Lucille's Interior
1 / 10

Lucille's

4.6
·491k reviews·,

Experience modern Southern classics in a cozy, vintage house setting, celebrating culinary heritage with warm hospitality.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Lucille's Interior

Lucille's

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Experience modern Southern classics in a cozy, vintage house setting, celebrating culinary heritage with warm hospitality.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"One of the best brunches I've ever had, with unforgettable dishes and top-notch service!"

TIP

Reservations are a must

Secure your spot in advance, especially for weekend brunch, as reservations are required.

Consider valet parking

Valet parking is available for a fee, and public parking can be limited.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 4PM

Cuisine

Southern

Price

$$$

Phone

(713) 568-2505

Address

5512 La Branch St, Houston, TX 77004, USA

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Oxtail Omelette & Croissant French Toast

Oxtail Omelette & Croissant French Toast

Indulge in rich, flavorful oxtail omelettes and decadent, buttery croissant French toast that melt in your mouth.

Google Review
Signature Southern Comfort Dishes

Signature Southern Comfort Dishes

Experience elevated Southern classics like crispy fried green tomatoes and rich chili biscuits that have garnered acclaim.

Best Patios for Eating & Drinking Outside in Houston Right NowGoogle Review
Cozy Vintage House Ambiance

Cozy Vintage House Ambiance

Dine in a charming, cozy vintage house setting that feels like a fancy Sunday dinner, offering a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The 13 Best Black-Owned Restaurants In Houston - HoustonGoogle Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Reservations are a must

Secure your spot in advance, especially for weekend brunch, as reservations are required.

Consider valet parking

Valet parking is available for a fee, and public parking can be limited.

Brunch is a highlight

Visit during weekend brunch hours for a delightful experience with standout dishes.

Happy Hour Deals

Enjoy discounted drinks during Happy Hour, with specials like $4 beer and $5 wine.

Tips

from all over the internet

Reservations are a must

Secure your spot in advance, especially for weekend brunch, as reservations are required.

Consider valet parking

Valet parking is available for a fee, and public parking can be limited.

Brunch is a highlight

Visit during weekend brunch hours for a delightful experience with standout dishes.

Happy Hour Deals

Enjoy discounted drinks during Happy Hour, with specials like $4 beer and $5 wine.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Lucille's offers an elevated take on Southern classics, lauded for its warm hospitality and beautifully presented, flavorful dishes like oxtail omelettes and fried green tomatoes. While many praise the food and cozy ambiance, some recent reviews point to a decline in service quality and food availability, with inconsistent preparation and higher prices noted as concerns.

"I had the pleasure of visiting Lucille’s while in Houston, Texas, and wow what an unforgettable experience! Hands down, one of the best brunches I’ve ever had. The croissant French toast was absolutely to die for; buttery, crispy, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. And let me not forget the oxtail omelette so flavorful and perfectly seasoned! The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the service was top-notch. I’m already counting down the days until I can visit again!

Ps. We had to valet park and reservations are required!!"

Rhoda Royal

"Tasty southern food in an upscale environment. We visited for a Friday evening.

For appetizers, we had the chili biscuits and fried green tomatoes. The fried tomatoes were lovely, with crispy cornmeal batter concealing fresh green tomatoes. For entrees, we had the pork shank, chicken breast, and blackened catfish. The catfish was well cooked with excellent but not overwhelming flavor. The pork shank was massive and while the sweet flavor was a bit different, it was still tasty. The chicken came with this tasty southern fried rice.

Service was friendly throughout our visit."

Kevin Wang

"Went for late lunch after visiting Museum district. Our server Linda was great, friendly and professional. Food was well made with extremely fresh ingredients, both the seafood and other ingredients. Prices were good for the quality of the ingredients. Highly recommended restaurant around Museum district."

Xu Ruihua Jeff

What People Like

Exceptional Southern comfort food
Warm and welcoming hospitality
Cozy vintage house atmosphere

What People Dislike

Inconsistent service
Limited menu item availability
Price increases with perceived quality drop

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend brunch, to secure your dining experience.

Google Review+1

Popular signature dishes include the oxtail omelette, croissant French toast, fried green tomatoes, and shrimp and grits.

Best Patios for Eating & Drinking Outside in Houston Right NowGoogle Review

Yes, valet parking is available for a fee. It is often recommended due to limited public parking.

Google Review+2

The restaurant offers a cozy and welcoming atmosphere within a charming vintage house, evoking a sense of a fancy Sunday dinner.

The 13 Best Black-Owned Restaurants In Houston - HoustonGoogle Review

Yes, Lucille's has a Happy Hour with specials on drinks like $4 beer and $5 wine.

Lucille's serves modern interpretations of Southern classics.

10 Essential Houston Restaurants Every Visitor Should TryHouston's 100 best restaurants of 2023: Our food critics' top picks

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Southern comfort hits the table in the form of Shrimp and Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Chili Biscuits at chef-owner Chris Williams’ classy restaurant, bar, and patio. Those Chili Biscuits (which have now reached Top Chef fame) as well as the spot’s decor pay tribute to Williams’ great-grandmother, Lucille B. Smith, a African-American entrepreneur, chef, and pioneer in the food and hospitality industry. When the weather is right, enjoy a modern spin on traditional Southern goods even more out on Lucille’s tree-shaded, string light-bedecked patio.

