Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

Reviews 5

ER

Eric Rechlin

The number one place to get craft beer in Houston, with 70-80 on tap and over 100 in cans and bottles. Also they have a few wines and a full bar for those who dont like beer, though they are missing critical ingredients to make most cocktails. The draught list is constantly changing so you can find something new every day. Cheapest days are Mondays (when 2/3 of the draught beers are $3) or Sundays (when the Texas draught beers are $3). Tuesdays have trivia, Wednesdays have special flights (basic flights are available every day), and Thursdays have rare beer releases. Service is generally excellent, though occasionally the waitress is inattentive/disinterested or just plain absent. All staff are well trained on beer knowledge and can give good recommendations and offer tiny tasters to help you decide. Food is decent by bar standards, though perhaps not as competitive as it used to be, with the best selection of German food inside the loop (dont miss the soft pretzels or the bratwurst, though unfortunately some of the best German items have been removed from the menu -- RIP the once-excellent German potato salad and beer cheese soup). Also theres typical American fare such as nachos, chips/salsa, and pizza. They even have some vegetarian options that I regularly order as a non-vegetarian, namely the excellent Hippie Hollow (pita with hummus and vegetables inside, along with jalapeño dressing). No burgers as they have a limited kitchen. For repeat customers, they have a membership program that gives you a magnetic strip card and a T-shirt for $18, so you can track your beers. After 200 unique beers you get a plate ("saucer") on the wall with your name on it; along the way youll occasionally get discounts as well. As someone who works across the street, this keeps me coming back time and time again. The place can be unfortunately loud and is frequently packed in the evenings, though the loft above the bar and back hall are more tolerable. Its possible to rent out the loft for private parties, though that entails a fairly substantial minimum purchase. The only bar games are a couple dart boards. Part of a small (16 store) chain across Texas and the Deep South.

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RI

Richard Saldivar III

Few weeks back I visited Houston since I was on vacation due to I serve in the military. Friends told me about the place and decided to take me here since I love craft beers and many different types. At first I loved it. I dont think there is anything wrong with the place, but our waitress was horrible!! We got water, tasted like hot dog water but not what we came to drink, so we ordered beers. After 30 min she comes with our beers. I understand it was busy so Im not complaining about that, I understand how things can get. We were ready to order our pizza. 15 min went by no waitress, so we gave our order to another waitress and she stated she will out it under our waitress. Fair enough. She came by the table one time after that and that was it. Pizza and food was great!! Once we were done we wanted our check, no waitress to be found so we asked another waitress, like before, for the check, she said she couldnt give it to us since were not her table. So replied well, do you know where our is and she said no. To ourselves we did say out loud (to each other) what the f!@#? 15 min later here she comes with the check and tells us sorry but next time dont cuss at the other waitresses. We remained quiet left the money and TIP! (Which we believed we shouldnt but dont want to be rude and we know how waitressing depends mostly on tips) soon as were heading to leave , both waitresses called us losers. Since we had a beer, we thoight it was best not to say anything and just walk away. First impression is a last one, if this is what is expected when I go there, then I will never return, nor will I recommend it to others unless someone convinces me other wise. I am open minded and fair.

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GI

Gilbert Landras

In youth my taste in beer did not travel too far past that of Bud Light, Miller, Coors and Keystone. When I was introduced to the Flying Saucer all of this changed for the better. The beer & ale selection is probably the most comprehensive I have ever seen. There is a rotating list of a dozen or so craft beers and the paper menu lists all current brews (which is updated monthly). From what I understand the waitstaff takes quizzes on the different kinds of beer and ales so they can (or are supposed to) help you make your decisions. I gotta say that the waitresses do add a great deal to the decor. I mean really cute ladies in plaid skirts who are really cool and know their beers? I had to throw this in there. I mean its probably partially the reason why most of the people who go there, go there..... Great beer and Monday Night Football on the big screen? It was the best mix of what I had grown accustom to on a Monday night. Back then "Pint Night" was $2.50. Now it is $3.50. But, for over 70 craft and import beers on tap on that sale its a steal. Sundays is Texas Pint night! Wednesdays is Brewery night?! There is a lot going on there on a weekly basis which always makes for good times. The UFO club is their main marketing drive. The idea is to have 300 different beers (three per day max) and get your own saucer plaque and a small party (where the cost is nowhere close to how much is spent). All together the last 10 years or so has made me in to an avid fan of beer....perhaps in the next 10 I can say I am a connoisseur!

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A

A Private User

Restaurant aficionados, go purchase a book entitled "Setting the Table," by Danny Meyer - and then go to the Flying Saucer and meet a manager named Asa. See if he isnt everything the book describes in how to make customer service pure hospitality! I dont know him beyond our experience this past Wednesday but Im thoroughly impressed (BTW - this is my first restaurant review ever). The Cubs were in town playing the Astros; Manchester United was in town playing the US All Stars. I called that morning to make reservations. I got Asa on the phone and he told me because of the sporting events, they were booked solid and had been for a month - but hed do his best to hold a table for us. He told me to ask for him when we arrived. So - I did - and he had! The place was jammed - shoulder to shoulder - but our out-of-town guests and I were treated like royalty. He checked on us again and again - and then comped our table with an unexpected gift! Youd like to see service like this at 5-star restaurants but YOU JUST DONT EXPECT IT at a pub! Im blown away. Our whole group was blown away. Were already making plans to go back. If Asa is an exception at the Flying Saucer, then they need to follow his lead. If he is the norm, then this place truly has a very firm grasp on how to do it right!

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TU

Tucker Cosby

My girlfriend and I stopped by before the super bowl. We managed to find a table in the back upstairs, and immediately placed our orders knowing the service would be slow. After sometime, and seeing that tables that arrived after us eating, we mentioned to our waitress that we were still waiting for our drinks and food. She quickly apologized, and asked if we wanted to see the manager. We both declined, and understood the environment on gameday was out of control. Our food and drinks arrived shortly after by, you guessed it, the manager. He too apologized, and explained that the entire tab would be free. Due to the free tab, we ordered another round of drinks which arrived in no time at all. The drinks were great, and the beer selection is plentiful. As for the food, highly recommend trying the pretzels. While the experience started out slow, management went above and beyond to assure us that we were satisfied. We will be back!

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