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Every season, there’s a fresh crop of exciting restaurant openings that give diners something new to explore in the Bayou City. While barbecue spots, taco joints, and Italian restaurants continue to trend, the restaurant scene has also been embedded with options that are informed or inspired by live-fire cooking techniques, Southeast Asian cuisine, and Central American traditions — and that’s just the beginning as the city anticipates dozens of openings this year. But first things first: Here are the Houston restaurant openings you need to know about right now.
Still interested in what happened last year? View 2023’s exhaustive list of openings here.
July
The flashy candy-themed restaurant opened its third Texas location in the Galleria on July 1. Sugar Factor now offers its smoking cocktail and non-alcoholic candy goblets and its over-the-top milkshakes loaded with sweet treats. Diners can try celebrity creations, like Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar’s Good Vibes Only Goblet, and actor Dwane “the Rock” Johnson’s drink, the Peoples Watermelon Cadillac Margarita goblet. But the restaurant will serve items on the savory side, too, including the Super Cheesy double cheeseburger, with cheese sauce poured on tableside, pasta entrees like chicken penne Alfredo and a pan-roasted salmon salad.
June
Houston-based restaurateur Ben Berg opened his third and swankiest steakhouse on June 28. Different from the rest, Turner’s Cut offers a novel experience with a wide selection of seafood and premium cuts of beef, including Kobe and Japanese A5 steaks, American wagyu, and prime dry-aged rib-eye. Diners can enjoy table-side preparations, with a carving cart that offers slices of bone-in prime rib, a raw cart with a selection of seafood, and its martini cart, with customizable cocktails.
Choctaw chef David Skinner replaced his molecular gastronomy-driven restaurant Eculent with Ishtia. Texas’s second Indigenous-owned Native American restaurant opened in Kemah on June 27, offering a playful tasting menu fueled by live fire. Skinner educates diners on the breadth of Indigenous dining with dishes like Deer in the Woods, comprised of braised venison cheek wrapped in potato ribbons, fire-roasted rabbit, a triple-cooked steak, and the famous Choctaw corn and pork dish Tanchi Labona.
The Malaysian restaurant opened its second and largest outpost in the Woodlands on June 26, making the dreams of its late chef and previous owner Alex Au-Yueng come true. The standalone restaurant continues to offer many of Phat’s favorites, including the iconic roti canai, the saucy rendang, and stir-fried noodles. Diners can expect an expanded dim sum menu, with steamed rice rolls and xiao long bao, and a full-service bar with cocktails like the lychee martini that center Southeast Asian flavors. Plans for Beijing duck and Cantonese-style barbecue are still in the works.
Houston-based restauranteur opened the Sylvie in Downtown’s Texas Tower on June 26. The chic all-day cafe is geared to the fast-paced working world of Downtown and opens at 7 a.m., starting with grab-and-go pastries, breakfast dishes like Belgium buttermilk waffles, and a full-service coffee bar. Lunch offers an array of salads, sandwiches, and gourmet pizzas, while dinner features entrees meant to be savored, like lamb meatballs, honey-roasted chicken breast, and duck fat-roasted potatoes.
After two-and-a-half years of planning, Goodnight Hospitality finally opened its much-anticipated restaurant, the Marigold Club, in its corner of Montrose on June 25. Harnessing the ambiance of a supper club, chef Austin Waiter helps lead the charge with a menu that fuses French, American, and English culture and cuisine, with dishes like duck Wellington; a delightful pate made with cherry mostarda, frisée, pistachio, and pain de champagne; and Kaluga Caviar sandwiches. The bespoke sundae carts, signature martinis, and stunning decor are just the cherry on top of the dining experience.
Atlas Restaurant Group, the hospitality company behind Montrose’s Italian chophouse Marmo, opened its second U.S. location of Japanese restaurant Azumi in Houston’s River Oaks District on June 24. Previously home to the now-shuttered restaurant Ouzo Bay, Azumi offers sushi, omakase, and other dishes like its miso black cod, wagyu short rib, and diner-favorite Yakisoba noodles, a combination of short rib, mushrooms, carrots, and umami burdock threads.
