Ireland native and newly minted Houston restaurateur Ian Tucker has laid the groundwork for his next Bayou City concept in the form of Poitín, a full-service restaurant and cocktail bar slated to become the anchor tenant at Sawyer Yards at the corner of Edwards and Sawyer Streets. Poitín will occupy the 9,500-square-foot space on the east end of the complex and will boast a large outdoor patio with a prime view of the downtown skyline.
Following the recent launch of his first Houston venture in the Heights—Balls Out Burger—the Ireland native plans to dive further into bringing Houston his unique brand of cuisine and cocktails set in an inviting atmosphere at Sawyer Yards. A percentage of the funding for the restaurant will be raised through an offering by crowdfunding platform NextSeed, which allows anyone to invest in small businesses and has successfully funded 21 deals to date nationwide. The menu at Poitín will consist of mixed cuisine offerings with Continental, American, and Mexican dishes being at the forefront.
The cocktail menu will draw from Ian’s rich background in developing and perfecting craft cocktails. The name Poitín is derived from a traditional Irish distilled beverage with a very potent alcohol content. Tucker’s bar concepts in Ireland have been nationally recognized for boasting the best cocktail experiences in the country. The Exchequer was awarded Best Cocktail Experience in Ireland three out of the past five years (2012, 2013 and 2016).
The mixologist who cultivated the award-winning bar programs in Dublin will help launch the unique menu at Poitín. Construction of the project is set to kick off next month, and the space is planned to launch in early 2018.
On his inspiration for Poitín, Tucker says, “I’m incredibly grateful to call Houston my new home; I couldn’t be more excited to launch Poitín in this amazing and diverse city. I plan to draw heavily upon my experience with The Exchequer (in Dublin). To that end, Poitín will be highlighted by a world-class cocktail experience. The food will be outstanding; we’re actively engaged in talks with a top-notch Executive Chef to drive an exciting menu. The scene in Houston is ripe for the combination of experiences we’re aiming to deliver. I’m confident in the team we’re assembling, and the location is absolutely perfect.”
In conclusion, Tucker reflected on the collaboration with NextSeed, saying, “I’ve always recognized the importance of having the community engaged in my concepts, and through this NextSeed campaign, we get to involve people from an early stage to really understand what we’re creating. I’m excited to share this story and take the ride with local investors at every level.”
