Montrose’s next destination cocktail bar and lounge is already drawing crowds. Word has spread about Melrose, which quietly opened in the former La Grange space at the end of December.
As CultureMap reported last summer, Melrose was founded by Clarkwood co-owner Armie Sadeghi and Brandon Duliakas and Dan Duliakas, the duo behind Washington Avenue hotspots like Clutch and Concrete Cowboy. Mr. Wiark was integrated. Together, the trio transformed what was once a Mexican-style patio bar into a sleek, modern space indoors and a lush, landscaped outdoor courtyard.
“What drew me to this location is the gorgeous outdoor space with a mezzanine bar and an outdoor bar. No other city offers both an indoor and outdoor experience,” Sadeghi told Culture Map. spoke.
The mezzanine level, located above the courtyard, features a cozy 12-seat bar and offers spirits lockers for bar enthusiasts to rent. An outdoor bar will eventually be installed in the courtyard, giving patrons a different experience than the indoor lounge.
The partners hired Tatemó chef and owner Emmanuel Chavez to develop a menu of upscale bar fare. The result includes dishes unique to Mr. Chavez, who earned one of Houston’s five Michelin stars for his intimate tasting menu restaurant, such as amberjack tiradito and spicy tuna rice crisps. It also includes more playful comfort foods, such as a pig in a blanket made with smoked beef sausage, buttermilk-cured chicken tenders, and a burger made with beef from Texas’s Ranch 44 Farm. A brunch menu focused on shareable items will be available in the coming weeks.
“Working with Emmanuel was great,” Sadeghi says. “He’s so passionate about this project. It’s been such an amazing journey because we’ve all been so committed to what we can offer.”
In addition to opening Melrose, Sadeghi is also starting a hospitality company called Sadeghi Concepts. The goal is to apply Clarkwood’s sophisticated aesthetic to a variety of projects in Houston and beyond.
“Its mission is to create unforgettable experiences, incorporating exceptional design, culinary artistry and authentic hospitality. It is to create a collection of spaces that redefine luxury,” Sadeghi says. talk about the plan. He then added, “I want to continue to curate a combination of places with different concepts that I feel passionate about.”
Melrose is open daily from 4pm to 2am. Happy hour, available Monday through Friday from 4 to 6:30 p.m., features $10 cocktails, $5 beers, half-price bottles of wine, half-price charcuterie boards, and $15 burgers.