Azumi is River Oaks’s newest sushi restaurant.
Atlas Restaurant Group
Houston’s Latin bakery opened its fifth and newest location in the Galleria area. Housed the former location of the Firehouse Saloon, El Bolillo maintains its reputation by serving more than 100 varieties of bread and pan dulce, plus its iconic tres leches and specialty cakes.
Vuji Cafe
This new sandwich shop opened on June 22 in the Heights, where it fuses various Asian flavors between two layers of Texas toast. Favorites include the top-selling Negitoro Tuna, a sandwich made with a combination of sushi-grade tuna belly, tuna loan, and salmon roe, the Century Egg, a funky version of egg salad that incorporates a preserved duck egg and a yuzu avocado spread, and the sweet ube pandan dessert sandwich — Vuji’s version of a PB&J s’mores sandwich.
Toca Madera opened its newest location on June 18, welcoming Houston diners into its electrifying Mexican steakhouse where cocktails and tomahawks set ablaze. The restaurant, which also has locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Scottsdale, Arizona, features a mix of dishes inspired by Mexico with a twist, including crispy wonton A5 wagyu tacos, hamachi served with smoked truffle ponzu, shiso, and Aleppo pepper, short rib enchiladas, and various cuts of prime meats, and Japanese and American wagyu. The live entertainment, however, steals the show, with musicians, DJs, and fire dancers lighting up the dining room.
This new restaurant and bar opened on June 17 at 1200 Binz Street, offering a casual yet swanky ambiance that serves American fare with a Gulf twist in the middle of the Museum District. Diners can find dishes like crab hush puppies, Texas redfish Pontchartrain, and an extravagant Texas Cowboy burger slathered in aioli and bacon jam and topped with fried jalapenos, as well as prime steaks and oysters prepared in different ways. The plush and velvety decor and horseshoe bar will encourage you to order a cocktail from the menu, which features refreshing choices like its Garden Stroll, a combination of vodka, blackberry syrup, cucumber agua fresca, lime, and basil, and the frozen Peachy Keen Lemonade, which can be infused with your choice of bourbon or vodka. Granger’s is the fourth establishment for restaurateurs Ryan and Josephine Granger, who also own the neighboring Park Grill, Bodegas Taco Shop, and Fia’s Pizzeria.
Candy store or cocktail lounge? It turns out Aye Candy is a bit of both. The new speakeasy, which opened in Spring Branch on June 4, appears to be a candy store at first glance, but push behind a hidden door, and you’ll find a whole world of cocktails. The 25-and-up bar offers a grown-and-sexy vibe, but with a playful spirit, as experienced when the cheeky cocktails are adorned in candy.
Aye Candy is one of Houston’s newest speakeasies.
George Villa
If a fast-casual Mexican spot is on your lunch bingo card, try the first Houston location of this tiny chain. It officially opened its location just outside Highland Village on June 8, and the menu features breakfast tacos, tacos al carbon and tradicionales, salads, and quesadillas.
This Dallas export opened its largest location (so far) in Memorial City on June 3. It serves comfort food done Texas-style and has over 400 bottles of wine and a whiskey menu 200 bottles deep. It’s 20,000 square feet spread over numerous levels and dining areas so there will probably always be a seat.
Formerly known as Nomi Nori, this Asiatown Japanese hand roll restaurant opened in early June. Nori Nori offers fun handheld combinations of seafood, rice, and seaweed, plus Asian-inspired creations like creamy truffle-topped uni pasta, oysters layered with uni and caviar, and garlic soy-marinated lollipop lamb chops.
This spot is in the midst of a soft opening, ahead of its grand opening on June 20. Restaurateur Lukkaew Srasrisuwan of MaKiin Concepts opened it in Montrose, according to a report in CultureMap Houston. The menu includes Thai-influenced comfort foods, such as crispy wonton pad thai, a panang chicken club sandwich, and drunken noodles.
