11 things to know

11 Houston restaurant reopenings and closings to know about right now

Editor’s note: With the turbulent state of the restaurant industry, it can be difficult to keep track of which restaurants are currently open. Here’s a quick round up of reopenings and closings — both temporary and permanent — that may be of interest to CultureMap readers.

Rosie Cannonball isn’t ready to reopen its interior for dine-in, but the Montrose restaurant has a new offering for those who want to dine al fresco. The Spritz Patio utilizes a covered, outdoor space at sister concept Goodnight Charlie’s as a venue to serve a menu of cocktails, savory Mediterranean-inspired dishes, and frozen treats.

The menu, a collaboration between the chef teams for Rosie Cannonball and March (Goodnight’s highly anticipated tasting menu restaurant), includes a selection of shareable items such as arancini, frito misto, and “spreads & breads” such as chicken liver mousse with baguette. For dessert, choose from a selection of gelato and sorbet bars (hello, "Mint Fudgsicle"). Beverage options include cocktails, wines by-the-glass, beers, and smoothies.

The patio is open Wednesday - Sunday. Rosie Cannonball also remains open for delivery and to-go.

Pinstripes, the Upper Kirby bar and restaurant that offers both bowling and bocce, reopens Friday, July 17. With 30,000 square feet of indoor space plus a large patio, the venue presents itself as a safe way for people to socialize while dining on the restaurant’s Italian-American menu. In addition, Pinstripes is offering to-go family meals that includes gift cards good towards a future visit.

Heights hand roll restaurant Hando reopened for to-go service on Wednesday, July 15. Diners will also find the restaurant's sushi rolls and small plates on third party delivery apps.

Sixty Vines, the wine bar and restaurant in Rice Village, resumed dine-in service on Monday, July 13. The restaurant features an Italian-inspired menu as well as 60 wines on tap.

Speaking of wine-driven pizzerias, Crisp reopened for dine-in service on Wednesday, July 15. The Shady Acres favorite closed on July 7 after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

Also in Shady Acres, Bungalow Heights announced on social media that it has reopened for dine-in service after applying for the necessary permits to operate as a restaurant.

Monkey’s Tail reopened for dine-in service on July 7 after a two-week hiatus. The Mexican-inspired, modern ice house has expanded its patio to give patrons more options for outdoor dining.

Craft beer favorite Moon Tower Inn reopened for to-go service on Monday, July 13. Get a wild game sausage or burger from 4 - 11 pm daily.

Earthcraft Juicery has reopened its location in Midtown’s Drewery Place luxury high-rise. In addition to juices, Earthcraft also offers smoothies and acai bowl.

Boomtown Coffee has permanently closed its downtown location on Main Street. “We're so grateful for all of your support over the years, and are excited for new opportunities even as this one comes to a close. Thanks for everything,” the cafe wrote in a social media post announcing the closure.

Originally the Honeymoon Cafe, Boomtown took over the space in 2018. The company’s other locations in downtown’s Understory food court and the Heights remain open.

Theodore Rex, the elevated downtown restaurant from James Beard Award winner Justin Yu, temporarily closed on Sunday, July 12, “so that the restaurant and our staff can take a moment to breathe and take care of themselves,” the restaurant wrote on social media. It expects to reopen in two weeks.

Monkey's Tail has reopened.

Photo by Shannon O'Hara

Monkey's Tail has reopened.

news-you-can-eat closings openings

Coming soon to Fredericksburg

Houston restaurant vet serves up Roman-style eatery in the Hill Country

Photo courtesy of Bottega Salaria

Valerio Lombardozzi is opening Bottega Salaria in the former home of La Bergerie.

Valerio Lombardozzi’s culinary career has taken him to the world’s finest kitchens, including restaurants owned by icons like Alain Ducasse, Giorgio Locatelli, and Joël Robuchon. In Houston, he led La Table and Tavola, where he earned a reputation for being one of the city's most engaging front of the house personalities.

But his latest project might be his biggest accomplishment yet. The hospitality veteran is opening Bottega Salaria, a homey Italian osteria and artisan market, in the former home of La Bergerie at 312 E Austin St in his adopted home of Fredericksburg.

Lombardozzi says the restaurant, expected to arrive in winter 2026, fills a gap in the Hill Country dining scene, but, more importantly, it's a reflection of his personal history and time spent working at his family’s restaurant in Rome.

“[It’s about] where I grew up, how I grew up, and how I eat,” he shares.

The three-concept experience is inspired by Italy’s Via Salaria, the ancient route Italians used to transport salt from the Adriatic Sea to Rome. The menu acts as a sort of travelogue, borrowing from the different cultures along the road, and the way village fishermen and shepherds ate.

Lombardozzi is quick to say he didn’t want to open a chef-driven restaurant. Instead, the osteria will serve traditional Roman staples such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, saltimbocca with sage and prosciutto, and branzino carved tableside.

“I was one of the last to be exposed to the old generation of professionals who knew how to carve elegantly for the guests,” he says.

The adjacent bottega will stay open during restaurant hours, offering fresh pasta made on-site, house-made sauces, imported Italian pantry items, cheeses, salumi, breads, and biscotti. Patrons will be able to shop for individual items or put together custom gift baskets.

Outdoors, La Fraschetteria will debut a new hospitality experience in the U.S. The self-guided experience invites diners to grab wine directly from garden shelves, gather a spread of meats, cheeses, bread, or pasta, and linger around long communal tables lit by string lights.

Keeping the chit-chat going will be a thoughtful beverage program anchored by a primarily Italian wine list and imported beer. Lombardozzi says the cocktail menu might be a surprise, offering only gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis. The latter has been made into a game where diners roll dice to determine the evening's combination of gin, vermouth, and bitters.

After dinner, guests can select an amaro from a rolling cart, sip grappa and limoncello, or sip a neat whiskey.

Lombardozzi shares that he wants Bottega Salaria to be just as comfortable for Fredericksburg locals as it is for destination travelers. Beyond daily service, Bottega Salaria plans community events such as garden wine nights with live music, Sunday movie nights, and hands-on cooking classes.

The space is designed for ease with a warm palette combining olive green and pomegranate reds. The decor blends heritage and modernity, bringing in objects like antique mirrors, plates, custom-made lamps, and even old tablecloths and curtains for an Old World feel.

"We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Lombardozzi says. “We’re creating a gathering place. A home for everyone who loves Italian food, culture, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.”

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