• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    12 things to know

    12 things to know in Houston food right now: Openings, closings, and celebrity sightings

    Eric Sandler
    Oct 16, 2018 | 2:25 pm

    Editor’s note: Houston’s restaurant scene moves pretty fast. In order to prevent CultureMap readers from missing anything, let’s stop to look around at all the latest news to know.

    Openings, closing, and coming attractions
    Snooze: An AM Eatery will open its Webster location on November 14. The Denver-based brunch concept that’s known for its updated take on classic diner fare and cheerful service will start slinging pineapple upside pancakes at 820 W. Bay Area Blvd. Next year, the rapidly growing restaurant will add outposts near the Galleria and in The Woodlands to give the Houston area seven locations.

    The Cheese Bar, a cafe that serves up all manner of cheesy goodness — cheese plates, grilled cheese sandwiches, mac and cheese, etc — has closed its location in Cypress’ Boardwalk at Towne Lake development (a location in Katy’s La Centerra shopping center remains open). “We are very sad,” owner Melissa Boyd writes in an emotional Facebook post. “But even as we wade through all of the mess and uphill battle that awaits us, we are grateful for this experience, the support we have had, and its lessons.”

    Bartender Michael Molina has opened the new location of his cocktail bar, One Armed Scissor. As CultureMap reported back in August, Molina found a new home for the bar at 208 Travis St (near Hearsay and Public Services). Patrons will find a casual environment, friendly service, and a selection of $10 cocktails, including the Thai Dollar Sign (Thai basil, Citadelle gin, lemon juice, Creme de Cassis), an Old Fashioned made with Old Grandad bourbon, and the appropriately-named Ap The Drive-In (Cimarron blanco tequila, Aperol, lime juice, agave syrup). The bar is open Tuesday through Sunday starting at 3 pm.

    Chef Sunil Srivastava and his wife, Anupama, the owners of acclaimed Indian restaurant Great W’Kana Cafe, are opening a new restaurant in the Kirby Collection mixed-use development. Verandah Progressive Indian Restaurant will serve a wide range of dishes inspired by the subcontinent’s cuisine. Look for a selection of kebabs — everything from roasted plantains to various meat options — as well as a chef’s tasting menu. A glass-walled kitchen will give diners a view of the action. Look for a mid-November opening.

    El Tiempo’s 1308 Cantina is starting to become like one of those furniture stores that hangs a going out of business sign but never actually closes. The restaurant originally announced it would close in July to give way to new apartments, but a “technical construction delay" granted the restaurant a temporary reprieve that has now lasted for three months.

    Owner Roland Laurenzo issued a statement that the restaurant will remain open until it receives a two week notice from its landlord, but it has yet to arrive. “Based upon what the landlord it telling us, we think we will be open for at least another month. More than likely, we will close shortly,” he said in a statement.

    When 1308 finally shutters, diners will just have to console themselves at any of the other three locations that are within four miles of it.

    After shuttering his Cypress-area bakery Drew’s Pastry Place in August, chef Drew Rogers is bringing his talents to the Memorial area. Slated to open later this year in Memorial City Mall, the new concept will feature Rogers’ signature cannoli and cannoli cupcakes, as well as New York-style pizza, sandwiches, and more, the chef announced on Facebook.

    Other news and notes
    Benchawan Jabthong Painter, a local chef whose resume includes working at Theodore Rex, will bring her well-regarded Street to Kitchen pop-up to Camerata on October 28. For $100 all-inclusive, attendees will feast on a five-course dinner of Thai-style dishes made with locally sourced vegetables and proteins plus wine pairings by general manager Chris Poldoian.

    Pappy’s Cafe will celebrate its 35th anniversary this week with live music, raffles, giveaways, drink specials, and the return of popular dishes from its past like pot roast, chicken and dumplings, and King Ranch chicken. The comfort food favorite recently relocated from the Memorial Villages to the Energy Corridor. “We could not be more grateful, nor humbled by the continuous love and support that our customers have shown us over the last 35 years, and we look forward to being a part of this amazing community for many, many more,” owner Paul Braden said in a statement.

