Concrete Rose, 1701 Commerce, is currently in soft opening mode, with a food menu set to debut next week. The swanky cocktail lounge comes from Gregory Perez, known for opening local bars such as Monkey’s Tail and Trash Panda Drinking Club. This venture is a highly personal one for Perez, drawing on his Chicano culture and love for Houston.
Located on the ground floor of the historic Purse Building, the intimate interior echoes the industrial style of the Art Deco structure, adding clean lines and lacquered finishes of the Biedermeier style. Hand-painted ceiling murals are inspired by the Chicano movement while burlwood paneling and curved banquettes add elegance to the 24-table space.
Though the lounge is stylish and chic, typical nightlife norms of dress codes and exclusivity are rejected for a more inclusive and welcoming vibe. The city’s artists are represented by black and white photography, while Spanish music is showcased with a curated playlist from local DJs.
Craft cocktails are the highlight, with a three-tiered menu that features 24 drinks: The Classics, The Kickbacks and The Originals. There are staples like margaritas and pina coladas, as well as signature creations like No One Else Cared and The Rose, each garnished and served in spectacularly stunning form.
The upcoming food menu has been thoughtfully created to pair with the cocktails rather than the other way round. Perez is known for his multicultural approach to food and drink, so guests can expect such interesting options as beet tacos, inspired by Lebanese immigration to Mexico, and fish crudo, a blending of Latin and Japanese techniques.
North Italia, 23501 Cinco Ranch Boulevard, opened June 10 in Katy, making it the fourth in the Houston area and 10th in Texas. Its location at La Centerra at Cinco Ranch makes it a convenient meal stop for those enjoying the shopping and events in the community gathering space.
With nearly 9,000 square feet of space, the restaurant offers options for both indoor and outdoor dining with a spacious main dining room plus two covered outdoor patios, with an indoor/outdoor bar. The kitchen is open to the dining area, allowing guests to be part of the action as the team creates handmade pizzas and pastas and other Italian specialties.
Texas-based artist Kyle Wadsworth was commissioned to create murals for the private dining room and outdoor patio that reflect the historic oak trees planted by the early settlers of Katy’s prairie. The design is meant to be organic and natural, echoing the local landscape and community.
Executive chef Jairo Gonzalez leads the kitchen with his team rolling out Italian favorites like spicy rigatoni vodka and agnolotti al pomodoro, plus seafood dishes such as yellowtail crudo and grilled branzino. Its weekend brunch includes plates like bistro steak & eggs and strawberries and cream French toast.
In addition to a good-sized wine list, there are craft cocktails like the New Italian Spritz and zero-proof drinks such as the La Spezia. Its Summer Sips cocktail program will debut July 3.
Memorial Trail Ice House, 6202 Washington, will officially reopen June 14 with a World Cup watch party, live music and family-friendly activities. Though it softly opened in March, in time for the Houston Open Golf Tournament, it is now ready to welcome the community back under its new ownership, Trail Group. Led by Chris Alan, a hospitality veteran known for his partnership with Christian’s Tailgate, the ice house has an extensive cocktail and mocktail program and various food specials throughout the week, with GG’s Grab & Eats as its resident food truck.
Ojo de Agua, 10720 Kuykendahl, opens June 18 in The Woodlands. It’s the second location of the ingredient-driven concept in Houston. Founded in Mexico City, its menu is Mexican-inspired with breakfast dishes like chilaquiles and huevos tatemados or lunch options such as a decadent birria sandwich on croissant bread. It serves a wide variety of tacos including salmon, mahi-mahi, octopus and even tofu al pastor. Salad options include Caesar kale and an octopus and cauliflower mole.
The restaurant also features a variety of coffee drinks, fresh juices and protein smoothies. For those a little naughtier, there are handcrafted cocktails.
Cochinita & Co, 4928 Fulton, opened softly the last week of May, adding its weekend brunch service June 6. This is the second location for the concept, which was founded in 2016. Owner Victoria Elizondo is a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist and her cochinita pibil is one of the reasons. Other standouts include mole negro and taquitos dorados. Breakfast and brunch offerings include a French toast that gets the tres leches treatment and comfort-food chilaquiles.
