Sneak Peek

New downtown bar drops the attitude and focuses on the experience

Hard to believe that it’s been over five years since the Original OKRA Charity Saloon kicked off a movement that turned the blocks around downtown’s Market Square into a nightlife destination. On Friday and Saturday nights, people from all over Houston head to Main Street for drinks at places like Bad News Bar, The Pastry War, and Public Services.

On April 13, two veteran bartenders are adding to the mix with The Cottonmouth Club. Located at 108 Main St. in the former home of Barringer Bar, Cottonmouth unites Reserve 101 owner Mike Raymond with his longtime friend Michael Neff, a veteran bartender with extensive experience in both New York and Los Angeles.

The duo have spent four years developing the concept for Cottonmouth, which they’ve described as “the least cocktail-y cocktail bar we could come up with.” What does that mean?

“It means we don’t want to be dicks about it,” Neff tells CultureMap. Specifically, they want to push back against the stereotypically arrogant bartenders who might exhibit dick-ish behavior by looking down on customers who don't know as much about cocktails and their ingredients as they’ve been trained to.

“I don’t want to write stuff on my menu and people not know what it is. I’ll explain it,” Neff says. “It’s not because they’re dumb; it’s just not their job to know. I want people to explore what we can do in a glass without feeling stupid. I know we’ll do it. Hopefully, people will like it.”

A customer-friendly attitude is just one part of the way Cottonmouth wants to create a different kind of bar experience for its patrons. On CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast, Raymond said they’re inspired by certain aspects of New York in the ’70s, but that doesn’t mean cocktails named after bands or songs. It’s more about an attitude.

“That kind of a vibe of at any given time you don’t know what’s going to happen,” Raymond says. “There could be live music, there could be performance art. We don’t know, and we’re ok with that. We’ll just let it all come together.”

In terms of what’s in the glasses, expect 10 or so of Neff’s original creations that are based on housemade ingredients. He’s creating his own sodas inspired by the flavors of Coke and Sprite to provide for a fresh take on highballs like a Jack and Coke.

The drinks will get more complicated upstairs in what the partners are calling a “reverse speakeasy.” Designed to be an event space for everything from brand activations to guest bartenders, the focus will be on delivering an enhanced experience that also has a vaguely ’70s vibe.

“The inspiration for upstairs is a green room that Led Zeppelin just left,” Raymond says. “The party is still going on, but the band just left. You’re hanging out, it’s relaxed, but it’s a little bit elevated. This has a certain grit to it. Upstairs is a little more posh. I think people will have fun with it.”

Neff still has responsibilities across the country — he spent Wednesday night working a pre-opening party of the Los Angeles location of legendary New York cocktail bar Employees Only — but he expects to spend at least two weeks a month in Houston behind Cottonmouth’s bar. So far, he likes what he’s seen of the Bayou City.

“I really like the enthusiasm of the people in the bars here, and I like the diversity of them,” Neff says. “I’ve fallen in love with four of your dive bars.”

No one will confuse The Cottonmouth Club with a dive bar, but hopefully the feeling will soon be mutual.

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The Cottonmouth Club, 108 Main St.; open daily from 4 pm to 2 am.

Inside The Cottonmouth Club.

Photo by Eric Sandler

Inside The Cottonmouth Club.

downtown openings drinks cocktails

OLE OLE OLE OLE

Running list of Houston restaurants and bars offering World Cup specials

Photo courtesy of Zanti Cucina Italiana

Zanti Cucina Italiana has a golden soccer ball dessert filled with dulce de leche cake.

The world's most popular sport is taking over Houston this summer as the FIFA Club World Cup brings international soccer stars to the city. Whether fans are looking for a place to sip cocktails inspired by competing nations or indulge in soccer-themed desserts, local restaurants and bars are getting in on the action with limited-time food and drink specials, watch parties, and giveaways.

From sushi hand rolls representing countries around the globe to giant game-day platters built for sharing, these Houston-area spots are ready to help soccer fans celebrate every goal.

Azumi
This River Oaks sushi destination is marking soccer season with two limited-time offerings. Diners can choose three hand rolls representing competing nations for $40 with the Soccer Match Set. Options include Japan (toro, negi, shiso), Brazil (salmon, cucumber, mango salsa), USA (lobster, remoulade sauce, green onion), and France (salmon, crème fraîche, caviar). The $50 “We Are the Champions” combo includes a chef’s choice of five premium nigiri and a premium roll.

Barbacana
Chef Christian Hernandez has reimagined dishes from Portugal, Germany, Sweden, and Curaçao for Barbacana’s summer menu. Highlights include a Jolly Farms chicken piri piri sandwich inspired by Portugal and a Münster cheese bratwurst influenced by Germany. The dishes are available à la carte or as part of the restaurant’s chef’s tasting menu, offered during lunch for $65 and dinner for $75.

Best Regards
On June 14, Best Regards will transport its patrons to Amsterdam with themed cocktails and immersive decor for its Second Sunday brunch series to mark the match between Japan and the Netherlands. The outside patio will be adorned with tulips and bikes, and a large LED screen to watch the game with audio. The back patio bar will be cannabis-focused with THC drinks and space cakes, while the indoors will resemble the Red Light District.

