Farm-to-table celebrity chef Bradley Ogden will be setting up shop in the Bayou City this spring with as many as four new restaurants.
Tony Angotti, managing partner of Bradley Ogden Hospitality, tells CultureMap that two eateries named Funky Chicken and Bradley's Fine Diner are planned for the end spaces in a new Heights Boulevard shopping center just below I-10.
"It was cool meeting so man y talented and welcoming chefs. The more I come down now, the more I see that these guys are developing Houston cuisine right before your eyes."
While leases have yet to be finalized, Angotti says the company also hopes to open a second Funky Chicken and a new pub concept just west of the Inner Loop. All four restaurants will be launched by Ogden's son Bryan, who plans to relocate to Houston in late February or early March.
"The funny thing is that we never had a desire to expand beyond California and Las Vegas," Angotti says. "But we know a good number of people in Houston, who have been telling to check out the restaurant scene for a few years."
As Ogden started to wind down his James Beard Award-winning restaurant at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, he traveled to Houston with his son for a taste of the city's ever-growing culinary reputation.
"They called me about two hours into the trip, telling me I had to get down there as soon as possible," Angotti laughs.
"I got there the next Tuesday and went to all the hot restaurants. It was cool meeting so many talented and welcoming chefs. The more I come down now, the more I see that these guys are developing Houston cuisine right before your eyes."
Ogden in Houston: What to expect
At its moniker suggests, the Funky Chicken concept is dedicated to the gallus domesticus, serving up everything from chicken salads and chicken sandwiches to fried chicken and chicken pot pie. As with any Ogden endeavor, look for organic ingredients, free-range birds and a great selection of wine and beer.
While leases have yet to be finalized, Angotti says the company hopes to open a second Funky C hicken and a new pub concept just west of the Inner Loop
Angotti recently told Eater Houston that the 73-seat restaurant will have a "rustic" vibe and be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.
Compared to Funky Chicken, Bradley's Fine Diner is a more upscale affair with an array of vegetarian, seafood and meat dishes . . . all under $20. A full bar with plenty of craft beer is in the works.
If and when lease arrangements are confirmed, Angotti expects the pub to cover roughly 7,000 square feet.
"There should be a pretty beer-heavy drink menu, which is why we're calling it a pub. But while it will be a craft beer spot, we're also concentrating on a sophisticated wine list and handcrafted cocktail menu."
Chef Bradley Ogden will open as many as four new Houston restaurants this year.
