Burger Bodega, 21904 Franz, is shooting to open in summer 2025. It will be the second location for the smashburger brand which first appeared on the scene as a pop-up in September 2021. In November 2022, owner Abbas Dhanani opened its first brick and mortar at 4520 Washington. It quickly became a hit for its juicy and messy burgers but also because of collaboration burgers done with local chefs. The urban New York vibe of the two story restaurant added to the appeal and the same aesthetic will be on display at the upcoming Katy location.
Dhanani said in a press release, “Katy is such a vibrant and welcoming community and we are excited to bring our concept to even more people in the area. The past two years at our first location have been incredible and we are deeply grateful for the unwavering support from our customers. ” He added, “This support has been the driving force behind our growth and we cannot wait to share this new chapter with everyone in Katy.”
The Katy menu will include the Double Smash Burger with its two smashed patties, grilled onions, American cheese, house-made pickles and the signature bodega sauce, all served on a potato bun. The Chopped Cheese is similar except it is served on a hero bun with the addition of bell pepper, shrettuce and tomatoes.
Other items include its Screwed Fries with cheese sauce, onions and bodega sauce atop crispy thin fries and its Chopped Fries which get an added boost of chopped beef and bell peppers. There’s an array of milkshakes in flavors such as strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, Mango Lassi and Vietnamese Coffee.
Paris Baguette, 2501 Research Forest, will open January 18 in The Woodlands. Franchisee Armando Cordova is responsible for bringing the bakery cafe to The Woodlands. Cordova and his wife are both natives of Mexico City but the couple has reside in The Woodlands for the past ten years. They fell in love with the Paris Baguette concept during their travels. Cordova has more than 13 years of experience in U.S. restaurant industry and was impressed with the Paris Baguette model which aims to bring bakeries back to the heart of the community.
The first Paris Baguette opened in South Korea in 1988. Currently headquartered in Seoul, it expanded to the United States in 2005 and is hoping to reach the 1,000 mark by 2030.
Bol, 3201 Louisiana, is coming soon from Kahani Social Group, the team behind the upscale and much-lauded fine dining Indian restaurant Amrina, located in The Woodlands. Now the hospitality group is expanding into Houston, having recently opened its fried chicken parlor, Pok Pok Po, in Midtown. When Bol opens, it will take up the other half of the Louisiana location.
As its name suggests, Bol will offer bowls filled with authentic Indian flavors. Each single-serve bowl is curated to showcase traditional flavors in a contemporary way with a variety of vegetable, grains and grilled meats accompanied by house-made hummus, sauces and dressings.
Buttermilk Baby, 15958 City Walk, is expected to open in the third quarter of 2025. It will be the second location for the concept from Berg Hospitality which offers a modern twist on the American diner. While the aesthetics mimic the feel of a vintage soda fountain, the mix of sugary colors and contemporary decor let guests know it’s not their grandparents’ drugstore counter hangout.
In addition to its menu of burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and chicken tenders, it also features a collaborative partnership with ice cream giant Carvel. Guests can enjoy a soft serve treat at the restaurant or pre-order one of its iconic ice cream cakes to go. There is a breakfast service with chicken biscuits and pancakes plus lunch and dinner. Kids can enjoy a menu of their own while adults can indulge in boozy milkshakes, beer, wine and whimsical cocktails like the Rowdy Roy Rogers which gets its rowdy part from the shot of bourbon.
Solarium, 820 Holman, is slated to open in the first quarter of 2025. It’s a collaborative project from Rex Hospitality and The Kirby Group. It will open in the space that formerly housed The Kirby Group’s Holman Draft Hall. It has been reimagined as a lifestyle destination with a 9,000 square-foot restaurant, bar and lounge plus four pickleball courts, two padel courts and five private court bays with waiter service.
Rex Hospitality, the team behind MAVEN Coffee + Cocktails and MAVEN Coffee company will lead the operations.
