Good God, Nadine’s, 33 Waugh, opened May 27. Part cocktail lounge, part Southern eatery, it’s bringing all the vibes of a spirited garden party with a little irreverence throw in for fun. It comes from Billy Trainor and Kyle Wiebe, owners of Verdegreens Farms. Inspired by the eccentric aunt that every Southern family seems to have, the ambiance is welcoming and unpretentious, where the door is always open and the drinks are always full.
The 4,000 square-foot space was designed by gin design group and offers three distinct zones, each with their own character. The indoor bar is a moody space filled with artwork, accented with tile and brass accents, while an outdoor patio (air-conditioned!) is enclosed with French doors. There’s also a garden space for dining al fresco, with whitewashed brick, striped fabrics and lush greenery.
While the outdoor space is a breezy oasis, the interior is a mix of mid-century modern and Southern Gothic. Vintage furnishings and colors of deep green, burgundy, navy and saffron make for a cozy and intimate feel. Co-owner Trainor wants everyone to feel at home whether they’re sporting flip flops or dressed to the nines. He says, ” We believe great hospitality doesn’t have to come with a white tablecloth. It comes with laughter, maybe a little profanity, and a vibe that invites you to stay for a while.”
Drinks are a focus at GGN’s, with frozen cocktails and craft mixology, along with wines on tap. Inspired by coastal living and garden parties, the drinks menu features refreshing beverages such as The Houstonian, made with butterfly pea gin, Fever Tree tonic, a splash of creme de violette and added herbal touches including cinnamon, juniper, star anise and thyme. There are wine cocktails like Queen Charlotte plus a unique rice-clarified concoction, the Mango Sticky Rice, made with coconut milk, mango juice, vodka and pandan leaf.
The food menu is inspired by the Gulf Coast, with a little reimagining of the bold flavors. Drawing from the diverse foodways of the South, there will be flavors of the Gulf states, Florida Keys, Vietnam, Mexico and the Caribbean. A rotating raw bar will offer oysters on the half shell plus the chilled Prawn Party, a shareable seafood feast of cold-boiled shrimp served three ways: classic, shrimp salad and Szechuan-style salt and pepper. Refreshing aguachiles are on the menu as well as hand cut beef tallow fries and Mayan Sikil Pak Dip.
Its Blue Plate Specials feature hearty comfort food like Meatloaf Wellington, Pho-Spiced Pork Chops and Fried Chicken Coq au Vin. Other menu items include baked goat cheese with lavender honey, a loaded smashburger and classic po-boys.
Good God, Nadine’s is open daily from 4 p.m. to midnight with a happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. An all-day brunch is coming soon.
Botonica, 2031 Westcreek, opens May 30 in River Oaks. Located on the ground floor of Skyhouse, it’s a cocktail-forward adventure from one of Houston’s top bartenders, Alexis Mijares. Rooted in Latin culture and tradition, the bar program pays tribute with three different sections. The House menu highlights seasonal and regional ingredients enhanced by bold Latin spirits. La Huella Liquida (The Liquid Footprint) traces the influence of Latin America on cocktail culture with a curated library of more than 50 classic drinks. Finally, El Camino de la Margarita is its own storytelling experience, tracing the evolution of its hotly debated origins to the modern reinventions that mixologists across the world are creating.
Mijares said in a press release, ” Drinks are how we tell our story. Botonica is our love letter to Latin America-through cocktails, culture and connection. Everything we do is rooted in pride, intention and Latin excellence.”
Providing a glamorous backdrop for the innovative cocktails is an interior space designed by Mijares and Angelique Cook-Cavazos, with moody black walls, vintage textures and lush botanicals to give a 1920s vibe. There are plans for art installations from local Latin artists.
There is also a menu of pan-Latin small plates like caviar and chicharrones served with masa blinis. Rajas con Crema is another tasty dish, along with Mini Sonoran Dogs which are wrapped in bacon and topped with black beans, salsa verde, crema and pico de gallo. For a sweet finish, the menu offers spiced rum cake and its version of a chocotaco.
The cocktail bar will also feature live entertainment that reflects the atmosphere with music such as jazz and bossa nova. Burlesque performances and other immersive programs are also in the lineup.
