Succulent Fine Dining, 1180 Dunlavy, is coming to Regent Square this spring. Inspired by the rolling hills and vineyards of California’s Napa Valley, the new two-story restaurant comes from restaurateur Shawn Virene, a longtime veteran of the hospitality industry who owns and operates the successful champagne-centric bar and restaurant, a’Bouzy. His wine knowledge, love of coastal cuisine and passion for Napa and its environs will all be evident in the fresh, seasonal menu and the West Coast farmhouse-style of the restaurant itself.
Among his many passions is that of horticulture and gardening. His family-owned Huckleberry Farms in Round Top will supply some of the restaurant’s ingredients along with other local farms, plus producers on the West Coast. Virene will also have an on-site garden providing vegetables and herbs for Succulent’s kitchen. Joining Virene is executive chef David Buckley, a native of San Diego, whose earliest memories harken back to harvesting produce with his father in the family’s kitchen garden.
Buckley’s resume includes San Diego establishments like Taco Surf and The Fishery, along with Intercontinental San Diego and Town and Country San Diego. His culinary travels have taken him to places such as Ola in Kahuku, Hawaii and landed him closer to Houston with stints at The Westin and The Woodlands Resort.
Both Virene and Buckley plan for the ingredient-focused menu to showcase farm to table dining in a progressive way while also highlighting a California-heavy wine list to pair with the upcountry fare. There will also be a cocktail program with a focus on natural ingredients, but Virene’s curated wine list will offer the perfect pairings for the farm-fresh fare.
Guests will enjoy the Napa Valley ambiance surrounded by soft green and cream hues, natural wood, antiques and lush plants that create a rustic, yet elegant farmhouse feel. The two-story space will feature both indoor and outdoor spaces, including a second-floor patio that offers vintage greenhouse enclosures, ceiling fans and pergolas amid the shade trees.
Andiron, 3201 Allen Parkway, is closing after two years in business and just three months after its rebranding to Andiron Grille & Patio. Its last day of service will be March 1.
The live fire steakhouse from Sambrooks Hospitality first opened in the Montrose area in April 2023 after a long tease about the new concept, especially since it was coming from the same group that operates the popular barbecue restaurant, The Pit Room, and the Michelin-recognized Candente. Its upscale vibe and stunning interior seemed perfect for a well-heeled crowd but in a November press release, prior to its pivot to a more casual restaurant, owner Michael Sambrooks said that feedback from locals and regular customers made them realize that guests were in search of more approachable options.
With the aim of being a spot for folks to drop by for a meal or a couple of drinks, Andiron added a new, inviting outdoor patio. Sadly, with the lovely spring temperatures ahead for Houston, that attractive patio will not be an option anymore.
Sambrooks said in a press release that it was a bittersweet end for the concept. “Andiron was a magical place and we are proud of the experiences we were able to create for our community…To our loyal Andiron customers, thank you endlessly for your patronage on our journey. We look forward to serving you again at our other concepts.”
The Capital Grille, 1155 Lake Woodlands, will open March 9. The steakhouse chain from Darden Restaurants currently operates two locations in the Houston area in City Centre and the Galleria. The upcoming Woodlands location will make number three.
Known for its dry-aged steaks and fresh seafood, it also offers an award-winning wine list with more than 350 selections. The floor-to ceiling, temperature-controlled wine cellar typically houses around 3,000 bottles. Private wine lockers are available and there are often wine tastings and pairing dinners. The staff at The Capital Grille receive extensive training in order to be able to guide guests through personalized recommendations.
Leeland House, 2119 Leeland, is under new ownership and the concept has been refreshed with an updated interior and new menu. Originally opened in 2018 by Cheryl Crider and John Lofton, It is now under the management of Mikos Adams, Steve Rogers and Rob Wright. The trio are best known for their local hotspots, Off the Record and The Warwick (which will soon be Winsome Prime). Along with purchasing Leeland House, they have also acquired its next door patio bar, Around the Corner.
Leeland House has undergone renovations to both its exterior and interior and there are plans to enhance the patio in the near future. The menu will still offer an exceptional brunch but there are new additions as well. As for the service, many of the staff at both Leeland House and Around the Corner will remain, including general manager Kevin Callejas who has been leading Leeland House for the past three years.
The revamped brunch menu will offer plates like Brisket Hash, a collaboration dish with J-Bar-M BBQ. There will also be Fried French Toast and Honey Chicken Biscuit which not only has fried chicken, but also scrambled eggs, pimento cheese, spiced maple syrup and crispy potatoes. Guests will still find signature coffee drinks like Honey Lavender Latte and ‘Stachio Matcha Latte made with Cruiser Coffee from a locally-owned shop in East Downtown.
