Lefty's on the move

Deshaun Watson-backed cheesesteak restaurant opens new Houston location this week

The second Houston location of Deshaun Watson's new cheesesteak restaurant opens this week. Lefty’s Famous Cheesesteaks will open its doors this Tuesday, January 5, in East Houston at 1010 Federal Rd.

Founded by Sam Berry, Lefty’s features cheesesteaks named for left-handed celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Sylvester Stallone. Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has become one of the company's owners, helping to drive its expansion to Texas.

The Federal Rd. location will be oriented towards takeout with a drive-thru for speedy service. Designed by MG Construction Pros, it will seat approximately 15 people.

The menu features cheesesteaks made with USDA Choice ribeye served on a soft hoagie roll. Lefty's classic cheesesteak is topped with a blend of white American and Swiss cheese and cherry peppers. Other options include the Southpaw (topped with cheese sauce and crushed Hot Cheetos) and The Winfrey (seasoned shaved chicken, grilled onions, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, and chipotle aioli).In addition to cheesesteaks, diners may opt for corned beef, cold sandwiches, burgers, or salads. Appetizers such as cheesesteak egg rolls and fried mushrooms round out the menu.

“If you want to do something big, you’ve got to do it in Texas,” Berry said in a statement. “We are the hottest franchise in America, and we are excited to continue our growth in the great city of Houston, which has been tremendously welcoming to the Lefty’s family thus far.”

Berry and Watson opened Houston's first Lefty's in December. The Pro Bowl quarterback made a surprise appearance at the grand opening, incurring a fine from the NFL for violating COVID protocols that limited gatherings to three players or fewer. Watson has also helped market the restaurant by donating meals to workers at Methodist Hospital.

Lefty's has aggressive growth plans for Houston with plans for 150 stores across Texas and 1,000 nationwide. A third Houston location will open at 5588 North Fwy. by the end of January.

Deshaun Watson with Lefty's founder Sam Berry.

Lefty's Cheesesteaks Sam Berry Deshaun Watson

Photo by Charles Rostamloo

Deshaun Watson with Lefty's founder Sam Berry.

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Meet Tristen Epps

Top Chef contestant reintroduces himself to Houston at new pop-up dinner series

Courtesy of BuBoy

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Even the most engaged Houston restaurant obsessives may have been surprised to see chef Tristen Epps listed as one of two Houstonians competing on the new season of Top Chef. Although Epps grew up in Houston and began his culinary career here, the bulk of his professional experience is in New York and Miami, where he led a restaurant to a Michelin Bib Gourmand award and earned a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination for Best Chef: South.

Having returned to the Bayou City in 2024, Epps will take another step towards reintroducing himself to Houstonians in February. As part of the process of opening BuBoy, a tasting menu restaurant inspired by Afro-Caribbean culinary traditions, Epps will host pop-up dinners on February 11, 18, and 25. Held at Jūn in the Heights, each night will devoted to a different region that was part of the transatlantic slave trade, moving from West Africa to the Carbibean to the American South.

“My goal for this pop-up is to showcase Black diaspora foodways in a unique and elevated format,” Epps writes in an email. “I want guests to experience this cuisine in a way they never have before. While the tasting menu format is nothing new to diners, featuring neo-African flavors in this context is unfamiliar, creating a special opportunity for storytelling.”

The six-course tasting menus will blend techniques from the night’s region with ingredients sourced from Texas and the Gulf Coast. On February 11, the menu will include dishes such as grilled oyster with rundown stew, “Dasheen Dumplin’” with groundnut stew, Texas wagyu with smoked peanut suya, and grilled Gulf fish with plantain pudding and oxtail spinach stew.

“This experience with the element of thoughtful storytelling is exactly what I intend to offer at BuBoy. I’m thrilled to provide a glimpse of that through this pop-up at Jūn during Black History Month,” Epps continues.

Each night will have two seatings of 16 people at 6:30 and 8:30 pm. Tickets cost $95 per person with a wine pairing available for an additional $45. Reservations are available via OpenTable.

As for BuBoy, Epps says he’s still searching for the right space to bring the concept to life. Until he finds it, the pop-up dinners will continue.

Still on the fence about attending? Epps picked up a major endorsement this week from one of his mentors, celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson via this Instagram post:

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A post shared by Marcus Samuelsson (@marcuscooks)

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