The opportunity came up in October 2020, when he opened the Cosmic Cowboy Lounge.
“It has been a longtime idea that I had in place,” Recio said. “I was always in fine dining before I started Jax in 2010, and so it has always been a side project to have a wine and beer lounge.”
Since the opening, Recio said Cosmic Cowboy Lounge has attracted a variety of regulars through a combination of its atmosphere, location and menu.
Something for everyone
Recio said Cosmic Cowboy Lounge’s entire menu is meant to be approachable from the Texas beers on tap to the wine list, food items and the new cocktail menu.
“[When] you go to most wine bars, you see a lot of obscure wine labels,” he said. “With us, our vision was to put out a product, mainly from California, that is desirable. Everything we have is drinkable. ... They are ready-to-drink wines, right now.”
Recio said items on the menu of Cosmic Cowboy Lounge are designed to be paired with either a red or white wine to allow guests added flexibility with dining options.
Recio’s emphasis on wine comes from his previous 15 years of experience running the wine program as a general manager with Morton’s The Steakhouse.
“Our menu is upscale American but with a twist,” he said. “Anything we put on the menu, .... you can almost pick white or red [wine] to go with it.”
Among the food offerings at Cosmic Cowboy Lounge are small bites, such as charcuterie boards; sandwiches, such as wagyu beef sliders; a family recipe for sloppy Joes; and larger menu items, including pizzas, spaghetti with meat sauce and grilled salmon.
Recio said his sister Vicky Recio helps with the business as the chef, and menu items can be made to order.
“We want to provide a fine-dining experience in a casual setting,” John said. “Service is on the top of our mind. ... We make sure the customer gets what they want.”
Keeping it casual
John said a goal with developing Cosmic Cowboy Lounge was to keep the prices midrange while offering a casual setting.
“Where most places will pour 6 ounces of wine, we pour 9,” He said. “When you come in and enjoy a glass of wine from us, ... we are built on quality, not quantity.”
John said for newcomers to the wine scene, the best advice he can offer is to talk with the manager or bartender and to keep an open mind. The wine bar also offers a variety of specials throughout the week, such as trivia nights on Tuesdays, discounts on wine and steak nights on Fridays.
While opening in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic offered difficulties, Recio said people still came.
“We found there was a need because of the pandemic; people wanted to come out and be normal,” he said. “From our standpoint, we felt we had a responsibility to provide a normal atmosphere for customers.”
Cosmic Cowboy Lounge
3555 Rayford Road, Ste. 10, Spring
832-299-6354
www.cosmiccolo.com
Hours: Tue.-Thu. 3-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 3-11 p.m., Sun. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., closed Mon.
