give this all your lovin'

Houston restaurateur teams up with Billy Gibbons for ZZ Top tribute Tex-Mex cafe

A well-established hospitality group's new project will combine two things Houstonians love: Tex-Mex and ZZ Top. Delicious Concepts, the company behind Pink's Pizza, Lola Diner, and others, announced that it's converting Shepherd Park Draught House into Tres Amigos Cafe y Cantina (3402 N. Shepherd Dr.).

Slated to open around April 22, the new restaurant will feature a Tex-Mex menu of tacos, burritos, chips and queso, and "classic combo plates," according to a release.

As its name implies, the restaurant also serves as an homage to legendary Houston rock band ZZ Top. Tres Hombres, the band's third album, became its commercial breakthrough, reaching number eight on the Billboard 200 and regularly ranking among the greatest rock albums of all time. Delicious Concepts owner Ken Bridge and his wife Christina have decorated Tres Amigos with items from their extensive collection of ZZ Top memorabilia.

The restuarant's name also represents the three friends who are collaborating on the project. Bridge recruited ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons and Pura Vida Tequila founder Stewart Skloss to join him as non-financial partners in the venture. Tres Amigos will serve margaritas made with Pura Vida and will eventually feature cocktails made with spirits from Skloss' upcoming Luckenbach Road Whiskey Distillery.

In addition to serving as a venue for eating and drinking, Tres Amgios will have a charitable component as well. The restaurant will donate 75 percent of its proceeds to the St. Jude Foundation in Bridge, Skloss, and Gibbons' names.

"The three of us have tinkered with the idea of doing a 'hole in the wall' Tex-Mex cantina that could house some of my and Billy's favorite pieces in a casual atmosphere that serves classic Tex-Mex, while benefiting the St. Jude Foundation," Bridge said in a statement. Later, he added, "Christina and I are absolutely thrilled to be supporting such an amazing organization and to continue to give back to those in our company who have contributed so much to our success over the years."

Tres Amigos is the second new concept Bridge has announced in the last two weeks. He closed Ritual, his Southern-inspired steakhouse in The Heights, on Easter Sunday. It will soon be replaced by Mapojeong Galbijib, an upscale Korean BBQ concept.

The restaurant is decorated with ZZ Top memorabilia.

Courtesy of Delicious Concepts

The restaurant is decorated with ZZ Top memorabilia.

news-you-can-eat openings tex-mex

Changes are coming

Veteran Houston chef takes over at essential Midtown brunch destination

Courtesy of Weights + Measures

Fredy Nunez, Claire Nadira, Diana Nadira, Omar Pereney, Sahira Malherbe, Genesis Pereney, and Marco Lucas.

One of Midtown’s favorite brunch destinations has new management who want to raise its fortunes. Chef Omar Perey is the new operating partner of Weights + Measures.

Known for his Culinary Matters hospitality consulting company and as the founder of Love Croissants, Pereney tells CultureMap that Weights + Measures owners Xavier and Mari Godoy, who purchased the restaurant in 2023, approached him about taking over operations. Love Croissants has been operating a retail stand from Weights + Measures since 2023.

Pereney explains that he saw an opportunity to grow his hospitality group by building on Weights + Measure’s existing reputation. It also allows him to test ideas for Petite Lucie, his French bistro that will open later this year in Market Square Park.

“I’m interested in restaurants,” Pereney says. “After working for many years in creating concepts for other people, which I still do, I just love seeing how things are happening for me as a hospitality group. We’re going to open Petite Lucie and a second location of Love Croissants. It’s an 18-year overnight success.”

Working with chef Sahira Malherbe, Pereney has already begun overhauling the menu. They’ve added dishes like lasagna and tomato risotto. Other items have been updated, such as the mozzarella sticks. One thing isn’t changing, “Everyone I’ve talked to says the carrot pizza needs to stay, and it’s staying,” Pereney affirms.

Most notably, Weights + Measures will now serve breakfast all day. Options include avocado toast, a cheese omelette, and, of course, a breakfast sandwich served on a Love Croissants croissant.

“The wines are really cool. The pricing is very aggressive. We want people drinking wine here,” Pereney adds.

Some design changes will roll out over time. Diners will already notice new items on the table. The chairs and carpet may change, too.

Ultimately, Pereney sees Weights + Measures as the ultimate neighborhood restaurant, the sort of place that regulars might visit once or twice a week.

“It’s a very accessible concept,” he says. “I like that.”

news-you-can-eat chefs brunch