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    Restaurants reopening May 1

    Master list of Houston restaurants reopening for dine-in service beginning May 1

    Eric Sandler
    Apr 29, 2020 | 2:20 pm

    UPDATE: CultureMap has published lists of additional restaurants that reopened for dine-in service on May 6 and May 13. Please see them for restaurants not listed below.

    ---

    Dozens of Houston restaurants will reopen for dine-in service on Friday, May 1.

    This list includes almost exclusively locally owned establishments from across a variety of price points and parts of Houston. That's not necessarily the case in other parts of Texas; our sister site in Austin declined to publish a similar list of restaurants because “our story would largely consist of mega-chains or restaurant groups based in other cities.”

    Those who choose to dine out this weekend will find restaurants to be different places than they were in February. Per regulations from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, diners will not be able to use valet parking. They will be expected to wash their hands upon entering a restaurant. Once seated — at parties no larger than six and at least six feet away from other tables — they’ll find that shared condiment dispensers such as ketchup bottles and salt shakers have been replaced by single-use, disposable items.

    Picos has installed plexiglass partitions at the bar and in between some tables to separate both staff from diners and diners from each other. Many restaurants are limiting restroom occupancy to one person at a time, with a staff member monitoring the area to enforce social distancing. Contactless payment via Venmo or another app may be strongly encouraged.

    Similarly, most restaurants have not only explicitly endorsed the Texas Restaurant Association’s Texas Restaurant Promise that recommends daily health screening of employees and frequent sanitizing of common areas but have also told CultureMap that their employees will be wearing masks and gloves when they interact with customers. Patrons should also strongly consider face coverings when they’re not eating to help prevent spreading the virus.

    While the decision to reopen or patronize a restaurant’s dining room is controversial — one Instagram follower got blocked for a message that simply read “restaurants = death” — many people are ready to dine out. Representatives tell CultureMap that both Tony’s and Steak 48 are mostly booked for both Friday and Saturday, and Federal Grill had no trouble filling its available tables when it reopened last weekend.

    The good news for people who don’t feel ready to eat outside their homes is that all of the restaurants listed below still offer to-go service. That will obviously be part of the mix for the foreseeable future; neither the current 25-percent limit on capacity or Governor Abbott’s upcoming “phase 2” (scheduled for May 18) of 50-percent capacity will be a path to profitability for any restaurant.

    Like diners, not all restaurateurs are ready to proceed. Chris Shepherd’s Underbelly Hospitality, Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught’s H-Town Restaurant Group, and dozens of other establishments large and small are waiting to see what phase 2 brings. They will also continue to offer meals to-go.

    This list is lengthy but it is not comprehensive. CultureMap will update it through Friday, May 1 as more restaurants announce their plans.

    Montrose/Midtown/Third Ward

    Artisans: Limited menu and hours. Reservations required.

    Avondale Food & Wine: Regular menu and hours.

    Cafe Brasil: Limited menu. Open daily 8 am - 8 pm.

    Café Poêtes: High tea and dinner only. Reservations required.

    Candente: Limited menu includes fajitas, Tex-Mex classics, nachos, and queso. Reservations required, 4 - 10 pm Wednesday - Sunday.

    Christian’s Tailgate: Limited menu. Open daily at 11 am for lunch and dinner.

    Common Bond: Regular menu and hours.

    Cuchara Mexico City Bistro: Regular menu and hours.

    Da Marco: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

    Dolce Vita: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

    Empire Cafe: Regular menu and hours.

    Eugene’s: Regular menu and hours Monday - Saturday. Reservations recommended but only available by calling the restaurant (online not available for now).

    Harry’s Restaurant: Regular menu and hours. Cafeteria service replaced with a new, sit-down lunch menu.

    Kau Ba: Regular menu and hours.

    La Mexicana: Regular menu and hours.

    Lucio’s BYOB: Regular menu and hours.

    Lucille's: Patio seating only with a limited meun. Reservations required. Hours: 5 - 9 pm Friday, 10 am - 3 pm and 5 - 9 pm Saturday, 10 am - 3 pm Sunday.

