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    Balboa Surf Club

    4.4 (211 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Balboa Surf Club Photos

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    Sashimi salad ($25)-- yellowtail, tuna, salmon with chopped kale salad + honey sesame vinaigrette
    Wendy T.

    Tucked into a discreet corner of the Post Oak Plaza opposite of its sister restaurant (Il Bracco), Balboa Surf Club serves mostly seafood (but you'll find steak, chicken, and burgers on the menu) and even sushi for both lunch and dinner. The interior is energetic but refined, with one side brighter with the bar bathed with natural sunlight and the other side feeling more intimate and darker. They have comfy booths for seating, making it feel a bit like a modernized steakhouse. Everything looks clean and refined; even the outside waiting area and the restrooms match the aesthetics! The food was fresh and delicious! Everything is made in house, from the burger buns to all the desserts-- pretty impressive~ Our top picks were the stone crab claws and the tuna frites + chocolate cream pie for dessert! ** Nigiri platter (4/5): this came with tuna, salmon, and scallop which was super creamy. A little let down that the salmon was served more in a gunkan maki form (battleship style like the usual spicy chopped scallop) than a true nigiri. But everything was fresh and still enjoyable~ ** Rainbow roll (4/5): your usual California roll but topped with tuna, salmon, and yellowtail + some heat with the slices of jalapeño and tanginess. Definitely creamy, but not overly mayo-y tasting. Happy we tried it~ ** Sashimi salad (5/5): loved the chopped Napa salad and that home sesame vinaigrette! The yellowtail, tuna, and salmon sashimi slices were so beautifully presented and also super tasty drizzled with oil. ** Savoy spinach (5/5): while very scrumptious, this was definitely not the healthiest option. It was sautéed and topped with cheese. I would order the grilled broccolini for a healthier veggie option next time! ** Crab and corn chowder (5/5): very creamy without tasting like straight up cheese with that lovely corn flavor + pieces of corn and bites of jalapeño to kick it up a notch. Really enjoyed this comforting cup as it was also served piping hot! ** Stone crab claws (5/5): Haven't seen many places with crab claws on the menu, and we were pleased with these. They were large sized (compared to the colossal sized ones at the well known establishment in Miami)-- still large-and-in-charge and come pre-cracked served on ice with hand towels. Fresh and sweet! ** Tuna frites (5/5): the tuna was nicely seared with a beautiful amber interior. There was a crust of creole seasoning, so it had an extra bit of heat and was a tad salty for me, so next time I might ask if they're able to omit it. Definitely tasted fresh-- one of the best seared tunas I've had in the city :D And the shoe string fries were well seasoned, still fluffy in the middle, and addicting (and I'm usually not a fan!). Would totally order again! ** Chocolate cream pie (5/5): was not expecting coffee in the crust but was so happy to taste it! It was like an espresso chocolate cookie crust with thick, creamy milk chocolate filling topped with some whipped cream. Not like the usual jiggly pudding filling. Totally a dream! I was already full but devoured this. As a sweet tooth, I could come back and happily eat 3 of these for dinner. Service was friendly-- our waitress, Crystal, was bubbly and enthusiastic, and the entire wait staff worked as a team to clear the table, refill our glasses, and bring out the food. Overall, we had a great date night! The food was tasty and fresh, and now we know where to get our stone crab fix! The dress code is business casual, and there was a lot of fun dresses and relaxed but refined attire to match the ambiance :D Come early or make a reservation as it gets busy!

    El guero (L) west side (R)
    Lauren E.

    service here is always pleasant, and attentive. The atmosphere of this restaurant is so intimate and classy. The food is amazing and the drinks are strong. I loved the crab cake and the red fish was flavorful and fresh. Parking is easy, own parking lot and valet offered. The dessert was delicious. Definitely a great date night spot. Cannot wait to come back.

    Coconut shrimp
    Jo-ann H.

