a winning combo

New virtual brand in Houston delivers biscuits and chicken sandwiches

Behold their chicken sandwich.

Cracker Barrel

A virtual concept is debuting in the Greater Houston area serving a quintessential food combo: chicken and biscuits. Called, fittingly enough, Chicken n' Biscuits, it's a virtual brand from Cracker Barrel Old Country Store with their signature fried chicken and signature biscuits, plus that pandemic-era staple: the fried chicken sandwich.

Cracker Barrel first launched Chicken n’ Biscuits by Cracker Barrel in 2021, serving up chicken-centered meals and biscuits. But it recently got rebranded, followed by an expansion into 400 Cracker Barrel locations nationwide. That list includes five Houston locations, all in the suburbs.

Chicken n' Biscuits' new Homestyle Chicken Sandwich stars their breaded fried chicken, adorned with pickles, on a brioche bun, served with steak fries and Duke's Mayonnaise.

The menu also includes:

Southern fried chicken with signature seasoning
Fried chicken tenders with sauces such as Dill Pickle Ranch or Maple Chipotle
Mac n' cheese, baked to create a crispy layer of cheese on top
Steak fries
Green beans
Coleslaw
Fruit cobbler topped with a flaky, sugary crust
Biscuit beignets

Orders can be placed on DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub, from 10:30 am-9 pm; search for "Chicken n' Biscuits by Cracker Barrel." Ingenious.

Cracker Barrel's senior director of strategy and innovation Matthew Schaefer says in a statement that they know the chicken sandwich arena is competitive. But they are not cowed.

"For years, the debate around 'the best chicken sandwich' has been growing," Schaefer says. "Chicken n' Biscuits by Cracker Barrel is excited to enter the competition with our new Homestyle Chicken Sandwich."

"The best part is that guests can enjoy this new sandwich plus other homestyle comfort food made with care like Hand-Breaded Fried Chicken Tenders or scratch-made Biscuit Beignets right at home through their favorite on-demand delivery partners," Schaefer says.

Houston-area locations where it's available include:

Cypress: 27040 NW Freeway
West Houston: 18151 Katy Freeway
Pearland: 11019 Shadow Creek Pkwy
League City: 231 Gulf Freeway South
Conroe: 1301 League Line Rd.

It's also available at select locations in Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio.

The company also operates The Pancake Kitchen by Cracker Barrel, their breakfast-all-day, pancake-delivery brand; and Cracker Barrel Kitchen, the anchor brand for its ghost kitchen outposts which launched in California in 2021.

trends openings

there's the rub

Restaurant known for 'new Houston cuisine' now open in Cypress

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.

A restaurant known for its eclectic “new Houston cuisine” has opened in Cypress. The fourth location of Jonathan’s the Rub is now open for dinner in Bridgeland (20215 Bridgeland Creek Parkway).

First announced last year, the new Jonathan’s is located in Village Green, a 70-acre mixed-use development within the 925-acre Bridgeland Central district. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant includes two patios totaling 2,600 square feet, giving the restaurant plenty of room for private dining rooms, a bar area, and indoor-outdoor areas with fire pits and greenery.

“We were looking for the next frontier — a community with a booming population and a clear vision for growth that aligns with our brand,” chef-owner Jonathan Levine said in a statement. “When we discovered Bridgeland and learned it was a Howard Hughes development, we were immediately impressed. With their reputation for developing generational communities, we felt confident that Bridgeland was the right place for our family and for Jonathan’s the Rub.”

Like Jonathan’s three other locations, the menu at Bridgeland is built around Levine’s signature “new Houston cuisine,” a kicked-up take on comfort food that includes everything from lobster tacos and blackened shrimp and grits to Italian American classics and steakhouse fare.

Village Green is also home to H-E-B and restaurants such as Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café and Crust Pizza Co. Austin-based burger joint P. Terry’s will open there next year.

“Jonathan’s the Rub’s arrival in Bridgeland Central brings a distinguished addition to the culinary scene in both the community and northwest Houston,” said Jim Carman, president of the Texas region, for Bridgeland developer Howard Hughes Communities. “We’re proud to partner with exceptional restaurateurs like Chef Jonathan Levine to bring elevated dining experiences that enhance the lifestyle offerings for our residents and neighbors.”

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.