    Nino's: Regular menu and hours beginning May 4.

    Paulie’s: Regular menu and hours.

    The Pit Room: Line service with social distancing resumes May 1 with limited interior and patio seating, 11 am - 9 pm daily.

    Pronto Cucina: Regular menu and hours.

    Postino: Regular menu and hours beginning May 6.

    Revelry on Richmond: Limited menu and hours. Crawfish specials on Saturday and Sunday.

    Taste Bar & Kitchen: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

    Turkey Leg Hut: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

    Vincent's: Regular menu and hours beginning May 4.

    Vinoteca Poscol: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

    Weights + Measures: Regular menu. Reservations required for dinner; walk-ins accepted for breakfast and lunch, 8 am - 9 pm.

    The Heights and Surrounding Neighborhoods

    1751 Sea and Bar: Limited menu includes raw bar, conservas, and simply grilled items. Reservations required, 4 - 10 pm Tuesday - Saturday.

    Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys: Full menu but limited hours, 11 am - 4 pm Monday - Saturday.

    Be More Pacific: Full menu with limited hours: 3 - 10 pm Wednesday - Sunday.

    Becks Prime: Regular menu and hours.

    Bellagreen: Regular menu and hours.

    Bungalow Heights: Regular menu and hours.

    Chick'nCone: Regular menu and hours.

    Christian’s Tailgate: Limited menu. Open daily at 11 am for lunch and dinner.

    CoCo Crepes: Regular menu and hours.

    Coltivare: Regular menu available beginning May 6 for patio seating only. Reservations required (the first time the restaurant will be accepting them). Seatings at 5 and 7 pm Sunday - Thursday with a 9 pm seating Friday and Saturday.

    Common Bond: Regular menu and hours.

    Crisp: Limited menu and hours. Reservations recommended, 12 - 9 pm.

    Dish Society: Regular menu and hours. Patio seating only.

    EggHaus Gourmet: Limited menu and regular hours.

    Federal American Grill: Regular menu and hours.

    Field & Tides: Regular menu but limited hours. Reservations recommended, 12 - 4 pm and 6 - 10:30 pm with dinner seatings at 6 and 8 pm.

    Flying Fish: Regular menu and limited hours, 11 am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday and 11 am - 10 pm Friday and Saturday.

    Harold's: Open for dinner and weekend brunch only in the upstairs dining room and patio. Ordering and payment will be online via smartphone or tablet. Reservations recommended.

    Jax Grill: Limited menu and regular hours.

    King’s BierHaus: Limited menu with crawfish specials on Saturday and Sunday, 4 - 9 pm daily.

    Local Foods: Patio seating and counter service only, 10 am - 8 pm daily

    Mary’z Mediterranean Cuisine: Regular menu and hours.

    Pluckers: Regular menu open daily 11 am - 11 pm.

    Porta’Vino: Regular menu but limited hours, 5 - 9 pm daily.

    Postino: Regular menu and hours.

    Revival Market: Regular hours and menu.

    Shell Shack: Regular hours and menu.

    Snooze: An AM Eatery: Regular menu and hours beginning May 6.

    Star Pizza. Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

    Studewood Cantine: Regular menu and hours.

    The Toasted Yolk: Regular menu and hours.

    The Union Kitchen: Limited menu and regular hours. Reservations recommended.

    Verdine: Dine-in only available for dinner, 5 - 8 pm Tuesday - Saturday. Reservations required. To-go available 11 am - 8 pm Tuesday - Saturday and 11 am - 3 pm Sunday.

    Downtown, EaDo, East End, and the Second Ward

    Bravery Chef Hall: Patio seating only. Diners will be required to order and pay online using a smartphone. Customers who wish to use the restroom must wear a mask and allow their temperature to be taken.

    The Flying Saucer: Regular menu but limited hours: closing at 9 pm on weekdays and 11 pm on Friday.

    Grotto: Regular menu and hours.

