HOUSTON – It’s an excellent time to try new food in Houston. Plenty of exciting new restaurant concepts are opening in our area this fall.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
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🥑 Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina, The Heights
Goode Company Restaurants will bring its Kitchen & Cantina concept to the Heights in October. Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina will occupy the space at 1801 Yale Street and will serve classic and modern Tex-Mex. Noteworthy menu items include mesquite-grilled fajitas, chicken flautas, pork tamales, Texas quail and roasted Gulf shrimp stuffed with jalapeño and cheese and wrapped in bacon.
📍 1801 Yale Street, Houston
🍕 North Italia, The Woodlands
North Italia, the modern Italian concept known for its crave-worthy cuisine and handcrafted cocktails, will open the doors to its second Houston-area location in the Woodlands on Oct. 5. The restaurant serves a variety of classic Italian dishes including pizzas, pastas, seasonal salads, chef’s boards, handcrafted cocktails, and handmade desserts. The pasta is made fresh daily. Notable menu items include the Tuscan Half Chicken and Braised Short Rib, the Wild Shrimp Scampi and the White Truffle Garlic Bread.
📍 1201 Lake Woodlands Drive Suite 403, The Woodlands
🐔 Daddy’s Chicken Shack, The Heights
Daddy’s Chicken Shack, a Southern California-based fast casual fried chicken sandwich concept, will open its first Houston location this fall at 1223 W. 11th St. in the Heights. At the helm of Daddy’s Chicken Shack are founding chef and Houston native, Pace Webb, and her husband, Chris Georgalas. The chef-driven Daddy’s Chicken Shack will offer an assortment of menu items, which can be described as American South with hints of Southeast Asian flavors.
The menu will feature sandwiches such as the Big Daddy, topped with Napa slaw and sriracha mayo; the All-American, featuring Napa slaw and house-made bacon, pickles and remoulade sauce; and the Nashville Daddy, seasoned with classic Nashville spices and topped with a sweet creamy slaw, house-made pickles and remoulade sauce.
In addition, Daddy’s Chicken Shack will offer a breakfast menu with items such as Daddy’s Rosemary Biscuit Sliders and the Breakfast Waffle Daddy Sandwich. Other menu options include bowls, chicken fingers, fries, as well as vegan offerings.
📍 1223 W. 11th Street, Houston
🍸 Wild, Montrose
The founders of Grinder’s Coffee Bar, The CBD Apothecary, and Wild in the Heights will soon open a second Wild location in Montrose. Wild Montrose is located at 1609 Westheimer in the space formerly occupied by UB Preserv. It opened on Sept. 19.
Montrose will serve brunch and dinner daily. Small plates on the menu include Tiradito, charcoal kissed bluefin tuna belly, el toce, aji amarillo, rainforest honey bubbles, fragrant oil, Buckwheat Tempura Cauliflower with sweet, pickled ginger chili glaze, black sesame and Thai basil. Large shareables include Whole Crispy Thai Style Fish and Wild branded Wagyu beef tomahawk. On the brunch menu, there’s Paine Perdue (Lost bread), which is croissant cube “French toast”, pure maple syrup, banana brulee and Chantilly cream, Crispy Plantain style “Migas” con chorizo and more.
“Diners will have the ability to enjoy the food the way it is or infuse their plates with CBD or THC for the ultimate experience,” a release reads.
📍 1609 Westheimer Road, Houston
🦪 Rosland’s, Rice Military
Washington Avenue’s newest dining destination made its debut in August. Located at 903 Durham Dr., Rosland’s Grill & Bar brands itself as a “higher-end, finer casual everyday dining experience offering a collective menu featuring fine steaks, ocean prime seafood, farm, and finest aquaponics.”
The menu includes oysters, ocean prime seafood, prime meats, salads, sandwiches, burgers and desserts.
📍 903 Durham Drive, Houston
🍝 Numero 28, Highland Village
Located in Highland Village, the new Italian eatery Numero 28 had a soft opening in August.
The menu is full of deep-rooted, regional Italian cuisine. Notable offering include Pappardelle Alla Bolognese, ribbon cut pasta tossed in a Bolognese savory meat sauce; Gnocchi Al Pesto, made in-house daily and served in a light pesto sauce with sun dried tomatoes; the Cacio E Pepe, served table-side and from a pecorino cheese wheel, the homemade spaghetti alla chitarra is tossed with pecorino cheese, black pepper and a touch of butter; Lasagna Bolognese, baked sheet pasta layered with homemade Bolognese, a rich and creamy bechamel white sauce and parmesan cheese; and Melanzane Alla Parmigiana, a classic eggplant parmigiana with a twist, prepared lasagna style with tomato sauce, basil and fresh mozzarella.
