Just thought I would drop by with a quick blog post for my followers who work downtown or nearby! The Conservatory has been open for some time now, but if you are like me you are late to the party. My cousins were in town from Missouri so I thought it would be a great stop that is unique to Houston. Check out the rest of the details of the Conservatory in Downtown Houston below.
The Setup
You probably have passed the Conservatory and didn’t even realize it. Just a block beyond Main Street, the Conservatory sits behind an inconspicuous door that gives little hint of what lays beyond it. Once inside, you are greeted by a dessert counter perfectly situated for those on their way out.
Next you will find a grand staircase straight from a generation ago. As you descend down the stairs, the space gets darker an plants line the walls. At the bottom of the stairs there is the Conservatory in all of it’s greatness. An underground food hall with several restaurants making it an optimal stop for group lunches during the work week.
The food is grab & go and guests seat themselves. During our visit, we had to hunt for a table in the noon hour so plan to arrive early or a little after the lunch rush. Also note that the space is open late till 3am. Currently, guests can dine on food from Arte Pizzeria, El Burro, Eazy Does It and the Pho Spot plus beer and wine.
The Food
I typically would not post a dark photo like this BUT this is true to form for the Conservatory. It’s a dark space which is part of the appeal.
Even though there were so many great options there, we decided to be lame and go with the pizza. While you may judge me for the “safe choice” it was SO good therefore I have no regrets. In addition to our personal sized pizzas, I ordered fried ravioli as an appetizer. This was a popular dish in Missouri where I went to college so I was interested to see how a Houston spot serve it. Gotta say, it was better than the versions I had in Missouri! The ravioli was perfectly cheesy and had a good crisp. For the pizza, it had a good sauce and crust, so as long as you pick good toppings you are good to go.
The fried ravioli>>
I tried to a be looky lou and see what other vendors were ordering. The pho looked delicious as did the barbecue. Both places kept long lines so it seems the Conservatory regulars enough those stops as well.
The Takeaway
This space is space is fun and unique plus has food offerings that are as diverse as Houston. For those who work in downtown or find themselves in the area for late night happenings be sure to add Conservatory to your list of must stops!
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