let's get social

Massive new party palace in The Heights promises bubbly brunch and boozy fun

Heights Social will be an 8,500-square-foot party palace.

Rendering by Long Kim

A veteran Heights bar owner has plans to shake up 20th Street with what he describes as the “ultimate social gathering and party place.” Zach Harris, who owns the popular Drift Bar in The Heights, has announced his newest concept, Heights Social, which is slated to open this fall.

Keeping it walkable for fans and locals, Heights Social will be located right next door to Drift at 1213 W. 20th St. The new spot will boast 8,500 square feet of bar and entertainment space, more than 50 TVs, advanced automated lighting, and a 40-foot LED wall. As for the libation experience, expect cocktails on tap, martinis, a full kitchen and aggressive happy hour specials.

Weekends will see champagne sabering (always an IG story/Boomerang fave), brunch, and late-night DJs.

Specifically for sips, Harris has planned a martini-focused cocktail menu featuring old-school martinis and an espresso martini on tap. Other staples will include gin cocktails on tap, craft cocktail shots, and flavored Old Fashioneds, according to a press release. Harris has also picked an “elevated” wine list, including his off-the-menu personal favorites, such as Plumpjack.

Food offerings will include a thin-crust pizza, appetizers, and charcuterie. Weekend brunch promises to pop (bottles), with tableside champagne service and the aforementioned champagne sabering.

Scenic additions include automated lighting, the first design utilized by Harris’ new company, Harris Hospitality. A 101-inch, Restoration Hardware chandelier mounted above a fountain in an atrium area, with massive skylights overhead, is a signature feature and future selfie haven for guests.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to open another concept on 20th Street,” said Harris in a statement. “Heights Social will be a social gathering place for Houston and the surrounding areas. We want this place to be different and create something special for Houston. It’s the first of many more venues to come for Harris Hospitality.”

Heights Social is the newest concept for Harris’ fledgling firm. The native Houstonian who opened Drift in 2020 promises more Drift bars in the future, plus live music venues around the Lone Star State and beyond.

Heights Social; 1213 W. 20th St. For more information, follow @heightssocialhouston.

cocktails nightlife openings the-heights

one last squeeze

Ben Berg's New York-inspired, fancy burger joint will soon shutter

Photo by Leah Wilson

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The original location of Ben Berg’s fancy burger joint will soon serve its last meal. B.B. Lemon on Washington Avenue will close after service on Sunday, June 1, the restaurant announced on social media.

In response to CultureMap’s request for comment about the decision, a representative provided a statement that reads in part:

“It is never an easy decision to close a restaurant,” Berg said. “The love Houston has shown B.B. Lemon-Washington over the years is what made it such a special place. Thank you for making us part of your everyday moments and life celebrations.”

The statement continues that the restaurant is “no longer part of our strategic plan,” referring to Berg’s company, Berg Hospitality Group. However, the location of B.B Lemon that opened last year in the downtown tunnels will remain open.

Open since late 2018, B.B. Lemon takes inspiration from iconic New York City restaurant JG Melon, including its signature green-and-white checked tablecloths. Thanks to a spacious patio and a lively atmosphere, B.B. Lemon soon found favor with area residents and downtown office workers, who made it a happy hour favorite.

Like its decor, B.B. Lemon’s menu also takes inspiration from the East Coast. In addition to a diner-style, wagyu cheeseburger, the restaurant serves an array of comfort food that includes fish and chips, a lobster roll, and blue crab beignets.

Berg’s decision to close B.B. Lemon follows last year’s closure of Benny Chows, its New York-inspired Chinese American restaurant. In January, the company closed NoPo Cafe to make way for a new location of Bagel Bob’s HTX.

The group also opened three new concepts in 2024: live fire steakhouse Prime 131, retro diner Buttermilk Baby, and upscale steakhouse Turner’s Cut. It will open a second location of Buttermilk Baby in Sugar Land this summer.

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