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If you’re in the mood for simple yet upscale Southern fare like fried green tomatoes, chicken fried steak or country benedict, Lucille’s is a perfect choice. The down-home, unpretentious, Southern-style spot in the heart of the Museum District is one of our fave places to fuel up before a big day out on the town, and for tourists hoping to pack it in, consider these your calories to burn for the day. Been there, done that?

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From left: Chris Williams, the chef-owner of Lucille’s, harvesting mustard flowers in his garden; a spread of oxtail and grits, chili biscuits, and yardbird at Lucille’s, in Houston’s Museum District.

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Lucille’s, located in a beautiful cozy house, serves Southern food and is named after the owner’s beloved great-grandmother Lucille B. Smith, herself a celebrated culinary innovator, entrepreneur, and educator. Enjoy classics like braised oxtails and shrimp or catfish and grits (try them with a side of the fried green tomatoes) or more contemporary, uniquely Houstonian fare like the oxtail tamales or grilled octopus with coconut curry and peanuts. Lucille’s has mastered the art of balancing the tried-and-true with the emerging and new.

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Restaurateur and chef Chris Williams brings a refined and focused take on Southern cuisine to this Museum District destination that’s named after his great-grandmother, Lucille B. Smith. The menu reads like a who’s who of comfort food favorites, from a classic shrimp and grits to a take on pork and beans that features a mighty pork shank paired with a three-bean ragu sauce. Make sure to order a side (or two), like the braised collard greens that embody the essence of Southern culinary traditions.

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Located in Houston’s Museum District, Lucille’s serves impeccable southern-style cuisine. Helmed by two-time James Beard nominee Chris Williams, the restaurant is a tribute to Williams’ great-grandmother, who invented the first instant hot roll mix in the U.S. and whose recipe box, Lucille’s Treasure Chest of Fine Foods, was reprinted multiple times and treasured by homecooks throughout the South and the rest of the counry. Her recipes (including her signature rolls) are on the menu.

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There’s so much more to Lucille’s than simply a menu of Southern food—it’s a homage to chef Chris Williams’s great-grandmother, Lucille B. Smith, who was a culinary innovator and entrepreneur. The restaurant takes his family recipes and blends them with his classical training: chicken and waffles, grits served with shrimp or catfish, croissant French toast with fried chicken and oxtail tamales all get a boost. Croissant French toast with fried chicken from Lucille's.

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In the middle of the Museum District, Executive Chef Chris Williams and Chef de Cuisine Khang Hoang combine to deliver one of the city’s best dining experiences in Southern cuisine. For more than a decade now, the restaurant that pays tribute to Williams’ grandmother, Lucille B. Smith, has been serving up some of her most famous recipes and refined Southern classics throughout the cozy, vintage house and a patch of patio that makes for a gorgeous good weather meal.

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An established Sunday brunch buffet in Houston, Lucille’s has been in the industry for years – and for a good reason, too!. Their good food and even better atmosphere really left a mark on us, though their prices are on the more expensive side. Lucille’s brunch menu is exceptional, and the clear standout for us would have to go to their Croissant French Toast if you’re in the mood for something light and their Oxtail Omelette if you want something heavy.

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Playing beautifully off of his southern heritage and embracing the recipes of his naturally talented grandmother, Chris Williams, owner and executive chef at Lucille’s, offers up a hefty plate of fried chicken that merits a visit even after National Fried Chicken Day, Lucille’s in the Museum District is well worth the visit. Order the Yardbird: Brined & Slow-Fried Chicken (white or dark meat), Smoked Mash, Braised Collard Greens, and Honey Spiced Gravy.

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Lucille’s is my go to restaurant in Houston especially for brunch, but they also have live music on the weekends and some Thursdays. It is still very much a restaurant, but changes the vibe a bit if you are looking for live music. They have also added an intimate happy hour upstairs during the week.

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Cuisine: Southern / Soul FoodLocation: 5512 La Branch St, Houston, TX 77004. Lucille’s offers Southern comfort food with a refined twist. Known for their famous Chili Biscuits, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Braised Oxtails, this spot blends history with bold flavors.

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Lucille’s is a popular place especially for brunch that I highly recommend you to make a reservation or else it will be a long wait time. Lucille’s is a modern takes on Southern classics being served in a cozy, vintage house that is fill with history and roots.

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5512 La Branch StHouston, TX 77004(713) 568-2505 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. Lucille’s, which opened in 2012, delivers a modern take on Southern classics prepared by a classically trained chef and served in a charming, vintage mansion.

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Lucille’s definitely knows how to do this southern favorite right!. Their “Yardbird” is slow fried with a side of collard greens and honey-spiced gravy. If you haven’t had fried chicken from Lucielle’s, you are absolutely missing out!

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