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The Houston Blacklight

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Clinton street just got some funky new flavor and it’s name is the The Houston Blacklight. We got to check out this rad new hangout during their opening week and let me tell you, we are obsessed! The entire place is a multisensory experience like no other, and we are very confident that it will be a Clinton street mainstay for many years to come.

One of my favorite things about the space is that the decor is not just decor, it is an immersive experience. From beaded curtains to run your hands along to a whole tasseled wall at the entrance to the color-shifting artwork in the bathrooms, there is always something incredible to look at or touch in The Houston Blacklight. As the name for the bar is taken from the company that produced the psychedelic blacklight posters of the 70’s, it is only appropriate that they would fully live up to that experience.

The cocktails at The Houston Blacklight are imaginative and delightful, with creative combinations that sound like they shouldn’t really work and then they really, really do. A great example of this is the Many Things Cannot Fly- a combo of blackberry gin, coconut rum, Jager and black sesame orgeat. I thought this would NOT be my thing and then I loved it! My personal favorite of the evening though was the Silence is Silly- an incredibly refreshing mix of gin, lime aperitif, Bitter Bianco, cucumber, and salted plum. I would drink these all day and all night if my liver would allow.

The Houston Blacklight shines in the food department as well. They take bar classics and comfort food staples and then put their signature Malaysian-ish twist (with a dabble of French) on them. The Grilled Roti stuffed with cheese is dipped into a spicy tomato curry for an outstanding twist on the classic. French onion ramen hits such a perfect note, it makes you wonder why it hasn’t been done before. My biggest regret of the night was that we shared the Bone Marrow Burger, rather than me just stuffing the entire juicy, rich, indulgent thing into my face alone.

Long story short, you are going to want to go this place. Eat all of the things. Drink all of the things. Play like you are a kid again or a slightly mind-altered adult. We certainly cannot wait to go back and do it all again.

Have you been to the Houston Blacklight yet? What did you think? Let us know in the comments or check them out Here.

Bellwether

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Hot Spot of the Week this week is the fantastic new Southeast spot Bellwether! We finally got a chance to check out this much-talked-about watering hole. I would say we were quite delighted with what we found!

As soon as I walked in the door, I felt transported. The dark wood, coffered ceilings, deep booths, and low light reminded me of a time and place of the past. The tasteful decor and sultry jazz added to the whole picture. It’s cozy, classic, and definitely a place you will want to bring someone special for a date night soon.

The cocktail list takes a more modern bent, combining interesting amaros and liqueurs with classic drink profiles for a fun twist. I started my evening with the No. 5, a smoky and strong blend of tequila, mezcal, Carpano Antica, and Cynar. This drink has the vibe of a Manhattan, but with the complex interplay of smoky agave and herbal notes it hits a whole other level. I followed that up with the No. 10. Gin, Camparo Bianco, Absinthe, Chartreuse, and Soda combined to make a bright and refreshing sipper. Again, the addition of the anise and herbals adds those extra layers that take it beyond the classic gin and soda.

Another aspect I appreciated greatly about Bellwether is the lovely simplicity of the wine list. It is short but well-curated, with simple labels telling you what to expect. You can feel safe in your choices of ‘Good Bubbles’ or ‘Bold Red’. Or you can get a little experimental with ‘Orange Wine for the Brave’. Either way, it removes the guesswork of whether to order this or that wine based on what you are looking for.

The visit wouldn’t have been complete without ordering a few snacks. The food menu at Bellwether is minimal but also will fulfill most needs. I grabbed a starter of the meat plate, which had salami, spicy coppa, and pork rilletes, with a variety of pickled veg and crackers on the side. The meats were Olympia Provisions (so you know they are spot on) and I really loved the pickled kohlrabi addition. For my main I went with the pan seared chicken thighs which were served with an Israeli couscous and wild mushrooms. The chicken was super juicy and tender and the couscous was bright and lemony with perfect earthiness from the mushrooms. 10/10 would eat again!

Bellwether certainly lives up to the hype they have been getting and I’m excited to head back and try all of the rest of their offerings! Check out their menu and plan your visit Here.

Where should we check out for our next Hot Spot? Let us know in the comments!

Deadshot

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Our Hot Spot of the week this week is outstanding SE cocktail spot Deadshot! We had been hearing about this one for ages, in particular from one of our favorite cocktail-loving friends, so it was time for a pop in. Long story short, it was awesome.

We headed in for happy hour and grabbed a spot on the patio. Like many Portland establishments, they have an extended outdoor dining plaza currently, and we sure do hope those stick around! We started off with the happy hour cocktail of the day, an Americano, in part because Campari is delicious and in part because it was going to take a LOT more time to make our decisions. Deadshot is dangerous, as basically every single thing on both the food and cocktail menus sounds amazing.

