Unlike past weeks, this week was filled with upsetting and shocking closings. First, let's start with Osteria Mazzantini. On Tuesday, July 1, chef and owner John Sheely informed CultureMap Houston that his newest restaurant, Osteria Mazzantini, which opened in August 2013, would serve its last meal on Saturday, July 5. Sheely explained that the 2200 Post Oak Boulevard space would be replaced with a new concept from Green Cafe Management, called Ruggles Kitchen. But, in a turn of events, Sheely informed CultureMap's Eric Sandler that the restaurant would not be closing. In a text message to Sandler, Sheely wrote, "We are staying open. No further comments. Thanks."
Jarro Cafe, located at 1521 Gessner in Spring Branch, quietly closed at the end of June. One commenter mentioned the Mexican restaurant might have shut its doors, and Houstonia's Katharine Shilcutt confirmed the speculations. Jarro Cafe placed a sign on the front door stating, "Closed due to the poor infrastructure of the building. Sorry Jarro Cafe." Shilcutt also reported that the building was mostly empty as a lot of the furniture and décor had been removed. The taco truck remains open, though.
In more closings news, Listos Restaurant, which received the No. 3 spot on our list of top five underrated burgers in Houston according to our readers, closed its doors on June 25. The restaurant located at 8347 Howard posted the announcement on its Facebook page, "Wanted to say thank you to everyone who has supported LISTOS over the last 2 years. Sadly we have closed for business. We will miss our great customers and staff. We are looking at other options, so please stay tuned. We will keep this page active, so that we can keep you updated. Again a big thank you to everyone!"
This closing is near and dear to my heart as I grew up eating chicken-fried steak and cheeseburgers at Strack Farms Restaurant. The Houston Chronicle broke the sad news that the family-friendly barbecue joint at 5707 Louetta in Spring served its last meal on Sunday, June 29.
Let's move on to happier news, shall we? Bernie's Burger Bus finally opened its brick-and-mortar at 5407 Bellaire Boulevard. Kaitlin Steinberg reported that owner and chef Justin Turner made the announcement via Instagram. Sink your teeth into a juicy burger, like the Homeroom topped with applewood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese "tipsy" onions, chipotle aioli and a fried egg. Add a side of classic finger-licking-good truffle fries and a boozy milkshake from Fluff Bake Bar's Rebecca Masson. The restaurant's operating hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., and Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. until midnight.
Commenter HtownCheapEats let us know in last week's openings and closings report that Dosi Restaurant & Soju Bar opened at 2802 South Shepherd on June 26. Eater Houston explains that the restaurant serves tapas-style Korean-inspired fare with a Southern twist. Some of the dishes include Wagyu beef jerky; shrimp porridge with rice, red beans, melted shallot and white kimchee; pork belly with a sour plum juice, peanuts, radish and rau ram; and fried chicken.
The Sawyer Heights neighborhood welcomed La Madeleine, located at 2423 Katy Freeway in Suite E, on Thursday, July 3. This new establishment marks the 16th La Madeleine location in the greater Houston area.
Hubcap Grill's third location in Kemah at 800 Bradford off of 8th Street opened this week. Owner Ricky Craig has been actively updating followers on Twitter about the restaurant's progress. The Kemah location opened for lunch service on Thursday, July 3.
HtownCheapEats informed us of several openings in Sugar Land, Spring and Galveston. Cool off with bubble tea and shaved ice desserts at Hippo Ice, located at 3737 Highway 6. The folks behind Don Bigotes Tacos al Carbon opened a Mexican seafood restaurant La Cevicheria at 2616 FM 2920 in Spring, which offers whole fried fish, fish tacos and an array of ceviches. Hit the beach this summer, then grab a cold beer at Bull's Island Bar & Grill located at 504 25th Street in Galveston.
Sip on wine, then purchase any bottle you enjoy at Envy Wine Room located in Old Town Spring at 317 Gentry Street; the wine room and bar also serves a selection of beers, snacks and desserts to pair with your drink of choice. Bring a bottle of vino to the new BYOB pizzeria, Skinny Pig Pizza Shack, located just around the corner at 417 Gentry. Skinny Pig serves low-carb and gluten-free pizzas so you can "Pig Out, Lose Weight!" And just because the pizzeria goes light on the carbs, doesn't mean they skimp on the flavor. Try the BBQ Porkie Pizza topped with pulled BBQ pork marinated in a low-carb BBQ sauce, Colby Jack cheese, red onions and a low-carb BBQ sauce on a pork and cheese crust. A quarter of a 12-inch pizza has eight net carbs.
