come as you are

LA bar vets open casually stylish new cocktail lounge in Montrose

Montrose residents have a fresh new option for cocktails. Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge opens this Tuesday, April 30.

Photo by Robert Campbell

Jethro's Cocktail Lounge opens April 30.

Located at 95 Tuam Street, which is across ElRo Pizza & Crudo, Jethro’s aims to be a casual bar with a tidy menu of well-executed drinks. It comes from owners Russell Malixi, Wade McElroy, and Andrew Corbett. Malixi and McElroy are native Texans who found success in Los Angeles with bars such as Good Housekeeping, Bar Bohemien, and The Arroyo Club, but decided to return to Texas after the pandemic.

“Texas was calling me home, and Montrose seemed like the perfect place to launch Jethro’s,” Malixi said in a statement. “The welcoming vibe reminded me a little of LA, but the bustling nightlife scene and neighborhood feel is really what sealed the deal.”

The 10 cocktail menu includes the La Dulcita (a watermelon margarita), Not Your Dad’s Old Fashioned (rye, fernet, luxardo, simple syrup, and bitters), and the Coffee in the Morning, an espresso martini-style drink that swaps the familiar vodka for mezcal. A few classic cocktails join a limited selection of beer and wine to round out the beverage options.

Jethro's Cocktail Lounge The Coffee in the Morning uses mezcal instead of vodka.Photo by Becca Wright

For food, the bar is hopping on the smash burger trend. No details on the exact formula, but the bar’s website promises burgers are “coming soon,” along with a vegan option and fries.

Overall, the 2,200-square-foot space has a casual vibe with open seating on a first-come-first-served basis. As if to emphasize the point, press materials note the bar doesn’t require reservations, which seems a little odd since very few bars in Houston do. Take it as a sign that the California guys are still readjusting to the more casual pace of life in Houston.

“We wanted to bring an elevated but approachable bar to the area,” Malixi added. “Our cocktails are desirable any time of day from lunch to a happy hour sip or after dinner nightcap. Come in and unwind. That’s what we like to say.”

Jethro’s will open at 4 pm Tuesday through Friday and noon on Saturday and Sunday.

gimme a grimm burger

Historic Houston burger joint sets opening date for new Woodlands store

Lankford's restaurant The Woodlands Grimm Burger

Photo by Lauren Lutz

The cult-favorite Grimm Burger is a bacon cheeseburger topped with mac and cheese and a fried egg.

One of Houston’s most beloved burger joints will open its third location this weekend. Lankford’s will open its new location in The Woodlands this Saturday, January 31.

Located in the former Baja Cantina space at 24 Waterway Ave., the new Lankford’s builds on the legacy of the restaurant’s two existing locations in Midtown and Bellaire. It offers a number of amenities, such as a 12-tap, self-serve beer wall; a milkshake bar with both traditional shakes and boozy options for adults; and dog-friendly dishes that will include a donation to the Montgomery County Animal Shelter.

Lankford’s signature burgers form the heart of the menu. They include a classic cheeseburger as well as more creative options, including the Grim Burger, a bacon cheeseburger topped with mac and cheese, jalapeños, and a fried egg, and the spicy Firehouse burger, topped with habanero mustard, cayenne butter, and jalapeños. Non-burger options include chicken sandwiches, chili, and a maple-bourbon pork chop.

Customers also have the opportunity to join Lankford’s Reserve, the restaurant’’s new wine club. Priced at $360 per year, members get access to wholesale pricing on select wines, discounts on meals at Lankford’s, and other perks.

The restaurant’s original location traces its roots back to the 1937 when Aubrey and Nona Lankford opened Lankford Grocery. Their daughter, Eydie Lankford Prior, converted the grocery into an icehouse and restaurant that became lauded for its burgers and Texas comfort food. When Eydie retired, her son Paul Prior took over the family business and opened its second location in Belliare. The Woodlands location will be led by the fourth generation of the family — Paul Prior’s daughter, Sydney van der Does, and her husband, Nicolas van der Does.

Ahead of its grand opening on Saturday, the restaurant is hosting a reservation-only soft opening. From there, it will be open for lunch and dinner Monday-Friday beginning at 11 am and brunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 10 am.

Photo by Lauren Lutz

The cult-favorite Grimm Burger is a bacon cheeseburger topped with mac and cheese and a fried egg.

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