Every community should have a go-to gathering place, one that can be counted on for great food, a thoughtful beverage list, and the kind of comfortable atmosphere that invites guests to settle in to watch their sporting event of choice or simply hang out and catch up with friends. That kind of spot is familiar to residents of Houston Heights, Upper Kirby and other Houston watering hole epicenters, but they’re fewer and farther between in The Woodlands.
You’ll find them in Hughes Landing and along The Waterway—not an arduous drive from Indian Springs, Sterling Ridge, or Cochran’s Crossing, but nevertheless, a bit of a logistical commitment—you have to plan to go out, and consider traffic and parking options. For those living near Kuykendahl at Woodlands Parkway, the time was ripe for an elevated sports bar closer to home. That’s why the opening last November of On the Kirb Organic Eatery & Sports Bar in Indian Springs Center has been a boon for nearby residents. The fifth iteration of the popular elevated sports bar concept conceived by restaurateur Joe Arbeely brings to The Woodlands the winning combination of healthy, organic menu options and a welcoming sports bar environment—a dual focus that Arbeely innovated at the original Kirby Drive location.
“I love sports, I love the energy at a bar, but I always hated the greasy feeling after you left,” says Arbeely. To him it seemed incongruous that while people were eating this way, they were watching athletes who were fit and making healthy choices. At the time, Arbeely was discovering the personal benefits of meal prepping and eating healthy. “I wanted to open a place that brought that energy.”
He set about creating a menu of bar favorites that went where no local sports bar had gone before: fully organic poultry, dairy and beef; keto-friendly and gluten-free options; wings and fries cooked in beef tallow upon request; beef that’s not only grass-fed but grass-finished—as opposed to finishing with grain, which can include unhealthy additives, said Arbeely. At the heart of the menu are On the Kirb’s firebrick oven pizzas, with crusts made from Caputo “00” ultra-finely milled flour from Italy. The pizza crust you raved about on your trip to Naples? Arbeely is importing THAT flour.
“The 00 is the healthiest you can get, no bleaches, no additives. We wanted to bring that to our guests,” he explained, noting that On the Kirb ferments its dough for three days to develop the flavor and texture. A gluten-free cauliflower crust is also available.
When the original On the Kirb opened in 2016, the juxtaposition of “sports bar” and “healthy eating” raised eyebrows, says Arbeely. “We actually got pushback online. People couldn’t get it—how can you be a sports bar and be healthy?” But once they experienced the atmosphere and the menu, it clicked for them. Soon, Arbeely was opening locations in Midtown, Katy/Fulshear, Greenway and, most recently, the new Woodlands outpost, which features a roomy patio, a private event area, numerous 10-top tables for large group gatherings, three 150-inch HD video walls, and a multitude of viewing screens positioned so that every seat has a clear view of the action.
Within the sleek, sports bar setting, the On the Kirb menu delivers elevated, healthier versions of fan favorites. The fish tacos are made with wild-caught cod, the salmon is ocean-raised, and the chicken wings are organic. Tortilla chips, pita chips, whipped feta and hummus are made in-house, as are the oversized soft pretzels served with sriracha queso, perfect for noshing on with a local craft beer on tap. Daily menu specials include Monday “Pizza and Vino Night” with $10 build-your-own pizza and $15 bottles of house wines, and Wednesday is steak night, with a $30 filet, potatoes and veggies, along with $5 glasses of house wine.
Happy hour runs Monday through Friday, 4 to 7 p.m., says Arbeely, offering light bites, charcuterie boards, and sides made with the same healthy ingredients, along with drink discounts. Fun cocktail offerings include a hibiscus marg made with Patrón Reposado, hibiscus syrup and fresh lime juice, and the Gin Weasley made with Bombay Sapphire, fresh strawberries, lemon juice, basil leaves and ginger beer. The bar features organic wines and tequilas, zero-calorie vodkas and a list of creative mocktails.
Brunch service happens Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with brunch favorites and cast-iron skillet combinations featuring chilaquiles and cage-free eggs, served alongside $5 bloody marys and mimosas. Larger parties will want to take note of the mimosa carafes and colossal mimosa towers available.
Arbeely wants On the Kirb to become a true neighborhood hub in The Woodlands, for a guys’ night out, ladies who lunch, a family brunch or a casual date night. His measure of success? When a woman likes On the Kirb so much that she wants to take her man to a sports bar, Arbeely says he knows he’s done his job.
“I love sports, I love the energy at a bar, but I always hated the greasy feeling after you left." - On the Kirb's Joe Arbeely
"The 00 [pizza flour] is the healthiest you can get, no bleaches, no additives. We wanted to bring that to our guests."
Visit On the Kirb at 6777 Woodlands Pkwy, The Woodlands, TX 77382.