Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a great night out with your main squeeze or girl friends. Sure, the company you keep may elect in an adult beverage or two {…or 4}, but you don’t have to weep from the sidelines with H2O on the rocks with a twist. Mocktails {cocktails sans alcohol} have made an appearance in quite a few fine Houston establishments. Sure, pregnancy doesn’t forbid one from venturing into a bar, but why submit to such a tease if it’s not necessary? Here’s a list of restaurants I discovered during my great Houston Mocktail Quest – all of which serve-up delicious food AND ‘tails of both the alcohol and non-alcohol variety.
Provisions
Fourth Ward :: 807 Taft St. Houston, TX 77019
Provisions makes it easy. There’s a special section on their drink menu for drinks of the virgin variety. My favorite was the Rosemary Fizz; refreshing and not too sweet. I mean.. they use TopoChico. How can it be bad?
Pax Americana
Museum District :: 4319 Montrose Blvd Houston, TX 77006
While Pax doesn’t have an official mocktail menu, it does not mean it cannot be done. I let our server know that I wanted a mocktail and generally enjoy Old Fashioneds and liquors of the amber variety when not with child. The bartender was able to serve-up a delicious mocktail reminiscent of an Old Fashioned. {And, no. It’s not a good Old Fashioned if there’s a Maraschino cherry!}
Triniti/Sanctuari
Montrose :: 2815 S Shepherd Dr Houston, TX 77098
Sanctuari is the bar area within the Triniti restaurant. The bar menu has an extensive “Sunday School” section for drinks without alcohol. Pictured is the Velvet Hammer which lived up to its name being a pretty heavy drink because of the blueberry-vanilla gastrique.
Hearsay Gastro Lounge
Downtown :: 218 Travis St. Houston, TX 77002
This charming downtown destination also does not have a designated mocktail section, but let the bartender/server know of your preferences and they will whip up something delicious!
Izakaya
Midtown :: 318 Gray St Houston, TX 77002
Izakaya is in the same family of restaurants with Kata Robata which means it has a strong foundation of great food. Their menu was still under development at the time of my visit, but their mocktail was not one of amateurs. Ginger beer stirred-up with simple syrup and a special grapefruit juice. Simple yet surprisingly pleasing.
Weights + Measures
Midtown :: 2808 Caroline St Houston, TX 77004
This neat space in Midtown also does not have a mocktail menu, but let the server know of your preferences and they will mix a good mocktail for you. Pair it with one of their pizzas, and it makes for good people watching in this nice space. Pictured is a mystery grapefruit mocktail.