Houston Press | The Leading Independent News Source in Houston, Texas

Openings and Closings: Barrel of Monkeys Hospitality Launches, Layne's Chicken Fingers Houston

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Jun 18, 2021

Barrel of Monkeys Hospitality, a newly-formed restaurant group from Monkey’s Tail owner, Jessie Gonzales, launched June 2021. Gonzales founded Monkey’s Tail in 2019 and Barrel of Monkeys Hospitality plans to open several more concepts in the next few years including Grease Monkey, which will open this fall in the Oak Forest/Garden...

Cinnamon and cardamom add some spicy sweetness to cake.

Openings and Closings: Agnes Cafe Debuts, Soto Opens Quietly

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Jun 4, 2021

Agnes Cafe & Provisions, 2132 Bissonet, will open June 8 for breakfast and lunch with dinner service to come later in the month. The Mediterranean-inspired concept comes from Molly Voorhees, President of Beck's Prime and The Chocolate Bar, and longtime friend, Carolyn Dorros, Executive Vice-President of Wolff Companies. The two...

Chris Shepherd: Cheeseburgers and CBD

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Jun 2, 2021

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Superchef! Yes, Chris Shepherd is making news again with not only a new burger concept but also a CBD cocktail collaboration with Bayou City Hemp Co. Underbelly Burger was announced May 28 after much speculation about what the new casual...

Openings and Closings: Uli's Kitchen Opens, One Fifth Pivots Again

By Lorretta Ruggiero

May 28, 2021

Uli's Kitchen, 8021 Research Forest, softly opened May 19 and celebrated its grand opening May 25 in The Woodlands. This is the first concept for Luna Hospitality owned by husband and wife Bonnie and David "Ulises" Alcaraz. Bonnie will serve as the general manager while David (Uli) will lead the...

In Vino Veritas: National Wine Day May 25 [Update]

By Lorretta Ruggiero

May 19, 2021

We don't need excuses to drink wine but National Wine Day is May 25 and that's as good a reason as any to imbibe some juice de Bacchus. For even more incentive, Houston restaurants and wine bars are offering wine specials from great deals to wallet-emptying wine dinners. We have...

Seafood dishes like aguachile and ceviche bring Latin flavors to Toro Toro.

Openings and Closings: Four Seasons Gets a Pan-Latin Steak House, The Roastery Closes

By Lorretta Ruggiero

May 14, 2021

Toro Toro, 1300 Lamar, will open at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston in fall 2021. This will be the sixth location for the concept. The hotel has partnered with Richard Sandoval Hospitality to bring his award-winning global Pan-Latin Steakhouse to Houston. It will open in the hotel’s revamped third floor...

Sun Soaked on Montie Beach in the Heights.

Openings and Closings: Space Cowboy Rockets In, BCK Will Close

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Apr 23, 2021

Space Cowboy, 100 W. Cavalcade, will have its grand opening April 23. This is the first concept from Night Moves Hospitality to open in 2021, as we reported here in the Houston Press. There are at least three more ventures planned by the newly formed hospitality group for this year...

Openings and Closings: Ramen Tatsu-Ya Dine-In Returns, Homestead Heights in April

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Mar 19, 2021

Ramen Tatsu-Ya, 1722 California, will reopen its dining room March 24 beginning at 5 p.m. It closed for dine-in service March 16, 2020 in compliance with the governor's restaurant shut-down at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis. The ramen restaurant has been serving to-go food only for the past year...

Openings and Closings: Hello Yelo, James Harden's Thirteen Opens

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Mar 5, 2021

Yelo Banh Mi Artisans, 23119 Colonial Parkway, softly opened last week before celebrating its grand opening March 3. The banh mi-centric restaurant is a collaboration between Phat Eatery owner and chef Alex Au-Yeung and chef Cuc Lam. Located next to Phat, the buildout was delayed by the pandemic. In the...

Go for Relaxing Times, stay for Late Night.

