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.
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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away from other tables — they’ll find that shared condiment dispensers such as ketchup bottles and salt shakers have been replaced by single-use, disposable items.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.
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.
Space cowgirls and cowboys are welcome at Roswell's Saloon.
Photo by Becca Wright