big star is back

Popular Heights neighborhood dive bar announces it won't shutter

Don't give up on Big Star Bar.

Remember all that talk a while ago about Big Star Bar shutting down? Yeah, just forget about that.

It appears the landlords who were going to sell the property once Big Star's lease was up this month have now had a change of heart. This news comes straight from longtime owner Brad Moore, who met up with one of them to finalize some details late last week. "I went for a meeting," recalls Moore. "We were just initialing something on the lease and she was like, 'Hey, I don't want to sell the building. If you want to stay...' and I was like, 'Heck, yeah, I want to stay.'"

Now that the beloved Heights dive bar won't be closing its doors, Moore hopes people will cease with prematurely mourning its loss, even though he explained in interviews that the Big Star would still be in business on a month-to-month basis until someone eventually bought the property. "People came to the 10th-anniversary party thinking it was the closing party," he says. "Anyway, it was kind of a perfect storm of confusion. But it's Big Star Bar -- a perfect storm of confusion is never surprising in that building."

That anniversary party, which happened last May 25 and 26, certainly had a steady stream of patrons — some already knew about the good news, while others wanted to pay their respects — celebrating throughout the weekend.

With legendary, Heights-based venue Fitzgerald's, which shut down late last year, getting the demolition treatment earlier this month, it isn't surprising that both the people who frequent Big Star, as well as the people who own the property, didn't want to see this one go too. "There's certainly a — for lack of a better term — vibe in the neighborhood," says Moore. "People are wary of what's going on, or frightened or disappointed."

But, rest assured, the Big Star Bar will still be around in the coming future. And even though he calls New Orleans his home these days, Moore will still run the joint along with owners Pam Pelligrino, Charlie Fernandez, and Arian Owens, with Eric Salzman handling general manager/house DJ duties. Says Moore, "I'm happy as heck that it's still gonna be there, and, yeah, I'll just pop in once a month and drink Lone Star with my friends over there. That's my plan."

the-heights nightlife

flying into Houston

Chopped champion's Indian-spiced fried chicken joint opens in Midtown

One of Houston’s most dynamic chefs has unveiled his take on fried chicken. Pok Pok Po is now open in Midtown.

Located at 3201 Louisiana, the restaurant is the latest concept from chef and Chopped champion Jassi Bindra and business partners Surpreet and Preet Paul Singh, the trio behind Indian fine dining restaurant Amrina in The Woodlands. Bindra’s fried chicken recipe uses a gluten-free flour and starch batter that’s seasoned with Indian Kashmiri red chili powder along with other herbs and spices. It’s pressure cooked to ensure the meat stays both juicy and crispy.

The certified halal chicken is available as strips, sandwiches (made with thigh meat), and chicken breast bites.Those looking for a heartier meal, can get their chicken served on top of sidewinder fries or in the “Rice & Shine,” which includes basmati rice and Bindra’s “Desi kimchi.” Beverage options include Akra, an American-style lager that’s brewed in India, cannabis-infused drinks from 8th Wonder and non-alcoholic options such as sodas and a mango lassi.

“At Pok Pok Po, we’re creating something that’s not just a meal but an experience,” Bindra said in a statement. “We’ve taken everything people love about fried chicken and given it a twist with bold, gluten-free recipes and flavors that truly speak to the diversity of Houston.”

While most counter service restaurants are designed primarily for to-go, Pok Pok Po’s 55-seat dining room caters to those who want to enjoy their meals. It features banquette seating and a white-and-black motif that will also be present at Bol, the restaurant’s sister concept that’s opening soon.

The two restaurants occupy part of the former Artisans space. Medium Rare, an affordable steak frites restaurant from Washington, D.C., recently opened next to Bol and Pok Pok Po.

Courtesy of Pok Pok Po

Pok Pok Po is now open in Midtown.

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