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Categories: Dive Bars, Restaurants
Neighborhood: West University
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I've been back many many times since my original review and I must finally upgrade this place to 5 stars!
I just love it so much. Going over half a year now without a sip of beer I have learned to drink more cocktails. This is and anvil are the specialists when it comes to cocktails.
What makes this place a standout 5 are the frozen drinks! The frozen screwdrivers are sweet but still pack a powerful punch. The rum and cokes are also the same way. Who doesn't love a slushee? Who doesn't just melt over a slushee with alcohal?!?!
But my newest discovery is this place serves food! On my recent outing for Heidi's birthday I had came straight from work and was in dire need for food.
They offer sandwiches. I had the ham and cheese, with pesto mayo!!! Some of the best tasting mayo's around. I destroyed the sandwich and the side of potato salad.
I can't spend all night here but it's a great pre drink place.
Ever since I gave up drinking beers I find myself only doing straight shots or cocktails.
I don't…
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There is way too much hype on the frozen screwdrivers. I tried that and it was very good, but not the I-don't-mind-standing-six-deep-and waiting-20-plus-minutes-for-one-drink-good. Even at the patio out back with a waitress it still took about that long to get a drink. Or even longer, considering you had to wait about 10-15 minutes to place the order, and then another 10-15 minutes for her to come back with it. As crowded and pricey some of the drinks were ($9.75 for the frozen screwdriver) why doesn't this place hire more staff???
If I could get the drinks quicker I may have downed more than just one and possibly be a much more relaxed (therefor happy) customer. However after the run around to find a parking spot, then the wait for my drink, then the wait to place a food order, then the wait to pay...I was just plain disgruntled. To top that off when I paid for my order the waitress never gave me my change back. I had to chase her down and remind her before I could leave.
I ordered a sandwich and only finished half. There just didn't seem to be any taste in it...until I got to the last corner and then was hit with a massive amount of...vinegar? Eeeck. The potato salad was good though. The only other thing I really liked about this bar were the lights/lanterns hanging up and down the bar. They were beautiful, and each one unique.
So that pitches good potato salad, nice lights, and okay frozen screwdriver versus bad parking, super slow service, and an unbalanced sandwich...the final verdict? I would like this place so much better if it wasn't annoyingly crowed and super duper slow!
Maybe I should try coming back on off peak hours, or in hotter weather. That might make the frozen screwdriver taste better. I also wanted to try the other hyped about drink: frozen rum & coke. Or I can just hit up one of the better bars and bypass the novelty of having my two favorite drinks frozen. Yeah, I think I'll go with the later.
I came here for Steak Night last Monday with my good friend Janice! It was $15 for a salad, steak+mashed potatoes, and flan! Pretty good deal (especially since I didn't have to pay!) It was pretty dark inside - so kind of hard to see the food, but atmosphere was great for catching up.
The salad was okay, steak was cooked just right for medium rare - but a little to charred for my taste. The mashed potatoes are definitely perfect to eat with steak! Flan was a good way to end the meal. Service wasn't too slow, but they weren't terribly busy when we started eating.
I'll probably be back if I'm in the mood for steak and need to satisfy my craving!
OMG, rum and coke slurpees! aieeeeee!!! I always knew that Volcano was the place to go to for frozen screwdrivers but you really should try their frozen rum and cokes. Ah-may-zing! Apparently, one of those tasty concoctions is the equivalent of two drinks. That might explain the shit-ass grin that quickly appeared on my face after downing two of these. Oh, so dangerous since I slurped these down as if they were, well, regular slurpees. Brain freeze! Take care with these slushees or you'll be the one getting sloshed.
I took a quick break from my frozen journey to try the strawberry mojito martini, which would should have really been named strawberry minto mojito salad since it was so chalk-full of the fruit and leaf that it served as an appetizer. Though it sounds tasty, it's rather bitter so I recommend passing on this strange brew. Stick to the frozen rum and coke. Okay, you can haz beer, if u wish. Dem's tasty 2.
A little warning: if u lurves the frozen rum-n-coke as much as i do and make this the starting point of the night, don't be surprise if you're still making ass prints there at closing time.
Foodwise, well, you read about the martini, right? That's the extent of my food experience. Atmosphere-wise, it's pretty laid back. Good mix of people - hipsters, hippies, hotties, wannabes, grungies, don't care-abies - you get the point. Service can be hit or miss - you might be better off going up to the bar. Yep, parking blows and the area is tow-happy so check around before you hoof it on over.
The Volcano is something you have to be in the mood for. I mean, the constant back and forth from the crowded bar, whiff of liquor stains on the ground... you have to be in "serious chill mode."
This tiki-themed college hangout has everything Gilligan and his pals would ever need. Multiple bars, outdoor seating, a dark boho interior, jukebox, craft beer and creative cocktail selection, food and a popular steak night. Oh, and cute chicks for the hottie Professor and brainy/fratty-esque Rice U bois for Mary Ann and Ginger. I think I just spotted my future ex-husband. Wha?
