Safina- InterContinental Hotel Houston Medical Center

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1. r

   ready4dinner

   Minneapolis

   22 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   22 reviews

   Dined 5 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Quiet location on Sunday night before medical appointments Monday

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2. JC

   JasonC

   Houston

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined 7 days ago

   overall2food3service2ambience3

   Very slow service. To be fair the place was extremely busy. However knowing that majority of their guest were here for the Garth concert they should have been properly staffed.

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3. RW

   RichardW

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on July 19, 2022

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   has a good variety of meals to choose from and each meal we had was totally delicious

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4. L

   Lovey

   Houston

   7 reviews

   5.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on July 16, 2022

   overall5food4service5ambience5

   I brought my family here because I have visited here during work and enjoyed the food. My family really enjoyed the atmosphere, the restaurant site manager and the food.

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5. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on May 8, 2022

   overall1food2service1ambience5

   We went to Safina for a Mother’s Day brunch. They had a breakfast buffet ($24/person) and a lunch menu. I was with two young kids and did not want to order the buffet, but it took nearly 25 minutes to be seen by a waiter, and that was only after I had to ask several times, first one waiter who deferred to someone else and then the actual waiter was too busy with other guests. There were plenty of waiters there and (from the perspective of a guest) it didn’t seem very busy… especially for a special occasion like Mother’s Day, when you would expect more staff. Every time I needed something from the waiter I had to get up and track down the assigned waiter for help. I feel terrible about service industry staff and think they’re underpaid and over worked but I really think the issue is with how the restaurant is managed. It’s a shame for such a beautiful restaurant in such a nice hotel to have such bad service.

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6. LR

   LupitaR

   Houston

   8 reviews

   vip
   1.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on May 1, 2022

   overall1food3service1ambience4

   The food was okay, but the service was awful the entire night. Different waiters the whole time, took an hour to just get an order in, another hour to get drinks, wouldn’t check up on the table, asked several times for to-go boxes and the check, etc. They never apologized for the awful service. Very lovely restaurant, but the service was extremely disappointing.

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7. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Houston

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 15, 2020

   overall4food5service2ambience5

   Great food and ambiance. My first time to dine there, but the poor service seemed out of character. Felt like our wait-staff may have been having a bad night as we felt ignored most of the night and they got one of our orders wrong.

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8. a

   arturo

   Houston

   7 reviews

   4.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on February 14, 2020

   overall4food4service3ambience3

   Good to know and taste the difference of Sarina from other Mediterranean cuisine.

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9. JS

   JohnS

   Unspecified

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 14, 2020

   overall4food3service3ambience4

   Still a good meal choice for the Texas Medical Center, but they have lost a couple steps since their opening (this was by fourth visit).

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10. FE

    FussyEater

    New York Area

    19 reviews

    1.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on January 29, 2020

    overall1food1service3ambience2

    Nice space, pleasant waitress, awful food, poor value. Mussels were dry and tasteless, clearly reheated frozen. Pasta bolognese was mushy spaghetti with tasteless meat sauce, just like Chef Boyardi from the can. No bolognese taste in evidence. Food server would appear suddenly and drop the dishes in front of you and disappear. Waitress managed to find a passable Malbec when no Chianti was available. Her courtesy avoids all zeros in my rating. After dinner I felt ill.

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11. GD

    GeraldD

    Houston

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 25, 2019

    overall2food3service2ambience2

    Confusion +, at 1:30p we were one of two dining parties and the staff seemed totally perplexed as to why we were there. The seating station showed a Christmas menu priced per person with offerings (on which I believe the items were individually priced) so I asked if it was a buffet and was told yes. When I viewed the buffet it was breakfast and in no way represented the Christmas menu so we requested menus to order from after confirming they were serving menu items. Once we ordered from the menu we were told we had received the dinner menu and my wife’s selection was not available and were given the lunch menu. All the while staff which outnumbered us 4 to 1 were moving around with no particular place to go. We ordered and received the food (which was interesting and flavorful.) During the meal someone who appeared to be the manager passed our table three times without inquiring about or satisfaction or even an acknowledgement. Glad we reserved or I doubt we would have been seated.

