Roosevelt Lounge

This is the most racist establishment I have ever tried to go to. The bouncer refused tort me in because my hair was long and tied back and because I am Indian. The bouncer said that this is Texas and he can do what he wants. I guess it’s my fault that I’m brown. Don’t go here. And I will be reporting this company to the better business bureau.

I swear everyone here is high on something. This place is so damn ratchet it cracks me up. My friends and I had a good laugh while we were here — for about 15 minutes.
So I’ve heard many times that the door guys are racist and sexist. If you’re not white or not a group of girls — they’ll probably give you a hard time. Real talk. Luckily or unlucky of me, we had girls night and we were able to just walk right in. They didn’t even card us.
Here’s what I observed:
There’s a lot of awkward white people dancing to really ghetto rap/​hip-​hop music. All looked like they were high on something. Girls were making out with random guys on the dance floor. I didn’t go to the restroom here but I wouldn’t be surprise if I saw people do lines in the restroom.
Music was really good booty shakin’ music so the girls and I were gettin down. Then a creeper starts dancing next to me and then tries to dance with me. I backed my a$$ vigorously hard against him while pushing him away. It was pretty hilarious. My girlfriends couldn’t stop laughing. That was also our cue to leave.
I’ve also been here once with Ratchet Ryan L. (good times… LOLOLOL)

I was my friends DD, so this was my sober experience.
The crowd: Older guys who don’t need to be wearing suits and probably need to be on
, younger guys trying to act like the have money, north face guys, the one black guy, the couples, and it seemed like everyone else was looking for a sugar daddy.
Inside: Décor was pretty decent. Dance floor wasn’t being truly used till 1am. Bottle services at the tables surrounding the floor. I guess it caused people to be social if they were looking for a free drink.
Music: It was fine, but nothing to write home about.
Bouncer: We didn’t have trouble getting in but in retrospect the demographic seemed to be caused by the Nazi bouncer. A lot of these reviews were sad to read. I knew something was wrong but I couldn’t put my finger on it until I left.
My 2 cents: If you get in and know a guy with table service, then you will probably have a great time. That being said a lot of girls looked like they were looking for sugar daddies. I saw a handful of attractive guys get denied by these girls who were really full of themselves. I would question the quality of any girl or guy you meet here. They should know that in many cases if a guys «wears his money» then he is probably broke. Especially if he is young. Enjoy the credit card bill.

I regret every dollar spent here. Don’t go here, no matter what ethnicity you are. Don’t support their KKK bullsh*t.

Always an epic time!!! One of the few places in Houston that got it right! I’ve made so many great memories here and highly recommend that people go check it out!

This place is a hit or miss. I usually have fun here ive never had any of the racial issues everyone talks about or seen anyone have issues when I am there but I’ve heard of it often. Music is top fortys, there’s some pretty cute and outgoing girls to talk to. Kinda scene but it’s what you would expect from a typical dance club.

