Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Spent Tuesday night downtown with a buddy. Started at Franklin Tap - then over to OKRA - then to Clutch City Squire and finished off the night with a NYC Slice from Roma's Pizza. Had a great night and all the new spots had customers and were not dead by any means. Talked to one of the owners of Clutch City - the building has a ridiculous history including a "one-way" safe door only opened from the former bank next door. I will be bringing friends to this area and truly believe it has a ton of potential to put a huge booster shot in DT nightlife. Also, the additional nearby spots that are just empty waiting for something new; I believe could be a huge benefit. Now just pump in one or two residential towers and we would be "cooking with kerosene" ! http://houston.eater.com/archives/2013/03/20/a-look-inside-goro-gun-opening-friday.php "Started with Original OKRA Charity Saloon and continued with Clutch City City Squire is only building more momentum with Goro & Gun. By the beginning of April, Justin Burrow's Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar and Spirit Lounge and Latin American restaurant Batanga will open" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrodiii Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Spent Tuesday night downtown with a buddy. Started at Franklin Tap - then over to OKRA - then to Clutch City Squire and finished off the night with a NYC Slice from Roma's Pizza. Had a great night and all the new spots had customers and were not dead by any means. Talked to one of the owners of Clutch City... Think you mean The Brewery Tap... How was Roma's by the way? I haven't had any of their food yet. And I am planning on checking out Clutch City - what are their prices like? A few craft beers on tap/bottle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 (edited) I like Clutch City Squire. It was pretty dead last Saturday, but the prices seemed reasonable and they did have local crafts on tap. I'm really looking forward to when they open the second floor in a couple weeks. I hate the name though. It makes it sound like a sports bar, which it really isn't. Plus it's just too long and not terrible memorable. Edited March 22, 2013 by Texasota Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Got a great bartender one time I went to Clutch City and a not very good one the other time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Unforunately some of the people that are "finding out" are douchebags. I don't think I've EVER asked for a menu at a bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatesdisastr Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Clutch City said they will be opening up the upstairs next week. I think they have a good start but needs something more to the downstairs area. Seems a little too wide open inside to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 "Started with Original OKRA Charity Saloon and continued with Clutch City City Squire is only building more momentum with Goro & Gun. By the beginning of April, Justin Burrow's Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar and Spirit Lounge and Latin American restaurant Batanga will open" There was a new announcement that the Anvil crew is opening a tequila and mezcal bar at 310 Main, the old space for The Office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 i see Les Givrals closed down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted March 26, 2013 Author Share Posted March 26, 2013 Looks like les grivals will be replaced by restaurant and coffee shop next doorhttp://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2013/03/clumsy_butcher_bobby_heugel_an.phpMan my post was spot on!! Stolen from redditThe 300-500 block of Main just became... (self.houston)submitted 3 hours ago by fixedtehknollpostThe densest concentration of bars in the city.http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2013/03/clumsy_butcher_bobby_heugel_an.phphttp://www.29-95.com/bars-clubs/story/heugel-company-open-tequia-bar-main-stThe surrounding area anyway. At least 15 full bars and a brewpub in less than a two block radius. And there are at least two more coming.From nearly dead to an entertainment district in under 18 months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 No, the Les Givrals space is on Congress while the coffeeshop is on Main Street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted March 27, 2013 Author Share Posted March 27, 2013 Way to ruin my thunder! JK - in any case I posted from my phone quickly bc I was jacked after my aforementioned great night out in MS - I can't believe what else is in the works! Sorry for the delayed respones... Romas was a good slice - $3 quick and easy can't beat it. (Why is there no legit late night spot in Midtown ) Waffle House? Clutch City's prices were very reasonable - bartender was very chatty "in a good way" owner was talking to us too. Happy Hour 4-9 $5 gets you a TX Draft and a shot of Jameson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 H-town = Boomtown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrodiii Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 (edited) (Why is there no legit late night spot in Midtown ) Waffle House? Because Late Night Pie burned down? There still is Mai's... Edited March 27, 2013 by arrodiii Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nole23 Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Lots of action going on Main St, I'll have to check it out sometime soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Mai's, Tacos a-go-go, gotham pizza, plus a few places in montrose that arent exactly far away. That being said, there do need to be a lot more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 It's not like I need more options I just think there's money to be made - I was in louisville last week and went to a subway at 1 AM - the fact that the subway in the heart of midtown next to shot bar closes at 10pm is the craziest thing to me _ no shit they are missing out on a tens of housansa Thousands** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) Went by the Goro and Gun place last