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12. AO

    ArmandoO

    Houston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 17, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The food was simply amazing! It made for an amazing date night!

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13. M

    Manfredoil

    Hamburg Area

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Guter Service und gutes Essen

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14. AL

    AnitaL

    Houston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 3, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Gorgeous interior. The restaurant is to the right when you walk into the hotel lobby. The ceilings are really high and the restaurant has a themed Mediterranean decor. Service was exceptionally fast and the food was delicious. I got the cavatelli pasta and added chicken. The noise level in the restaurant was very low. I think the restaurant lights could have been dimmed a bit for ambiance but overall, great place for dinner.

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15. H

    Houstonfoodie

    Houston

    32 reviews

    4.0

    32 reviews

    Dined on October 23, 2019

    overall4food4service5ambience5

    Good place near med center to go for work related dinner

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16. T

    Txinnola

    Houston

    13 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on October 17, 2019

    overall5food5service3ambience5

    Wait service seems slow. Has potential to be more than hotel diner. Wait staff does not accommodate for business/work meetings if service remains slow. I will try again.

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17. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Houston

    19 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on October 16, 2019

    overall3food3service2ambience2

    Just a place to grab a bite if you are in a business trip maybe but not a culinary experience

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18. AG

    AnnelieseG

    Houston

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 11, 2019

    overall3food3service3ambience3

    The food was very good and the server was nice too but it took a long time for the service and the place was not even full.

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19. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Denver

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 20, 2019

    overall4food5service3ambience3

    Middle of Imelda and roads were flooded. Food hadn’t been delivered so meal was a buffet. Delicious options, but I sat for 20 minutes before anyone told me it was buffet only.

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20. S

    Saundra

    Houston

    12 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on September 8, 2019

    overall4food2service4ambience5

    My husband and I found the service and ambience very good. While these components are important, we expect the food to be as good as the environment. We found the food to be pretty...meh... For example the cheese and charcuterie tray was boring; cheddar (with mold), smoked gouda and something hard white and bland with 2 types of salami. Yes there were olives and raisins and bit of honeycomb accompanied by plain water crackers. The fish (snapper?) was dry and tasteless but on the positive side, the roasted veggies were good but served at room temperature. And lastly, our first wine choice was not available. All that said, I hope this new eatery can get its act together and become the fine restruant I feel it has the potential to be.

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21. H

    familyHouston4

    Houston

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 23, 2019

    overall3food3service4ambience4

    The beef short rib my wife had was good, the risotto was not so great. As for my dish, I ordered the Beef Kafta which was very overpriced for the quality. The beef patties were so basic that I can make at home in a few minutes...Hummus was good and the kids enjoyed their burger and chicken tenders...

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22. KI

    KI1986

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 22, 2019

    overall4food4service4ambience4

    The first and 2nd courses were fantastic and the servers were pleasant and attentive. However, the cocktails could have been made better and the desert was not goo at all. Overall I would recommend this restaurant and would go back again but I would not eat desert and if I want a drink I'll order wine.

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23. H

    Hungersated

    Philadelphia

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 6, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Delicious food and outstanding service in a beautiful setting! I look forward to returning again soon.

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24. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Houston

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on August 5, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Came for HRW lunch and was not disappointed! The anchovy honey butter added to crispy brussel sprouts is a game changer. I mean mouthwatering, spoon licking, and bowl licking good. I couldn't eat it all because I got full so fast but I'm already dreaming about eating it for lunch tomorrow. Of course I boxed it up to go! Not letting any of it go to waste. Green asaparagua risotto was delicious. If you love asaparagua and risotto then you won't be let down with this dish! They only thing that was mis-leading is that in the HRW menu it shows 3 courses you can choose from but in reality you can only choose 2 courses out of 3. We didn't see on the menu but unless we are blind as bats and didn't see it then it probably should be added on.

