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    Rocking the Night

    Chic new club raises the glam quotient for nightlife in Midtown, plenty of moola required

    Marcy de Luna
    Marcy de Luna
    Sep 17, 2015 | 8:01 am

    Club Clé (French for key), the posh new nightclub in Midtown, is upping the nightlife ante with 9,000 square feet of high-roller glam and glitz.

    Night owl hedonists can thank Zack Truesdell (Christian’s Tailgate, Saint Dane's), Salim Dehkordi and Dallas Rodriguez (both of Avenue Night Club) for the hotspot where lines for entry form early and the partying continues into the wee morning hours.

    The sexy space, with room for 1,200 (600 inside and 600 outside) revelers, boasts sleek décor in black, rich red and gold, sparkling chandeliers, a central dance floor and a trendy crowd of social movers with plenty of discretionary income.

    The hotspot is is quickly becoming known for its VIP bottle service and a Sin City vibe — all for a price.

    Book it, baby

    Twenty-eight plush booths line either side of the dance area. But you'll need to break out the credit card and commit to the high-end bottle service package in order to secure one of the coveted spots.

    Pricing starts at $300 for a perch in the rear corner of the club. Highly coveted tables, located closest to the DJ booth, require a heftier minimum bottle guarantee, which tops out at $5,000.

    Partying like a rock star at your own table, no matter which price point, will score you a bottle (or bottles) of booze delivered straight to your seat, ensuring you won’t have to fight for the bartender’s attention at the crowded bar — and you can keep the party going without interruption.

    Love the champagne girl

    Spend the big bucks and your bottles will be delivered Sin City-style by a bevy of beauties carrying sparklers and letters that spell out your name as well as by a skimpily-clad champagne girl perched atop a giant gold key that's carried in by four hunky guys.

    The perks that come with table reservations are plenty. You will be greeted at the front door and escorted past the doorman as you bypass the line of common folk waiting to get in. During the evening, no less than four helpers will check in on your table, ensuring that your every booze filled need is met and your table stays serviced and clean.

    For those trying to budget, you can skip table service all together, but you'll have to brave the line to enter and fetch your own drinks. The line starts early for the 10 p.m. opening. We recommend arriving when the doors open. Two bars are located in the front of the club, one dark and mysterious, the other decked out in all white with cushy leather sofas.

    The cool kids

    Get your social game on hobnobbing with your neighbors. High-profilers like Chandler Parsons, Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and former Houston Rockets’ player Robert Horry have been spotted among the crowd.

    In between mingling, make your way to the dance floor as a DJ spins an up-tempo mix of house music, hip-hop and Top 40 tunes over a state-of-the-art sound system and LED screens deliver graphics that sway to the music.

    Poolside manners

    Step outside for a breath of air, take a puff from a rental hookah and hang by the newly added pool. Although it's connected to the patio and accessible during all business hours, hold your swim trunks and bikinis for Sundays — that's the only day you’re allowed to take a dip, 4 to 10 p.m.

    Reserved seating for six daybeds and 10 private cabanas on the open-air party deck is available only to those booking bottle service, of course, which ranges from $300 to $1,500 on Sunday Funday.

    The 40-foot outdoor bar features five flatscreen TVs, 15 beers on tap, shareable punch and eight creative cocktails. Don't skip the Clé De La Ville made with whiskey, citrus fruit and botanical Spanish liqueur, cherry bitters and an orange twist.

    Also exclusive to Sundays is a menu of bites from now-open Pan-Asian neighbor, Tarakaan. Expect ceviche, fish tacos, chicken strips, sandwiches and more.

    VIP bottle service at Club Cle gets your premium bottle of booze delivered by a bevy of girls.

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    Houston's 10 best neighborhood restaurants offer comfort and convenience

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 3, 2026 | 3:16 pm
    Chopnblok food spread
    Courtesy of ChòpnBlọk
    ChòpnBlọk is basking in the national spotlight.

    The time has come to celebrate the nominees for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

    Since a “neighborhood restaurant” should be as available to its customers as possible, we only include establishments that are open at least six days per week and serve both lunch and dinner. Beyond that, they should be affordable, casual, and available to people without a reservation. After all, neighborhood restaurants should be just as welcoming for a spontaneous weeknight craving as they are for fancy weekend celebrations.