May
From the owners of Memorial’s Zaab Der, this Thai restaurant offers a blend of modern and traditional Thai classics, with dishes like lobster bisque Tom Yum, striped bass curry, drunken noodles, crab fried rice, and Kao Soy short ribs that are braised for five hours and served with pappardelle and crisp rice noodles in a Northern Thai-style curry soup.
Joining its locations in Cypress and Memorial, this popular Sichuan restaurant and dim sum house opened its third location in West University. Duck N Bao continues to offer its signature Beijing duck, along with its handmade dumplings, and Sichuan dishes like its crispy spicy chicken and its barbecue pork with honey sauce.
Just as it sounds, this new live music and cocktail lounge is set to bring even more lavishness to the River Oaks area. Fancy’s opened on West Gray on May 17, offering small but showy bites like A5 wagyu sushi made with foie gras and truffle pearls and elaborate charcuterie boards to pair with speciality cocktails like its signature “Oh You Fancy Huh? that’s made with butterfly pea tea and citrus, plus jalapeño and serrano for an added kick. Diners can make the night a true celebration by staying for its live entertainment, held almost nightly from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and adding bottle service to the tab.
This Texas-based taqueria chain opened its second Houston location on May 22 in Post Oak Plaza, joining other restaurants like Nando’s Peri-Peri, Balboa Surf Club, and Kenny & Ziggy’s. The casual restaurant, which has a majority of its locations in Austin, serves tacos of all sorts for lunch and breakfast, alongside salads, soups, chips with guacamole and queso, and fiery salsa.
Vlado Kolenic, a rocker-turned-chef, and Giga Leszayova – both natives of the former Czechoslovakia – are exploring Euro-Tex cuisine at this new Heights restaurant. European and Texas flavors are visible through dishes like pan-fried schnitzel, chicken paprikash, and halušky — thick, doughy dumplings found across Central and Eastern Europe. Experience the convergence of cultures through tacos filled with escargot, Polish kielbasa, and Italian shrimp scampi, or try the larger-than-life serving of Texas paella.
Following success running celebrated pop-ups and taquerias, Stephanie Velasquez, Nicolas Vera, and Marlén Mendoza have charmed the Heights community with plates of chilaquiles, elegant papaya salads, and an impressive selection of outstanding pastries at Ema. The expansive world of Mexican bread and pastries is illustrated across a rotating selection of sweets, and a sip of the house agua fresca is an ideal approach to combating the steadily growing heat.
The Pit Room opened its second location in Memorial City. Find Central Texas-style barbecue, and familiar menu items like Czech-style beef, charro beans, and elote in the larger space, which features an indoor and outdoor seating area, retail meat market, and specialty menu items. Satisfy the most insatiable sweet tooth at the in-house ice cream sandwich station, which features plenty of cookie and topping options for the cold treat.
Central Texas-style barbecue is the focus at the Pit Room.
Duc Hoang
The first Texas location of the Curry Pizza Company opened in Cypress, extending Houston’s ongoing pizza renaissance. The Indian-inspired pies are topped with options like tandoori chicken masala, butter chicken, and chicken tikka masala. A curry veggie pizza is a great choice for vegetarians, and the Desi barbecue grilled chicken pizza — a pie of barbecue sauce, cheese, red onions, and barbecued chicken — is a stellar option for weekend gatherings.
April
The brainchild of two Los Angeles-based restaurateurs with Texas ties, this new cocktail bar opened at 95 Tuam Street, across from Elro, offering a place to unwind with trendy yet approachable space to grab a drink and a burger. Jethro’s mixes up just under a dozen specialty cocktails, including its punchy La Ducita, made with pepper-infused tequila, watermelon, lime, and agave, plus a variety of house cocktails, select beers, and a few mocktails and wines by the glass. When it comes to food, the restaurant keeps it simple, whipping up a solid smash burger, chicken tenders, and fries.