So, I've been to the Volcano a few times, but never ordered up a drink! (Sometimes you gotta sober up.) The frozen screwdrivers and frozen rum 'n' Cokes were a hit with our table, but I wanted to try this strawberry basil margarita everyone yelps about ... aka the salad.
Yup, this drink was half strawberry chunks and huge leaflets of basil and half room-temp margarita. Total disappointment. So second round, I went straight for the Saint Arnold Summer Pils, which they were out of, natch. So I ended up with Duvel, which pleased my palate considering, well, it's Duvel.
The bartender that tended to my tab was friendly and worked as fast as she could go, pummeling cocktails and serving us a variety of bevs without giving the "why can't you peeps order the same drank!" face. You know what I'm talkin' about. In cooler temps, I'll go back and on a weekday only ... maybe steak night.
I have a love hate relationship with Volcano. More love than hate. I love their frozen screwdrivers & the place just has a really good vibe with a relaxed atmosphere. Lots of friendly people at neighboring tables, great patios (yes, patios plural), and a giant A/C tube on the back patio is killer.
What's not to love? The service. Their bartenders couldn't be slower if they tried. Actually, I think they are just understaffed. The most I've ever seen working the bar is three people. That isn't many for such a packed place.
Even with their slow waitstaff, I always have a fun night when we end up here. They have a really small lot that fills up fast. You might need to park a street over or across the street in order to avoid being towed.
Ok, I'll be honest. I don't remember more than the first hour of my visit here. What I DO remember, I loved.
My friends suggested the place because my drink is rum & coke. They thought I'd love the frozen rum & cokes. They were correct. I loved them a little too much.
Atmosphere is very chill. We hung out on both the patio and then moved inside. I think my friends socialized quite a bit with the people around us. By that time, though, I was tanked and wasn't doing much more than upsetting the table every time I stood up to take a bio break. My water shows are specTAcular. Or so I hear.
**NOTE**: If you haven't been there before and you are planning to drink a bit, make sure you know which bathrooms are which. This is very important. If you wait until you've had enough drinks to be fuzzy, the tin pictures on the doors are EXTREMELY CONFUSING! I think I stood there for damn near 5 minutes trying to figure out if the picture was male or female. Lucky for me, I think someone exited and I figured out which one was the right one. Sheesh. That could have been a moment.
I plan to go back and remember more the next time. I did indeed have a fantastic time, though, so I'm going to go ahead with the 5 stars for the frozen rum & cokes.
Tuesday nights are Steak Nights. They offer the rib-eye steak for only $15! #1, I was amazed at the price and #2, I was even more amazed at the quality. Granted, this was not the best rib-eye I've ever had, but it has to rank in the top 5 (top 3 if based on price).
The steak was very tender and easy to cut. It was not overcooked (as the case with my medium well orders) and the mashed potatoes were the ultimate compliment (as they always are). It also came with the starter salad, which was decent, but it suppressed my hunger a little bit.
My friend had ordered the frozen screwdriver (as I had to study for an exam) so I didn't drink any alcohol. However, I did politely ask her if I can taste it a little bit in order to write my review. Being the nice person she was, she said yes. And by that, I got to taste what I would call a delicious orange shake. The vodka was very subtle, just the way I like it. It was a bit pricey (I believe around $5), but on a hot summer day, I would chose that over any other alcoholic drink.
Just remember, if you're feeling for some good steak and a nice cold drink, I would suggest the Volcano. Next time, when I don't have to study for my exam, I will try the frozen coke and rum and let you know my thoughts....but I'm sure it will be delicious as recommended by other yelpers.
Two Words: Frozen Screwdriver!
I am not a fan of vodka, or anything with vodka; however, this is the best drink ever. Typically frozen drinks are not potent and pretty pointless, unless you're here! The frozen rum & coke is great too! In addition to the specialty drinks (which are all great) Under the Volcano has the BEST ham & cheese sandwich ever. Not to mention the fantastic Italian Queso! I can't say enough about this place! The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the service which is lacking so the best bet is to order from the bar!
I came here looking for people to scoff at. Particularly, people I shared a lit class with. However, I did not make it far as my steak-night friends were sitting on the patio.
I had a $5 frozen screwdriver (which I mistakenly referred to as a frozen corkscrew), a 16 oz. ribeye and mashed potatoes. I omitted the salad. I was really pretty happy with my steak, considering it only cost $15. I asked for between rare and medium rare and got medium rare. My friend sitting next to me asked for medium rare and definitely got between rare and medium rare. But either way, we were very happy with the steaks and I was particularly thrilled by trying chimichurri sauce w/ steak. Was it the best steak I've ever tasted? No...but it is easily 1/3 the price and better than anything I could have made at home with my trusty cast iron.
