On The Kirb: Spreading its Wings in The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- On The Kirb, the Houston based sports bar, recently opened its fifth location in The Woodlands in mid-November and celebrated their grand opening on the 22nd, making it CEO Joe Arbelly’s first foray into Montgomery County. The new Organic Eatery and Sports Bar, gained its name from its original Upper Kirby location, and has opened its newest shop in the northwest corner of the Indian Springs Center located at the intersection of The Woodlands Parkway and Kuykendahl Rd. Placed away from the hustle and bustle of I-45, and sandwiched between the Carlton Woods Clubs, its rustic atmosphere plays right into the surrounding neighborhood's flow of a quieter yet more quality-based experience, except when the big game is on TV. Guests have a choice of indoor or outdoor seating, and coupled with the awesome choices from the food, cocktail, and happy hour menus, those visiting have no choice but to sit back, buckle-up, and have a great time.

One of On The Kirb’s Signature Cocktails is their Barrel-Aged Old Fashioned, crafted with their rye whiskey aged in American oak barrels, bitters, organic cane syrup, a famous Luxardo cherry, and an orange peel. And give the bartender a moment, they’ll probably even be able to smoke it later this month. The Old Fashioned is a prime reason to arrive early even before your party, for it’s a work of art, and instills the nostalgia that personal reflection requires, free from conversation. It’s just you and your thoughts, designed for a refined palate, one that has seen, did, risked things, that has allowed for the enjoyment of the better things in life. Experts take their time with this masterpiece, letting their whiskey get to know the orange peel allowing for the release of the aromatic oils, which heightens the intensity of the cocktail, and squeezing the cherry only adds to the flavor with its natural sugars. And as it rolls off the tongue, you can taste how the bitters play off the whiskey, allowing for everything to go down smooth, with the finish revealing the taste of the orange and cherry doing their fruity parts to the end.

One of the starters that reflects the Mediterranean themes that On The Kirb offers is the Traditional Hummus plate. Made with their house-made authentic hummus and homemade pita chips, reflective of its Aegean Islands influence. It’s a great starter, but be sure to save any unused hummus which can be used as a condiment on pretty much anything on the menu, from the fries, burgers, steaks, kabobs, and wraps. The Organic Beef Sliders, another starter, are made with On The Kirb’s grass-fed organic beef, cheese, and grilled onions. They are lovely, yielding a hint of pink in the middle, and with a slight char, bringing to mind the Oklahoma onion burger of old. Three sliders make up a serving.

On The Kirb brick-oven pizzas are also a hit, and with some choices that may surprise you. Their Kale Mushroom Pizza will have you initially thinking, kale what? While most think of kale in zuppa toscana, the Italian soup, when coupled with mushrooms on pizza, kale makes a perfect partner. It’s very tasty and grows on you very quickly, with the nutty earthiness of the mushrooms creating a savory duo with the kale. Of course the mozzarella plus parmesan cheese, diced garlic, and olive oil, it makes for a healthy masterpiece, with a drizzle of lemon juice adding just the right amount of acidity to bring it all together. The Meat On The Kirb, is OTKs version of a meat lover’s pizza and is very popular with customers, with all the usual suspect meats placed on a marinara bed, along with mozzarella, pepperoni, italian sausage, bacon, ground beef, onion, the triad of bell peppers, mushrooms, and jalapenos. Of course you can ditch the heat, which is mild and lingering, and not overpowering to seasoned diners. The presentation has the ingredients diced and evenly spread across the pie, which its dough made with a Neapolitan flour, the ‘00’ kind, that is finely ground and provides for a high gluten stretchy and thin dough that pleases with a flavorful crust, and has a soft and chewy texture.

The Shrimp Tacos from On The Kirb, makes an interesting contrast to the usual fish taco. Made with the customers choice of corn or flour tortillas, grilled shrimp, and topped with their purple slaw, queso fresco, pineapple pico, along with their sweet and tangy Dynamite sauce; a spicy, creamy, and umami-rich aioli. It’s a sweet and savory pocket pair of goodness that can be shared with a companion or fully enjoyed with a side of fries.

One item from the Signature portion of the OTKs menu is their Grass-Fed Filet Mignon, with its perfectly presented grill marks, and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. It is what a filet is supposed to taste like. Thick. Juicy. Grilled over high heat to sear in flavor and prevent over cooking, this leaner cut offers a taste that beef lovers can’t resist. It’s a high quality organic filet where medium rare is the perfect temperature to enjoy the robust rich flavor. The mashed potatoes and asparagus that complete the dish are just as enjoyable, and the gravy that accompanies the mash, is worthy of a brushstroke of the meat, and perhaps even a little of that hummus or feta dip to add different flavors to the experience. Their Steak and Chicken Kabob dish is also worthy of a try, packed with its Mediterranean flavors.

No end to an On The Kirb experience would be complete without dessert. OTKs Banana Bread Pudding, can be enough for one super-hungry, or four, some say six fellow diners, looking to share an incredibly delicious closing dish. And since bananas (albeit carmelized) are included, even a scholar would conclude that it's healthy. Wink wink, lol. Of course it's pure decadence! The bread pudding can be described as an overlapping two squared dessert, topped with ice cream and mint sprig, smothered with the famous bananas foster sauce. It is a rich and delicious end to an awesome meal, and is worthy of its prime placement on the OTKs dessert menu.

On The Kirb CEO Joe Arbelly is all about pleasing the customer, and insists his managers, staff and servers follow his ‘5 C's of Hospitality:’ Community, Consistency, Communication, Culture, and Continuous Learning. It’s a philosophy that sets the standard of an experience for not only the guests that enter the restaurant, but for the team that provides the service that keeps the customers coming back. The atmosphere sets the joyful mood that customers have no choice but to embrace, and strengthens the relationship between not only the OTK team, but the guests as well. On The Kirb is worthy of a visit from any resident in The Woodlands and beyond in Montgomery and North Harris Counties, for you won’t be disappointed.

On The Kirb-Woodlands is located at 6777 Woodlands Parkway. Their website: onthekirb.com/woodlands

Ruben can be reached at: ruben@montgomerycountynews.net

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