Latuli, 8900 Gaylord, opened May 28 in the Memorial area. The new Gulf Coast-inspired concept comes from longtime friends and now business partners, Allison Knight and Chef Bryan Caswell. The duo collaborated with Alfred Paredes Studio for the gorgeous design of the space, which was originally planned as a renovation before turning into a ground-up build.
The change in plans means that the restaurant’s orientation is now toward the green neighborhood setting rather than the freeway frontage road, allowing a more pastoral ambiance that is more symbiotic with the cuisine. Graceful arches, hand-troweled plaster walls and rich wood accents create an atmosphere of sophistication and coziness at the same time. A separate wood-paneled bar offers an adults-only retreat with artwork that captures the spirit of the American Southwest from rodeo culture to indigenous traditions. Knight’s own art collection is showcased with pieces from Picasso, John Cowan and Fritz Scholder.
There are private dining spaces including a ground floor area with room for 230 guests. The covered patio can accommodate 50 guests and has a fireplace. It overlooks a manicured green space with lawn games available for all ages.
The menu from Caswell is multi-layered like the culinary traditions of Texas itself, influenced by Cajun, Mexican, Asian and Mediterranean cuisines. The Lone Star State’s cattle ranching industry and the bounty of seafood from the Gulf also played a major role in the menu’s development, as did Caswell’s love of fishing. Having trained in kitchens around the world, Caswell has also been owner, partner and chef at his own Houston restaurants such as Reef and El Real.
Guests will find starters such as Snapper Tiradito with lemon catsup and Ahi Tuna with soy ginger. Shared plates include the Double Dip with smoked redfish dip and pimento cheese. Vegetables are not an afterthought at Latuli. Using locally-sourced products, there are seasonal plates such as fried baby artichokes and field pea posole.
The steak program features selections from Knight’s family’s ranch, Rafter K, plus 44 Farms and RC Ranch Heard Brand. And fans of Caswell’s Italian cuisine will be happy to see dishes included in the Roman Holiday section such as Fried Malfalde Pasta with wild boar ragu.
The 100-bottle wine list was curated by Houston sommelier, and Coltivare alum, Jeb Stuart. With bottles from $45 to $300, the program puts a focus on smaller, family-run producers, primarily those who utilize sustainable, organic and biodynamic practices.
Diversion Montrose, 1226 W. Clay, opens June 19. Originally located in the Spring Branch Long Point neighborhood next to tasting restaurant Degust, it’s now moved to one of the Emma Jane houses in the Harlow District. Emma Jane, a restaurant and tea room that debuted in November 2024, will still be in the space and open during the day, while Diversion takes over one of the houses at night.
The “cocktail kitchen” made a big splash when it appeared on the Houston scene in 2021, garnering national acclaim when it was listed as one of Esquire magazine’s Best Bars in America in 2022. With its farm-to-glass approach and its stunning drink presentations, it earned loyal fans and critical raves. The new reimagining will maintain the high quality standards of mixology while making its brand more intimate and playful.
Some of the new creations include drinks like Operation: White Flame, an indulgent concoction of vodka, dry vermouth, Earl Grey tea and caviar. The Sand Dollar Beach is a mini martini made with Blue Whale gin while the Ottoman Fashion is a Scotch-based cocktail with the flavor of fig. Its Vilanova Ritual makes use of the elegant Emma Jane tea service and is brewed tableside for two guests. It’s a unique blend of jasmine green tea, gin, herbs and honey.
Though its premise is cocktail-forward, there is a menu of interesting light bites. Guests can enjoy Crudo “Hot Pot”, its Korean fried chicken KFC, or the Texas Artisan Board, a curated array of local cheeses and honey.
There is valet service or $3 self-parking. along with street parking. Diversion Montrose will be open Thursday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
MF Lobster & Ceviche, 3711 Autry Park, closed June 10. Owner and renowned sushi chef Chris Kinjo has decided to focus on his Asian dinning concepts instead, including MF Sushi and his Viet-French restaurant Annam, which is also located at Autry Park.
Located in a striking stand-alone circular pod, MF Lobster opened in February 2024 to rave reviews that have lasted its entire, and brief, run. In a press release Kinjo said, “As much as we loved MF Lobster, it sat in an American dining genre that’s outside our natural wheelhouse. We decided it made sense to sell the restaurant and concentrate on culinary ventures that reflect our Vietnamese and Japanese heritage.”
However, the 2,200 square-foot space already has a concept lined up. Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, a Michelin-recognized company, has plans to open its first Houston venture in late 2025. Led by partners Kevin Fink, Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Alicynn Fink, Berty Richter and Rand Egbert, the group operates five Austin concepts including Emmer & Rye, Hestia and Canje, plus Pullman Market, Ladino and Henbit in San Antonio. Both Bristol-Joseph and Kevin Fink have received James Beard Award nods, as well as recognition from Food and Wine magazine as Best New Chef, with Fink earning the title in 2016 and Bristol-Joseph in 2023.