The restaurant has a full bar and is open daily for lunch a dinner.
📍 3974 Westheimer Road, Houston
🎵 Lyric Market, Downtown Houston
The Lyric Market, a new food hall in Houston’s Theater District, will open this fall.
The market will offer nine food stalls and one bar, as well as a 7,500 square-foot deck, communal plaza, street-side terrace, and private event space, management group Hospitality HQ said in a release.
The concepts at the market include Sushi Muse, a New York City-based, authentic sushi concept from Michelin Star Chef Hiroki Odo; Mexology, a healthy Mexican cuisine concept from celebrated Chef Ivy Stark; Alenbi Falafel + Hummus, a plant-based Middle Eastern Street food, a brand new concept from Sof Hospitality; Lottie’s Smokehouse, an authentic Texas BBQ from veteran pitmaster Scott Lottie; BAD CHX, Houston’s hottest spot for southern fried and Nashville hot chicken; 1929 Po-Boy Kitchen, Louisiana style Po-Boy sandwiches and other Cajun creations from Chef Monica Landry; Press Waffle Co., authentic Belgian waffles with countless sweet and savory topping options; and Kati Roll Wala, authentic Indian street food in a convenient grab-and-go format.
📍 411 Smith Street, Houston
🦀 Gatsby’s Prime Seafood
Gatsby Hospitality Group will open a new seafood concept, Gatsby’s Prime Seafood, at 1212 Waugh Drive in late September.
“Drawing upon the Roaring ‘20s American societal era of economic prowess, cultural advancement, and general positive sentiment during which the iconic novel The Great Gatsby is set, Gatsby’s Prime Seafood will seek to amplify the standard of excellence established by its sister steakhouse concept[Gatsby’s Prime Steakhouse] across the categories of culinary consistency, service, and inviting interior design – albeit with a focus on the sea,” a release reads.
The menu at Prime Seafood will feature Branzino Filet, New Bedford Scallops, Sea Bass, a swoonworthy Seafood Tower, and caviar offerings among other surf staples. Fans of Prime Steakhouse will be pleased to know the new seafood concept will also serve three steak cuts -- a filet, ribeye, and NY strip.
📍 1212 Waugh Drive, Houston
🍺 Kirby Ice House, The Woodlands
Houston’s beloved dog-friendly patio bar and self-described “Biggest Bar in Texas” is heading north and partners, Russ Morgan and Danny Evans, plan to open September in The Woodlands at the corner of Lake Robbins DrI’ve and Six Pines Drive.
Situated directly across from The Cynthia Woods Pavilion, the over 28,000 square-foot indoor/outdoor space features oversized HDTVs, one HDTV wall, arcade, and vintage Hollywood artwork.
Expect cocktails and over four dozen brews on tap, plus a rotating roster of some of the city’s finest food trucks on the premises daily.
📍 1700 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands
💻 kirbyicehouse.com/the-woodlands
🍝 B.B. Italia Bistro & Bar, Sugar Land
A former Memorial-area staple, B.B. Italia Bistro & Bar, will soon have a new Houston home in Sugar Land Town Square this September. The Berg Hospitality Group restaurant concept, which first debuted in 2019, will bring its scratch-made Italian-American fare and casually cool ambience to a 6,770-square-foot space with a patio at 16250 City Walk Drive. The restaurant, which serves elevated comfort food dishes like whipped ricotta, chicken parmigiana, house-made pastas, including a 20-layer lasagna, and NY-style pizzas, has become a favorite spot for Houstonians eager for chef-driven Italian-American fare.
📍 16250 City Walk Drive, Sugar Land
🍺 Bayou Heights Bier Garten
From local hospitality company, the Kirby Group, Bayou Heights Bier Garten will open in October at the corner of Washington and Yale. The concept is inspired by the hospitality group’s original location, the Heights Bier Garten.
Bayou Heights Bier Garten will feature a separate building for specialty cocktails, beer and wine and an expansive patio with covered seating. The menu will consist of elevated bar food with an array of smoked meats and more.
📍 3905 Washington Avenue, Houston
🍭 Sugar Factory Express, Uptown
An extension of the Sugar Factory brand, the new Sugar Factory Express concept offers an immersive, quick-service style dining experience. Opening its second location in the Houston Galleria shopping center this fall, the Express model of the celebrity-endorsed hotspot will serve sweet eats and treats including colorful entrees and over-the-top desserts.