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25. H

    Hungersated

    Philadelphia

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 2, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Safina provides a phenomenal dining experience. The decor is lovely, the service is excellent (Renier was our primary server and fantastic), and the food was exquisite! It was a welcoming experience from the first minute. From the appetizers (we had hummus and brussel sprouts) to the salads (arugula grapefruit salad and roasted beet salad) and the entrees (winter squash ravioli, short ribs, and lamb chops), every bite was DELECTABLE! And make sure to save room for dessert! The pecan sorbet was excellent. I cannot say enough good things about Safina. It is a dining jewel in the Houston Medical Center!!!

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26. CA

    CynthiaAzzam

    Houston

    11 reviews

    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on July 26, 2019

    overall3food2service3ambience5

    The decor and atmosphere are simply beautiful, upscale and quiet. The wait staff is very nice however not very knowledgeable about the menu nor the bar drinks. We basically educated our waiter on their own food selection, what it was and where it comes from, yes that's right. Now onto the food; pricey but good portion, lovely presentation but lacking in "wow" factor, tasty but nothing special, spicy yet lacking flavor somehow. We were told the chef is from Portugal, which probably explains why the mediterranean dishes we ordered were seriously lacking in staple ingredients. For example Hummus must have garlic and lemon and not just a chickpea and tahini mixture. Taboule is not a bulghur salad but has bulghur to compliment it, it also needs parsley and tomatoes and most definitely lemon. The Kafta spicy with foreign flavors hinting to more Indian than MIddle Eastern. The couscous and the spicy chicken were Moroccan dishes with spicy heat that overwhelmed the flavor. On special was the "red snapper" at $40 which arrived covered with vegetables, legumes and other ingredients, where is the fish? It wasn't red snapper either, nor was it worth $40. We did have an enjoyable dinner however we were not impressed with the food too much.

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27. VM

    VanM

    Houston

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 25, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    First time to go to Safina, and I was not disappointed. The layout to the restaurant was very open and light, and the food was excellent. I would recommend the caprese shortbread, the Brussel sprouts and the Power bowl with prawns. My favorite part of the meal however was the dessert, which was intricate and delicious. Will definitely be going back as a top option in the medical center, which has been lacking good food options.

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28. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 15, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    It was perfect!

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29. D

    Dogood

    San Diego

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on June 7, 2019

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    What an esthetically pleasing restaurant! The service was excellent and the food very good. I would definitely go back again.

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30. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    24 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    24 reviews

    Dined on May 7, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    I had breakfast at Safina. Instead of the nice, but fairly typical hotel buffet, I had the Lebanese breakfast off the menu, which was outstanding (and a better buy for the amount of food compared to the buffet). Warm pita, lebneh, za’atar, onions, mint, tomatoes, cucumber, and feta. I also had the very good overnight oats with nuts and currants. Overall, an outstanding breakfast in an area with limited choices.

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31. SH

    StephenH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 3, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The place was great! It's a hidden gem in the Medical Center. The food and service was fantastic!

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32. E

    Enwynn

    San Antonio

    46 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    46 reviews

    Dined on April 28, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We had a magnificent meal at Safina last night. The lentil soup as an appetizer was so delectable. The soup just brimmed with flavors and warmth. So comforting after a day at the medical center if that's where you've been. My wife had a salmon entree and I had the short rib brisket. The salmon was delicate and suffused with flavor. It couldn't have been better presented. My short rib brisket was so soft you could eat it with a spoon. The taste was outstanding. Chef Wicks came to speak with us during our meal. You could tell that this man was dedicated to helming this restaurant to continued greatness.

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33. SM

    SantiagoM

    Houston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on April 23, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food is delicious!! Customer service is one of the BEST in the Houston area! You MUST try the brussel sprouts... a must appetizer with lunch and dinner.