Soluna, 100 W. Calvacade, opened May 28 at the Heights House Hotel. Inspired by the Latin flavors of Cuba, Miami, Texas, Mexico and California, it offers a relaxing oasis for Houston’s upcoming hot summer. Not only does it offer refreshing drinks and tasty bites, but Soluna guests not staying at the hotel itself can purchase day passes for the hotel’s pool.
The concept, named for both sun and moon, comes from Chris Cusack and the team behind Houston’s quirky space-themed bar and pizza joint, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse. The 10,000 square feet of space at the new Soluna includes a shaded outdoor lounge and open-air patio plus an air-conditioned indoor lounge. There are 11 television screens throughout and private dining is available, as well as space for community events, wedding showers and more.
Cusack’s mixology talents are showcased with a reasonably-priced beverage program that includes cocktails like the pepper-forward Bloody Verde and the Miami Vice, a frozen strawberry daiquiri. Its Cafe Olla Espresso Martini is a unique take on the trend, made with vodka, espresso, cinnamon syrup, coffee liqueur and chocolate mole bitters. There is also a beer selection and non-alcoholic drinks plus a coffee menu.
Soluna serves food all day, including breakfast, and will also be launching room service for hotel guests. The menu offers shareables like Papas Rusticas, Chicharrones & Queso and Wings al Pastor, plus a Con Sus Manos (With Your Hands) section with dishes such as Chicken Milanese Torta, the Americana Burger and a Cubano sandwich. Breakfast items include Steak Asada & Egg Taco, a loaded breakfast burrito and a variety of tacos. The menu of tacos like fish, mushroom and al pastor, won’t break the bank at $5 to $6.
Bar Buena, 2002 W. Gray, opens July 16, in River Oaks. Adjacent to the recently opened Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina, the mezcal-forward bar is a new concept for the Goode Co. family of restaurants. It’s a hideaway that caters to guests who appreciate the artisanal process of mezcal-making, offering a list of agave-based cocktails served in a cozy and moody environment.
Some of the hand-crafted drinks include the Oaxacan Old Fashioned, The Batanga and its version of ranch water, the Tequila y Tonic. And of course, there’s a selection of margaritas. Though its focus is on mezcal and cocktails, Bar Buena also features a small plates menu that showcases the flavors of coastal and interior Mexico with dishes such as Carnitas Flautas, Gulf Crab Tostadas and Aguachile Verde.
Chupa’s Fajitas and Ritas To-Go, 2300 Westheimer, is now open and ready to deliver juicy fajitas for pick-up and delivery only. The new concept is from a’Bouzy founder Shawn Virene, affectionately known to his friends and family as ‘Chupa’, a shortened nickname for the mythic fanged beast, the Chupacabra. Originating in Puerto Rico in the 1990s, the tale of the Chupacabra fascinated Virene growing up and he has given the moniker to his new concept which also stems from his love of fajitas.
The debut menu includes Mama Jose’s Chopped Beef Fajitas, which are marinated and grilled with roasted peppers, caramelized onions and house-grown cilantro. It includes all the fixings like warm tortillas (corn or flour), charro beans, cilantro rice, guacamole, shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa verde. It serves two to four people.
The fajitas are great for office lunches and family gatherings but also for weekend parties, with margaritas by the quart in choices like lime or strawberry plus a spicy version.
The fajitas and ritas can be ordered on its website for pick-up or through DoorDash for delivery.
Smalls Sliders, 25549 State Highway 249, dropped its can in Tomball. The cheeseburger slider brand is known for its pre-fab, bright orange restaurants that are dropped in place. Founded in 2019 by Brandon Landry in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the company took on former New Orleans Saints quarterback, Drew Brees, as a major investor in 2020. The Tomball location is the second in the Greater Houston area with several more planned for the future.
The basic menu offers its signature sliders with American cheese and pickles on a toasted bun, plus a dab of its secret Smauce. The Biggie Smalls doubles the pleasure with an extra patty and cheese and customers can add bacon as well. The only other slider option is a grilled cheese. And seasoned waffle fries are the only side. However, there are three milkshake choices.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, 5511 Morningside, opened June 4 in Rice Village. The craft ice cream shop serves its classic flavors like Brambleberry Crisp and Salty Caramel plus three limited time summer flavors including Toasted S’mores, Root Beer Float and Pink Bubblegum, a blend of cherry blossom ice cream with strawberry and tropical fruit.
Founded in 2002 in Columbus, Ohio by Jeni Britton Bauer, the artisanal ice cream brand arrived in Houston’s Heights neighborhood in 2019, followed by locations in Montrose and CityCentre. The Rice Village store makes number four for the city.
The Upside Pub, 3402 N. Shepherd, is closing July 5 according to its Facebook page. Locals in the Garden Oaks/Oak Forest neighborhood are devastated and rightly so. Besides reasonably-priced drinks, it had really good food, as we discovered here in the Houston Press.
Owners Paige and Andy Lujan opened the neighborhood bar and restaurant in 2022. New to the Houston area, the couple set out to create a local hangout that reflected Paige Lujan’s hospitality experience and involvement as a founding partner of the Artisanal Brewers Collective in Southern California.
