White Oak Social — Restaurant in Houston

I think I just might’ve came on and off night but when I arrived it was hard to get any of the bartenders attention, they were all focused on other “groups” while I was there alone. Once I looked at the menu, I saw that the caprese salad looked appealing. I ordered that along with a skinny margarita. The salad came but was drenched in balsamic vinegar creating a very acidic flavor, along with way too much pepper. I requested to send it back and exchange it for a pizza, but they made a huge to do that they couldn’t find my original tab and couldn’t just “ring up a pizza”- they had to refund the original order first a place a new one for the pizza. I patiently waited, but all in all I was still charged for both still and currently waiting on a pending refund for the salad. Since a lot of time had passed at this point, I requested the pizza to go. Once it arrived, I wanted a few slices there before I took off since I was still hungry. I got multiple strange looks from the bartender wondering why I was eating a “to go” pizza there. I requested some Parmesan cheese, which they ended up trying to take away from me multiple times all because they thought I was “taking the pizza to go” but clearly saw me eating it right infront of them!!! That was probably the most excruciatingly annoying part of the whole evening. I couldn’t even enjoy my night because the staff was obsessed with pulling the Parmesan and red flakes away from me, at one point I didn’t even notice they took it away and I was still eating. I’ve never had this happen before to me at a restaurant or bar, and after spending $60+ there including tip, it’s ridiculous to get sub par customer service. I shouldn’t be treated differently just because I’m not in a huge group, or because I’m requested a drink not on the menu, or because I didn’t like the salad, or because I want my pizza served in a to go box, but wanted to indulge in a few slices there while I finished my cocktail. Unfortunately, I was made to feel like they didn’t want me there. Don’t think I’ll be back unless the staff is different or they undergo better training on how to treat customers. You don’t take someone’s Parmesan and red pepper flakes away while they are still eating, that is just so...

Overall Woodland Social has a lot of great spaces. The inside feels like a great cocktail bar with plenty of tables for a corporate happy hour or booths for a more intimate date night. The outside area has lots of green space for kids to run around plus a lot of great hanging chairs and hammocks for a more chill vibe. There is also a small soccer pitch as well as two volleyball courts. Lots of ++++ amenities all around.

The veggie pizza was great so I assume the other pizzas are too! Margaritas were great.

However,we were there specifically to play volleyball and if you go there for that, it feels like the volleyball courts are there just as service to faithful patrons of Sideout. I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually replaced the volleyball courts with pickleball courts. The sand is absolutely wonderful but the process of renting a court is convoluted and time consuming. As a patron playing volleyball, there are no seats easily accessible to the courts nor do any of the Cocktail waitresses come by the tables that might be considered a part of the courts. There are no seats or tables in the sand area so you have to tuck your drinks into the net or your bags and hope they don't get hit by a loose ball. I was also told that shirts are required in the bar area even though I was covered in sweat and sand. Going barefoot seems to be fine though. Not sure on the pet policy. One last thing is that the lights over the courts went out a few times during our games. I was informed that they are on a timer, which is fine. But I was also told that they can't be turned on again after 11pm, which is a real let down considering I've played volleyball until 2 in the morning when it was Sideout. Having a gate pass through between the courts and the tables at the far end of the volleyball courts/parking lot would be wonderful.

TL;DR: great space for all sorts of vibes. Good food, good drinks. Yes they have volleyball but it feels like pandering to previous clientele vs something they...

Sunday 4/6/25: Earlier tonight, we had dinner not far away at Street Food Thai Market with friends, bringing our own stashes of BYOB beers and Kirkland margaritas.

Afterward, we wrapped up the night with a visit to Woodlands Social. Parking, however, turned into quite the fiasco. The lot attendant asked for $20, but I wasn’t having it. “Uh no, we’ll just park for free on the street,” I said, met with a blank expression. Our friends went ahead and parked in the lot, only to learn later that the fee wasn’t even meant for restaurant patrons - it was reserved for music hall guests, which was down the street! Once informed, the venue refunded the $20 with the help of their staff, but what a headache for everyone involved. 🙄

Adding to the quirkiness of the evening, their QR drink menu excluded beer pricing, leaving us to inquire directly with the waitstaff. Service was prompt with a sparse crowd. We opted for Michelob Ultra drafts at $6, while bottles were $5. Our friends went with $6 Modelo Oro cans and later indulged in more drinks and a shared pizza. Though I was too full to partake, the pizza looked good. There was also a flooded floor next to us, not sure what happened there.

The restroom situation was its own saga. The women's bathroom was reportedly backed up, prompting me to ask an employee for guidance. He led me to the men's room, casually mentioning that the women's stalls were backed up by tampons. Emerging from the stall, I unexpectedly encountered one of the male employees lingering by the urinals. Spotting me, he quickly made his exit. Tough night for everyone - the staff, the patrons, and the facilities!

Oh, and let's not forget the mystery flooding saga - there was a soaked floor right next to us, leaving us wondering what might have gone awry. A spill? Plumbing mishap? Who knows! It didn't directly impact our group but definitely added to the evening's...