I also really liked the service. It was very slow. It took forever to get our drinks, to finally order, to get our steaks, and to get our bill. No doubt about it. But our waitress also noticed small things like when my water needed to be refilled without me even having to ask despite the incoming crowd. I liked that a lot.
I'll come here again with the girlfriend if we're ever in the mood for a moderately priced steak. $25 after tip and tax is by no means a cheap dinner but it was really quite an enjoyable dinner.
I agree with Hayden. THE BEST frozen screwdrivers. I'm from the NW side of town and drive all the way to Volcano just for the frozen screwdrivers. A few of those and you are feeling gooooood. :-)
Last time I went there was a couple weekends ago. I think it is time for another trip. :-)
I have not tried their munchies as of yet so can not comment on that.
I gotta say... Houston... you suck. Your highway system is cracked, the city planner should be shot, and put some more public transportation please! But besides that, I think one of the saving graces is this lovely joint.
I love the Volcano's voodoo vibe. Hands down the best mojito I have ever had, I appreciate you had a Tom Collins on your menu and bow down to you for you edamame and brie snack options.
It is a great area to request some great tune choices on the jukebox, grab the delicious drinks and hang out either inside or on the patio with a group of friends just hanging out.
Thank you for the anatomy drawings on the bathroom doors. Now I know the difference between boys and girls.
I don't live in Houston and I will most likely never come back (unless I want punishment), but for your locals hit it up. It is a great time.
This is an ALWAYS on bike pub crawl--
It's low key and casual with picnic bench seating, my kinda place. The drinks and bar food are exceptional-- my fave is the Strawberry Basil Margarita, it may sound a little strange but it's fantastic! The frozen Screwdrivers and Rum & Cokes are a nice way to mix things up as well. The only thing holding back this place where you can wear shorts while you eat well-prepared brie and sip gourmet cocktails is the price. The quality is great but at ~$8/cocktail, I can only get my drink on once-in-a-while.
A bar the way a bar should be. Super staff and the most gorgeous bartender you will ever see. I mean ever. I am happily married, but my friend and I just kept staring and wondering "What are you doing here". She is also very sweet. Anyway, she recommended the basil strawberry margarita's and I think it's an acquired taste. Yes, we drank them, but no we will not be having them again.
They rent the back room with pool table for events, and I am already planning my next birthday...
Go!
How do you know your in a very cool place? As soon as you walk into the bar you run into Dave L. and half the guys from the BON Social Run Club. I was quite surprised by the Volcano. My last visit was 10 years ago and I remember it sucked. The place stunk to high hell, the floors were sticky, but the drinks were strong and cheap. It's now March 2009 and we were looking for a place to hide after dinner and our friend thought the Volcano would work.
They have completely redone Volcano sometime within the last 10 years, either that or they took a pressure washer to it. What I'm trying to say it looks a lot better than I remember it. It was a crowded Saturday and I had no problem getting my drink on. The frozen screwdriver was as good as I remember and the jack and coke was strong and cheap. I swear it was a 6 count on that Jack, I know it was good. I liked the lighting and the lamps over the bar were a nice touch. I was also a big fan of the wood carved pillars, I guess a little Polynesian flair, you know since we were under the Volcano.
It was a little to crowded and loud for me, but I would come again if some one suggested it. The parking wasn't an issue either.
So, I'd been wanting to try this little gem for quite some time. My buddy called up, saying he had some news and wanted to tell me over a steak. "Let's meet at 'the Volcano,'" he says to me. I say, "Bet! See ya there!"
I didn't really catch much of the inside, but I've heard there's a pool table there (although, I've also heard that there's usually people sitting on it or using it to host their cocktails while they chat). But, it looked spacious. It's a cool place, really, very neighborhoody, with a nice enclosed patio.
The service was a bit slow. But then, I think they had half a server for half-a-million guests!! Ordered a couple of Guinnesses. That's always a nice start. Ordered the rib eye, medium rare. And that's when my bro lays it on me. He's getting married!! How awesome! I thought that was the highlight of the night. But wait, it gets better....
So, this steak comes out, right? BEST BAR RIB EYE... EVERRR! Seriously, folks, you gotta go try it one night. I think it's on Tuesday's but I can't be sure. All I know is that I somehow ended up at Boheme afterward and, to this day, that bar steak is on my mind.
It's a great little joint. I highly recommend. And, I'd be interested to hear how your steak-night experience turns out. So, shoot me a note, yeah?
This is the first bar that I went to when I came to Houston last month and I really like it. It has about 5 distinct areas under one roof to mingle and socialize so you can plant at one of the tables inside, hang open-air style on the front porch. mingle in the big open spaces around the bar, shoot a game of pool, or go smoke in the large covered smoking area out back (it feels like u r outside but you are inside).
The reason I really like this place is that the cocktail servers are very friendly and personable. The got to know us, invited us back, and made us feel like regulars on only our second visit.
