Head-to-Head · Houston
Le Jardinier vs Brennan's of Houston
Le Jardinier's one Michelin star against sixty years of Brennan's turtle soup. Book Le Jardinier for a quiet client lunch.
The Verdict
Le Jardinier is the fine-dining pick. Chef Alain Verzeroli holds a Michelin star here, the first awarded to a museum restaurant in Texas, and the kitchen inside the Museum of Fine Arts at 5500 Main Street builds vegetable-forward French menus around local Texas produce and sustainable fish. The 28-seat room is among the calmest in the city, which is why it scores a 10 for the room and a 9 for food, with value at 7 against the four-dollar-sign price.
Brennan's of Houston is the tradition pick. The restaurant opened in 1967 as a sister to Commander's Palace and has served Texas Creole cooking ever since, from the tableside turtle soup to the flaming Bananas Foster and the courtyard brunch at 3300 Smith Street. It was rebuilt after a fire during Hurricane Ike, and the dining room remains a Midtown landmark. It scores 7 for food and 8 for the room, with value at 7 at the three-dollar-sign tier.
Scores, Side by Side
| Score | Le Jardinier | Brennan's of Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 9 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
| Atmosphere | 10 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Value | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 |
Which One for Which Occasion
| Occasion | Editorial Pick |
|---|---|
| Business lunch | Le JardinierA calm, well-spaced museum dining room and a tight midday service suit a working table. |
| Anniversary | Brennan's of HoustonThe courtyard, the tableside turtle soup and the Bananas Foster make a classic Houston occasion. |
| First date | Brennan's of HoustonThe historic room and the flaming dessert give a date its theatre and conversation. |
| Michelin meal | Le JardinierThe only starred option of the two, with a vegetable-forward French tasting at the MFAH. |
| Weekend brunch | Brennan's of HoustonThe Saturday and Sunday courtyard brunch is one of the city's longest-running. |
Price Comparison
Le Jardinier is the higher bill. It carries a Michelin star and sits at four dollar signs, with set menus at the museum and a wine list to match. Brennan's of Houston runs at three dollar signs and gives you more ways to spend less, from à la carte Creole plates to the weekend brunch. On value Brennan's is the clear pick, while Le Jardinier earns its price as the city's only museum kitchen with a star. Compare both against the wider field in our best French restaurants guide.
How to Book
Le Jardinier books through OpenTable and its own site, and lunch is easier to land than a weekend dinner. Brennan's of Houston takes reservations by phone and online, runs lunch Tuesday to Friday and dinner Tuesday to Sunday, and the Saturday and Sunday brunch fills first. Plan a week ahead for either at the weekend. Start from the Houston dining guide, then read the Le Jardinier review and the Brennan's of Houston review in full.
For occasion fit beyond this pairing, weigh them against our guides to the best business-lunch restaurants, anniversary restaurants and first-date restaurants. For more Houston match-ups see Le Jardinier vs Bludorn and Le Jardinier vs Brasserie 19, and browse the full set on the compare index.