Hudson House, 2414 University Boulevard, opened May 21 in Rice Village. It’s the second Houston location for the concept from Vandelay Hospitality. Founded in 2012 by Hunter Pond, the hospitality group operates eateries like East Hampton Sandwich Co. and Drake’s Hollywood. Hudson House originated in the Dallas area in 2017 and opened its first Houston restaurant in River Oaks in November 2023.
Though a Texas-born concept, Hudson House and its menu are inspired by the seafood eateries of the East Coast, particularly the Hudson Valley area. Fresh oysters are flown in daily for its raw bar and there are seafood “bouquets” available. There’s a New England-style lobster roll and a selection of non-New England sushi rolls. The appetizer menu offers deviled eggs, shrimp cocktail and its whipped avocado dip, served with ranch chips.
The Cheeseburger at Hudson House is legendary, or at least since 2017, with its double patties, American cheese, sliced pickles, minced onion and Hudson sauce, perfectly situated on a sesame brioche bun. There are seafood dishes such as fish tacos and pan-seared redfish, plus chicken parm and its sous vide French Chicken with Cajun spices.
Among the Frozen Bellinis and Spicy Mexican Margaritas, cocktail connoisseurs will find its signature “World’s Coldest Martinis.” Its weekday happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. is prime time in the bar with half-price martinis and bellinis and $10 cheeseburgers.
For Pond, a second location in Houston made sense. He said in a press release, “Our River Oaks location has seen strong support since opening just over a year ago, and we’re confident Rice Village will follow suits. With its already vibrant community and bustling shopping scene, Rice Village offers an ideal background for our beloved coastal-inspired American cuisine.”
If only Rice Village offered ideal parking.
Mutiny in the Heights, 1124 Usener, will have a grand opening celebration May 29 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Formerly Mutiny Wine Room, the new restaurant will offer the same dedication to wine while being more family-friendly and accessible to the community. Owner Mark Ellenberger will still have chef Eduardo Alcayaga heading the culinary program while Ellenberger, who also owns Kagan Cellars, leads the concept.
The balance of wine and food is celebrated with a new menu, focused on seasonal ingredients and shareable plates. Guests will find dishes such as Sicilian Meatballs, Bavette Steak Frites and Chef’s Butcher Burger. Wine is still an important part of the rebrand with a curated list of varietals, but there is now an expanded beverage program with local beers and non-alcoholic offerings.
In addition to the new menu, there have been updates made to the north patio and dogs are welcome as well. The rebrand offers a more casual dining experience where families and friends are welcome to linger and enjoy a neighborhood vibe.
Chef Alcayaga said in a press release, “This new chapter is about creating food that feels just as good as it tastes…We wanted the menu to reflect the warmth and rhythm of the neighborhood, where families, friends, and even first-timers feel like they’ve found their new favorite spot.”
B.B. Lemon, 1809 Washington, will close its doors June 1, according to an Instagram post. The May 21 announcement was a bit of a surprise coming from the successful Berg Hospitality. The Washington location was the original, opening in 2018. It served as a more casual counterpart to Berg’s B&B Butchers & Restaurant. It was followed quickly by B.B. Lemon Montrose in July 2019 but that location closed in 2020. In May 2024, Berg Hospitality opened another B.B. Lemon in the downtown tunnels at 1100 Louisiana at Enterprise Plaza. That location will remain open.
In an official press statement, Benjamin Berg, owner and CEO at Berg Hospitality, said that it is never an easy decision to close a restaurant. He added, “The love Houston has shown B.B. Lemon-Washington over the years is what made it such a special place…While our portfolio has grown and evolved, B.B. Lemon-Washington, though no longer part of our strategic plan, remains a meaningful chapter in our story.”
National Burger Day is May 28, so it’s an opportune time to have a burger at the restaurant before it closes.
Wings Etc. Grill & Pub, 1023 S. Broadway, opens in La Porte May 27. It will celebrate with a grand opening event beginning at 11 a.m. , hosted by franchisees Staton and Lance Stephens. The couple is offering the first 50 dine-in guests, 18 or older, a free year of wings.
Though the company operates 80 stores across the Midwest and South, the La Porte store is just number two for the brand in Texas and the first for Houston. The 3,090 square-foot space features 24 big screen televisions, indoor dining, a full-service bar and a pick-up window for online orders. Third-party delivery is available as well.
Its menu offers signature jumbo wings with a choice of 22 different sauces and rubs. Cauliflower and boneless wings are available, too. Appetizers include BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos and Spicy Pickle Chips. The burgers at Wings Etc. are all double meat except for the Hugh Jazz One-Pounder. It’s a big boy with four grill-top patties, each topped with American cheese. Other items include wraps, salads and sandwiches like the Hummin’ Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich.
The full bar features signature cocktails like the Watermelon Wave Margarita and there are 15 beers on tap or by the bottle.
Cecil’s Pub is currently taking over the former home of Elro at 2405 Gennessee, according to the Houston Chronicle. The longtime Montrose neighborhood bar closed in November 2024 after nearly 35 years, or 40 if you count its previous iteration as Blythe Spirits. The Chronicle reported that its name has already been painted on the porch and Cecil’s has changed the address on its Instagram account.
It will have a full kitchen and a large patio, plus a cocktail program.
BATL Houston, 1431 W. 20th, has finished its upgrades across the entire sports entertainment venue with digitally-enhanced axe and knife throwing along with tech-infused archery. Along with the digital upgrades comes a new menu of food and beverage options with handcrafted cocktails and bar-side bites.
There are new cocktails including Ghost Rider Margarita, Espresso Martini, Cosmo Bubbles and Target Practice, a mix of Fireball whisky and ginger beer. The bites menu includes Love Me Tenders, Classic Dog, mozzarella sticks and BATL Dog, which is loaded with crispy onions, mayo, pickles and Dijon mustard.
Clementine’s, 6448 Cypress Creek Parkway, went out with a bang May 9. After 44 years, owners Elias and Carolyn Deek decided it was time to retire. Originally an Italian restaurant, Elias Deek acquired the business in 1980, renaming it Clementine’s. It served a wide variety of cuisines to the FM 1960 community, from American and Italian to Southern and Middle Eastern. The interior didn’t change much over the years and what was once a quaint and rather fancy dining room at the time, began to seem a bit dated by today’s standards. However, it had a loyal following for its extravagant buffets, live piano music and family hospitality.
Shipley Do-Nuts, 14450 Old Chocolate Bayou, opened May 22 in southeast Houston. Known for its signature hexagon-shaped glazed doughnuts, the Houston-based company has been a Texas favorite since 1936. Now, it has expanded to a dozen states and more than 370 stores.
Shipley serves more than 60 kinds of donuts, all made fresh daily. There are cinnamon rolls, bear claws, apple fritters and several kolache options including egg and cheese.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.
