fish camp opening date

Goode Co.'s newest seafood restaurant makes a splash with big opening date in The Woodlands

The wait for The Woodlands' newest seafood restaurant ends tomorrow. Houston restaurateur Levi Goode will unveil his newest project, Goode Co. Fish Camp, this Tuesday, May 3.

Located in the former Goode Co. Barbeque space at 8865 Six Pines Dr., Goode Co. Fish Camp takes its inspiration from the Goode family's fishing cabin near San Luis Pass. Goode recalls trips there with his father, legendary Houston culinary figure Jim Goode, to fish for redfish, speckled trout, and flounder along the shores of Christmas Bay.

"Our trips there together and with family and friends solidified my love for the excitement of the catch and the ritual of coming together to prepare and enjoy a hard-earned meal," Goode said in a statement. "At the restaurant, we are keeping the fish camp vibe alive, one where oysters crack open as quickly as beer and fresh catch is enjoyed over tall tales."

Fish Camp represents an evolution of the Gulf Coast-inspired seafood dishes that the company serves at both locations of Goode Co. Seafood. Meals will typically start with oysters: raw, roasted, or served alongside shrimp, crab fingers, and the company's signature campechana in a seafood tower. Sandwich choices include seafood po' boys (grilled or fried catfish, oyster, or shrimp) along with a burger and an on-trend hot chicken sandwich.

Seafood lovers will find an extensive selection of entree choices, including wood-grilled fish camp steak, Texas-striped bass with salsa verde, and hearth-roasted yellowfin tuna with shrimp. A supplemental seasonal menu includes crawfish hand pies, Gulf blue crab mac and cheese, and Gulf crab and shrimp fettucine. For dessert, consider the restaurant's popular pecan pie along with Texas sheet cake, chocolate cream pie, or margarita pie (a twist on key lime).

One clear point of differentiation between Goode Co. Seafood and Fish Camp is behind the bar. The new restaurant features an extensive selection of cocktail that include both margaritas and punch by-the-glass or pitcher along with coastal classics like the daiquiri, pina colada, dark and stormy, and martini. The popular ranch water cocktail is served in draft form in a Topo Chico bottle. Craft beer and a tidy wine list are also available.

In terms of design, look for neon signs and framed photographs of coastal life by photographer Tim Romano. Other details include a marble-topped bar and a covered patio. All told, the restaurant seats 100 indoors with room for 82 on the dog-friendly patio.

Fish Camp isn't the company's only project under development. Last summer, Goode Co. announced that it will open a new restaurant in the former Down House space in the Heights. No details about the name or style of food have been released yet. The company recently reopened its barbecue restaurant in northwest Houston.

Founded more than 40 years ago, Goode Co. is known for its Texas-inspired fare. Its restaurants include Goode Co. Seafood, Goode Co. Barbeque, Tex-Mex restaurant Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina, and Armadillo Palace, a comfort food restaurant and live music venue.

The new restaurant's Gulf snapper crudo.

Photo by Paula Murphy

The new restaurant's Gulf snapper crudo.

openings news-you-can-eat

J.J.'s hot takes

Texans legend J.J. Watt drops 'controversial' crawfish take on soccer podcast

Courtesy of FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee

J.J. Watt discussed Houston's food scene on Men in Blazers.

“If you’re checking your watch, I’m on food talk now, so we’re going to be awhile.”

With that comment, former Houston Texans star and future Pro Football Hall of Famer J.J. Watt launched into an epic tribute to Houston’s dynamic food scene. Speaking with host Roger Bennett on the globally-renown soccer podcast Men in Blazers, Watt spent about 15 minutes introducing the show’s audience to many of the cuisines and restaurants that Houstonians love.

“When you look at this singular city, at Houston, what is it in your mind that makes it great — that the world is going to see this summer,” Bennett asks at approximately the 1:45 mark.

“Food,” Watt replies. “Truthfully, we have great, great food. I have always said that Houston is one of the most underrated food cities in the world. People that come here are going to get fatter.”

Encouraged by Bennett to “go deeper” into the topic, Watt offered more than 20 suggestions for restaurants to try. They included:

Breakfast tacos at Island Grill and Pappas Bar-B-Q
Barbecue at Killen’s Barbecue
Burgers at Becks Prime, The Burger Joint, and Killen’s Burgers
Seafood at Pappadeaux

Watt told an entertaining anecdote about Trill Burgers, the smash burger concept from Houston hip-hop legend Bun B.

“Trill Burgers, they put something in there that can’t be legal,” Watt quipped. “I’ve talked to Bun B. It’s like crack, okay? He gave me one of those burgers. When I came back from the Ring of Honor at the Texans, they put Trill Burgers in our suite. There were six, and there were 12 people in the suite. I had four of them. Everyone else had to fight over two burgers.”

Asked about crawfish, Watt dropped an opinion that he acknowledged would be controversial. “You’re not going to like,” he told the 300-person, sold-out crowd.

“That’s a lot of work. Then they tell you to suck the head. I’ll be honest. Didn’t do a lot for me,” Watt stated. “Look at this [points to himself]. The amount of crawfish you have to break and eat. When they dump it all out, I have to have my own 9-foot table. Nobody has the time to break that many crawfish open and suck the heads on every one.”

Watt appeared on the show as part of its Houston episode that marked 99 days until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Houston Rockets icon and Basketball Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon also appeared on the show, which was recorded at Rice University.

Houston will host seven matches from June 14 - July 4, including five in the group stage and one each in the round of 32 and the round of 16. Find more details about the tournament and local celebrations at the official FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee website.

news-you-can-eat podcasts jj watt