The Commons Club at The Virgin Hotel

This "club" is anything but common.

By Jill Melton / Photography By Jill Melton | May 28, 2022

Looking into the open kitchen of The Commons Club

What do you get when you combine an upbringing in Hawaii, a Korean DNA, and a new home in the South? Amazing food brought to you by Chef Kevin Kobayashi, Chef De Cuisine at The Commons Club at The Virgin Hotel. Unfortunate timing led to the opening of the hotel in fall of 2020, which brought very little pomp (and customers) for the Commons Club at the beginning. They are now operating full force. Maybe we were hungry, or maybe my sister and I were just happy to be together, but the meal brought out by chef Kevin was unbelievably delicious, and we polished off every morsel. He pays tribute to his heritage while honoring local ingredients. Furikake custed salmon sat atop local pea puree. Fire roasted duck was served with bok choy, soy and sesame.

Photo 1: Chef Kevin Kobayashi in the kitchen

Photo 2: the Korean Chicken Wings

But the Korean Chicken Wings (gluten free) are the stand out, and not to be missed. And good thing chef brought them out, or we would have. His spin consists of dehydrating kimchi and processing it into a powder that he adds to the breading of the chicken. Drizzled with local hot honey, it was moist, crunchy and pretty amazing. Next was the Tuna Poke Tostada, a crisp corn tortilla with ahi tuna, red onions, avocado, green onions and chiles. Fresh and flavorful.

The entrees were great too. The short ribs fell off the bone with broccolini and crispy fingerling potatoes, and the fire roasted duck was served atop a cloud of whipped butternut squash with grilled baby bok choy.

Photo 1: The bar at Commons Club

Photo 2: Indoor-outdoor bar

Photo 3: Situated just off the roundabout at Music Row, the outdoor space at Commons Club is super inviting

Photo 4: Refreshing drinks

It's hard to find great staff, (or any staff) but everyone there was super friendly, knowledgable and veterans of The Virgin Hotels. The restaurant was not particularly busy, the night we were there, but it was also early. As reservations are so hard to get at many places around town, you might want to think of the hotel restaurants in town. The Hart, at Bento Living in Wedgewood Houston, and Ellas' on 2nd at The Hyatt Centric being two other ones we love.

We checked out The Pool Club on the rooftop before we left. The view was spectacular and the place was jammed. If you can get there early and get a table, do so, the vibe is sleek, hip and happening.