Restaurant Pushed Out

Longtime Houston restaurant forced to shutter: Construction of hip River Oaks District kills its business

Highland Village-area restaurant Crapitto's is in its last days. The Italian restaurant will close after its dinner service this Saturday.

"Our building (like the others around it) is scheduled to be torn down, so it is with great sadness that, after 19 years, Crapitto's Cucina Italiana will serve its last supper on Saturday, May 24th," owner Frank Crapitto writes on Facebook.

Back in November, Crapitto denied that the sale of his block would have any immediate effect on the restaurant's future. "Crapitto's will remain," he told b4-u-eat. "We have a four year lease and will stay right here unless we choose to move to the new building if and only when a new restaurant location will be built to our specifications.

Conway tells CultureMap construction "took all of our parking," which forced the decision to shutter.

"Until that time Crapitto's is open and doing well and will stay that way."

General manager Shannon Conway tells CultureMap that the demolition currently going on "took all of our parking," which forced the decision to shutter. Frank Crappito plans to retire, according to Conway, but the general manager may work with other employees at the restaurant to find a new space.

The area around Crapitto's is undergoing extensive changes, thanks to the imminent arrival of the River Oaks District, a high-end mixed use development.

Although principally a source of well-executed, red sauce, Italian American fare, over the years Crapitto's had become known for the abundant crop of fresh, locally raised tomatoes that Frank Crapitto developed and had specially grown for the restaurant.

CultureMap contributor Marene Gustin praised the tomatoes in a 2012 column as part of a look at Crappito's sale of Frank's Chop House to Mike and Chris Shine.

Are you eager to see Crapitto's return in a new form, or had the restaurant outlived its usefulness? Sound off in the comments.

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bring on barnaby's

Favorite Houston comfort food spot picks Garden Oaks for 10th location

Courtesy of Barnaby's Cafe

Barnaby's Cafe is coming to the Stomping Grounds this fall.

Earlier this week, real estate developer Bryan Danna promised “big news…very soon” about a new tenant for the former LuLoo’s Day & Night space at his Stomping Grounds development in Garden Oaks. That news is that Houston favorite Barnaby’s Cafe has claimed the space for a new location that will open later this year.

When a Barnaby’s decal appear on the restaurant’s door a couple of days ago, news of the restaurant’s imminent arrival spread quickly on social media. It will be Barnaby’s tenth location, joining outposts in Montrose, River Oaks, the Heights, and more.

The restaurant will occupy a 2,250-square-foot space at the Stomping Grounds. It will offer a to-go window for people hanging out in the development’s green space as well as a gated, dog-friendly patio. Houston artist Roberto Cervantes will contribute works to the restaurant’s interior.

Founded in 1992 by restaurateur Jeff Gale, Barnaby’s is known for its wide-ranging and affordable menu of classic American fare, including salads, sandwiches, breakfast items, and dinner entrees. Customer favorites include the Lebanese chicken fattoush salad, chipotle black bean burger, baby back ribs, and green eggs, which are scrambled with spinach and artichoke hearts. Dogs can snack on a special “puppy menu” of ground beef, sliced chicken breast, or scrambled eggs over brown rice.

Stomping Grounds green space A to-go window will expedite orders for people in the Stomping Grounds' green space.Courtesy of Stomping Grounds

“Bringing Barnaby’s to Garden Oaks and Oak Forest has been on my wish list for more than a decade, so I’m incredibly grateful that Jeff Gale and his team saw Stomping Grounds as the right fit,” Danna said in a statement. “Jeff and I go back to his first Heights location, which was one of Barnaby’s first big moves north of Montrose, and I have always respected what he and his longtime team have built. Thirty years in the restaurant business is a serious accomplishment. You do not make it that long unless you know how to take care of people, build loyalty, and become part of the neighborhood.”

When it opens this fall, Barnaby’s will be open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. It will join other restaurants at the Stomping Grounds, including Fat Cat Creamery, Tex-Mex restaurant La Mex, Bollo Woodfired Pizza, casual sushi restaurant Himari, Little Sister Cake Shop, and High Five Mini Bar. Earlier this week, casual Vietnamese restaurant Pho Prime announced that it had claimed the space formerly occupied by The Pho Fix for a new location that will also open this fall.

news-you-can-eat openings stomping grounds barnaby's cafe