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    Balboa Surf Club

    4.3 (220 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Balboa Surf Club Photos

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    BALBOA SURF CLUB ATMOSPHERE

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    Salmon and Caesar salad
    Samantha P.

    Went in for a work lunch. Ordered the salmon and subbed the Napa salad with a Caesar salad. Both the salad and salmon were delicious! The salmon was cooked perfectly, easy to slice into with just a fork and had some crispy corners on top. The servers stayed on top of water refills and were friendly. It had a nice atmosphere and would probably be really nice at night. A funny note: I love to people watch and all the servers are constantly walking around, like they make practical circles around the place I got a tiny bit motion sickness haha! We were too full for dessert but our server brought my boss a complimentary cookie because she heard it was her going away lunch. Very thoughtful of her!

    California roll
    Cassie C.

    I was really excited for this place, has good reviews and heard good things about it but I honestly wasn't that impressed. The ambiance is great, love the environment. Great place to grab drinks with friends or a date night dinner. Service was good. The dessert was so good! I did not like the rolls we got, wondering if the other rolls are better... it just didn't have a good flavor to me. It was too much going on in one roll. The cheeseburger was ok, I like needed a sauce to keep eating it... the Dr Pepper in a bottle was cool! Maybe we need to try different things next time...

    Coconut Shrimp
    Grace K.

    Magnificent! I'm sad that it took me so long to find this restaurant! For starters, everything about this restaurant is high end and gorgeous and the attention to detail is impressive. The entrance is beautiful and the staff was very welcoming and friendly. We had a reservation and were seated promptly, but I noticed the restaurant filling quickly around noon so you should definitely make a reservation. Our server was upbeat and knowledgeable and gave us his recommendations which I greatly appreciated. The coconut shrimp batter was tasty and crispy and the shrimp was perfectly fried. I ordered the crab cake based on my yelp research and the servers recommendation. The crab cake was the best one I've ever had. The amount of crab was generous and the seasoning was outstanding. The freshness and quality was very obvious and it was served with crispy fries that was an outstanding pairing. My diagnosis: gorgeous restaurant with outstanding seafood; the crab cake is a must order!

    Ahi Tuna Frites
    Cyra W.

    Great food and ambiance- our dinner lasted for 3 hours, but not by choice. We had a birthday reservation and the service left a lot to be desired. We got refills every 45 minutes, long waits in between ordering, and to top it off- the server dropped the dessert on the table and sped off, just overall dismissive and I feel bad for recommending this spot to the birthday girl.

    Sashimi salad ($25)-- yellowtail, tuna, salmon with chopped kale salad + honey sesame vinaigrette
    Wendy T.

    Tucked into a discreet corner of the Post Oak Plaza opposite of its sister restaurant (Il Bracco), Balboa Surf Club serves mostly seafood (but you'll find steak, chicken, and burgers on the menu) and even sushi for both lunch and dinner. The interior is energetic but refined, with one side brighter with the bar bathed with natural sunlight and the other side feeling more intimate and darker. They have comfy booths for seating, making it feel a bit like a modernized steakhouse. Everything looks clean and refined; even the outside waiting area and the restrooms match the aesthetics! The food was fresh and delicious! Everything is made in house, from the burger buns to all the desserts-- pretty impressive~ Our top picks were the stone crab claws and the tuna frites + chocolate cream pie for dessert! ** Nigiri platter (4/5): this came with tuna, salmon, and scallop which was super creamy. A little let down that the salmon was served more in a gunkan maki form (battleship style like the usual spicy chopped scallop) than a true nigiri. But everything was fresh and still enjoyable~ ** Rainbow roll (4/5): your usual California roll but topped with tuna, salmon, and yellowtail + some heat with the slices of jalapeño and tanginess. Definitely creamy, but not overly mayo-y tasting. Happy we tried it~ ** Sashimi salad (5/5): loved the chopped Napa salad and that home sesame vinaigrette! The yellowtail, tuna, and salmon sashimi slices were so beautifully presented and also super tasty drizzled with oil. ** Savoy spinach (5/5): while very scrumptious, this was definitely not the healthiest option. It was sautéed and topped with cheese. I would order the grilled broccolini for a healthier veggie option next time! ** Crab and corn chowder (5/5): very creamy without tasting like straight up cheese with that lovely corn flavor + pieces of corn and bites of jalapeño to kick it up a notch. Really enjoyed this comforting cup as it was also served piping hot! ** Stone crab claws (5/5): Haven't seen many places with crab claws on the menu, and we were pleased with these. They were large sized (compared to the colossal sized ones at the well known establishment in Miami)-- still large-and-in-charge and come pre-cracked served on ice with hand towels. Fresh and sweet! ** Tuna frites (5/5): the tuna was nicely seared with a beautiful amber interior. There was a crust of creole seasoning, so it had an extra bit of heat and was a tad salty for me, so next time I might ask if they're able to omit it. Definitely tasted fresh-- one of the best seared tunas I've had in the city :D And the shoe string fries were well seasoned, still fluffy in the middle, and addicting (and I'm usually not a fan!). Would totally order again! ** Chocolate cream pie (5/5): was not expecting coffee in the crust but was so happy to taste it! It was like an espresso chocolate cookie crust with thick, creamy milk chocolate filling topped with some whipped cream. Not like the usual jiggly pudding filling. Totally a dream! I was already full but devoured this. As a sweet tooth, I could come back and happily eat 3 of these for dinner. Service was friendly-- our waitress, Crystal, was bubbly and enthusiastic, and the entire wait staff worked as a team to clear the table, refill our glasses, and bring out the food. Overall, we had a great date night! The food was tasty and fresh, and now we know where to get our stone crab fix! The dress code is business casual, and there was a lot of fun dresses and relaxed but refined attire to match the ambiance :D Come early or make a reservation as it gets busy!