    Jackson St. BBQ: Regular menu but limited hours, 11 am - 2 pm daily.

    La Calle Tacos & Cantina: Regular menu and hours with $0.99 tacos from 2-7 pm Friday - Sunday to celebrate reopening (dine-in or in person to-go only).

    Miss Carousel: New menu and hours beginning May 6.

    The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation: Regular menu and hours beginning with dinner at 5 pm on May 1. Reservations recommended.

    Osso & Kristalla: Regular menu and hours.

    Potente: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

    Rodeo Goat: Limited menu and hours, 11 am - 9 pm Sunday - Thursday and 11 am - 10 pm Friday and Saturday.

    The Rustic: Regular menu but limited hours, 12 - 10 pm Sunday - Thursday and 12 pm - 12 am Friday and Saturday.

    Underground Food Hall: All five vendors and both bars will reopen beginning at 11 am on Friday. Face masks are "strongly encouraged" for patrons. Capacity limited to 65 people (under 20-percent).

    Vic & Anthony's: Regular menu and hours.

    Vinny's: Regular menu and hours beginning May 6.

    West U, River Village, Upper Kirby, and River Oaks

    a’Bouzy: Full menu but limited hours (closing at 8 pm Monday - Thursday). Reservations recommended.

    Armandos: Regular menu and hours.

    Becks Prime: Regular menu and hours.

    Bellagreen: Regular menu and hours.

    Buffalo Grille: Regular menu and hours.

    Carrabba's: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

    Christian’s Tailgate: Limited menu. Open daily at 11 am for lunch and dinner.

    Coppa Osteria: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required and only accepted by phone.

    D'Amico's Italian Market Cafe: Regular menu and hours.

    Doris Metropolitan: Dinner service begins at 5 pm on May 1-2 and 7-9. Reservations required.

    Eighteen36: Regular menu and hours.

    Grace's: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

    Hungry’s: Regular menu and hours.

    Kiran's: Regular menu with new hours. Reservations recommended: 3 - 10 pm Monday - Thursday, 3 - 11 pm Friday and Saturday, 3 - 9 pm Sunday.

    Local Foods: Patio seating and counter service only, 10 am - 8 pm daily.

    Mia's Table: Regular menu and hours.

    Mina Ristorante: Regular menu and hours.

    Ouisie's Table: Limited menu and new hours, 11 am - 2:30 pm and 5 - 9 pm.

    Perry's Steakhouse: Limited menu and hours. Reservations recommended, 4 - 9 pm Saturday - Thursday and 11 am - 9 pm Friday.

    Picos: Regular menu and hours.

    Pondicheri: Regular menu and hours.

    Pronto Cucina: Regular menu and hours.

    The Raven Grill: Limited menu and hours, 4:30 - 9 pm Monday - Saturday.

    Roma Ristorante: The restaurant will follow all of the guidelines noted above as well as seating no more than 10 diners every 500-square-feet. Regular hours.

    Star Pizza. Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

    Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café: Regular menu and hours.

    Terrace 54: Regular menu and hours.

    Tony’s: Dinner only until Monday, May 11. Regular menu and hours after that.

    Verandah Progressive Indian Restaurant: Dinner only with a limited menu and a tasting menu, 5 - 11 pm daily.

    The Galleria and Surrounding Neighborhoods

    Amalfi: Regular menu and hours.

    Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys: Full menu but limited hours, 11 am - 4 pm Monday - Saturday.

    Becks Prime: Regular menu and hours.

    Bisou: Dinner beginning at 4 pm and brunch beginning at 10 am Saturday and Sunday. Reservations recommended.

    Cabo Bob's; Regular menu and hours.

    Dish Society: Regular menu and hours. Patio seating only.

    Etoile Cuisine et Bar: Two seatings nightly at 6 and 8 pm. Reservations required for the dining room, but walk-ins will be sat on the patio if seating is available.

    Fig & Olive: Regular menu and hours beginning May 2.

    HS Green: Regular menu and hours.

