News

The Wealth of Westheimer & Montrose

January 30, 2012

Arguably one of the most unique, eclectic and varied areas in Houston is the Montrose neighborhood. Established 100 years ago, and boasting a thriving arts scene, Montrose was listed in 2009 as “one of the ten great United States neighborhoods” by the American Planning Association. The nearby location and nearly limitless variety and character make Montrose a fantastic destination for dining and nightlife during the Halloween & Party Expo. Additionally, a number of popular locations with primarily LGBT patrons are located in Montrose.

Dining

• In the northern section of Montrose, attendees will find two great casual dining options in Barnaby’s Café and Mockingbird Bistro. Barnaby’s Café features tons of natural light through its gigantic windows, and offers over 25 unique sandwiches among its extensive menu. 
• The unique fare offered at Mockingbird Bistro can be gleaned by its clever name: a French bistro paired with the Texas State Bird. This French/Texan-infused hotspot, celebrating its 10^th anniversary during the Halloween & Party Expo, offers such enticements as wild boar sausage and a Kobe beef bleu cheese burger.
• Further south, below the popular Westheimer thoroughfare, guests will enjoy Oceans, known for their impressive variety of ceviche. Try their Oriental ceviche with ingredients like ginger and soy sauce, or opt for fish-free vegetarian ceviche. If seafood isn’t your thing, try some of their other special offerings, like the prime filet mignon tacos served with onions and cilantro on corn tortillas.
• Canopy, on Montrose Boulevard, offers a light and airy atmosphere and features such menu items as Shiner Bock braised Black Hill Ranch pork belly and four-mushroom pot pie with zucchini, squash and broccolini.
• One of Westheimer’s most popular restaurants is Mark’s American Cuisine. Built in a renovated church, the intimate atmosphere and high-quality menu selections at Mark’s make for a one-of-a-kind fine-dining experience. Head Chef and owner Mark Cox still leads the kitchen daily to create what are, essentially, delectable works of art.

Nightlife

• Noted by the New York Times as one of the top “must visit” spots in Houston, AvantGarden is known as a social patio. With various events, all open to the public, occurring on any given night, AvantGarden is a place for Houstonians and visitors to come together for the unified enjoyment of celebration.
• Anvil Bar & Refuge, just down Westheimer from AvantGarden, harkens back to a time when cocktails were hand-crafted by artisans with years of skill-building expertise. Drinks are supremely unique and favor homemade and local ingredients, served in vintage glassware procured from local antique shops. Anvil also features hard-to-find beer selections, including a cask beer.
• Just north of Westheimer, on the corner of Grant and Pacific, JR’s Bar & Grill and South Beach are two widely popular weekend hangouts with a large LGBT crowd. JR’s showcases a number of elaborate drag performances throughout the week as well as a number of nightly specials. South Beach is the place to be for those who love to dance and often features popular DJs, as well as stars from shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race.
• Just a few blocks away, F Bar brands itself as boutique clubbing. Visit their website for more information on nightly themes, held throughout the club and on their grand patio.
• Referred to by some as a true Texas dive bar, Lola’s Depot doesn’t entice through fancy ads or decor, but through word-of-mouth about its unique atmosphere and well-priced drinks. Don’t expect to find information online, as this is the kind of bar that doesn’t have a website, and only recently began accepting credit cards.

Want to combine shopping and eating? The Galleria Mall, which, while not in the Montrose neighborhood, is slightly further down Westheimer Road, is one of Houston’s most popular destinations. Numerous fine dining establishments located on Westheimer are situated conveniently around the Galleria, which has established itself as the #1 shopping destination in Houston with more than 375 fine stores and restaurants.

Anvil Bar & Refuge
(713) 523-1622
1424 Westheimer Rd.

AvantGarden
(832) 287-5577
411 Westheimer Rd.

Barnaby’s Café
(713) 520-5131
1701 S. Shepherd Dr.

Canopy
(713) 528-6848
3939 Montrose Blvd.

F Bar
(713) 522-3227
202 Tuam St.

Galleria Houston
(713) 966-3500
5085 Westheimer Rd.

JR’s Bar & Grill
(713) 521-2519
808 Pacific St.

Lola’s Depot
(713) 528-8342
2327 Grant St.

Mark’s American Cuisine
(713) 523-3800
1658 Westheimer Rd.

Mockingbird Bistro
(713) 533-0200
1985 Welch St.

Oceans
(713) 520-7744
819 W. Alabama St.

South Beach
(713) 521-0107
810 Pacific St.