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.

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.

come as you are

LA bar vets open casually stylish new cocktail lounge in Montrose

there's the rub

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