    Carmelo’s Cucina Italiana proprietor Ben Berg and his brother, chef Daniel Berg, realize that construction on Memorial makes accessing the restaurant difficult. They’re rewarding diners who put up with the hassle with three new menus: a three-course lunch for $19.81 (in tribute to the year the restaurant opened), a three-course dinner with wine pairings for $65, and a family-style Sunday supper for $29.95 per adult and $11.95 for children 12 and under (minimum four people required).

    Off the map
    Feges BBQ co-owner Erin Smith takes to Food & Wine to discuss the challenges of being pregnant while also working in a restaurant. She notes that limited benefits and lack of programs like maternity leave frequently drive women out of the industry. Starting a business with her husband, chef and pitmaster Patrick Feges, seemed like the only way to be both a chef and a mother.

    “I’ve been cooking for 13 years, eight of those years in a leadership position,” Smith writes. “In those eight years as a salaried employee, I have not once worked for a company that offered paid maternity leave, a guarantee my job would still be available after returning from my unpaid leave of absence, or any sympathy or flexibility for the various inconveniences which will arise from pregnancy.”

    Celeb spottings
    Prior to his performance at the White Oak Music Hall, legendary rocker Alice Cooper stopped by The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation. No word on whether or not chef Alex Padilla also fed his Frankenstein.

    View this post on Instagram

    It was such a treat serving @alicecooper today at The Original Ninfa’s!

    A post shared by Ninfa's on Navigation (@ninfasoriginal) on

    Oct 14, 2018 at 12:20pm PDT

    Hip hop icon Snoop Dogg gave Third Ward restaurant The Turkey Leg Hut an Instagram shoutout to his over 28 million followers. Known for its gigantic stuffed turkey legs, the restaurant has a wide range of fans. GQ correspondent Brett Martin included it in his epic love letter to Houston.

    View this post on Instagram

    Houston showed major luv n i wanna shoutout @turkeyleg_hut_ for the delicious food. The turkey legs were it !!! Htown make sure u hit them up !! 🦃 🍖

    A post shared by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg) on

    Oct 9, 2018 at 1:54pm PDT

    Snooze's breakfast pot pie arrives in Webster next month.

    Snooze breakfast pot pie
      
    Courtesy photo
    Snooze's breakfast pot pie arrives in Webster next month.
    chefscelebritiesopeningscocktailsclosingsnews-you-can-eat
    news/restaurants-bars

    and the winners are...

    Houston's best chef, restaurant, and more revealed at 2025 Tastemaker Awards

    Eric Sandler
    Apr 3, 2025 | 9:30 pm
    Leo's River Oaks
    Photo by Andrew Hemingway
    Best New Restaurant: Leo's River Oaks.

    Here are the winners of the 2025 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. These bars, restaurants, and individuals represent the best of Houston’s culinary scene, as selected by our judges’ panel of former winners and local experts and revealed at an awards ceremony on Thursday, April 3 at Silver Street Studios.

    Our winners include local favorites that have been satisfying customers for 10 years or more, as well as four restaurants that have been open for less than two years.

    Regardless of how long they’ve been in business, they’re setting the standard for hospitality in Houston. All are worth visiting. When you go, tell them hello from CultureMap.

    Rising Star Chef of the Year and Restaurant of the Year - Jacques Varon and Max Lappe, Baso
    It took less than a year-and-a-half for Baso to go from an under-the-radar, late December 2023 opening to become the toast of the Tastemaker Awards. Credit for that goes to chefs Varon and Lappe for continually improving the menu as they refine what it means to be a Basque-influenced, Texas-inspired restaurant. It’s also important to acknowledge the restaurant’s hard-working front of house staff that shares the chefs’ excitement for the cuisine being served.

    Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year - Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition
    Houston has plenty of restaurants serving Gulf Coast dishes, but none are quite like Josephine’s. It serves excellent versions of all the classics — think shrimp po’ boys, boiled crawfish, and grilled redfish — alongside some of chef Lucas McKinney’s one-off creations like the blue crab rice bowl and Mississippi Hot Catfish Sandwich. Taken together, it’s a restaurant that Midtown residents should feel fortunate calls their neighborhood home.

    Bar of the Year - Johnny’s Gold Brick
    Fresh off celebrating its 10th anniversary, the low-key cocktail bar in the Heights takes home the Tastemaker Awards equivalent of a lifetime achievement award. Part of what makes Johnny’s so appealing is its inherent high-low nature. Patrons may choose a cold beer, one of the classic cocktails that’s painted on the wall (priced at just $10), or a more creative sip from the monthly menu. The dimly lit room serves as a hospitable venue for all kinds of gatherings, ranging from happy hour to the last stop on date night.

    Bartender of the Year - Aaron Lara, Kira
    The veteran bartender has found a home as the beverage director for Comma Hospitality, the growing group behind omakase counter Neo and Kira, its hand roll-focused sister concept near River Oaks. At Kira, Lara’s cocktails incorporate ingredients such as melon, sakura blossom, and loose-leaf teas that don’t overwhelm a dish’s flavors. His childhood memories of enjoying meals with his mother at restaurant bars inspire him to make each customer interaction a positive one.

    Pastry Chef of the Year - Stephanie Velasquez, Ema/Papalo
    As Ema’s James Beard Award finalist nomination for America’s Best New Restaurant demonstrates, something special is happening within its walls. As one of the concept’s three owners, Velasquez is responsible for the pastries, conchas, and other sweet treats that are a core component of Ema’s offerings. The proof comes from the dozens of Houstonians lining up for Velasquez’s signature horchata Berlinesa, which earned a shoutout in The New York Times.

    Best Pop-up/Startup - Suu Khin, Burmalicious
    Having burst onto the scene as a finalist on season 11 of the Gordon Ramsay cooking competition show Masterchef, Khin has earned legions of fans by remaining true to Burmese culture. Houstonians are selling her out of tea leaf salad, duck puffs, and catfish lemongrass soup. The acclaim led Khin to a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination — could a brick and mortar restaurant be far behind?

    Best Coffee Shop - Blacksmith
    Given that our judges work in the hospitality industry, it’s no surprise that the Montrose favorite took home the prize in this year’s wildcard category. Blacksmith’s proximity to many of the city’s best restaurants and bars makes it a popular option for a pre-shift caffeine boost. Besides, no trip to Blacksmith is complete without a cookie or a muffin from pastry chef (and Tastemaker Awards winner) Christina Au.

    Best New Restaurant - Leo’s River Oaks
    After four rounds of voting, our field of 16 Best New Restaurant finalists has led to Leo’s as our winner. The intimate supper club has been a hit with diners, courtesy of its comfortable dining room that features live music nightly. Led by executive chef Tim Reading, the restaurant’s menu of steaks and seafood keeps things classic and satisfying.

    Chef of the Year - Emmanuel Chavez, Tatemó
    This is the third year in a row Chavez has taken home an award, following wins for Rising Star Chef in 2023 and Restaurant of the Year in 2024. That matches his national acclaim, which includes three James Beard Award finalist nominations, a Food & Wine Best New Chef award, and a Michelin star. Despite all the attention, not only does Chavez remain focused on continuously improving Tatemó’s masa-focused tasting menu, but he’s also quick to credit his cooks for helping him achieve success.

    Leo's River Oaks
      
    Photo by Andrew Hemingway

    Best New Restaurant: Leo's River Oaks.

    ----

    The Tastemaker Awards ceremony was brought to you by Stella Artois, Chardon, Jim Beam Black, Ritual Zero Proof, Seedlip, Valencia's Tex-Mex Garage, Hornitos, Ghost Hill Organic Vodka, and PicMe Events. A portion of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, the Southern Smoke Foundation.

    tastemaker awards
    news/restaurants-bars
    Loading...