This café is a hoot. The Riot Comedy Club is opening The Riot Café at 1925 Washington Ave., a coffee shop and restaurant that shares a roof with its comedy room and runs from early morning to late-night show time.
The café serves coffee and pastries at 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sundays, then moves into bar and show service in the evening. Founder Brian Grendon describes it as a coffee shop in the morning, a lunch spot in the afternoon and a place for drinks and a show at night.
The space holds 50 seats inside and a 20-seat patio on Washington Avenue. Next door, the 2,200-square-foot comedy room seats 170 guests. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the café, and the daytime setup works for meetings, presentations and team lunches.
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Head chef Rob Mungle, a fixture of the Houston comedy scene for more than 30 years, leads the kitchen. Breakfast includes croissant sandwiches, danishes, kolaches, yogurt with granola and berries, and pressed juices.
Later in the day, you can order a hot pretzel with two dipping sauces, garlic cheesy bread, spinach artichoke dip or a hummus trio with pita and vegetables. The menu also lists five pizzas and several paninis, from a classic savory Italian to a Peanut Butter and Banana version. Desserts include Apple Fritter Bread Pudding, Blueberry Muffin Bread Pudding and a cinnamon sugar pretzel.
The coffee comes from Katz Coffee, which made a specialty blend that is available exclusively at The Riot along the Washington Corridor. General manager Seth Fair, who has 25 years of hospitality experience, runs the bar program. It includes seasonal flavored lattes, Katz Cold Brew, Texas and domestic beers, wine, hard seltzers and cocktails.
The signature cocktail, The Roast, mixes Aguasol Reposado Tequila, mezcal, cold-pressed pineapple juice, lime juice, agave and fire tincture. Comedy-themed zero-proof drinks include the Open Mic, with ginger beer, lemon soda, lime and pineapple, and the Encore, with orange juice, grapefruit juice, basil and San Pellegrino.
The October 17 opening includes complimentary light bites, coffee tastings and cocktail samples, plus a DJ and photo opportunities. The first 50 guests receive a free refillable Riot coffee tumbler, and bringing it back earns $1 off coffee at the café.
Self-parking in the 90-space lot is available until 3 p.m. After that, complimentary valet parking runs from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more on the club and its shows, visit the official website.