I know a lot of people say this but this time I must chime in: «If I could give negative stars to this place, I would!»
Places like the Roosevelt are part of the reason I moved out of Houston. Racism here is just ignored and disregarded as a general pestilence rather than the remnants of historical injustice that it is. Roosevelt is the epitome of a racist nightlife establishment. Pub Fiction is another. Despite the proclaimed diversity of Houston, when it comes to ideas of racial equality, it is definitely behind the times when you compare it to the coastal cities. I’m not trying to bash Houston, I was raised there and most people I know and grew up with are wonderful people, but the city is only so big and when it comes to nightlife, there are only a few selected spots that are considered «hot» at any one time. I am disgusted to think that certain decent people are being denied this luxury based on the color of their skin. The reality is that when it comes to nightlife in Houston, it’s all caveat emptor — to use the term loosely.
I came here for a friend’s birthday party and was turned away by the doorman despite giving him the name of the birthday girl and informing him that she had a booth with bottle service. This is what he said, verbatim:
«Sorry, there’s just too many of you Asians.»
Perhaps he thought that my money was not green, but yellow. Perhaps he was afraid that I would squat like a vagrant in the corner and smoke cigarettes with all of the other Asian men he had reluctantly admitted. Perhaps he feared that my simple presence in his establishment would offset a cataclysmic chain of events whereby Asian men would burn down the «Old Boys Club» and usurp all positions of power in America. Even if the last were to come true, I suspect that his position as an all mighty doorkeeper would remain relatively safe.
I contacted the Houston Chronicle. They refused to run a story or even investigate unless I had hard evidence. The reporter sounded highly skeptical and even had the gall to ask me «Well, are you good looking?»
Bitch, I am fucking fabulous.
Saleem Fernandez is the owner of this club and many others in Houston. I don’t know if he is racist but he certainly supports the acts of racial discrimination committed on his behalf. What was that they said about a man being defined by his actions?
I’m not the first to point out this issue nor will I be the last. Sadly, the culture of the city is what really needs to change. We need to be abhorred and disgusted, but instead most of us are just ambivalent and resigned. Without your money, places like this cannot survive. Vote with your dollars and boycott Saleem Fernandez’s establishments.
He’s opening a new place called Social Junkie on Washington Ave. Needless to say, I suggest you avoid it like a pile of AIDS needles.

Out of all the bars on Washington we went to, this one had a nice upscale feel to it with a less sleazy crowd. Dj was good and there was just enough room to huddle together and get our dance groove on. Also they don’t do those seizure dance strobe lights so I can actually look at my friends while we are having a good time. Most importantly the whole place is air conditioned which is a must in the summer. We had no issues getting in unlike other reviewers and I was surprised they don’t check your id at the door either. Can’t comment much for price of drinks since I don’t drink, but everyone looked pretty happy!

If I could give zero stars, I would do it in a heartbeat.
This place has an unstated dress code.
If you are wearing something with a logo that signifies youthfulness, for eg, Abercrombie, they will not let you in even if you are here for bottle service with your friends and drive reasonable cars, Porsches etc.
They would prefer a white kid in a T-​shirt than an Asian in a A&F polo tee in their bar because they want to show some sort of backwards thinking image, read «Racism».
Somehow, the bar’s mgmt. forgot that they were situated in Houston and not Colorado.
This will be the last time I even bother coming here, there are plenty of bars that have their priorities set right, offer good music and have a diverse crowd.

This is the worst bar I have ever been to. I don’t even know how to describe the horribleness that this place exemplifies. The amount of hair gel that is used by the people here probably keeps that industry afloat.
At one point I was standing by the bar and someone spilled a drink on me. The person just laughed and said «Sucks to be you». Later, I ordered a drink and the bartender accidently spilled the drink on me also. He did apologize and gave me another drink.
The females that work here all wear bunny outfits. I have no idea if they always wear this or not, but they were the night I was there.
I hope I never end up here again.

I love this bar. I have read all the negative reviews, and I can’t believe what awful treatment people have received!
It does get crowded but I went last night in a group of 3 guys and 2 girls. We had no problem getting in even though it was packed. Drinks are steep but we were there to dance, and didn’t mind only having a couple of shots.
Warning: be carful of the sloppy young girls

Came by for my friend’s graduation party. Door guy told me she only wanted girls in her party. *smirk* I understood the deal. All the complaints on Unilocal must be positive advertisement that they exclude people like me.

