The Den

Their menu is right, these wings are AMAAAAZING!! I didn't get a picture because they were gone so soon, so the picture is just fries. I got the traditional (bone in) wings, BBQ, wow steaming hot and delicious. The menu says you can get 5, 10 or 15, and I got just 5 with fries, and they gave me 6 😊 the fries are really good too! They're flat, so they're crispy but still soft inside. The ranch was thiccc and deliciuos too. We went in a Tuesday when they have a happy hour for long island iced teas and buffalo chicken sandwiches and YES those are DELICIOUS TOO! The buffalo sauce they use is a little spicier than compared to, say, Pluckers buffalo. They were also gone before I could get a picture haha I will say that the service is nothing exceptional, but nothing bad which is fine with me! Dietary things: There's nothing marked as gluten free on the menu, and I asked if there were gf options and they said no. They have "crispy or grilled" options for chicken sandwiches so they could probably make something grilled without the bun and without cheese if you need to avoid dairy. I'm not allergic, just sensitive to a lot of things, and I ended up getting the bone in wings and fries. Will update later if that hurts me!

During my time as a student at the University of Houston, I always looked forward to Mondays because that was one of the most popular nights to be at The Den. My favorite dish to order was their classic burger with a side of fries and ranch. Even now as an alum, I still go back every few weeks to eat and meet up with friends. Their food is absolutely amazing, the service is efficient even when there’s 60+ college students trying to order nonstop, and their atmosphere combined with the drinks is just perfect. I love how every night there’s a drink and food special, our favorite is their “monday margs.” Best place to hang out after a long day on campus!

The Den is a classic campus dive bar. Great selection of local beers on tap, and a menu that highlights the melt in your mouth brisket that Texas is known for. Hearty, cheap and filling, it's a great place for a relaxed lunch or dinner. We went in early June when there really weren't many students on campus. Dunno what it would be like while school is on session. We had the "Irish" nachos and the brisket tacos. Irish means French fried potatoes instead of corn chips for the base. It was what might be called loaded fries at other places. We loved it. I mean, what's not to love about a plateful of carbs and creamy queso and tender brisket? The brisket tacos were a good pairing, with a bright, spicy sauce. Hard to beat a place like The Den. It was a short walk from the Hilton, and way more exciting than the hotel restaurant.

Good little college bar, however Jasmine/ “Cha Cha” was a terrible bartender. I understand if someone is having a bad night, but it seems she treated her coworkers the same disrespect as patrons. It wasn’t just with my group, she treated other patrons as if they were below her. Every other bartender/employee was absolutely stellar. It’s a shame they tip share, because I would hate for a single cent to ever go to “cha cha”.

I was fortunate enough to visit this bar recently on what must have been one of the quieter days. I have it on good authority that attendance fluctuates, but then it is slightly off the beaten path, so its proximity to the campus at the University of Houston does mean that its fortunes are closely allied to the academic calendar. But that was not a deterrent. There is a good choice of beers, reasonably priced, and food available, with large TV screens for the sports fans. Staff are friendly and helpful, and happy to stop and chat. A brief conversation with the manager reveals that there are big plans for this place. It certainly has a great deal of potential, so watch this space.