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    Five great outdoor spots

    Party on the patio: Cool drinks that are made for sippin' in the shade

    Caroline Gallay
    Jul 4, 2011 | 11:30 am
    • Zimm's Little Deck
      Photo by Timothy Runyon
    • Benjy's upstairs patio
      Photo by Jack Thompson
    • Samba Grille
      Photo by Paul Cedillio

    Even in the oppressive Houston summer heat, there's something so refreshing about sitting on a shaded patio and sipping a cool drink. Here are some of our favorite options:

    TQLA

    Washington Avenue's TQLA has an ever-revolving drink-of-the-month offering, but if June's Fresa Amor was any kind of representative sample, it'll be reason enough to go back and try the next one. Bright pink and unbelievably refreshing, it's thick with chunks of strawberry and fresh lime and recalls a deconstructed daquiri — the only thing missing is the pool lounger.

    On the total opposite end of that spectrum is the off-menu Oaxcan Gold, a thick, dark, smoky cocktail that tastes almost like tobacco with its Chi Chi Capa mezcal base, Mexican vanilla, pineapple purée and chili powder-glazed rim.

    Enjoy either or a host of other specialty cocktails or taste a tequila flight on the patio over the Three Amigos trio of lime-touched guacamole, habanero and queso.

    Freebirds

    Did you know Freebirds had brunch? What about booze? And live music? I didn't, and man-oh-Manischewitz am I glad I do now.

    Did you know Freebirds had brunch? What about booze? And live music? I didn't, and man-oh-Manischewitz am I glad I do now.

    Brunch at the burrito chain began a little more than eight months ago, "totally under the radar," according to regional director Payman Khania. On the menu are frozen mimosas — of the bottomless variety, if you so choose — Bloody Marys, lime and strawberry margaritas and ridiculously delicious breakfast tacos. You can get super crazy with carnitas, bacon, hashbrowns, corn salsa and egg or go simple. A plate of three tacos plus chips and salsa cost us around $5. All drinks are $2 — $8 for bottomless.

    Adding to the draw is live music — Trey Clark stops by, as does Robert Ellis and The Mighty Orq, among others — and the generous misters out on the patio.

    Currently available at the Shepherd location, the brunch menu is available on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but is being extended through Monday for the Fourth of July weekend.

    Zimm's Little Deck

    Bocce ball (or pétanque, if you want to get technical) and a bar cat named Beignet are a few things you can't find at your average watering hole. If you like a cocktail that's a little different (or a classic Nawlins po-boy) Little Zimm's is probably the place for you.

    Favorites were the Collins, made with ginger beer, our flute of Fleur de lis and the Maman Bebe. Foodwise, there's an amazing off-the-menu Rockefeller mac n' cheese with oysters and crumbled bacon bits. Nom.

    Samba Grille

    The Texas-facing downtown patio of Samba Grille might be fan-less, but it makes for some good people-watching as the crowds line up for various events at the neighboring Verizon Wireless Theater. I only wish I'd have thought to have a drink on the deck before Charlie Sheen hit town back in April.

    Although there are plenty of tempting cocktail concepts on the menu — including a classic Caipirinha, a Latin version of the Stoli Doli with pineapple-infused cachaça and a pineapple mint caipirinha (made with the same infused cachaça from before) — our favorite drink by far was a virgin option that we made a little naughty.

    We'd been tipped off that Samba has a to-die Brazilian lemonade made with lime juice, condensed milk and sugar — lemonade that could benefit only from a healthy dose of Citrón vodka or a spike of cachaça, depending on your preference. They were right.

    While you're there, indulge in some solids. Our own Sarah Rufca recently named Samba's one of the best new menus in town. Period.

    Benjy's on Washington

    Benjy's has the benefit of having the best patio of the bunch, with a retractable awning, fold-away outdoor screenings and a generous helping of overhead fans. We took a spot on one of the perimeter booths so we could take in the scene over our beer flight of (512) Alt, Saint Arnold Weedwacker, Real Ale Alamo Ale (which, interestingly, Real Ale sold the rights to) and Leprechaun golden cider.

    Although Benjy's might seem like a trendy after-work and date spot for the well-heeled, it can certainly satisfy the beer geek in you. We had a couple of the summer's top-selling Bombshell Blondes (served in cans — awesome — by Conroe's Southern Star) and geeked out over the Golden Mojito, which is made with the Leprechaun cider and is a fresh, mucho-drinkable version of the classic.

    Keeping to the pineapple theme of our patio exploration, Benjy's also offers a loverly cocktail called the Pineapple Express, which is essentially sangria marinated in fruit, Chardonnay and 38-times distilled, Austin-based Savvy vodka.

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    news/restaurants-bars

    With or Without Whiz

    Houston burger mastermind fires up new pop-up devoted to Philly cheesesteaks

    Eric Sandler
    Jun 19, 2025 | 4:35 pm
    Bas's Cheesesteaks Abbas Dhanani
    Photo by Michael Ma
    Abbas Dhanani is serving up cheesesteaks at his new pop-up.

    Abbas Dhanani is at it again. The food influencer-turned-restaurateur behind the CultureMap Tastemaker Award-winning smash burger concept Burger Bodega is firing up a new pop-up concept devoted to another iconic sandwich.

    Called Bas’s Cheesesteaks, the new concept will Dhanani’s take on the classic Philly cheesesteak, made with sliced ribeye and white cheese on a seeded hoagie roll — onions and a spicy sauce are optional. A second version swaps the white cheese for Cheez Whiz. Like Burger Bodega, Dhanani is using halal beef for his cheesesteaks.

    Bas's Cheesesteaks cheesesteak sandwichThe cheesesteak is served on a seeded hoagie roll.Photo by Michael Ma

    “We have experimented with cheesesteaks as specials on the menu at Burger Bodega and received amazing feedback,” Dhanani said in a statement. “However, the cheesesteaks at Bas’s are the most refined versions we have done so far. I am excited to bring authentic Philly cheesesteaks to Houston as a new flavor experience while continuing to build on the energy and community we have created at Burger Bodega. This is a huge passion project for me, and I plan to take it step by step, just like Burger Bodega."

    As Dhanani notes, he introduced Burger Bodega with a series of pop-ups throughout Houston. To answer the obvious question, of course a restaurant could be in the cards for Bas’s, too.

    “I think thats the goal of any new pop-up concept,” Dhanani tells CultureMap. “Like Burger Bodega, we want to take it one step at a time and see where it goes.”

    Bas’s Cheesesteaks will have its first pop-up on Monday, June 30 at Burger Bodega’s location (4520 Washington Avenue). In addition to the two cheesesteaks, diners can get fries. Future pop-ups will be announced via Instagram.

    As for Burger Bodega’s second location in Katy, Dhanani says it’s still working through securing the necessary permits to begin construction.

    news-you-can-eatopeningsbas's cheesesteaks
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