Blue Onyx Bistro, 4720 Richmond, began its soft opening March 27. Co-owner and executive chef, David Chang's newest restaurant will offer steaks, seafood, and sushi with the menu being influenced by Chang's experience in Chinese, Japanese and French cuisines. Chang immigrated to the United States from Taiwan as a young man and owned and operated a number of restaurants before opening Redfish Seafood Grill in Northwest Houston in 2003.
The design is based
David Chang's dishes are colorful as well as tasty.
Photo courtesy of Blue Onyx Bistro
The 35-day dry-aged ribeye steak is done in-house. Other dishes like the Hot Chic Roll, a flash-fried salmon roll topped with salmon roe, chipotle sauce and balsamic vinegar and Chang's Chilean sea bass are beautifully composed and eye-catching.
Blue Onyx will also use salad greens from
A grand opening date is still to be determined.
Pappy's Cafe will open its new location, 12313 Katy Freeway, Thursday, April 5, at 11 a.m. The new restaurant will feature a larger building with additional parking, an expanded bar, and two private dining rooms. Owners Paul and Lydia Braden are moving Pappy's down the road a piece after the lease on the current location closes on Saturday. So if you want to enjoy a nostalgic last look at the original Pappy's Cafe, 9041 Katy Freeway, March 31 will be the last day to do so.
You know you are thinking about dipping those curly fries into the gravy.
Photo courtesy of Pappy's Cafe
There will be a public opening celebration April 14, noon to 4 p.m., with live music, giveaways, specials and an all day(yay!) happy hour. There will also be an unveiling of Pappy's new specialty cocktail menu. Fancy.
Back Pew Brewing, 26452 Sorters McClellan Road, will host its grand opening party for its taproom, The Sanctuary, April 6 and 7. There will be 30 taps flowing with special beers and food trucks such as Space Lobos and Yummy Dog available.
Back Pew will have its new Sanctuary beer steins for sale, but they are expected to sell quickly, so be there early or you'll be crying in your beer (without a stein).
The grand opening celebrations will start at 4 p.m. on Friday, with Houston's Beatles tribute band, The Fab 5, hitting the stage at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, April 7, the festivities begin at 11 a.m. and go throughout the day until 7 p.m., with the bottle release of its Act of Balor, a brew that is barrel-aged in Booker's Bourbon barrels.
Egghaus Gourmet, 2042 East T.C.
Kings' Biergarten, hosted a kolache pop up last week, but if you missed it, you have another opportunity at the kolache pop-up at King's Bier Haus, 2044 East T.C. Jester, on April 21 to get a taste of what the Sitters are bringing next.
Jonathan's the Rub, 9061 Gaylord, the cozy Hedwig Village neighborhood restaurant, just celebrated its tenth anniversary and now has the go-ahead on its second location to be built at Memorial Green, by Texan Builders, the company behind such Houston hotspots as Artisans and Kiran's.
Expected to open in the fall, the new Jonathan's will feature a full bar with an extensive cocktail program, differentiating it from the original with its BYOB option. However, there will still be an open kitchen to watch Jonathan Levine, chef and self-proclaimed " oldest line cook in Houston" at work. Expect Houston-oriented cuisine with a pan-Latin influence.
The new restaurant will have space for 150 diners inside, with a private dining room and covered patio offering additional seating.
The original Jonathan's the Rub will remain BYOB and retain the same patron-pleasing menu. Like chicken and waffles.
La Balance, 8050 FM 359, had its grand opening March 21. It was originally located at 20680 Westheimer, in the Cinco Ranch area and was the go-to restaurant for French food in Katy. Unfortunately, Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on the area last August and owner, Manuel Atenco, decided to reopen in a new location westward in Fulshear.
The restaurant serves French cuisine " with a contemporary twist", including typical French
La Balance will serve a pre-fixe Easter brunch on April 1 for $35 a person. Reservations are required for seating times.
Popbar, 9595 Six Pines, had its soft opening March 1, according to Community Impact. The gourmet gelato pop chain has locations all over the United States, Canada, Panama, Russia, and Singapore. The
Popsicle lovers can choose from frosty treats like the popGelato, which comes in at a sweet 149 to 198 calories, depending on the different choices available. For a lactose-free and vegan-friendly option, there is the popSorbetto in a variety of fruit flavors with a mere 69 to 79 calories for an even bigger incentive to treat yourself
Yogurt fans can opt for the yogurt pop and for cookie sandwich lovers, there is the indulgent popWich, an ice cream cookie sandwich in popsicle form, dipped in your choice of coconut, chocolate, pistachios and more. That will knock the childhood memories of frozen ice cream sandwiches from the gas station out of your mind forever.