    Chocolate Pie
    Waverly H.

    Balboa Surf Club is life! It's a moment, it's a vibe, it's evething and more. Brought a friend here for her birthday and we all left in a haze of extreme satisfaction. From the architecture, the service and the food, Balboa is winning! We enjoyed ourselves immensely. Joseph was our waiter and he is Balboa's secret weapon. Extremely knowledgeable and intelligent on top of just being a phenomenal waiter. We started with ordering two of everything on the happy hour menu: the delicious oysters (so fresh), The Madjool Dates (heaven), The Tuna Tostada (Offensively Fantastic), Jumbo Lump Crab Handroll (Yummy), The Crispy Grouper Tacos (excellent) and of course the French Fries with aioli sauce. We were in heaven. The restaurant is visually stunning and the atmosphere is very modern and sophisticated and calming. The staff is a well oiled machine (kudos to management). We never needed anything because everything was taken care of and everything was provided. Joseph took very good care of us and could answer any questions we had and has the most pleasant sense of humor and professionalism. Cocktails are very delicious and well balanced. Entrees we ordered were the SPICY AHI TUNA ROLL, SHASHIMI SALAD, THE MOROCCAN, THE TUNA BURGER, AND THE CRISPY CHICKEN BURGER. Presentation and wonderfully crafted flavors was the star of all these dishes. I don't have a complaint about any of any of the dishes. But don't leave with out dessert. The coconut tres leches cake and the chocolate pie are to die for. The dessert chef put love into these desserts, don't skip DESSERT! WE LEFT ON CLOUD NINE. WE WILL MAKE THIS ONE OF OUR SPOTS WE BRING EVERYONE TO. THANK YOU Balboa and Joseph for making a bday dinner experience out of this world. I am most sure the whole staff is lovely, but Joseph our hats off to you!

    El guero (L) west side (R)
    Lauren E.

    service here is always pleasant, and attentive. The atmosphere of this restaurant is so intimate and classy. The food is amazing and the drinks are strong. I loved the crab cake and the red fish was flavorful and fresh. Parking is easy, own parking lot and valet offered. The dessert was delicious. Definitely a great date night spot. Cannot wait to come back.

    Coconut shrimp
    Jo-ann H.

    I came here to celebrate my birthday with my girlfriends, and it was a bit disappointing to find out they don't offer any dessert to celebrate special occasions. Honestly, what's the point of selecting an occasion when making a reservation if nothing is included? Thankfully, our server was kind enough to offer us a dessert, which we really appreciated. Pretty ambiance and great service, but slightly salty food for my taste. Appreciate our server for making my birthday a little sweeter!

    Quatre leches
    Amenda K.

    My parents always love coming to Balboa, so I was excited to finally try it out with them for New Years Eve celebrations, and boy was it amazing! The interior is beautiful with dim and romantic lighting, making it also perfect for a date night. We had reservations for 8 PM, but our table wasn't ready until 8:20, understandable though considering it was NYE. We just waited at the bar and grabbed a drink. There was also a firepit with seating available outside to wait at. We shared the Moroccan salad and coconut shrimp. Wow was the salad delicious! The coconut shrimp wasn't anything special in my opinion. For mains, my parents ordered the filet and crab cake, and I ordered the salmon roll. Sides included fries and mashed potatoes. Honestly, everything tasted DIVINE. My dad doesn't even like sushi and raw fish, but he actually really enjoyed my salmon roll (once I convinced him to try it)! We got the quatre leches for dessert, which was good but nothing memorable. Service was quick, and our server was so kind. There's plenty of lot parking available, along with complimentary valet. Overall, I loved my first visit at Balboa and totally understand why it's a staple spot for my parents. I would definitely come back again!