    Landry's, Inc: Restaurants including Mastro's, Willie G's, Del Frisco's, the Palm, Grotto, Morton's, the Oceanaire Seafood Room, and inside The Post Oak hotel are all operating with their regular menus and hours.

    Le Colonial: Lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended, 12 - 9 pm daily.

    Local Foods: Patio seating and counter service only, 10 am - 8 pm daily.

    Mary’z Mediterranean Cuisine: Regular menu and hours.

    Merus Grill: Regular menu and hours.

    Palazzo’s Café: Regular menu but limited hours. Reservations recommended.

    The Roastery at H-E-B: Regular menu and hours.

    Songkran Thai Kitchen: Regular menu and hours.

    Steak 48: Dinner only. Reservations required, 4 - 9 pm daily.

    The Toasted Yolk: Regular menu and hours.

    Turner's: Regular menu and hours beginning May 7. Reservations recommended.

    Chinatown and Southwest Houston

    Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse: Regular menu but limited hours. Reservations recommended, 5 - 10 pm Friday, 4 - 10 pm Saturday, 11 am - 3 pm and 5 - 9 pm Sunday.

    Bernie's Burger Bus: Bellaire location only, patio seating only, 12 - 8 pm daily.

    Bombshells: Regular menu and hours.

    Himalaya: Regular menu and hours.

    Jasmine Asian Cuisine: Regular menu and hours.

    Jax Grill: Limited menu and regular hours.

    Molina's Cantina: Regular menu and hours.

    Ocean Palace: Regular menu and hours.

    Pluckers: Regular menu open daily 11 am - 11 pm.

    Saigon Pagolac: Regular menu and hours.

    Saltillo Mexican Kitchen: Limited menu and hours, 4 - 9 pm Monday - Saturday.

    Tamales Don Pepe: Regular menu and hours.

    Memorial and Spring Branch

    Bellagreen: Regular menu and hours.

    Bori: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

    Buffalo Grille: Regular menu and hours.

    Carrabba's: Regular menu and hours. Reservations required.

    Dish Society: Regular menu and hours. Patio seating only.

    Federal American Grill: Regular menu with lunch service beginning May 4. Reservations required.

    Hungry’s: Regular menu and hours.

    Jonathan’s the Rub the Original BYOB: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

    Jonathan’s the Rub Memorial Green: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

    Perry's Steakhouse: Limited menu and hours. Reservations recommended, 4 - 9 pm Saturday - Thursday and 11 am - 9 pm Friday.

    Pluckers: Regular menu open daily 11 am - 11 pm.

    Roegels Barbecue: Regular menu and hours. Follow social media for dinner specials.

    State Fare: “Texas-sized” limited menu and regular hours.

    Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

    The Union Kitchen: Limited menu and regular hours. Reservations recommended.

    West Houston, the Energy Corridor, and Katy

    Alicia's Mexican Grille: Regular menu and hours.

    B.B. Italia: Dinner only beginning May 8; lunch follows on May 18. Reservations recommended.

    Becks Prime: Regular menu and hours.

    Bistro Provence: Regular menu and hours hours. Reservations recommended.

    Cafe Adel: Regular menu and hours.

    Cafe East: Regular menu and hours. Staff members will serve customers from the buffet.

    Christian’s Tailgate: Limited menu. Open daily at 11 am for lunch and dinner.

    Chuckwagon BBQ & Burgers: Regular menu and hours.

    Local Table: Regular menu and hours.

    Mia's Table: Regular menu and hours.

    Moderno Tacos & Tex Mex: Regular Menu but limited Hours. Reservations recommended.

    Molina's Cantina: Regular menu and hours.

    Orleans Seafood Kitchen: Regular menu with new hours beginning May 4, 11 am - 9 pm daily.

    Palazzo’s Westchase: Regular menu but limited hours. Reservations recommended.

    Pappy's Cafe: Opening May 4 with regular menu and hours. Happy hour available 3 - 7 pm Monday - Friday.

