The Kitchen at The Dunlavy

Such a fun natural spot in the middle of Houston. The building and surrounding landscape is gorgeous! You can eat inside in a room surrounded by Windows overlooking the pond and bayou or outside on the risen deck. We went on a Saturday around 1245 and we waited in line about 30 min to order, and the selection was different, but good. Most people seemed to come right off the jogging path, so attire is gym to casual.

The view. The food. The wait. These are the 3 aspects of the Dunlavy to keep in mind. The inside décor is gorgeous– who can say no to dining underneath tens of chandeliers above your head? The location along Allen Parkway gives way to lovely views of the park through the floor to ceiling glass windows.
As for the food, it tasted good, but not necessarily lipsmacking amazing. Definitely try one of their special biscuits such as the honey Rosemary or the cheddar jalapeño. The chicken BLT was not bad either. Ask for the roasted potatoes if you’re not interested in the listed sides.
The wait was kind of terrible. There was also very limited parking. We stood outside for about a good 30 minutes. Try to come as early as possible!

On a gorgeous-​weather weekend, this is the place to go (and although the food comes out quickly, beware the line/​crowd, which will take up most of your time)!
Their zucchini bread with the lemon dip is SO yummy. I also loved the egg/​tomato/​avocado sandwich (I should have added some bacon for the crunch).
Although the food is a little bit more expensive, it’s probably comparable to a Café Brasil and it’s not too bad considering you get a great view and the ingredients (and silverware) are of a higher caliber.
Great place to take guests or hit up for a smoothie on an early weekend stroll!

This is a beautiful restaurant in a really nice location, and I would come here for the view, not as much for the food. I came on a Sunday for lunch, and the place was hoppin’! The parking lot was full, so I had to valet (which was free, yay!) and there was a long line for the restaurant. You order at the counter and seat yourself, so it’s more of a casual setting. The chandeliers and floor length windows made it feel really high class though ;).
Even though the line was long, it did move fairly quickly and after we ordered, there were quite a few open tables inside and outside. If you choose to sit inside, you may have to share a table with other people, because the tables inside are big and can seat a lot of people. We opted to sit outside on the patio because it was a beautiful day.
The food came out really quickly, which surprised me! My friend and I shared the St. Cecilia sandwich with broccoli salad and the avocado tomato and egg breakfast sandwich. I thought the breakfast sandwich was too bland, so I added some salt and pepper myself. I think the English muffin may be house made, which is pretty cool! The St. Cecilia (prosciutto, brie, fig jam, and honey) was good but not amazing. I think it could have used a little more jam/​honey to balance the salty prosciutto. The broccoli salad was also kind of bland. Portion sizes were okay for the price, but on the smaller side.
I think if you come here, you’re definitely coming for the atmosphere and the view, not as much for the food. You’ll be sure to see a lot of women in lululemons and LV bags here… 0:)

Been there two times there already and cant wait for more visits. What a gorgeous place to have a meal. The chandeliers, the service, the atmosphere and the view is everything. Nice personnel. I haven’t tried their lunch items yet but hope to soon.

What a cute new spot in Houston!
When you drive up, the surroundings are just beautiful: in the chandelier dining room, you look through the floor-​to-​ceiling windows over the bayou and park.
Service is counter service – we arrived around 10:45 on a Sunday and had to wait about 10 – 15 minutes in line to order (the line was even longer when we left around noon). (I think I might have given them five stars if not for the line.) And then there are community tables that people share. They offer valet, which was pretty quick.
I really appreciated how they have some healthy and not-​so-​healthy options. I enjoyed the bacon, egg and kale sandwich on an English muffin, and their «biscuits» are also great. I say «biscuits» because they’re really a combination of a dinner roll texture and scone flavor. And their chocolate chip cookies were definitely above average – I’d recommend.

After a power walk — run stopped by to get a quick bite (I didn’t even realized it was there it’s kinda of hiding among all the trees).
Because I had my dog I couldn’t seat inside but the terrace had a great view and the weather was amazing.
Food was small (by Texas size standards) but satisfying. Had the avocado and egg toast and freshly squeezed oj. Really good!
The inside is absolutely beautiful with all the chandeliers, windows floor to ceiling with a great open space but cozy feeling. Will come back with the fam.

Four stars for the quality of the food. Customers order at the counter and serve their own coffee/​tea/​water. The view is really beautiful and the décor is modernly elegant. They are still working out the parking logistics. Prepare to valet and get there early to avoid a bottleneck at the valet station.

The view and ambience had me at hello.
The egg and avocado English muffin breakfast sandwich was a close 2^nd. Delighted!

