Pistolero's
Shawn Bermudez built a Montrose taco and tequila bar around a backlit pistolero sculpture, and the kitchen runs a limited menu until 1.30am.
Why go
Bermudez already ran Royal Oak, Boondock's, Pavement and the Golden Grill on lower Westheimer when he took the old Nabi space in May 2013.2 He opened with four house tequila infusions, wild berry, jalapeno pineapple, olive and caper, and a serrano-cilantro-peppercorn.2 Tacos come in orders of one, four or ten.2 They cost $1.50 each today.1
Order this / avoid
- Order: tacos, at $1.50. Bermudez named roast pork, oxtail, red mole and barbacoa as his own four favorites when he opened.21
- Order: a tequila infusion. He built the back bar around them.2
- Order: the green chile burger at $9 if you want something that is not a taco.1
- Avoid: arriving before 4pm on a weekday. The doors open at 4 Monday to Friday.1
What locals & experts say
- Shawn Bermudez to CultureMap Houston (2013), on refusing to hedge:
It's a tequila and taco bar, it's in the title that I'm doing both — I'm not doing it because 'oh, well if the bar doesn't do well I have the restaurant or 'if the restaurant doesn't do well I have the bar.'
2 - Bermudez on the neighborhood:
I live here, and I feel like the neighborhood is always going to take care of me.
2
Good to know
- Timing: the bar runs 4pm to 2am Monday to Friday and noon to 2am at weekends.1
- Late food: the kitchen closes between 10pm and midnight depending on the night, then a limited menu runs to 1.30am.1
- Booking: none taken. The bar publishes hours and a kitchen schedule and no reservation route.1
- Not to be confused with The Pistolero, a different Houston business at 12895 East Freeway on the east side.
Verdict
could-visit — Bermudez said out loud on opening day in 2013 that he refused to treat either half of the place as the backup, and thirteen years on the food still runs past midnight, which is the proof. That is the maker stating his own intent and it is the strongest evidence this place has. The prices carry the rest: a dollar fifty a taco and four house tequila infusions. Nothing read this pass carries a critic's verdict on the cooking, so it sits where an unreviewed neighborhood bar sits.