A Houston-Themed Drinking Den Brings Greek Eats to Upper Kirby

The Upper Kirby space that formerly housed Owl Bar gets a new life this month as a Houston-obsessed drinking destination called Eighteen36 on the first floor and a Greek-American kitchen from a familiar name up top.

Limited hours and service for both will kick off on Thursday, January 23, at 2221 W. Alabama Street.

Eighteen36, named after the year Houston was founded, comes from native Houstonians Jason Scheinthal and Jake Stein. The remodeled two-story space, originally a house back in the day and then Owl Bar until its closure last year, is now a tale of two venues.

Eighteen36 naturally plans to pour beer from local breweries, along with Houston-themed craft cocktails. The upstairs portion was flipped into the new kitchen for Roadster Grill, Nick Semoudiaris’s Greek-American eatery that left Bellaire in 2017.

The latest iteration, which marks the return of his killer Greek potatoes, won’t offer a dine-in area. Instead, lunch will be served in the downstairs bar, with lunch and late-night orders taken from a new delivery window out back.

Murals from local artists line the rehabbed 3,500-square-foot space, which offers booth seating, bar seats, and standing areas:

A newly installed outdoor patio, outfitted with a fire place and covered seating areas, will set the stage for regularly-occurring live music.

Through Thursday, February 6, there’s full bar service for legal drinkers from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Starting Friday, January 24, Roadster Grill at Eighteen36 will offer lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a special bar menu served after 4 p.m.

Dinner will kick off on Friday, February 7, in line with Eighteen36’s grand opening party.