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More popular Houston restaurants have reopened for dine-in and to-go service

Less than a week after Gov. Greg Abbott permitted Texas restaurants to open for dine-in service, more Houston restaurants have made the decision to reopen their doors. This list also includes some places that have recently reopened for to-go only.

Consider this article a supplement to last week’s more comprehensive rounds up of restaurants that reopened for dine-in and those remaining to-go.

BCN: The Spanish fine dining restaurant reopens for dinner service on Friday, May 8. Open Tuesday - Saturday for seatings at 5, 7, and 9 pm.

El Meson: Rice Village's favorite place for paella and Spanish wine has reopened for dine-in service, open at 11 am Monday - Saturday and 12 pm Sunday.

Eunice: The Louisiana-inspired restaurant has reopened for daily dine-in service. Reservations by phone required, 11 am - 8 pm Monday - Saturday and 11 am - 7 pm Sunday.

Finn Hall: Four of the downtown food hall’s vendors — Pizza Zquare, Craft Burger, Lit Chicken, and Odd Ball Eats — are now open to the public. The rest — Dish Society, Papalo Taqueria, Pho Binh, and Yong — are feeding frontline workers. Finn Hall will match every $15 meal donated by the public. Hours of operation are 11 am - 8 pm Monday - Friday.

Frank’s Americana Revival: The River Oaks restaurant devoted to classic American fare reopens for dine-in service on Friday, May 8. Hours are 11 am - 8:30 pm Monday - Friday and 5:30 - 8:30 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Goode Company: The company has reopened the following locations for lunch and dinner (11:30 am - 7:30 pm daily): Goode Co. Barbeque Memorial and Kirby; Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina Memorial and The Woodlands; Goode Co. Seafood Memorial; and Goode Co. Taqueria. Owner Levi Goode provided his employees with a test for COVID-19 prior to their return to work.

Guard & Grace: When the posh downtown steakhouse resumes dine-in service on Friday, May 8, it will do so with a new leadership team: executive chef Steve Haug, formerly of places such as Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Grazia, and The Oceanaire Seafood Room, and general manager George Malek, whose resume includes Fleming’s and Morton’s.

Hours of operation are 4:30 - 9 pm Tuesday - Thursday and 4:30 - 9:30 Friday and Saturday. In the absence of valet service, diners may park in the 1100 Smith St. garage for $10.

Killen’s STQ: Ronnie Killen’s restaurant that blends a steakhouse with barbecue touches has reopened for dine-in 5-9 pm Wednesday - Saturday.

One Fifth Mediterranean: Chris Shepherd and chef de cuisine Matt Staph begin a revival of the concept that Texas Monthly’s Pat Sharpe described as “one of the best restaurants of [Shepherd’s] career" on Friday, May 8. Hours of operation will be 11:30 am - 8 pm daily.

Ouzo Bay/Loch Bar: The Baltimore-based seafood restaurants — one, a globally inspired fine dining restaurant with a lengthy wine list and the other, an East Coast-style tavern with lots of bourbon — reopen for dinner on Friday, May 8. Both restaurants are offering a $25 gift card to anyone who books a reservation this weekend. See each restaurant’s website for hours of operation.

Postino WineCafé: Both the Heights and Montrose locations of the Arizona-based wine bar and cafe have reopened for dine-in service with their full menus and regular hours.

Public Services: The downtown wine and whisky bar will be open for to-go service this weekend. Offerings include wine, beer, cocktail kits, snacks, and more, 3 - 8 pm Thursday - Saturday.

Relish Restaurant and Bar: The River Oaks comfort food restaurant will reopen — patio seating only — for lunch (11 am - 3 pm, counter service) and dinner (4 - 8 pm, reservations recommended) beginning Friday, May 8.

Saigon House: Chef-owner Tony Nguyen has opened the new location of his shuttered Midtown restaurant in northwest Houston at 3645 FM 1960. Get the restaurant’s signature Viet Cajun crawfish in either H-Town Bang or Thai Surprise flavors by ordering online. To-go and delivery only, 5 - 9 pm Tuesday - Sunday.

