Brooklyn Athletic Club opened its doors this week in the space formerly occupied by Zimm's Little Deck in Montrose. According to co-founder and general manager Shepard Ross, who's also managing partner at Glass Wall, "Brooklyn Athletic Club is about being social, creating a sense of neighborhood and most of all, slowing down and having fun."

Ross' grandparents grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and belonged to social clubs where they ate drank, and socialized with neighbors. As a kid, Ross — who lived in suburban Long Island — would visit his grandparents and watch them play bocce ball, badminton, dominoes and cards while knocking back cocktails and beer.

Thus, the concept for Brooklyn Athletic Club was born. It's a blend of Ross' fondest childhood memories and his love for food, wine, cocktails and beer.

With Brooklyn Athletic Club, Ross again collaborates with co-founder, chef Jeff Axline. The two have worked together at Glass Wall and BRC Gastropub and their business ties span more than 12 years.

Of Axline, Ross says, "His southern cooking roots are balanced with his time spent cooking in Seattle and his love for varied global cuisine. Jeff's desire to find the freshest ingredients and infuse his unique perspective, make our menus, both exciting and delicious."

Brooklyn Athletic Club has two sides which combine to give an overall chic but laid-back feel. The first is the ClubHouse. It's an upscale diner that features fare like steaks, chops, seafood and pasta.

The second side is the patio area that continues full service dining, but also offers mini croquet, putting cups, and fire pits for warmth and making s'mores.

We stepped behind the bar inside the ClubHouse, which showcases specialty cocktails, artisanal wine and craft beer, and also doubles as a "Chef's Counter" where you can watch the kitchen staff work their magic.

For tips on making one of Ross' favorite specialty cocktails from Brooklyn Athletic Club's drink list, the G'Vine, Lillet & Croquet, see the video above. Get an inside peek of the new venue as well.

In the works: The "BACyard" large lawn area with grill-type menu items like burgers and hot dogs, boxed-in gaming lanes for horseshoes and bocce ball, badminton, croquet, darts, ping pong, and dominoes is on the way. Additionally, picnic tables will abound and you'll be able to order a tasty beverage and picnic-style fare from a bar/equipment shack.

Currently Brooklyn Athletic Club is open only for dinner. Check the restaurant's Facebook page or call 713-527-4440 for updates and more information.

Cheers and Bottoms Up! from CultureMap and Brooklyn Athletic Club.

G'Vine, Lillet & Croquet Cocktail Recipe:

• 2 ounces Lillet Rouge
• 1 1/4 ounces G'Vine Gin
• 2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
• Sparkling wine
• Lemon wheel or fresh berries

Combine Lillet Rouge, G'Vine Gin and fresh grapefruit juice in shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a champagne flute and top off with sparkling wine. Garnish with lemon wheel or berries.