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More popular Houston restaurants have reopened for dine-in and to-go service

Less than a week after Gov. Greg Abbott permitted Texas restaurants to open for dine-in service, more Houston restaurants have made the decision to reopen their doors. This list also includes some places that have recently reopened for to-go only.

Consider this article a supplement to last week’s more comprehensive rounds up of restaurants that reopened for dine-in and those remaining to-go.

BCN: The Spanish fine dining restaurant reopens for dinner service on Friday, May 8. Open Tuesday - Saturday for seatings at 5, 7, and 9 pm.

El Meson: Rice Village's favorite place for paella and Spanish wine has reopened for dine-in service, open at 11 am Monday - Saturday and 12 pm Sunday.

Eunice: The Louisiana-inspired restaurant has reopened for daily dine-in service. Reservations by phone required, 11 am - 8 pm Monday - Saturday and 11 am - 7 pm Sunday.

Finn Hall: Four of the downtown food hall’s vendors — Pizza Zquare, Craft Burger, Lit Chicken, and Odd Ball Eats — are now open to the public. The rest — Dish Society, Papalo Taqueria, Pho Binh, and Yong — are feeding frontline workers. Finn Hall will match every $15 meal donated by the public. Hours of operation are 11 am - 8 pm Monday - Friday.

Frank’s Americana Revival: The River Oaks restaurant devoted to classic American fare reopens for dine-in service on Friday, May 8. Hours are 11 am - 8:30 pm Monday - Friday and 5:30 - 8:30 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Goode Company: The company has reopened the following locations for lunch and dinner (11:30 am - 7:30 pm daily): Goode Co. Barbeque Memorial and Kirby; Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina Memorial and The Woodlands; Goode Co. Seafood Memorial; and Goode Co. Taqueria. Owner Levi Goode provided his employees with a test for COVID-19 prior to their return to work.

Guard & Grace: When the posh downtown steakhouse resumes dine-in service on Friday, May 8, it will do so with a new leadership team: executive chef Steve Haug, formerly of places such as Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Grazia, and The Oceanaire Seafood Room, and general manager George Malek, whose resume includes Fleming’s and Morton’s.

Hours of operation are 4:30 - 9 pm Tuesday - Thursday and 4:30 - 9:30 Friday and Saturday. In the absence of valet service, diners may park in the 1100 Smith St. garage for $10.

Killen’s STQ: Ronnie Killen’s restaurant that blends a steakhouse with barbecue touches has reopened for dine-in 5-9 pm Wednesday - Saturday.

One Fifth Mediterranean: Chris Shepherd and chef de cuisine Matt Staph begin a revival of the concept that Texas Monthly’s Pat Sharpe described as “one of the best restaurants of [Shepherd’s] career" on Friday, May 8. Hours of operation will be 11:30 am - 8 pm daily.

Ouzo Bay/Loch Bar: The Baltimore-based seafood restaurants — one, a globally inspired fine dining restaurant with a lengthy wine list and the other, an East Coast-style tavern with lots of bourbon — reopen for dinner on Friday, May 8. Both restaurants are offering a $25 gift card to anyone who books a reservation this weekend. See each restaurant’s website for hours of operation.

Postino WineCafé: Both the Heights and Montrose locations of the Arizona-based wine bar and cafe have reopened for dine-in service with their full menus and regular hours.

Public Services: The downtown wine and whisky bar will be open for to-go service this weekend. Offerings include wine, beer, cocktail kits, snacks, and more, 3 - 8 pm Thursday - Saturday.

Relish Restaurant and Bar: The River Oaks comfort food restaurant will reopen — patio seating only — for lunch (11 am - 3 pm, counter service) and dinner (4 - 8 pm, reservations recommended) beginning Friday, May 8.

Saigon House: Chef-owner Tony Nguyen has opened the new location of his shuttered Midtown restaurant in northwest Houston at 3645 FM 1960. Get the restaurant’s signature Viet Cajun crawfish in either H-Town Bang or Thai Surprise flavors by ordering online. To-go and delivery only, 5 - 9 pm Tuesday - Sunday.

Savoir: The wine-fueled restaurant resumes both dine-in and to-go dinner service on Thursday, May 7, plus Sunday brunch. La Grande Rue, the restaurant’s companion cafe and wine shop, will sell wines to-go at 40-percent off. Limited menu, reservations recommended, 5 - 9 pm.

Shun Japanese Kitchen: Chef Naoki Yoshida’s restaurant that blends Japanese and Texan influences reopens for dine-in service on Friday, May 8. Hours are 5 - 9 pm Tuesday - Sunday.

