we can be happy underground

Hot new Houston downtown nightclub rocks the party underground

Downtown Houston has a new place to party. Meet Base, a new nightclub located in Market Square.

Don’t let the name cause confusion about a potentially Astros-themed spot. Base’s name is meant to be taken literally, as it occupies the basement of 801 Congress Ave.

The club is the latest project from Concepts To Fruition (also known as C2F), a veteran group of operators behind a number of places in Midtown and on Washington Avenue. Rather than deliver something similar to their previous efforts, a partner tells CultureMap the goal was to channel a New York-style aesthetic.

The whole experience has a bit of an air of mystery. Don’t expect a sign out front, although velvet ropes and a valet stand in front of an office building at 10 pm on a weekend offers an indication that something special is going on.

Enter through the lobby’s marble floor and take an elevator down. Patrons won’t see a doorway, but they will see a neon sign that reads “Shhh...” Push on the wall below the sign to enter the main part of the club.

The owners tout the design aesthetic as “billionaire’s basement.” With its sleek, modern furniture and a well-stocked bookcase lining one wall, the room certainly has a vibe that’s more comfortable hotel lobby bar than glitzy Vegas club. (If that lounge featured servers parading bottles of champagne and alcohol — Veuve Cliquot and Tito’s appeared popular at an invite-only preview party — in light up displays that make sure everyone knows who’s splurging, that is.)

Once inside, the most prominent feature is the dance floor, which resides beneath a lighting fixture that changes color, projects different shapes, and pulses with the music that emanates from the nearby DJ booth. A wide variety of tables and couches provide high rollers with a perch to observe the action.

Since the opening of the OKRA Charity Saloon in 2012, the area around Market Square has become a popular nightlife destination. At a time when more and more people are living downtown — Market Square alone features two luxury towers — the time seems right for a dance club that’s a little more sophisticated. With its hidden location and upscale vibe, Base could become this summer’s hottest party spot.

Houstonians have a new place to dance.

Courtesy of Base Houston

Houstonians have a new place to dance.

nightlife openings cocktails

firing up Montrose

New Houston seafood restaurant adds live-fire flair to Japanese flavors

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.

An ambitious new seafood restaurant is coming to Montrose next week. Casa Kenji will open on Tuesday, December 9.

Located in the former Andiron space (3201 Allen Pkwy), Casa Kenji is the first Houston project for New Orleans restaurateur Malachi DuPre, a former LSU standout who played briefly in the NFL before establishing Kenji and Kenji Kazoku restaurants in New Orleans. Together with former LSU teammate John “B-John” Ballis and Houston chef Bigler “Biggie” Cruz, Casa Kenji will blend Latin and Japanese influences while also incorporating live-fire elements into the restaurant’s dishes. Cruz, whose resume includes a lengthy stint at Uchi as well as working at critically acclaimed Houston seafood restaurant Golfstrømmen, tells CultureMap that Casa Kenji’s approach is the first time he can be himself in the kitchen.

“My perfect restaurant was always based on the live fire and sushi combination,” Cruz says. “My mom cooked with wood for my entire life. The live fire creates completely different flavors. The smoky flavors, the sear from the charcoal — they create a different type of memory for me.”

The use of live fire techniques will permeate Casa Kenji’s menus in ways both big and small. For example, diners will be able to feast on prawns grilled directly on charcoal and served with yuzu chili garlic, or savor lightly seared Japanese wagyu tataki paired with mushrooms. Even raw dishes will benefit from the restaurant’s wood-burning grill and stove.

“Every vegetable we peel, we make into an ash that’s a topping for the dishes. It adds a different layer of flavor,” Cruz says. Look for it in the scallop aguachile, among others.

Even vegetables get a smoky component, as in a cabbage dish that’s braised with dashi and soy sauce before being roasted and served with an onion soubise that Cruz says he developed based on techniques he learned from Golfstrømmen chef Christopher Haatuft.

“It’s rich, super savory, with smoky layers, and you get brightness from the shiso gremolata. I think it will be a signature dish for us,” the chef says.

One change to the interior is the addition of a six-seat omakase counter that looks into the kitchen. Cruz promises those diners will have an even more elevated experience than the restaurant’s regular menu, including ingredients such as Japanese wagyu and premium fish flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.

Beyond its cuisine, Casa Kenji hopes to stand out with its spacious outdoor patio. Since very few Japanese-inspired restaurants in Houston offer outdoor seating, it should appeal to diners who want a little vitamin D along with their tuna crudo.

“We’re proud to showcase the craft and creativity that defines Casa Kenji,” co-founders Cruz, Ballis, and DuPre said in a statement. “With chef Bigler Cruz at the helm — blending live-fire technique with the discipline of Japanese tradition — we’re equally honored and excited to share a unique concept that is truly rooted in passion, culture, and community.”

Casa Kenji will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 4 pm. Reservations are available on Resy.

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.