    Genevieve A.

    Came here for a girls night on Saturday and our server was amazing! My girlfriends got mocktails and I had the cocktail with vodka, lemon and mint and that was okay. For dinner my girlfriends got the red fish and I got the chicken sandwich and my chicken sandwich was amazing! The place was dimly lit so the ambiance was amazing! Overall a 10/10

    Cuatro leches
    Jessica B.

    Balboa Surf Club is a beautiful establishment, the ambiance is cool and the service is top tier. I've been on several occasions ranging from weekday business lunches to happy hour and dinner service. When I'm not entertaining clients I love to sit at the bar, the bartenders alternate bar shifts and although I have my favorites (positive + upbeat + conversation) I've never had a bad experience. You can tell service is top of mind for the staff here and although their food isn't the best in my opinion, I continue to patronize the business for their warm, welcoming and attentive staff.

    Bret B.

    I love the Surf Club. This is a beautiful restaurant. Nicer than most high end restaurants. It is not just a pretty face. The food is consistently very good to excellent as is the service. I like the seafood here so stick to fish and shellfish. They have American dishes and Japanese inspired rolls and Sashimi. It

    Grilled Red Fish
    Nicolas F.

    My favorite part of this place was the ambiance and interior design. SOO cool. Service was great as well. The grilled red fish was very good. I felt the fish itself was overcooked but it was balanced out nicely with the cream lemon sauce and lobster on top of the fish. Overall a great dish, very intimate cool interior, I'd love to come back to try different entrees!

    Crab cake

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    22 days ago

    THE crab cake is wonderful! Spinach is really good too. Great service. Could have used napkins or coasters for drinks.

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    Ask the Community - Balboa Surf Club

    Do men need a jacket for dinner?

    Hi! Jackets are not required. We suggest business casual attire but we want our guests to feel comfortable. Our only request is that gentleman wear shirts with sleeves (aka- no tank tops).

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Hidden Bar

    Hidden Bar

    4.5
    (60 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    If going twice in two nights when visiting from L.A. isn't a testament to a great bar, I don't know…read morewhat is. I ate at Norigami Tuesday night and it was great as were the cocktails served up at the nextdoor bar called Hidden Bar. On Tuesday, I tried the Thai Chili Ginger Margarita ($13) and it was great, complete with a hunk of candied ginger which I "gingerly" consumed throughout my drink experience...see what I did there? Next, I had the Three Dots and a Daiquiri ($13) with Rum, Lime, Velvet Falernum, All Spice and Pineapple and it was very similar to one of my favorite tiki drinks, the Three Dots and a Dash, complete with 3 luxardo cherries. To finish, I had the absolutely incredible Golden Laurel ($16) with Gin, Italicus Bergamot, House Greek Botanical Bitters and Sea Salt. It is equally beautiful served with a clear bay leaf and delicious. Last night, I was guided by the friendly bartender to try the Et Tu Banana" ($15) with Banana Bourbon, Spiced Pear, Creme de Banane, Campari and Citric Acid. I was a little worried about the cocktail being overly banana-y but it wasn't at all. It was a fantastic drink. For my last call, he recommended the Left Hand ($13) with Bourbon, Campari, Sweet Vermouth and Chocolate Bitters. Again, fantastic. Both nights, the bartenders and drinks were fantastic. Ambiance is nice with moody lighting. They even have a bidet toilet seat in the bathroom! Hidden Bar is a "hidden" gem, for sure. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

    Super cute speakeasy hidden inside a sushi restaurant. We went on a weekday evening and had no…read moretrouble getting a table. I ordered the Side to the Sun Rises (gin, yuzu, mint, cucumber) which was light, refreshing, and well balanced. I would recommend it if you enjoy gin-based cocktails with a slightly fruity flavor. My friends really enjoyed their drinks as well. They have all day happy hour on Sundays/Mondays. We did not get a chance to try the food, but the menu looked great. Overall, a fun spot with great vibes and definitely worth checking out!

    Photos
    Love the decor!
    Love the decor!
    Hidden Bar
    Hidden Bar

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    Muldoon's the Patio

    Muldoon's the Patio

    3.9
    (113 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    We always enjoy our visits here, which don't happen often enough. There is a small parking lot…read morewhich we tend to be lucky in getting the last spot every visit. Theres a beautiful patio and a small amount of seating inside. The bartenders are always super friendly and welcoming. Every cocktail has been crafted expertly and is perfection. No food but is next to becks prime if you're feeling like a burger.

