Feges BBQ is set to debut in early 2018 at the Greenway Plaza food court from Patrick Feges and Erin Smith. The husband and wife team met while working at Underbelly in 2012.
Feges is a self-taught pitmaster who has experience from barbecue powerhouses Southern Goods and Killen’s, among others. He is also a Purple Heart recipient, from injuries sustained from a tour in Iraq.
Smith graduated top of her class from the California Culinary Academy, has worked at New York’s prestigious Per Se and Babbo restaurants, and back home in Houston, has worked as both an executive chef at Main Kitchen and a sommelier at Camerata.
The pair was looking for a space to open a full service restaurant when they were approached by management at Greenway Plaza about opening in the complex’s food court, a space that has helped launch Houston businesses including Greenway Coffee and Rice Box.
Patrick will be in charge of the barbecue while Erin will focus on the business operations while also developing new versions of traditional barbecue sides, including seasonal vegetable options.
Feges BBQ will serve breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday. With a built-in clientele of 13,000 office workers, the owners hope to keep the average plate at $12 and offer some lighter options including entrée salads.
Houston’s iconic eatery Cafe Annie, helmed by legendary James Beard Award winning chef Robert Del Grande has decided to go in a brand new direction and has reconcepted into Cafe Annie: Wood Grilled Steaks and Oyster Bar — an ode to the chef’s first culinary loves, wood grilled steaks and oysters on the half shell.
Accompanying a revamped menu is a complete reconfiguration of the restaurant’s interior. There is now a Prime Room, an intimate 30-seat dining room featuring a revolving prix fixe menu, and Annie Hall — the restaurant’s new private event space.
Christian’s Tailgate, has opened its fifth Houston area location at 5114 Kirby, according to Houston CultureMap. In an area ripe with “breastaurants,” the family-friendly sports bar, known for its award-winning burgers, is hoping to provide an atmosphere where parents are actually comfortable bringing their children — there will be a few arcade games and eventually an outdoor playground. Along with 30 taps featuring local and national brews, an expanded menu goes beyond burgers with wraps, sandwiches, salads, and kid-friendly apps such as fried cheese.
With plenty of televisions, the new location has opened in time to be a prime spot for viewing the World Series. Go ‘Stros!
Viet Nom Noms, 5221 Bellaire, had its grand opening October 21. The build-your-own concept allows diners to customize their bowls of noodles, rice, salad, and sandwiches with a variety of choices at the counter. There are many options for vegetarians as well. The prices are reasonable, the logo is adorable and the empty bowls are compostable.
Pho Con Bo, 11403 Bellaire, opened August 25. Pho comes in three sizes, including extra large, which is still less than $10. For kids, there’s a beef noodle soup for a wallet-friendly $3. Yelpers seem to appreciate the friendly owner and service, and there’s ample parking. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Cafetopia, 2825 Wilcrest, opened August 14. The creperie and bakery, located near Houston Community College Northwest, turns out beautiful desserts, macarons, and a variety of sweet and savory crepes for breakfast and lunch. There’s also cake made out of crepes. The café is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Pacific Yard House, 101 Metcalf, opened September 1 in downtown Conroe. The live music venue has a 125-seat dining room and outdoor seating. The rustic, Texas decor sets the tone for dishes like chicken fried steak, fruit cobblers, and “railroad rattlers,” a jalapeno popper-style appetizer.
Cafe Johnny’s, 3104 FM 528, opened September 9 in Webster. The Cajun eatery offers seafood, po’ boys, crawfish meat pies, and its signature N’awlins Muffuletta.
Also in Webster, Pop-Top Burgers, 1702 FM 528, opened in late September. The small restaurant serves inexpensive, but much-praised burgers, which goes against the current trend of over-priced beef patty sandwiches. The specialty burgers start at $6.49 and there are a number to choose from.
The all-beef chili is homemade and makes its appearance on a number of menu items, including the Bombs Away burritos — two deep fried burritos with cheese and chili. Since we’re dispensing with calorie counting anyway, wash it down with a $2.79 domestic beer, while thumbing your nose at $14-burger joints.
Popbar opened October 26 in Baybrook Mall, as reported here in the Houston Press. It serves gelato, sorbetto, and yogurt in popsicle form, with a variety of dippings and toppings, including nuts, sprinkles, and chocolate. Along with the 40 rotating flavors, there are vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free options. There will be a grand opening November 18 with free pops for the first 100 customers.