Latuli, 8900 Gaylord, is getting very close to opening with a projection of early 2025. Located in Hedwig Village, the new restaurant will offer Gulf Coast classics from renowned Houston chef Bryan Caswell in a stunning space that mixes Spanish ranch architecture with California coastal style. It’s the first restaurant for Caswell since he closed his popular restaurant REEF in November 2019. Since then, he has done consulting on other restaurant projects such as the glamorous Postscript HTX.
His co-founder in the new venture is Allison Knight who left the commercial real estate world to enroll in Houston’s Culinary Institute Le Notre, adding culinary experience to her knowledge of business and finance. Knight enlisted her friend Alfredo Paredes to design the interior.
Medium Rare, 3201 Louisiana, which opened this past November is hosting a New Year’s Day Pajama Brunch January 1 from 10:30 a .m. to 4 p.m. There are also prizes given to those sporting the best (or worst) PJs. Brunch guests can compete in four categories: Best Family Jammies, Most Creative Pajamas, Best Group Theme and Most Festive PJs. Each category has a prize of a $100 gift card.
The prix-fixe brunch menu includes options of Steak & Eggs, Mediums Rare’s Famous Benedict, overnight-soaked French Toast and bottomless mimosas for $34.95
Cru Food & Wine Bar, 2800 Kirby, had its last day of service December 18. Its other Greater Houston area location at 9595 Six Pines remains open in The Woodlands.
We have reached out for more information regarding the closure.
Piada Italian Street Food, 20711 Tuckerton, opened December 10 in Cypress. The fast-casual brand offers piadas, an Italian wrap made with stone grill-baked flatbread that can be filled with a variety of ingredients. Guests can customize their own or opt for one of the signature wraps such as the Avocado, BLT, Veggie or Chef’s Favorite. There are also pasta dishes, salads and Fit Bowls.
Dumplings Noodles Delight, 3335 College Park, opened last week in The Woodlands. Not surprisingly, it serves a variety of dumplings and noodles but also a number of other Chinese dishes. Guests can start with Green Onion Pancake, Shrimp Siu Mai, Takoyaki and Seaweed Salad plus a couple of different soups.
Handmade dumplings take time, according to its menu, so customers should plan accordingly. However, they will be rewarded with an 8-piece order either pan-fried or steamed. Choices include, Chicken, Beef Scallion, Pork Scallion, Shrimp, Vegetable and many more. For those who prefer bao, there’s a large selection as well.
There are noodle plates, noodle soups and an entree menu that includes Kung Fu Braised Pork, Spicy Szechuan Popcorn, Walnut Shrimp and Mapo Tofu. There are dessert bao as well.
Restaurants Reported Open December 2024:
Bar Doko, 3737 Cogdell, opened December 13
Clutch City Cluckers, 4815 Fairmont Parkway, opened December 21
Eight Turn Crepe, 18822 W. Airport Boulevard, opened December 7
Fielding’s River Oaks, 3750 Westheimer, opened December 8
Flying Biscuit Cafe, 12020 FM 1960, opened December 16
Fogo de Chao, 19820 Northwest Freeway, opened December 9
Jersey Mike’s Subs, 22219 FM 529, opened December 18
Layne’s Chicken Fingers, 5000 Fairmont Parkway, opened December 3
Mercato and Company, 3642 University Boulevard, opened December 14
Mexican Sugar, 35050 W. Dallas, opened December 16
Osha Thai Kitchen, 12230 Westheimer, opened December 10
Pok Pok Po, 3201 Louisiana, opened December 2
Relish, 12850 Memorial, opened December 2
Sante Lounge, 2309 Richmond, opened December 10
7 Brew, 12430 Tomball Parkway, opened December 18
Shipley Do-Nuts, 2822 Sienna Parkway, opened December 18
Slowpokes, 10505 Deerwood, opened December 9
Restaurants Reported Closed December 2024:
Elro Pizza + Crudo, 2405 Genesee, will close December 31
Sambuca Houston, 909 Texas, closed mid-December
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2024.
