Zelko Moves On

Heights neighborhood restaurant is up for lease — for real this time

The building that houses Zelko Bistro is once again up for lease.

Photo by Eric Sandler

One of the most popular neighborhood restaurants in the Heights seems poised to close. On Tuesday, a "for lease" appeared in front of Zelko Bistro (spotted by an eagle-eyed CultureMap reader), and this time the change appears permanent.

Two years ago, a similar sign triggered a lawsuit from chef-owner Jamie Zelko against landlord Pappa K, LLC and a defiant social media post in which the restaurant vowed to remain open (since deleted); however, this time it doesn't appear the potential change in occupancy will come with similar drama.

Currently, Zelko is working towards opening a cafe in Evelyn's Park that would seem to give her a fresh start. She has yet to respond to CultureMap's requests for comment about the restaurant's future, but a Realtor who represents the landlord did.

"Their lease was up at the end of May," realtor Mike Huff tells CultureMap. "(Zelko) and the building's owner are working together to make that transition as easy as possible. They’re doing a short-term lease until that transition happens. We’re just trying to market the building because it’s going to be available."

With Zelko operating on a month-to-month basis, Huff couldn't say exactly how much longer the restaurant will be open, but he's already hearing from interested parties. Once the owner begins receiving offers, the new tenant could be chosen in the new couple of weeks.

"It’s a very desirable spot," Huff explains. "We have several restaurants, several coffee shops. We even have a day spa that is looking at this location."

closings the-heights

a spoonful of sugar

New Mexican eatery sweetens Houston with 150 spirits and bold flavors

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

A Dallas-based Mexican restaurant is coming to Houston. Mexican Sugar will open its first Houston location in Montrose this December.

Located next to Georgia James in the Regent Square mixed-use development, Mexican Sugar will occupy a two-story, 13,000-square-foot building. All that room offers seating for 375 as well as two private dining rooms with full audio-visual capabilities. Both the upstairs and downstairs patios will have a view of nearby Buffalo Bayou Park.

Its part of FB Society, the Dallas-based hospitality group behind Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines, and Haywire, the Texas-inspired comfort food restaurant that opened its first Houston-area location earlier this year. Mexican Sugar has three locations in the Dallas area: Plano, Las Colinas, and Uptown Dallas.

In a release, Mexican Sugar touts its use of seasonal ingredients. It also makes its tortillas by hand. Menu highlights include skirt steak, lobster fundido, and a bone-in pork chop. At brunch, look for options such as cajeta French toast, Benedictos Rancheros, and vanilla-cinnamon pancakes.

Agave fans will find plenty of choices courtesy of more the 150 tequilas and mezcals. They’re available in individual pours as well as in flights that allow customers to compare the flavors of the different spirits.

“Our goal is to create a dining experience that blends bold Mexican flavors with our signature style of hospitality that stays two steps ahead,” Justin Beam, Mexican Sugar’s director of operations, said in a statement. “We’re excited to offer Houstonians an immersive Mexican experience in a fresh, light, and approachable way.”

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

news-you-can-eat openings mexican sugar