Located on the second floor of the Blossom Houston, Molihua, which means “jasmine” in Mandarin, brings contemporary Japanese cuisine, dim sum, and sweets to the Medical Center community. Chefs Hideki Hiwatashi and Ho Chee Boon present a contemporary approach to Japanese and Asian cuisines through an à la carte menu with a selection of small bites, sushi, and noodle dishes. The restaurant’s interior, inspired by the jasmine flower, provides a soothing, contemporary aura, and dishes such as the Japanese A5 wagyu skewer, Aburi nigiri moriawase (grilled, flame-seared sushi), and Molihua grilled duck and rice are among the restaurant’s early highlights. 7118 Bertner Ave, Houston, TX 77030
Since opening in early April, nixtamalization specialist Maximo has become one of Houston’s most popular new restaurants. The collaborative effort between Benjy Levit and Dylan Murray of Local Foods, Eau Tour, and Lee’s Den’s, and chef Tony Luhrman, pays homage to Mexican and Texan heritage cooking, Japanese techniques, and the Gulf Coast region. Crispy fish tacos slathered with lime crema, barbacoa tacos dressed with epazote aioli, and sweet potato tempura tacos dotted with pepitas are excellent, as is a lentil hummus enlivened with chile crisp. 6119 Edloe St, West University Place, TX 77005
Find smash burgers, tempura tacos, and more at Maximo in West University
Julie Soefer
March
Houston-based restaurateur Benjamin Berg opened another steakhouse, but with a theme. Unlike B&B Butchers, the new Prime 131 touts a live-fire approach with Korean and Japanese influence, sushi, and an ambiance that lends itself to Berg’s old stomping grounds — the New York’s raw and edgy Meatpacking District in the 90s. Diners can watch their choice of protein be prepared on one of the four wood grills, or choose to grill their own cuts at the Korean barbecue-styled tables on site.
GOOF’s Stomping Grounds welcomed this hard-to-miss mini bar with an official grand opening on March 29. The bright and colorful walk-up bar offers fun and refreshing drinks and cocktails like cantaloupe agua fresca, its Summertime Spritz, and Almond Joy shots, all of which can be enjoyed in the green space at the grounds, and it hosts special events, like its Triva & Tacos night on Tuesdays.
This woman-owned establishment on Washington Avenue aims to offer a sports bar that is inclusive of all sports-lovers. Open daily, this multi-faceted bar features 19 big screen TVs, plenty of interactive games, including cornhole and billiards, and picturesque spaces to snap photos, plus a VIP lounge with bottle service, and a 35-foot bar that makes it easy to score a drink during even the most nailbiting plays. And to keep the party going, themed nights, drink specials galore, and a DJ booth that sits in the center of it all.
A rose-shaped pastry of white chocolate mousse, white chocolate feuilletine, strawberry compote, elderflower foam, and micro basil leaves illustrates the charm and wonder Duchess of Uptown Park — the newest addition to the bustling shopping center. Elements of Mediterranean, Asian, and South American cuisine are visible throughout the seafood-driven menu. Travel through the coasts of all three regions while seated in impossibly plush emerald green and cobalt blue booths. 1131 Uptown Park Boulevard, Ste 1, Houston, Texas 77056
Aaron Bludorn’s highly anticipated Bar Bludorn opened on March 29 in Memorial’s Hedwig Village. This is the chef’s third restaurant in Houston, following Navy Blue in Rice Village, and Bludorn in the Fourth Ward. Analog to the chef’s flagship restaurant, Bar Bludorn’s menu features explorative takes on flavorful gifts from the Gulf Coast. Bludorn’s calling card — oysters served raw, fried, or roasted — have a permanent place on the menu, as do a host of pasta dishes. At the tavern-style restaurant, expect to find pappardelle with mustard-stoked rabbit ragout, and carbonara constructed with poached egg yolk, nuggets of rendered bacon, and English peas. 9061 Gaylord Drive, Houston, TX 77024
Oysters served three ways will be a mainstay on the menu.
