Etta has come along

Chicago-based Italian restaurant signs on to new downtown high-rise

Expect wood-fired pizzas at Etta.

Courtesy of Etta

Downtown Houston's newest high-rise will be home to a Chicago-based Italian restaurant. What If Syndicate will bring its casual neighborhood restaurant Etta to the Texas Tower.

Slated to open in February 2022, Etta will occupy approximately 6,400 square feet in the new building, which is currently under construction at the site of the Houston Chronicle's former headquarters at 845 Texas Ave.

Developed by chef Danny Grant, Etta serves dishes made with a wood-fired grill and oven such as fire baked focaccia, ricotta with honey & truffle, pizzas, handmade pastas, and more. Diners may also select shareable entrees such as a 40-ounce, bone-in short rib, roasted whole branzino, or a porterhouse steak. The restaurant touts local sourcing, so expect some tweaks for its Texas outposts in Houston and Dallas.

Prices run in the $18-25 range for pastas (tagliolini with shrimp scampi, buccatini cacio e pepe), $20 for pizzas, $10-22 for starters, and $12-15 for salads. Entrees start at $30 but go up quickly for the heartier, shareable items.

In addition to Etta, What If will open a separate concept in the tower's pavilion area. Details on the 2,000-square-foot establishment are not yet available.

What If has big plans for Texas. The company also announced it will bring Maple & Ash, its upscale steakhouse concept, to Dallas in early 2023. The restaurant group previously announced plans to open an Etta in Dallas in 2022. Dallas is already home to two of the company's other restaurants: Italian steakhouse Monarch and Kessaku, a lavish sushi and cocktail lounge, CultureMap Dallas reports.

“We are thrilled to be once again expanding our Texas footprint through this multi-project partnership with Hines,” David Pisor, partner at What If Syndicate, said in a statement. “The vision and professionalism their teams bring to our projects is unmatched, the Maple & Ash Dallas and etta Houston will be world-class restaurants delivering on what we do best – good food, great service and incredible experiences.”

When complete, the 47-story Texas Tower will offer 1 million square feet of class AA office space. Prominent tenants include global real estate development firm Hines, which is building the project in partnership with Ivanhoé Cambridge, and law firm Vincent & Elkins, which will occupy the top seven floors, as CultureMap has previously reported. Other amenities include community gardens on the 12th floor and a high-performance fitness center.

high-rises openings news-you-can-eat downtown

The Audrey's premiere

Hollywood-inspired Houston restaurant sets Uptown opening date

Photo by Ben Brown

The Audrey serves decadent seafood towers.

A restaurant inspired by a glamorous Hollywood icon is ready to make its debut. The Audrey Restaurant & Bar will open on Wednesday, August 5 at Aspire Post Oak, a 40-story luxury high-rise at 1616 Post Oak Blvd.

Part of Culinary Khancepts, the hospitality group behind Liberty Kitchen, State Fare, the River Oaks Theatre, and others, the Audrey occupies almost 5,500 square feet on the building’s first floor. The restaurant seats about 160 people, dividend between a bar and lounge, main dining room, outdoor patio, and private dining areas.

Owners Denise and Omar Khan worked with Laura Loreman Interior Design Studio to bring elements of Audrey Hepburn’s signature style to the restaurant’s interior. Details include Tiffany blue interiors, crystal chandeliers, gold accents, floor-to-ceiling windows. An Audrey Hepburn-inspired mural and floral installations greet diners as they enter.

On the culinary side, the restaurant will serve the same menu of contemporary American fare that’s served the original location well since it opened in The Woodlands three years ago. That includes pastas, sandwiches, steaks, and seafood towers. Signature items include: citrus scallops with fennel-orange salad, truffle mushroom ravioli, and beef Wellington. The popular “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” brunch will also be served at the new location.

Mayahuel chef Luis Robledo Richards designed the Audry’s dessert menu. Winner of Latin America’s Best Pastry Chef in 2019 and a judge on Netflix’s baking competition show Sugar Rush, the chef’s menu includes chocolate cake, mascarpone cheesecake, and coconut panna cotta.

"Opening in Houston has always been part of our vision for The Audrey," Omar Khan said in a statement. "The response to our Woodlands location confirmed what we hoped — that guests were looking for a restaurant where exceptional food, genuine hospitality and timeless design come together naturally. Audrey Hepburn represented elegance, warmth and kindness, and those values continue to inspire every detail of the guest experience.”

Photo by Ben Brown

The Audrey serves decadent seafood towers.

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