    Tucked next to the Becks and out of sight off of Westheimer, it's a small classy dive bar with a…read morecool owner in Louie and some nice bartenders. As you walk in, you'll be greeted by the 70's/80's/90's bar music of rock/disco and chessboard floor pattern. Then you get your drink order from one of the many pleasant bartenders (or Louie) and sit either inside or outside and think to yourself you're the luckiest person in the world. So they specialize in three things: cocktails/liquors, cigars, and patio seating. When you combine all three of those, it's the perfect bar. Cocktails such as ol fashions and cape cods are plentiful here. I also appreciate they do a new york sour here which is an underrated cocktail. Cigars are sold here too and they have cutters and plenty of torch lighters to spark them up. Outside on their patio deck has plenty of seating with some of those heaters in case you houstonians can't handle the cold. Only gripe is I wish they had a larger wine selection as they only have bordeuax or a red blend. Not sure if they serve white wines either. But there's wine bars for that. You're here for the hard stuff or a quick beer, maybe a cigar, and definitely a peace of mind. That's what keeps me coming back!

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Muldoon's the Patio
    Muldoon's the Patio

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    The Cursed Cauldron

    The Cursed Cauldron

    4.6
    (5 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Very cool Halloween displayed bar. I was so impressed by all the decorations when I visited this…read moreplace. However I thought the service could have used a bit of an improvement. Upon arrival they pointed me to the bar for sitting and brought me water but after that I kept waiting and no one came to get my drink order or describe the different drink options they have other than what was on the menu. So after a few minutes I left the place. I know I had gone around 10 pmish after the food service was over so maybe I will try to give it another shot at an earlier time to see if the service is any better than their late night drink service.

    I'm updating my review since it's been a couple years, and the venue/format of Cursed Cauldron have…read moreevolved. For the past 2 years (Oct '24 and '25), I've visited Cursed Cauldron pop-up at Botonica for their Bewitched Burlesque performance. The ticket price is approachable, and the space is adorably decorated. The performers are all fun and really get into the themes - no 2 performances are the same, either, because they feature different artists each week. There is a special drink menu for the pop-up... they are quite expensive at $16 per cocktail, but they are tasty & they do offer a happy hour until 6pm on weekdays. There are some snacks you can buy at the bar, but I wouldn't recommend having dinner there. I wish they had more witchcraft classes, because the Yule Log class I attended in 2023 was the besssst but I'll continue visiting their pop-ups, regardless. Very festive and lots of fun - especially for the witchy girlies out there!

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    The Cursed Cauldron
    Char-boo-tery board
    Char-boo-tery board
    The Cursed Cauldron

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    Bar Moon

    Bar Moon

    4.1
    (25 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Let's start with the drinks were amazingly amazing. We got there around 8ish and there were a few…read morepeople present but it was filling up fast. So if you don't have a rezy I would suggest getting there at opening. I was hoping to see the DJ as they appear to have a good nightly line up but they were having a private party that night on the other side so the the DJ was only heard when the private room door opened. Otherwise they had a good Deep House mix going in the background. I forgot they the bartenders name, but he was attentive and whipped up some good ones. I started off with a Classic Gibson. You can go wrong here, but he made it perfectly balanced with the onion juice. I also added some spicy Blue Cheese Olives on the side which were unique and tasty. My guest had the fun drinks; Space Moon- the bartender described it as a balanced PB&J. It was just that!! Bourbon with a hint of sweet with some bitter from the Campari on the back end. Then topped off with a little PB&J cookie. The second drink was some Peach drink- I forgot the name- but it was also a whiskey drink topped with a peach gummy candy. The drinks sound sweet but they are perfectly balanced. Everything was perfect, we'll be back for round 2 soon.

    Overall: 4.5/5 [dine in]…read more We came on a Friday night and were lucky to get a walk in. They have valet parking in front and self parking in the back. After checking in outside, they take you up via an elevator. The inside is beautiful and I can see why people say it feels like a jewel box in the sky. The vibes are elevated and everything was very picturesque. We were seated at the bar on the outside end near the DJ which worked out great since I think it would have been too loud on the other end. Both cocktails we ordered were super clarified and even the ice was clarified and completely clear. Clean taste and beautiful presentation. My only feedback is that the liquid volume felt a bit low. The glass is smaller than usual with a large ice block in the middle so you can finish the drink pretty quickly. Colada Eclipse ($19): I loved this one. The ube flavor came through really well without being overwhelming. Samurai Supernova ($21): This is the matcha mezcal cocktail with a more muted flavor profile. My husband preferred this one.

    Photos
    Such a pretty environment
    Such a pretty environment
    Dark side of the moon, coffee mushroom, and post oak campfire which
    Dark side of the moon, coffee mushroom, and post oak campfire which
    Bar Moon

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    Balboa Surf Club - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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