Lauren Holub
A favorite of the late LA Weekly and Los Angeles Times food critic Jonathan Gold, Tsujita Artisan Noodle became a staple of the Los Angeles dining scene thanks to its rich, soothing bowls of ramen and buns filled with pulled pork, karaage chicken, and chicken char siu. At the first Houston location in Westchase, the artisan noodles that Gold was such a fan of retain a prominent place on the menu, as do inventive bowls of ramen and tsukemen, the latter known for its much-sought-after dipping noodles served alongside a thick, porky broth. 12230 Westheimer Rd A 160, Houston, TX 77077
Chef Christopher Williams’ Late August opened in the Ion, formerly the historic Downtown Sears building. The menu takes influences from both Williams’ background and that of his executive chef, Sergio Hidalgo. Dishes traverse Southern, African, and Central American foodways, with produce sourced from his restaurant group’s Lucille’s 1913 community garden. 4201 Main Street, Suite 120, Houston, TX 77002
Disclosure: Eater Houston’s interim editor Kayla Stewart is co-writing a cookbook with chef Christopher Williams.
The Los Angeles favorite added yet another stamp on the Texas dining community, opening its first Houston location in the River Oaks Shopping Center. Find pizzaiolo Daniele Uditi’s salads, pasta bowls, and of course, a prominent selection of pizzas. The margherita al crudo, pepperoni, and cacio e pepe are favorites, as is a Tex-Mex special Uditi created for the Houston opening. The pizza is topped with spiced porchetta, roasted tomato chipotle salsa, parsley cilantro salsa verde, fior di latte, shaved serrano chile, and several Mexican spices. 2029 W Gray St, Houston, TX 77019
February
Along with the debut of Houston’s newest Thompson Hotel comes this new rooftop bar and grill. With breathtaking views of the Houston skyline, Sol 7 serves up a menu largely of casual bites, like Southern-fried chicken tenders and lobster rolls, along with a short list of entrees like rigatoni, beer-battered Grouper and chips, and a roasted half-chicken. Those looking to imbibe with view can choose from their list of beers, canned selters, wines, and specialty cocktails, including its fizzy, rum-fueled Uncle Johnny made with St. Germain Citrus Cordial and grapefruit soda.
This Heights favorite has finally joined its sister hand roll restaurant Hando at its second location in Spring Branch (8211 Long Point Road). The quirky cocktail bar, which is modeled after a Japanese subway, can be found just next door to Hando. The two share a door, making it easy to enjoy Kanpai’s light bites like chicken karaage and its fun cocktails, like the house favorite sip Everything’s Lychee Keen — before or after a visit to Hando.
Houston’s dessert destination and bakery opened its second location in The Woodlands (25 Waterway Avenue, Suite. A-125), offering its freshly baked cookies and decadent pies to enjoy. Fans of Sara Brooks can expect the same special creations, including the tres leches cake and her brookies, but in the new intimate space that seats 12 guests indoors and eight on its outdoor patio.
Really into pink? This is the restaurant for you. The foray into the Houston dining scene by a Dallas hospitality group, GAP Concepts, brings Instagram-worthy decor and American classic fine dining food. Each table has a press for Champagne button and the centerpiece of the main dining room is an ombre white and pink piano. The word trendy could never. On the menu, which was developed by chef Bryan Caswell, are the most luxurious of luxury foods: King crab legs, caviar service, a slew of prime beefs, a seafood tower, and chicken francese. More is more is more is more. 2800 Kirby Dr., Suite A-132
Cocktail hour at PostScript.
Jenn Duncan
This Italian restaurant’s program of pizzas, house-made pasta, Italian cheeses, and baked/grilled/braised Italian mains were crafted under the eye of chef Nicolas Nikic, a former instructor at University of Houston’s School of Hospitality Restaurant Management. Nikic made his way to Texas after growing up in Europe and being educated in food in Vienna. In Houston, he’s got 20 years of experience under his belt as general manager and sommelier at Da Marco and Dolce Vita. This restaurant is casual and neighborhood-y, so come as you are. 5110 Buffalo Speedway
Conroe gets a dinner and a show-style restaurant (that also does lunch and brunch) with this spot. The evening entertainment runs the gamut from crooners to country music to nostaligic cover bands. While the lunch menu keeps it pretty simple, the dinner menu is going for a more elevated feel with dishes including swordfish crudo, pineapple glazed pork belly, ossobuco, roasted quail, and a selection of steak cuts with “enhancements” (that’s fancy for sauces) galore.