Openings and Closings: Lucille's Hospitality Launches, Kanpai Club Opens

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Feb 5, 2021

Lucille's Hospitality Group, the new endeavor from Houston chef Chris Williams, is on track to produce four new restaurant and lifestyle concepts by 2022. Williams, known for his restaurant Lucille's in the Museum District, has launched the venture as a tribute to his grandmother, Lucille B. Smith, who not only...

First Look: Valencia's Tex-Mex Garage

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Dec 29, 2020

The holiday season is upon us and while it may not be as festive or grand as previous years, there are still many little joys to celebrate. One of those little joys are the sunshine-filled days that peek out occasionally in December. While our Houston summers are often unbearable, the...

Lei Low features multiple takes on the classic Mai Tai.

12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 8: Cocktails & Spirits

By Houston Press and Houston Food Finder

Dec 18, 2020

Welcome to the eighth part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it's also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded...

Six Great Non-Alcoholic Beers for Holiday Cheer

By Jesse Sendejas Jr.

Dec 15, 2020

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, Americans over 30 drank alcohol 14 percent more often this challenging year than in 2019. JAMA’s report on drinking during the COVID pandemic noted a 54 percent spike in national sales of alcohol one week late in March versus sales from...

The tap wall at Platypus Brewing Company.

12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 4: Beer

By Houston Press and Houston Food Finder

Dec 14, 2020

Welcome to the fourth part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it's also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded...

"The" Alice, owner of Alice's Tall Texan, which closed at the end of August due to the COVID-19 crisis.

12 Days of Favorite Houston Food & Drink Experiences in 2020, Part 1: Bars

By Houston Press and Houston Food Finder

Dec 9, 2020

Welcome to the first part of a series where we showcase the noteworthy food and drink experiences of a very weird year. In the spirit of the holidays, it's also a very special collaboration between the food writers of the Houston Press and Houston Food Finder, the online publication founded...

A historic building loses a valued tenant.

Openings and Closings: King's Biergarten Pearland Makes Way for Good Vibes

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Nov 27, 2020

Good Vibes Burgers and Brews, 1329 E. Broadway, is shooting to open by the end of 2020. In what came as a total shock to many of its loyal patrons, Hans and Philipp Sitter are passing the King's Biergarten space onto Eric Nelson, chef and owner of the new concept...

Better Luck tomorrow has created a spread of new dishes.

Openings and Closings: The Sporting Club Debuts, Better Luck Tomorrow Reopens

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Oct 23, 2020

The Sporting Club, 5102 Washington, opened its doors and debuted its retractable roof October 22. The high energy restaurant and bar comes from SoClutch Group and is on the same block as another recent concept from the group, Sugar Room. Its 8,000 square feet includes 5,000 square feet of dining...

Trump vs. Biden: Even More Food and Drink Specials

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Oct 21, 2020

Election Day is a couple of weeks away. Some of us are pumped up with civic pride while others are worn out from the news overkill that has colored our world for the past year. The coronavirus pandemic, economic shutdown, record wildfires, an exceptionally busy hurricane season and arguments with...

Openings and Closings: King Ranch, Shoot the Moon Soon, Treebeards Memorial Now

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Oct 16, 2020

King Ranch Texas Kitchen, 1605 Post Oak Boulevard, is slated to open before the holidays. The rustic, Western-style restaurant is a collaboration between prolific restaurateur and businessman Tilman Fertitta and family and King Ranch, Inc., the privately-held agricultural production and resource management company which also owns the historic King Ranch...

Guests can make the East End their backyard.

Openings and Closings: East End Backyard Opens,The Union Kitchen Bellaire Closes

By Lorretta Ruggiero

Oct 9, 2020

East End Backyard, 1105 Sampson, opens October 9. The spacious outdoor venue from owner and Houston Dynamo legend Brian Ching offers a bar with a 16,000 square foot dog-friendly patio with a 3,500-square-foot dog park. The massive outdoor space offers plenty of social distancing room for lawn games, relaxing with pod...

Booze

Pho Binh Now at Finn Hall, Trash Panda Next Week

ReikiNa Debuts, Concura and Shoot the Moon Open Soon

I support

Keep the Houston Press Free.