Today's tasty rumor

Coltivare owners scoop up neighboring space for intriguing new concept

Coltivare will soon have a new concept next door.

By any measure, Agricole Hospitality just completed an ambitious 2018. The Heights-based restaurant group behind Coltivare, Eight Row Flint, and Revival Market more than doubled in size by adding Night Heron in Montrose and three new concepts in EaDo: pizza by-the-slice joint Vinny's; comfort food restaurant Indianola; and cocktail bar Miss Carousel.

Still, owners Ryan Pera and Morgan Weber already appear to be planning their next move. The company has leased the former Blue Line Bike Lab space next to Coltivare for a new project, a representative confirms.

Currently, the company isn't revealing any details about its plans for the space. For now, the only manifestation of the acquisition is that Coltivare diners may now use the parking lot. Still, given the group's track record of success, the prospect of something new is highly intriguing.

As Coltivare celebrates its five-year anniversary this month, the Italian-inspired concept remains one of the city's most-acclaimed restaurants thanks to its innovative use of local ingredients, creative cocktails, and top-notch service. A sister concept, even if it's primarily a bar that serves as an extended waiting area and after-dinner spot (as an example of one possibility), would be a welcome companion.

The coming year looks to be a busy one for The Heights. Bobby Heugel and Justin Yu have plans to follow up their success at Better Luck Tomorrow with a new restaurant in the former Southern Goods space. Braun Enterprise's Heights Waterworks development will bring new locations of Hopdoddy, Common Bond, Jinya Ramen, and a brick-and-mortar home for the Verdine food truck. Savoir, a wine-fueled restaurant from Brian Doke (Tiny Boxwoods) and chef Micah Rideout (Tarakaan, Reef), will open in the next few weeks.

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Memorial restaurant boom continues

Twin burger and taco restaurants coming to Memorial City area in 2025

rendering of the burger joint and the taco stand in memorial

Courtesy of The Burger Joint

The Burger Joint and The Taco Stand continue to grow with the addition of two new locations in the Memorial area, slated for spring/summer 2025.

Two of Houston’s favorite casual dining spots are making their way to Memorial in spring/summer 2025. Co-founders Shawn Bermudez and chef Matthew Pak celebrated The Burger Joint’s ninth anniversary this week by announcing its expansion to the Memorial/Spring Branch area, alongside its sister restaurant, The Taco Stand. Construction is already underway at 1016 Gessner Road, with Cisneros Design Studio Architects leading the project.

“It is amazing to think how far we have come in just nine years. We are so grateful to our Houston fans for embracing our concepts,” Pak said in a statement. “Our team is excited to bring our brand of burgers and tacos to the Memorial area of Houston.”

What started as a humble food truck in April 2015 quickly grew into one of Houston’s most beloved burger spots. Just seven months after its launch, The Burger Joint moved into its first brick-and-mortar location in Montrose. Fast-forward nine years, and the Memorial restaurant will be the brand’s sixth Houston location, joining Montrose, the Heights, University of Houston, Baybrook, and the soon-to-open Kirby outpost.

At 4,300 square feet, the new Memorial location will feature a full bar and a spacious 1,500-square-foot patio. Guests will be able to dine daily from 11 am to midnight, enjoying the restaurant's take on classic American burgers that includes favorites such as the Smoke Stack ($12.99), which is topped with pulled pork, mac and cheese, and a fried egg, as well as the boozy 8th Wonder Rocket Fuel Shake ($8.99), made with the local brewery’s cold brew coffee porter.

Next door, The Taco Stand will offer a 2,000-square-foot space including a 1,100-square-foot patio, with dine-in and drive-thru available daily from 6 am to midnight. Known for its street-style tacos, the menu features housemade corn and flour tortillas filled with barbacoa, vegan beef, fish, and more. The Taco Stand also offers burritos, quesadillas, and bowls. For breakfast, there will be taco staples such as chorizo and potato ($3.29), migas ($3.49) and nopales and egg ($3.49).

Since opening its first location in the Heights in 2021, The Taco Stand has rapidly expanded to Webster, the University of Houston, and the soon-to-open Montrose location.

Bermudez and Pak have more projects in the works beyond The Taco Stand in Montrose and The Burger Joint in Kirby. The duo has two new concepts slated to open in the Heights: Happy Go Lucky will serve Hawaiian-style shaved ice and frozen cocktails, while The Pizza Place will feature housemade pizzas, pasta, salads, and gelato. Bermudez also owns the space-themed Roswell’s Saloon and the tequila-focused Pistolero’s.

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