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34. JS

    JohnS

    Houston

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on April 16, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Howard, their Dir of F&B was very gracious and the waitress, Andrea, very knowledgeable about the menu choices and was spot-on with her suggestions.

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35. RT

    RetT

    Houston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 25, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The food is amazing! Presentation is one of a kind and service is top notch!

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36. CD

    ClevelandDiner

    Cleveland

    78 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    78 reviews

    Dined on March 16, 2019

    overall4food4service3ambience3

    Beautiful place for breakfast or lunch, not so great for dinner. We enjoyed two breakfasts here and one dinner. We went for dinner because our first breakfast was good and had good service (don't miss the Eggs Benedict or Overnight Oats). Dinner was O.K. but the atmosphere was much like one was dining at a breakfast place (this is the ONLY place to dine in the hotel): brightly lit, not at all intimate and the service was not as good as one would expect at a neighborhood breakfast place and clearly NOT at an Intercontinental Hotel level. The server was unscrewing the top on the wine (nice $50 bottle priced at 4 times retail) as he was approaching the table. He then poured a testing glass first for the husband then another, unsolicited, for the wife. At one point with my wife's fork in-hand poised over her entree to get another bite, the waiter literally whisked the plate from under her fork and returned it when politely informed that she was not through dining. Throughout the meal at least five different people were involved with us--on one occasion we were interrupted by a lady who was apparently some sort of management person who asked how things were and yet another time by the hostess with the same sort of inquiry. After this second visit for dinner we decided to again enjoy a good breakfast. Our second breakfast was very different from our first. After confirming our orders (we both ordered toast) the food was prepared and delivered. We received no toast. When we inquired, he server said that it was on its way--it was; there was a 5 minute interlude while they prepared it. When they delivered it they placed one order between the two of us (one diner on each side of the booth). When informed that we EACH ordered toast another interlude while it was prepared. In all three visits, I was surprised when the bill was presented face up so both diners could see the amounts. Maybe this is the stylish method but not terribly discreet.

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37. LR

    LeslieR

    Austin

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 7, 2019

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    This was our first experience with Safina and it was very good. The food was delicious - the humus was very fresh and the braised short ribs and mushroom risotto were superb. We will come back again the next time we are in Houston.

    Report
38. KK

    KimK

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 5, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    What a gem! It’s so nice to have a nice option convenient to the med center that’s so bright and open. Lovely ambiance, first rate service and amazing food.

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39. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Houston

    4 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 14, 2019

    overall3food5service2ambience3

    After making the reservation on Open Table several hours earlier and requesting standard seating, we arrived to the restaurant with the table not ready despite the main restaurant looking about 50% empty. it took only a few minutes until we were seated at a high top table. There was a large party in the not so private dining area which contributed to a very loud noise level. I can only imagine the noise level when the restaurant is full. Although very friendly, the waitstaff was slow. Not one dish was delivered to the person who ordered it. My salad never arrived. The wine list is very limited and on the expensive side for the amount of wine per glass. The food was delicious. Our party of six had salmon, short ribs, and the ravioli. No one had a speck of leftover on their plate. Desserts were equally tasty and beautifully presented. Throughout the meal several staff dropped by the table to see how things were going. This did not improve the overall service. Seated by the very large windows overlooking Main street, by the end of the evening it was quite chilly requiring coats. When leaving I asked several staff if the valet parking was validated for the restaurant and no one knew the answer. However there was no charge for the parking which was a nice surprise. I hope this is policy and not a mistake.

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40. J

    John

    Houston

    43 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    43 reviews

    Dined on February 9, 2019

    overall3food3service3ambience2

    Its new, but they need to do some work on their presentation and atmosphere. We shared Brussels sprouts and they were very good. My colleague had a pasta dish that was OK. I had Branzinno that was actually well prepared and tasty. However, the wait staff didn't seem to be on point, kept forgetting things and the wine list is VERY weak - no significant variety in bottles. Again, its new, but I expect better from restaurants in Intercontinental Hotels...

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