The people that hang out were very friendly as they introduced themselves as we played pool and engaged in conversation easily. When you are new to a city and know absolutely no one except the one or two people you came with, this kind of outgoing friendliness is very welcome. I felt right at home.
I love the decor, tribal masks on the walls, really cool Moroccan-esque pendant style lamps over the bar area gives great mood lighting. To my tastes they had a good beer selection at reasonable prices and the wait staff was very friendly!
Under the Volcano will always be remembered as the place that turned me on to Duvel Beer from Belgium It is hands down the best beer I have had in years - unlike any I have had before - almost sweet to the taste. Try one or more - but be careful as they are 8.5% alcohol. Duvel translates to Devil Beer and for good reason. This is the first time in many years I got dunk on just beer! So drunk so that not only did we go by What-a-burger on the way home, but we found it necessary to fire up the gas grill to reheat the french fries we got... being the connoisseurs we are of fast food!
Long live Under the Volcano and long live Duvel!
This is quickly becoming a favorite. Saw the Shiny Ribs here the other night and had a great time. Good mix of folks and didn't know they had music here....
Highlights: Great drinks, including the mojitos. Good beer selection. One of the better jukeboxes around. Decor. Bike friendly. Friendly bar staff. Live music. Great spaces. Great $3.75 happy hour Scrimshaws.
Hatings: Price of drinks.
I used to go here a lot because they have a decent steak night on Mondays with a yummy chimichurri sauce and washing it down with an Argentinian Quilmes beer (which you just can't find everywhere) was something to look forward to. But they've been seriously pissing me off lately with their ridiculously bad service (not to mention they ran out of steaks the last two times we were there). What's going on? and how can their waitresses be so frickin' clueless?!?! 15 mins. to come by to even ask for drinks, forgotten food orders... argh... it's just too much to handle when on top of this I have to deal with the annoying pseudo intellectuals that like to congregate here during the week. "Hey Armando, shut your pie hole, nobody needs to hear about your dissertation on the deforestation of Ghana alright!?!" .... But I digress...
Their frozen screwdrivers are what they're known for and not too long ago I shimmied up to the bar to order 24 of them for a large group of my friends and I quickly became the bartenders' best friend that night. Their bartenders are admittedly solid (which is why I didn't knock them down to 1 star) but I just can't handle service this bad from their waitresses to warrant dropping any kind of coin here anymore.
Oh and parking here is a serious biaaaatch sometimes as street parking on Morningside is difficult and their parking lot can accommodate roughly 3 Hyundai's, 2 scooters and a rickshaw. Oh, but there's a convenient bicycle rack in the parking lot in case you want to ride your big wheel out to the bars.
I'd much rather drink $2 longnecks at Kay's across the street while chomping' on their frozen pizzas, or go further down Morningside to Brian O'Neill's for more sustenance.
hidden away from the crowds of the village arcade and the unwanted impromptu high school reunions that IS baker street pub, under the volcano is my safe haven.
i was introduced to this bar unexpectedly on an outing with a group of people i barely knew. i joined a close friend at a party she was invited to and the party moved to this wonderful little bar. the decor had such character and the ambiance made me feel comfortable and ready to dive into some drinks. they have a decent selection of beers, but the selection is good. (they have something for everyone... the shiner for the not so picky, st arnold's *ON TAP!* for those who care, franziskaner for a change just to name a few).
their signature drink is the strawberry basil margarita. hands down, the closest thing to a liquid dream. even better if you replace it with vodka instead (i've learned jose is NOT my friend). they also have wonderful mojitos and specialty drinks that i've enjoyed as well. if i want something to sip on for awhile as i listen to the jukebox (yes, there's a jukebox), i'll get a frozen screwdriver, or even better, a frozen rum and coke. gah! a grown up version of your average coke icee. fantastical.
i had a graduation party here, and the owner (rich) is a really awesome guy. i happened to be there with some friends one day, enjoying the back patio, kicking back some drinks and asked him how to reserve a spot for a group of friends. he booked me a table right then and there just a couple days before i decided to have it. no hassle of having to buy a certain amount of drinks, or service charge or any other crap you get from reserving a table at a lounge or club. the only thing he asks is to give a realistic number of people attending. don't say 20 people and only 10 come. just be considerate. that night, my party was about 30 minutes late, but when i met with rich, he kicked out a table of people for us, haha. it was a grand time afterwards. he even gave me my beloved strawberry basil margarita on the house. this place cannot be beat. i'm a fan for life.
only downside is parking. on a busy night, it is almost impossible to get a spot in the coveted dirt parking lot. but don't lose hope! go down a block in any direction of the bar and park in the neighborhood. totally worth it.
