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    Major Restaurant Shakeup

    Restaurant shakeup: Longtime French place to shutter and make way for an ambitious new Italian seafood spot

    Eric Sandler
    Feb 19, 2015 | 2:21 pm

    A Tex-Mex restaurant in Uptown Park won't be the only new restaurant created by Lasco Enterprises' decision to open Anejo in the space previously occupied by Arturo's Uptown Italiano. Now longtime Arturo's general manager Shanon Scott is setting off on his own to open Sud Italia Ristorante, which will take over the space currently occupied by French restaurant Bistro des Amis in Rice Village.

    "I've been in the restaurant business for 25 years," Scott tells CultureMap. "I feel that all my experiences has paved the way for me to now open my own concept."

    Scott's looking for a quick turnaround. He assumes control of the building March 2 and hopes to be open in mid-April.

    "I've been in the restaurant business for 25 years. I feel that all my experiences has paved the way for me to now open my own concept."

    "I've always wanted to own my own restaurant. The location in Rice Village is perfect. The building is cozy and charming, so I couldn't pass it up," Scott says. "There is no other restaurant that I'm aware of in Houston that has a Southern Italian concept."

    The concept of Southern Italian cuisine may conjure images of classic, Italian-American red sauce dishes, but Sud Italia will be something entirely differently.

    "The menu will be solely focused on seafood and lighter dishes," Scott says. "All the ingredients and recipes are from the five regions of the south.

    "I got the idea when my wife and I went to the region of Puglia last fall, where I tried dishes I had never had before and got excited."

    Scott isn't ready to reveal a menu quite yet, but his successful track record bodes well for Sud Italia's future. Look for more details as the restaurant moves toward its opening.

    Diners seeking one last taste of Bistro des Amis have until the end of the month to get their fix.

    Sud Italia will specialize in seafood dishes.

    Sud Italia Ristorante logo
      
    Sud Italia Ristorante Facebook
    Sud Italia will specialize in seafood dishes.
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    What's Eric Eating Episodes 459 and 460

    Meet the men behind Houston's most under-the-radar Italian restaurant

    CultureMap Staff
    Apr 18, 2025 | 5:00 pm
    Fernando Rios Mike Sammons Mimo
    Courtesy of Mimo
    Chef Fernando Rios and sommelier Mike Sammons are this week's guests.

    On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” sommelier Mike Sammons and chef Fernando Rios join CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss Mimo, their Italian restaurant in the East End. The duo, whose history goes back to when they worked together at iconic Houston fine dining restaurant Da Marco, opened Mimo in 2023.



    The conversation begins with Rios explaining the progression of a career that took him from Backstreet Cafe to Da Marco to Weights + Measures, where he worked as the chef de cuisine while Sammons was a partner who oversaw the beverage program. Since they both live in the East End, they saw an opportunity to team up by claiming the former Kanomwan space on Telephone Rd.

    They discuss several aspects of the restaurant’s business, including Rios’ changes to the menu, the evolution of Mimo’s wine list, and how its been received by residents of the East End. A digression about Da Marco prompts Sandler to ask about its chef-owner Marco Wiles, who generally stays out of the media spotlight. Sammons shares that Wiles is the only chef or restaurateur who makes him nervous when he dines at Mimo.

    “He’s really not forgiving about things. This is very consistent with the Italian way of looking at things — there’s a right way to do things and that’s it. If it isn’t done that way, it’s wrong. A lot of my other mentors and friends can be more forgiving, but the standards Marco has kept for years has motivated me,” Sammons says.

    “He’s still the same way,” Rios adds. “That was insane to me. I thought, you get older, you’d be more relaxed, but the way he looks at you makes you nervous. Working in the kitchen, there was times he’d throw all my stuff away and say ‘start over.’”

    Was he right, Sandler asks.

    “Absolutely, yes. He was right all the time. I just think he was one of the best to do it,” Rios affirms.

    Listen to the full interview to hear both men discuss the one thing they’re most proud of about Mimo. They also discuss their plans for the future.



    In this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Mary Clarkson discuss the news of the week. Their topics include Houston’s finalists in this year’s James Beard Awards, the owners of Jūn adding a daytime concept called Third Place, and Aaron Bludorn promoting chef Allie Pena to be Bludorn’s new executive chef.

    In the restaurant of the week segment, Sandler and Clarkson visit Camaraderie, chef Shawn Gawle’s new restaurant in the Heights. They share their thoughts on the restaurant’s prix fixe menu, as well as its decor and beverage offerings.

    -----

    Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hear it Sunday at 9 am on ESPN 97.5.

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