Two Houston hospitality veterans have united with a local businessman to bring a new bar to north Houston. Sharif Al-Amin (Helen Greek Food & Wine) and Greg Perez (Calle Onze) are opening Monkey's Tail in Lindale Park in partnership with their friend, local businessman Jesse Gonzalez.
Billed as a Mexican-American bar, Monkey's Tail will serve craft beer, cocktails, and food. Currently under construction, it is slated to open in late April or early May at 5802 Fulton St.
Formerly Ike's Place, the new bar will feature a design that utilizes Mexican fixtures and furnishings, plus "hole-in-the-wall vintage vibes," according to a release. Roll-up garage doors and an expansive, dog-friendly patio will give it a bit of a modern ice house vibe.
The beverage options start with a 20-tap draft system that will feature 15 beers, one nitrous tap, and four draft cocktails. Perez, best known for the agave-obsessed spirits list at Calle Onze, will diversify a bit at Monkey's Tail. Drawing on his Mexican heritage, the menu includes the Mama Coco (Charanda, coconut, passionfruit, cilantro, and poppy seeds) and Sabe Con Madre (Vodka, chamomile, sage, St. Germaine, lemon, and lychee).
In the kitchen, Al-Amin is reuniting with former Helen manager Steven Ripley. Most recently the assistant general manager at Jonathan's the Rub at Memorial Green, Ripley is trading his sport coat for a chef's jacket to supervise the food. Expect New York-style pizzas, wings with Mexican-inspired dry rubs and sauces, and street corn, among other snacks.
As for the name, the owners explain that "Monkey's Tail" is a term for the lever used to switch trains from one track to another, which fits with the neighborhood's industrial character. Monkeys also have a reputation for being playful and fun, two qualities the bar hopes to embody as it prepares to serve its neighborhood.
Greg Perez and Sharif Al-Amin.
