Leon's Lounge

Seeing as how I was never a "regular" at this place, I am happy I found it. After eating at REEF one night, me and my girl decided to venture over. How cool is this place? It's the perfect after dinner hang-out and the drinks are great. Still un-pretentious in the Mid-Town district, thank goodness they still exit, it was refreshing. I see these reviews about the old bartenders and how great they were and the insults ppl seem to hurl since they have been gone. Granted I didn't know them but the new one on Saturday night was great. Very accommodating but not over-bearing and all in your conversation unless invited. Obviously she knows how to read a guest. Tall, dark-haired girl with pretty eyes. I highly reccommend this place for it's nostalgic feel, personable staff, drink prices, and the owner seems to take care of his ppl. He is a nice guy who introduced himself as Greg(g)? In today's day you don't find many owners so involved in their businesses. Great to see they still exist. Oh, and we went back this last Saturday night and they had a live musician by the name of Sheila Marshall. Holy S++t!!!That girl rocked!! Bar was way crowded and everyone was having a blast. So to all of those who have written a nasty review......seems you have some relation to the bartenders who perhaps got fired.

Pros: Convenient and lots of fun.

Cons: Parking can get testy.

Posted 07/29/08

I used to go to leon's on the weekends for the friendly bartenders, and cool atmosphere well I went in the other night to see if Jason was working, and he wasn't there some idiot girl without a lick of personality working. I'm all for hiring eye candy but come on at least put the eye candy with another decent friendly bartender. The reason I used to love this place was that when I wanted to go to another bar without the typical midtown atmosphere I could come here. It looks to me like they're trying to make leon's into something it's not.

Pros: okay drink speicals

Cons: staff, ambience, parking, no character anymore

Posted 06/19/08

I've been to this little bar a few times, and what kept me coming back were the friendly and funny bartenders. Without a great staff, a bar is just a bar. Well.......the friendly and funny bartenders aren't there anymore!! Where did you go?? So now, this place is nothing special. The prices are about the same as most, and the atmosphere is average. Just another bar.

Pros: plenty of empty seats to choose from

Cons: plenty of empty seats to choose from

Posted 06/15/08

See the below reviews-unfortunately the owner ran off the bartenders responsible for the good reviews, so abagadodave vacates his earlier remarks and now issues this opinion. Leon's is lousy now and Greg has little to blame but himself. Just shows how much a misguided owner in this industry can crash a great place.

Pros: looks cool

Cons: ownership

Posted 06/05/08

This bar is exactly what a bar should be. Its your friendly neighborhood bar downtown and right off the metro rail. Everyone at the bar is laid-back and there to have a good time and listen to the juke box. The drinks are excellently priced.

Pros: Right off Metro Rail

Posted 06/03/08

The bartender at this bar absolutely makes the place! The author of the review May 3 slamming the bartenders might be someone with a personal grudge, maybe an ex-girlfriend of former employee? With out the personality behind the bar this place would be just like every other hole in the wall that dots the Houston scene. Having said that: good prices, interesting crowd, nice smoking area, piano open for all to play, intereestig drink specials durring the week, great juke box and plenty of parking. The only day I would avoid going is Wednesday, I been up there on two Wednesdays and it is usually dead and the regular bartender wasn't there so the service was really lacking. Thursday - Saturday are great!

Posted 06/03/08

Wow! Talk about time warp. A couple of friends and I went to Midtown to see what the big deal was and after trying a couple of the hot spots, we passed up Leon's and the curiosity got to us. The old insignificant storefront made us look at each other and say "Why not?"! O.K.service, cool atmosphere, totally laid-back. This place is old school dive. Jukebox could be updated. Great place to chill.

Pros: great hideaway

Cons: no food (had to order delivery)

Posted 05/31/08

first off, they don't have much to offer in terms of drinks in comparison to most places. the wine was old and quite possibly boone's farm.

my favorite part was trying to close out my tab and waiting 20 minutes. they were too busy doing shots and being wasted to actually concern themselves with the other half of the bar. the best part was one of the bartenders walked away while my friend was talking to him about which tab to close. and not in the 'he heard her anyway' kind of way. it was more like in the "i hate my life so much that i hope i tick you off so much that you shoot me in the eye" sort of way.

vinyl ranch is really cool for the music. but if you actually want to drink...not so much. maybe if they got bartenders that can take care of business, but it seems to have been this way as far as i can remember, though never as bad as tonight!

Pros: you will never be able to get enough drinks in you to worry about driving drunk

Cons: you will never be able to get enough drinks in you to worry about driving drunk

Posted 05/02/08

My husband first went here a few weeks ago. The crowd was a mixture of all types of people. Jason the bartender is really nice and funny, he can make a mean SoCo and lime gimlet! We went back again last night and had a really great time. I feel like I am in another city when we are inside. Drink prices are very good and over all this is just a really cool, hip, casual and relaxing place to hang out. We plan on making ourselves regulars!

Posted 02/09/08

the characters that have graced this haunted establishment over the years , do and hopefully will still come by to remininese about this, and that and whens. the place is haunted, as many ex-employees, customers,and family would attest, by Leon himself. even though the decorum has been altered and updated somewhat, this historical building still permeates an air of history and mystery one can feel upon entering and even before one is served a cocktail or two. enjoy, but don't tell just anybody.

Pros: the uniqueness of the place and it's history, ecclectic crowds,

Cons: i miss the drama, new management has changed the psyche of the place

Posted 10/06/07

Ya never know who you will see at Leon's, but you always know you will have a great time. Jason the bartender rocks!

Pros: Great prices, fast service and Little Joe plays from time to time

Cons: Parking can be a challenge - suggest a cab

Posted 09/05/07

My wife and I have a blast everytime we come here. Bartenders and regulars are super nice. Tunes from the juke box were fun too. It's a no attitude type bar. Thanks for the good times and stiff drinks.

Pros: Friendly service, friendly customers, and no crowds.

Cons: Parking is a bit difficult.

Posted 10/06/06

If you have not been to Leon's Lounge in a while you should check it out! They are now a full liquor bar with a good selection and great prices for the area. More and more people are finding out about this place.

Pros: inexpensive

Posted 08/12/04