Every great city must have its ice house: the laid-back, unassuming sprawling outdoor seating with decent but not too uppity and always affordable beer selection where men go to be men, not to pick up on girls or ogle waitresses, but just drink and enjoy one another's company. It is the type of place your mom would say she’s afraid to stop it, largely because she’s trying to hide the fact that she had a crazy night there back in her early 20’s because yes, the neighborhood ice house is always at least as old as your grandpa.
No matter the time of day, you are sure to find a few motorcycles parked outside. The bar is a well-known staple in Houston’s two-wheeled scene and people that ride motorcycles are just well, happy. Unless it is raining, but then we stay inside alone to grovel or work in our garages.
So next time you pass through this busy Montrose corridor, give the neighborhood ice house a try. Perhaps the rush hour traffic is making you homicidal, or perhaps the idea of just going home after a long day of work sounds about as appealing as lighting yourself on fire, or maybe you are dreading meeting your friends at the same old hipster dive bar around the corner while the clientele around you compares the skinniness of their jeans, well then – pull up to a picnic table and order a brew and chili dog at the W. Alabama Ice house. I promise, you’ll go home happy…or at least with some interesting stories to tell.
Pros: vibe, beer
Cons: not all bars are like this
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