Slowpokes: The Garden Oaks location of the coffee shop and cafe has opened for to-go service 8 am - 6 pm daily.

The Toasted Coconut: The tiki-inspired bar and restaurant resumes dine-in service with a limited food menu — patio seating only and diners must wear masks when not eating or drinking. In addition, the restaurant is selling ramen, cocktail kits, and more to-go, 2 - 9 pm Thursday - Sunday.

Traveler’s Table: Montrose’s globally inspired Montrose restaurant resumes dine-in service on Friday, May 8 beginning at 5 pm daily. Weekend brunch begins on Mother’s Day. Reservations recommended.

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux: Recently opened in Spring, the Louisiana-based sports bar opens for dine-in beginning at 11 am daily.

Lit Chicken has reopened at Finn Hall.

Courtesy of Lit Chicken

Lit Chicken has reopened at Finn Hall.

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What's eric eating episodes 513 and 514

Beard Award-winning chef and family dish on their new Houston restaurant

Zaranda restaurant Tracy Vaught Hugo Ortega Sophia Ortega

Photo by Nick de la Torre

Zaranda owners Tracy Vaught, Hugo Ortega, and Sophia Ortega are this week's guests.

On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega, his wife and business partner Tracy Vaught, and their daughter Sophia Ortega join CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss H-Town Restaurant Group. The company operates a number of local concepts, including interior Mexican restaurant Hugo’s, Backstreet Cafe, Mexican street food eatery Urbe, and Zaranda, the company’s newly opened restaurant in downtown that’s inspired by California.

After a brief discussion of the early days of Hugo’s, the trio dives into the process of opening Zaranda. Vaught explains how she became aware of the space in the Norton Rose Fulbright Tower and why it’s proximity to Discovery Green made it particularly appealing. Chef Ortega shares how a three-week road trip throughout Mexico provided some of the inspiration for both Zaranda and Caracol, his Galleria-area seafood restaurant.

From there, chef Ortega describes how the zaranda — a wire metal basket used to cook seafood over an open flame — anchors much of the menu. He also recommends some dishes diners should try when they visit Zaranda.

Sandler asks Sophia Ortega what it’s like working with her parents. “I get that comment a lot. It is very different. A lot of people can’t imagine working with family,” she says.

“For me, I’m an only child. We’re a very close family unit. The restaurants have been a huge part of my growing up. For us, it comes very naturally to work together. It’s all we know. I’ve only ever worked for my restaurants. A lot of the employees have seen me grow up. I think we all have our own lane, but at the same time we overlap. We’re always open to hearing different opinions. That’s when the best decisions are made. I love it.”

“Sophia is very intuitive. The way she communicates is very thoughtful and sensitive. I think that’s so valuable for our staff. Everybody loves her,” Vaught adds.

Listen to the full episode for an update on Backstreet Cafe. Its original building was torn down last year to make way for an all-new structure that’s on track to open next year — hopefully in time for its legendary Mother’s Day brunch. Sandler also asks about the restaurant group’s conspicuous omission from the Michelin Guide.

In this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Mary Clarkson, the proprietor of newly-open wine shop Montrose Grocer, discuss the news out of the week. They begin with a discussion about the Houston Chronicle’s list of the city’s top 100 restaurants, including a discussion of Aga’s as the No.1 selection, some of the new entries on the list, and restaurants that dropped off the list entirely, such as Himalaya, Kata Robata, and Killen’s Barbecue. They also talk about Bari Ristorante opening a new location in The Woodlands and restaurateur Brian Doke’s plans to open Lazy Lane restaurant in Garden Oaks.

In the restaurant of the week segment, Clarkson and Sandler share thoughts on their recent meal at Maison Chinoise. Located next to Brasserie 19 in the River Oaks Shopping center, the new Chinese restaurant is the latest project from Dallas-based Lombardi Family Concepts, known locally for Toulouse Cafe and Bar, its French restaurant in River Oaks District, and Lombardi Cucina Italiana in Uptown Park.

Listen to the episode to hear which dishes they liked best, as well as the one that missed the mark. They also discuss its decor and how it will fit with the other luxurious restaurants in the shopping center.

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Zaranda owners Tracy Vaught, Hugo Ortega, and Sophia Ortega.

Photo by Nick de la Torre

Zaranda owners Tracy Vaught, Hugo Ortega, and Sophia Ortega are this week's guests.

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