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    Best Bloody Marys

    It's National Bloody Mary Day! Best places to enjoy the classic cocktail — or make one at home

    Davon D.E. Hatchett
    Jan 1, 2014 | 10:24 am

    Happy 2014!! Ooh, I’m sorry, did I type that too loud? If so, perhaps it’s because you may have partied just a little (Ok, a ton) too much and you over-indulged a bit (OK, a lot) in the celebratory "cocktailing" on New Year’s Eve.

    But guess what? Last night’s celebration was yesterday’s booze news, and today is a brand new day and year. It’s Jan. 1st, which means it’s “National Bloody Mary Day!” What better way to recover from the raucousness of the night before than having a little bit of the “hair of the dog that bit you” the next day?

    With the exquisite Bloody Mary offerings the city already has, it would almost be just plain criminal to not get one prepared for you.

    You could make your own Bloody Mary at home, but the cocktail has a reputation for being a complex drink to make. Do you really want to expend the few, precious, quasi-sober brain cells you have at the moment trying to figure out how to make a drink properly? Of course you don’t.

    With the exquisite Bloody Mary offerings the city already has, it would almost be just plain criminal to not get one prepared for you. While some of these spots only serve their Bloody Marys on Sundays, if you celebrated hard enough on New Year’s Eve you might not be able to drag your carcass out of bed until then anyway.

    Whatever your current soberness level is, be sure to check these places out when you’re ready for a Mary:

    •Haven: Known for locally sourcing high-quality ingredients (which includes a garden located on the restaurant’s grounds), it should come as no surprise that Haven creates a Bloody Mary with their own mix and pickled okra, both made in-house. Add to your drinking pleasure by enjoying the cocktail at Cove Raw Bar inside Haven, and have some fresh, raw oysters as an accompaniment.

    •Lowbrow: Although the term “lowbrow” is normally associated with being not highly cultured, the restaurant Lowbrow is anything but. And with roots in Charleston, S.C. lowcountry cuisine, the restaurant's house-made mix used for the Bloody Mary will convince you of exactly that. It’s also served everyday (or “whenever the hankering hits” as stated by one of the staff).

    • Brick & Spoon: Bloody Mary connoisseurs unite: Brick & Spoon has a menu that will make you practically squeal with delight. To start with, the “Big Spoon” Bloody Mary menu has over 10 vodka options so you can truly indulge your particular brand predilections. The garnishments are a veritable plethora of delights including well over a dozen fruits and veggies; a variety of meats and cheeses; 2 eggs options; and a range of herbs, such as wasabi, tarragon and tabasco habanero. When is it served? Every. Single. Day.

    • Mojeaux’s Louisiana Drinkery: Any establishment with “Louisiana Drinkery” in the name has got to have an awesome Bloody Mary. Mojeaux’s starts theirs off with Ultimate Vodka and a homemade Bloody Mary mix. Then things get really interesting. The glass is then garnished with a breakfast sausage slider; large boiled shrimp; olives; cheddar cheese; and a Slim Jim. Hangover cure in a glass, anyone? $18.00, Sundays Only.

    • Danton’s Gulf Coast Seafood Kitchen: If there’s a more unique Bloody Mary Houston, I don’t know where it could be. The “Bloody Danton” eschews the traditional tomato based mix and instead uses the house gumbo (strained of course) as the base. Gumbo. Generously spiked with vodka. What’s not to love?

    • Beaver’s: The wonderfully unconventional and quirky Beaver’s has their own unique twist on the traditional Bloody Mary, called a “Beaver Mary.” The tomato juice they use is infused with garlic, wasabi, and “bruised celery.” Then they add a dash of Big Daddy’s hot sauce for a nice, peppery kick.

    When you really want to go for the gusto, wait for the Sunday brunch. Beaver’s has a specialty Mary menu (served Sundays only) that includes a bacon-infused vodka Bloody Mary served with candied bacon; a tequila and chipotle Mary for those who want to swap out vodka; and a new Green Mary. Ask bar manager Mike (who created the Green Mary) to whip one up for you and you’ll get a glass of green goodness that includes tomatillos, cucumber, green tomatoes (which, by the way, are not the same as tomatillos), cilantro, and a bit of ginger for bite instead of the usual horseradish.

    Home mix

    If you just absolutely must make your own Bloody Mary at home, why not get a little epicurean with it? Forget the pre-made, bottled mixes and try Stu’s “This is Bloody Mary” concentrate, which bills itself as the “secret serum to concocting the perfect Bloody Mary at home.” Since the concentrate is made of homemade pickle brine and spices without tomato, you can create the perfect flavor level that suits you: just add your ideal amount of tomato juice and vodka and you’re ready to roll.