There are 17 U.S. stores with ten more coming, including the Galleria in Houston.
Voodoo Queen Daiquiri Dive, 322 Milby, reopened according to Houston Food Finder. A fire two years ago put it out of business, temporarily. Owner Brandon Young officially reopened the rebuilt space on March 14. There are additional pool tables, two bars, and an expanded kitchen. The menu is not finalized yet during the soft opening of the Tiki-style bar, but there are Da Po' Boys, which can be made with delicious options like roast beef debris, fried shrimp, or andouille sausage. Plus, diners can try the secret one drop sauce. The dive's frozen daiquiris have ingredients that are also a well-kept secret, so don't ask, Bro.
Tequila's Mexican Bar and Grill, 17440 FM 529, opened February 21. Its daily specials can be spotted on its Facebook page with dishes like fish ceviche and fajita salad. The menu offers the usual Tex-Mex plates, but there is a small vegetarian section as well. The happy hour specials run Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Night Heron, 1601 W. Main, opened February 7 after much anticipation and reporting as here in the Houston Press. The newest concept from Agricole Hospitality took over
Night Heron 's cocktail menu includes information on when and where the drinks originated from. We never knew that the Grasshopper, the minty green cocktail, was created at Tujague's in New Orleans in the 1950's. We just knew it was a delicious and not too alcoholic foofy cocktail that we could get away with ordering at East Bo's Chinese restaurant in 1988, but we digress.
Besides some vintage favorites and new creations in the beverage department, the food menu offers dishes like jerk chicken, Singapore Chili Clams and, as executive chef Jacob Pate promised, a great burger, made with smoked cheddar and 44 Farms beef.
The patio is dog-friendly and happy hour is Monday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., except Tuesdays, when Night Heron is closed. You have to go be happy somewhere else that day.
Chef Rafael Gonzalez is taking the culinary helm at Four Seasons Hotel Houston.
Photo courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel
Four Seasons Hotel Houston, 1300 Lamar, has announced that Rafael Gonzalez will serve as the new executive chef, overseeing and leading the culinary operations of the hotel's restaurant Quattro, plus catering and banquets. He will also be spearheading its whiskey-centric bar, Bayou
Gonzalez is a native Floridian who began his Four Seasons career after working in such renowned restaurants as Le Bernardin and Jean Georges, with his first experience as executive sous chef at The Pierre, formerly a Four Seasons hotel. Most recently, he oversaw dining operations at the Viceroy Anguilla.
Gonzalez will be building on Quattro's authentic Italian flavors by adding seasonal and local ingredients. Expect dishes like three cheese ravioli with Meyer lemon and fresh spring peas or lobster salad with Texas citrus and Marcona almonds.
We end our list with a fond farewell to Underbelly, 1100 Westheimer. Chris Shepherd's flagship restaurant is closing after six years to make way for his upcoming steakhouse, Georgia James, which will take over
Openings Reported for March 2018:
Aguirre's Tex-Mex, 27727 Highway 249, opened February 3
Biryani Bistro, 16100 Kensington, soft opening March 7
BuffBurger,1540 West Alabama, opened March 11.
Feges BBQ, 3 Greenway Plaza, Suite C210, opened March 22
Fig and Olive
Flip
Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, 2795 Gulf Freeway, opened February 27
Giant Leap Coffee, 3302 Canal, soft opening, January 14
The Harp, 1625 Richmond, reopened March 17
Hasta la Pasta, 6915 Cypresswood, reopened March 7
Jin Korean BBQ, 3645 Cypress Creek Parkway, opened March 1
Kura Revolving Sushi, 3510 Main, opened mid- March
King Crawfish and Noodle House, 7014 Fry, opened December 2017
Maine-ly Sandwiches, 8190 Barker Cypress, opened February 15
Piola Memorial, 1415 South Voss, opened February 8
Slim Chickens, 30255 Loop 494, opened March 5
Snappy Salads, 1000 Main, expected to open mid-April
Torchy's Tacos, 9975 Barker Cypress, will open April 3
Torchy's Tacos, 19111 Katy Freeway, opened March 12
Verna Mae's, 16010 West Road, opened January 15
Victor,4321 Montrose, opened March 14
Waffle House, 13861 Cypress North Houston, opened early February
Closings Reported for March 2018:
Candelari's Pizza, 25680 Highway 290 closed January 13, other locations still open
Kukuri, 1902 Washington, closed
The Melt, 10111 Louetta, closed January
Prince's Hamburgers, 3425 Ella, closed February
South Beach, 810 Pacific, closed temporarily for remodeling
Tout Suite, 303 Memorial City, closed March 1, downtown location still open
Underbelly, 1100 Westheimer, closing March 31