Fans of the cocktails at Leeland House will be happy to see some of the old favorites on the menu such as Eastside Crush, Espresso Martini and Down South, a tequila-based drink with lime, hibiscus and jalapeno. Its popular happy hour will still be in place including all-day happy hour Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday with specials on mimosas, sangrias and Bloody Marys.
With the refresh comes plans for events such as weekend day parties, featuring guest DJs from around the country. The first party will be March 16 with DJ Saynt Chris.
The Kid, 1815 N. Durham, is coming to the Heights soon. There is no definitive date but we do know that it is a neighborhood bar with Asa Hanrahan as managing partner, along with the team behind both Flying Saucer Draught Emporium and Rodeo Goat. Hanrahan has nearly 20 years of experience at Flying Saucer as well as being general manager and district director at Rodeo Goat.
Details are still to come but the Houston Press was told in an email that The Kid, which will open in the former Flying Fish space, will not have a mixologist behind the bar but will have good drinks, good burgers and games like darts and pool.
Karne Korean Steakhouse, 2805 White Oak, has closed unexpectedly. According to its social media posts, “this sudden closure was unplanned and has been prompted by circumstances beyond our control.” We have reached out for more information regarding the closure, but owner Jason Cho told CultureMap Houston that the restaurant didn’t generate enough business to be viable and that faced with pressure from his landlord and lenders, he made the decision to close immediately.
The Korean steakhouse opened in November 2022 with both Cho and chef Yurm “KP” Nam at the helm. With a focus on prime meats, the duo wanted to bring the communal tableside cooking experience to Houstonians with a more fine dining approach. Cho is also the force behind the more casual Korean fried chicken concept Dak & Bop.
Drunk Taco, 10609 Grant, had its soft opening February 11. Located in a small retail and office center, it’s located right behind Soto’s Mexican Restaurant in a wood-frame building that’s decorated in a way meant for adorable Instagram snaps. It is open for breakfast and lunch but also offers cocktails, so there’s day-drinking opportunities.
Its breakfast offerings include chilaquiles, huevos divorciados, plus waffles and pastries on the weekend. The breakfast tacos ($3.50) are filled with scrambled eggs plus a choice of potato, chorizo, bacon or ham. There are barbacoa tacos as well. Breakfast beverages include drip coffee, cappuccino, and hot or cold lattes along with fresh-squeezed juices.
For lunch, guests will find plates like flautas, enchiladas, quesabirria and pachucos. There’s even a Mexican burger with fries. The tacos at lunch ($3.50) include options such as beef fajita, picadillo and brisket. The restaurant has a tortilla station and the flour tortillas are made in-house.
The cocktails are more reasonably priced than many in-town spots. Ranging from $5 for a mimosa to $10.99 for an espresso martini or frozen mangonada, there are plenty of in-between drinks like margaritas ($5.99) and micheladas($7.99).
Layne’s Chicken Fingers, 6700 S. Highway 6, is expected to open in early March. The new Mission Bend location comes from Masroor Fatany who already owns and operates five locations of the chicken tender restaurant across Houston and Beaumont, with another planned for Nederland, Texas. Fatany is also responsible for the bringing locations of the popular nationwide chain, The Halal Guys, to Houston as well.
Born in Aggieland originally, the small chain has been popping up across the state with its recent expansion plans. It’s known for its chicken finger meals and chicken tender sandwiches which come in combos that include crinkle fries, a drink and a choice of sauce. There are also milkshakes, a kids menu and family packs available.
Restaurants Reported Open February 2025:
Annam, 811 Buffalo Park, opened early February
Bol, 3201 Louisiana, opened January 30
Chardon, 1711 Allen Parkway, opened February 21
Crust Pizza, 9406 Gaylord, opened February 15
Doko, 3737 Cogdell, opened February 1
Haii Keii, 3300 Kirby, opened February 18
Jo’s Coffee, 1023 Studewood, opened February 14
Miko’s Hot Chicken, 2400 N. Shepherd, opened January 30
Nekter Juice Bar, 26435 Kuykendahl, opened February 22
Oasis, 411 Smith, opened February 20
Piada, 2710 W. Grand Parkway N., opened February 11
The Rustic, Hobby Airport, opened February 1
Restaurants reported Closed February 2025:
The Barking Pig, 2307 Ella Boulevard, closed early February
Del Pueblo, 13235 Jones, closed January 30
Killen’s Steakhouse, 1700 Research Forest, closed mid-February
Money Cat, 925 Richmond, closed February 1
NoPo Cafe, Market & Bar, 1244 N. Post Oak, closed January 13
Sonoma Wine Bar Kirby, 2720 Richmond, closed March 1
White Elm Brasserie, 14079 Memorial, closed January 27
