• 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

    Carmelo's has new deals.

    Carmelo's linguine alla vongole
      
    Photo by Felix Sanchez
    Carmelo's has new deals.
    chefscelebritiesopeningscocktailsclosingsnews-you-can-eat
    news/restaurants-bars

    most read posts

    'Famous' Bronx-based pizza chain fires up 3 Houston locations

    Texas Monthly's BBQ Snob dishes on the magazine's new top 50 list

    Renovated Galleria development will add 'greatest neighborhood restaurant'

    adios, churrascos

    Houston's pioneering South American steakhouse will soon shutter in River Oaks

    Eric Sandler
    Jun 9, 2025 | 5:34 pm
    Churrascos Churrasco Steak signature center cut beef tenderlion seasoned with chimichurri and chargrilled
    Churrascos Facebook
    undefined

    Sad news for inner loopers who are fans of plantain chips, wood-grilled steaks, and Houston’s best tres leches. The River Oaks location of South American steakhouse Churrascos will close on June 16, the restaurant announced.

    Located at the intersection of Shepherd Drive and Westheimer Road, Churrascos has operated its location at 2055 Westheimer for more than 30 years.

    “It is our location to open a new Churrascos with the new location and date TBD,” an announcement on the restaurant’s Facebook page states. “We want to thank you all for years of patronage. We value your business more than you will ever know.”

    Famously founded on August 8, 1988 (8/8/88) by chef Michael Cordua, Churrascos put a South American twist on the familiar steakhouse genre. The restaurant earned wide critical acclaim for dishes such as its namesake steak — a spiral-cut beef tenderloin that’s grilled over high heat and served with chimichurri — including a prestigious Food & WineBest New Chef award for Cordua in 1994.

    Ultimately, Cordua’s son David joined the business. Together, the grew Churrascos to locations across the Houston area and developed Américas, an upscale South American restaurant that had had three locations in the Galleria area, River Oaks, and The Woodlands — all of which are now closed. Ultimately, both Michael and David departed Cordua Restaurants in 2018. David Cordua currently operates The Lymbar, a restaurant in the Ion mixed-use development that serves dishes inspired by South American and Middle Eastern cooking.

    As for Churrascos, it still operates locations in Memorial City, The Woodlands, and Sugar Land, along with a successful catering business. Those locations remain open.

    closingschurrascosriver oaksnews-you-can-eat
    news/restaurants-bars
    Loading...