H-E-B broke ground on a 92,000-square-foot store in the Heights on October 24. In attendance were a couple of city council members, Houston Mayor Pro Tem, Ellen Cohen, and everyone’s second-favorite television pitchman (Mattress Mac is No. 1, of course), Scott McClelland, who also happens to be the President of Food and Drug at H-E-B. Construction will start on the store, located at 2300 N. Shepherd and 23rd, in November. The store is slated to open in fall 2018.
Pepe’s Mexican Food, 544 Sawdust, had its grand opening September 15. The Woodlands area restaurant is still tweaking its main menu, but is now selling handmade tamales by the dozen for $26. Owner Jose Garcia says that the tamales are a little bigger than the ones normally offered around town. The restaurant also has a fresh salsa bar for those who love to try different sauces of varying heat.
Krav’n Cajun, 3730 FM 2920, opened in Spring, October 6. The usual Louisiana favorites are on the menu, such as jambalaya and gumbo. With deals like a fried chicken platter with two sides for $5.99, it won’t break the bank. Grab your cher amio and make the drive to Spring for the Krav’n catfish etouffee — two blackened cat fillets with etouffee sauce and fried crawfish tails over dirty rice.
Tarim Grill, 11660 Westheimer, opened October 15. This halal restaurant is bringing Turkik cuisine to Houstonians in the Westchase area. We’re interested in trying one of the naan burgers.
Red Wok, 3758 S. Gessner, opened September 21. Though it offers a Chinese menu also, it’s the Indonesian dishes that are getting the love on Facebook and Yelp.
Hawi Hawaiian BBQ Express, 12254 FM 1960 West, opened October 1. While poke is all the rage right now, it isn’t on the menu at this Hawaiian establishment. What is on the menu is chicken katsu and dishes like Spam musubi. Folks are loving the value pricing and homemade macaroni salad. They even offer mini-meals for $5.99, which come with macaroni salad and rice.
Seoul Pig Korean BBQ, 2510 Smith Ranch, had its soft opening in early September. Though the prices seem a bit steep at this Pearland restaurant — ribs are $24.95 — there is the added novelty of a barbecue grill in the middle of your table. Another novelty available is a tower of Hite beer that sits on the table allowing you and your best buds to help yourselves. There is a variety of Korean beer, wine and soju. The seafood pancake ($12.95) is the must-try item.
BB’s Cafe opened its eighth location at 26010 Hempstead on October 24. Taking over the building which formerly housed The Cypress Station Grill, the company is bringing its brand of Tex-Orleans cooking to the Cypress area. Founded in 2007 by Brooks Bassler, the original location at Montrose and Westheimer is just 1,100-square-feet. The new location is much larger and offers a comfortable outdoor patio, perfect for eating some gumbo and drinking an Abita Rita as the sun sets in the West.
Cordua Restaurants is leaving Artista at the Hobby Center at the end of the year as their lease ends. After 15 years, the Cordua Restaurant Group has decided to focus on the Churrasco’s restaurant brand. Cordua will still be involved during the transition period until July 2018.
The Hobby Center has contracted with Spectrum to continue operating Artista and to provide catering and concessions. The Hobby Center is planning a new restaurant concept that will be announced late summer or fall 2018.
The Tasting Room, 1101 Uptown Park, is launching its built-in antipasti bar October 26. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily, there will be classic antipasto items like prosciutto-wrapped asparagus and Mediterranean olives plus seafood options such as charred octopus with chimichurri and Texas Gulf grilled oysters.
Bundt Cake-A-Holic has opened in a new location at 16940 Ella, according to Eater Houston. The boozy bundt cakes come in more than 100 flavors, including such naughty names as Pink Panties (vodka) and Lap Dance (peach Ciroc). There are non-alcoholic versions available as well. The bakery also makes wedding cakes, infused or not. The grand opening is October 27 and 28, with free samples. We have had these cakes at a wine festival. As their website cautions, “Don’t Bundt and Drive.”
That’s it for this week’s Openings & Closings. Leave a comment and let us know if we missed an opening or closing in your neighborhood.
This article appears in Oct 19-25, 2017.