The couple thanked their customers and staff, but didn’t go into details about the closure saying it was “boring and unimportant.” On the upside, the pub is still having its Third Annual Pizza Eating Contest this Saturday at 2 p.m.
Artisans, 5745 Westheimer, closed May 29. Owner/chef Jacques Fox made the announcement on social media the same day. While not giving a reason for the closing, Fox did thank customers, suppliers and staff for their support and commitment. He added, “This is a difficult farewell for me and my investors, but we will always treasure the memories and experiences created at Artisans.”
Originally opened in Midtown, the French restaurant moved to its Westheimer location in December 2023.
Mi Tierra Mexican Kitchen, 3327 Mangum, has closed its doors. Owners Katherine Mancia and Martin Weaver made the announcement via social media June 11, saying the decision did not come easy. In a Facebook post Mancia wrote, “Mi Tierra was more than just a restaurant. It was a dream, a risk, a labor of love, and a huge part of my soul. It was where we poured our passion, culture, and our heart into every detail – from the recipes to the guest we welcomed through the door.”
Weaver, a native Houstonian, and Mancia, born in El Salvador, met at a culinary event, according to the restaurant’s website. The two formed a bond based on their mutual love for the restaurant industry and their respect for each other’s background. The opening of Mi Tierra in 2023 was their love letter to Mexico City and the Mexican culture. Mancia and Weaver went on to thank their loyal customers and their team for their support.
Mancia added, “This isn’t goodbye to a dream. It’s just a pause, a redirection…Gracias, from the bottom of my heart.”
We reached out for more information and the owners told the Houston Press, “We did everything we could to keep it open. It’s just that the numbers weren’t there. There was a huge fall in comparison to last year sales.”
Bistro Menil, 1513 W. Alabama, will close its doors June 22, according to a Facebook post from owner/chef Greg Martin. For more than a decade the Euro-centric cafe offered visitors to the nearby Menil Collection a bright space for lunch or dinner. Its afternoon tea service had many loyal fans and Martin was accommodating to guests with gluten issues.
Martin said in the post, “We’d love to see you one more time before we say goodbye and celebrate with joy and gratitude.”
Thai Village, 2512 Times Boulevard, closed May 31, according to the Houston Chronicle. The brief announcement was made on its website with no indication of why the Thai restaurant was closing after 35 years but a number of Rice Village businesses and restaurants have closed or relocated over the past few years. Shiva Indian Restaurant left its original Rice Village location in 2021 and reopened a few months later at its current Buffalo Speedway address while Prego decided to nix its planned move last year and instead shuttered in May 2025.
Rudi Lechner’s, 2503 S. Gessner, has closed after almost 50 years of serving German and Austrian cuisine to the Houston community. Popular for its weiner schnitzel and sausages, it was first opened by Rudi Lechner in 1976. When he retired a few years ago, the owner of a nearby event space, Jay Luchun, bought the business.
Camaraderie, 608 W. 11th, debuted this past March and is now rolling out its Sunday brunch service June 15. With chef Shawn Gawle at the helm, the French-inspired menu includes a la carte items such as Tarte Flambee, with bacon lardons and fromage blanc, and a mushroom, leek and comte cheese quiche. With sweet, local melons coming into season, Gawle is serving them with a light verbena syrup. He is also using rye flour and rye berries from Homestead Gristmill in Waco to create the Rye Waffle, which is topped with Texas pecans and blueberries cooked in a red wine gastrique.
Gawle says that one of his favorite things to make is a perfectly rolled French omelette. His version at Camaraderie is a decadent one, filled with Boursin, spinach and lobster. Other brunch dishes include a sweet cinnamon roll, a cardamom bun and Hong Kong Milk Toast, a Japanese twist on French toast.
Craft Pita, 5172 Buffalo Speedway and 1920 Fountain View, is launching a weekend brunch service June 14. Owner and chef Rafael Nasr say it’s something that he and his team have been thinking about for a while. “Over the years, we have experimented with brunch pop-ups and collaborations with restaurants like Bludorn and Bar Bludorn, and the response from our guests has been incredible. ” Nasr says. “We are excited to finally bring a full brunch menu to craft Pita and share more of these authentic Mediterranean flavors with the Houston community.”
The brunch menu of Lebanese-inspired favorites includes Man’oushe, a traditional Lebanese flatbread available in different flavors including Za’atar, Cheese and Sujuk, which features a spicy beef sausage and a Lebanese cheese blend. The flatbreads are also available in a gluten-free version. The Brunch Sampler is a feast of hummus, labneh, pickles, crudites, olives, soft scrambled eggs and a half za’atar/half cheese flatbread. There are a la carte brunch sides such as feta, sujuk, eggs, pickles, turnips, olives and fruit salad.
The new brunch menu also features beverages including orange juice mimosas, French press cold brew, Turkish coffee, Turkish iced lattes, hot Ceylon tea, iced tea, kombucha and apple juice.
The brunch will be offered at both locations Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.
