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    Where to Eat Right Now

    Where to Eat in Houston Right Now: 10+ incredible new restaurants for August

    Eric Sandler
    Aug 3, 2015 | 10:30 am

    The past month has been an incredible one for Houston restaurants, as several eagerly anticipated, high profile concepts finally made their debuts. Big names like Randy Rucker, Brandi Key and Chris Kinjo all revealed their latest creations to the city's diners, and, in each case, the early results are very promising.

    Several eagerly anticipated, high profile concepts finally made their debut.

    Of course, a few off-the-radar options also demanded attention, which makes the last 31 days one of the most dynamic periods of new openings in recent memory. With surprises as close as the Galleria area and as far away as Richmond demanding attention.

    Realistically, most Houstonians will be allocating their dining budgets to establishments that are participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks, and I'm certainly not going to discourage anyone from doing good while eating well. Still, for those who have to chase the newest openings, consider the list below.

    As always, the restaurants are roughly ordered by the priority with which I think you should try them, but all of this month's options merit strong consideration.

    SaltAir Seafood Kitchen
    The fifth restaurant from Clark/Cooper Concepts (Ibiza, Brasserie 19, Coppa Osteria, Punk's Simple Southern Food) has elevated the quality of the dining options on Kirby and, according to my colleague Shelby Hodge, already emerged as this summer's hottest see-and-be-seen destination. While the boldface names have gravitated to the space for its air of "relaxed elegance," those who consider food their first priority will find a lot to like here, too.

    Chef Brandi Key has delivered her most ambitious menu to date, with a mix of cold seafood options that can be shared, center of plate items that can be savored and innovative vegetables dishes that could be a meal on their own. The hamachi crudo and expertly fried calamari are particular highlights. Knowledgeable, efficient service and Clark/Cooper's celebrated low-margin wine markups round out the experience.

    Bramble
    If a packed dining room at 7 pm on a Wednesday is any indication, Randy Rucker's new "neighborhood joint" is a definite hit. Diners may find the tidy menu's dozen or so items that mix shareable starters and more substantial mains reminiscent of Roost, but don't get too attached to any individual dish. Visits two weeks apart had almost completely different menus, with the only constants being a couple of starters (including the essential roasted corn).

    In general, smoked or cured seafood remains one of Rucker's strong suits; if there's one on the menu, order it. Larger entrees like whole roasted fish and big steaks encourage group dining, as does the restaurant's policy of only accepting reservations for parties of six or more. A short, well-executed cocktail menu and several wine choices under $50 per bottle add to Bramble's appeal.

    Helen Greek Food & Wine
    Five-plus years in the making, sommelier Evan Turner has finally realized his dream of opening a modern Green restaurant in Houston. While staples like gyro and dolemades are present and accounted for, Turner and chef William Wright have collaborated to give them a bit of twist by making the gyro with pork shoulder, instead of the familiar beef and lamb, and using collard greens instead of grape leaves for the signature starter.

    Elsewhere, the menu blends Texas proteins like snapper and rabbit with Greek cheeses and olive oils to deliver familiar flavors with new twists. Helen's 100-plus list of Greek wines reflects Turner's passion for them and offers diners the chance to try something new. Just save room for the baklava sundae served in an iconic Greek diner cup.

    Fielding's Local Kitchen + Bar
    The second concept from restaurateur Cary Attar and chef Edel Goncalves joins the popular Fielding's Wood Grill in delivering inner-Loop style dining to the Creekside neighborhood in The Woodlands. Whereas Wood Grill is distinctly casual with a menu built around burgers, Local is a slightly more upscale affair. The dough for all the pizzas and pastas are made in-house. Starters reflect a diverse array of influences, from tandoori-spiced chicken drumettes to Mediteranean-style grilled octopus.

    In addition to the pastas, entree options include wood-grilled meats and seafood dishes prepared on a plancha. My salmon arrived properly medium rare with flavorful sides of sticky black rice and a black bean puree. Even a classic like grilled cheese benefits from fresh-baked brioche bread and roasted tomatoes.

