Black Walnut Cafe-Rice Village

Awesome! Or at least very enjoyable. The staff here is super helpful. Of course the best part is the cuisine. The crab stuffed mushrooms (I'd never heard of such a thing) are the most scrumptious things I've ever put in my mouth, and that's saying something. I love going here after work though, because happy hour lasts from around three to 6:30... so I've got plenty of time once I'm off the clock. My crab stuffed mushrooms are more than 50% off and I get all the beer I want for $2 a piece. They've got bigger beers, probably 20 ounces, for one dollar more too, but I usually don't partake unless it's the weekend.

been to this location twice, both times during off peak hours, which makes it okay, as I can see where seating might be a problem during peak times......i've only had their breakfast tacos and desserts which are both decent.....it's a great place to grab a snack and catch up with friends! their gelatto with the vanilla wafers is the best!! would go there just for that!

Good place for lunch. Nice selection of salads and fun food. Counter style service with nice atmosphere. Nice place for a casual lunch or...

I waited tables for 4 years while in college, so I can usually tell right away when service is going to be awesome or stink... so generally I like to avoid casual restaurants with a wait staff and go to places like BW Cafe where you don't have to deal with a waiter. It's much easier when you are dining with a group too! The food here is great, and there is a variety of choices. The coffee and desserts are good too. Parking can be a pain, but it's in Rice Village, so you have to go there knowing that parking stinks. I would park at Rice University and walk 3 blocks! :)

Has a nice community atmosphere. good for coffee and a sandwich. Though not for fine dining, things are quite enjoyable, if you are looking for a good place for you and friends. Be open minded.

We go to BW once in awhile for breakfast or lunch. We were disappointed during our recent visit. The service is not what it used to be. I think we distracted him from talking to his friend. Our food took over 20 minutes to come out even though it was not busy. My chicken sandwich was barely warm. My friends order was made with items she had requested to be left off. It seems the food is mediocre compared to the past. The protein portions are almost non-existent for what you are paying. I suggest going somewhere else for brunch or lunch and coming back to enjoy some gelato and the patio.

There are no servers, you serve yourself... drinks / napkins etc... so I don't know how you could have bad service unless you are too lazy to pick up your food or refill your drink. I've tried several items on the menu and they have all been GREAT! The "manager" or whoever that guy in a tie is even came up to us to help us choose things from the menu or answer any pairing questions we might have had. I haven't tried their desserts yet but the gelato is on the top of my list... Everyone I have taken here has loved it! HIGHLY recommended!

This place has really great food and is consistent with it! I have never had something from here I did not like. The service here is not great but the food definitely makes up for it. The menu is diverse and the prices are perfect for the quality of food you get. One of the best places to eat in the area!

I recently visited bw cafe and it was such a great experience. i was 'served' (there isn't table service) by a college aged kid with brown hair (ask for him!) and he knew the menu back and front, especially the alcoholic side of things :o) anyway, he suggested a great beer to pair with my food (st. arnolds with the chicken sandwich), and even convinced me and my boyfriend to get an appetizer (the crab mushrooms), which were also delicious! the food came out quickly given that the place was packed, and we will definately be coming back here soon! The atmosphere is great, and free parking! can't beat that in the village.

I dig their Anderson't 'Bout Time. They're a little skimpy on the bird, but it has a nice flavor. Sometimes the veggies aren't what they should be. Nonetheless, I'd recommend this for a casual bite.

A very delicious cafe in the Rice Village. The food is more on the level of a nice restaurant! The only cafe part about it is that you ord...

This place has defintely gone DOWNHILL. If I wasn't so disgusted and eager to leave, I would have taken the time to ask for a full refund. My boyfriend and I visited on Sunday, 4/7 and ordered the southwest chicken eggrolls and a burger. First, we waited for over 15 minutes even though the place was dead (rightfully so!) with our buzzer which NEVER went off....Only to walk up to the counter to ask where our food was. Once we got the food, the eggrolls had a sauce that I could SWEAR tasted just like Hormel chili. The most food on that plate was the bed of lettuce they were served on. The burger was charred to black and inedible. Save your money and your time and avoid this place at all costs!!!

