No party like an oil party
When OTC means Off The Chain: The perfect Houston restaurants to blow yourexpense account on
In a state that's all about being the biggest, the annual Offshore Technology Conference stands out for being the state's biggest four day monument to excess since J.R. Ewing's Dallas.
So let's can the talk about a commitment to safety and responsibility at Reliant Park. With record-high gas prices and profits, we don't have to scout the high-class escorts again to know these guys are ready to party.
So where should an engineer with money to burn go to, well, burn money? We've got a few ideas.
It doesn't take a genius to combine alpha men, expense accounts and steak. We think there's no beating the opulent 40-ounce porterhouse, but Vic & Anthony's really does everything well, including making you feel important. Strip House, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse and Fleming's are other good options.
If happiness means never having to forego bottle service, The Drake is nirvana. It's just the place for oil princes who'd rather be in the meatpacking district and prefer the flirting model-types not come with a price tag.
To mingle with Houston's most fashionably social, just hang out near the packed bar. But for a taste of Texas, book a table to enjoy Robert Del Grande's Southwestern fare.
If you want to head to the hottest, most cutting-edge bar in down, this is it. (It probably helps that the cocktails are spot-on, too.) But don't expect waving around a black card to get you quicker service — I've generally seen it have the opposite effect. Just wait your turn, appreciate that a well-made drink is worth waiting for, and don't even think about asking for vodka.
Any restaurant with a lounge called "the cougar den" is obviously doing something right. Settle in at the oyster bar or sit down and get ready to be impressed by the red fish meuniere or the tuna steak.
Comfortable and eclectic, Zimm's still has all the trappings of a fancy hotel bar but with a slightly more neighborhood feel. If you prefer your martinis a little more formal, you could always wander across the street to the bar at La Colombe d'Or, though.
The Westheimer curve really gives oilmen more than enough options to max out their per diem on a delicate, delicious meal, with Feast, Da Marco and Mark's all in the running. But while most cities offer high-end Italian and American fare, Indika is in a class of its own.
That unexpected chill means cigars aren't just for patios. Fire up the Dominicans inside at Downing Street.