Farrah gives some of the most fair reviews on here so if she says a place is garbage, you can be sure the place is garbage. Truth be told, I tend to stay away from the D-​Baggy side of Washington Ave. when I can, but sometimes I’m with friends and they want to go there and I say what the hell.
Tonight, the Halloween weekend was one such night. We were at a couple of parties, everybody was happy and feeling good so we went to see people dressed up and check out the clubs. We went to several places on washington from Ei8ht to Kong Fu — no problems at all. Until we got to Roosevelt.
There was a group of 5 of us — 4 girls and lucky me. 3 of the girls and a white dude they just happened to find got ahead of us and got in. When it got to me and the African American girl who was with me (dressed nice and attractive I might add), The bouncer, a middle aged guy who looked like he could be an accountant very matter of fact told us that we couldn’t get in because we didn’t have a reservation.
I used to work around clubs while I was in college so right away, I knew what was up. Still, just to make sure I wasn’t judging the guy and while we waited for our friends to come out, I saw he was letting in certain types of people who were either the right color, dressed slutty enough, or otherwise «cool» in his mind. He saw that we noticed that and tried to explain but we said there was no need to explain and reminded him that our friends who he let in 2 minutes earlier didn’t have a reservation either.
I guess he knew we knew his game was up so then he tried to play another card — the «you look suspicious because you have a satchel with you» card. Now as a photographer, I know that camera bags aren’t welcome in some places, but this was Halloween weekend. My guess is that he was implying something else that I may have in the bag. That’s kind of BS too because he could have just asked to see the camera and I would have been happy to show him the D600 in all its glory. He was letting in people who looked like serial killers so again, it was obvious what he was doing.
I’m not sure if that’s club policy or he was just a sad little aging man who was angry that he had to deal with judging people he didn’t know to make a living but the policy is there. I have to hand it to him for being so cool and collected while he did this. In the old days before cell phone cameras, a lot of doormen would have snapped if their integrity was was questioned in a backhanded way. Bravo sir. You have made a career out of being a worthless piece of crap and you do it with integrity.
I have no intention of coming there and it will be a while before I go to that end of Washington Ave, but in case anybody is thinking about this place, at least know what you’re dealing with. As Farrah said, they are garbage.

My friends know one of the girls who works here and therefore do bottle service all the time.
So, I was taken here on a Thursday night. It was DEAD at 10pm…
I don’t usually mess with bottles… and this is the prime example why.
— Grey Goose tastes like hairspray. If you think otherwise, you are proooobably a sheep and proooooobably will argue it’s the best because it’s the most expensive… right. Let’s grow up now. We ended up with numerous bottles of this French swill.
— Mixers: Orange juice, cranberry juice and red bulls. I asked for sugarfree and got a deer in the headlights.
(this was when I started my own tab at the bar and had Ketel One dirty martinis…)
— Moochy females who flirty with my friends so they give them drinks. My god. Get a job and buy your own drinks.
Crowd: Well. There were a lot of whales in heels. Some cute skinny blonde chicks. A lot of guys in sevens and bad shoes. Dress code for girls is: «skirts so short, I know what you had for dinner»
It was a pretty rocking dance party come midnight though. Definitely lively for that late on a Thursday. Thankfully, I didn’t have work the next day (gotta love between-​job downtime). They played a good mix of house, Top40 and some remixes. The usual stuff, but a great mix. The DJ is pretty much inaccessible, so no requesting Single Ladies or We Found Love! shame.
They do mix a good dirty martini… but I think I have been here one time too many.

This place is garbage. Absolute garbage.
I’ll write a more detailed review later, but right now, it’s just not worth my time.

I came here on a busy Saturday night after our company’s Christmas party. I normally wouldn’t have chosen Roosevelt, having heard stories from all my friends about the bouncer being a dbag, but everyone wanted to go so we followed. My group of four girls (Asian and Caucasian) got in just fine; he didn’t even check our IDs. Five minutes after we arrived, my friend (in a group of 2 girls and 2 guys, all Asian) couldn’t get in. When I went outside to talk to the bouncer (note: there was NO LINE outside), he basically made up every excuse in the book (it’s too full, table service only, only groups of girls) even as I counted ten people leaving in the span of our conversation. Our conversation ended with me asking if I can walk outside, join their group to give them one more girl, and bring them back in. His response? «You can walk outside, and just keep on walking.»
I’ve never felt so disrespected at a bar. It’s one thing to just say that you can’t let them in, it’s another to tell a paying customer to leave. He was on such a power trip, I heard him tell another group who was denied entrance that he would let them in if they apologized to him. Get over yourself.