    I came here to celebrate my birthday with my girlfriends, and it was a bit disappointing to find out they don't offer any dessert to celebrate special occasions. Honestly, what's the point of selecting an occasion when making a reservation if nothing is included? Thankfully, our server was kind enough to offer us a dessert, which we really appreciated. Pretty ambiance and great service, but slightly salty food for my taste. Appreciate our server for making my birthday a little sweeter!

    Quatre leches
    Amenda K.

    My parents always love coming to Balboa, so I was excited to finally try it out with them for New Years Eve celebrations, and boy was it amazing! The interior is beautiful with dim and romantic lighting, making it also perfect for a date night. We had reservations for 8 PM, but our table wasn't ready until 8:20, understandable though considering it was NYE. We just waited at the bar and grabbed a drink. There was also a firepit with seating available outside to wait at. We shared the Moroccan salad and coconut shrimp. Wow was the salad delicious! The coconut shrimp wasn't anything special in my opinion. For mains, my parents ordered the filet and crab cake, and I ordered the salmon roll. Sides included fries and mashed potatoes. Honestly, everything tasted DIVINE. My dad doesn't even like sushi and raw fish, but he actually really enjoyed my salmon roll (once I convinced him to try it)! We got the quatre leches for dessert, which was good but nothing memorable. Service was quick, and our server was so kind. There's plenty of lot parking available, along with complimentary valet. Overall, I loved my first visit at Balboa and totally understand why it's a staple spot for my parents. I would definitely come back again!

    Genevieve A.

    Came here for a girls night on Saturday and our server was amazing! My girlfriends got mocktails and I had the cocktail with vodka, lemon and mint and that was okay. For dinner my girlfriends got the red fish and I got the chicken sandwich and my chicken sandwich was amazing! The place was dimly lit so the ambiance was amazing! Overall a 10/10

    Cuatro leches
    Jessica B.

    Balboa Surf Club is a beautiful establishment, the ambiance is cool and the service is top tier. I've been on several occasions ranging from weekday business lunches to happy hour and dinner service. When I'm not entertaining clients I love to sit at the bar, the bartenders alternate bar shifts and although I have my favorites (positive + upbeat + conversation) I've never had a bad experience. You can tell service is top of mind for the staff here and although their food isn't the best in my opinion, I continue to patronize the business for their warm, welcoming and attentive staff.

    Bret B.

    I love the Surf Club. This is a beautiful restaurant. Nicer than most high end restaurants. It is not just a pretty face. The food is consistently very good to excellent as is the service. I like the seafood here so stick to fish and shellfish. They have American dishes and Japanese inspired rolls and Sashimi. It

    Grilled Red Fish
    Nicolas F.

    My favorite part of this place was the ambiance and interior design. SOO cool. Service was great as well. The grilled red fish was very good. I felt the fish itself was overcooked but it was balanced out nicely with the cream lemon sauce and lobster on top of the fish. Overall a great dish, very intimate cool interior, I'd love to come back to try different entrees!

    Spicy tuna roll
    Emily Y.

    Wow!! I had no idea what to expect. This was a surprise for my moms birthday dinner. So I had no time to look up the menu ahead of time. Our server was very nice and quick but not rushed service. They gave us a complimentary glass of champagne. The sushi roll was amazing. I'm still thinking about it. lol. The oysters were a great app choice. And the dessert really ended the night on a sweet note. It was a very intimate experience and room. Large booths and great ambiance

    Crab cake
    Anna K.

    Absolutely exceptional! From the pleasant greeting to the excellent food, I loved every minute and look forward to returning soon. Id been told the crab cake is the best in town and I fully agree! What a perfect and generously sized preparation! I also loved the Napa salad, which was so fresh and yummy. The frozen greyhound was also so good - I'd come back just for drinks! Atmosphere was upscale casual and I loved the service and ambiance at the bar and the bar table. All patrons seemed to be enjoying themselves and there was a good, energetic vibe the entire evening.

    Ice Cream
    Shatoyia N.