If I had a style of bar I prefer this would be it. I think it's a perfect place to start off your evening. Really laid back atmosphere and I was totally digging on the Day of the Dead theme. There are 2 decent sized patio's and in Houston in October, it was a great place to park it for a few hours. Had I not had the urge to go shake my booty, I could have hung out here all night.
Service started out slow, but I think when she realized we were there to do some drinking it picked up dramatically. I love their selection of drinks. I just started going down the list, Pisco Sours, Pim's Cup, Caipirinha's and several of those tasty tasty little frozen screw drivers. Geez that sounds like a lot when you write it down.
The food was pretty decent. I had the Chimichuri Roast Beef sand which that came with this fantastic chimichuri mayo and smoked cheddar. Nice little touch. A friend got a 1/2 dozen boiled shrimp and he was pretty impressed with it and my sammy.
I'm pretty sure this is going to start being my start the evening off spot.
volcano used to be our "cant think of anything new, so lets just go to volcano, again". i first came here a few years ago bc my drink is the screwdriver & my friends heard about the frozens here & suggested it. i became a regular pretty fast. by the third time i went there the bouncer & i were already familiar so i get the walk in- i try to hold a mini conversation every time- he still works there last time i went (big guy with glasses). i only mention this bc of the recent choice of places & the ordeal of getting in, thoroughly covered by the yelps of the bars on washington, so i wont add to those complaints.
i havent gone there as often as i used to, but back then, i dont know how, but the bar could be packed but we always managed to find seats. we preferred to sit on the back patio as we are smokers, so it kinda sucked when they had reserved parties. oh, i think we stopped going as much bc my friend is now "banned" from there, apparently he was involved in 2 "fights", & since the same bouncer works there, yeah, my friends not getting back in any time soon.
there was one instance where i was verbally harassed w a racial remark, but his friend ran up to me & apologized. he then offered to buy me a drink & of course i accepted. the bartender was kind of slow, but we talked the whole time so we didnt notice. but small world, turned out one of his best friends from louisiana was a friend of mine from college in savannah where i told him, "i love d, we watched football games at his place all the time, your friend here though, is a dick". he agreed.
drinkwise, i dont think ive ever had a drink that wasnt a frozen screwdriver, other than shots. my friends do rave about the strawberry basil martini things.
last time i went a few weeks ago, was a saturday night, but it wasnt as crowded as i remembered it to usually being. maybe it was an off night, or maybe the whole washington phenomenon was taking into effect. but i kind of liked it that way. even when it got too crowded or we wanted new scenery, we would walk over to kays lounge across the street.
the only reason i gave it 4 stars is bc of the parking. sometimes i base the bars i go to on the parking. one of my friends got towed in the neighborhood nearby because the designated lot holds about 10 cars. i am super paranoid about getting towed, so unless i get there early enough, i will drive around for a while til i find a legit & non sketchy spot bc outside of the designated parking lot, the spots at the stores around the bar fill up pretty fast.
Was sorta sick of places that charge you 8-10 $s for a drink and all it is someones wild guess of what the drink is....so i decided to venture on over to the "Cano" for some quality drinks on Saturday night.
this place does drinks pretty well. Prices aren't expensive and staff is very friendly and helpful, especially with the libations and the crowds aren't out of control. Don't worry about dressin up... this aint one of those places..although it can be.
I got a Pimm's cup, pretty good..not overly sour like marfreles, frozen jack and coke, not by choice, and another pimm's cup.
I'm a cheap date what can i say.
We also ordered the chip and cheese dip with chunks of tasty eggplant. It had just the right amount of spices to give the dip that extra kick. i'm definitely goin to try some of the other food choices in the future.
I don't know if they serve poison apples...i'll ask next time...i was just enjoying my pimm's cup a bit 2 much to ask.
Under the Volcano was one of the first bars my husband brought me to when we first started dating, and I fell in love with it. The door guy is kind of obnoxious because he stares you up and down over and over turning your ID back and forth making sure it's you! But I guess that's good for underage kiddos. Once inside, it's so unique. Its looks like a log cabin from a scary movie with skulls and vampire stuff on the walls, not one piece is alike. The drinks are cool too, literally. The frozen screwdriver is the main reason why I keep coming back especially in the summer months. I decided to venture out and had a few other gin drinks off the menu and was pleased.
My favorite bar. I love the Volcano. It my first suggestion anytime someone wants to get drinks.
The cocktail selection is unbeatable. Frozen Screwdrivers, Frozen Rum & Coke, Strawberry Basil Margaritas that they will make into Martinis, Mint Julep, Mojito, Mount Lychee, Whiskey Smash, their killer Bloody Mary, and many, many more!
The crowd is always great - good people watching! But if you are bored with the people watching, or the people you came with, take a look around the room at all of the tribal masks on the walls- they are awesome!
The jukebox is perfect. I certainly don't know all the music, but its a beautiful thing to not have to listen to the same songs over and over in a bar.
I love going for live music! Kevin Russel of the Gourds makes regular visits.