This cult-favorite chicken spot has opened a second location, this time in Katy. It is currently dine-in only, but its worth it to stop in for Afro-Portugues-style flame-grilled bowls of chicken sandwiches, salads, skewers, and wraps. If you don’t know the drill already: each dish is made to order and to the spiciness level of your specification. 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd. in Katy
This Italian chain opens its third location in Houston, the latest at CityCentre in a 12,000 square foot space and two outdoor patios. It also features a massive bar that seats 50. You’re likely to always be able to get a table here. Like its other locations, this menu features chef’s boards, salads, pizzas, house-made pastas, craft cocktails, and a slew of seasonal specials. It is open for lunch, dinner, and brunch — and it’s currently offering a lot of special dishes for the week of Valentine’s Day. 818 Town and Country Blvd., Suite 100
A Valentine’s week special at North Italia.
North Italia
The Orioli Restaurant Group opens its fifth establishment in Houston with this spot in the Woodlands. The focus is on Latin American cuisines with a coastal influence. On the menu, that translates to some expected Central American ingredients that are familiar to Texans, from queso blanco to braised goat, along with a robust offering of ceviche and crudo, plus the tenderloin with chimichuri of Argentina, chile relleno of Mexico, and an Ecuadorian tuna stew. (26435 Kuykendahl Rd., Suite 900, in Tomball)
Spring lands a wine and whiskey bar with fancy cocktails and a menu of light bites. Head this way for a drink paired with a hummus flight, bruschetta, an array of sandwiches and flatbreads, and some lovely desserts to pair with dessert wines. (3921 Woodson’s Reserve Pkwy., #1100 in Spring)
There’s a new food hall in town and it’s in the space that formerly belonged to beloved Houston nightclub the Roxy. Eat food from 11 different vendors, all carefully selected to highlight the breadth and depth of Houston’s food scene. There are also two bars, one downstairs and a lounge upstairs that is an homage to the Roxy. 5353 W Alabama St., Suite 100
January
Joining a handful of other restaurants like Blind Goat, Underbelly Burger, and Wild Oats that have set up shop in Spring Branch, Houston hand roll fav Hando has opened its second outpost. Jason Andaya and Raymond Chan, owners of Hando in the Heights, officially opened the new location on Thursday, January 18. Slightly larger than its Heights sister and helmed by executive chef Man Nguyen, the new 30-seat hand roll bar is now open daily for lunch, happy hour, and dinner, offering a la carte hand rolls, creative small plates, and hand roll Handokase sets available in three, four, or five-pieces. 8211 Long Point Road, 77055.
This Korean fried chicken haven has been around since 2014, opening its first location in the Museum District, and a second in Timbergrove. In 2020, under the pressures of the pandemic, owner Jason Cho closed the Museum District outpost, but at the end of 2022, announced that the extra crunchy, craggy-skinned fried chicken would be back in the Museum District following the closing of its Timbergrove location in a swap of sorts. The Museum District location opened once again on Thursday, January 18, with limited hours with a menu boasting its crispy chicken in flavors like soy garlic, truffle parmesan, sweet heat, sriracha honey lime, and mango pepper tajin, plus a lineup of Korean rice dishes, including bibimbap, fried rice, and a starters menu featuring fun fusions like kimchi fries. (1801 Binz Street, Suite 120, 77004)
This Alvin-born pizza and shake shop follows up its Pearland outpost with its third Texas location. The new Heights restaurant offers coal-fired pizzas and wings, salads, fresh pasta dishes, hot sandwiches, and fun starters like its three-cheese Illegal Cheese Bread and Grace-Roni pizza rolls. The shakes are an added treat, with classic flavors like vanilla or chocolate, and more decadent combinations like Gia’s Cake Explosion, a combination of ice cream, milk, sprinkles, and freshly baked cake with sprinkles, whipped cream, and a buttercream rim. (9415 Broadway Street, #111, Pearland, 77584)
Gr8 Plate Hospitality, the restaurant group behind Union Kitchen and Jax Grill, opened this Memorial-area new bottle shop and wine bar on January 9. Restaurateurs and sommeliers Paul and Doris Miller and their team, which includes master sommelier Guy Stout, have hand-selected more than 200 bottles from across the world and a complimenting menu by chef James Lundy that features charcuterie boards, pizzas, sandwiches, and salads. Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the bar can comfortably seat nearly 80 people, but imbibers can also enjoy the private Oil Man’s lounge, a wine room that’s a nod to the surrounding Energy Corridor, and eventually the 720-square-foot patio, which seats up to 60 people and is slated to open in the spring. Those who seek to dive even deeper into wine can revel in Vine’s wine club, its educational classes, or its tasting event, starting with a ticketed wine dinner hosted on January 25. 7951 Katy Freeway, Unit B, 77024.