Once our thirst had been quenched, we moved on to the slightly higher proof Tom and Artemis. This one was a super delicious blend of Old Tom gin, Genepy (an herbal, Alpine liqueur) lime, and absinthe served over a king cube. It was very spirit forward, but also crisp, bright, and drinkable. We also decided to get some tasty snacks and started with the Cha Gio from the happy hour menu. The description of these as ‘crispy pork and shrimp spring rolls did not prepare us for how delicious they were. We honestly considered immediately ordering a second portion. They were crispy, but also tender, and positively juicy inside. The dipping sauce was a great balance of spicy and sweet and the pickled carrots and daikon on the side was a fresh and tangy complement.

Instead, we decided to try out more things from the menu. We went with the Crying Tiger, which was a nicely grilled bone-in slab of short rib, and the Dragon Dumplings. The dumplings were recommended by our server and were outstanding. Ground pork and shrimp stuffed into some nicely toothsome dumplings were tossed in a delicious sauce with grilled long beans and crunchy peanuts. The bowl was nearly clean when it returned to the kitchen. Along with this round of food, we also tested out the Heart of Cyn, a tamarind take on a Whiskey sour that had us puckering but pleased.

We are definitely excited to head back to Deadshot and try out everything else on the menus. Their cocktails are creative and the food is wonderful and we just want more! If you haven’t been yet, check them out Here. If you want to check out our other Hot Spots, you can find them Here. Where should we go next? Let us know in the comments!

5 & Dime

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Our hot spot of the week this week is my favorite patio in FoPo, the 5 & Dime! It’s been almost 2 years since this rad neighborhood spot opened. I am still as excited about it today as I was on opening day! The drinks are cold and the service is warm. What more could you ask for??

First off, I love the decor in this place. From the Anthony Bourdain portrait to the Blazers art and neon signs, everything in here feels hip and effortless. Currently, you will only be able to see it on the way to the bathroom with your mask on, but I applaud the owners for the efforts they have put in to keep everyone safe! They have expanded their outdoor seating area so that there are more tables. All of them have proper spacing and sanitizer as well.

The Seating

The cocktail menu at 5 & Dime is always rotating, and always fabulous. With different themes for each like ‘High School Reading List’ or ‘American Gods’. The seasonal list right now is music-based, and I have been loving the Mary J Blige nod to the Aperol Spritz. If I’m feeling less bubbly (as if) I tend towards their delicious draft Negroni.

While current restrictions mean that their delightful snack boards are on hold for the time being, you can still order some pizza or knots from Atlas pizza next door to soak up all of those tasty libations.

My favorite thing about the 5 & Dime is that they have something for everyone. You can get a cheap beer or a finely-tuned cocktail, a dive bar aesthetic that’s elevated just the right amount, great service with a sense of humor, and most of all, a friendly neighborhood welcome!

Check them out here!

What is your favorite neighborhood haunt? Let us know in the comments!

Hat Yai – Belmont

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For our Hot Spot of the Week, we decided to check out the newly opened SE branch of Southern Thai spot Hat Yai. With counter service and checkered plastic tablecloths, this casual eatery is a perfect spot to grab a bite while checking out the great bars along the Belmont strip with friends. If you want to check out the menu, or see more information, you can do that here

As usual, we each got a cocktail to start. While the cocktail list here isn’t extensive (3 options and a seasonal special) we were both able to easily choose something that catered to our preferences. The Turmeric Sweet Tea was a lovely Thai twist on the classic, and was perfect alongside the fried chicken. The Tamarind Whiskey Smash made me seriously wish it were a hot sunny afternoon. If cocktails aren’t your thing, there is also a no-frills wine and beer list to choose from.

For dinner, we decided to share the famous fried chicken. We opted for the half-chicken portion so we could try several different dishes. The dark meat was, of course, the winner. Even the breast was tasty when doused with the Thai chili dipping sauce. We also shared the Goong Tom Gati, a shrimp and clam curry served with sticky rice. The curry was fine, but we wished we had gone with our instincts and ordered the special Jungle Curry. With trout belly and Chanterelles, it sounded outstanding. However, the person at the counter somewhat warned us off of it saying, “It’s a 9/10 on the spicy scale.” Sometimes in Thai restaurants, that would mean inedible, but once we had tasted the other curry, we felt that we certainly could have handled it.

Our surprise winner of favorite dish of the evening was the seasonal special pea tips. Simply sauteed and served in a light curry sauce, pea tips have been an exciting discovery for me in restaurants this year. They were my favorite of this evening, as well as another spent at delicious newcomer Eem a few months ago. After this experience, I know I will be ordering them every time I see them on a menu! Have you been to Hat Yai yet? What should we order next time?

What Hot Spot should we try out next? Let us know in the comments!