Kirby Ice House — Restaurant in Houston

I usually love this place for small happy hour meet ups, but I had a horrible experience with hosting an event here. I called two weeks in advance to schedule a going away party for 20 people from 4-7 on a Friday and even called back two more times to confirm it was scheduled 4-7. When my friends and I arrived at 5 we were promptly taken to our tables but the larger of the two tables was taken by two gentlemen. I asked the waitress nicely if she could ask them to move or switch with us because we had more people coming and the 4 top we were sitting at would not be enough for the 4 people we had there and the 4 that were currently en route. Come to find out, they didn't have us scheduled to be there until 7. I notified her of the misunderstanding and she said she would talk to her manager. Upon her return from speaking to her manager, who was about 25 feet away, the waitress communicated that obviously I said the wrong time because the manager was the one I confirmed with the day before and they weren't going to kick regulars off a table for us when it was my fault for saying the wrong time. Please note that I never asked them to be kicked out but that I asked if we could simply switch tables since there were only two of them and 8 of us with more to come.

This was the point where I got very perturbed. That is horrible management if she couldn't walk the 25 feet to come talk to me herself and rectify the situation, or at least explain the reason why. Instead the blame was passed on me for not saying the correct time, when I know I would have gotten the time right one of the three times I called to put a tentative time down, confirm the time and people attending were correct, and confirm that the reservation was still set up for the following day.

In all, we ended up having to pull up chairs to the 4 top table until the two gentlemen left the 6 top an hour later. I did my best to brush it off as a misunderstanding, which happens and I completely understand, but the actions of the management supervising that night seemed far too dismissive and apathetic for me to ever consider hosting an event there again.

I would like to state that the waitress was great in all of this and took care of us rather well. Drinks were served in a timely manner and she even helped us push the two tables together for our group once more...

This was the first stop on my Pub Crawl with friends this past weekend. I had never been here before. It was a very nice place. What surprised me was that it is also dog-friendly, but that's a plus in my book. There were actually 2 people who brought their dogs with them that night. One was a small dog. The other was a white German Shepherd mix. Both very well-behaved. It was fairly large with a very diverse crowd and large beverage selection. You want it, they got it; mixed drinks, beers, wines, etc. I had a Modelo and my friends had an IPA and some variation of a dark brew. I had no interaction with the staff except the busboy who cleared our area after we had finished eating, but there was really no need for me to otherwise. The guy who bussed our table was very polite and made quick work of our small mess with a smile on his face. As for food, there are 2 food trucks outside in the back of the establishment. The portions are wonderful and the food was great. I had a Mahi Bowl which you can get with rice or salad. The Mahi was cooked to perfection and served with rice, thinly sliced cucumbers, and grated carrots. My friend had a Thai Chicken Bowl. It was prepared similarly to my Mahi Bowl except with chicken. It was also delicious and cooked to perfection. Nice, tender, and juicy. There is inside, halfway, and outside seating. To accommodate the patrons in the cooler weather, there are plenty of heaters which I greatly appreciated even though we sat in the halfway area. The atmosphere is wonderful and very social. There is all types of seating. Regular tables, bar seating, picnic table seating, couches, and stools. The atmosphere feels kind of like being at home with friends rather than out at a bar. The parking is plentiful. I really enjoyed myself for the brief time that we were here. There is a game area near the front doors to the right as you enter, though we didn't partake at that time. There are televisions everywhere for the sports fans. The outside areas are very well lit from the parking area to the establishment itself. I would definitely go back here again! Go check...

Where do you go in the Houston area for beer and other drinks? There are lots of options but if you’re like me, you gravitate toward places with a great atmosphere, wide open spaces, and the opportunity for fresh air while you imbibe. One of the best places that matches my requirements is Kirby Ice House.

Before you even walk inside Kirby Ice House, the first thing that stands out is the parking. They have a large lot here and you shouldn’t have any issues finding a spot for your vehicle. This is certainly a plus, as I can think of many similar establishments in the Houston area that have little or no parking, forcing you to drive around and look for street parking instead.

While the warehouse- like, outside of Kirby Ice House might not look very appealing, don’t let this discourage you. Once you walk inside, your feelings will change instantly. This is a big establishment, with a long bar, ample seating, pics from movies on the walls, and televisions for sports viewing. But the best feature of Kirby Ice House is what lies just ahead, in the back of the building. It is here that you will find a massive outdoor space complete with tables and lounge chairs. You feel like you’re in the backyard of a wealthy friend, ready to kick back, sip your beer, and make new friends.

The beer selection is excellent at Kirby Ice House and if you prefer cocktails, there are more than enough choices to satisfy. If you get hungry, just look for the food trucks. They are usually there, ready to fill your stomach with solid nutrition between beverages. My only slight issue with Kirby Ice House is the tendency to have spotty service. In part, it is because the place is so large. If it’s overflowing with thirsty patrons, it may take a little longer to get your glass refilled.

Kirby Ice House can get loud and it isn’t the type of place to go for quiet conversation. No, this is a meeting place for large groups of friends and with its lively atmosphere and excellent drink selection, it ranks among my favorite places for beer and booze in the...