Urban Bird, 19922 Southwest Freeway, opened May 26 in Sugar Land. The Nashville Hot chicken concept first opened in Katy in September 2020, in the midst of the COVID pandemic. Amazingly, it not only survived, but thrived. Owner and founder Brandon Gawthorp and wife Chantel have been operating at warp speed, opening outposts across the Greater Houston area and expanding to San Marcos and Plano, with plans for a location in San Antonio soon. As for the Houston area, there are several more on the way.
Its jumbo tenders are hormone and antibiotic-free, as well as halal. Guests can order a range of spice levels, with Fire in the Hole being the hottest, as the name clearly makes self-evident. The tenders Sando features two fried tenders, kale slaw, Bird sauce and pickles. The Tenders Basket comes with crinkle cut fries and bread. There are Beyond meatless tenders for vegetarians.
Its version of chicken and waffles offers four waffle quarters and two tenders with maple syrup and butter. For fans of loaded fries, the menu includes Chronic Street Fries with options like Flaming Hot Cheeto, plus the larger Chronic Meal Fries, which come in concoctions such as Thai Fighter, Tijuana Street and Buffalo Mac.
Beans & Brews, 2506 Jordan Ranch Boulevard, officially opened May 27 in Brookshire. It’s the second location from franchisees Ashley and Thomas Perrin, who opened their first shop on Franz Road in November 2024. The couple signed a deal to open a dozen locations over a ten year period. Thomas is a former marine and supply chain professional while Ashley was an ICU nurse before entering the world of franchising.
The coffee company was founded in Salt Lake City and roasts all of its coffee in the Salt Lake Mountain valley. It serves a variety of coffee drinks as well as an array of teas, frozen drinks, sodas and healthy food items.
Provare, 5102 Washington, will open May 30. We reported earlier this month, here in the Houston Press that it was shooting to open by Memorial Day weekend. Now, its doors are opening just in time for the last days of May.
The Creole-Italian restaurant comes from former Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars competitor Jourdan Higgs, who opened Provare in Chicago as chef and co-owner in 2021.
Potbelly Sandwich Works, 7255 Helix Park, has a tentative opening date of June 3 at the TMC3 Collaborative Building in the Medical Center. It was originally scheduled for May 27. It will be the 23rd location in the Houston market.
The 1,639 square-foot sandwich shop will offer its signature toasty sandwiches like its Cubano, Prime Rib Steak and Veggie Melt, plus salads such as Apple Walnut and Chicken Salad Salad. It also offers soups, mac and cheese, and breakfast sandwiches. For dessert, Potbelly has a variety of cookies plus creamy milkshakes.
Restaurants Reported Open May 2025:
Aperitivo, 2940 Riverby, opened May 1
Dog Haus, 5414 Highway 6, opened May 3
Fogo de Chao, 222 W. Grand Parkway S., opened April 28
Gulf & Prairie, 1200 Louisiana, grand opening May 21
Hudson House, 2414 University Boulevard, opened May 21
Ichijiku, 9393 Bellaire Boulevard, opened april 29
JuiceLand, 9430 Fry, opened May 4
King Steak, 2200 Post Oak Boulevard, opened May 21
La Cabra, 300 Sharpstown, grand opening May 16
Mutiny in the Heights, 1124 Usener, opened May 29
Nan Xiang Express Cypress, 13126 FM 1960, opened May 12
Pinballz Pizzeria, 2240 Navigation, grand opening May 10
7 Brew, 28435 Highway 249, opened May 19
16 Handles, 18802 W. Airport Boulevard, reopened May 5
Shipley Do-Nuts, 20619 Bellaire Boulevard, opened May 3
Shipley Do-Nuts, 14450 Old Chocolate Bayou, opened May 22
Solarium, 820 Holman, opened May 1
Succulent, 1180 Dunlavy, opened May 19
Suya Outpost, 9502 N. Sam Houston Parkway E., opened April 28
Trill Burgers, 6810 Louetta, opened April 25
Wings Etc., 1023 S. Broadway, opened May 27
Restaurants reported Closed May 2025:
B.B. Lemon, 1809 Washington, closes June 1
Clementine’s, 6448 Cypress Creek Parkway, closed May 9
Good Dog Houston, 903 Studewood, closed April 27
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.