ZOA Eateries, 9807 Katy Frwy, is coming soon to Memorial City, though an opening date has yet to be announced. It’s an evolution of ZOA Moroccan Kitchen, first founded by Housotn restaurateur Yousef Nafaa in 2020. It is part of Nafaa’s Bella Restaurants Group which includes Mia Bella, CoCo Crepes, and Mi Luna.
A native of Morocco, Nafaa named the concept after his sons Zach, Omar and Adam, all of whom are helping to lead the next chapter.
The menu will include signature items like The Marrakesh, made with slow-braised beef tagine, and available as a bowl or sandwich. Other dishes include The Casablanca, with roasted lamb meshwi, and a beef kefta version, The Kenitra. The create-your-own bowls and sandwiches allow guests to choose their base, protein, and a wide variety of toppings and sauces.
Istanbul Grill & Deli, 5613 Morningside, will have its last day of service July 19, after nearly 30 years in Rice Village. In a social media post, the owners mentioned the cause as “lease circumstances beyond our control”, an issue that seems ever more prominent in Houston’s real estate scene.
Founded in 1998 by Zubeyir and Mesut Dundar, the Turkish restaurant is still owned by the Dundar family. The family is exploring options for relocations but there are no plans as of yet, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Candente is coming to the Heights, though the opening is at least a year away. We received an email tip this week regarding a Class 2 subdivision replat named Candente Heights for 2020 Lawrence St. We reached out to the PR firm for Candente, a Sambrooks Hospitality concept, and were given an approved statement from owner Michael Sambrooks that said ” The Candente team is extremely excited to enter the Heights community, and we’re about a year away from opening our doors. We’re currently working with an amazing developer and some very talented designers to make this the best Candente location yet.
The original location of the Tex-Mex restaurant debuted in 2019 and became a sensation due to the smoked and grilled meats, drawing on the techniques of another Sambrooks concept, The Pit Room. Dishes like smoked chicken flautas, brisket nachos and of course, grilled fajitas, have earned Candente a Michelin star for the past two years. It opened a second location in Bellaire in late 2025.
Potbelly Sandwich Works, 1900 Lake Woodlands, opened June 9 in The Woodlands Town Center. Known for its oven-roasted sandwiches, hand-dipped shakes and freshly-baked cookies, it’s been expanding across America since it first opened in Chicago in 1977. It now has more than 445 stores across the country, including over 100 franchised shops.
The restaurant is hosting a grand opening June 26, from 10 a.m. to noon, with a ribbon cutting and giveaways. The first 50 guests in line will receive Free Potbelly for a Year. There will also be Plinko games in which attendees can win prizes and merchandise.
The Pho Fix, 1233 W. 34th, closed June 8 at the Stomping Grounds. Owner Danny Pham first opened the pho concept at Underground Food Hall in 2021, before moving to the Garden Oaks/Oak Forest area in June 2023. The closure was announced on the restaurant’s Facebook and Instagram pages. It read in part:
“We are incredibly grateful to every guest who supported us, visited us, shared our posts, recommended us to friends, and made The Pho Fix part of your lives. Your support, kindness, and loyalty meant more than words can express. To our team members, thank you for your hard work, dedication, and heart. You helped create the experience that made The Pho Fix special. While this chapter is coming to an end, we leave with gratitude for the memories, relationships, and community that we built together.”
No reason was cited for the shuttering, but Stomping Grounds has seen several eateries come and go. Though it boasts a large green area for families and some good dining options, it seems to struggle with being a destination for more than just the locals.
Elephante and Bar Bambino are coming to Central Park Post Oak as part of the project’s Phase 2 retail expansion. The two hospitality concepts are from Wish You Were Here Group, based in Los Angeles. Elephante will occupy 11,200 square feet of space, while Bar Bambino will be 2,000 square feet.
This will be the third location for Elephante, a Mediterranean restaurant inspired by the Aeolian Islands and Pantelleria, near Sicily. Bar Bambino is its complementary cocktail lounge that first debuted in Scottsdale, Arizona.