First off, parking was horrendous! I would like to say it was oddly busy because of the MLK holiday and it being gorgeous outside but I can’t imagine coming on the weekend. Had to park in the neighborhood across the street and play frogger on Allen Parkway. It would be great if they had valet since parking was so limited.
My friends were able to order for me and fight for a seat as I was enduring a parking nightmare. I didn’t have to experience the waiting in line, ordering at the counter, and table stalking.
Food was really delicious. We all shared the prosciutto and pâté, arugula salad, avocado toast w/​poached egg, chicken blt, and lamb gyro. I loved everything but the sides. The broccoli salad and couscous were bland and lacking in flavor. Despite that fact, we liked everything we ordered and would definitely get it again.
Beautiful view and chic décor. Great place to sit and chit chat with the girls for lunch and drinks.

Cute brunch/​lunch spot with a view of Buffalo Bayou. The décor of the restaurant is so pretty. All the gorgeous chandeliers are amazing. It would be great if you can rent this out for a private event like a baby shower, wedding shower, and etc.
Went here for lunch and had the cheese plate to start. Everything was amazing. The honey comb spread was so delicious. They honestly need to give more of that. It pairs nicely with the bread and cheese.
I also had the Chinese Chicken salad. The mandarin oranges gave a splash of sweetness and the crunch in the wonton crisps was such a good touch and so tasty!
*You seat yourself and outdoor seating is available
Beware, they get pretty packed during lunch so make sure you come early to avoid the lunch crowd

wow. i knew the bayou was getting revived, but i didn’t grasp what that truly meant until i visited the kitchen at the dunlavy. so glad that i got to visit here while it still remains to be a hidden gem at the moment, but i just KNOW that within a few weeks, this place will be unimaginably packed and popular.
short story: the place is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. i have a theory that if you just add a few fancy light fixtures, then the masses will flock just for the aesthetic. however, the dunlavy goes beyond that cheap trick by including grand chandeliers dripping from the high ceiling, elegant but mismatched furniture eclectically spaced throughout the large dining room, an outside deck with strings of light bulbs overhead, and an almost magical view that makes the oddly green bayou appear so refreshing and natural. the restaurant is elevated to higher heights as it rests on a hill with what looks like a boat house of some sort being constructed beneath it so the ceiling to floor windows takes in the entire bayou with tall trees surrounding the restaurant to give the place a very whimsical vibe like i’m sitting inside a fairytale of some sort.
i vote everyone should make a stop at the dunlavy just to take in the visual experience. even if that means having to split a meal with a friend or so just to afford it as the dish prices are so steep. the menu offers variations of the expected trendy fare of cafes like avocado toasts, breakfast sandwiches, and healthy juices. you can get by without breaking the bank by ordering off the breakfast menu as food is around $ 8 there, but otherwise items ring up for around $ 12 – 15 for other dainty dishes. i ordered the «cecilia» which was, i guess, a sizable sandwich of prosciutto, brie, honey, and jam on toasty bread. a classic and always winning combination, which i don’t mind recommending to others as it was delicious and reasonably priced, but not the most imaginative of cuisine.
food is decent, but come for the enchanting dining atmosphere! afterward, take a nice stroll around the buffalo bayou park on a relaxing day as it has definitely gotten a solid renovation.

Such a cute brunch spot! Beautiful chandeliers and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the bayou.
You order at the counter and grab a seat — i.e. Sharing tables with others.
We started the zucchini bread which was moist and flavorful. My favorite entrée was the turkey Apple Brie sandwich with the peanut butter jam smoothie! …was not a fan of the toasted strawberry smoothie — the protein powder was too strong of a flavor. The lamb gyro was flavorful but nothing spectacular. For the avacado toast I recommend getting the egg on top.
Valet parking available or you can just run there from the bayou path!
Great service! It started raining so we requested trash bags to get to our car. one of the servers only offered one bag for 3 of us… and explained how we could cut it in half and share etc. but then the manager I assume offered us his umbrella and another staff member offered us his personal umbrella. I was quite surprised by this gesture!
Will definitely be back!

This is a great spot to grab breakfast and catch up with friends. I came on a saturday and the line was out the door. Its counter service, and they have a variety of baked goods, drinks, and a few sandwich/​toast offerings like avocado and egg toast.
I really enjoyed the green D smoothie, its a unique blend of flavors, and seems healthy. I also got the avocado toast, while my friend ordered the fig toast. The avocado and egg was great, I would definitely order that again. The fig and brie was a little lacking in fig flavor, it may have just been how the sandwich was put together that day. We also tried the corn muffin, and sour cream coffee cake. The corn muffin was great, served warm with butter.
The décor is really want wows you with this place. They have plush velvet arm chairs, floor to ceiling windows, and chandeliers all over the place. Free wifi.
Definitely worth checking out.

