Restaurants / Closings

Sudden Shuttering of Montrose’s Swanky French Spot to Clear Way for a Mysterious New Bar

Bar Victor's Demise Becomes Party Brunch Fodder

BY // 04.29.19

It’s au revoir to Houston’s spirited sliver of Saint-Tropez. The French Montrose spot Bar Victor officially closed its doors for good, but there’s no need to fret. These Frenchmen’s Louis Vuitton luggage DJ booth isn’t going anywhere.

Well, actually, it is. It’s moving just next door to La Villa, the recently revamped restaurant formerly known as La Villa Saint-Tropez. Vincent Sinard owned Bar Victor and owns the Riviera-focused eatery.

After opening the two almost back-to-back, it was time to focus in on one restaurant.

“We opened these concepts a year ago. Bar Victor is not closing because of an issue, we decided to focus on the restaurant. The main reason is just to focus on one concept instead of two,” Sinard tells PaperCity.

“The fun continues at La Villa,” he adds.

The vibes may be very different — La Villa is crisp, bright white with marble-style busts and chic cobalt accents, while the super-swanky Bar Victor was all rich velvet curtains and sparkling chandeliers — but Sinard’s put his stamp on both.

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Bar Victor was named for prestigious French author Victor Hugo, but aside from a single quote written on the wall in scrolling print, there was nothing serious about it. The bar was a little les misérable and a little more vie en rose.

When PaperCity first broke the news of Bar Victor opening, Sinard told us “People in Houston like to enjoy life and party.” He’d tell you that proved true at Bar Victor despite its shuttering.

“Guests loved it because it was kind of European. Most of them said they didn’t have that kind of bar in Houston. They loved the house music,” Sinard notes now. “We tried to bring good crowds and good music and good service.”

And that music will make a major move to La Villa during weekend “party brunch,” Sinard says, where diners can still expect bubbly on a budget. “We keep the price very low,” he says.

Some of the favorite Bar Victor cocktails are making the transition, too. The Marseille, with gin, chartreuse and agave nectar will make its mark on La Villa’s menu, alongside the boldly named Porn Star, with passion fruit, pineapple and vodka.

La Villa’s also amped things up with its recently announced lunch service and a new chef, a Top Chef France finalist. Chef Kevin D’Andréa has put a modern spin on food from the South of France.

“I love the truffle risotto, I love the seven-hour cooked lamb — and the chocolate mousse,” Sinard says.

If you’re wondering what’s going to happen to the sophisticated Bar Victor space, you’re not alone. But Sinard has an answer, even if it’s a cryptic one.

“Someone’s going to take over the bar,” he tells PaperCity. “I hope that they keep the spirit of the bar and the vibe of the bar and the music of the bar. I think it’ll open in two months.”

So maybe it’s not au revoir, but à tout a l’heure.

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