New Name for Philippe

Philippe owners plan name change: Post Oak restaurant goes All-American

UPDATE — Philippe will close after dinner service on Jan. 11 and reopen as Table in mid-March. The space will undergo extensive renovations to double the size of the downstairs bar and expand bar seating in the second-level main dining room.

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Now that founding chef Phillipe Schmit is no longer with his namesake restaurant, the current owners plan to change its name. They have registered The Table on Post Oak with the Harris County clerk, although the decision to rebrand the restaurant with that name hasn't been finalized, according to sources familiar with the restaurant's partnership.

A representative for Philippe declined to provide details but confirmed the partners are meeting this weekend to complete plans for the change, which could be announced as soon as next week.

The move completes the restaurant's transformation from a French restaurant to a more American concept following Schmit's departure in September.

When Schmit left, then-beverage director Vanessa Treviño Boyd told CultureMap the restaurant didn't have plans to change its name, but that initial decision has been revised. General manager Dallas Easterly said that the restaurant's menu was modified after Schmit left to better appeal to diners who weren't familiar with certain ingredients and French language descriptions.

As he explained at the time, "When Johnny Cowboy from Katy, his girlfriend says, ‘Honey, please take me to this restaurant I’ve heard all about it. I really want to go here.’ And he comes to town and reads our menu. It was apparent in the past that he didn’t understand our menu by the way it was written, because he would order a hamburger or sliders . . . We’ve written (the menu descriptions) so it’s more in English, and people can understand them . . . now they’re selling much better."

Changing the name completes that transformation and may attract new diners who either still assume the restaurant is French or haven't been back to it since chef Manuel Pucha took over for Schmit.

Meanwhile, Schmit's future is still very much up in the air. He hosted a dinner for friends and supporters on Dec. 30. Could that be the first sign of his comeback?

If the rumors are true, this sign will soon read "The Table on Post Oak."

Bastille Day Celebration at Philippe Restaurant + Lounge July 2013 exterior day

Photo by Morris Malakoff

If the rumors are true, this sign will soon read "The Table on Post Oak."

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Domo Arigato

Award-winning Texas ramen shop sets opening date for Meyerland location

Courtesy of Ramen Tatsu-ya

Ramen Tatsu-ya's Meyerland location opens on Saturday, October 31.

Houstonians had to wait seven years for a second location of Ramen Tatsu-ya, but the Austin-based restaurant’s third Houston outpost is coming much more quickly.

The restaurant’s Meyerland location will open on Saturday, October 31, in the former Boston Market location at 4672 Beechnut St.

Known for its signature tonkotsu broth, which takes up to three days to prepare, chefs Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya Matsumoto opened the original Ramen Tatsu-ya in 2012. It quickly earned wide acclaim, including a spot on Bon Appetit’s list of America’s Best New Restaurants of 2013.

Since then, the restaurant has grown to six locations in Austin and two in Houston — a Montrose store that opened in 2017 and a Town & Country outpost that debuted in December 2025. More could be on the way.

“There's certainly room and good trade area dynamics to support more Ramen Tatsu-Ya locations in Houston,” CEO Todd Coerver writes in an email. “I have no magic number or timeline in mind for such growth. A lot will depend on the performance of the newer locations we are opening in Houston. Community reaction will dictate the answer to how many, how fast.”

In addition to its noodles, Ramen Tatsu-ya also serves small plates such as its signature Sweet and Sour Yodas (aka, Brussels sprouts), karaage, and gyoza. They can be paired with a full range of drinks, including beer, sake, frozens, and non-alcoholic sips such as lemongrass-cucumber limeade and strawberry-yuzu lemonade.

The company operates three other concepts: Domo Alley-Gato Tatsu-Ya, a casual patio bar; Tiki Tatsu-Ya, a tiki bar and restaurant; and Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, a Texas-inspired izakaya that holds a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide. Could they be headed to Houston, too?

“I wouldn't rule out the possibility for a version of Kemuri to expand to Houston one day. But we are really just focused on Ramen Tatsu-Ya at the moment,” he writes.

Ramen Tatsu-ya will celebrate its Bellaire grand opening with free t-shirts for the 25 customers, the chance to win free ramen for a year, a free popsicle with purchase for anyone in costume, and a DJ set from 6-8 pm. It will also give out treats to trick-or-treaters.

“We’re excited to bring a new location to the Bellaire area,” Coerver added in a statement. “And having our grand opening on Halloween gives us a chance to really ratchet up the fun!”

Ramen Tatsu-ya is only the latest addition to the Bellaire/Meyerland area. The second location of Tex-Mex restaurant Candente opened in late 2025. Pudgy’s Fine Cookies and Underground Creamery will open their second location across the street from Ramen Tatsu-ya this Sunday, October 25.

Courtesy of Ramen Tatsu-ya

Ramen Tatsu-ya's Meyerland location opens on Saturday, October 31.

anderson