Waiting for a drink might be longer here than other places, but that is only because they hand craft each drink. There isn't a vat of Mojito mix behind the bar- the bartenders pummel the mint for one drink at a time! Its awesome. Saddle up to the bar, grab a menu and order your soon to be favorite drink.
Wow. That's all I can say. (Not really, so read on.) I wish I'd read a bit more of the reviews before being sold enough on this place to give it a go. The unfortunate part about my visit is that we were taking friends from out of state to show them what our city has to offer. BAD idea! First off, the bartenders all need to get new jobs because they obviously hate their current positions. It took too long to get acknowledged at the bar to order just one round of drinks. A patron that was sitting at the bar handed me a menu because he noticed me squinting, for what felt like an hour ... he totally earned the place one star for courtesy. Seriously, they need to hire that guy. I like him. Any how, after ordering our drinks and being asked rudely for IDs (sometimes it's not what you say, but how you say it), I realized that I didn't have my ID on me. Nooooooo! Okay, so in the bartender's defense - she was just doing her job, right? Well if embarrassing your customers is part of that, she fulfilled her duties with flying colors. After making three drinks for my comrades that had proper identification, she felt obligated to scream across the bar to her fellow disgruntled bartenders, "None of you need to serve that girl a drink! She can't show me an ID!" WOW! What's sorry about this whole situation is that I didn't "nag" for a drink like some rebelling 18 year old. I realized I didn't have what I needed to be served so I even sat back by the wooden pillars while my friends got their drinks. When did the bar service industry become so damn unprofessional? ARGH! To top all this off, their drinks were way overpriced (average price is about $9). They can keep that, especially if each drink comes served with rudeness for "free." The parking situation is quite messy as well. It's just not big enough. You can park across the street but only after those shops have closed for business.
Sadly, I didn't read some of the more negative reviews (ie: http://www.yelp.com/bi...) about the lacking service here. It's really tragic because this place has the potential to be one of Houston's hidden gems if it weren't for their crappy service.
I dare you to visit this place when you're already in a bad mood. It might make you realize that the bartenders there have it worse than you do.
Oh, Volcano. I used to love you so. But now, your pretentious, preppy, holier-than-thou crowd and bartenders have turned you into one of the most irritating bars in town.
I used to love this bar. It's still one of my "go-to favorites" when I have a guest visiting from out of town--and am looking for a chill place with good drinks. The frozen screwdrivers are amazing. The decor is outstanding. And the jukebox is off the hook.
But, alas, your horrible wait staff and customers are killing what was once a fantastic bar.
My sister was in town this past weekend with a friend--and I wanted to take them out for a good time. After a great meal at Zake, we decided to swing by Volcano for some of their infamous frozen screwdrivers. The bartenders (as usual) were very slow and seemed irritated to serve us. Then we decided to play a game of pool. About mid-way through our game a large group of preppy Rice students came in to celebrate a birthday. Now, although the bar was not busy, they decided to hold their "aging celebration" right next to the pool table. After several, SEVERAL attempts to have them "excuse themselves" while we tried to make our shots, we finally gave up until they were done--and just stood talking on the other end of the table. About 15 minutes later one of the guys comes over and asks us if he can have the table. We tell him no, that we're not done with our game--and we were waiting until they would move to finish. Then he proceeds to tell us that we've "been on the table long enough" and goes to tell the bartender whom comes over and clears our table. Fucking assholes.
So--me and my friends being the pain-in-the-asses we were--decided we'd continue to stand around and lean on the table even though they were trying to play. Needless to say it all started getting a bit out of control--and the sound of a fight was growing more and more obvious.
So we left (Although, I must admit it would have been fun to kick the shit out of a khaki-wearing Rice student or two or four). ;-)
Now, before I finish this rant--let me please provide another bit of irritation I received from the bar that night--The bartenders. I went up to get my "second round" of drinks, but decided I really needed to go back to beer and just wanted a Shiner. After standing at the bar for about FIVE minutes with no acknowledgement that I was there--and after THREE other people walked up to the bar (after me) and got their drinks right away--I was really starting to steam. I then decided to start just shouting my order to the bartender that kept avoiding me. Over. And over. And over again. Still no acknowledgment. Bitch. Finally, I went over to the other side of the bar and pulled down some dude bartender to get my damn Shiner. I'm not sure what that whore's problem was--but if you ever venture into that establishment, watch out for the latin girl with curly brown hair--or just order from her and give her no tip.
I've had my fair share of bad service--but just acknowledge me and tell me you'll be with me in a minute for God's sake--that's all I ask.
SO... Now that my ranting is through, I am really disappointed with the Volcano. What once was a fine bar--is not a place I will never go back.
Under the Volcano - or Volcano as it's more commonly called - is one of those places that usually doesn't top my list of places to go, but am always happy once I pay a visit.
