I took my mother to this restaurant for lunch. Zaggat said the restaurant used to be a gem, but the food is now inconsistent and the service poor. The little houses and gazebo in back are charming but as Zaggat commented, you can't eat the view. We couldn't eat the food either. Mother's fried chicken livers, Bistro's specialty, and my pork tenderloin were overcooked, chewy, and tasteless. The restaurant management seems to have stopped trying. The background music was broadcast from radio tuned into a Spanish radio station replete with commercials. Mother asked for butter for her bread that only came after repeated requests. It took us about 10 minutes to pay our bill. I had to flag down two different waiters to get it done. Despite the Gardens of Bammel sign next door, there wasn't a flower in sight anywhere. There are too many good dependable restaurants in Houston to waste your time at Bistro Calais..
Pros: pleasant view of gazebo and pastel painted little houses from rear window
Cons: Food could charitably be called inconsistent, service slow and inattentive
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