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Uptown Hookah Bar & Grill

MY REVIEW: The place is not downtwon, midtown, montrose or the heights - now that we have got that out of the way - Uptown is awesome. I like it because sometimes it is slow and I can have a drink with friends and not be bothered and sometimes it is off the chain packed and festive. The owners are amazing and personable - I call them my friends at this point - great people. The staff is very nice and friendly. The food could be better, but i have paid more and gotten less. The setup is nice with indoor seating, booth seating and outdoor seating. I look the hookahs - lemon-mint is GREAT.

I don't look for an establishment to make my evening - I bring my own noise :)

Check-it out with an open mind - you might like what you find.

NAME: Xanman
SUBMITTED: 5/8/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 05/08
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

NEWS: NEWS: Name changed to Uptown Hookah Bar & Grill

MY REVIEW: this is definetely a good place to go on a saturday night. the dj played good music and the food was delicious, not to mention i met my now boyfriend at the bar :D keep it up!

NAME: crystalxlove
SUBMITTED: 9/20/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: a few weeks ago
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: I love the atmosphere of this place, be it inside or out on the patio area. The waitstaff is friendly and attentive and they have a nice selection of shisha flavors to choose from. My friends and I love coming to this place!

NAME: Lisa
SUBMITTED: 7/8/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: June 2007
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Lame joke of a place that serves nothing like tapas, nothing Spanish. We went after work about 730 and found it empty, the waitstaff waiting at the bar, looking bored. After looking over the menu, we asked why they called it Uptown Tapas since they aren't in Uptown and don't serve tapas. The waiter looked at us puzzled, not getting it. We were tempted to leave but decided to try the food..big mistake. Oversalted, and doused with lemon, we figured the sausage they served had 'turned' and they were serving it anyway. Tried to send it back, but the waiter said that we had had several bites and could not. After choking down some other dull stuff, we asked for the check and found we'd been charged for one more wine than we drank. I see from the other posters that this is a pattern here; I would echo them and say STAY AWAY from this strange little place.

NAME: richard
SUBMITTED: 5/5/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 5/07
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: I totally disagree with the reviews, this place totally kicks ass esplendid waitstaff along with the owners I been there so many times that it should be considered my second home the place itself it's unique I love the patio and the food is really good every time I get some time off I go diretly to this place 'cause I love the way they treat me, and of course not the food is not expensive at all and its got this perfect presentation also they have so many flavors for the hookahs as well as the exquisit bar with an extensive list of wines and the bartenders are awesome and very friendly, I totally recommend this place... CONGRATS to the owners and the managment is extremely friendly and helpful.

NAME: carmen
SUBMITTED: 4/27/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 04/07
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: I agree with the last review. I found the food and service terrible. I don't think the owners have ever been in the restaurant business before and it shows. The food and service was down right bad. We were there on a Friday night and the place was fairly empty but we still could not get proper service from the staff. It took them 30 minutes to get our food and they missed up the order twice. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone.

NAME: ms
SUBMITTED: 4/17/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/6/2007
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I do not agree with these reviews. My friends and I are all Latin and found teh food - Paella to be mediocre. Rice was overcooked. Food was overpriced and so was the wine. Service not so great - had to get up to get wine glasses for more that joined our party. Menu was quite absurd as if created on a home PC without even the knowledge enough to add "clip art". Items on menu were minimal as was the wine list.

I found the interior to be quite ornate and didn't really have a style.

There are much better tapas places like M*I-Luna or R*ioja. Needless to say there was no one there on a Friday night and the DJ later didn't even know who ABBA was..........sad. None of my party will be returning.

NAME: lolagirl
SUBMITTED: 2/23/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: Dec. 2006
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Enticed by a curious ad I saw in Houston Press, I went unsure of what to expect. Is it a lounge, a restaurant, a bar, a meat market on Richmond? Or something else. And to be honest, I'm still not sure. The very light crowd, mediocre food that seemed sorta adventurous/rookie-ish, and over the top faux materials decoration, suggests a place in search of itself. Not to mention, the Richmond Strip has been such an 80's relic for so long that it may soon become retro-chic, but until then the enterprise seems to be an uphill challenge, entirely.

NAME: JJM
SUBMITTED: 2/14/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 2/07
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: When I ventured upon Uptown, I was unprepared and curious. But let me say, it surpassed my expectations. The atmosphere and setting are elegant and upscale; just like it's namesake implies. It seems like a great place to meet up with friends, or a great place to enjoy a first date. Ok, now that I've talked it up here are a few cons: The menu is sparse as commented earlier; I'd like to see a couple more fabulous selections. The prices leave your pockets feeling a little light. But then again, once you see the place I believe it's justified. (hopefully they will be adding weekly specials). Overall I rate it a 8.9 (scale of one- to ten+) and I will be making another appearance.

NAME: Chaoskitten
SUBMITTED: 1/6/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/05
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: The place is the best bar I have seen in Houston so far. The prices are good. The selection of wines is very international and very open for all pockets. The food is prepared by very young but talented chefs, the service is good. The patio is for people that miss Europe, the fire pit is not for lawsuit oriented people. Its a fire by christs sake. The hookahs are something for people that like it. The staff is very attentive even if you are sitting outside in the siberian cold of Houstons winter.

Inside the decoration is very tasteful. The owners wife has done a great job here.

The downside is right now the reduced menue, thogh the chef would be grateful to prepare something just for you outside of weekends.

Toilets and other places are very clean.

Bar is very good assorted

NAME: The happier European Gourmet
SUBMITTED: 12/10/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/09/06
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: An oasis in the desert.....This place is a find on the Richmond Strip with ambiance and a distinct personality of its own. The food is incredible, espcially the lamb chops. The patio is the SPOT when you are at Uptown Tapas. The patio is where the hookah bar is as well, mint-stramberry mix is my favorite. The grand opening on 11/22 was awesome.

I will be back.

NAME: M.M.
SUBMITTED: 11/29/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/06
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Uptown Tapas Bar is the most laid-back causal place anyone can ask for. If your looking for amazing food, great music, and the best hookah spot in town Uptown is the place to be.

NAME: Natalie M.
SUBMITTED: 11/20/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: November/2006
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

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