Porch Swing Pub

 

2

13

Mandy G.

Houston, TX

So I've been driving by for almost a month wondering what all the hub-bub was about.  This place is so packed all the time.  FINALLY, I found a day to snag a parking spot and an outdoor seat - Steak Night [we were there early though].  The waitresses were awesome.  The bar staff was great! SO nice.  Such a great time I went back 3 days later for crawfish ... mmmmmm crawfish.  Again, arrived early on a Saturday afternoon [1ish], snagged a table outdoors and enjoyed the beeeeeautiful weather, big mudbugs and cold Shiner.  Perfect Saturday.  You just gotta get their early.

It gets 4 stars because while it's so super friendly, don't'expect to get out in under an hour or see your waitress too often.  Parking in their lots fills up but I just mozey over to the credit union parking lot since it serves as overflow for Social too.

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Elite '08

19

205

Venu N.

Washington, DC

The Porch Swing Pub is the latest from the people who brought you the Front Porch Pub.  On the positive side, this means a big, comfortable porch where people can have a few pitchers with friends.  Of course, there are plenty of places like that in Houston.  The Porch Swing Pub's placement in the Heights, however, has the overall effect of taking away from the Heights area appeal.  

As the "yuppie" crowd begins its descent upon the Heights, it is only a matter of time before the area began to lose its character.  The Porch Swing Pub, with its outdoor heating lamps, upscale priced bar food, and homogenous clientele, certainly furthers the supposition that the recent influx of the aforementioned individuals shall also increase their need for "higher end" drinking establishments.  

If anything, this is a brilliant example of a bar understanding their target market and branching out to makes access more readily available to their patrons.  However, when it means that people start associating the Heights in Houston with "that cool bar with the huge front porch" instead of  "that place with the church that was converted into a movie theatre", that isn't necessarily a good thing.

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7

30

Toonces ..

Austin, TX

I've only been here for their weekly specials on crawfish and steaks and it's great!  I see that other people have had a hard time getting in at certain times, especially on nights with specials.  However, I've been going around 7-8pm on those nights and have no problems getting a table or finding parking.

The service is nice, but a little slow at times.  People are usually hanging out there and having a good time so it has a fun atmosphere.

Crawfish nights are Sundays and Tuesdays at $3.75/lb, and steak nights are Wednesdays at $14 for a 1lb ribeye and fully loaded baked potato.

The crawfish is a little overseasoned for my taste, because they cook it in the Cajun seasoning and then douse it with more seasoning after taking it out.  I love eating hot foods and usually have no problems, but after eating two pounds of them, I looked like I had a cheap collagen injection and some kid smeared red crayola all over my lips.  They do sell small, boiled red potatoes at 4/.75.  They're completely bland, but taste like heaven when your lips are on fire.

The ribeye is a GREAT deal for $14!  They season it and grill it right out front so you can smell you're dinner being cooked (They actually do that with the crawfish as well.).  When they bring the steak and potato out to you, they also bring out a huge tupperware container full of all the potato fixings you could ever want (chives, butter, sour cream, bacon bits, shredded cheese).  The potato tasted kind of like it was a little old and the steak isn't the best grade, but they tenderized it enough that it was still very tender.  Overall, everything was pretty tasty for the money.

We're thinking about making Wednesday nights "bonding nights." :)

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1

14

Paul T.

Houston, TX

man the Heights have been needing a place as awesome as this! I absolutely love it here. Finally no more drives to Midtown! Crawfish is awesome! You wouldnt think, but it is.  I like the pretty waitresses too :)  Theyre always slammed here and its a combo of sports, weekly specials, and casualness. Very welcoming.

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1

7

Jeny P.

Houston, TX

I LOVE this place! I've only been going for about a month or so but every time I drive by, the place is always packed.. Cuuuurtis is my favorite bar tender and all of them are very inviting. The drinks are priced awesome and the jukebox has plenty of songs to choose from. It's definitely a laid back crowd and perfect to start out at on a Friday happy hour.

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7

29

Agustin S.

Houston, TX

Alright..I'm the first to review.  This used to be Cosmos, you will not even recognize the building.

Ok the good thing is they gutted it, Cosmos had turned into a real crap hole.  They really put some cash into this place and it has the look of your typical Houston pub i.e....Front Porch, Little Woodrow's, but now I have one in my neighborhood and that makes me happy.  There is a large patio out front, which is furnished with picnic style tables and chairs.  The inside is all wood, the floor, walls, and the bar.  The bar takes up the entire back wall and service was not a problem considering how busy it was.  Porch Swing Pub also has a food menu; it looks like its bunch of bar food.  They have a descent selection of beers on tap (12-14) and plenty of bottled beer and a full bar  And what's a pub without large flat screens on the walls tuned to Sports Center.

My only issue with the place is there was a line for the men's room, which is a problem if you're claiming to be a pub.  Man the Girls were even making fun of us...what's up with that?

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