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    Top Restaurant Fights Rumors

    Critic beloved Galleria restaurant fights off closing rumors: Chef proud, but he'd like to be busier

    Eric Sandler
    Jun 23, 2014 | 2:42 pm

    Another week. Another set of rumors that a restaurant is in trouble.

    Unlike the buzz about Trenza (which was refuted by the chef to CultureMap), this week's name may surprise Houstonians who've read a series of positive reviews about it, including its selection by both CultureMap and Texas Monthly as one of 2013's best new restaurants.

    Despite the positive press is Osteria Mazzantini about to close?

    "Not at this time," chef/owner John Sheely tells CultureMap, although he acknowledges that closing rumors are swirling.

    "Of course, we're not as busy as we hoped we'd be. I'm happy with what we've done so far. Our staff's been wonderful."

    "I'm not looking for anybody" to take over the space, Sheely adds, although he says he has been approached by people who see the restaurant's monthly TABC numbers and think they could do better. In the newly released TABC mixed beverage gross tax receipts report for May, Osteria Mazzantini reported approximately a third of the sales as neighboring restaurant Caracol ($6,041 in taxes paid versus $19,235).

    Even though Caracol is roughly twice Mazzantini's size, that discrepancy has attracted suitors eager to take advantage of the restaurant's prime Galleria location.

    "Of course, we're not as busy as we hoped we'd be," Sheely admits. "I'm happy with what we've done so far. Our staff's been wonderful."

    Asked about whether he's had conversations with either The Union Kitchen or Ruggles Green, Sheely says those names "may a ring a bell" but he elects to decline to comment on either one specifically.

    Sheely says he's also heard the rumor that he's ill and will be closing the restaurant. "My health is fine," he says.

    As for the future of Osteria Mazzantini, everything is status quo for now.

    "We're still there every day," Sheely says. "We're doing our best."

    John Sheely is standing up for his new restaurant Osteria Mazzantini.

    Osteria Mazzantini with John Sheely standing in front of mural
    Photo by Paula Murphy
    John Sheely is standing up for his new restaurant Osteria Mazzantini.
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    coming to fredericksburg

    Star Houston chef signs on to luxurious Hill Country hotel

    Eric Sandler
    Oct 22, 2026 | 3:00 pm
    Aaron Bludorn headshot
    Courtesy of Bludorn Hospitality Group
    Aaron Bludorn is opening a new restaurant in Fredericksburg.

    Houston chef Aaron Bludorn is coming to the Hill Country. The chef’s Bludorn Hospitality Group will open a restaurant and lead the culinary program at The Kimpton Fredericksburg, a luxury hotel that’s expected to open in late 2027.

    The still-unnamed restaurant will be a fresh concept from the company that’s behind five Houston restaurants — its flagship fine dining concept Bludorn, seafood restaurant Navy Blue, French-inspired Perseid at the Hotel Saint Augustine, and two locations of Bar Bludorn, including its recently-opened location in The Woodlands. Later this year, Bludorn, his wife Victoria Pappas Bludorn, and their business partner Cherif Mbodji, will open a new restaurant in San Antonio.

    “We really loved the idea of being out in Fredericksburg. With us opening in San Antonio, we’ll already have a team out there,” Bludorn tells CultureMap. “We’re a growing Texas hospitality group. We see it as a great opportunity to grow our brand with Texans in really cool spaces.”

    Bludorn adds that the restaurant will be a new concept from the company. Details, including its name and menu, will be released closer to the opening.

    “We were drawn to Aaron’s ability to create a dining experience that feels both approachable and elevated, where exceptional food and thoughtful service come together in a way that makes every guest feel welcome,” said Blake Berg, senior vice president of development & construction for hotel owner DC Partners. “We recognize that experiential dining is an important part of what makes a destination successful, particularly in a market as distinctive as Fredericksburg. Our vision is to build on the area’s existing culinary character while introducing a new level of creativity, quality and hospitality. Aaron understands that balance. His philosophy aligns with our intentional approach to The Meuse, where every element is designed to complement the community, create a lasting impression and give people a reason to return.”

    First announced in 2025, the Kimpton Fredericksburg is a 210-room luxury hotel. In addition to the Bludorn restaurant, it will offer a 10,000-square-foot outdoor pool and deck, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and more than 18,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

    The hotel will anchor The Meuse, a 22-acre mixed-use development with more than 70,000 square feet of retail space. Previously announced tenants include Houston-based Padre’s Wine Company, Texas bootmaker Lucchese, westernwear label Double D Ranch, gourmet food company Fischer & Wieser, and Jackson Ballard Gallery.

    Aaron Bludorn headshot

    Courtesy of Bludorn Hospitality Group

    Aaron Bludorn is opening a new restaurant in Fredericksburg.

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