After walking by this place so many countless times, my friend and I finally got in — by going there super early. Needless to say, it sucked.
In the past we never were able to get in because we’re a couple of guys who aren’t going to fall for the table reservation trap.
If you like to just go out, stand around and look at everyone all awkwardly, this is your place. Place was packed, but nobody was dancing — except me. It felt like an awkward middle school dance because everyone seemed pretty awkward or uptight and won’t talk to anyone else unless they came with them.
The place is pretty nice inside, but kinda small, and the drinks are very pricey. The asshole attitudes from the bouncers also add to the ambience — er excuse me, exclusivity.

It took me a moment to collect my thoughts and write this review. This is the WORST place I could have attempted to visit while in Houston.
A couple of us were meeting up with some friends here on Thursday night. We both were dressed well and carried ourselves accordingly.
We arrived at the door to only be told that it was table service only tonight and we had to be on the list to get in.
We mentioned that we were meeting some friends that were already inside. Our friend came outside and tried to explain to the bouncer the situation, but the bouncer exists those are the rules and they have to enforce them at some point in the night and then proceeds to get ugly with my friend. Mind you it is not even 10pm. As to not cause a scene, I tell my friend to go inside and we’ll head across the street to some more friendly spots. During this time, he dapped up a few of his friends and let them right in no questions asked.
For the life of me, I could not figure it out. We looked great, our money is green, and were dressed better than this group that walked in before us and came out as we were leaving. I have been to a ton of high-​end clubs, with selection criteria, and this just blew my mind! I signed up for Unilocal just so I could write this post because I am soo at a loss of words.

Saturday night. 11:30. 2 other girl friends and I dressed up. No boys.
«Reservations only,» says the door man.
Hm… Not sure what to think about that.
Not sure if I want to give it another shot.

Sexy & sultry, Roosevelt Lounge is making a huge buzz on Washington. So when it came time for a few girlfriends to check out something new on the corridor, we decided to spend our Saturday night exploring the new lounge.
Situated a block away from Ei8ht, Roosevelt has the same issue as all Washington businesses: parking. And if you had no clue what kind of atmosphere you would find inside, then perhaps their exorbitant $ 20 valet charge will clue you in. Upscale you say? More like highway robbery, and luckily we found parking elsewhere.
There were no lines to speak of when we arrived (near midnight), but we did find two guys in the front talking to the doorman. Much like the rest of Washington, unless you’re a regular on the scene or you look like «The Situation», an all male party means you will not get in. I will have to vouch for the bouncer though that he told them up-​front in the most polite matter that they will not get in all night. He didn’t just ignore them, he didn’t make them wait an exorbitant amount of time, he didn’t pretend to say it was guest-​list only. In other words, he didn’t waste their time, and he did so in a polite manner. Other clubs could learn from this (wait for my scathing review of said club). My group being female, we got in with no trouble.
Upon entering the glass doorway, I was immediately impressed by the ambiance. It’s the first lounge to actually FEEL like a lounge. Dark, sultry, sexy, but with enough energy pulsating to keep a fun atmosphere. It’s just the right size to be called a lounge, but with enough space and breathing room for all.
Luxurious couches were spattered about, and chandeliers hung high above. The main bar had an eye-​catching glittering backdrop made of beige-​gold mosaic tiles. Whomever designed Roosevelt had great attention to detail. We were particularly entertained by the metal side tables, emblazoned with an «R» that had drink holders in them! It was a nice personal & unique touch to the lounge.
The drinks & the music should also be commended at Roosevelt. They serve some mean gin & tonics that made me sway not-​so-​gracefully to A-​Ha & all the new-​wave 80’s they happened to play on rotation. They played top-40’s as well, but my friends & I mostly cheered on with the ubiquitous «I LOVE THIS SONG» glee when our old 80’s favorites came on.
They say it takes seven encounters to make a correct first impression. One down, and I“ve got six to go! Until then, this joint gets 4-​stars. Stay classy, Roosevelt!!!