Savoir: The wine-fueled restaurant resumes both dine-in and to-go dinner service on Thursday, May 7, plus Sunday brunch. La Grande Rue, the restaurant’s companion cafe and wine shop, will sell wines to-go at 40-percent off. Limited menu, reservations recommended, 5 - 9 pm.

Shun Japanese Kitchen: Chef Naoki Yoshida’s restaurant that blends Japanese and Texan influences reopens for dine-in service on Friday, May 8. Hours are 5 - 9 pm Tuesday - Sunday.

Slowpokes: The Garden Oaks location of the coffee shop and cafe has opened for to-go service 8 am - 6 pm daily.

The Toasted Coconut: The tiki-inspired bar and restaurant resumes dine-in service with a limited food menu — patio seating only and diners must wear masks when not eating or drinking. In addition, the restaurant is selling ramen, cocktail kits, and more to-go, 2 - 9 pm Thursday - Sunday.

Traveler’s Table: Montrose’s globally inspired Montrose restaurant resumes dine-in service on Friday, May 8 beginning at 5 pm daily. Weekend brunch begins on Mother’s Day. Reservations recommended.

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux: Recently opened in Spring, the Louisiana-based sports bar opens for dine-in beginning at 11 am daily.

Both locations of Postino have reopened.

Photo by Becca Wright

Both locations of Postino have reopened.

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Croissant-obsessed French cafe sets opening date in downtown Houston park

Photo by Mariela Callaway

Petite Lucie opens this Saturday, May 30.

Downtown Houston will soon welcome a new, all-day French cafe. Petite Lucie, a new restaurant from Love Croissants owner Culinary Matters, will begin its soft opening this Saturday, May 30.

Located in the former Niko Niko’s space at Market Square Park, Petite Lucie offers a covered, outdoor dining pavilion and an indoor-outdoor cocktail bar. Designed by the Houston office of the global architecture giant Gensler, the cafe also includes lighting, greenery, and other details to make it a comfortable place to dine throughout the day.

The restaurant is led by chefs Omar Pereney and Sahira Malherbe. Pereney’s history in Houston goes back more than 10 years, when the then-20-year-old served as executive chef at Peska, an ambitious (but short-lived) seafood restaurant in Uptown’s BLVD Place development. Since then, he’s worked as a consultant who contributed to a number of local restaurants as well as the owner of Love Croissants, which supplies oversized pastries to restaurants, coffee shops, and markets throughout Houston. In January, Pereney and Malherbe took over operations at Weights + Measures in Midtown.

“At its core, Petite Lucie is about creating moments of escape and discovery in the middle of the city,” Pereney said in a statement. “We wanted to build something romantic but approachable — a place where someone can stop in for a croissant and espresso in the morning, meet friends for cocktails in the afternoon or linger over a casual dinner under the stars at night.”

Of course, Petite Lucie’s menu starts with a selection of pastries from Love Croissants, including a butter croissant, almond-cardamom croissant, pain au chocolat, and a coffee bun. Other breakfast options include a breakfast sandwich served on a croissant, lemon blueberry French toast, and avocado toast with smoked salmon.

Lunch and dinner options include jambon croquettes, croque monsieur, chicken salad croissant sandwich, steak frites, and a bowl made with lentils, quinoa, vegetables, and onion jam that can be enhanced with salmon or grilled chicken. Desserts include chocolate chip cookies, ice cream, and what’s described in press materials as a “life-changing” birthday cake.

Petite Lucie birthday cake Share a birthday cake at Petite LucieCourtesy of Petite Lucie

Jaime de Leon, an advanced sommelier and frequent Pereney collaborator, oversees a beverage program that includes spritzes, cocktails, and a French-oriented wine list that includes large format bottles of sparkling wine to power group celebrations. A custom St-Germain cart will serve draft cocktails at busy times and during events.

Located in the oldest part of Houston, Market Square Park is close to attractions such as the Theater District, Daikin Park, Post Houston, and more. In addition to Petite Lucie, the area will soon welcome a second location of modern general store Henderson & Kane in the former Treebards space. On Saturday, downtown will celebrate the opening of the nearby Main Street Promenade with a market, live entertainment, and more.

Petite Lucie is located at 301 Milam Street. It’s open daily from 7 am-9 pm.

Photo by Mariela Callaway

Petite Lucie opens this Saturday, May 30.

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