night. Supposedly official grand opening. Not sure they'll last long based on what my friend ordered. Scallop was 10 and ramen was 11. It was as if the food was more of an experiment vs something that had been thought out carefully. Part of scallop I tasted was overdone/rubbery and the ramen had too much going on for it to be tasty. This is definitely only going to be popular with the foodie crowds who all go to the same places. Lame. Edited March 28, 2013 by musicman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 eh, opening night isnt generally the best time to judge a restaurants food. I'm waiting a couple of weeks before I try Goro and Gun to give them some time to work out the kinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 they told me they had already been open and made changes to address complaints. not sure that worked well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 (edited) I'll give it the old college try. Edited March 29, 2013 by infinite_jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrodiii Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 I went to Goro and Gun last night and I had the Miso Ramen while a friend had the Tempura Short rib. I really liked the ramen, it was very good and liked tha the mushrooms were very sweet, though I did think that the miso had a little too much pork flavor. The rib was excellent. I will go back to try the scallop and the brussel sprouts. Oh and the Due Dilligence drink was pretty good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ttuchris Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 Beware the scallop. It is not very good, raw, and tiny. Really not worth $10 or $2. I even told the waiter it was not very good, something I never do, he didn't seem to care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 Bad News Bar and Batanga have opened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted April 5, 2013 Share Posted April 5, 2013 Bad News Bar is a classy space. Slow service so only stayed for 1 drink. Maybe i'll go back on off hours. Went to the opening of Batanga on Sat night. Not sure that went so well. Walked by Wed night and only 3 people in the place. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 Batanga was packed last night. Patio weather helps for sure. That patio is really nice. I still wish they had left at least one of those oak trees though... I'd rate the place a B. Still working out some kinks but the tapas were pretty solid and the fish tacos were excellent. I'd give it an A but the sangrias were only mediocre. Nice selection of wine, beer, and cocktails though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrodiii Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Bad News Bar had a decent crowd on Friday night - and the drinks are reasonably priced. Had lunch at Batanga on Saturday and it had a decent crowd but started to really pack up when we were leaving. The Patatas Batanga,Duck confit arepas, pork ribs and the empanada de carne were all great. Really liking this revival. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 (edited) What did all these bars used to be? I'm all for revitalizing areas, but what I'm wondering, did the high rent downtown drive everything else out? Edited April 10, 2013 by IronTiger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted April 10, 2013 Share Posted April 10, 2013 What did all these bars used to be? I'm all for revitalizing areas, but what I'm wondering, did the high rent downtown drive everything else out? It wasn't high rent, it was low demand. Revitalization is creating sort of a "herd" demand where people can go downtown and hit multiple places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrodiii Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 While I wouldn't normally think of Main St. as being part of Market Square, this seems like the most fitting area. The new bars coming to Main St. http://blog.chron.com/29-95/2013/05/clumsy-butcher-to-open-new-winebeer-bar-on-main-st/#comment-802 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 We have a name for the tequila bar now, and the Trigger Happy bar is a brand new announcement, so yet another bar in the area. Wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_cuevas713 Posted May 11, 2013 Share Posted May 11, 2013 It wasn't high rent, it was low demand. Revitalization is creating sort of a "herd" demand where people can go downtown and hit multiple places. I agree, I mean a lot of people just recently were counting downtown out. Revitalization doesn't happen in one big shot, it's spread out in phases of supply and demand. This new wave of bars and developments will be more stable now that downtown has regained attention as a spot to go over the past 10 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted May 11, 2013 Share Posted May 11, 2013 Agreed, these recent restaurants and bars are a much more sustainable model than the earlier wave of clubs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdog08 Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Certainly helped by approximately 1000 apartment units and 1500 hotel units coming online in the next few years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronTiger Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 In terms of the flood of new bars, I was reminded of Northgate--once numerous shops and restaurants, now mostly bars, due to high rent. And no, the area didn't become a whole lot less dumpy during that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted May 13, 2013 Share Posted May 13, 2013 The rent is not high downtown, and it is not dumpy. We're not replacing restaurants with bars, we're replacing nothing with bars and restaurants. Not seeing the comparison? