A very social house

Stylish new cocktail bar requests Houstonians dress up for drinks

A successful Houston bar group has unveiled their latest project. Eberhard Social House is the latest concept from The Kirby Group.

Located within the Harlow District at 1216 West Clay St., Eberhard Social House joins Kirby Group sister concepts teahouse Emma Jane, cocktail bar Mr. Nice, and Tex-Mex-inspired restaurant and bar Verde Garden in the food-and-drink-focused development. Compared to its siblings, Eberhard is a more upscale affair, with a refined, two-story interior and an extensive cocktail program.

Intended as a venue to host date nights, special occasions, or as a component of a nice night out — possibly paired with a visit to a nearby restaurant such as Katami and La Griglia — Eberhard’s beige and gray interior is intended to convey a luxurious atmosphere.

“With Eberhard Social House, our goal was to create a place that feels both timeless and fresh, stylish, social, and just a bit unexpected," Kirby Group co-owner Andy Aweida said. "It’s the kind of space where the energy builds throughout the night, the cocktails are crafted with care, and every detail invites you to linger and enjoy.”

The menu of house cocktails ($17) includes variations on classics like the espresso martini, lychee martini, and Martinez, including:

Playa Padre – Tequila, mezcal, dry Curaçao, pineapple, orange, coconut milk, agave, habanero
Martinez – Old Tom Gin, Maraschino liqueur, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters
Espresso Martini – Reposado tequila, coffee liqueur, espresso, cane sugar
Linen Sheets – Vodka, lychee, probiotic liquid yogurt, lychee liqueur, cherry blossom cordial, lime
Rose Prickly Pear Spritz – Prickly pear, lime acid, “pink potion mix,” Topo Chico, smoked salt (mocktail)

Those who prefer wine will find selections by the glass or bottle.

Happy hour is served Tuesday through Friday from 4-7 pm. It includes house cocktails priced from $6-8, along with discounts on wine and charcuterie boards and light bites.

On its website, the bar lists a dress code that prohibits a range of attire, including athleisure, flip-flops, “excessively revealing or sheer clothing,” and pajamas.

“We welcome attire that reflects a smart casual or business casual standard — clean, well-fitting, and stylishly composed,” the website states. “While we understand that personal expression and comfort are important, we ask that clothing choices align with the tone and setting of our space.”

Eberhard is open Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 4 pm. Reservations are available online.

$\u200bEberhard Social House interior$

Photo by Joel Ramirez

Eberhard Social House is the latest project from The Kirby Group.

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Houston's smallest restaurant?

Michelin-recognized Houston sushi chef fires up 4-seat Japanese skewer spot

Courtesy of Sip & Skewer

Diners sit in front of chefs cooking on a grill.

The team behind one of Houston’s Michelin-recognized sushi restaurants is opening an intimate new izakaya. Sip & Skewer is the newest concept from Hidden Omakase owner Tuan Tran and chef Marcos Juarez.

Opening Friday, February 13, Sip & Skewer is a four-seat restaurant devoted to skewered meats that’s located within Sushi by Hidden, the group’s affordable omakase restaurant in Rice Village. At Sip & Skewer, diners sit across from the chefs as they cook a 10-course, $90 meal on a Japanese binchotan grill.

“Sip & Skewer is small, loud, and intentional. The kind of hidden experience you’d find in Tokyo,” Tran said. “And with Chef Marcos guiding the team at Sushi by Hidden, this space is getting new energy from every angle.”

A four-seat restaurant within a 10-seat restaurant might seem kind of superfluous, but Tran explains that it’s part of a larger plan for his group of restaurants, which also includes West U. hand roll restaurant Norigami. It also builds on the success of Hidden Omakase, the Galleria-area sushi counter that earned a Recommended designation in the Michelin Guide.

“Sip & Skewer is part of a larger vision. It’s designed as a stepping stone toward our next concept, Kōri, a new hand roll and craft cocktail bar opening in the Heights. Our plan is to open Sip & Skewer directly next to our hand roll spot, creating a small alley of Japanese concepts that feed into one another,” Tran explains.

“This allows us to build awareness, train our team in a new format, and introduce guests to Japanese charcoal grilling in a very personal way before we scale the idea into a larger setting with Kōri. The four-seat format keeps overhead extremely low while serving as a live test kitchen and brand builder for what’s coming next,” he adds.

On a related note, Juarez and the other chefs at Hidden Omakase are dividing their time between all three restaurants. Tuam explains that it’s a deliberate strategy to ensure a consistent customer experience.

“The same team that works Michelin-recognized omakase service also runs the grill here, which keeps quality and execution consistent while allowing the chefs a creative outlet in a very different format,” Tran said. “Because Sip & Skewer is only four seats and reservations only, it does not require a dedicated full-time staff. It’s an extension of the team rather than a separate operation.”

A very social house

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