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    Nom Nom

    A delicious list of the eateries that opened in Uptown Park this year

    CultureMap Create
    Nov 24, 2020 | 1:54 pm

    Overall, this year has been tough on the restaurant industry, with many closing their doors thanks to the coronavirus. Happily, this is not one of those articles.

    Get ready for some happy news: Uptown Park has welcomed several new, acclaimed restaurants this year, joining a menu of established favorites.

    From a space-themed coffee shop to country star Pat Green's newest music hall outpost, there's a flavor for every palate.

    Giant Leap Coffee started providing a much-needed caffeine fix to Uptown Park visitors in early September. The cute little kiosk serves coffee and espresso drinks made with locally roasted Amaya Coffee, and the pandemic has given baristas time to develop new specialties like a golden milk latte made with ginger and turmeric.

    Of course there are lots of space-themed details, from a model of the lunar lander near the register to the bar front itself, which takes its design from an image of the moon’s surface that's been turned into a depth map.

    At a cozy 650 square feet, Giant Leap Coffee isn't designed as a place to congregate indoors (good news for the world as it is now). However, there are several patio tables outside if you'd like to kick back and relax while sipping.

    When big gatherings are allowed again, The Rustic will be everyone's go-to spot. The combination bar, restaurant, and music hall boasts tons of outdoor space, making it perfect for socially distanced dining now and the ideal concert venue for later.

    Debuting this past July, The Rustic in Uptown Park gives diners a different feel than its location in Post Oak. Major emphasis was put on the kitchen here, with the addition of a new steak program featuring meat from a ranch in Oregon that is graded higher than USDA Prime. Those steaks are even cooked on wood-fired grills that were custom made for The Rustic.

    This location’s beverage offerings have been enhanced, too, with 90 taps featuring Texas beers plus 15 wines on tap and draft cocktails.

    Both of these new additions join Flower Child, Mendocino Farms, and Merus Grill, which opened at Uptown Park in 2019, and the recently refreshed Uptown Sushi and M&S Seafood, Steaks, and Oysters.

    Of course we can't forget about staples like Etoile Cuisine et Bar and Songkran Thai Kitchen, as well as Crave Cupcakes and Araya Artisan Chocolate for dessert.

    Most of Uptown Park's restaurants offer outdoor dining, providing a safe way to visit your old favorites while discovering new ones.

    The Rustic features a huge outdoor space and patio dining.

    The Rustic Uptown Park
    Photo courtesy of Uptown Park
    The Rustic features a huge outdoor space and patio dining.
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    shining star

    New chicken restaurant flies into Houston with 'gluten-friendly' tendies

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 10, 2026 | 10:00 am
    Starbird chicken restaurant
    Courtesy of Starbird
    Starbird sells chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, chicken sandwiches, and more.

    A local restaurant group is bringing a California-based chicken concept to Texas. Mac Haik Restaurant Group announced it has reached an agreement with Starbird to open locations in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.

    Founded in the San Francisco area in 2016, Starbird is a fast casual restaurant with 19 locations in California and Colorado. It serves fried chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, chicken wings, and salads that are made with chicken that’s “all-natural, never-frozen, antibiotic-free” and covered in a “gluten-friendly breading” that’s cooked fresh to order, according to a press release.

    Pair them with sides such as cole slaw, french fries, crispy Thai Brussels sprouts, or elote. Diners can dip their tenders in 11 sauces, including Greek yogurt ranch, Thai herb aioli, honey mustard, honey chipotle bbq, and more.

    Part of Mac Haik Enterprises Ltd, Mac Haik Restaurant Group operates a number of franchised restaurants, including breakfast concept First Watch Daytime Café, the Original ChopShop, and Due’ Cucina. It will open Kirkwood, an upscale supper club, later this spring in a West Houston office building that’s also owned by MHE.

    “We evaluate opportunities through the lens of long-term brand relevance, not just unit growth,” MHRG COO Dan Anfinson said in a statement. “Starbird delivers a level of culinary quality and operational sophistication that we believe is still underserved in the premium fast-casual chicken category, particularly in Texas. The brand has a clear point of view and the systems to scale responsibly. That combination is rare, and we’re excited to introduce it thoughtfully across our markets.”

    The company intends to open as many as 36 locations beginning in 2027, but MHRG is still in the process of securing specific locations. It will announce which city will be first to receive a Starbird at a later time.

    “This agreement reflects the strength of our business model and the clarity of our long-term vision,” added Starbird CEO Greg Levin. “As we mark our 10th anniversary, this is shaping up to be our biggest year yet in terms of expansion. Texas is a critical market for us moving forward, and partnering with an experienced organization like Mac Haik Restaurant Group allows us to grow thoughtfully while staying true to what makes Starbird special.”

    Starbird chicken restaurant

    Courtesy of Starbird

    Starbird sells chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, chicken sandwiches, and more.

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