📍 5015 Westheimer Road, Houston
🐷 Williams Smokehouse BBQ & Blues, Sugar Land
Williams Smokehouse BBQ and Blues, an old-school traditional Texas barbecue concept with a Creole-modern twist, will open this November at Sugar Land Town Square. Sugar Land natives Kennis Williams, along with co-founder Furrest Greenwood, will bring a relaxed, welcoming, and family-friendly ambience to a 5,500-square-foot space, including a patio, located at 2105 Lone Star Drive. Menu standouts include: smoked stuffed turkey legs filled with dirty rice and topped with shrimp and sausage alfredo sauce; homemade armadillo eggs made with homemade sausage, wrapped around a smoked gouda stuffed jalapeno wrapped with bacon; and Creole candy smoked wings, which are cold-smoked, then fried and tossed in homemade Creole candy sauce.
📍 2105 Lone Star Drive, Sugar Land
🍺 Second Draught, Midtown
Second Draught is a 2,000-square-foot taproom at the Ion innovation and community hub. Operated by Baileson Brewing co-founders (and husband and wife team) Adam Cryer and Sarah Pope, Second Draught boasts a number of Houston’s local craft breweries on tap. Second Draught opened in mid-September.
📍 4201 Main Street, Suite 130, Houston
🐟 Lotus Seafood, Stafford
Lotus Seafood, a Houston staple and cult favorite since 2007, opened a new location in Stafford in mid-September.
The new 6,000-square-foot eatery has expansive indoor seating in the bar and dining room, a large outdoor patio for dining, drinks and hookah.
Lotus Seafood began as a “You Buy, We Fry” market that opened on Braeswood Boulevard in 2007. The Houston seafood staple now has five restaurant locations and more expansion plans for the near future. Lotus Seafood is best known for its menu items like, “Loud Packs,” specialty combos featuring Louisiana Fried Rice, peeled shrimp and Crack Sauce, and “Hot Boxes,” featuring a half-pound each of shrimp and snow crab, corn, potato and sausage. The restaurants also offer boiled seafood by the pound, along with plates and combos featuring lobster, fish filets, crawfish, oysters, Cajun shrimp, Po-Boys, chicken wings, and seafood-spiked rice and noodles.
💻 2903 S Main Street Suite A, Stafford
🍥 Sushi by Hidden, Rice Village
From the creators of speakeasy sushi concept, Hidden Omakase, a new concept, Sushi by Hidden will open in Rice Village at 5216 Morningside Dr. in November. The restaurant will offer a 30-minute Omakase experience featuring 12 courses. The intimate space will only seat 10 guests at a time.
📍 5216 Morningside Drive, Houston
🥖 Eau Tour, Rice Village
Eau Tour, a new restaurant from local restaurateur Benjy Levit will open in November. Taking over the former Thai Spice space at 5117 Kelvin Drive, it will be above Local Food Rice Village. The new bistro-style concept will feature simply prepared, stylistically contemporary French cuisine, with a flair for seafood. The new eatery will boast an extensive wine and cocktail program. Kent Domas is Eau Tour’s executive chef.
📍 5117 Kelvin Drive, Houston
🥩 Andiron
Andiron is a modern wood-burning steakhouse concept from the owners of Pit Room BBQ, 1751 Sea & Bar and Candente.
“Andiron will provide a unique steakhouse experience that incorporates the traditional with the new,” a release reads.
The menu will “honor the traditional steakhouse while also offering a modern small plate progressive dining experience.”
The restaurant is scheduled to open in November.
📍 3201 Allen Parkway, Suite E110, Houston
🍣 Norigami, Rice Village
Norigami, the monthly sushi hand-roll pop-up event with Chef Cong Nguyen and team hosted at Hidden Omakase, will be opening a permanent location in November near Rice Village at 2715 Bissonnet St. The concept will feature a speakeasy feel as well and diners can expect signature items such as the Menage Foie Gras, a decadent combination of uni, toro, wagyu, caviar, and foie gras. For more information follow Norigami on Instagram @norigamihtx.
📍 2715 Bissonnet Street, Houston
🌮 Velvet Taco, Memorial City
Velvet Taco will open its 23rd location in Texas in Houston’s Memorial City district on Oct. 3. The new restaurant is located at 10201 Katy Freeway. The restaurant’s menu will offer 20 different varieties of tacos inspired by international cuisine, as well as creative sides and desserts. Notable tacos on the menu include include the Spicy Tikka Chicken, the Cuban Pig and the Chicken & Waffle.
📍 10201 Katy Freeway Suite 100, Houston
🥖 CIEL Restaurant & Lounge, River Oaks
Named after the French word for sky, CIEL will be helmed by LA-transplant executive chef Joseph Geiskopf who grew up in Napa Valley and spent time in Michelin-starred restaurants, including French Laundry and Vespertine. Geiskopf’s menu will feature a creative and sustainable approach that blends modern Japanese and French cuisine, complemented by craft cocktails and elevated champagne and wine selections.
📍 4411 San Felipe Street, Houston
Did I miss anything? Email me your restaurant news at bzamora@kprc.com.