    Who will win? Find out at our Tastemaker Awards ceremony April 16 at Silver Street Studios. Dine on bites from this year’s nominees, sip cocktails from our sponsors, and witness as we reveal the winners. Buy your tickets now. A limited number of Early Bird General Admission tickets remain. VIP tickets offer early entry, valet parking, and more perks. All tickets will sell out before the event, so don't wait.

    Here are the nominees for 2026 Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year:

    Aga's
    Even by its incredibly busy standards, the essential Southwest Houston Indo-Pak restaurant had a banner 2025. Not only did Chris Shepherd feature the restaurant on Eat Like a Local, the Chronicle ranked it as Houston’s best restaurant. Plans for a new, to-go only location in Katy will bring its signature goat chops, biryani, karahi, and more to even more people.

    Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine
    With locations in Montrose and Garden Oaks, this cafeteria-style Mediterranean restaurant has built a devoted following for its pita, hummus, vegetables, kebabs, and more. At a time when everyone is looking for an affordable meal, Aladdin offers an entree and sides for as little as $18 or its essential lamb shank for $25. Make sure to save room for a little baklava.

    ChòpnBlọk
    The West African restaurant has earned a lot of national acclaim since opening its Montrose location in 2024, including a glowing two-star review in the New York Times from chief restaurant critic Tejal Rao and a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide. Frequent collabs, including partnerships with the likes of Bun B (Trill Burgers) and Marcus Davis (The Breakfast Klub) help maintain the lively spirit of ChòpnBlọk’s pop-up roots.

    Cuchara
    For almost 15 years, this restaurant has been providing Montrose diners with a taste of Mexico City. Dishes such as turkey in mole negro and huitlacoche quesadilla remain fan favorites, as do the well-crafted margaritas. With Houston on the cusp of peak patio weather, expect Cuchara to be packed for as long as the weather holds.

    Feges BBQ
    With features like a kids play area and dinner service Tuesday through Saturday, the Spring Branch location of Erin Smith and Patrick Feges’ eponymous barbecue joint serves its neighborhood well. The vegetarian-friendly menu — think Korean-braised greens, sweet and spicy sprouts, elote, and more — allows the restaurant to cater to more than carnivores. Happy hour deals, weekly specials, and a $15 pork steak help make the restaurant affordable for area families.

    Handies Douzo
    When Houstonians want the city’s crispiest, most well-crafted hand rolls, they turn to one of this restaurant’s three locations in Montrose, the Heights, or Spring Branch. Both the approachable, counter seating format and affordable prices (a three-roll set is less than $20) make it easy to drop in for a quick bite. Given the attention to detail, it’s no wonder that the Dubai location of Kokoro, its upscale sister concept, made the World’s 50 Best List for the Middle East and North Africa.

    Moon Rabbit
    From staples like spring rolls and shaken beef to more unusual fare like the banh xeo tostada Xi quiche bone marrow, diners turn to this Vietnamese restaurant for well executed fare. Warm service and a creative cocktail list further enhance its appeal.

    Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern
    This pizzeria from the team behind Nobie’s and The Toasted Coconut has quickly become a favorite for Montrose families. Part of the credit goes to the retro-inspired dining room — complete with an arcade, but restaurants do not succeed on vibes alone. It’s the crispy, tavern-style pies, gooey mozzarella sticks, and other crowd-pleasing fare that keeps people coming back again and again.

    North China
    For more than 40 years, this West Houston staple has been serving Chinese, Chinese America, and Korean classics to hungry Houstonians. First timers should seek out signature items like the Beijing fish bun, sizzling rice soup, and Pong Lai beef, which gets its signature spice from chile de arbol. That willingness to blend Chinese classics with Texas flavors keeps diners coming back again and again.

    Pinkerton's Barbecue
    With a second Bib Gourmand designation and a third straight appearance in Texas Monthly’s list of the state’s 50 best barbecue joints, Grant Pinkerton’s Heights-area restaurant has affirmed its status as one of Houston’s premier smokehouses. Diners go to Pinkerton’s for expertly smoked brisket, the signature “candy paint” pork ribs, and sides such as duck jambalaya and jalapeno cheese rice. The recently-opened Upper Kirby location, with its retro style and expanded menu, is the city’s most ambitious barbecue joint to open in the past several years.

    ----

    The Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored in Houston by Maker's Mark, Culinary Khancepts, NTX LVL Event, Shutto and more to be announced. A portion of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, the Southern Smoke Foundation.

    Chopnblok food spread
    Courtesy of ChòpnBlọk

    ChòpnBlọk is basking in the national spotlight.

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