Atlantic Ocean, 6011 Washington, will debut April 1 in the Washington Corridor. The upscale seafood concept comes from chef and restaurateur Virgil Harper, best known for his Buckhead restaurant, Toast on Lenox, in the Atlanta area. Opened in 2020, it quickly became a brunch hotspot. This is his first foray out of Hotlanta, where he also operates Toast on Lenox Midtown and Toast Noir Cafe.
Over his career, Harper, a native of Atlantic City, New Jersey, has served such luminaries as President Joe Biden, Martha Stewart and NBA Hall of Famer, and Atlanta Hawks dunking king, Dominique Williams. Joining him in this new venture is executive chef and partner Aliyah Watley, who was born in Charleston, South Carolina and raised in Atlanta. Her background includes Black, Spanish, French and Canadian heritage, all of which influence her culinary point of view.
The duo have created a menu that takes inspiration from the regional and cultural traditions of diverse coastal cuisines, while emphasizing local ingredients and sourcing. Seafood is the star with dishes like Grilled Branzino, topped with chimichurri and citrus mojo, and Dover Sole served with lemon beurre blanc and crispy capers. However, there are plenty of plates for meat-eaters including Moroccan lamb chops atop a sweet potato puree. White chocolate carrot cake and a deconstructed cheesecake add a touch of whimsy to the dessert menu.
The bar program will offer classic cocktails such as the Transatlantic, its version of the Sidecar, plus signature drinks such as the Bom Dia, made with Chinola, a scored garnish of mango, and a Tajin rim. From Wednesday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., its happy hour will feature drink specials with $5 beer, $7 select wine and $8 cocktails. During that time, bar guests can nosh on $5 seafood gumbo, $16 garlic butter crab claws and chargrilled oysters for $1.50.
The chic dining space accommodates 202 guests, along with a 21-seat private dining room.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 2405 W. Alabama, will shutter April 18, according to CultureMap Houston. The restaurant, under the umbrella of Bloomin’ Brands, did not renew its lease at the Upper Kirby location, which was the first Houston location to open for the brand in 2002, followed by a location in The Woodlands in 2004 and a third in Town & Country in 2009. The two latter locations will remain open.
Founded in 1998 by Paul Fleming and Bill Allen in Newport Beach, California, the modern steakhouse eventually spread to more than 65 locations across the country. One of its most popular offerings in Houston currently is its Tomahawk Tuesday specials with a 35-ounce prime tomahawk or 34-ounce prime porterhouse steak, salad, side, and dessert, meant for two guests.
Elizabeth Daly, director of corporate communications told the Houston Press that team members will be offered transfer opportunities to other locations.
Cochinita & Co., 4928 Fulton, will be the home for the second location of Victoria Elizondo’s Mexican cafe. Starting with pop-ups and catering in 2016, Elizondo opened her Lawndale restaurant in 2021. Since then, the talented chef has earned two James Beard Award semifinalist nods, garnered spots on several Texas Monthly lists, and written a cookbook, Taco-Tastic!, with over 60 recipes.
Elizondo most recently took home the top honors from the judges at The 2026 Truffle Masters which was held March 9, 2026, at The Astorian.
Cochinita & Co. recently began a crowd-funding campaign through NuMarket which offers credits and insider access for contributions to help with equipment and supplies as it gets closer to opening. The campaign ended this past week.
True Anomaly, 2012 Dallas, will shut down operations April 30. Unfortunately, it’s another EaDo business to bite the dust of the I-45 expansion project. Its loyal fans, and there are many of them, took hope in the possibility of a second location. According to its social media posts announcing the closure, the relocation is not to be, due to “construction delays and shifting timelines.”
The post read, ” We kept brewing and kept believing it would come together, but eventually the stars just stopped aligning.”
The multitude of comments online have been a testament to the brewery’s importance in the local community, one it did not take for granted. Its post celebrated the eclectic gatherings of people saying “While this chapter of True anomaly is coming to an end, what we built here will always be bigger than a building. It lives in the friendships formed at the bar, the events that filled the room, the beers shared across tables, and the community that made this place come alive. “
Though it will operate through April 30, the taproom is hosting a “Celebration of Life” April 26, which coincides with its original grand opening
JUN, 420 E. 20th, is celebrating its upcoming third anniversary with a new, full liquor license. During the restaurant’s build-out, chefs/owners Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu were denied a full license, so the duo opted to focus on wine and sake-based spirits. Though the low ABV drinks were popular and kept the bar busy, the adventurous restaurant operators can now add a new chapter to the story.
Lu is embracing the new opportunity with gusto and is thrilled to expand the beverage program. “Heading into our fourth year, this chapter is really about the bountiful cultural roots that have made Houston home to so many people, as we work even closer with local farmers and ingredients,”
To pair with the inventive cuisine of Asian and Latin flavors, there are drinks like Post/Shift, a spicy ginger tamarind margarita in tribute to Lu’s favorite after work quaff. In keeping with the carajillo trend, JUN has a version that uses Tenfold espresso and Licor 43, smoked with palo santo.
Other new cocktails include Pink Lady, with beet-infused gin, and a Very Dirty Martini. Guests can also expect to see a lineup of mezcal drinks.
The full launch of the new bar program is being celebrated March 31with a dual third anniversary party, open to the public. There will be a DJ, sketch artist, photo booth, starting at 6 p.m. Other scheduled entertainment includes a mariachi band, followed by Drag Bingo with Queen Persephone. Joining Lu and Garcia will be guest chefs Suu Khin (Burmalicious), Ivan Chavez (Chavos BBQ) and Nina Canete (Aleng Nina’s) offering a la carte food options.
Swig, 22532 Tomball Parkway, is set to open any day now. The drive-thru dirty soda shop offers over 60 drink combinations from flavored sodas to water-based refreshers. There are Reviver energy drinks, too. In addition to signature drinks like Jolly Elf, made with Mountain Dew, passion fruit, strawberry and orange, there are seasonal Sour Patch Kids flavors.
The beverages range from 12-ounce to 44-ounce and customers can even create their own with a variety of creams, sodas and juices. Swig also offers snacks like salted pretzel bites and cookies.