It is no breaking news that here in Texas, barbecue is a way of life, and getting down and dirty with a rack of ribs is a regular pastime. As restaurants, chefs and pitmasters across Houston continue to raise the bar with new and extreme barbecue-inspired meals, it is those truly over-the-top dishes which are the ones making headlines. With the official opening of one of Gateway Memorial's most anticipated eateries, Pour Society, right around the corner, fans of just such barbecue dishes should be excited to see what the new gastropub has in store for hungry Houstonians.

From its array of adventurous dishes, I was able to sample the boneless rib sandwich recently during a media preview event. To say that it's extreme would be an understatement; in fact, to even call it is a sandwich is an understatement. This thing should have its own ZIP code. Standing tall, the dish is held together with a knife stuck right down the middle, plunging into a 1/3 rack of saucy, boneless ribs. Topped with melting Redneck Cheddar, red onions and chow chow, it's pretty much as good as it gets. Served with a generous portion of fries, the boneless rib sandwich is definitely shareable, though you may not want to share it at all—it's that delicious. Double fisting is suggested.

Slated to open for dinner service on September 1 with happy hour and lunch to follow starting September 8, Pour Society joins Kuu, Vallone's and Churrascos in the hip Gateway Memorial complex at Gessner and the Katy Freeway, sandwiched—pardon the pun—by CityCentre to the west and Memorial City Mall to the east. With over 7,000 square feet of dining space including a 40-foot marble, metal and wood bar and 17 television screens, the restaurant will make a welcome addition to the area's more formal dining destinations with its sports-oriented feel. Naturally, the menu will reflect the restaurant's casual-chic vibe offering hearty American fare with a flair for bold Southern favorites.

Helmed by well-known Houston chefs Greg Lowry and Matthew Lovelace, Pour Society aims to offer an innovative menu of both protein-heavy and vegetarian-friendly options. Look for signature selections like foie gras with Texas caviar, fried oysters with bacon aioli, a "Pour'strami" sandwich served between a jalapeño-cheddar waffle, Mexican fried chicken thighs and much more. Vegetarian menu items will include chilled cucumber and avocado soup, "Kim Cheese" sandwich with house made kimchi and the "Texas Oyster Mushroom" with squash, onions, corn and pecan mole.

If the extreme boneless rib sandwich can give us any idea of what we have to look forward to at Pour Society, I predict Houstonians will be spending many hearty meals at the new Gateway Memorial hot spot. A dedicated wine and beer list with a rotating list of four cocktails on tap will definitely keep the party going. And as swimsuit season comes to a close, mark your calendars for what will no doubt be an extreme place to enjoy a "sandwich".

Pour Society, 947 N. Gessner Rd., Ste. B190, poursociety.com

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