Ouzo Bay is a prime vibe dining spot in River Oaks.

Vibe dining has entered the chat. The relatively new style of dining, which lies somewhere between a restaurant and a club (sometimes referred to as "clubstaurants"), is solidifying as its own category in Houston, with increasingly more restaurants offering a high-energy experience as a side to your meal.

Sure, Houston's vibe dining scene dates back to peak La Strada days in the '90s. Perhaps the Montrose brunch destination was among the first to fall under the vibe dining umbrella, but the term has taken on a whole new meaning since.

In the aughts, splashy restaurants like STK and Bagatelle in New York City laid the groundwork for a new era of vibe dining restaurants. Jonathan Segal, co-founder of the ONE Group behind the lively steakhouse and French bistro, respectively, in the Meatpacking District some 20 years ago, has described his portfolio of restaurants as "vibe dining" for years.

Segal's unique concepts, with their mood lighting, upbeat music and celebratory atmosphere, fulfilled the desire of 30- and 40-somethings to experience a restaurant and nightclub all under one roof. These places aimed to pay equal attention to the culinary side, and long, leisurely, booze-fueled meals could be had without the worry of where to head to next. 

Mastro's Steakhouse offers poolside dining.

In Houston, the emergence of restaurants like Brasserie 19, Steak 48, Bisou and Mastro's—where dining rooms are filled with guests dressed to the nines for nothing more than dinner, drinks and mingling—gave way for more restaurants built with a similar formula. When it comes to concepts billing themselves as restaurants instead of bars, the challenge becomes not letting the vibe overshadow the food.

"This style of dining is a lot more common in Europe," says Zack Truesdell of the Clé Group, which operates Bisou in River Oaks and Kiss in Houston's Sawyer Yards and in Dallas. "People have elevated dining experiences, and make a night out of going to dinner."

A Halloween party at Bisou in 2019.

Bisou opened four years ago and quickly became synonymous with vibe dining in Houston. Kiss, which celebrated one year this month, boasts the words "vibe dining" in its name and logo. "We know we are not in Miami or in Saint Tropez," he explains. "We had to cultivate our goals to serve Houston." This translates to a more reserved atmosphere in the early evening, and a louder scene with music and dancing as the night progresses.

Helmed by French chef Frédéric Perrier, Bisou serves sushi, steak, pastas and grilled seafood. Bisou's kitchen remains open until midnight, and guests are welcome to let the evening guide them as it may. "Our food and service are a top priority at Bisou," Truesdell says. "Guests who are coming in at 11 p.m. to dine are looking for uptempo music and high energy."

In practice, the food's execution at vibe dining spots doesn't always rise to its promise. In a recent Reddit thread about the worst restaurants in Houston, Bisou was mentioned the most frequently in the hundreds of commenters' answers.

MAD restaurant in Houston is a whole vibe.

There are plenty of reasons why Houstonians may find vibe dining appealing. Despite having lots of neighborhoods to explore, the city doesn't quite lend itself to conveniently getting from place to place without having to drive or take a rideshare. The solution? Pick a place, which checks both food and nightlife boxes, and stay put.

MAD, Ouzo Bay and Loch Bar in River Oaks all have lively late-night bar scenes, making the entire development a hotspot for vibe dining. The posh Post Oak Hotel is home to the dark and seductive H Bar, with Mastro's and Willie G's Seafood located steps from the property. And, most recently, speakeasy-style restaurant Juliet opened in the Americana development near the Galleria, and coins itself "modern American vibe dining."

In the coming months, there will be even more choices to consider. Dove's, described as a "posh, fine dining vibe restaurant" in a press release, will open near the Galleria this fall. The menu will spotlight Southern Creole flavors and have a "rich, distinctive ambience" with a "premium beverage program."

Ciel, another anticipated fall opening, has been three years in the making. The restaurant and lounge concept will anchor a new boutique building on San Felipe in River Oaks, and bring Japanese- and French-inspired cuisine to the forefront in a glamorous space. "Our concept is special, and it's different," promises general partner Ryan Henry. "We are incredibly food-focused and food-driven."

You'll find popcorn at Juliet, but no movie.

At its helm, Los Angeles transplant Joseph Geiskopf will serve as the restaurant's executive chef. Geiskopf honed his craft in Michelin-starred restaurants, including French Laundry and Vespertine, and plans to take a creative and sustainable approach in his offerings at Ciel.

While it could become a sought-after dining destination, it may be the vibes that Houstonians trickle in for. "The floor plan is set up in a way that's engaging," says general manager Fabrizio Baranzano. The expansive restaurant, complete with a 2,000-square-foot patio, DJ booth and separate VIP area, was designed as one large connecting space with room for socializing in mind. "The secret sauce is balancing earlier seatings with people who come in for later seatings, when the energy is higher," Henry says.

According to the team, they plan to showcase live music and offer bottle service with the all-too-familiar addition of sparklers, but they pledge that Ciel is not a club. "It's not that we're not a party spot," says partner Faisal Tai. "But we're very mindful of the food experience, and we don't want that to be second to the party experience."

Houston is littered with worthy restaurants for every mood, so it's not unreasonable that diners may raise their brows at vibe dining newbies. But the influx of restaurants under this category in the last decade alone suggest some locals are loving the pairing.

- Digging into mooncakes, the sweet and salty Mid-Autumn Festival tradition

- Exploring the wonderful world of the Vietnamese dessert chè in Houston

- Everything to know about vibe dining, the trend taking over Houston

- Tacos y Más: The pairing that made me fall in love with La Guadalupana

For the latest and best from Chron, sign up for our daily newsletter here.

Megha McSwain is a food writer for Chron.

Prior to joining the Chron team in May 2022, Megha worked as a freelance journalist, contributing to Eater Houston, Houstonia Magazine, CultureMap and The Daily Meal. She previously served as the food editor for luxury lifestyle magazine Houston CityBook for three years, and hosted the food and drink podcast Sip & Savor.

Megha is an Indian-born American who migrated with her parents to Houston in the late '80s and has lived here ever since. She currently lives in Garden Oaks with her husband and rescue pup, and in addition to her work at Chron, she contributes nationally to foodnetwork.com.