After a three week soft opening for its bar, Love & Squalor, and a run of invite-only friends and family service, Midtown restaurant Weights + Measures has set this Sunday, Jan. 18, as the day it will open for dinner full time. Breakfast and lunch service will begin when Slow Dough Bake Shop opens on Jan. 24, as first revealed by CultureMap earlier this week.
Diners across the city have been eagerly anticipating Weights + Measures debut since CultureMap broke the news of the project back in June due to the sheer talent of the individuals involved. The combined bar, restaurant and bakery brings together Ian Rosenberg and Mike Sammons (13 Celsius, Mongoose versus Cobra) with Richard Kaplan (Brown Paper Chocolates, River Cafe) and Heath Wendell (Slow Dough Bread Co.).
Kaplan's menu focuses on Neapolitan-style pizzas, house-cured charcuterie and items that are paired with a variety of fresh baked breads such as chicken liver pate, eggplant caponata and gnocchi in tomato sauce. A rotating menu of entrees includes a Chinese-style lacquered duck with snow peas, grilled Wagyu flat-iron steak and citrus-cured salmon.
Rosenberg's design follows the '70s theme with custom-designed wood paneling and a wall of orange shag carpet.
Love & Squalor, named after a J.D. Salinger short story, focuses on rehabilitating reviled 1970s style cocktails like pina colada, Long Island iced tea and the rusty nail. A tidy list of carefully chosen wines and beers (bottled and draft) supplements the cocktails. Locally-roasted Amaya coffee is available from an espresso bar.
Once the concept is up and running, it will be open from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. with breakfast available from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner available until 9 p.m. (Sundays), 10 p.m. (Mondays through Thursdays) or 11 p.m. (Fridays and Saturdays). A late night menu of bar bites, which includes some of the bread items from the dinner menu as well as pizza sold by the half-pound, follows dinner service until 2 a.m. nightly.
Rosenberg's design follows the '70s theme with custom-designed wood paneling and a wall of orange shag carpet. Tables, chairs and lighting units are custom as well.
Early word from last weekend's friends and family service has been enthusiastic. Just as 13 Celsius set the standard for Houston wine bars and Mongoose versus Cobra became an essential craft beer spot, Weights + Measures looks poised to give Midtown another significant dining destination.
Weights + Measures opens for dinner on Sunday.
A vintage picture of chefs EJ Miller and Ryan Lachaine. Photo by