kings of the south

Popular Heights-area German beer house brews up sunny new location

As summer fun and sun season fast approaches, the Sitter family is set to help people soak up some rays in Galveston County. They’re the team behind the popular Heights destination King’s Bierhaus — and on April 23, they’ll expand operations into League City at 828 W. FM 646.

The new spot will offer 11,000 square feet for enjoying German beers, brats, and Bavarian pig roasts. The League City location is part of KB Restaurant Group, which franchises the King's BierHaus concept. This is the first expansion of the King’s BierHaus brand from Hans and Philipp Sitter — the lively father-son duo originally from Austria who turned a Pearland car wash into the nationally acclaimed King’s Biergarten in 2011.

“We’ve created this sense of community with all of our concepts, and we’re excited to bring that to our fans in League City,” Philipp Sitter tells CultureMap. “We’re known for our over-the-top events like our Bavarian Pig Roasts, themed trivia, and live music. We are happy to be the place where folks can come out and enjoy a bier at one of our community tables or escape to our expansive biergarten.”

The League City spot will offer gourmet sausages, authentic specialties, and world-renowned brews such as Weinstephaner Vitus, which is produced by the world’s oldest brewery and has been rated the No. 1 best beer in the world.

King’s also pours two of the most highly rated monastery breweries in Germany; one is the world’s oldest monastery brewery. The full lineup includes 25 German taps and a dozen craft beers. King’s BierHaus League City will also feature an extensive whiskey list, such as the house-made King’s Whiskey, seasonal specialty cocktails, high-quality German and Austrian wines, and will expand the region’s largest authentic Schnapps collection.

The new location offers a handful of different unique dining experiences, including a full-service inside bar fully equipped with outlets and high-speed internet for the working professionals, small tables and booths inside, indoor and outdoor beer hall-style tables, dozens of high-definition televisions, and an additional 5,000 square foot expansive patio.

“League City has been waiting for us for quite some time — we’re ready to show them good times and great food,” Philipp said in a press release announcing the opening. “Nothing excites me more than what we’re about to do.”

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King’s BierHaus; League City at 828 W. FM 646; opens at 5 pm on Tuesday, April 23 and will be open for dinner service only during the first week. Regular hours begin on Monday, April 29, opening daily at 11 am.

Das Boot.

Photo courtesy of King's Bierhaus

Das Boot.

say hey to Hypsi

Houston chef's hip new Italian restaurant now open in Heights hotel

Photo by Julie Soefer

Hypsi serves pasta and other Itaian-inspired dishes.

A new Italian restaurant is now open in the Heights. Located within the newly opened Hotel Daphne, Hypsi marks chef Terrence Gallivan’s return to professional cooking in Houston.

Known for his time as the co-execuive chef of The Pass and Provisions and owner of ElRo Pizza and Crudo, Gallivan brings strong culinary credentials to Hypsi. Although he isn’t known explicitly for Italian fare, he has significant experience making pizza, pasts, and other Italian-inspired dishes. After closing ElRo last year, the chef says that working for Bunkhouse Hotels, the Austin-based company that operates the Daphne, had a lot of appeal.

“My wife and I always made it a point to stop at their places whenever we’re in Austin. They know how to make cool stuff,” Gallivan says.

Hypsi’s menu includes updated takes on Italian fare begins with starters such as lamb meatballs, black truffle arancini, and Caesar salad. A selection of house-made pastas include squid ink radiatori with rock shrimp, butternut squash tortellini, and lumache with vodka sauce that gets a little heat from nduja. Entree choices include a roast chicken, pork Milanese, and roasted snapper with salsa verde.

The restaurant is also open for breakfast during the week and brunch on the weekends with items such as a panatone waffle, frittata, and breakfast sandwich. Lunch will follow in January.

“We took inspiration from tradition without being traditional,” Gallivan says. Later, he adds, “For me, it’s about balance. You try to please everybody. I want my mom to enjoy herself as much as a 25-year-old foodie. It’s important to hit as many marks as you can.”

One of the restaurant’s signatures will be the mozzarella cart that rolls through its dining room. Gallivan says he’s sourcing a mix of both American and imported Italian cheeses that will rotate every week or two. The cheese is served with a range of pickled fruit and vegetables, olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, focaccia, and more. Of course, seeing a cart immediately grabs diners’ attention, making them want whatever is on offer.

“That’s the beauty of carts,” Gallivan says. “It’s a fun thing to do. I think sometimes we get a little too serious in restaurants. It’s supposed to be fun. People are here to enjoy themselves.”

All that eating and drinking takes place in a dining room that’s inspired by Prohibition-era speakeasies, according to press materials. Details include blueberry lava stone on the bar, vintage velvet chairs, and custom Carimate dining chairs by Vico Magistretti. An outdoor patio features brick pavers, mosaic tables, and sculptures.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Hypsi serves pasta and other Itaian-inspired dishes.

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