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    Restaurant Groups Consolidate

    Houston restaurant groups consolidate locations as coronavirus closures continue

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 23, 2020 | 12:24 pm
    I'll Have What She's Having IHWSH fall pop-up Dunlavy crowd
    The Dunlavy is temporarily closed.
    Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

    As the mandated statewide closure of all bars as well as restaurant dining rooms continues, some of Houston’s most prominent restaurant groups are consolidating operations around one location.

    The reasons for these decisions are varied. They could include the simple reality that a restaurant’s food can’t be easily converted into a to-go format or that diners don’t see its experience as translating into a to-go situation. Fundamentally, closing some locations or consolidating others provides restaurateurs with the ability to cut costs at a time when revenues have declined sharply.

    “If we can nurture a singular efficient business pod within our community and various industries can do the same, then I think we can eventually nurture future growth outside of our collective pods,” Clark Cooper Concepts co-owner Grant Cooper said in a statement about his company's decision to consolidate all of its operations at Coppa Osteria. “It will take a lot of hard work to carry this challenge out but I think the character, fortitude and backbone of like minded people will result in a victory for us all.”

    Agricole Hospitality
    The Heights-based restaurant group has temporarily closed two of its EaDo concepts, the restaurant Indianola and the cocktail bar Miss Carousel, as well as Night Heron, its Italian-inspired restaurant in Montrose.

    Vinny’s, its EaDo pizzeria, remains open for both delivery and to-go. In The Heights, Coltivare, Eight Row Flint, and Revival Market all remain open for both delivery and to-go. See each restaurant’s website for phone numbers and hours of operation.

    Benjy Levit Restaurants
    The veteran restaurateur has temporarily closed benjy's, The Classic, and the downtown location of Local Foods. However, Local Foods locations in Upper Kirby, Tanglewood, The Heights, and Rice Village remain open for both delivery and to-go.

    Berg Hospitality
    The company has temporarily closed The Annie Cafe and Turner’s, its recently opened, ultra-luxurious supper club. B.B. Lemon is also temporarily closed.

    B&B Butchers and its companion butcher shop remain open for to-go and delivery via DoorDash and Favor from 11 am - 8 pm. B.B. Italia and its companion pizzeria are also open for delivery and to-go from 4-8 pm.

    Bernie’s Burger Bus
    Only the restaurant’s original location in Bellaire remains open; stores in Katy, Missouri City, and the Heights are temporarily closed. Consolidation has allowed chef-owner Justin Turner to offer daily specials, family-style meals, and Bernie’s Bodega, which stocks a limited number of grocery items. Order online or call 713-349-9400 for the latest offerings.

    Bobby Heugel and Justin Yu
    The business partners have some establishments in common and some they operate separately, but it's easier to consider them together for the purposes of this article.

    Anvil, Better Luck Tomorrow, The Pastry War, and Tongue-cut Sparrow are currently closed. Squable and Penny Quarter are both open and serving an identical menu that’s available for pick-up from 5-10 pm daily. Public Services is open from 3-8 pm with a limited food menu that’s available to-go. Theodore Rex is running a special menu inspired by Yu’s Moneycat pop-up series that’s also available to-go; order by emailing info@trexhouston.com.

    Clark Cooper Concepts
    As noted above, the restaurant group has consolidated all of its operations into Coppa Osteria, which means The Dunlavy, Brasserie 19, and Punk’s are temporarily closed. Consolidation allows the one location to serve dishes from all of the company’s concepts, including Satisfy, their upcoming healthy-eating concept. Plans include Taco Tuesday and specials from Ibiza on Thursday.

    The company is also selling wines from Brasserie 19’s cellar at a discount via preset packages. See the full menu online for the latest offerings.

    Ford Fry Restaurants
    The Atlanta-based restaurant has temporarily closed all of its Houston restaurants — State of Grace, Superica, and La Lucha — as of March 26, owner Ford Fry announced.

    Goode Company
    The local restaurant group that explores all of the influences on modern Texan cooking has about half of its normal locations open. Armadillo Palace, both of its restaurants in The Woodlands, both locations of Goode Co. Seafood, and its barbecue restaurant on Hwy. 290 are temporarily closed.

    On the positive side, Goode Co. Barbeque locations on both Kirby Drive and I-10 remain open, as is Goode Co. Taqueria, and the Memorial-area location of Goode Co. Kitchen and Cantina. Head to the Goode Co website to order for pickup or delivery.

    H Town Restaurant Group
    Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught have temporarily closed both Xochi and Caracol. Backstreet Cafe and Hugo's are both offering curbside to-go. See websites for details.

    Killen’s Restaurants
    Ronnie Killen has consolidated his operations to his hometown of Pearland. Killen’s STQ, Killen’s TMX, and Killen’s Steakhouse in The Woodlands are temporarily closed.

    Killen’s Barbecue, Killen’s Steakhouse, and Killen’s Burgers are open for both delivery and to-go via DoorDash. See individual websites for details.

    Liberty Kitchen
    All three locations of the Southern-inspired restaurant are “closed until further notice,” per a representative.

    Politan Row
    All of the vendors at Rice Village's food hall have announced they are temporarily closed.

    Sambrooks Management Company
    The company has consolidated operations by temporarily closing both Candente and 1751 Sea and Bar. The Pit Room remains open with its full barbecue menu, as well as Tex-Mex family packs and desserts by 1751 pastry chef Allison Thiessen. The company has created a special pick-up lane at The Patio.

