Celeb Spotting

Rock star life food TV show roars into Houston: Ready for RoadEats?

The scene during the RoadEats taping at Freebirds.
Sal Coz Costa and Payman Khania

Add Freebirds to the list of things (mainstream rock, Canada, photography, 2004) that Nickelback has ruined — sort of.

Over the Memorial Day weekend Sal Coz Costa, lead guitarist of My Darkest Days and self-proclaimed former Nickelback guitarist (the Internet contains no evidence to support this claim, but MDD is signed to Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger's label) is working on a show called RoadEats that documents his rockstar life on the road and the food he discovers along the way.

(Judging by the airport photos he's posting on Facebook, "RoadEats" is not technically accurate.)

Anyways, Costa hit up Houston over the weekend and included Freebirds in his filming schedule, playing a couple acoustic sets, signing autographs and going behind the counter to roll burritos with regional director Payman Khania after he finished his burrito.

With a little Facebook sleuthing, it looks like Costa also stopped in at Buffalo Grille, Panera Bread, a Greek(?) place and sushi joint we couldn't identify on his Houston trip.

RoadEats is reportedly being considered by Bravo and The Travel Channel, and shouldn't be confused with Road Eats, a new show on Discovery that asks truckers what restaurants they recommend.

I get why Costa would want to stop at Freebirds, with its emphasis on music (the Shepherd location often hosts acoustic performers on weekends). But does the appearance of a rocker wearing leopard-print leggings make the burrito chain more or less cool?

And when it comes to RoadEats, would you rather get restaurant tips from a rocker or a trucker?

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sudden midtown shutter

Innovative Houston steak restaurant flames out after only 2 years

Medium Rare/Facebook

Medium Rare serves a steak dinner for $28.95.

A Washington, D.C.-based restaurant that only serves one entree is closings its Houston outpost. Medium Rare will close after service this Sunday, September 6.

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A post shared by Medium Rare Houston (@mediumrarehouston)

“After two incredible years, we’re sorry to share that this Sunday night will be our last service in Houston,” the post reads in part. “To our Houston community, thank you for welcoming us and supporting us over the past two years.”

Founded in Washington, D.C. in 2011 by chef and restaurateur Mark Bucher, Medium Rare serves a very simple, prix-fixe menu. Every diner receives bread, a green salad, and steak frites — a coulotte (top sirloin) topped with a Bordelaise-style sauce and paired with hand cut fries — for about $30. Vegetarians may replace the steak with a grilled portobello topped with a roasted red pepper sauce. Even better, the price includes a second serving of steak and fries.

Diners could enhance their meal with oversized desserts like apple pie, a hot fudge sundae, or chocolate cake. The restaurant also served weekend brunch, which drew a following for its bottomless mimosas.

The restaurant opened in The Mix at Midtown development (3201 Louisiana St.) in November 2024. Its closure follows that of its neighbors, fast casual concepts Bol and Pok Pok Po, both of which closed last month.

Like both of those concepts, Medium Rare might not be gone for good. “It’s not goodbye. Just goodbye for now,” the post states. The restaurant's Dallas location remains open.

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