I have now been to the Dunlavy twice since I live right down the street from the restaurant!
Food — They are only open for brunch/​lunch. GET THEIR BUTTERDROP BISCUITS. They have multiple flavors — I’ve had them all — and they are all good. I had the avocado, egg tomato breakfast sandwich but substituted the tomato for bacon — delicious. Another time I had the avocado toast with scrambled eggs — also delicious.
Service — Everyone working is very pleasant. They have never ran out of food and the coffee/​water is always filled. There is open seating and many of the tables outside you can combine to fit a group of people. I went with 11 people and we fit comfortably outside and had no problems find the table.
Atmosphere — The chandeliers on the ceiling really make this place special. I love that I can go here in my workout clothes but feel as though I’m in an elegant restaurant. I’ve taken friends visiting from out of town and they loved it as well! I would say the people there are a mix of church-​goers, runners/​bikers from the bayou and friends meeting up.
This will be a frequent brunch/​lunch spot in my rotation!

Like everyone says, it’s beautiful here. I could see why you would like to hold a fancy event here.
Unfortunately, the food is lacking. It seems more like a seasonal menu with the limited amount offered but everything is subpar. You’ll get your fill but you won’t be satisfied. But hey, maybe you just went for the atmosphere? That’s what I do. Lol. So sad.
I’m just hoping the food will get better because these are basic food items anyone can throw together. It is overpriced for what you get, but you also have to understand the area and the clientele they’re trying to obtain.

This place is straight out of my little girl dreams! Chandeliers hanging everywhere from the ceiling as you feel as if you are floating in the trees. The atmosphere of this place is like no other! The rustic farm tables and the mismatched chairs are all perfection.
But, what is a restaurant without yummy food? Well the Kitchen at Dunlavy does not disappoint. While the décor of this place feels very posh and chic the food is refreshingly rustic. I ordered the Cubano sandwich which was truly the best Cuban sandwich I have had in years. I felt like it had been made at a diner in Miami. I had a side of Israeli couscous with butternut squash and it was soooo good. I highly recommend. My husband ordered 2 other sides and I by far thought mine was the winner. He really liked the red quinoa salad.
The hours end at 2pm so get there early. I did see the chef meeting with people got event planning and I bet this place would be amazing at night for a rehearsal dinner or reception venue. They have great outdoor spaces as well overlooking Lost Lake. They also have a full bar.

Striking design with floor-​to-​ceiling windows that allow for gorgeous 360 views of the bayou. For that alone it’s worth a coffee break. But the juices and small bites are worth it in their own right. I enjoyed my avocado toast with ricotta and lemon zest, though I wish the bread was grainier and toastier. My «toasted strawberry» smoothie was good; I liked the nuttiness from the almond butter. My husband enjoyed the prosciutto panini. I only wish they had more extensive of a hot food menu. And it seems like this place would lend itself to table service. The chairs could also use an upgrade to be more comfortable and better accommodate a car seat (esp since they don’t hav high chairs).

I run past the Dunlavy 5 out of 7 days a week, and it stops me in my tracks every time. How UNBELIEVABLY gorgeous is this glass treehouse? You’ll have to see for yourself. It’s especially stunning at night, with colorful lights reflecting off of the lake, but the venue is reserved for private events then.
The kitchen is open to the public during the day, so my best friend and I stopped by for brunch after a jog at Buffalo Bayou Park. I was a little self-​conscious about our sweaty appearance, but almost everyone else was dressed in workout clothes, too. I guess that’s expected if you’re situated in the middle of a jogging/​biking trail. Our friend, however, had no excuse showing up un-​showered and in wrinkly clothes (insert side-​eye emoji here).
The menu is straightforward, which is ideal when I am starving and NEED carbs stat. I demolished the bacon, kale, and egg breakfast sandwich like nobody was watching. It’s only $ 6.50, and with all that money invested in the décor (like a million chandeliers), I was surprised at how affordable everything was. I do wish the yolk in my sandwich were runny, but the menu did state it would be a baked egg.
My scrubby friend ordered the salmon toast, but I didn’t try any because he has cooties (a cold). They also sell standard café items like soups, salads, smoothies, and pastries. A chocolate chip cookie in the display case caught my eye, and we flirted briefly, but it didn’t look good enough to break me.
It’s as if they designed this venue using a blueprint from my childhood dreams. Simply being here is enough to lift my spirits, but it helps that the food is good, too.

Open for breakfast and lunch, this place is a great addition to the buffalo bayou! I loved the unique décor and fabulous view over the park.
I ordered the avocado toast ($ 5), which had a nice lemon twist, and the toasted strawberry smoothie ($ 8). Both were very tasty!