Foodies familiar with the Dallas area were abuzz this week with the news that Cane Rosso is expanding to better cities with a new Houston location. The Houston Chronicle's Syd Kearney says that it's opening in the same center as the forthcoming Hunky Dory and Bernadine's at 1835 North Shepherd. Cane Rosso currently has four locations and is known for its Neapolitan-style thin-crust pizzas. The chain uses San Marzano tomatoes and local sausage, and also makes pasta and sandwiches.
It looks like a downtown location of Christian's Tailgate is on the way. It's set to open in as little as two months in the Pillot Building at 1012 Congress.
Kearney also reported that a Fellini Gelato & Caffé is opening in CityCentre. It's a partnership between Nash D'Amico and his daughter Brina D'Amico with Salvatore Albelice (a partner in the original Fellini Cafe) and Monica Gonzales. In addition to gelato, espresso drinks and coffee, it will offer salads, panini, Italian pastries, beer and wine.
Last week, reader "justthefacts" let us know that Tony's Barbecue & Steak House at 1225 Travis has closed. The tipster wrote, "Sign on the door stated closed due to lack of customers. It suffered from all the construction nearby." A call to the restaurant's phone number confirmed that it's been disconnected.
Jakesha Wilmore of Eater Houston says that there's another multi-concept place opening, this time in Upper Kirby, which has been bereft of clubs since ROAK, Hendrick's Pub and others shut down last year. VII Kitchen & Craft Cocktails will be downstairs at 2207 Richmond, while SE7EN Ultra Lounge will be upstairs. Both open on March 27.
Yelp indicates that The Republic Smokehouse & Saloon at 1910 Bagby is now open. The menu includes brisket, mac and cheese, Reubens and catfish po-boys. According to Culturemap Houston, the place is like babe-cafe-meets-smokehouse. It has an all-female, shorts-clad waitstaff, but that doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't have good barbecue. The pitmaster is Cedric Williams, who ran Williams Smokehouse until a fire destroyed that business in 2007.
That's it for this edition of Openings & Closings. What did we miss? Leave a comment or send an email to [email protected]. See you next week!
