I love The Ritz. Here is why:
All the staff - the managers, bartenders, waitresses, DJs - are all respectful and good people. A rule of thumb is to be respectful and appreciative of the staff and you will get it back in return. Girls can be found in any club, but the infrastructure - the staff - makes it work.
The girls - there are always plenty of dancers at any one time, and the variety is good. Yes, there are a lot of Cubans, but I have found many of them to be among the nicest. I wish there were more Asians, but that isn't the fault of the club. Plenty girls of color, and they all tend to be awesome people. No complaints about variety.
Remember that you are in Houston where Spanish is a second language. You want all Queen's English corn-fed white girls? I suggest Iowa.
Are some pushy? There are a few. But, hey, this is their job and they are trying to make money. It boggles the mind that some people expect to just come in and sit and stare and hardly tip the girls and then get angry that a girl asked if they want to buy a dance. It's. Their. Job. Be mindful - and respectful - of that.
Are some rude? Yes. Are some stand-offish? Yes. Some are even shy. Some have had bad days. Some are inexperienced. Some are bored. Some are tired of being treated like crap. Guess what? That's the way people are. Whether it is 10, 20, 30 or 40 girls in the club, there will be a few whose "attitude" you don't like. That's normal. That's life. There will also be many girls there who are great people, can carry on a conversation, and are reasonable and courteous. Tell me where in life is there a place where all the people meet all the best criteria?
To the flustered customers, I say, you go try and be a dancer where you are looked down upon and then you have to force yourself to talk to some disgusting, sweaty guy who can't form a sentence and then dance on his lap. Give these girls the benefit of the doubt. It can be a lousy job.
And if there is a dancer who is truly annoying; well, they will either find customers who like that sort of thing or they will leave for lack of money. In any case, it doesn't affect you.
The club itself - good-sized (and free) parking lot (and you can get a car wash), upstairs VIP is wonderful, TV room, and a very large outdoor patio, multiple stages; many options for viewing. Great daytime buffet, overall great menu, bottles available. Right off 45 and easy to find.
The vibe - I have been to a million strip clubs (seriously), and there are those that are true dive bars and those that are blatantly high-class. This is in the sweet spot middle. It is certainly no dive, and it is not pretentious. Again, the staff are great and make this place very comfortable. I always feel welcome here.
Daytime and nighttime vibes are a little different. The night can get a little rowdier as one might expect. I tend to be a nighttime person, but having gone during the day a few times, I was impressed - the staff are tremendous, and there were plenty of girls on stages. It almost felt like night. The day does tend to be more chill, but I really liked it.
Regulars versus visitors - regular patrons tend to have an advantage as they are known entities. They have their favorite girls and can reserve time with them in advance. The girls know how much money they can get. If I were a dancer, I would absolutely keep my regular customers happy as it's a guarantee. Now for visitors - and I was one once, and I have plenty of friends who have gone only once - it is really not a disadvantage. There are plenty of girls to go around, and if you show hem some stage tips, they will make time for you. But you have to try. They are there to make money, not to make new friends. If you just sit there motionless, you get what you deserve.
Prices - very reasonable, whether for drinks, dances, or dinner. The food here is very good. I am not sure what the VIP membership goes for now, but the one-time cost for lifetime access is worth it. I believe you will never pay a cover, and you can go upstairs (which is a great place to hang out; quieter, dedicated bartender, a good view of the stage downstairs).
I travel a lot and go to many clubs, and I always end up comparing it to The Ritz. The Ritz is my gold standard. And when I am in Houston, I make it a point to get back to The Ritz because, to me, it is the perfect club. read more