    Upon entry the staff was very attentive. Our waitress recommended the redfish and it did not disappoint. She also recommended a white wine which was so delicious. The sushi rolls were really good and I don't eat raw sushi. The ambience is chill but vibey. They have self park and valet. Definitely will be back!

    Spicy tuna salad roll
    Meki A.

    First time at Balboa. My sister and I wanted to try it the last time we were in Houston but didn't get a chance. We came for lunch and it wasn't terribly busy but the staff were very nice. It was super clean and inviting, tons of natural light brightening up the restaurant. Started off the a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and we split the spicy tuna roll and coconut shrimp. We are not coconut fans but loved the coconut shrimp. The spicy tuna was fresh and very flavorful and delicious. For my meal I orders the tuna frites with a side of wasabi which really elevated the dish in my opinion. The tuna was seared to perfection and very flavorful. I also orders a gimlet which was delicious! I can't wait to visit Houston again and come here!

    Spicy tuna roll
    Shakia C.

    I came here for lunch today and loved it! The ambiance was nice and we didn't have to wait long for a table. There was a patio area but no one was outside. We were seated in a booth and had an amazing waitress who walked us through options on the menu. We started with the coconut shrimp and spicy tuna roll. Both were amazing and flavorful but the tuna roll was my favorite. It wasn't spicy though but the flavors were delicious. I ordered the crab cakes which came with fries. They did not skimp on the crab meat. It's one large crab cake which was perfect for a lunch option. Highly recommend this spot for a nice lunch or dinner option. I'll definitely be back when I'm back in town

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    Ask the Community - Balboa Surf Club

    Do men need a jacket for dinner?

    Hi! Jackets are not required. We suggest business casual attire but we want our guests to feel comfortable. Our only request is that gentleman wear shirts with sleeves (aka- no tank tops).

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Hidden Bar - More mini cranes!

    Hidden Bar

    4.5(57 reviews)
    2.8 miWest University

    If going twice in two nights when visiting from L.A. isn't a testament to a great bar, I don't know…read morewhat is. I ate at Norigami Tuesday night and it was great as were the cocktails served up at the nextdoor bar called Hidden Bar. On Tuesday, I tried the Thai Chili Ginger Margarita ($13) and it was great, complete with a hunk of candied ginger which I "gingerly" consumed throughout my drink experience...see what I did there? Next, I had the Three Dots and a Daiquiri ($13) with Rum, Lime, Velvet Falernum, All Spice and Pineapple and it was very similar to one of my favorite tiki drinks, the Three Dots and a Dash, complete with 3 luxardo cherries. To finish, I had the absolutely incredible Golden Laurel ($16) with Gin, Italicus Bergamot, House Greek Botanical Bitters and Sea Salt. It is equally beautiful served with a clear bay leaf and delicious. Last night, I was guided by the friendly bartender to try the Et Tu Banana" ($15) with Banana Bourbon, Spiced Pear, Creme de Banane, Campari and Citric Acid. I was a little worried about the cocktail being overly banana-y but it wasn't at all. It was a fantastic drink. For my last call, he recommended the Left Hand ($13) with Bourbon, Campari, Sweet Vermouth and Chocolate Bitters. Again, fantastic. Both nights, the bartenders and drinks were fantastic. Ambiance is nice with moody lighting. They even have a bidet toilet seat in the bathroom! Hidden Bar is a "hidden" gem, for sure. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

    Stopped by The Hidden Bar for drinks and let me just say... the ambiance is EVERYTHING the…read moreaesthetic is super cute, very picture-worthy, and definitely gives that "night out with the girls" vibe. They even have a selfie ring light on the wall, which is such a fun touch for pictures (because if you didn't take pics, did you even go??) Now--fair warning--we went on a Friday night and it was PACKED. We were lucky enough to find seats, but it was so crowded we could barely talk without yelling, and we were basically shoulder-to-shoulder with the people around us Other than that, it's a really nice spot to grab drinks, hang out with friends, and get some cute content. Would I go again? Yes... just maybe not on a Friday night

    Photos
    Hidden Bar - Love the decor!

