It’s been a while since we’ve done a monthly roundup of openings and closings, but we’re getting that train back on track now, and what a month to pick for that re-railment. November was busy, both in terms of openings and closings as well as in terms of chefs coming and going.
Openings:
Aroma Pizza Cafe
6285 Bissonnet, 832-460-0194
Blue Moose Lodge 5306 Washington Avenue, 713-861-5525
Cafe Bretagne 20240 Park Row Drive, Katy, 281-646-8869
Dolce Vita Pizzeria 1701 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, 281-465-4420
Double Cross Lounge 114 West Gray, 713-526-3423
Hoggs n’ Chicks
8817 Highway 6, Suite 200, Missouri City, 281-778-4644
J’Ouvert 3030 Travis, 713-521-131
Kathleen’s Mexican Restaurant
6965 Barker Cypress, Suite D, Katy
Kraftsmen Cafe 611 West 22nd, 713-426-1300
Moreno’s Bar-B-Que
1425 NASA Parkway, 281-461-0202
Natachee’s Supper ‘n Punch 3622 Main, 713-524-7203
Otto’s Deluxe Grille
23501 Cinco Ranch Boulevard, Suite D10, 281-394-5886
Piola 3201 Louisiana, 713-524-8222
Teriyaki Experience
9774 Katy Freeway, 713-827-1201
Toyama 2802 S. Shepherd, 713-528-8527
TQLA 4601 Washington Avenue, 281-501-3237
Closings:
Agora (which burned down the day before Halloween)
1712 Westheimer
Badfish Bar & Grill
9719 Broadway, Pearland
Banzai Sushi
550 Texas
Bibas Greek Pizza (re-opening, sort of, as Bibas Diner at 607 West Gray)
5526 Memorial Drive
Cafe Rose
800 West Sam Houston Parkway
Chances (longtime lesbian nightclub closing to become “a high-end restaurant” with “a superstar chef”)
1100 Westheimer
Dessert Shoppe
512 West 19th
Fabio’s Italian Bar & Grill (moving to a larger location on West Alabama next year)
212 Westheimer
Fins
2810 Westheimer
James Coney Island
815 Dallas
Koffee and Stuf’d Biscuit Co.
6400 Highway 6 North
The Muffin Man (with a story that must be read to be believed)
2310 Converse
Chef Moves:
Jeff Axline
Departed as executive chef at BRC Gastropub for Austin’s Lakeway Resort and Spa. Owner Lance Fegen filling in until a replacement is found.
Michael Dei Maggie
Departed as executive chef at Caffe Bello. Currently “laying low,” according to Dei Maggi.
Michael O’Connor
Hired as sous chef at Vic & Anthony’s, after leaving Reef.
Jason Robinson
Departed as executive chef at The Inn at Dos Brisas. James Beard Award-winning chef Craig Shelton took his place.
Seth Siegel-Gardner
Hired as sous chef at Kata Robata to replace Philippe Gaston, who is now at Reef.
L.J. Wiley
Departed as executive chef at Yelapa Playa Mexicana, but remains on as a partner. Plans to open his own restaurant in the future.
This article appears in Nov 25 – Dec 1, 2010.