I absolutely love the look of this place - lots of crosses, Dia De Los Muertos skulls, kind of creepy masks (the big cheetah mask by the bar freaks me out, especially when I'm getting my drink on), lovely light fixtures, and awesome colors, especially the room on the other side of the bar with its gorgeous pink wall. I could stare at all the different colors of paint in this room forever.
There's a pool table that's in better shape than some tables you find in bars and a great jukebox, though I was saddened to see that the Louis Armstrong CD that I loved playing wasn't in there any longer. Still some great, not-your-typical-jukebox music in there, and I've found a few new artists because of it.
I drink the frozen screwdrivers here and while they're not quite as good as Front Porch's, they're pretty good. The strawberry basil margaritas also look tasty and I'm definitely going to give these a try one day. Also, I swear, this place has the tallest barstools ever. Be careful when getting down so that you don't hurt yourself.
The parking lot is kind of tiny, so be prepared to possibly have to park on the street. There's also a $10 minimum on credit cards which you need to keep in mind, but otherwise this bar is a pretty cool little place and you could do a lot worse than spending an afternoon or evening drinking here.
This bar has a very nice "feel" to it. The jukebox is top notch and the drinks are better than average. There is always a good crowd of people in there, for the most part it is a young crowd.
I would recommend this place as a good place for some conversation and drinks.
Bartenders are solid.
Okay, so the high rating is a bit biased. This has been the only place I've found in Houston that serves Pisco Sours, a Peruvian specialty drink. They are the Peruvian version of a margarita, but way stronger and a lot better tasting. The rest of the drinks we had there (yes, we made our friend do the disgusting cement mixer as a birthday gift) were okay and not really overpriced. However, the clientele was a bit lacking. It had a frat daddy feel to it and there was no waiter service. And even though there was plenty of room to move around and enough seats, everyone was crowded around the bar making it near impossible to get drinks.
I think the highlight of the night (besides the Pisco Sour) was having a very drunk girl tell me (who'd only had two drinks in a two hour period) to not drive drunk. It was adorable and endearing.
Me likey! I surprise myself with how much I like this big wooden thing that somehow was made into a spacious bar, complete with a pool table inside and outdoor seating (continuing the overwhelming wood motif). Long bar, ample bartender service, and honest drinks. Drink prices are modest (unlike when I had to pay $10+ per drink at Ibiza) and it just makes me want to square dance. Outside you see colorful lights strewn overhead, so you can't miss this place on the street corner. If you can't park right in front in the parking lot, then parking is usually available right across the street in front of the small shopping strip (which is closed at night and thus doesn't need the parking spaces then. Somebody should take a picture of this place from the outside... (yeah, i know, but I keep forgetting)
I found this place so-so. It's small and attracts a very preppy crowd. However, when I was there, I did meet a group of very friendly people who were in Houston for a friend's wedding. The drinks were alright, Pimm's cup is unusual for Houston, which is great, but at the same time I found the drinks overpriced and weak.
The Volcano is, hands down, my favorite bar in Houston. It's a friendly, comfortable, relaxed neighborhood bar that serves up some great drinks. The beer selection is excellent, and they have some good wine available as well. The cocktails really do take center stage here, though: they have strawberry basil margaritas, frozen screwdrivers (potent!), and lots of other unique drinks. Also, the quality of the food is great - try the roast beef sandwich with chimichurri.
The crowd? A little too drunk but in a good mood nevertheless. The music? Pretty awful, but the little band was into their thing and I had a hard time at least not smiling in an "A-for-effort" kind of way. The bartenders? Incapable of cracking a smiling or even exhibiting a sense of decency. These girls are obviously under the impression that being on the somewhat attractive side (we're talking maybe a 7, possibly an 8 after several shots) makes up for their extremely ugly personalites. Absolutely, intolerably unprofessional.
As a bartender, how I am treated at a bar makes or breaks the decision on whether or not to come back. I will not be back here. The disorganized bartender who served me was downright rude, and I hadn't even ordered a real drink since I ordered the frozen screwdriver which (hold your breath!) requires that the bartender (ready?) *turns around, pulls a lever on a machine, and serves it*!! I could not believe that she couldn't even pretend that she even remotely liked her job. (Tip: if you don't like your job, QUIT. Or at least pretend you like it, but don't spread your misery like the Bar Grinch). She didn't tell me the price of the drink when she served it (a bartending no-no unless you are on your first or second day of the job and still don't know the price list), and I had to wait until she had walked to the other end of the bar, served someone else, and then graced me with her presence long enough to tell me "$5.25." Not, "that'll be $5.25 please," no please at all, in fact.
