Anejo Shuttered

Adios, Anejo: Upscale Tex-Mex restaurant suddenly shutters

Fancy guacamole couldn't save Anejo.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Anejo, the Uptown Park restaurant dedicated to serving upscale Tex-Mex cuisine and an extensive selection of tequila and mezcal, has closed. In response to a request for comment about the restaurant's suddenly missing website and social media pages, Anejo owner Lasco Enterprises issued the following statement from owner Jerry Lasco:

We are all very sad to have to close Anejo. At the same time, I couldn’t be more proud of our team, from Chef Alberto Gutierrez, who created beautiful food and GM Celina Salinas, who stepped up and provided leadership during challenging times, to the entire restaurant team who worked together every day. We’ve learned important lessons through this process and I’m thankful to have met such great people and fortunate to have them remain in our work family.

When it opened two years ago, Anejo attempted to bring high end techniques and preparation to Texas' most popular cuisine. For example, the queso utilized a four cheese blend and even the tortillas used in enchiladas were made to order. The restaurant also offered steakhouse elements like Prime beef and shrimp cocktail. All that quality came at a cost; the restaurant charged $49.50 for a pound of fajitas when competitors like Ninfa's and El Tiempo charged at least $10 less per order.

After chef Gutierrez took over in 2016, he moved away from some of the higher-priced items and added more interior Mexican dishes, but Anejo never quite connected with diners. The closure means Lasco still operates four restaurants in the Houston-area: two locations of Max's Wine Dive (Washington Avenue and Montrose) and two locations of The Tasting Room (Uptown Park and CityCentre).

Lasco chief of staff Tiffany Cullum Hulquist stated that the company does not plan to open another restaurant in the Anejo space.

Anejo joins the wave of prominent restaurants that have closed this year, including Triniti, Arthur Ave, and Up. If Reef chef-owner Bryan Caswell's recent prediction in the Houston Business Journal is true, more restaurants will soon follow.

tex-mex closings

dine by the vines

Exclusive Texas Hill Country winery restaurant named best in the world

Stout's Signature restaurant at Grape Creek Vineyards in Fredericksburg

Photo courtesy of Grape Creek Vineyards

Stout's Signature is Grape Creek's members-only restaurant, but a small number of reservations will be offered to non-members.

The Hill Country has no shortage of vineyards and wineries that serve bites with their vintages, but only one Fredericksburg vineyard boasts a restaurant that measures up against the best in the world.

The industry experts at Wine Enthusiast have declared Stout's Signature at Grape Creek Vineyards one of the 57 best destination restaurants in the world. It's the only Texas restaurant to make the cut.

The new honor also elevates Grape Creek Vineyards' reputation as one of the best wineries in the Hill Country region, and its tasting tours are also recognized among the best in the country.

Stout's is a hidden gem restaurant where patrons can enjoy Hill Country-inspired cuisine with their wine tastings, from light bites to a hearty meal, all while the sprawling Grape Creek vineyard beckons from beyond the tables.

Signature dinner dishes like the tenderloin bolognese and meatballs made with veal, pork, and ground beef are must-try picks, but Wine Enthusiast reserves the most praise for its weekend brunch.

"[Stout's] boasts the region’s best Sunday brunch, with tables laden with dishes like Bourbon shrimp and grits with homemade andouille sausage and a breakfast burger with egg, bacon, and avocado," Wine Enthusiast wrote. "A mini pancake stack for the table is a must. Pair it with their Cabernet Trois, a bold blend of Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, and Ruby Cabernet."

Wine tasting at Grape Creek Vineyards Pair a pour with an app or an entree.Photo courtesy of Grape Creek Vineyards

Stout's has traditionally been a members-only institution for the Grape Creek Wine Club, but non-members now have a chance to dine at the exclusive restaurant. A limited number of Friday and Saturday evening dinner reservations will be offered to the public after the winery's regular closing at 5:30 pm.

"Stout's Signature has always felt like one of our best-kept secrets, and we wanted to give more people the chance to experience it, especially after being named one of the best winery restaurants in the world by Wine Enthusiast this summer," said Heath Family Brands CEO and founder Brian Heath.

Stout's Signature is located at 10587 US-290 in Fredericksburg. Non-member reservation availability is limited, and can be booked by calling 830-644-2710, opt. 3, or online via heathfamilybrands.com.

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