First Look at Kirby Ice House

First Look at Kirby Ice House: H-Town's newest patio bar already packed with fans

Little Woodrow's owner Danny Evans opened Kirby Ice House this weekend, but you probably already know that. Lured by the combination of a new destination and good weather, hundreds of people showed up opening weekend.

"We had a line to get in (Friday) from about 9 to 10:30 pm," Evans tells CultureMap. "Then we had another short line to get in Saturday about 5 pm. It was packed."

The crowd found an expansive space that, as Evans promised when he spoke to CultureMap about the concept in February, has a more upscale feel than what's typically associated with Little Woodrow's. Images of vintage movie stars adorn the walls, and a lounge area features leather couches. The tap wall offers over 50 beers, mostly Texas craft, as well as eight draft cocktails.

Of course, the space's highlight is its one-acre backyard. Featuring four oak trees, vintage-looking furniture, games like cornhole, and the El Camino that used to reside above the El Cantina in the Heights, Kirby Ice House's backyard is an adult playground that recalls the sprawling beer garden at recently opened Axelrad in Midtown.

"Axelrad is very similar, a beer-only concept, not as big, but they’re killing it," Evans says. "The biggest problem is they can’t get the beer out fast enough."

Speedy service is one of Evans's highest priorities. On Saturday, 10 bartenders worked to keep up with the demand, but even that might not be enough, given the number of requests his staff is fielding to host happy hours and charity events. Evans plans to add a third bar in the backyard for those busy nights that are coming his way for as long as the city's recent run of pleasant weather lasts. He'll also add shade sails to the backyard to mitigate some of the summer's heat.

So far, the only complaint has been that the bar isn't following Cottonwood's lead by allowing parents to bring children during the day, but Evans says he's heard from other customers who prefer that Kirby Ice House be adults-only.

"I had a lot of people say thank you. I love Cottonwood personally, but people who want to go and drink don’t want a bunch of kids running around," he says.

Kirby Ice House is open Monday through Friday from 2 pm until 2 am, Saturday from 10 am until 2 am, and Sunday from 12 pm until 2 am.

The bar opened Friday.

Courtesy photo

The bar opened Friday.

cocktails craft-beer drinks openings

two years in the making

Woodlands favorites fire up a fresh new restaurant in River Oaks

Courtesy of Fielding's

Fielding's River Oaks will open on Sunday, December 8.

One of The Woodlands’ most successful hospitality groups will soon make its inner loop debut. Fielding’s River Oaks will open this Sunday, December 8.

Located on the first floor of the Novel River Oaks luxury apartment development, Fielding’s River Oaks builds on the success of Fielding’s Culinary Group’s two popular restaurants — Fielding’s Local Kitchen & Bar and Fielding’s Wood Grill. CEO Cary Attar and executive chef Edel Goncalves will lead the new establishment.

The approximately 6,000-square-foot restaurant will seat about 200 people, divided between a dedicated bar/lounge area, a spacious dining room, and a private dining room. Two patios, including one with cabanas, will add more seats at some point after the opening. As shown in the photos above, the restaurant has been decorated for the holiday season with wreaths, poinsettias, and garlands.

Initially, the restaurant will only open for dinner with a social hour from 3-6 pm daily. Lunch will follow a week after opening on Tuesday, December 17. In January, Fielding’s will add brunch and a daily continental-style breakfast built around coffee and grab-and-go pastries such as croissants that will be made in-house.

At dinner, Goncalves will put his French training to create an eclectic, globally-inspired menu that utilizes the restaurant’s wood-fired grill and oven as well as an extensive program of breads and pastries that are baked in-house. Meals at Fielding’s will begin with bites such as yellowtail crudo, a wagyu sando, or foie gras with curry apple butter. Starters include karaage-style fried quail with Thai peanut sauce, a potato pancake with smoked salmon tartare, risotto with clams, fried okra, and French onion soup.

For entrées, diners have options such as pizzas, pastas — including radiatori with beef cheek bourguignon; spaghetti with cheese, lemon zest, and caviar; and bucatini with piri piri shrimp — or seafood entrees that include salmon, branzino, and cod. Meat lovers will find an Iberico pork chop, dry-aged duck, and steaks from Texas-based 44 Farms such as a filet or dry-aged New York strip.

Lunch will feature many of the options from the dinner menu along with an expanded selection of salads and sandwiches. They include a smash burger, shrimp banh mi, croque monsieur, and crispy chicken sandwich.

Beverage options start with a 1,400-bottle wine inventory, many of which are displayed in temperature-controlled cases at the restaurant’s entrance. As at Fielding’s Local, the restaurant will use a lower markup to entice oenophiles to discover new favorites. Similarly, the cocktail program uses quality spirits paired with freshly squeezed juices. Non-alcoholic cocktails will also be available.

“Fielding’s River Oaks is a concept nearly two years in the making,” Attar said in a statement. “We’re excited for lunch, social hour and dinner service to begin in December, and we’re confident it will add a distinctive layer of upscale offerings to the Houston restaurant scene, just in time for the holiday season.”

Courtesy of Fielding's

Fielding's River Oaks will open on Sunday, December 8.

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