a peaceful patio bar

Chef trio unites for Midtown patio bar serving fancy po' boys and frozen cocktails

Three chefs and former colleagues are reuniting to open Midtown's newest patio bar. Johnny's Gold Brick owner Benjy Mason (formerly a chef at Down House) has teamed up with former Bernadine's chefs Graham Laborde and Chris Roy to open Winnie's later this fall.

Located in the former Natachee's space in the Mid-Main development, Winnie's will offer a modern, cocktail-forward take on a classic po' boy shop. The project evolved out of the Peace Maker pop-up the trio launched last year.

“We knew we wanted to do something fun and unique,” Laborde said in a statement. "We’ve done fine dining, but we really love sandwiches and frozen drinks. This bar
grew out of things that we truly love, hanging out, arguing about sandwiches, and drinking tasty beverages.”

Those arguments led to an eclectic lineup of eight sandwiches. Naturally, the Peace Maker, a combination of fried shrimp and fried oysters, will be available. Another option will be the Mississippi Beef Debris po' boy with with braised beef, pepperoncinis, beer queso, roasted carrot ranch dressing, and Cool Ranch Doritos.

The menu will also feature shareable snacks such as pink peppercorn lemon pepper chicken wings, salads such as the Muffaletta Chop Salad, and oysters — raw and roasted. The menu will be served from lunch to late night for dine-in, to-go, or delivery via third party apps.

Johnny's bartender Garrett Lendermann developed a cocktail menu of frozen, draft, and traditional sips that aim to be refreshing. Options include a cafe su da take on a frozen Irish coffee, a hurricane soda highball, a Sherry smash, and a frozen raspberry Negroni.

“We see this bar as following in Johnny’s footsteps and being a neighborhood gathering spot for all the people who live nearby and we really wanted to take advantage of the amazing patio for people who want to get a drink and a snack in the afternoon,” Mason said.

Design elements will include exposed wood ceilings and two new bay windows that will let in more natural light. The bar top and back bar are being made by local sculptor Patrick Renner out of reclaimed wood.

The classic Peacemaker po' boy.

Photo by Emily Jaschke

The classic Peacemaker po' boy.

openings news-you-can-eat

firing up Montrose

New Houston seafood restaurant adds live-fire flair to Japanese flavors

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.

An ambitious new seafood restaurant is coming to Montrose next week. Casa Kenji will open on Tuesday, December 9.

Located in the former Andiron space (3201 Allen Pkwy), Casa Kenji is the first Houston project for New Orleans restaurateur Malachi DuPre, a former LSU standout who played briefly in the NFL before establishing Kenji and Kenji Kazoku restaurants in New Orleans. Together with former LSU teammate John “B-John” Ballis and Houston chef Bigler “Biggie” Cruz, Casa Kenji will blend Latin and Japanese influences while also incorporating live-fire elements into the restaurant’s dishes. Cruz, whose resume includes a lengthy stint at Uchi as well as working at critically acclaimed Houston seafood restaurant Golfstrømmen, tells CultureMap that Casa Kenji’s approach is the first time he can be himself in the kitchen.

“My perfect restaurant was always based on the live fire and sushi combination,” Cruz says. “My mom cooked with wood for my entire life. The live fire creates completely different flavors. The smoky flavors, the sear from the charcoal — they create a different type of memory for me.”

The use of live fire techniques will permeate Casa Kenji’s menus in ways both big and small. For example, diners will be able to feast on prawns grilled directly on charcoal and served with yuzu chili garlic, or savor lightly seared Japanese wagyu tataki paired with mushrooms. Even raw dishes will benefit from the restaurant’s wood-burning grill and stove.

“Every vegetable we peel, we make into an ash that’s a topping for the dishes. It adds a different layer of flavor,” Cruz says. Look for it in the scallop aguachile, among others.

Even vegetables get a smoky component, as in a cabbage dish that’s braised with dashi and soy sauce before being roasted and served with an onion soubise that Cruz says he developed based on techniques he learned from Golfstrømmen chef Christopher Haatuft.

“It’s rich, super savory, with smoky layers, and you get brightness from the shiso gremolata. I think it will be a signature dish for us,” the chef says.

One change to the interior is the addition of a six-seat omakase counter that looks into the kitchen. Cruz promises those diners will have an even more elevated experience than the restaurant’s regular menu, including ingredients such as Japanese wagyu and premium fish flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.

Beyond its cuisine, Casa Kenji hopes to stand out with its spacious outdoor patio. Since very few Japanese-inspired restaurants in Houston offer outdoor seating, it should appeal to diners who want a little vitamin D along with their tuna crudo.

“We’re proud to showcase the craft and creativity that defines Casa Kenji,” co-founders Cruz, Ballis, and DuPre said in a statement. “With chef Bigler Cruz at the helm — blending live-fire technique with the discipline of Japanese tradition — we’re equally honored and excited to share a unique concept that is truly rooted in passion, culture, and community.”

Casa Kenji will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 4 pm. Reservations are available on Resy.

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.