Ready to hit up the newest spots for food and drinks in the Washington Corridor? From a diner with an all-day menu to a sports bar with Cajun fare, read on to see the newest hot spots to make their debuts in this Houston neighborhood.
The Classic
5922 Washington Ave.
The Classic is a diner serving modern American cuisine. Though it replaces the Benjy's that closed down last year, it's still owned by restaurateur Benjy Levit.
It serves an all-day menu, plus breakfast options in the morning. On the menu, offerings include the Brown Sugar Salmon with beets, ginger calamari, marcona almonds and smoked yogurt; the Pork & Eggs sandwich with pepper jam, Gruyere and aioli on an English muffin; and the Crispy Rice Salad with poached egg, fish sauce and fresh herbs. (See that menu here.)
For breakfast, you'll find the H-Town (veggie scramble, bacon, bagel and feta schmear) and the Kaya Toast (coddled eggs, coconut jam, chorizo and cultured butter). (See all the breakfast options here.)
The diner has received a warm welcome thus far with a four-star Yelp rating based on 34 reviews.
Yelper Vincent V., who reviewed the new restaurant on Aug. 11, wrote, "I thought I was going to miss my weekend breakfast at Benjy's, but The Classic is a worthy replacement in the same location. While the menu is more compact than its predecessor's, everything on it looks (and so far tastes) great."
Mc D. noted, "I had the H-Town, which was suggested by my server. It's an egg scramble with vegetables, a side of bacon and a bagel. The food quality is first rate. The bacon was delicious and perfectly cooked."
Swing on by to take a peek for yourself: The Classic is open from 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m.–10 p.m. on Saturday, and 8 a.m.–9 p.m. on Sunday.
Shell Shack
2412 Washington Ave.
Shell Shack, which has several Texas outposts, has opened a new seafood eatery in the former space of Social Junkie Sports Bar. The newcomer has two patios, two bars and more than two dozen televisions for sports fans, the Houston Chronicle reports.
The menu features seafood boils, allowing you to build your own. You first pick the seafood (king crab, snow crab, Dungeness crab, shrimp or crawfish), then your flavor and heat (Cajun, garlic, lemon pepper or kitchen sink) and finally add sausage, corn and potatoes. It also offers mixed seafood platters, plus fried and grilled plates.
Signature cocktails are available as well, including the Shell Shack Tea (sweet tea vodka, fresh lemon juice, simply syrup, Coke and Sprite) and the Shell Shack Mama (spiced rum, dark rum, coconut rum, banana liqueur, pineapple juice, orange juice and grenadine).
With a four-star Yelp rating out of 39 reviews, Shell Shack has been getting positive attention.
Adriane T., who reviewed it on Aug. 22, wrote, "This is my favorite restaurant for a good seafood boil! We tried the VIP platter, which had snow crab and shrimp, plus corn, potatoes and sausage. Also, all the platters come with hush puppies and fries. It was delicious!"
Kharima R. added, "I ordered the Date Night platter with kitchen sink flavor and medium heat, with a Blue Hawaiian frozen drink. ... Seafood was very fresh and flavorful. Lots of TV screens for the various sports seasons, so that's a plus."
Shell Shack is open from 11 a.m.–2 a.m. daily.
Candy Shack Daiquiris
5111 Washington Ave.
Candy Shack Daiquiris is a drive-through bar and eatery with limited seating inside. It serves New Orleans-style daiquiris, both alcoholic and nonalcoholic, and has three other locations in the Houston area.
Its colorful daiquiris, topped off with gummy candies, come in a dozen flavors, including Texas Tea, Sunrise, Incredible Hulk, Hurricane, Baby Mama Drama, Lethal Weapon and more. Alcohol-infused daiquiris, under the Mixology section of its menu, include the Coffee on Crack, Caramel Apple, Strawberry Shortcake and Tropic Passion.
It also features a small menu of food items, such as wings, chicken strips, chicken sliders, catfish, shrimp and fish tacos. (See the full menu, including drinks, here.)
The new drive-through spot has gotten an enthusiastic response thus far, with a five-star rating out of nine reviews on Yelp.
Yelper Cynthia V., who reviewed it on June 12, said, "What more could you want besides sweet daiquiris topped with more sweet candy? They have lots of different flavors that you can mix any way you want and a list of suggested mixes. Try the Tropic Passion if you want to play it safe or the Caution if you like to live on the wild side."
And Justin D. wrote, "Candy Shack takes daiquiris to the next level! Twelve flavors and tons of combinations can have you coming back forever. The candy toppings are a great touch. There are games to drunk play and a virgin flavor for the kiddos."
Head on over to check it out: Candy Shack Daiquiris is open from 2 p.m.–midnight Monday–Thursday and noon–midnight Friday–Sunday.
Doberman's Bar & Grill
519 Shepherd Drive
Doberman's Bar & Grill is a sports bar that serves New American and Cajun/Creole fare. The bar features an all-local selection of craft beer, while the grill offers Southern eats.
On the menu, look for the Doberman Fresh Catch, a dish of fried salmon topped with sautéed shrimp and covered in a creamy Cajun Pontchartrain sauce over grits; the Gourmet Burger with cheddar, sauteed onions, lettuce, tomatoes, bacon and chipotle mayo; and a chicken stir-fry with sautéed peppers, onions, mushrooms and broccoli. It also offers a weekend brunch menu.
Doberman's Bar & Grill is off to a strong start with a current rating of 4.5 stars out of 93 reviews on Yelp.
Angela F., who reviewed it on May 13, wrote, "All of their beers on tap are local, and they have quite a good selection! Also, the owners are just the nicest people ever — really able to brighten your day. They have bar seating, lots of indoor seating and a pretty good-sized outdoor patio with umbrellas for shade."
Timberly B. added, "Great drinks, great food, great service. And all reasonably priced. I'll be back for more. The avocado fries are perfect."
Doberman's Bar & Grill is open from 11 a.m.–2 a.m. daily.
