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    Understory update

    West Houston pasta bar cooks up location in new downtown food hall

    Eric Sandler
    Jan 10, 2019 | 11:42 am

    If 2018 is the year Houstonians waiting for downtown's four new food halls to arrive, then 2019 will be the year people actually get to eat at them. Finn Hall opened in December, and Bravery Chef Hall is on track to open in the next few weeks.

    Next up will be Understory, the food hall coming to real estate development and construction firm Skanska's Capitol Tower. The company announced that Mona Fresh Italian Food will be the latest addition to its vendor mix, joining Boomtown Coffee, East Hampton Sandwich Company, and Mama Ninfa’s Tacos y Tortas, a new taco concept from the owners of The Original Ninfa's on Navigation.

    Open since July in Katy, Mona is chef Sidney Degaine's fast casual follow-up to Cafe Azur, the French restaurant he sold last year. The restaurant offers an update on the pasta bar concept, giving diners the opportunity to choose their toppings ( fresh vegetables as well as prepared items like roasted eggplant and roasted zucchini), sauce (alfredo, pomodoro, etc), and proteins (meatball, Italian sausage, etc). Those looking for an alternative to the restaurant's housemade noodles may opt for a sandwich or salad instead.

    "We believe Understory at Capitol Tower is the perfect combination of architecture and location for Mona to be even more successful,” Degaine said in a statement. “Mona’s concept is developed to provide high quality and healthy food with quick service within a perfect time frame for the business crowd.”

    Signing Mona means that Understory is 50-percent leased. When it opens later this year, the food hall will offer a full service restaurant, seven smaller food stands, and a cocktail bar. A prime location in the heart of downtown's central business district with five points of tunnel access sure help ensure it becomes popular with the lunch crowd, but Skanska intends for it to be a destination during evenings and weekends, too.

    "We are excited to welcome Mona and their fresh, upscale Italian fare to Understory," added Matt Damborsky, executive vice president for Skanska USA Commercial Development in Houston. “Mona's chef driven yet approachable menu and commitment to sourcing only the finest local ingredients makes them a strong addition to Understory’s diverse lineup of homegrown offerings."

    Mona Fresh Italian Food is coming to downtown.

    Mona Italian Food pasta with meatball
    Photo by Becca Wright
    Mona Fresh Italian Food is coming to downtown.
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    news/restaurants-bars

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    Where to Drink Now

    16 Houston restaurants and bars with affordable happy hour deals

    Brianna McClane
    Jul 30, 2026 | 1:00 pm
    93 Til happy hour
    Photo by Rebekah Flores
    '93 Til, the vinyl-centered restaurant and bar, recently extended its happy hours to include weekends.

    Groceries aren’t getting any cheaper, so skip H-E-B and head to one of Houston’s newest happy hours instead. This roundup contains some of Houston's newest happy hour deals, ranging from a new East End bar with tacos and tequila, to a Brazilian-Cuban sandwich shop on Washington Avenue with croquettes and cocktails. Read on to find a new spot to unwind after a long day.

    Atlantic Ocean
    Atlantic Ocean's extended happy hour runs from 5-9 pm at the bar (or until 7 pm in the dining room), with specials like $5 seafood gumbo, $16 garlic butter crab claws, $8 cocktails, $7 glasses of wine, and $5 bottled beers.

    By the Wayside
    This artsy East End bar has its newly-launched happy hour weekdays from 4-6 pm. Stop in at the Navigation Boulevard spot for deals like $8 Ranch Waters, two chicken tacos for $7, two brisket tacos for $9, and select signature cocktails priced at $10 or $11. Draft beers are $6, with both wells and seltzers for $7.

    Camaraderie
    The Heights restaurant's happy hour caters to both the after-work and late-night crowd, running Wednesday through Friday from 5-6 pm and again from 9-10 pm, plus Sunday from 5-9 pm. Diners can score 25 percent off all cocktails, like the Late Checkout, made with tequila and citrus.

    Concrete Rose
    Newly opened in downtown, Concrete Rose has patrons covered with its new “Golden Hour.” Deals include half-off food and bottles of wine along with classic cocktails like palomas and negronis for $9. Golden Hour is Monday through Friday from 5-7 pm.

    Eastbound BBQ
    Barbecue might not be the first thing that comes to mind for happy hour, but Eastbound makes a convincing case. Find deals like $2 off draft beers, $10 draft cocktails, and $8 for a shot and a beer. Food offerings include $12 for carnitas pork ribs or pork belly bites. Eastbound’s happy hour is Wednesday through Friday, from 3-6 pm.

