They also added grat to our tab of four people.The service is incredibly slow. Granted, I came on a Saturday night and their patio was very busy, but i didn't even see my waitress around to flag her down when I needed her. I also don't understand why this place has mandatory valet because they've got a pretty large parking lot in the back.The restaurant has it's shining points, but I still don't think it's worth returning to or recommending to a friend.

by Andrew M.

Delicious chicken kabobs and nice patio to chill, definitely worth a visit.