hopefully reopening soon

Here are the Houston restaurants temporarily closed due to coronavirus

Bisou has temporarily closed.

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

As restaurants across the Houston area struggle with governmental restrictions that limit them to only serving diners via delivery or to-go, some establishments are making the painful choice to close temporarily. Not every restaurant's food translates well to-go, and customers may not be visiting a business frequently enough for it to remain viable.

Here's a quick look at some places that have closed temporarily since the City of Houston and Harris County required restaurants to cease dine-in operations. This list does not include the places already listed by restaurant group.

CultureMap will update this list as necessary. Hopefully, all of them resume operations soon.

Alma, the recently opened South American restaurant in Highland Village, is closed until further, according to social media.

BCN and MAD are both temporarily closed; MAD's program of feeding unemployed hospitality workers has been discontinued.

Be More Pacific has closed its newly-opened location in the Heights "until further notice," according to social media.

Bisou is temporarily closed, according to a representative.

burger-chan suspended service on March 17 but will reopen on March 30 for takeout and delivery only, the restaurant announced.

Cafe Brussels has temporarily closed as of March 25, owner Catherine Duwez announced.

Davis St. at Hermann Park has temporarily closed as of March 24, the restaurant announced on social media.

Down House has "suspended operations," according to social media.

Emmaline is temporarily closed, per its social media.

Eunice has temporarily closed as of March 31, the restaurant announced.

Feges BBQ will be closed beginning March 25 but will hold pop-ups in the parking lot of its future Spring Branch location (8141 Long Point Rd.) on Saturdays beginning March 28, the restaurant announced.

Giacomo's cibo e vino will be closed from March 25 until April 3, according to Facebook.

Golden Bagels & Coffee is only open Friday - Sunday from 8 am - 2 pm, according to social media.

Gr8 Plate Hospitality has closed all locations of The Union Kitchen and Jax Grill effective March 26, owners Doris and Paul Miller announced on social media.

Guard & Grace is temporarily closed, per a letter from owners Nikki and Troy Guard.

Kata Robata will temporarily close beginning either March 27 or 28, the restaurant announced on social media.

Kenny & Ziggy's has temporarily closed its location at Buffalo Speedway and Westpark, per a representative; the original location on Post Oak remains open with a condensed menu.

Kulture has temporarily closed; diners are encouraged to support its sister concepts Reggae Hut and The Breakfast Klub.

Loch Bar and Ouzo Bay are temporarily closed, according to a representative.

Mein began a temporary closure on March 16, according to a post on social media.

Nancy's Hustle closed effective April 6, the restaurant announced.

Penny Quarter has temporarily closed effective March 27, but Squable remains open.

Poitín Bar & Kitchen has temporarily closed as of March 25, the restaurant announced on social media.

Rosalie Italian Soul is temporarily closed, according to a representative.

Rosie Cannonball and Montrose Cheese & Wine are closed beginning March 25, according to social media.

Savoir and La Grade Rue have temporarily closed beginning April 7, according to the restaurant.

SusieCakes has closed all of its locations in Texas and California as of March 21, according to a representative.

Thien An is temporarily closed, according to a sign posted at the restaurant.

The Toasted Coconut will temporarily close on March 29, the restaurant announced.

Tropicales is closed “until further notice,” according to a post on social media.

True Food Kitchen has temporarily closed its location near the Galleria and in The Woodlands, according to the company's website.

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The list of restaurants that are currently closed is not comprehensive. CultureMap will update as necessary.

news-you-can-eat closings

firing up Montrose

New Houston seafood restaurant adds live-fire flair to Japanese flavors

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.

An ambitious new seafood restaurant is coming to Montrose next week. Casa Kenji will open on Tuesday, December 9.

Located in the former Andiron space (3201 Allen Pkwy), Casa Kenji is the first Houston project for New Orleans restaurateur Malachi DuPre, a former LSU standout who played briefly in the NFL before establishing Kenji and Kenji Kazoku restaurants in New Orleans. Together with former LSU teammate John “B-John” Ballis and Houston chef Bigler “Biggie” Cruz, Casa Kenji will blend Latin and Japanese influences while also incorporating live-fire elements into the restaurant’s dishes. Cruz, whose resume includes a lengthy stint at Uchi as well as working at critically acclaimed Houston seafood restaurant Golfstrømmen, tells CultureMap that Casa Kenji’s approach is the first time he can be himself in the kitchen.

“My perfect restaurant was always based on the live fire and sushi combination,” Cruz says. “My mom cooked with wood for my entire life. The live fire creates completely different flavors. The smoky flavors, the sear from the charcoal — they create a different type of memory for me.”

The use of live fire techniques will permeate Casa Kenji’s menus in ways both big and small. For example, diners will be able to feast on prawns grilled directly on charcoal and served with yuzu chili garlic, or savor lightly seared Japanese wagyu tataki paired with mushrooms. Even raw dishes will benefit from the restaurant’s wood-burning grill and stove.

“Every vegetable we peel, we make into an ash that’s a topping for the dishes. It adds a different layer of flavor,” Cruz says. Look for it in the scallop aguachile, among others.

Even vegetables get a smoky component, as in a cabbage dish that’s braised with dashi and soy sauce before being roasted and served with an onion soubise that Cruz says he developed based on techniques he learned from Golfstrømmen chef Christopher Haatuft.

“It’s rich, super savory, with smoky layers, and you get brightness from the shiso gremolata. I think it will be a signature dish for us,” the chef says.

One change to the interior is the addition of a six-seat omakase counter that looks into the kitchen. Cruz promises those diners will have an even more elevated experience than the restaurant’s regular menu, including ingredients such as Japanese wagyu and premium fish flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.

Beyond its cuisine, Casa Kenji hopes to stand out with its spacious outdoor patio. Since very few Japanese-inspired restaurants in Houston offer outdoor seating, it should appeal to diners who want a little vitamin D along with their tuna crudo.

“We’re proud to showcase the craft and creativity that defines Casa Kenji,” co-founders Cruz, Ballis, and DuPre said in a statement. “With chef Bigler Cruz at the helm — blending live-fire technique with the discipline of Japanese tradition — we’re equally honored and excited to share a unique concept that is truly rooted in passion, culture, and community.”

Casa Kenji will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 4 pm. Reservations are available on Resy.

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.