I used to enjoy going to this place. However, over the past year this place has gone from good to pretty bad. The customer service has all but disappeared (they always seem to be "unable to help") and the food has gone from good to "I'm paying way to much for this." There are so many other restaurants in the Rice Village that are much better. Unless you REALLY want mango iced tea I would suggest going somewhere else.

A few of my coworkers go here every once and a while so one day I tagged along. After working our way through the slow moving line we had to wait 20 minutes before a table was available. The race was on. It was like trying to get a parking spot at a ball game. Once we got the table we found that we had to move to let people by every couple of minutes and we were so close to the tables around us that we could almost taste their food. My coworkers said that it was always like that. We decided we would only go back if we were hungry at 3:30 in the afternoon.

I love Black Walnut. I have taken every single person I know to eat at this delicious cafe in the Village. My two favorite things on the menu: Black Walnut Salad & Max's Grilled Chicken Sandwich. Even the atmosphere is excellent...taking you to another place with the feel of a cafe in Europe. You also MUST try their gelato.....best in town, by far!

the dish i had (chipotle chicken pasta) was ok, but my friends had some of the other pastas and they looked really good. i will go back sometime to try some of the better dishes.

I have been there several times and the food has always been good at it's worst. The menu has something for everyone and you can get some fantastic, well prepared meals that far outweight their prices! Of course the gellato is amazing and they will let you taste wines to find the best choice. Great for dates or business lunch!

In Short Breakfast is served all day at this low-key Village Arcade eatery popular with students and leisurely diners. Already a fixture in the Woodlands, Black Walnut's interior is relaxed and welcoming with cozy chairs and natural elements including an abundance of potted plants. Order from the expansive menu including flat bread pizzas, sandwiches, salads, pastas and lighter snacks. Service is do-it-yourself, much like many of Houston's casual cafes. Be sure to save room for dessert including gelato.

I have only been there one time and definitely going back. I had a small tortilla soup and split a grilled cheese with bacon sandwich with a friend...... The grilled cheese is out of this world, one of those where you savor every bite. It was on this fabulous panini-style bread....not your ordinary home grilled sandwich. I tend not to get dessert at restaurants especially at lunch, but I endulged in the gelato and it was great.

When I finally tried Black Walnut, I was so pleasantly surprised! It's quite a unique experience with an extensive menu. You order at the counter and get a buzzer (think Cafe Express), but what really sets this place apart is the AMBIENCE! I love it - it's very sophisticated and cozy. You can either sit on the patio or inside in one of the coveted tables with plush high-back wing chairs. Don't forget to look up at the ceiling fans for a neat surprise. I like that it's a decidedly "adult" place (you could bring kids, but I haven't seen lots of families). It's good for casual dates, or a quiet dinner in the village with friends. (they have a gelato bar too - it's not the best gelato i've had, but hey, it's gelato!)

Black Walnut Cafe is a great place for lunch -- I highly reccomend the Santa Fe Salad. With black beans, chicken and salsa, it is delish. The counter service was quick and impersonal (just the way I like it). I would reccomend getting there before noon. We had a group of 10 and found seats for everyone around 11:30 a.m. But the place quickly filled up. I want to go back for dinner sometime to see how it is at night.

It is unfortunate that the first reviewer had such a poor experience. I have been to the Black Walnut on numerous occasions, as have my friends. The food is very good, the menu--while eclectic--is diverse but not overwhelming, and the service is ALWAYS friendly and prompt. The gelato is a must and is made there daily. Prices are reasonable and one can get out of there with a glass of wine or beer and dinner for less than $15-20. It is casual, though the decor is pretty cool. It is a welcome change to Rice Village and I will be going back there multiple times.

i've been to this place twice and i was not disappointed...the food was tasty, the price is reasonable and has a relaxed atmosphere...i'm glad to have this restaurant in our neighborhood.

Black Walnut Cafe is a big disappointment. After eating there 3 times, I will never go back. The restaurant is disorganized, the food is below average, and the wait staff is unfriendly and rude. All 3 times that have made mistakes in my order and when I asked them to fix it, they told me it was a big hassle and if I could live with it. They have a large menu, but I've always had trouble finding something to order. Don't waste your time here. The food is not good.

The service was interesting, the food was amazing, and the gellato is a must have dessert!