We were visiting the zoo and decided to take a chance on having lunch at the Macaw Cafe. I ordered a hamburger which was delicious, close to homemade. The French fries were very good also. We will definitely go back the next time we visit...the zoo.More
As restaurants in general go, this is just average at best. Limited menu, cafeteria style/no table service. But compared with fast food restaurants, it does a little better. It's inside the zoo and designed to provide lunch type meals for zoo guests, and does it...fairly well. I had one of the flatbread pizzas and it was tasty and satisfying for the purpose. Nothing particularly special, but okay for a lunch. From what I could see of what others were eating, this generally seemed to be the case. The indoor seating is a bit limited so if you are at the zoo on a busy weekend day you may need to eat in the outside dining area. On hot days, this may be less than optimal. Consistent with the zoo's attention to environmental concerns, you won't get a plastic straw or lid with your soft drink here. I understand the good intentions, but would appreciate it if they'd offer the newer biodegradable (not plastic) straws or even old fashioned paper ones, upon request.More
Really enjoyed the food , really tasty. The cafe environment could have been more exciting but it was clean. I would have given a better review if the service had been nicer. The man taking our money was very aggressive with regards to our choice...of drinking cup and he gave a lecture on the environment so felt forced to buy the plastic cup despite the cheaper one being made of waxed card which despite only being used once would break down quickly where as the plastic one never will ! Well in 100 years! The young girl that took our order never smiled and looked really fed up though it wasn't busy I watched with all customers and all smiled at her but not once did she return one! Smile it costs nothing and makes all the difference!More
They make the best spicy black bean burgers! My spouse likes the regular hamburgers and fries. You get your choice of French fries or salad, and I had arugula, goat cheese, pistachios, and dried cranberries. Very yummy!
Macaw Cafe is the cafe nearest to the entrance/exit of the Houston Zoo, and it is, appropriately enough, near the Macaw cage. There isn't a great deal of variety at the various eateries in the zoo, though Cypress Circle has gotten some recent upgrades, so...don't expect much beyond burgers, chicken fingers and pizza. There are a few gourmet options, but they get pricey and the quality is ... well, let's just say you won't be bragging about the culinary experience on your zoo trip. The one oddity about Macaw, versus Cypress or Twiga, is that much of the seating is outdoors, but the staff doesn't have a PA system to announce orders. Depending upon who is working, the staff may or may not try to find you outdoors, and the patio seating is really the highlight here. Aside from being able to sit under an enormous oak tree and listen to the nearby bird exhibits, there is a small flock of chickens that roam the area, giving children an up-close view of roving animals while you eat. Pricing? Yikes. Expect to spend about $6/child on the kids menu and $10+ for adults, especially if you also get a beverage. It's basically a captive restaurant and priced somewhat accordingly (nowhere close to as bad as a sports stadium, though!). Do note that the zoo is perfectly happy for you to bring a picnic with you. Final word: the zoo doesn't have lids or straws. Please quit asking. If you want to know why, go to the exhibit near the sea lions on the Pacific Gyre.More
After sharing a wonderful day with my wife and granddaughter at this beautiful zoo we stopped into the Macaw Cafe for a bite to eat and were pleasantly surprised by the excellent service and food offerings.
The Grilled cheese was nothing special. Fries were good. Loved that they offer carrot sticks or applesauce as alternative to fries, and milk as well as water (on the kids platter). Prices, as expected were high, but not terribly unreasonable. Kids' plate was $6.25 with...all the above. Served very fast. Friendly service. Wasn't the best Grilled cheese I've ever had at all, but didn't have high expectations. Also offered pizza, burghers, salads. LOVED that they posted calories for each item.More
We were during Spring Break so there were a lot of people, nevertheless, the employees made their best to give us a fast and accurate order. A word of advice while you are waiting in line pick your choices and check what sides include and...if it include beverages (kids meals) so you can order fast. Also be sure to find a table either indoors or outside the Cafe and ask one of the member of your party to save it. We tried the Chicken Strips (kid's meal), pepperoni pizza slide and the Big Hot Dog. We really enjoyed our meal. If you want to have a cheap souvenir buy the collectible cups (Adult and kids) and refill them around the zoo for $.99 + taxes.More
We had lunch here during a recent visit to the zoo. Service was great and everyone was very friendly. Kids loved the burgers and fries. Free range chicken sandwich was fresh and delicious. We also had black bean burger that was seasoned well and delicious....Definitely recommend this place if you are looking for something to eat at the zoo. Prices were very reasonable as well!!!!More