The Red Door

SandiP.

Red Door Closed

I loved this place and miss it! But it is closed and has been for a long time now.

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Wiredog73.

Make sure have some white people in your group

I rarely get on these reviews, for I'm a person who simply does not return to the establishment if i have been repeatedly offered bad service or subpar food or drinks. but red door has a different problem. you can disagree with me but i only speak from a personal experience.



i'm an asian male in my 30's. i do not wear jeans around my butt, wear a hat sideways, or whatever the prevailing stereotype of a young asian may be these days. i was denied entrance first time back in 2005, when my asian friend and i were denied for no reasons. we both work at the same restaurant. he told me one night that the door guy came into our upscale restaurant, so my buddy confronted him in the restroom. my friend was not hostile, he simply said, "dude we work in the same industry. how can you blatantly deny us?" the door guy, now apologetic told us that he has "guidelines" passed down from management.



the second time, i was with a female asina friend. even though we were just co-workers, anyone would think we were on a date. different door guy lets her in and stares at my valid Texas drivers lincence and asks me if i had another ID. i would have had my US Marine Corps military ID but it was stolen in a robbery few months before. The audacity of the guy to let the girl in and deny me entrance? like we were supposed to say, ok..you have fun i'll wait outside. as i looked to my right, there were 5 asian guys standing around while, white people were ushered right in. the only times i had no trouble getting in was with my Caucasian friends. i remember i was running late and one of the i called one f the girls who knew the manager and she came out and got me in. why do i go back? cause when most of my friends pick a place, i do not like to be the party pooper esp crying racism. and when i do get in, i generally have a good time. the bartenders are friendly and i usually leave pleasant.



i usually don't play the race card. and i will be the first to admit that younger asian guys do not have the best reputation in clubs (i.e. fights, shootings) but after serving this country in the Marine Coprs, it was disheartening to be a victim of blatant racism. so to all the minorities out there, excluding hot chicks, prepare ahead and make sure you come with an entourage with at least 50% caucasians, or know someone who knows someone inside. i guarantee you it increases your chances of getting in.

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B4itgetslate.

great place, loser door guys

love it here, door guys could use an attitude adjustment. besides the aging door guys with a crappy job, love the music and the crowd is ecstatic.

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Kristenp76.

Pretty nice place.

My husband and I went to the Red Door last night for the first time for my birthday. We had no problems getting in, but to be comprehensive in my review, I should mention that I am 5'10'' flat-footed, and was over 6 feet tall with my heels on, thin, blonde hair and was wearing a very revealing top that showed off my assets. That said, I was hoping for a more attractive crowd if entry is selective. There were attractive men, but most of the females were average. NOT ugly, but I guess I was expecting something else. My poor husband jokingly complains that he always brings the "eye candy." No big deal, though, and we will return on our next visit to Houston. The bar staff were super-friendly and the drinks were VERY reasonably priced compared to most other places. The view upstairs was quite nice and the heat lamps were certainly appreciated on a slightly chilly, windy night. It ensures that I will wear something hot again on my next visit! The bathrooms were clean, too. We chose to valet our car because it was so cheap.



While it is unfortunate that some are denied entrance at the will and temperament of a door-guy (at any place), I think a proper selection of patrons is necessary to maintain the image it creates. I did see a couple of African-Americans there and they weren't very attractive and classy looking (but not trashy looking, either) and they made it in, but this statement is not to lessen the validity of others who have been denied entrance because of the color of their skin. I'm just making an observation.

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Kspace.

Never denied in

I've never had any problems getting in at this place. I'm West Indian with a very rich dark skin tone and have never been told NO. I've been allowed in completely on my own, with my boyfriend or as part of a small group. So don't be so discourage not to go because in my opinion its a great place.

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Criskel.

racial profiling? doubtful. good place!

I'm not sure about this racial profiling thing. I'm a Hispanic 28 college educated female who dresses up to date & showed up with my husband (he's Anglo but I doubt that's why I was admitted in). We dont always get gussied up either. We've shown up at some in the places in the village with jeans & casual shirts 9not t-shirts though). At Red Door we were accompanying my husband's male friends who were all dressed in jeans & not Anglo, nor do they "appear" to be. So I am doubtful that one Anglo person in our 5 person party is what got us in. If gender or race were n issue I doubt 4 ethnic minorities in one group would have gotten in. It was a fun atmosphere, attractive crowd, good music. We didn't notice anyone else getting ahead of us in line either. And those are things I pay attention to. Sometimes some people can put on nice clothes but still look rough around the edges.or are just physically unattractive to the door guy. Not fair since money is money but it happens. I continue to recommend the place too.

