Blanco's Bar and Grill

10/30/11

Fun place!

by saira81

I've been here a couple times and I had a great time both times. I love the Urban Cowboy scene and the dancers are fun to watch. The staff is very attentive and nice. The only reason they didn't get 5 stars is because the gravel parking lot is treacherous on my high heels and the bathroom is a little icky.

12/30/10

Missing Rodeo

by HoustonTexReview , Citysearch Contributor

So, you have friends in from New York who want to see the Urban Cowboy scene? You can take them to Wild West, which is off of Richmond, or you can take them here to dance around a bale of hay.

They host plenty of Rodeo fundraisers here too.

The service is good and the oily bar food is really tasty...I'm serious.

07/25/10

Urban Cowboy meets real life Texas bar

by Mai Pham , Citysearch Contributor

A visit to Blanco’s confirms a lot of preconceived notions about Texans. 1) Texans wear cowboy hats all the time; 2) Texans wear cowboy boots all the time; 3) Texans generally have very strong Texan drawl or twang; 4) The preferred Texan dance is the two-step; 5) Texans worship the Rodeo .

A well-known institution in Houston located on West Alabama, Blanco’s is little more than a baby blue wooden Texas farmhouse from the outside. The parking lot is unpaved, and even before you walk in, the name Blanco’s brings to mind images of John Travolta in Urban Cowboy. But it’s not until you enter Blanco’s that you can fully appreciate the authenticity of this place. Rodeo memorabilia, complete with pictures and autographs, adorned the walls, and bull or rodeo-shaped neon signs could be found too. In the back left corner sat an almost life-sized furry bull. Two pool tables occupied a brightly lit space to the right, while the dance floor occupied center stage. Beer bottles sitting in ice cold buckets were sprinkled across tables. Standard fried bar food was available on the menu (chicken wings, fried tators, nachos). I swear it was like walking into a movie set of what a Texas bar should look like, except that most bars in Houston don’t look like this!

By 10pm on Friday night, the live country band (cover was $12) was playing and people were two-stepping away on the dance floors. A crowd of mostly 40something+ cowboy hat and cowboy-boot wearing folks were gathered around the dance floor, drinking beer, hanging out with friends. This was by far some of the most interesting people-watching I’d ever seen! While I didn’t fit in, it was definitely an experience to remember. So if you want to experience the movie-version of Texas, visit Blanco’s on weekend night around 10pm and you will see it on display in all it’s glory.

• Pros: Captures the spirit of texas & the rodeo
• Cons: Air conditioning was poor. It was so hot & muggy

07/26/08

Bring Out of Towners

by SquintyEyes

I've been going to Blanco's for lunch for years. Friday's are the best with their seafood special. The waitstaff is super attentive, friendly and accomodating. Karin knows just about everyone there by first name and drink choice. Kids are welcome until the evenings when the live music starts.

Not just local bands - even thought they do have lots of good ones. But some national acts like Dale Watson, Gary P Nunn and others frequent the calendar too. No cover on Thursday's and a small cover on Friday. Even when the place is packed - and the dancefloor IS small - they have waitresses that pay attention and get your drinks quickly.

If you have friends in from out of town, take 'em there for lunch and see who's playing that night. Then bring 'em back. If you're new to Houston make it your after work stop to catch up with friends at the bar and visit with the bartender gail.

Blanco's is the coolest neighborhood bar in town.

• Pros: everything
• Cons: none

06/10/08

Best Place EVER

by admiralmb

This place is awesome. Cheap beer, friendly waitstaff, just a good place for lunch or after work drinks. On thing that you should know is playing pool at Blanco's is an aquired skill.

• Pros: Food, Beer, everything else
• Cons: None