So I hand her $6, expect that she will come back with my 75 cents, and I will give her a buck as a tip. Normally I over-tip, but she was rude and I was going to give her the minimum allowable amount that I can still feel good about myself at. (For all those out there who don't know how to tip: it's a dollar a drink. A beer is a drink, even out of a bottle. If you don't have the money for that, stay home). Anyway, she never came back with my 75 cents!! Excuse me, but whether or not she thinks she deserves my money, she owes me the right to make up my own mind about whether or not to tip her. Of all the presumptuous, arrogant, entitled bartenders I have ever run into (and I know a lot of them), this was a first. I have never, *ever* had someone not bring my change back to me. I am appalled that the management wouldn't put an immediate nix on this type of behavior.
So let it be known to service people out there: be friendly. If you can't be friendly, find a job where you don't have to be. My friends and I are great tippers, but we expect common decency in exchange. Your smile, your care, is what will keep us coming back again. We will not be back to Volcano, and if you are a fan of being treated like a human being, this is not your spot.
This definitely had a college vibe to it. Typical bar in the Village. You can make reservations, but you'll be stuck on the patio where smoking is allowed. The frozen screwdrivers are the hit here, but I liked the selection of South American cocktails. I'm a fan of pisco as well and was delighted to find it here. Brings back feel-good memories of Chile...buy 1 get 2 free drinks! My cheap self can't turn down a good deal and throwing the stuff away is alcohol abuse.
After six months in Houston and alot of bar hopping, I finally made it to the Volcano the night before I moved to El Paso. I was happy with the relative upscale diveyness of the place, and the food was well above the typical bar-food fare, although the menu was slightly limited (ie: no bacon blue-cheese burgers-- or any burgers at all for that matter). Luck had it that I arrived at happy hour which included a buck discount on most beers and wells, including the Bass Ale draught and vodka with fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. The tastey shrimp cocktail I had was Acapulco style and laced with lots of fresh crabmeat. Seems like they were offering chocolate covered cherries for Valentine's Day, too. The juke box was well diversified, and even annotated with sticky notes on many selections, by which I was turned on to several new tunes. This bar will most likely be among my first stops upon my return to Houston.
Nice bar, and very very near to where I live. The decor is reminiscent of the Mexican festival, Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. It lends a cozy feel to the bar. Authentic Mexican decor, and tiles in the bar: very cute. Their drinks are typical of a bar, and the vibe is ok, so that plus the location makes it ideal. If you're out in the patio, sharpen your olfactory sense: there's a night-blooming flower they have by the window called dama de noche, almost like jasmine.
I've been here a few times. It's decent but nothing special. They have an alright beer selection, some relaxed woody dark areas to enjoy, as well as a nice set of outside seating.
But don't come here for a martini. I asked for nothing more than a "gin martini" and the bartender asked me "half or full" (IIRC) to which I was confused (you should be too). It's apparently a size indicator at only this establishment. I have never been asked this in my life and have no idea what a half / small size martini would be compared to a full / large martini. Uh, about 3 oz of booze? Isn't that the standard? Just do that please. Next she only coats the glass with vermouth then pours it out. I did not say, "dry". I know some people believe in the Churchill-style martini, which is another way of saying, "I want gin/vodka in a kooky glass, plus an olive". If that's how she makes it normally, what is "dry" for her? Then added are three olives each the size of a human testicle. Really, just put one or two small Manzanillas in there. Reminded me the kind of dessert you'd get at Chili's, i.e. big in size, small in quality.
During this entire session, the bartendress was also heavily chatting with patrons at the counter. She also seemed exasperated right from the start when I questioned the goofy sizes. It's like a Starbucks employee being irritated that you're not using their lame "tall = small" lingo. (And I've worked at Starbucks, so don't call me a bastard customer.)
Parking isn't great, but it's nowhere near the abomination that is mid-town parking (where I got towed a couple nights ago).
This is the only place that I've found in Houston that serves a Pimm's cup. It seems that their version is very similar to The Napoleon House in NOLA. For those of you unfamiliar, a Pimm's cup is an English drink also really popular in New Orleans. It is: Pimms #1 (a gin-based liquor), lemonade, and mixed with mint and chopped cucumber. VERY refreshing while sitting outside on The Volcano's front porch. There is a nice-ish breeze outside during the summer and there's also added bonus of not being over-crowded with college students. (Sorry, but to me, that is a bonus.) As far as wine, I like the Torrentes, Shiraz, and Merlot at $6 a glass. Not stellar, but not Beringer either. Their food is good, as well. The cheese/meat/fruit plate is decent, as is the shrimp cocktail. The prosciutto and brie sandwich was just fair. It was on Wheatberry bread and the prosciutto should have been cut into smaller pieces. Prosciutto is really REALLY hard to cut with your teeth.
Went to the Volcano to meet up with some birthday girls on our 2nd night out in Houston. I can't remember much about it (since we went to the Marquis first) except that it seemed to be a reasonably good bar. There were friendly people to chat with and the bartender was quick and made a good drink. It got a little packed as the night went on though, making it more difficult to stand around and drink in comfort.
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