The Flat — Restaurant in Houston

I want to share my recent experience at The Flat, a place I’ve frequented often and grown to love. I often visit several times a week, and I’ve always felt a positive connection with the staff, including the owners, whom I see often during the quieter daytime hours. Typically, the atmosphere here is relaxed, and that’s what drew me in… it’s always felt like a welcoming spot.

Tonight, I came in as usual and decided to bring my VR headset, which has Internet capabilities. As I was using it outside, several people commented on how cool it was, which felt like a fun addition to the night. However, I was approached by security, who asked why I was using my headset. I questioned why he was concerned, as it seemed harmless enough, and he told me that I couldn’t use it on the premises. At first, I thought he might be joking, as I couldn’t understand why a VR headset would be an issue. He insisted, though, and told me I would need to leave.

I was completely caught off guard. I’ve never been asked to leave any establishment before, and considering how frequently I come here, this felt both confusing and upsetting. What’s more, just recently, one of the bartenders had even complimented my headset, which made tonight’s reaction even more unexpected.

On my way out, I spoke with the owner to ask about this supposed “policy,” but they couldn’t confirm any rules against using a headset. Additionally, the security guard claimed there was a policy about not using devices after 9 p.m., which was clearly made up on the spot, as I’ve never seen/heard such a rule enforced before.

I’m genuinely hurt by this experience because I’ve always felt respected here and have loved the people and the atmosphere. Tonight, though, it felt like I was intentionally singled out without reason. It pains me to say this, but after such an unsettling interaction, I don’t think I can continue to visit a place that now feels unwelcoming. I’m heart broken because this was my favorite bar 💔

Edit (added response to owners response explaining that I can’t use it at night due to recording capabilities and can only use it during the day): I’m struggling to understand the rationale behind the restrictions on recording. If the concern is the recording capability, what difference does it make whether I use it during the day or at night? It actually seems less disruptive at night due to lower natural light. Furthermore, countless people post about this location on social media, and there are photos on Google reviews. This feels like I’m being singled out for no valid reason… perhaps just because security has nothing...

I'm a huge foodie, but out of all the restaurants I've been to across a dozen states and many years, I can say this place is probably the worst service experience I've ever had. Firstly, the restaurant has it so all orders, food and drinks, are made through a single bartender. I arrived with my group at 6:30, 30 minutes before happy hour (50% off pizzas) so I imagined we'd have plenty of time to get our orders in. The bartender took the rest of my group's orders first as I was still looking through the menu. But instead of taking my order next, she moved on to the party to the left of us. No biggie, so 2 people in my group left to find seats and 1 person stayed to wait with me. The bartender, instead of taking everyone's order and putting it in at once, makes each of the person's drinks before moving on. Thus it took a good 10 minutes before she reached me. However, instead of taking my order as I was the next person in sequential order, she skipped over me and took the next person's order. I didn't want to be rude and interrupt her when she had already asked the next person for their order. She kept moving on to all the people to the right of me, taking their orders and making their drinks and another 25 minutes later I decided to call out and ask if I can order. She apologized and assumed I had already ordered because my friends did (why would i be waiting standing and looking forward for 30 minutes if so?) This all would be fine, but by now it was 7:03 and I asked if we could still get the happy hour discount, and she refused saying the system wouldn't let her--despite her admitting it was her mistake that she passed over me and kept me waiting. I don't understand why she couldn't make an exception since it was only THREE MINUTES past happy hour. In addition, the PIZZA restaurant was apparently out of cheese, so I'd have to wait another 30+ minutes to get my order. I definitely do not recommend this place. They desperately need to change the way they take orders or hire...

As someone who has seen firsthand how much certain patrons have supported The Flat, I feel compelled to speak on behalf of someone who was treated unfairly. This person has been a loyal guest, frequently bringing both locals and out-of-town visitors to the venue—many of whom became regulars themselves. Their support has contributed to the community and success of this establishment.

Unfortunately, they recently experienced an incident that was not handled appropriately. While visiting The Flat, they were subjected to inappropriate behavior by another guest. In response, they defended themselves verbally—without any violence—yet were still removed from the venue along with the person who caused the issue. Later, they were informed of a months-long ban, despite doing nothing to warrant such a consequence. The reasoning behind this decision was vague and unfair, making it clear that their safety and well-being were not prioritized.

While maintaining order is important, penalizing someone for standing up for themselves—especially when done nonviolently—is unacceptable. No one should feel unsafe or silenced in a space they have consistently supported. The Flat has an opportunity to do better when it comes to protecting its patrons, particularly women, and ensuring that the right individuals are held accountable in situations like these.

I truly hope management reevaluates how they handle incidents like this in the future, as no loyal customer should be...