Stop by Jugs Draft at 3109 South Shepherd where you can fill up a growler. Choose from a multitude of craft beers, such as Buffalo Bayou Summer Wit, 8th Wonder Dome Faux'm and Karbach Hop Delusion. Twelve-ounce bottles are also available for purchase. Bring your growler to the nearby BYOB Jeni's Noodle House at 3111 South Shepherd.
Head to the next page for a complete listing of the openings and closings from the month of June... June Openings: Beer Money Food Truck Bone Daddy's House of Smoke, 17381 Tomball Parkway, 832-996-4444 Bosta Coffee & Wine Bar, 1801 Binz, Ste. 130, 832-303-1653 BullChicks, 1997 Katy Mills Boulevard, Katy, 832-437-4489 Bull's Island Bar & Grill, 504 25th Street, Galveston, 409-497-2110 Chick-fil-A, 925 North Loop West, 713-861-6701 Chick-fil-A, 5644 W. Grand Parkway South, Richmond, 281-237-7777 CoCo's Crepes & Coffee, 5555 Washington, Ste. V, 713-900-7145 Copper Chefs, food truck, 832-472-2786 D'marcos Pizzeria 11102 South Highway 6, Sugar Land, 281-575-6100 Dosi Restaurant & Soju Bar, 2802 S Shepherd, 713-521-3674 Envy Wine Room, 317 Gentry, Ste. D1, 281-528-9868 Gigi's Cupcakes, 1609 S Post Oak Lane, 713-850-1610 Hanan's Cafe, 25282 Northwest Freeway, Cypress, 832-653-6903 Happy's Pizza, 7903 Beechnut, 713-772-3333 Hey Mikey's Ice Cream, 2120 Postoffice Street, Galveston, 208-602-3286 Hippo Ice, 3737 Highway 6, Sugar Land, 832-532-7562 Johnny's Pizza House, 24437 Katy Freeway, Katy, 281-394-7330 Jugs Draft, 3109 S Shepherd, 832-794-2042 La Cevicheria, 2616 FM 2920, 281-288-5376 Juicy in the Sky, 4720 Washington, Ste. B-1, 713-864-0908 Lone Star Taco Co., 3811 Center, Deer Park, 281-479-8226 Pandan Leaf: Exotic Desserts & Drinks, 5418 W Grand Parkway South, Ste. A, Richmond, 832-698-1393 Pappasito's Cantina, 1600 Lamar, 713-353-4400 Quaker Steak & Lube, 2502 Gulf Freeway South, League City, 281-614-1800 Ragin' Cajun, 9600 Westheimer, 713-623-6321 Red Dessert Dive & Coffee Shop, 1045 Studewood, 832-649-2977 Sage County, 2416 Brazos, Ste. B, 832-701-1978 Skinny Pig Pizza Shack, 417 Gentry, Ste. N, 832-598-6605 Taco Crave, 5200 FM 2920, Ste. 120, Spring, 281-288-0940 Tapology Gastropub, 2660 Marina Bay, League City Tea2Go, 11420 Dairy Ashford, Ste. 100, 281-302-6366 Tha Personal, food truck, 713-516-7181 The Gorgeous Gael, 5555 Morningside, 832-667-8321 The Gypsy Wagon, food truck, 832-352-0000 The Honeymoon, 300 Main The Springbok, 711 Main, 832-767-5574 Torchy's Tacos, 23501 Cinco Ranch Boulevard, Katy, 281-394-7808 Whole Foods Market, 10133 Louetta, 281-803-6396
June Closings: Boil House, 606 East 11th Brio Tuscan Grille, 3029 Kirby Chapel Spirits, 534 Texas Downing Street Pub, 2549 Kirby Jarro Cafe, 1521 Gessner Listos, 8347 Howard Lucie's Liquors, 534 Texas Mozelle's Cajun Seafood Market, 126 Heights PBR Houston, 534 Texas Saint Genevieve, 2800 Kirby Shark Bar, 534 Texas Strack Farms Restaurant, 5707 Louetta The State Bar & Lounge, 909 Texas
