New Montrose Bar in Houston is suitable for solitude as well as socializing

An assortment of cocktails at Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge. Photo by Becca Wright.

Montrose’s latest bar offering, Jethro’s Cocktail Loungeopened at 95 Tuam on April 30. It is part of the portfolio held by Los Angeles restaurateurs Wade McElroy And Russell Malixi. Foraging in Houston Previously reported when the new spot opened, and we were recently invited to see the place in person and sample some of the “retro»drinks.

Jethro’s commitment to throwbacks is immediately apparent in its decor, a mid-century modern confection full of dark woods, dim lights, geometric shapes, and sleek black booths. Instead of being full Don DraperHowever, they added a contemporary, casual touch with pink wallpaper splashed with houseplant leaves. The resulting design is a thoughtful and complementary synthesis of old and new methods.

Notably, the music here blends into the background noise. It is actually possible to talk with your drinking buddies, or curl up in a booth and read a book. This creates a much friendlier and more relaxing environment than many similar places, making it a great place to lounge around instead of grabbing a drink while bar crawling.

Luckily, Jethro’s offers a range of classic and modern specialty cocktails to fill several hours of socializing (or reading – I have my habits, okay?), as well as beer And wine choice. The bar emphasizes Texas beers and spirits, including a rotating selection of local brews, Tito’s Vodka and Green House craft gin.

The latter makes a notable appearance in the Negroni, a deceptively simple standard cocktail that traditionally contains only three ingredients. If these are poor quality or clash with each other, it can result in a bitter, astringent concoction better suited as a bathtub cleaner than a drink. Luckily, Jethro’s Negroni East made with good stuff, demonstrating that the owners know as much about the classics behind the bar as they do the timeless decor in front of it.

It’s this solid foundation in traditional mixology that allows Jethro’s to innovate with its specialty menu. As summer approaches, the Well done to dad – made with Zephyr gin, cantaloupe, lemon and simple syrup – is a slightly sweet and very refreshing way to cool down when the heat hits its peak.

For fans of beer cocktails, try the Mezcalada. Quite frankly, it’s liquid bacon in the best possible sense of the word. Blending lager with mezcal, michelada mix, tamarindo and cilantro, it has a smooth, smoky feel, perfect for lazy brunches when a mimosa seems too sweet and fizzy.

We were originally visiting to tell our readers about Jethro’s food program. Unfortunately, recent storms have delayed the launch of the menu. However, we can tell you what’s coming. It is planned to serve classic bar dishes such as smashburgers, plant-based burgers, fries And grilled cheese, each said to pair well with cocktails. Mezcalada should pair especially well with grilled cheese, as a boozy alternative to tomato soup. We hope to try the food in the future and will update this article with our thoughts if we are able to do so.

If the food ultimately turns out to be as delicious as the drinks, then Jethro’s stands are poised to become a longtime Montrose staple, much like Boheme a few blocks down the road. It’s already a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Jethro’s opens at noon on Sundays and at 4 p.m. the rest of the week.

Meredith Nudo is a Houston-based writer, actress, and voice actor with bylines in HoustoniaChron.com, Houston Press, Texas Signal, Houston Landing and Chronicle of San Francisco. You can learn more about https://linktr.ee/meredithnudo.

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