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SuaveDevil.

Epitome of Racial profiling

If you are Asian , Black or Brown, do yourself a favor and instead of spoiling your evening at the Red Door head out to any other place.....and i mean any other ........this place will give you a hard time at the door and spoil your evening all altogether...... Some users have written good reviews ( you will notice they are single girls or white) i also doubt they are real customers . If you are an extremely good looking single chick who is ready to flirt with the nit wit door man and show a little cleavage you will get right in.......but if you are a couple of color. stay away , they will turn you down for the slightest reason possible..,....the reason i was given my friend who was visiting form out of town had an out of state ID... they asked us to show an alternate ID.......i don?t know what an alternate Id would do if they don?t accept an government issues ID...........we were very well dressed.....( i have never been turned down form any of the best clubs across US except this one)....but unfortunately we are not white.....they not only tuned us down i was totally embarrassed in front of my guests. save you self some grief. ....oh did I mention a white girl standing right behind me with a Florida state ID went straight in . No questions asked. ....I also request if you are a self respecting white person, do not patronize such enterprises.--



Adding a Response to Criskel --

The Club has to have a certain number of non white people to be able to not get charged for profiling. IF you get here early you are good as they need to fill their quota, or a night when they don?t have too many colored people show up. ....(probably since they were all turned down).....you just helped them continue to save their AS* from a law suite. .......well I don?t know about rough around the edges...... i guess the very educated door man can decide that. Here?s a test just ask your boyfriend?s friends to try to get in first without you ......and you hang back and watch.

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Parteegrn.

always a good time

My friends and I never have a problem getting into Red Door and we are asian so I don't see what the deal is with all this racial profiling. I always have a good time here except for the occasional sleezy old european wanna be men hitting on us. The music is definately good although I wished the played a little more hip hop cause sometimes it gets tiring having to dance to house music.

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Xwprincess.

We need more of this in Houston!

Loved the atmosphere.... loved the vibe! Gorgeous people drinks were great as well. Music... great! As for discrimination.... it's a business... if they do not want you there.. then you do NOT need to be there! Who wants to go to or be in a place where you are unwanted?



I'm African American, and I got in with no problems at all.... Running and opening a bar/club is difficult now keeping a club running, is even more difficult. They are obviously supporting people who support them and have a pretty decent if not affluent clientele! There is a reason that the Red Door is popular and still running strong.



X

PS: The view is AmAzing for Houston and the Patio is one of a kind for Houston's night life.

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Hillc.

Selectively enforces policies

I have lived in Houston for over 30 years and have never experienced such blatant discrimination as what I encountered at the Red Door (on May 30, 2008). I must wholeheartedly disagree with the previous review stating that the Red Door's policies are similar to those at other large city clubs. I have been living in LA for the past 4 years and have never encountered such selective and arbitrary use of ridiculous policies. My husband and I stood in a short line to enter the club. I watched as the manager ushered approximately 10 white males into the establishment. He did NOT check their identification at all. He simply smiled and waived them in. When my husband and I approached the front of the line, he asked for our IDs, which was fine. We currently reside in CA and showed him our CA license. He then asked if we had any other form of ID or some other card with our pictures on it. I was confused. To get on an airplane, you simply need your driver's license! If a driver's license is suitable for any other transaction or government agency then why is it not accepted at the Red Door? He then stated that it is a club policy to require an additional form of ID for out of state licenses. I have never heard of such a ridiculous policy in all of my life. Furthermore, the purpose of checking IDs at the door was to keep underage people out of the club. Neither my husband nor I looked under the age of 21. We are both well in our 30s. So, then what was the purpose? To have the ability to selectively choose who they want to enter their establishment, not because of what they have on but because of how they look---racial profiling. I do not use this term loosely. This is an establishment that no one should patronize. I plan to make sure that none of my friends or colleagues give any of their money to the Red Door. We cannot tolerate a place that selectively enforces a "rule" under the guise of "club policy" to discriminate against anyone.

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