Indigo

My first fine dining experience which definitely exceeded all expectations! I'm not going to lie, the first 2 courses of an oyster and delicious creamy crab meat were good but did you wanting more. I thought that this would merely be a tasting experience as opposed to an actual meal, and I was very wrong. After the crawfish toast, the courses started picking up in heavier proteins. The meyer lemon drop was so refreshing against the fish. The turtle soup was a little bitter for my tastes but the ash cake was so delicious and worked beautifully as a taco against the fish. The shrimp in a sack and avocado parfait were so delicious as well. I cannot emphasize enough how many different flavors I experienced with beautiful plating. The courses were also put in a precise order to allow a palate cleanser in some form. So sad this place is closing but will always be forever grateful that I got to experience it. Thank you Chef Johnny! Can't wait for the grocery store!

The most incredible fine dining experience I have experienced so far in Houston. Johnny and his team were outstanding. Especially Bourbon who seemed to be a connoisseur of sorts. I love that throughout covid they have turned it into a grocery store selling the same quality of food. This place is legendary. MUST try.

Great unique menu, atmosphere, and service. My wife and I frequented Indigo for our birthdays and couldn't be happier with our choice. The restaurant layout is unique set in a large "u" shaped table facing a sliding bookshelf that hides the kitchen. I really enjoyed observing the team prepare our dishes over the wood fire. The service was great with each server being thoughtful and attentive. In addition, the chef made multiple appearances to meet everyone and give background on the unique menu that explores the history of African American cuisine. Which brings us to said cuisine. Since the menu changes I won't get into specifics but everything was phenomenal. The complexity and depth of flavor in every dish was incredible, with many of the flavors being new to me. We can't recommend Indigo enough for it's unique menu and fantastic service. Some logistics, the restaurant is easy to find with ample parking out front. Other people have mentioned they don't feel safe at the location. Don't be like those people. The location is perfectly safe.

Indigo is a very unique experience. The passion the chef has for the food and his way of setting the historical context is unparalleled in any other restaurant I have visited anywhere. Multiple dishes had ingredients that took years to make so it is well worth the price tag for cost and quality. I also appreciated that he only looks for local ingredients and could share where everything was sourced. I learned quite a bit about food during slavery and it was fascinating while also sad; I ate with more reverence than usual. The staff was very knowledgeable about the food and wine as well. Wine pairings were wonderful. The restaurant is located in the neighborhood where the chef grew up, which I took to mean that he is giving back to his community. I have to dock a star because on the night we visited, the restaurant was very obviously having sewage issues. I know this is out with their control, most likely due to the city, but before and after the grill was on and smoke masked the smell, the smell was awful. I hope they can get it fixed soon. I also had my water sit empty on more than one occasion which, not really note worthy other than out of respect for how much love and passion the chef puts into the food, the staff should ensure the the patrons experience leaves them only focused on the food and not their thirst. I very much admire what chef Johnny is doing and would visit again but I would call ahead to ask about the piping.

Went to Indigo for the 6pm seating of the classic menu with a group of 5, I loved the food and it was a great experience. Usually tasting menus don’t fill me up but this one did. The portion sizes were good, and every single bite was delicious! I added the bread course and the okra seed coffee. I highly recommend adding the bread course, the decaf okra coffee was different but not in a bad way, so it was part of the experience but I don’t think I’d have okra seed coffee again. The service was fantastic. The story and history behind the food was a great addition to the dinner service. The 6pm seating was a perfect time, you get out at 8:30 and still have time to digest for going to bed. I highly recommend treating yourself to this experience.

Excellent...a creative, flavor filled evening intertwined with an exceptional Black American history lesson. Loved how Chef Rhodes took essential classic soul food and created such a memorable savory experience. It was their first sitting after the August break and the teams timing was a bit off resulting in a bit a rush on the last two courses but the staff were welcoming, helpful and accomodating. Thank you for providing me an opportunity to be immersed in such a gem within your community.

An amazing journey through neo-soul cuisine. Each dish an ode to African American History. Chef Rhodes creates a very intimate dining experience, eloquently describing the cultural and historical elements of his tasting menu. In particular, the great depth of flavour and layering of multiple elements in the dishes was intriguing. The goulash had a deep rich flavour cut slightly by a bitter touch and the fish entree which was cooked to absolute perfection was complimented brilliantly with dill pickle and caramelized tomato. The ambiance was at first surprising considering this was a fine dining restaurant, however the intimacy of the guests and the chef and waiters actually supplemented the experience positively to create a homely and very personal touch. It felt as though the chef was a good friend inviting us all to dinner to showcase his talents and present a beautiful piece of work. I appreciated the look and vibe of the restaurant quite a lot. While the food was terrific and they are BYOB, I would truly love to have had a wine pairing or some selection of unique cocktails that further illustrates his message. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Houston, a must try.

Unique environment and great food. The small seating arrangement creates an intimate atmosphere. I highly recommend the pescatarian menu with the herbivore dessert. The green tomato cake with the cornflake ice cream exquisite. My favorite meals were the crab with crispy shallots and the crayfish goulash. With that being said everything was extraordinary. The dishes were exquisite, flavorful delicacies. The infusion of the flowers added beauty and an unexpected but tasty profile. Chef Johnny was welcoming and descriptive about the meals he created. I would like to suggest a microphone when discussing the meals and/or turning down the music. Overall a great experience and would definitely recommend this establishment and I look forward to attending again to see what Chef Johnny creates next. To those who complain about the price probably have not been to many fine dining places to experience the ambiance, creativity, and unique dishes. They do not stuff you with heaping mounds of food, but want you to enjoy the flavors and meal choices.

To bifurcate the evening into traditional categories such as "food", "service", "value", "atmosphere", etc is to completely miss out on the cumulative impact of the unique experience. The price feels VERY reasonable, especially considering that the restaurant is only configured to serve a couple of dozen people per night. If you believe wallethub's assessment of Houston as the most diverse city in the US, then an evening at Indigo is a microcosm of that diversity. The seating arrangement allows for socializing amongst patrons while still providing enough individual privacy to allow for quiet one-on-one conversations. Chef Johnny's commentary on the inspiration and origins of the dishes added a personal touch to the dining experience. Every dish was unique and purposeful in its composition. The high counter seating kept us eye-to-eye with the staff and chef, making conversation and communication much more easy and natural. According to the staff, the menu changes roughly once a quarter, with a vegan flight being a year round option. If you have not tried it before, highly recommend the naturally decaffeinated okra bean coffee with dessert. The only room for improvement would be in the chef's presentation. Most of us would be more than happy to pause our dinner conversations for 15-20 seconds longer to have Johnny speak a little bit slower so we do not miss any of his presentation. Lowering the music volume or utilizing a wireless microphone would be even better - hearing the chef's insights and the story behind the food is one of the elements that elevates this from being just any night on the town, instead putting us all into an episode of "Chef's Table". Highly recommended experience!