Grab a Pre-Rodeo Bite at These 12 Houston Restaurants and Bars

The most wonderful time of the year around these parts? Rodeo season. Barbecue waifs through the air and deep-fried dreams come true at the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The food is obviously the best part of the three week affair, but area restaurants are getting in on the action too. From western-inspired menus to discounts, buckle up and hit the trails for extended rodeo fun.

• Museum Park Cafe
  
  Mosey over to this Museum District cafe for a burger and brew before venturing to the rodeo. $12 gets you a rodeo burger and a Buffalo Bayou beer to wash it down. $6 cowboy-themed cocktails are available for the duration of the rodeo, including the Trail Ride to Fannin Rye with Ancho Reyes liquor, sweet vermouth, saffron bitters, lemon, simple syrup and egg white. Avoid the parking nightmare by taking a ride on Houston's urban jitney The Wave. The transportation service is partnering with Museum Park Cafe to offer rodeo-goers a ride to and from the rodeo. $20 round trip tickets can be purchased here.
  
  1801 Binz, Ste. 110; 77004; 713-520-0108
  


• Bosta Wine & Coffee
  
  Two-step your way over to Bosta Wine & Coffee for rodeo provisions. Fill up on barnyard sandwiches ($7) and chili fries ($5) during rodeo season. In addition to regular happy hour that runs until 7 p.m., show your Texas pride with $3 local brews. The Wave is providing transportation services to and from the rodeo. $20 round trip tickets can be purchased here.
  
  1801 Binz, Ste. 130; 77004; 713-533-9560
  
  
• GAGE Lounge
  
  You can pay an arm and a leg for watered down booze at the rodeo or pre-game it GAGE Lounge. Within walking distance from the McGowen light rail station, Midtown's newest lounge is offering pre-concert cocktails. Tuesdays through Fridays during rodeo season, five select cocktails are specially priced at $5. The deal is available from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  
  2600 Travis, Ste. 104; 77006; 832-649-2354
  
  
• West Ave
  
  Each Tuesday throughout the duration of rodeo season, you can travel to NRG stadium on The Wave. The jitney service is offering $20 round trip fares to rodeo. To sweeten the deal, visit any of the restaurants within the River Oaks shopping center to partake in Tasty Tuesday dining and drink specials:
  
  
  • Crú - $3 margherita pizzas, $4 streamed mussels and other select appetizers are available along with specials on glasses of wine.
  
  
  • Del Frisco’s Grille – Nosh on Philly cheesesteak eggrolls, pimento cheese fritters and a selection of $7 appetizers. Get in the rodeo spirit with a barbecue beef flatbread ($12). Select cocktails are $8.
  
  
  • Eddie V’s – Save the barbecue for the rodeo and indulge in seafood happy hour offerings. Choose from steak and lobster tartare, spicy shrimp potstickers, or oysters. Cocktails and wines by the glass are $10.
  
  
  • Pondicheri - Happy hour is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m, but special of the day is available all evening. The fried chicken dinner for two includes chicken marinated in spicy yogurt masala, the fried in a chickpea flour mixture. Dinner is served with curried fingerling potatoes and an arugula blueberry salad. The complete meal is $25.
  
  2800 Kirby Dr.; 77098



• Prohibition Supperclub & Bar
  
  Wrangle up a $5 rodeo-inspired cocktail before hitting the trails. Crafted with Old Forester Bourbon, lemon, turbinado syrup and ginger beer, the Bourbon Buck cocktail will have you rodeo ready. While cowboy caviar isn't on the menu, pair your cocktail with $1 raw oysters and $1.50 chargrilled oysters. The limited-time offer is available all day Mondays through Thursdays.
  
  1008 Prairie; 77002; 281-940-4636



• Line & Lariat


Downtown rodeo revelers can rustle up western-themed bites before hitting the road (or the light rail at the nearby Preston station). Hotel ICON's Line & Lariat restaurant and bar dishes out a festive menu of food and happy hour specials available Monday through Friday from 2 p.m to 6 p.m. Drop in for chopped brisket, barbecue grilled polenta, Texas venison stew, blue pig burger and pulled duck confit sliders. Texas draft beers are also available for $3.

220 Main St.; 77002; 713-224-4266

Don't forget to save those ticket stubs. Restaurants and bars around town are piling on extra savings during the rodeo. Every little bit saved is more that can goes towards another round of deep-fried pop-tarts and pizzas on sticks.

• Mongoose vs Cobra
  
  Whether you pre-game it or want to keep the rodeo party going after closing time, swing by Mongoose vs Cobra for specially priced brews. Rodeo-inspired beers are $5 with same-day carnival ticket/wristband. The offer is valid Sundays through Thursday.
  
  1011 McGowen; 77002; 713-650-6872



• Costa's Elixir Lounge
  
  Receive 10% off your entire tab when presenting a same-day rodeo ticket or badge.
  
  2239 Richmond Ave.; 77098; 832-831-1565



• The Den
  
  Present your same-day rodeo ticket and receive a drink on the house.
  
  4835 Calhoun; 77004; 281-888-4299