    Love the decor!

    Hidden Bar
    Hidden Bar

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    Botonica - Botonica on Westcreek

    Botonica

    4.4(14 reviews)
    0.4 miHighland Village, Galleria/Uptown
    Locally owned & operated
    Large group friendly

    Friends in town for a convention, and Ubered from our hotel, so no parking issues. We loved…read moreBotonica. The inside is dark, earthy and very attractive. The cocktail menu has a great variety, Latin influence...best martini that I have ever had. The choices have a strong presence of mezcal and tequila. All beautifully presented. We tried the Empanadas and cheese/meat/fruit tray.

    Botonica is a hidden gem for happy hour! Tuesday to Friday from 4-6pm all drinks are half off and…read moreall food items are 25% off! The inside is dark, moody, and has somewhat earthy tones. It gives me some apothecary vibes. The cocktail menu has a number of choices with strong Latin influence, with a strong presence of mezcal and tequila. All of the cocktails that we tried were not only tasty but also beautifully garnished. We also tried the picada board, similar to a charcuterie board, and it was bountiful! There were a number of cheeses, meats, fruit, olives, crackers, jam, and dried corn snacks. With the happy hour prices this is definitely a great value and a nice option to snack on with a group while enjoying some drinks. My only issue with Botonica is the parking. There is some street parking out front which can be hit or miss depending on what time you visit. You can also utilize the neighboring SkyHouse valet for $10 per their website. Uber might be your best bet.

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    Botonica
    Botonica - Em (i liked)

    Em (i liked)

    Botonica

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    The Cursed Cauldron

    The Cursed Cauldron

    4.6(5 reviews)
    0.4 miHighland Village, Galleria/Uptown

    Very cool Halloween displayed bar. I was so impressed by all the decorations when I visited this…read moreplace. However I thought the service could have used a bit of an improvement. Upon arrival they pointed me to the bar for sitting and brought me water but after that I kept waiting and no one came to get my drink order or describe the different drink options they have other than what was on the menu. So after a few minutes I left the place. I know I had gone around 10 pmish after the food service was over so maybe I will try to give it another shot at an earlier time to see if the service is any better than their late night drink service.

    I'm updating my review since it's been a couple years, and the venue/format of Cursed Cauldron have…read moreevolved. For the past 2 years (Oct '24 and '25), I've visited Cursed Cauldron pop-up at Botonica for their Bewitched Burlesque performance. The ticket price is approachable, and the space is adorably decorated. The performers are all fun and really get into the themes - no 2 performances are the same, either, because they feature different artists each week. There is a special drink menu for the pop-up... they are quite expensive at $16 per cocktail, but they are tasty & they do offer a happy hour until 6pm on weekdays. There are some snacks you can buy at the bar, but I wouldn't recommend having dinner there. I wish they had more witchcraft classes, because the Yule Log class I attended in 2023 was the besssst but I'll continue visiting their pop-ups, regardless. Very festive and lots of fun - especially for the witchy girlies out there!

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    The Cursed Cauldron
    The Cursed Cauldron - Char-boo-tery board

    Char-boo-tery board

    The Cursed Cauldron

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    Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge - outside, covered patio area

    Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge

    4.7(121 reviews)
    4.6 miFourth Ward, Midtown, Montrose
    Free parking
    Happy hour specials

