Gate D18 means Bayou City Bar is your closest sit-down option
Right by gate D18 in Terminal D, Bayou City Bar is the default stop if you want a real seat and a drink before an international flight. It sits on the main concourse, post-security, so you can watch boarding zones form at nearby gates while you finish a beer or cocktail. Figure this in if you’re staging for an evening departure out of the D10–D20 range.
Hours at Bayou City Bar generally track the Terminal D bank, opening early enough for the first wave of departures and running into the late evening when the last Europe flights push. Pricing hits standard airport bar levels: expect draft beer in the $9–$12 range and basic mixed drinks a couple dollars higher. Food is typical grill fare rather than a full restaurant spread, so think sandwiches and bar bites, not a long sit-down meal.
Service style is quick-turn, with seats at the bar plus a small ring of tables spilling into the D concourse. It works best if you have at least 45 minutes before boarding; any tighter and you’re better off grabbing something to go elsewhere in Terminal D. The bar is close enough to D18 that you can keep an eye on the gate screens without leaving your stool.
Tip: if your flight uses another Terminal D gate, walk past D18 first, check how busy Bayou City Bar looks, then backtrack; lines here can add an extra 10–15 minutes at peak evening departure times.