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    Foodie News

    New River Oaks seafood restaurant is already drawing a crowd

    Eric Sandler
    Oct 21, 2013 | 4:35 pm

    A friend of mine in the restaurant business jokes about certain dishes being "nostalgia traps." They combine familiar flavors that are totally irresistible to anyone who grew up eating the dish as a child. When he worked on food truck The Modular, chef Lyle Bento's Eggo waffle-crusted chicken wings were a total nostalgia trap for diners in their late 20s and early 30s.

    Want to see what a nostalgia trap looks like when it's turned into a restaurant? Go check out the new Liberty Kitchen and Oysterette that celebrates its grand opening today in the former Vida Tex-Mex location on San Felipe.

    Want to see a nostalgia trap looks like when its turned into a restaurant? Go check out the new Liberty Kitchen and Oysterette.

    It's the second location of the seafood-oriented neighborhood spot that's become a staple in the Heights, but partner Lee Ellis, who designed the restaurant with Carl Eaves, has turned up the original's coastal/vacation theme and added luxurious accents to fit the restaurant's more well-heeled clientele.

    Upon entering, a long, circular bar is the focus of attention; on Saturday night, Chronicle food editor Greg Morago could be seen enjoying a bite. There are wood floors throughout and tufted leather chairs. A large chandelier illuminates a chef's table of sorts next to the oyster bar.

    There are lots of other, small details, too. Booths that line one wall have photographs of various neighborhoods that should provide the restaurant's customer base, including River Oaks, Afton Oaks and West University. The wood ceiling near the oyster bar has a star pattern. Each stall in the ladies' room has its own chandelier. The custom wallpaper features an oil derrick, horses and football helmets. As with the original, a sticker on the front door bans Chronicle critic Alison Cook from entering.

    To the extent that the decor is designed to make people feel relaxed and comfortable, it totally works. My friend, who's never been to the original location, announced that it's the best-looking new restaurant she's seen this year and is already making plans for a return visit.

    Larger menu

    The new restaurant also has a larger menu than the original. There are more oyster selections, more sharable appetizers and a prime rib cart for that table-side Ramsay-esque wow factor. Lobsters, caviar and two chilled seafood towers are available for splurging. “We designed the Oysterette menu with a sophisticated, social and comfortable dining experience in mind,” explains chef Lance Fegen in a statement. He'll serve as Liberty Kitchen's culinary director, and Travis Lenig moves from the original to be the executive chef.

    There are more oyster selections, more sharable appetizers and a prime rib cart for that table-side Ramsay-esque wow factor.

    Although the menu is decidedly seafood-centric, there are burgers, steaks and Fegen's signature mac and cheese available, too. Sister restaurant Petite Sweets supplies the desserts, which on Saturday included an enormous, brioche-based bread pudding with raspberries. For drinkers, there's a short menu of craft beer options, about 10 cocktails and a lengthy list of wines available by the glass or bottle.

    Saturday night was only the second day of the soft-opening, but the kitchen appeared to be rounding into form. Salmon ($31) came out beautifully medium rare, and a side of dirty rice was nicely firm with a subtle spiciness. The fruit-filled ceviche ($7) balanced sweet and tangy flavors.

    Whether people read that the restaurant would be open or simply saw the valets out front, a crowd gathered to check out the newcomer and the dining room began to fill by 7:30 p.m.They'll probably be coming back, too. Nostalgia traps are hard to avoid.

    The long, circular bar is sure to be a popular spot for cocktails and sharable plates.

    2 Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette October 2013 interior
      
    Photo by Eric Sandler
    The long, circular bar is sure to be a popular spot for cocktails and sharable plates.
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    news/restaurants-bars

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    spreading the trill

    Bun B opens new Spring location of his smash hit smash burger joint

    Eric Sandler
    Apr 25, 2025 | 11:05 am
    Bun B opens new Spring location of his smash hit smash burger joint
    Bun B opens new Spring location of his smash hit smash burger joint
    Bun B opens new Spring location of his smash hit smash burger joint

    The wait for Houston’s second location of Trill Burgers has come to an end. Bun B’s acclaimed smash burger restaurant will open its Spring outpost today (Friday, April 25).

    Trill Burgers Spring
      

    Photo by Quit Nguyen

    Bun B is ready to welcome Spring-area diners to Trill Burgers No. 2.

    “The support our community continues to show has been nothing short of incredible,” Bun B said in a statement. “We’re so grateful for this city, and we’re excited to expand to the north side of Houston. To our new neighbors and visitors in Spring, we’re thrilled to be joining your community. We hope to see y’all at Trill Burgers very soon.”


    View this post on Instagram
    A post shared by Trill Burgers (@trillburgers)


    Located in a former Dairy Queen at 6810 Louetta Rd., the new Trill Burgers will serve the restaurant’s fan favorite menu that’s built around the OG Trill Burger — a twin patty smash burger topped with pickles, onions, Trill Sauce, and American cheese on a potato bun. It also includes a Vegan OG Burger with vegan patties and cheese.

    Trill Burgers OG Trill BurgerThe OG Trill Burger has powered the restaurant's success. Courtesy of Trill Burgers

    The new location will also give a permanent home to the Trill Lemonade that the result debuted at the restaurant’s pop-up Trill Town location at this year’s Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. Diners have their choice of either classic or strawberry flavors as well as an Arnold Palmer that’s made with iced tea.

    Trill Burgers worked with Houston-based Construction Concepts & Design on the restaurant’s build-out. Design details include murals by Houston graphic artist Todd Louis, a neon “Keep It Trill” sign, and the restaurant’s signature black-and-yellow color scheme.

    First introduced at the 2021 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, Trill Burgers grew its popularity with pop-ups and by serving as a vendor at events such as the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and the Coachella Festival. It opened its first brick and mortar location in June 2023 in a former James Coney Island on S. Shepherd Dr. It also operates concession stands at NRG Stadium, Shell Energy Stadium, and TDECU Stadium at the University of Houston.

    The restaurant’s lawsuit with former partners Patsy and Benson Vivares appears to be drawing to a close. In February, all parties agreed to binding arbitration to resolve the dispute, Harris County records show.

    Spring is the first of three new locations that will open this year. It will be followed by Missouri City (20220 Fort Bend Pkwy Toll Rd. 140) and an outpost west of the Galleria at 7616 Westheimer Rd.

    Trill Burgers Spring will be open daily from 11 am-9 pm with its drive-thru lane open until midnight.

    “Our team has been working on this for a long time,” Trill Burgers co-founder and publicist Nick Scurfield said. “We are so excited to open this second location in Spring and take another big step in bringing Trill Burgers to more communities across Houston. We’re just getting started.”

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