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarface Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Agreed, these recent restaurants and bars are a much more sustainable model than the earlier wave of clubs. I sure hope you all are right. Ever since the closing of those last few bars 2009/2010ish, its left downtown pretty desolate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted May 15, 2013 Share Posted May 15, 2013 We have a name for the tequila bar now, and the Trigger Happy bar is a brand new announcement, so yet another bar in the area. Wow.surprising name. lots of negative connotations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrodiii Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 So, with Superbowl LI coming in a couple years, I wonder how much more Market Square, and the rest of downtown, will return to glory. With all the new restaurants & bars, MS got a jump on things. I hope the rest of DT will now, especially with the plan to have Discovery Green play a signicant role in the now 10 day festivities. http://houston.culturemap.com/news/sports/05-22-13-houston-super-bowl-to-include-a-rocket-ship-ride-a-space-needle-and-big-name-concerts/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 (edited) Okay, Little Dipper (new bar from Poison Girl people) is now open in the former Cava Bistro space (the second one, next door to the former Cielo Mexican Bistro/Pete's Dancing Marlin space). Dean's Credit Clothing has re-opened and has a cocktail list and a good beer list. In the last year, we've got:Clutch City SquireOKRAPastry WarGoro & GunLittle DipperBatangaFusion TacoBarnaby'sBrewery Incubator and Dean's closed and reopened. Edited November 15, 2013 by kylejack 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downtownian Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Also: Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar and Spirit Lounge which is my favorite bar on the block. There's still a few to come: El Big Bad is opening in November, Trigger Happy, a beer bar, is under development and there is an unnamed concept at the northeast corner of the block in a large space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moore713 Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Also: Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar and Spirit Lounge which is my favorite bar on the block. There's still a few to come: El Big Bad is opening in November, Trigger Happy, a beer bar, is under development and there is an unnamed concept at the northeast corner of the block in a large space.is that 300 main, because I noticed a few weeks ago there were some guys who seemed to be working on that balcony like thing, then not to long after that they papered up the windows Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downtownian Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Bad News Bar is the second floor of 300 Main with balcony. I heard that Trigger Happy will be in the same building but a different floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moore713 Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Bad News Bar is the second floor of 300 Main with balcony. I heard that Trigger Happy will be in the same building but a different floor. That 304..... 300 main is that big vacant one that sits on the corner just before Okra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 (edited) Not on Market Square but not too far away on Main Street... Bisnow reports that Prohibition Bar leased 15k SF at the McCrory Building (1008-1010 Prairie, at Main). Edited December 4, 2013 by Houston19514 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downtownian Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 (edited) Not on Market Square but not too far away on Main Street... Bisnow reports that Prohibition Bar leased 15k SF at the McCrory Building (1008-1010 Prairie, at Main). Prohibition is closing their Galleria location in order to make the move (http://houston.eater.com/archives/2013/12/05/the-shutter-43.php). As much as I would like to see more restaurants and bars decide to move downtown from elsewhere in Houston, I'm not thrilled about Prohibition. The rule of writing good fiction also applies to bars: "Show, don't tell." Compare Prohibition which "tells" you its concept through 1) its name; 2) having its bartenders and servers in costume; 3) having a picture of Al Capone up to much more tasteful speakeasy-style bars in NYC like PDT and Death & Co. or our best hometown speakeasy-style bar, Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar & Spirit Lodge Edited December 9, 2013 by downtownian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Prohibition is closing their Galleria location in order to make the move (http://houston.eater.com/archives/2013/12/05/the-shutter-43.php). As much as I would like to see more restaurants and bars decide to move downtown from elsewhere in Houston, I'm not thrilled about Prohibition. The rule of writing good fiction also applies to bars: "Show, don't tell." Compare Prohibition which "tells" you its concept through 1) its name; 2) having its bartenders and servers in costume; 3) having a picture of Al Capone up to much more tasteful speakeasy-style bars in NYC like PDT and Death & Co. or our best hometown speakeasy-style bar, Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar & Spirit Lodge On the other hand, if they make good drinks I'm delighted to have them fill a long-empty space. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downtownian Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 More details on the coffee shop opening up at 300 Main Street. I'm hopeful this gives downtown more of a neighborhood feel since the only existing coffee shops are Starbucks, Minuti and Ben's Beans. It will be New Orleans style so you can get coffee in the morning, a sandwich in the afternoon and a drink at night. http://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/02-17-14-downtown-gets-a-new-hip-coffee-shop-is-houston-ready-for-a-new-orleans-style-cafe/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downtownian Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Also, Texas Monthly named four Market Square bars to its list of the top ten best new bars in Texas. http://www.texasmonthly.com/eat-my-words/list-where-eat-and-drink-2014 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 A year later and man this area has gotten better and better - add some residential and well be cooking with sesame oil!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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