CultureMap Last Chef Standing

The great Houston restaurant showdown: You decide which hotspots should reign supreme

As the final seconds ticked away on the Last Chef Standing's first round clock, the scores were close. It was clearly difficult for CultureMap readers to choose between some of the best restaurants in Houston.

A Top 10 has emerged though and the survivors are now taking on each other in the second round. (Vote here to decide which restaurants advance to the third round.)

This all leads up to the second annual CultureMap Last Chef Standing — a foodie extravaganza that will have the chefs of 21 top Houston restaurants cooking against each other in the same ballroom and offering their dishes to attendees. That's June 4 in the Royal Sonesta. The People's Online Choice Award winner will be determined before that in the bracket-style online competition though.

And some favorites are already emerging there.

Benjy’s (in Rice Village) beat out The Grove in round one. Now, Benjy’s goes up against Haven.

The innovative Max’s Wine Dive will be competing against what chef Jonathan LeBlanc is whipping up at The Tasting Room in Uptown Park.

After narrowly beating out Local Foods by a mere two percent, Latin Bites moves on to take on power player's favorite Vic & Anthony’s.

And what happens when a Houston restaurant institution and sleek, sports-styled restaurant face off? Brennan’s unique spin on classic dishes with a dash of modern Creole and a pinch Caribbean influence will be hard to beat, but Houston Texans Grille knows how to marshal supporters .

Sparrows Bar + Cookshop and Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston both won close first round battles and now they are competing against each other. It's Monica Pope versus Peter Laufer.

The heat is on for all these chefs. Click here to vote now.

Have no fear if your favorite restaurant gets cut. You can still join CultureMap at the Last Chef Standing live event, sponsored by Cadillac and Ben E. Keith, from 7 to 10 p.m. on June 4 at the Royal Sonesta. All the participating restaurants will be there cooking their signature dishes.

But what’s a dish without alcohol? Well don’t worry, Pisco Portón, Dripping Springs Vodka, Cabresto Tequila and Bombay Sapphire will be serving drink pairings too.

KHOU foodies Lily Jang and Katherine Whaley, Cleverley Stone (founder of Houston Restaurant Weeks), Mix 96.5’s Blake Hayes, Eric Sandler of Eater Houston and CultureMap contributor Marcy de Luna will be judging at the event.

Tickets cost $65 and benefit the Houston Food Bank. Early admission, a meet-and-greet with the chefs and more exclusive food samples come with the $125 VIP tickets. Click here to purchase tickets.

The top 10 in Last Chef Standing have now risen and they are taking on the challenge in round two.

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2-acre Houston patio bar rebrands with new name and family-friendly menu

Photo by Sean Rainer

The bar's patio includes 10,000-square-feet of turf.

A bar in Houston’s Near Northside neighborhood is switching things up with a new name and revised menu. Effectively immediately, Woodland Social is now known as White Oak Social.

Simply put, the new name is designed to end confusion about the bar’s location, which many people assumed was in The Woodlands. In fact, it’s located next to popular concert venue White Oak Music Hall, which is reflected in the new name.

“We wanted a name that truly represented where we are and the community we serve,” the bar’s owners said in a statement. “Many guests thought we were located in The Woodlands, so renaming the business to White Oak Social makes our location clear and aligns our brand with the neighborhood we love.”

Along with the new name comes a few improvements. They include an outdoor playground that’s designed to appeal to area families, many of whom are already regulars.

In addition, the restaurant has broadened its menu. While pizzas still remain, White Oak Social now offers burgers, chicken tenders, more entrees, and a kids menu. An all-new brunch menu includes updated cocktails and more options for kids.

Piper’s Hospitality Group (Preslee’s Southern Good Eatery) opened Woodland Social in 2024. Originally named for the Woodland Heights neighborhood, the two-acre property has an 8,000-square-foot main bar area, a 15,000-square-foot outdoor patio that includes 10,000-square-feet of turf, and more than 100 parking spaces.

“We’re excited for this next chapter,” the group said. “The new name, the expanded menu, and the playground show our commitment to being a neighborhood gathering place for all ages.”

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