    Fielding’s Steak
    Sample what’s on Fielding’s menu without breaking the bank during its Social Hour, served in the bar and lounge on Tuesday-Sunday from 3-7 pm. Classics such as steak frites get the petite treatment, with a 4-ounce sirloin au poivre and fries for $12. Other highlights include Moroccan spiced lamb chop ($12) and two crispy oysters and caviar with beurre blanc for $12. Select cocktails, including a frozen strawberry margarita, Spanish gin and tonic, and pecan Old Fashioned, are available for $8-10.

    Kira
    The Upper Kirby hand roll bar’s happy hour deals start with $7 crudos, $5 select hand rolls (avocado, tamago, spicy bluefin tuna, Peking duck, coconut curry shrimp, cucumber, or tofu), $12 luxe temaki (steak and eggs or lobster) and $12 kakigori. Plus, all drinks are 25 percent off. Kira serves happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 5-6 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 4-5 pm, and all day on Monday.

    Kirkwood
    The Energy Corridor’s clubhouse-inspired spot from Mac Haik Restaurant Group has $6 draft beers, $7 wells, and glasses of wine for $8 to $11 on happy hour. Grab a snack like fried oysters for $14 and tenderloin sliders for $12. Kirkwood’s happy hour is weekdays from 3-6 pm.

    '93 Til
    This vinyl-centered restaurant and bar recently extended its happy hours to include weekends. Now, from Tuesday through Sunday from 4-6 pm, patrons can take advantage of discounts like 30 percent off bottles of wine and 25 percent off wines by-the-glass. Rounding out the special menu are deals like an Old Fashioned for $8, a poblano margarita for $10, and $2 Lone Star beers.

    Oheya
    Uchi’s 12-seat omakase counter serves a $50, 10-course tasting menu Wednesday-Sunday at 5 and 6:15 pm. Pair those bites with select $6 cocktails, $5 wines, $4 beers, and $3 sake.

    Ramen Tatsu-ya
    Available at both the Montrose and Memorial locations for dine-in customers, the Japanese restaurant’s happy hour includes $10 Kirin pitchers, $2.50 frozens (NA and sake-based), $2.50 non-alcoholic drinks, and $5 munchies. It is served daily from 3-5 pm and 9 pm until close.

    Remi
    The restaurant at the Hotel Granduca’s happy hour offerings start with a daily pizza special and beer for $20. Selected bites are priced between $8 and $14, including the Remi burger, potato chips and caviar, meatballs, hot dog poppers, and more. Pair them with select wines by-the-glass priced from $8-11. Happy hour is available Monday-Friday from 4-6 pm.

    Street to Kitchen
    The Michelin-recognized Thai restaurant’s happy hour menu includes fried chicken wings ($8) and Thai fried mushrooms ($9) paired with $5 select white wine, red wine, and beer; $10 margaritas and Thai tea; and $12 Old Fashioneds. Happy hour is served Monday-Friday from 5-6:30 pm

    Toga
    The newest concept from Comma Hospitality has all-day happy hour on Wednesdays, and Tuesday through Friday from 4-6 pm. The Japanese pub’s specials are food-forward, with deals on dishes like onigiri ($7) and a wagyu burger ($15) with comté cheese. Beverages include $4 Sapporos and cocktails from $8-$10.

    Uptown Sporting Club
    The city’s most elevated sports bar has happy hour from 4-7 pm on weekdays, offering discounts on beer, wine, cocktails, and bites. Make it a girl dinner with a $10 martini and $7 truffle fries, or choose between three flatbreads for $8 with a $5 draft beer.

    Yuma
    The Brazilian-Cuban sandwich pop-up turned brick-and-mortar restaurant has a new happy hour to brighten the afternoons. All cocktails — like the Toasted Caju with aged rum, madeira, and cashew — are $10, with nonalcoholic options for $5. Choose three sides for $10 to satiate any hunger pangs, with options like fried ham and cheese croquetas. Yuma’s happy hour is weekdays (except for Tuesdays when it’s closed) from 4-6 pm.

    93 Til happy hour
    Photo by Rebekah Flores

    '93 Til, the vinyl-centered restaurant and bar, recently extended its happy hours to include weekends.

    happy-hoursnews-you-can-eatcocktailswhere-to-drink
    news/restaurants-bars

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    Historic Houston fried chicken destination will close after 80 years

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    Hot new Houston pizzeria rolls out wood-fired pies in the Heights

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