Maison Pucha Bistro

Review summary

1. D

   Dave

   Houston

   17 reviews

   5.0

   17 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   My wife, son and I went for my birthday. The empanadas were the best we had ever had. The shrimp ceviche and escargot were excellent. We loved the duck a l’orange, bouillabaisse and Ecuadorian pork stew and recommend all highly. There is a broad selection of wines at reasonable prices. Gabriellla was delightful and the service was great. We’ll be back!!
   

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2. B

   Bruce

   New York City

   25 reviews

   4.0

   25 reviews

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   We always enjoy an evening in Pucha, but last night was a let-down. The wine was very good, the service was okay, the food was not up to Pucha's standard. An appetizer was brought to the table after everyone had consumed theirs, so we turned it back. The only thing "orange" about the duck à l'orange was a thin slice of orange. The mahi mahi was overcooked and chewy. Oh well, we'll be back.
   

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3. D

   Donna

   Houston

   7 reviews

   5.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on February 18, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Had a delightful lunch with friends. The service was great and the food was delicious. We will be returning.
   

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4. T

   Teresa

   Houston

   7 reviews

   5.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on February 16, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Birthday lunch and it was wonderful! Israel provided awesome service as usual.
   

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5. D

   Doug

   Greater Boston

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 16, 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   Went on Saturday of Valentine's weekend for a nice date Drinks were great, food was good though portions were small, even for fine dining. The "sides" were mere garnishes. Service was slow, but they did warn us they were operating at half staffing so we were patient about it. Still, the waiter didnt do himself any favors by twice forgetting we had already ordered something, and asking us if we want to order something. The biggest failure, though, was jacking up the prices over 50% from their advertised prices on their website. The exact same items as on the regular menu, just gone from $36 to $60, with no notification about special 'holiday' prices until you're already there seated and looking at the menu, when its too late to walk out and try to get a table elsewhere. Makes me question how much they ultimately care about service when they seem to treat their guests as ATMs, especially when they knew their service would not be good that night.
   

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6. M

   Mark

   Houston

   4 reviews

   4.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on February 16, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   Food and atmosphere were great. Wasn’t a fan of the valentines menu prices being 10-15% higher than normal. The price fixe menu was a good value but to much food for the two of us so we ordered a la carte. We will definitely be back. Steak Frites and Soufflé were awesome.
   

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7. C

   Chris

   Houston

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 16, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   Let’s start with the positives. The steak tartare was absolutely delicious, and I appreciated that it was served with authentic French crostini, rather than the soft toasted white bread that some other Houston French restaurants tend to use. My wife’s trout almandine was also exceptional – definitely one of the best we’ve had. Unfortunately, two of the dishes we tried didn’t quite hit the mark. The duck a l’orange was overly salty, and the escargot lacked flavor. We actually had to request salt to enhance the taste. It needed more pesto, more garlic, and definitely more seasoning overall. There was a hint of pesto, but it got lost beneath the burnt breadcrumbs. The ambiance was just okay. While the decor was attractive, the lighting kept changing every few minutes, making it feel like they couldn’t decide whether to brighten or dim the room. Given the price, I’d choose a different restaurant next time. I’ve made duck magret myself, and even with my amateur approach (no recipe, I quite literally just winged it), it was far better than what I ordered here. We’ve been to nearly every French restaurant in Houston, and this one is at the bottom of my list. Maybe my expectations have changed over the years, or perhaps food quality has slipped since the pandemic. Even our recent trip to Europe was somewhat underwhelming in terms of cuisine. That said, there are still other culinary gems in Houston, so I won’t be returning here.
   

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8. K

   Krisztina

   VIP

   London

   4 reviews

   2.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on February 16, 2025

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   We went to celebrate Valentine's day with my husband and we returned home very disappointed. While the first impression when entering the place was very good, it was only downhill from there. The service staff was far from what we are used to at other high-end Houston restaurants, both their basic skills and their attitude were sub par. The food was tasteless, the portions were very small. The extra French fries we asked for came with a terrible smell and us leaving it untouched did not trigger a question from the waiter. It was very telling...... We would never return and never recommend to this place to our friends.
   

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9. C

   Chau

   Houston

   5 reviews

   3.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on February 16, 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   The food was average for the price. I ordered orange duck. It was cook well, but doesn't have orange flavor as the name of the dish. My wife ordered the trout. It was salty. The waiter tried... I give him that.. But he interrupted too often asking how we were... When my wife told him the trout was salty, he asked her back: "what do you want me to do about it?". Like he has little experience taking criticism front customers. My wife had to say: "I only want to offer my opinion to the chef for other customers". I wanted to try a new French restaurant, and they should focus on French cuisine. Their menu has empanadas and sashimi, and crudo. I didn't think those are French dishes. The Frenchs are known for their bakery. Yet the dessert menu is weak, not a lot of choices. We ordered ice cream cake, but I think we got sorbet. The decors of the dining room looks fine, but the tables are too close. We can hear the next couple conversation. I m sure they can hear us. I have been in noisy restaurant before, and learned to block the noise out, but to actually hear others' conversation is not good. Overall, the dinner is ok ..but nothing special. If you want authentic French cuisine experience, this may not be the place, unless they update their menu. I recommend go to dinner early, and avoid the holiday crowds, or request a table in the corner.
   

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10. j

    jeri

    VIP

    Seattle

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Always excellent. Presentation is perfect every time.
    

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