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    El Tiempo Arrives

    Inside the new El Tiempo: Laurenzos put their stamp on massive Montrose location with a lot of history

    Eric Sandler
    Apr 18, 2015 | 11:00 am

    El Tiempo's second Montrose location opened to the public Friday. Known as the 1308 Annex, the building that's been home to La Strada, Caffe Bello, Don Julio and La Casa del Caballo is a massive, two-story affair that seats almost 300 people.

    The menu is the same as the other six El Tiempo locations around Houston, which is good news for the restaurant's legions of fans. For opening weekend, the new location will only serve about 80 percent of the full menu, but, since that includes fajitas and queso, most people should be fine.

    While the food may be the same, significant changes make the building look like an El Tiempo inside and out.

    While the food may be the same, significant changes make the building look like an El Tiempo inside and out. For example, the Laurenzo family has added a patio along Westheimer and built thatched roof palapas at both the main entrance and above each of the small, second story patios. A giant, bronze-colored horse stands at the corner of Taft and Westheimer, and a cow with a map of the world painted on its flanks stands near the entrance to the parking lot.

    Other exterior changes consist of palm streets that run the entire block — even in front of next door neighbor Numbers. In addition, El Tiempo has leased Numbers parking lot and upgraded it by paving its famously rutted surface. Those lots will likely be valet-only on the weekends, but at least they'll hold plenty of cars.

    New kitchen

    All new kitchen equipment includes a wood-burning grill for the restaurant's signature fajitas, as well as a small smoker for those brisket tacos that are one of El Tiempo's underrated gems. Most importantly, executive chef Dominic Lorenzo shows off a massive new dumbwaiter that's capable of hauling up to 900 pounds of food from the first floor kitchen to the second floor dining room in 18 seconds.

    What will the relationship be between the 1308 Annex and the original 1308 that's only a mile away?

    Wrought iron chandeliers are the most noticeable change to the interior; Laurenzo notes that they're handmade in Mexico by the same craftsman for every location. La Casa del Caballo's red leather bar top has been replaced with tile, but the flame motif tile along the staircase remains.

    The upstairs also gets its own bar, which is conveniently located near the elevator at the top of the stairs. It also seats more people than the downstairs and features windows that will be open in pleasant weather.

    What will the relationship be between the 1308 Annex and the original 1308 that's only a mile away? Laurenzo thinks they'll coexist just fine. He notes that waits at the original can run up to two hours on weekends. Additionally, 1308's future is still uncertain. Lorenzo says the restaurant will remain in the space through January 2016 but isn't certain what happens after that.

    In the meantime, Montrose residents can enjoy decreased waits for enchiladas and sizzling parrillada platters.

    This massive bronze horse stands at the corner of Westheimer and Taft.

    El Tiempo Montrose 1308 Cantina Annex
      
    Photo by Eric Sandler
    This massive bronze horse stands at the corner of Westheimer and Taft.
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    news/restaurants-bars

    finally coming to H-Town

    Michelin-recognized Austin restaurant group reveals first Houston project

    Eric Sandler
    Jun 12, 2025 | 10:28 am
    Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group chef partners Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Kevin Fink.
    Photo by Jessica Attie
    Emmer & Rye partners Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Kevin Fink.

    One of Texas’ most lauded hospitality groups is finally coming to Houston. Austin-based Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group has claimed the former MF Lobster space in Autry Park for a new restaurant that will open in late 2025.

    At this time, Emmer & Rye isn’t providing any details about the restaurant, including its name or what kind of food it will serve. Given that the group serves everything from Caribbean food at Canje to Mediterranean fare at Ladino, it’s essentially impossible to predict how they’ll utilize the 2,200-square-foot, circular-shaped building.

    Known for concepts such as Hestia, a live restaurant in Austin that earned a Michelin star, and Emmer & Rye, the only Texas restaurant to earn a Michelin green star for sustainability, Emmer & Rye Hospitality operates restaurants in Austin and San Antonio, including Pullman Market, recently named by Robb Report as the No. 3 best new restaurant in America.

    Both chef-partners in the group, Kevin Fink and Tavel Bristol-Joseph, have received prestigious Best New Chef awards from Food & Wine. Fink is a two-time James Beard Award finalist, and Bristol-Joseph earned a semifinalist nomination in 2023.

    Southern Smoke Festival 2022 Kevin Fink Tavel Bristol JosephKevin Fink, left, and Tavel Bristol-Joseph, right, at the 2022 Southern Smoke Festival. Photo by Emily Jaschke

    “We’ve had our eye on Houston — and specifically Autry Park — for quite some time,” Bristol-Joseph said in a statement. “When the opportunity to take over such a unique space came along, we couldn’t pass it up. Houston has such a vibrant and diverse culinary community, and we look forward to opening our doors and contributing to the city’s incredible culinary landscape.”

    As for MF Lobster, it closed on Tuesday, June 10, according to press materials. Owner Chris Kinjo has decided to focus on his other restaurants, including MF Sushi in the Museum District and Annam, a recent addition to Autry Park that serves elevated Vietnamese fare.

    “As much as we loved MF Lobster, it sat in an American dining genre that’s outside our natural wheelhouse,” Kinjo said. “We decided it made sense to sell the restaurant and concentrate on culinary ventures that reflect our Vietnamese and Japanese heritage.”

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