    On the beverage side, the 100-plus bottle list features a bevy of selections under $50 and only a few trophies over $100. Cocktails, which are mostly priced at $12, feature fresh juice as well as a variety of house-made syrups, infusions and shrubs. As at Wood Grill, the 26 taps feature a range of both Texas and national craft selections. Given their track record of success, Attar and Goncalves look to have another hit on their hands — one that might even merit driving to from points south.

    Izakaya
    This bar-forward concept from Kata Robata owners the Azuma Group is the latest entrant in Midtown's new wave of more grown up bars and restaurants (Oporto Fooding House & Wine, Fluff Bake Bar, Spare Key, etc). The menu, a collaboration between co-executive chef Jean-Philippe Gaston and Kata Robata's Manabu Horiuchi, offers a range of shareable raw and cooked items that blend the traditional pub fare served at izakayas in Japan with a global perspective that reflects Gaston's stints at a range of restaurants that includes both Reef and Cove Cold Bar.

    A visit during the restaurant's second week of service revealed that it still needs some fine-tuning. Of the nine dishes my party of three sampled, we most enjoyed the chicken fried steak, which features a surprisingly creamy tofu-mushroom gravy, and grilled octopus. On the other hand, Peruvian ceviche, which should be a Gaston strong suit, tasted fishy and went mostly untouched.

    On the plus side, Izakaya's cocktail menu, which was developed by consultants Claire Sprouse and Chad Arnholt, lives up to its promise of delivering presentations and flavors that are different than any other bar or restaurant in Houston I've tried. All that comes at a cost, of course; nine plates and six drinks (two per person) rang up at about $150 plus tip.

    MF Sushi
    Now that his eagerly anticipated new restaurant in the Museum District has opened, sushi master Chris Kinjo is back where he belongs. The new space by MC2 Architects, which earned a James Beard award nomination for its work at Triniti, puts Kinjo and his sushi chefs on stage. With the fish cases integrated into the sushi counter instead of sitting on top of it, diners can watch every knife cut that goes into preparing each dish of their meal. Of course, the nigiri, which on my visit included two kinds of uni, is impeccably fresh.

    Thankfully, MF's prepared dishes, including light, crispy shrimp tempura and a barely seared tuna tataki salad, deliver, too. While I enjoyed the cocktail I sampled, in the future I'll probably just allocate that money to a beer or two and spend the savings on more sushi — after all, that's what makes MF one of the best sushi experiences in Houston.

    Brick & Mortar Kitchen
    Speaking of suburban restaurants that are worth the drive for inner-Loopers, consider this new restaurant that's bringing serious culinary chops to Richmond. Located at Gallery Furniture's new outpost on the Grand Parkway and operated by owner Jim McIngvale's daughter Laura McIngvale Brown and her husband Phil Brown, who also own Austin's Vince Young Steakhouse, Brick & Mortar features a focus on Texas ingredients and more adventurous fare than the chain restaurants that populate the growing suburb.

    Highlight from chef Eric Johnson's menu includes the charred carrot salad, fried quail entree and a massive, juicy pork chop. For those bringing a group, a $150 order of porchetta easily feeds six. Those looking to really indulge should ask sommelier Lexey Johnson to bust out one of the bottles on her list of eight "Incredibles" — highlighted by a $4,250 bottle of cult-favorite Screaming Eagle.

    Flo Paris
    For a city of its size, Houston has always been a little light on French restaurants, and our absence of a casual cafe is particularly — wait for it — "Gaul"-ing. Enter Flo Paris, which opened recently on Westheimer between Chimney Rock and Fountain View, aims to fill the gap. Owners Florelle and and Rabih Salibi bring over 20 years of experience operating restaurants in Paris to Flo, and the restaurant aims to be as authentic as if it were operating on the Champs-Élysées.

    Everything, from breads to pastries to sandwich meats, is made from scratch, and that freshness comes through in the taste of items like the roast beef sandwich and thyme croissant. Save room for dessert or miss the indulgence of a mousse cake that French cowboy Philippe Schmit rates as "3-star Michelin."