    Perry's Steakhouse: Limited menu and hours. Reservations recommended, 4 - 9 pm Saturday - Thursday and 11 am - 9 pm Friday.

    Phat Eatery: Regular menu and hours.

    Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café: Regular menu and hours.

    Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen: Regular menu and hours. Reservations recommended.

    Texadelphia: Regular menu and hours.

    Clear Lake, Friendswood, Pearland, and Points South

    Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse: Regular menu but limited hours. Reservations recommended, 5 - 10 pm Friday, 4 - 10 pm Saturday, 11 am - 3 pm and 5 - 9 pm Sunday.

    Eculent: No seatings larger than six people. Very limited availability in May and June. Reservations required.

    King’s BierHaus: Limited menu with crawfish specials on Saturday and Sunday, 4 - 9 pm daily.

    Mia's Table: Regular menu and hours.

    Perry's Steakhouse: Limited menu and hours. Reservations recommended, 4 - 9 pm Saturday - Thursday and 11 am - 9 pm Friday.

    Pluckers: Regular menu open daily 11 am - 11 pm.

    Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café: Regular menu and hours.

    Spring, The Woodlands, and Points North

    Alicia's Mexican Grille: Regular menu and hours.

    Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen: Regular menu and hours.

    Another Broken Egg Café: Regular menu and hours.

    Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse: Regular menu but limited hours. Reservations recommended, 5 - 10 pm Friday, 4 - 10 pm Saturday, 11 am - 3 pm and 5 - 9 pm Sunday.

    Becks Prime: Regular menu and hours.

    Bellagreen: Regular menu and hours.

    Bibo's Bistro: Regular menu served 12 - 8 pm Monday - Saturday.

    Mary’z Mediterranean Cuisine: Regular menu and hours.

    Mia's Table: Regular menu and hours.

    Perry's Steakhouse: Limited menu and hours. Reservations recommended, 4 - 9 pm Saturday - Thursday and 11 am - 9 pm Friday.

    Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café: Regular menu and hours.

    Texadelphia: Regular menu and hours.

    The Toasted Yolk: Regular menu and hours.

    Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux: Regular hours and menu beginning May 6.

    Wholesome Pies: Regular menu served 11 am - 8 pm Tuesday - Saturday.

    Coppa's dining room looks very difference with tables spread out.

    Coppa Osteria dining room social distancing
    Courtesy of Clark Cooper Concepts
    Coppa's dining room looks very difference with tables spread out.
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    Trend News

    America's hottest food trend is going bananas in Houston

    Teresa Gubbins
    Sep 7, 2026 | 4:00 pm
    Banana dessert and latte
    Photo by Vinn Koonyosying on Unsplash
    Banana dessert and latte.

    After centuries of being taken for granted, the everyday banana is having its moment. This tropical fruit, long prized for its rugged built-in packaging, has emerged on the foodie front as the viral It Flavor, surfacing in some unexpected food and drink, and acquiring the sacred ranking of "buzzy."

    In the past two years, banana has risen from lunchbox staple to starring role in upscale desserts, cocktails, and even coffee drinks. That ascent just officially peaked with its debut as a Starbucks flavor for fall '26, appearing in two beverages inspired by freshly baked banana bread: Iced Banana Bread Latte and Iced Banana Bread Chai, available through the fall season and beyond.

    When you've scored a flavor designation from Starbucks, you have arrived — and will be embraced by every other coffee chain, from banana bread cold brew at 7 Brew to banana cold foam at PJ's Coffee of New Orleans to banana cold foam at Dunkin'.

    According to menu research company Technomic, banana-flavored specials have surged by 70 percent in 2026. Banana bread is being hailed as an “extra hot” trend; after steadily rising since 2024, the flavor has surpassed pumpkin spice over the last two years in online searches.

    Old school banana
    Banana is hardly new to the dessert world, ruling in classics like bananas Foster, banana bread, banana pancakes, and banana pudding — a dessert that's been championed by Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn, whose passion for the pudding has helped get it on the menu of pretty much every barbecue restaurant across Texas.