    Underbelly Hospitality
    Chris Shepherd has consolidated all of his operations into Hay Merchant and Georgia James. The offerings include dishes from all four of his restaurants, raw steaks from Georgia James' dry-aging cabinet, and meals that can be heated at home.

    closingsnews-you-can-eat
    news/restaurants-bars

    Meet the Tastemakers

    Houston's 10 best neighborhood restaurants offer comfort and convenience

    Eric Sandler
    Mar 3, 2026 | 3:16 pm
    Chopnblok food spread
    Courtesy of ChòpnBlọk
    ChòpnBlọk is basking in the national spotlight.

    The time has come to celebrate the nominees for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

    Since a “neighborhood restaurant” should be as available to its customers as possible, we only include establishments that are open at least six days per week and serve both lunch and dinner. Beyond that, they should be affordable, casual, and available to people without a reservation. After all, neighborhood restaurants should be just as welcoming for a spontaneous weeknight craving as they are for fancy weekend celebrations.

    Who will win? Find out at our Tastemaker Awards ceremony April 16 at Silver Street Studios. Dine on bites from this year’s nominees, sip cocktails from our sponsors, and witness as we reveal the winners. Buy your tickets now. A limited number of Early Bird General Admission tickets remain. VIP tickets offer early entry, valet parking, and more perks. All tickets will sell out before the event, so don't wait.

    Here are the nominees for 2026 Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year:

    Aga's
    Even by its incredibly busy standards, the essential Southwest Houston Indo-Pak restaurant had a banner 2025. Not only did Chris Shepherd feature the restaurant on Eat Like a Local, the Chronicle ranked it as Houston’s best restaurant. Plans for a new, to-go only location in Katy will bring its signature goat chops, biryani, karahi, and more to even more people.

    Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine
    With locations in Montrose and Garden Oaks, this cafeteria-style Mediterranean restaurant has built a devoted following for its pita, hummus, vegetables, kebabs, and more. At a time when everyone is looking for an affordable meal, Aladdin offers an entree and sides for as little as $18 or its essential lamb shank for $25. Make sure to save room for a little baklava.

    ChòpnBlọk
    The West African restaurant has earned a lot of national acclaim since opening its Montrose location in 2024, including a glowing two-star review in the New York Times from chief restaurant critic Tejal Rao and a Bib Gourmand designation in the Michelin Guide. Frequent collabs, including partnerships with the likes of Bun B (Trill Burgers) and Marcus Davis (The Breakfast Klub) help maintain the lively spirit of ChòpnBlọk’s pop-up roots.

    Cuchara
    For almost 15 years, this restaurant has been providing Montrose diners with a taste of Mexico City. Dishes such as turkey in mole negro and huitlacoche quesadilla remain fan favorites, as do the well-crafted margaritas. With Houston on the cusp of peak patio weather, expect Cuchara to be packed for as long as the weather holds.

    Feges BBQ
    With features like a kids play area and dinner service Tuesday through Saturday, the Spring Branch location of Erin Smith and Patrick Feges’ eponymous barbecue joint serves its neighborhood well. The vegetarian-friendly menu — think Korean-braised greens, sweet and spicy sprouts, elote, and more — allows the restaurant to cater to more than carnivores. Happy hour deals, weekly specials, and a $15 pork steak help make the restaurant affordable for area families.

    Handies Douzo
    When Houstonians want the city’s crispiest, most well-crafted hand rolls, they turn to one of this restaurant’s three locations in Montrose, the Heights, or Spring Branch. Both the approachable, counter seating format and affordable prices (a three-roll set is less than $20) make it easy to drop in for a quick bite. Given the attention to detail, it’s no wonder that the Dubai location of Kokoro, its upscale sister concept, made the World’s 50 Best List for the Middle East and North Africa.

    Moon Rabbit
    From staples like spring rolls and shaken beef to more unusual fare like the banh xeo tostada Xi quiche bone marrow, diners turn to this Vietnamese restaurant for well executed fare. Warm service and a creative cocktail list further enhance its appeal.

    Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern
    This pizzeria from the team behind Nobie’s and The Toasted Coconut has quickly become a favorite for Montrose families. Part of the credit goes to the retro-inspired dining room — complete with an arcade, but restaurants do not succeed on vibes alone. It’s the crispy, tavern-style pies, gooey mozzarella sticks, and other crowd-pleasing fare that keeps people coming back again and again.

    North China
    For more than 40 years, this West Houston staple has been serving Chinese, Chinese America, and Korean classics to hungry Houstonians. First timers should seek out signature items like the Beijing fish bun, sizzling rice soup, and Pong Lai beef, which gets its signature spice from chile de arbol. That willingness to blend Chinese classics with Texas flavors keeps diners coming back again and again.

    Pinkerton's Barbecue
    With a second Bib Gourmand designation and a third straight appearance in Texas Monthly’s list of the state’s 50 best barbecue joints, Grant Pinkerton’s Heights-area restaurant has affirmed its status as one of Houston’s premier smokehouses. Diners go to Pinkerton’s for expertly smoked brisket, the signature “candy paint” pork ribs, and sides such as duck jambalaya and jalapeno cheese rice. The recently-opened Upper Kirby location, with its retro style and expanded menu, is the city’s most ambitious barbecue joint to open in the past several years.

    ----

    The Tastemaker Awards ceremony is sponsored in Houston by Maker's Mark, Culinary Khancepts, NTX LVL Event, Shutto and more to be announced. A portion of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit partner, the Southern Smoke Foundation.

    Chopnblok food spread
    Courtesy of ChòpnBlọk

    ChòpnBlọk is basking in the national spotlight.

    tastemaker awardsneighborhood restaurant
    news/restaurants-bars

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