    I like to take it up several notches. In addition to vodka, I also add a splash of champagne.

    If you want to take it up a notch, order Stu’s “Bloody Mary Mixology Kit.” The kit contains 2 bottles of concentrate; contains Key lime juice to moisten the rim of your glass; “Sweet Corn Rimmer” (made with crushed sweet corn, celery salt, and Chesapeake Bay seasoning ) to garnish the rim; and a tincture made of ghost hot pepper sauce to make things spicy.

    As for myself, I like to take it up several notches. In addition to vodka (with the self-proclaimed moniker of “The Bubbleista”), I also add a splash of champagne. And then, being the sybarite that I am, I luxuriously garnish it with 2 tender-crisp asparagus stalks; a cherry tomato and Buffalo mozzarella skewer; and — the ultimate — a chilled, steamed, shell-on lobster tail.

    It’s a wonderful way to kick-off 2014! Well, once you sober up a bit, that is.

    Do you have a favorite place for Bloody Mary's that we missed? Tell us in Comments section below.

    unspecified
    news/restaurants-bars

    Coming soon to Fredericksburg

    Houston restaurant vet serves up Roman-style eatery in the Hill Country

    Brandon Watson
    Dec 26, 2025 | 3:30 pm
    Bottega Salaria Fredericksburg
    Photo courtesy of Bottega Salaria
    Valerio Lombardozzi is opening Bottega Salaria in the former home of La Bergerie.

    Valerio Lombardozzi’s culinary career has taken him to the world’s finest kitchens, including restaurants owned by icons like Alain Ducasse, Giorgio Locatelli, and Joël Robuchon. In Houston, he led La Table and Tavola, where he earned a reputation for being one of the city's most engaging front of the house personalities.

    But his latest project might be his biggest accomplishment yet. The hospitality veteran is opening Bottega Salaria, a homey Italian osteria and artisan market, in the former home of La Bergerie at 312 E Austin St in his adopted home of Fredericksburg.

    Lombardozzi says the restaurant, expected to arrive in winter 2026, fills a gap in the Hill Country dining scene, but, more importantly, it's a reflection of his personal history and time spent working at his family’s restaurant in Rome.

    “[It’s about] where I grew up, how I grew up, and how I eat,” he shares.

    The three-concept experience is inspired by Italy’s Via Salaria, the ancient route Italians used to transport salt from the Adriatic Sea to Rome. The menu acts as a sort of travelogue, borrowing from the different cultures along the road, and the way village fishermen and shepherds ate.

    Lombardozzi is quick to say he didn’t want to open a chef-driven restaurant. Instead, the osteria will serve traditional Roman staples such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, saltimbocca with sage and prosciutto, and branzino carved tableside.

    “I was one of the last to be exposed to the old generation of professionals who knew how to carve elegantly for the guests,” he says.

    The adjacent bottega will stay open during restaurant hours, offering fresh pasta made on-site, house-made sauces, imported Italian pantry items, cheeses, salumi, breads, and biscotti. Patrons will be able to shop for individual items or put together custom gift baskets.

    Outdoors, La Fraschetteria will debut a new hospitality experience in the U.S. The self-guided experience invites diners to grab wine directly from garden shelves, gather a spread of meats, cheeses, bread, or pasta, and linger around long communal tables lit by string lights.

    Keeping the chit-chat going will be a thoughtful beverage program anchored by a primarily Italian wine list and imported beer. Lombardozzi says the cocktail menu might be a surprise, offering only gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis. The latter has been made into a game where diners roll dice to determine the evening's combination of gin, vermouth, and bitters.

    After dinner, guests can select an amaro from a rolling cart, sip grappa and limoncello, or sip a neat whiskey.

    Lombardozzi shares that he wants Bottega Salaria to be just as comfortable for Fredericksburg locals as it is for destination travelers. Beyond daily service, Bottega Salaria plans community events such as garden wine nights with live music, Sunday movie nights, and hands-on cooking classes.

    The space is designed for ease with a warm palette combining olive green and pomegranate reds. The decor blends heritage and modernity, bringing in objects like antique mirrors, plates, custom-made lamps, and even old tablecloths and curtains for an Old World feel.

    "We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Lombardozzi says. “We’re creating a gathering place. A home for everyone who loves Italian food, culture, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.”

    italian cuisinewinefredericksburghill countryopeningsnews-you-can-eat
    news/restaurants-bars

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