New Bar Picks; Houston Chefs' Under-the-Radar Dining Suggestions

NEW BARS TO CHECK OUT — It's the new year which means opening yourself up to trying new things. Forbes Travel Guide suggests three recently opened bars in town where ordering a Jack and Coke just won't do. Step outside the box with sophisticated and complex cocktails at Moving Sidewalk in Downtown, bourbon oasis Julep and swanky Sanctuari inside Triniti.

UNDER-THE-RADAR-EATS — Wonder where Houston's top chefs go and eat on their off days? First We Feast has the deets on 14 culinary stars' place to dine that don't receive much national love. Chef/co-owner Ryan Pera (Coltivare and Revival Market) likes the "chap chae, a [Korean] dish of sweet potato noodles, beef, vegetables, and oyster sauce" at Bon Ga Garden Restaurant and Oxheart's Justin Yu prefers Long Sing Supermarket. Not limited to eateries, chefs were asked about their under-the-radar watering holes like Alice's Tall Texas, a pick from The Pass & Provisions' Terrence Gallivan.

LAST YEAR'S NEW RESTAURANTS TO VISIT IN 2015 — Did you resolve to make more of an effort to try all the places constantly lauded over in 2014? Here's a checklist from Thrillist Houston to get you started. Pace yourself or stuff yourself silly with Southern fried chicken from The Chicken Ranch, Paul's Kitchen's global-fused fare or deep dish pizza from Gino's East. Houston is your oyster but leave room for what's in store for your taste buds in 2015.

BITTERS AND SODA REPRISE — Remember the pop-up cocktail bar held weekly at the Heights music venue Fitzgerald's? It's back for an extremely limited timeat a new location. Houston native Yael Vengroff returns to town from her bar managerial duties at LA's Harvard & Stone to shake and stir up crafty concocted libations once again with Justin Burrow (Captain Foxheart's Bad News Bar & Spirit Lodge). Catch the duo at Burrow's Bad News Bar tonight until late and again tomorrow from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. when Joey Bernardo (Harvard and Stone) joins in the fun, showcasing the Pernod Ricard portfolio. The party moves to Grand Prize Bar Saturday night where Vengroff and Bernardo takeover the upstairs bar starting at 9 p.m.