Support the 'Stros

6 best Houston bars and restaurants to cheer on the Astros run to the World Series

Pour Behavior is ready for Astros fans.

Photo by Eric Sandler

Having finished with the best record in baseball, the Astros are the odds-on favorite to win the World Series. As 2017’s run to the team’s first title demonstrated, Houstonians go baseball crazy when the ‘Stros are in the playoffs.

Frankly, watching sports is more fun in a group. Sweating out every pitch and cheering every home run is just better when surrounded by people who are locked in on every moment.

With that in mind, consider this list of recently opened or significantly renovated options for watching sports (roughly in the last year or so). While the focus is on the Astros, they’ll also be handy should the Texans get things figured out or if the Rockets’ union of James Harden and Russell Westbrook proves to be as dominant as it has the potential to be.

Electric FeelGood
Yes, the neon signage and slide might lead some to believe Midtown’s newest bar is just a party spot, but it’s got legit sports bar amenities, including lots of TVs downstairs and a room upstairs with a panel that can display eight different games at once. During Astros games, the bar’s specials include beer buckets ($15 for domestics and $20 for imports) and discounts on snacks ($6 potato bombs and $10 flatbreads).

The Dogwood, Electric FeelGood’s sister concept, isn’t new, but it has specials of its own, including $14 buckets of Miller Lite or Coors Light, $5 pours of Jim Beam, $5 bowls of queso, $6 pulled pork sandwiches, and a dozen wings for $12.

Jack & Ginger’s
The Irish pub will have its TVs tuned in to the ‘Stros throughout the playoffs. In addition to its typical happy hour deals on wine, appetizers, and beer flights (Monday through Friday 11 am to 9 pm), the bar will run game day specials of $5 Karbach Crawford Bocks and $5 Irish chips and dip (potato chips with smoked cheddar and French onion dip).

Pitch 25
Sure, this EaDo spot has a soccer theme, but the massive beer garden works for watching more than the beautiful game. They’ll open early for Friday’s 1 pm start. With 100 taps of beer and wine, finding the perfect pairing for that smoked turkey sandwich is a cinch.

Pour Behavior
Midtown’s massive new sports bar and nightclub has already become a popular destination for watching college and pro football, but the Astros playoff games should really draw a crowd. Not only will the bar open early for afternoon games, but it will give customers a free cinnamon bun every time an Astros player hits a home run. That’s in addition to daily specials like a free beer for burger purchase on Monday and half-off pizzas and bottles of wine on Friday. During happy hour (Monday through Friday from 4-7 pm), get half-off beer, wine, spirits, and small plates.

Preslee’s Southern Good Eatery
This new bar and restaurant opened this week — just in time for customers to settle in to watch the Astros game on its massive patio. Every Bregman bomb and Springer dinger will seem a little more impactful after a couple of frozen Jack and Cokes or an order of fried catfish.

Vara’s on 45
Dirt Bar owner Shaun Sharma has balanced Vara’s divey character with an expanded patio that will be a pleasant place to hang out as soon as Monday’s cool front arrives. Of course, each game will be displayed on the bar’s TVs. Every time the Astros are winning, it will sell Karbach Crawford Bock for $1 per can.

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Looking for more suggestions? Listen to this month's The Full Menu on Houston Matters.

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there's the rub

Restaurant known for 'new Houston cuisine' now open in Cypress

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.

A restaurant known for its eclectic “new Houston cuisine” has opened in Cypress. The fourth location of Jonathan’s the Rub is now open for dinner in Bridgeland (20215 Bridgeland Creek Parkway).

First announced last year, the new Jonathan’s is located in Village Green, a 70-acre mixed-use development within the 925-acre Bridgeland Central district. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant includes two patios totaling 2,600 square feet, giving the restaurant plenty of room for private dining rooms, a bar area, and indoor-outdoor areas with fire pits and greenery.

“We were looking for the next frontier — a community with a booming population and a clear vision for growth that aligns with our brand,” chef-owner Jonathan Levine said in a statement. “When we discovered Bridgeland and learned it was a Howard Hughes development, we were immediately impressed. With their reputation for developing generational communities, we felt confident that Bridgeland was the right place for our family and for Jonathan’s the Rub.”

Like Jonathan’s three other locations, the menu at Bridgeland is built around Levine’s signature “new Houston cuisine,” a kicked-up take on comfort food that includes everything from lobster tacos and blackened shrimp and grits to Italian American classics and steakhouse fare.

Village Green is also home to H-E-B and restaurants such as Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café and Crust Pizza Co. Austin-based burger joint P. Terry’s will open there next year.

“Jonathan’s the Rub’s arrival in Bridgeland Central brings a distinguished addition to the culinary scene in both the community and northwest Houston,” said Jim Carman, president of the Texas region, for Bridgeland developer Howard Hughes Communities. “We’re proud to partner with exceptional restaurateurs like Chef Jonathan Levine to bring elevated dining experiences that enhance the lifestyle offerings for our residents and neighbors.”

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.