Vine Memorial is aiming to transport wine drinkers to different regions around the world.
Dylan McEwan/Scurfield Group
Chefs Jacques Varon and Max Lappe create a menu at this new Basque restaurant that celebrates the beauty of live-fire cooking and sustainability, with most of its ingredients sourced from Texas, while others are sourced from Europe. The menu focuses in on smaller dishes with exciting flavor combinations. Pinxtos make the perfect starters, with flavorful boquerones and patatas bravas; bread and caviar service, and a host of raw items, like its bluefin tuna with crispy rice. A sweet ending here includes its pandan tres leches and its choco-flan. 633 West 19th Street, 77008.
Spot this new GOOF hangout by its signature bright yellow paint job and its inviting patio, which is perfect for enjoying its daily drink specials, house cocktails for $13, and weekly Steak Nights and kitchen takeovers with a rotation of vendors. The Canary also features a backyard pool, to be enjoyed when the warm weather returns. 963 Judiway Street, 77018.
December
Agricole Hospitality, the restaurant group behind Coltivare, EZ’s Liquor Lounge, and Eight Row Flint, officially opened its newest restaurant, HiWay Cantina Tex-Mex Bar & Grill, on December 23, 2023. The Tex-Mex restaurant offers cuisine staples, including starters like chile con queso and guacamole, plus entrees like chimichangas, enchiladas, quesadillas, and fajitas, many of which come with complimentary rice and beans. The bar also aims to showcase Texas and Mexico traditions, with plenty of cocktails that incorporate Mexican spirits like mezcal, sotol, rum, and tequila. Highlights include its watermelon mezcal margarita, an assortment of Blood Marys, micheladas, and Ranchwaters, plus agua frescas for those steering clear of alcohol. 1201 Saint Emanuel Street, 77003.
A product of Dallas-based hospitality group Lombardi Family Concepts, the second outpost of this new ritzy Italian restaurant opened in Houston’s Uptown, with cheesy pizzas, handmade pasta, including a stellar Mezzelune Agli Scampi made with delicate half-moon-shaped ravioli, and plenty of dishes to share, including its burrata and 24-month-aged prosciutto di parma, which is shaved tableside. 1101 Uptown Park Boulevard, Suite 18, 77056.
This Spring Mexican restaurant, which reopened in early November, recently scored a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination. Chef Thomas Bille, who is in the running for Best Chef: Texas, creates a menu with items like pozole dumplings, delightful ceviches, empanadas de papa y queso served with creme fraiche and Kaluga caviar, crispy pork belly tacos, and carne asada. The restaurant also ventures off the traditional Mexican menu with pasta dishes, fusion creations like saag paneer — a combination of seared cheese and a spinach mole verde, and fun weekly features that ensure each dining experience stays fresh. (5200 Farm to Market 2920 #180, Spring, 77388)
Tilman Fertitta’s see-and-be-seen Italian restaurant has been generating buzz after relocating from its original River Oaks Shopping Center to its new hot spot in the Harlow District in November. The restaurant is still serving up its robust menu of favorites, including its various pasta dishes, pizzas, and more, but even with more pizzaz thanks to its buildout with an outdoor patio that embodies romance. (2817 West Dallas Street, 77019)
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