Raising the Bar

I couldn't be more excited that Bobby Heugel, my favorite Houston bartender, along with Kevin Floyd and Steve Flippo, are opening a bar of their own this month. The threesome are shaking things up and raising the bar on drinking standards in Houston with Anvil Bar & Refuge.

In deciding the name, they wanted something nostalgic and laborial in connotation, which is right up their throwback-to-golden-days appeal. Located at 1424 Westheimer, the 1959 building was originally a Bridgestone-Firestone tire shop and later converted to a daiquiri factory in the 80s. The boys have put their own sweat and tears, literally, into the remodeling of this venue using mostly reclaimed materials, such as a 1920s wooden cooler door and steel from the piano store where Bobby and Kevin first became friends during their teenage years. Mix these older components with the industrial salt-acid etched bar [commissioned from Installations!] and you've got a sense of "laborious nostalgia" perfectly complimenting their classic approach to cocktails.


They will serve over 300 spirits [delivered to you in vintage glassware, natch],  50 homemade bitters and infusions, 100 limited micro and local brews [with 12 rotating on tap and a promise to hardly see the same one twice], and numerous wines from up and coming regions. The kitchen's fresh pizzas, sandwiches and small bites will keep you moving and shaking until wee hours!

While you won't find ingredients for an Appletini—or anything else with artificial flavoring—rest assured they'll offer all of the great standbys. And don't be scared of egg whites; you won't get sick. Just to be sure, I've tested them for you as my friendly civic duty. Then I tested them again because that's the kind of safety inspecting gal I am!

[photos by Julie Soefer and Robert Heugel.]