    The Moonshiners Southern Table and Bar
    The latest concept from the Salt N Pepper Group (Beer Market Co) opened downtown next to Prohibition. The retro look features reclaimed wood and antique distilling equipment. True to its name, the cocktail menu features drinks made with various infused moonshines. Try the Porch Sipper, which mixes the un-aged bourbon with sweet tea.

    While we enjoyed our cocktails, the food seems to be a work in progress. My burger arrived properly medium rare, but both the fries and mac and cheese were strangely bland. Still, the group's track record of success with both Beer Market and affiliated concept Crisp suggests they'll work the kinks out quickly and give downtown another worthwhile lunch and dinner option.

    Houston Restaurant Weeks
    With over 200 restaurants participating in this year's edition of Houston Restaurant Weeks, diners have a wide range of choices. From August 1 until September 7, choose from $20 lunch, $25 brunch and $35 and $45 dinner options that all include a corresponding donation to the Houston Food Bank.

    HRW veterans like Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, the Cordua restaurants and Tony's are all back, but the event also features over 40 first-timers. Some of my top picks from the newcomers include Peska Seafood Culture, B&B Butchers and Karbach Brewery.

    If this sunflower seed risotto is on the menu at Bramble, order it.

    Bramble Randy Rucker
      
    Photo by Eric Sandler
    If this sunflower seed risotto is on the menu at Bramble, order it.
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    where to drink now

    16 Houston establishments churning out refreshing frozen cocktails

    Brianna Griff
    Jun 10, 2025 | 3:06 pm
    Solarium Frozen Cocktails
    Photo by Swiggard Creative
    The newly opened Solarium serves up racketball games and four frozen cocktails to sip on.

    If we’re going to endure another scorching Houston summer, we might as well do it with a frozen cocktail in hand. Fortunately, the city’s bartenders know how to keep us cool, serving up an impressive array of boozy adult slushies. Go ahead and bookmark this list—you’re going to need it.

    Brennan’s
    The most elaborate drink on this list, the Bananas Faster at Brennan’s is an ode to the original bananas Foster at Mr. B’s Bistro in NOLA. Bartenders sauté bananas in butter and sugar, then flambé them with rum and cinnamon before blending with Bacardi rum and soft serve. It’s topped with a banana slice, cinnamon, and an optional Mount Gay Dark Rum floater.

    Confessions
    Pair a bowl of hookah with Sweet Surrender, an adults-only take on the Dreamsicle, at Confessions. The new South American-inspired spot in Upper Kirby swirls vanilla and whipped vodka with oranges, evoking the childhood treat.

    Grand Prize
    Ease up to the downstairs bar of this Montrose haunt for the 20th Century, a frosty concoction of gin, lemon, Lillet, and crème de cacao. Upstairs, the Frozen Miami Vice is on tap: a half-strawberry daiquiri and half-pina colada, which can also be served separately if desired.

    Happy Go Lucky
    The team behind The Burger Joint opened its new shaved ice and frozen cocktail concept just as Houstonians begin to melt. Here, patrons can find more than 20 frozens, from tart palomas to zesty mules. Order the Espresso and Cream — an espresso martini meets a scoop of vanilla ice cream — for a decadent treat.

    Hudson House
    It may claim to serve the “World’s Coldest Martini,” but for a truly shivering experience, order the frozen Bellini. This East Coast-esque establishment blends up “copious amounts of” vodka with fresh peach puree, before topping it with a Grand Marnier floater.

    Il Bracco
    The Post Oak Italian eatery is blending up The Bracco, a frozen greyhound of Aperol, New Amsterdam, and fresh grapefruit. Best of all, it's available to-go in half-gallon bottles.

    Johnny’s Gold Brick
    The Tastemaker Awards’ 2025 Bar of the Year winner offers a savory slushy sipper this summer with the Garden Party. Inspired by watermelon gazpacho, bartenders Ryan Suhl and Trent Lee created a refreshing gin-based blend of juniper-forward genever, watermelon, bell pepper, herbal liqueur, lime, salt, and lemon olive oil. Or, opt for the frozen margarita, a staple on the menu.

