i got five on it

Mini cocktail bar with mid century vibes stomps into Garden Oaks

Over the past couple of years, the Stomping Grounds has emerged as a top dining destination for Garden Oaks families. While the development’s greenspace has made it a popular destination for parents and children, a new concept will appeal to a decidedly more adult crowd.

High Five Mini Bar adds a cocktail bar to the Stomping Grounds. Located in the converted shipping container that previously housed Little Dreamer Coffee, High Five will begin serving original and classic cocktails on March 29.

Photo by Sergio Trevino

Proprietor Will Ebarb hands a patron a cocktail.

Proprietor Will Ebarb partnered with Betelgeuse Betelgeuse owner Chris Cusack to bring High Five to life. A veteran of bars such as tiki destination Lei Low, downtown tequila bar The Pastry War, and Cusack’s pizzeria and cocktail bar Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, Ebarb brings more than 20 years of hospitality experience to the new project, according to a release.

“I've wanted to own my own concept ever since I began working in hospitality,” Ebarb said in a statement. “I really wanted to get into cocktails. I learned a lot about how to build cocktails and make it fun. The cocktails that will be offered at High Five are a culmination of creations I’ve developed since I started working in the industry."

Those creations include sips such as the Laid Back (gin, hibiscus, grapefruit lemonade, triple sec), High Five Rise (tequila, cantaloupe agua fresca, lemon, grenadine, agave), Mr Chips (vodka, creme de cacao, white chocolate liqueur, cold brew), Bermuda Swizzle (dark rum, white rum, lime, spices, mint,, sugar, house bitters), and Wham Bam (reposado tequila, mezcal, sherry, mint, lime, cucumber, soda), as well as other riffs on classics such as the Old Fashioned and spritz.

High Five’s shipping container has been given a makeover that includes a paint job centered around bright, primary colors and the addition of mid century design elements. Ebarb explains those touches are inspired by some of his childhood favorites.

“I grew up watching The Jetsons and old school Hanna Barbera cartoons. I love the mid century modern elements from that era of cartoons, and it goes hand in hand with the cocktail vibe. It makes me feel like a kid again seeing old school, fun, vibrant design," he said.

High Five’s opening will kick off a new series of programming at the development called After Hours at Stomping Grounds. Re:vive Development principal Bryan Danna tells CultureMap that a full schedule of events will be announced soon. For now, High Five will celebrate its opening on March 29 with a performance by local rock band Swimwear Department.

"As industry experts with a combined 25-plus years of experience and wisdom, Chris and Will have created an incredibly creative and fun concept that fits seamlessly into this next phase of Stomping Grounds,” Danna added in a release. “We truly have a well rounded After Hours offering for adults on the hunt for a variety of food and great drink options in a social, outdoor setting. High Five may be served up in a small package, but it will make a big impact."

High Five joins a number of restaurants at Stomping Grounds including: LuLoo’s Day + Night, a sandwich concept from the owners of Blood Bros. BBQ; La Mex, a companion to Montrose Tex-Mex favorite La Mexicana; San Francisco-based Thai restaurant Rooster & Rice; a to-go version of Upper Kirby pizzeria Bollo; Sonoma Wine Bar; and Himari, a casual sushi restaurant from Duckstache Hospitality, which won Best New Restaurant in the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards for Aiko. It’s a group that Ebarb is excited to join.

“Stomping Grounds has long been known as a family-friendly spot, and we look forward to taking care of that existing demographic during earlier hours,” he said. “We are also excited to add a new layer, an after hours scene on the green, on top of that. We dig all the restaurants in the development and we aim to raise the tides for the benefit of all.”

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Bari on the move

River Oaks Italian spot claims shuttered Woodlands steakhouse for new location

Courtesy of Bari Ristorante

Bari will serve dishes such as pappardelle bolognese.

Another inner loop dining favorite has set its sights on The Woodlands. Bari Ristorante will open its second location in the booming suburb’s popular Waterway section.

More specifically, Bari has claimed the former Tris space at 24 Waterway Avenue for a new location that will open in early 2026. Work is already underway to transform the space in line with Bari’s original location in River Oaks District. Think Bari’s signature salt walls and a similar color palette.

“Residents of The Woodlands have long enjoyed a reputation for being wine and food lovers,” Bari owners Pedro Teyuca and Tommy Nally tell CultureMap in an email. “You can see that by attendance in their many culinary events and support of the local food culture. Many of our longtime customers live in The Woodlands and have been after us to open Bari closer to home.”

Just as diners can expect a similar design between the two locations, so too will they find a nearly identical menu. That means fan favorites such as truffle pasta that’s finished in a parmigiano reggiano cheese wheel, branzino baked in a salt crust, and a chateaubriand steak that’s cooked in the pizza oven and flambéed table-side. A press release notes that all dishes are made in-house.

“Diners can experience respect for Italian food in a setting that evokes the stylish glamour of Milan and Rome. Serving classic dishes found from the mountains to the sea,” Teyuca and Nally write. “The menu will include dishes that represent the “Best of Bari” as well as the addition of premium cuts of meat.”

Bari opened in May 2023 under the direction of Teyuca, Nally, and chef Renato De Pirro. It quickly drew crowds for it classic italian fare and lively, see-and-be-seen atmosphere.

The trio acquired Georgia James steakhouse from Underbelly Hospitality in the summer of 2024. Tris, a fine dining steakhouse, closed in January after the departure of executive chef Austin Simmons. In early 2026, Simmons will open Charolais by Chef Austin Simmons, an ambitious new concept in The Woodlands’ Hughes Landing district that will include both a restaurant and a butcher shop.

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