    "I love banana pudding because of the payoff it provides for such a simple recipe," Vaughn says. "Banana pudding requires just three basic elements: The pudding, fresh banana slices, and some sort of cookie, most popularly Nilla wafers. Layer them in the right order, and you'll get layers of textural variation and different intensities of sweetness from each layer."

    Vaughn acknowledges that most barbecue joints have added banana pudding.

    "Yes, the popularity of banana pudding has grown a bit, but more importantly the banana pudding gets greater attention from barbecue fans and the pitmasters who make it," he says. "The artificial flavors of boxed banana-flavored pudding are nearly extinct, thankfully, so the flavor comes from real bananas."

    Using "better" banana is a big factor in its newfound popularity, says chef Casey La Rue, co-founder of La Rue Doughnuts in Dallas and Frisco. La Rue, who worked in top fine-dining restaurants for years, has witnessed the evolution of banana from not hot to ultra hot first-hand.

    “Banana used to be a difficult flavor because people associated it with artificial candy, overly sweet syrups, and that fake-banana taste," La Rue says. "Now chefs and coffee shops are using real banana, roasted banana, and more balanced combinations with coffee, caramel, chocolate, and spice."

    "It still feels nostalgic and familiar, but the flavor is finally being treated with more restraint and sophistication," he says. "People didn’t suddenly start liking banana — they started getting better versions of it.”

    Terrible Love Trrble Latter Terrible Love's Trrble Latte adds banana and chocolate syrups, whipped cream, and crumbled Nilla Wafers. Photo courtesy of Terrible Love

    Banana in coffee
    Another major influence behind the boffo banana comes from the growing popularity in the U.S. of Asian cuisine — tied specifically to banana-flavored milk, an iconic drink introduced by Korean food & beverage company Binggrae in 1974. Sold in a cute little bottle, it's a childhood staple for generations of Koreans, who were the first to add banana as a flavor to coffee drinks — inspiring Starbucks as well as Coffee Mate and Califa Farms, who both just came out with banana-flavored coffee creamers.

    Banana in coffee is now everywhere. Every coffee shop across Texas has a banana latte of some kind: Cafe Duro in Dallas, Smoking Tiger Korean bakery in Carrollton, Bruvana Coffee House in Flower Mound. Cafe Carola, new in Houston, serves a banana bread latte with their own house-made banana purée. Bright Coffee in San Antonio does a popular banana milk latte with espresso and banana sauce they make in house. Terrible Love in Austin features banana in its signature Trrbl Latte, with banana & chocolate syrups, whipped cream, and Nilla wafer crumbles. Matcha shops like Kissa Matcha in Grand Prairie are on the bandwagon, adding banana to their matcha lattes.

    banana sundae hai hospitality hai for her Banana sundae from Uchi and Uchiko. Photo by Hai Hospitality

    Banana manana
    The banana latte trend has spawned a banana rebound in other food groups, like the new banana bread pudding M&Ms and the banana-Nutella bundtlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes. Sonic is all in with a banana pudding shake, banana-pudding soft-serve (blended with vanilla wafer crumbles), and banana pudding cream slush, combining vanilla soft serve with banana flavor and ice.

    Habaneros Fresh Mex Cantina in Fort Worth just added banana pudding soft serve; owner Lawrence Caldwell says it's already a smash hit. Austin plant-based restaurant Fabrik recently featured banana creatively in its summer menu with a banana miso mousse with roasted banana compote. Hai Hospitality — whose restaurants Uchi and Uchiko have always been "fruit-forward" — recently whipped up a banana sundae for a charity event in Houston combining banana sorbet with coconut, caramel, plantains, and brûléed banana.

    La Rue Doughnuts has had banana on the menu for three months in a row; their September menu features a chocolate-banana-almond croissant, and in August, they did a banana cream pie doughnut.

    "My whole life, guests have said they hated banana desserts," La Rue says. "If guests saw a menu prior to dinner and it had banana, they'd request a different dessert. Now, the No. 1 selling items at our shops are all banana."

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