    Monkey’s Tail
    This tropical Linden Park spot features two frosty mainstays: Tommy’s Marg, built with blanco tequila, agave nectar, gomme syrup, and fresh lime, and the sweet-spicy Chile Mangonada, a rum-tequila combination with mango nectar, passion fruit, and a chamoy swirl. Current seasonal specials are the Northside (cucumber gin, tequila, mint syrup, lime, and firewater bitters) and the dessert-like combo, Banana Colada (Jamaican rums, pineapple, banana liqueur, banana pudding mix, coconut cream, and whipped cream) — but operating partner and frozen fan Lainey Collum reserves the right to switch things up at any time.

    Refuge
    The lively cocktail bar's Tropic Summer returns for 2025 with a fresh menu that includes the Blended Sling, a vibrant drink made with saffron-infused Vietnamese gin, pineapple sherbet, pomegranate, cherry liqueur, Curaçao, Benedictine, and a dash of Angostura.

    The Savoy
    This historic neighborhood bar in Third Ward features Sneaky Link, the locale’s rendition of a Branson Peach Sidecar, and the Emancipation, which blends the house frozen margarita with 818 Tequila Reposado, pineapple, and fresh strawberries.

    Solarium
    What’s a better pick-me-up after a sweltering game of pickleball than a frozen cocktail at Rex Hospitality’s latest addition to the racket sport craze? The stylish lounge offers four options worth sipping: the 820 Marg (blanco tequila, curaçao, lime, agave), El Mercado (a house take on a mangonada), Purple Drank (12-year aged rum, coconut, ube, pineapple, lime), and the Courtside Frosé, made with blood orange vodka, citrus, and rosé.

    Starduster Lounge
    The recently-opened, West Texas-inspired bar in the Heights serves an updated version of the Frozen Shandy that was a smash hit at D&T Drive-Inn. Now dubbed the Rio Red Shandy, the drink combines Lone Star beer, lemon, grapefruit, and vodka for a refreshing, citrus forward sip.

    Two Headed Dog
    This intimate Midtown dive always has four frozens on rotation. The current lineup includes the gin-based Blood of My Enemies, featuring pomegranate, hibiscus, and pineapple, and the Siren’s Drawl, a rum-based concoction with kiwi, mango, honey, and allspice, served with a flaming lime boat. Mezcal lovers will appreciate the Smoking Diablo, featuring crème de cassis, ginger, and lime, while the no-nonsense Big Ass Margarita rounds out the offerings.

    Under the Volcano
    The tiki bar offers two simple, yet delightful, frozen riffs on classics: the Screwdriver, where orange juice meets vodka, and a Cuba Libre, which is essentially a Coke Slurpee with the addition of rum and fresh lime juice.

    Voodoo Queen
    This daiquiri dive is a frozen fan’s paradise, with eight machines spinning boozy slushies at all times. Owner Brandon Young recommends the house-favorite The Bends, a banana daiquiri consisting of two rums, 151, and Everclear. Most of the bar's other creations are made with rum and 151, but the margarita keeps it classic with 100 percent blue agave tequila and orange liqueur.

    Still can’t decide? The bar will also combine its frozen creations to make over-the-top combos, such as the Caribbean Xanax, a crowd favorite that combines The Bends, Tropical Depression, Mango Larry, Pineapple Express, and a splash of Demerara 151. And don’t sleep on the hand-spun 151 daiquiris.

    Winnie's
    The Midtown bar has created a frozen version of the tiki favorite the Saturn that's made with gin, toasted almond orgeat, passion fruit, and lemon. Get it for $12 regularly, $6 during happy hour, or as part of a frozen flight with the bar's three other frozens — margarita, strawberry daiquiri, and peach bourbon iced tea.

    Happy Go Lucky frozen espresso martini
      

    Photo by Becca Wright

    Cool off with a frozen espresso martini at Happy Go Lucky.

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