    We stopped into Jethro's Cocktail Lounge while we were out at the Vintage Community Market hosted…read moreby Faculty Club Never, and it ended up being one of those places you're so glad you randomly walked into. First, the vibe. It is warm, stylish, and very Montrose in the best way. It feels elevated but still relaxed enough to just sit, talk, and enjoy your time without feeling rushed. We came during happy hour and it was such a great deal. I ordered the Sweet Like Peach Tree, which was light, refreshing, and perfectly balanced with the peach and ginger. My husband got the Frozen Paloma and it was just as good, super smooth with the right citrus bite. We also shared the churros and they were honestly a must order. Warm, crispy, and paired with Nutella and caramel. What really made the experience stand out though was our bartender, Manny. He was incredibly welcoming from the moment we sat down, had such a great personality, and made the whole experience feel personal. You can tell he genuinely enjoys what he does, and that kind of service is hard to find. He also told us about their upcoming two year anniversary party on May 3rd with rotating live DJs, which sounds like it will be such a fun time. We will definitely be back. Between the drinks, the atmosphere, and the service, this place really gets it right.

    On my weekly walks through midtown, I got to watch Jethro's be built and come to life. First visit…read morewas a big HIT for me and I love finding time to come back. The vibes are immaculate! It's a little small inside and a small parking lot, but if you're lucky and can walk there, do! The quality of the drinks are really excellent and the burgers have been voted some of the best in town! I can't speak for them, but the drinks and the spot, are phenomenal. They have bingo nights, dj nights, and other themed events that keep the place packed out. Maybe once I try the burgers, it'll be 5 stars, but the smallll parking lot and lack of safe street parking keep me at 4.

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    Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge - Cheers to Papa

    Cheers to Papa

    Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge - Bar

    Bar

    Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge - Flor De Cana 12yr Daquiri and Redemption Bourbon Chocolate Old Fashioned

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    Flor De Cana 12yr Daquiri and Redemption Bourbon Chocolate Old Fashioned

    Bar Moon - Wagyu beef tartare

    Bar Moon

    4.0(22 reviews)
    0.1 miGalleria/Uptown

    0/5 stars Avoid this…read moreplace. This is the first time I've ever left a review, and it's because this experience was that terrible. McDonald's drive-thru has better customer service! We had a reservation and were still seated in an overflow area while multiple tables in the main dining room sat open. We ordered drinks, and after they were brought out, no one ever came back to take our food order. Meanwhile, tables around us were fully serviced, while staff didn't even look in our direction. We waited over an hour for our table to be "ready." No one checked on us or gave updates--we had to track someone down ourselves, only to be met with an annoyed, dismissive attitude. Additionally, a manager approached us with a snarky, hostile comment about taking a photo with flash. It was a birthday dinner--of course we wanted to take a picture! Instead of being accommodating, the interaction just added to how unwelcome we already felt. After finally being seated, the horrible service continued. Our waitress attended to the table next to us multiple times and never once came back to check on us. After waiting that long just to be ignored again, we left and went to another restaurant nearby and had a significantly better experience. What's most concerning is that many reviews describe this exact same experience, while others claim good service. That level of inconsistency makes it hard not to feel like the restaurant is profiling guests and deciding who gets attention and who gets overlooked. We were also the only Latinas there, which makes the inconsistency even more uncomfortable and hard to ignore. Unwelcoming, rude, and not worth your time. It's clear this establishment wants to give off the impression of a high-end restaurant, but part of that experience is also providing the customer with decent service. Drinks were mid at best. The worst dining experience I've ever had. Houston has far better options.

    My fiancée made reservations for 9:45 and we arrived around 9:40, unfortunately we had to wait…read moreoutside in the freezing cold to be let on the elevator until our table was available. When we were let upstairs we were greeted by the hostess who offered us a mango Jell-O shots. When we were seated we were impressed with how cute the place is but very small and intimate. I ordered the Morning Dew which is a mezcal cocktail and a spicy margarita. Both drinks were ok. I prefer a stronger drink and both were not very strong. The service was good and both waitresses were attentive.

    Photos
    Bar Moon - Such a pretty environment

    Such a pretty environment

    Bar Moon - Dark side of the moon, coffee mushroom, and post oak campfire which

    Dark side of the moon, coffee mushroom, and post oak campfire which

    Bar Moon

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    Balboa Surf Club - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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