Coltivare
The Italian restaurant in the Heights will feature a different speciality cocktail inspired by the matches being played that day in Houston. For example, for the June 14 match between Germany vs. Curaçao, the restaurant will serve a classic radler and a Genever-based highball with tonic. Other sips include a white port and tonic highball and a Santo Libre for Portugal vs. Dominican Republic (June 17), a Swedish spritz for the Netherlands vs. Sweden (June 19), and more.

Craft Pita
Both locations of the Lebanese restaurant will serve game day snacks such as fried cheese rolls, meat pies, rotisserie wings, and flatbreads. In addition, the restaurant will pour $4 Almaza beers and offer 25 percent off to-go mezze platters.

Heights Bier Garten
It’s easy to catch the game at this beer garden, thanks to its massive array of TVs. The $75 Game Day Board feeds six people and includes carnitas tacos, margarita flatbread, wings, buffalo tenders, queso, and sliders. Smaller groups can opt for the half-size version, which feeds three for $40. Jersey giveaways will take place throughout the tournament.

Lankfords The Woodlands
The Woodlands outpost of the beloved burger joint has created two cocktails for the global event. The FIFA Freeze is a neon-blue blend of tequila, passion fruit and coconut purée, lime and pineapple juices, salt, and spirulina. The green-hued Field Fresh combines vodka with muddled cucumber, coconut purée, lime juice, Midori, mint, and club soda.

Le Jardinier
It’s not often that a Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant gets game-day ready, but Le Jardinier has crafted six cocktails inspired by countries competing in the tournament. Highlights include the Black Forest Highball, a nod to Germany made with vodka, Kirschwasser, cherry soda, and mint, and Apricot Season, an Uzbekistan-inspired cocktail featuring apricot liqueur, honey syrup, green tea, Blue Curaçao, and dried apricot. The drinks are available from June 12 through July 5.

Long Weekend
The family-friendly destination is serving burgers on custom soccer ball buns during match days, alongside beer specials, photo opportunities, and a soccer kick challenge for kids. Long Weekend Cafe will also feature soccer-themed conchas and specialty coffee drinks.

Mi Luna Tapas Restaurant & Bar
The Montrose restaurant will offer happy hour all day throughout the tournament along with watch parties for teams such as Morocco, Spain, and the USA. Owned by Morocco native Youssef Nafaa, Mi Luna will celebrate the Morocco vs. Brazil matchup on Saturday, June 13 with a live performance by Salero Flamenco at 9 pm.

Shipley Donuts
The Texas-born doughnut chain is getting into the soccer spirit with limited-edition treats decorated to resemble soccer balls, fields, and team colors. The themed doughnuts will be available at more than 40 Houston-area locations from June 9 through July 19.

Southern Jerks
Feed the whole family with the FIFA Family Package, a $48 meal that includes 25 wings, two large sides, and a two-liter soda. Choose from Pepsi, Starry, Strawberry Crush, or Orange Crush.

Starduster Lounge
When World Cup matches are on at this Heights neighborhood bar, ranch waters are 50 percent off for patrons wearing a soccer jersey. Boiler Maker buckets will also be available, featuring five beers and a complimentary round of mixed shots.

Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café
Stop by Sweet Paris whenever Team USA or France takes the pitch to enjoy $2 beer, wine, frozen mimosas, and French Riviera cocktails. Two specialty crêpes will join the menu from June 1 through July 31. The Creamy Pepper Jack Chicken Crêpe is served with a spring mix salad, while the Le Champion is a sweet creation featuring Nutella mousse, dulce de leche, and an edible gold chocolate soccer ball.

The Finn
Head to The Finn on June 14 from 4-8 pm for the Après Futbol Patio Party with Aperol spritzes. Then, on June 20, the Agave Afterparty invites patrons to sample soccer-inspired cocktails, including classic margaritas representing Mexico and the Blue Lagoon from Curaçao.

The Union Kitchen and Jax Grill
Locations of The Union Kitchen and Jax Grill are serving cocktails featuring Casillero del Diablo wines, an official sponsor of the Mexico National Soccer Team. Diners can choose from the strawberry jalapeño sangria or black and blueberry sangria, both priced at $6. A collectible FIFA-branded cup filled with either sangria or a margarita is also available for $20.

Winsome Prime
Take a world tour through Winsome Prime’s limited-time globally inspired cocktail menu. Highlights include Germany’s Apfelschorle, made with apple brandy and soda sour, and Portugal’s Spanish-style gin and tonic layered with white port, citrus, and rosemary. For those visiting Houston for the first time, the restaurant has created an “A Taste of Texas” sampler featuring Southern fried chicken, creamy mac and cheese, and its signature oxtail roll stuffed with smoked oxtails, collard greens, and cheese.

Zanti Cucina Italiana
The River Oaks eatery has put a soccer spin on its signature $31 dessert sphere in honor of the World Cup. From June 11 through July 19, diners can watch as a golden chocolate soccer ball filled with dulce de leche cake, caramelized pecans, and housemade fiordilatte gelato is finished tableside with warm dulce de leche sauce.

Photo courtesy of Zanti Cucina Italiana

Zanti Cucina Italiana has a golden soccer ball dessert filled with dulce de leche cake.