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    Fired up in Montrose

    Pit Room owners kindle new, wood-burning steakhouse for historic Montrose space

    Eric Sandler
    Jul 29, 2021 | 11:02 am

    The owner of two of Montrose's most carnivore-friendly restaurants is adding a steakhouse to its portfolio. Sambrooks Management Company, owners of The Pit Room, Candente, and Heights-area seafood restaurant 1751 Sea & Bar, will open a new steakhouse called Andiron in the first quarter of 2022.

    Andiron will blend the company's wood-fired cooking experience from its barbecue restaurant The Pit Room and Tex-Mex concept Candente with its fine dining chops from 1751 Sea & Bar. Sambrooks Management owner Michael Sambrooks tells CultureMap he envisions a steakhouse built around carefully sourced ingredients that are cooked simply.

    "This is a passion project for our team — we are excited to bring together all we do well in what will be one of the most exciting dining spaces in Houston," Sambrooks added in a statement.

    That "exciting dining space" will be located at 3201 Allen Pkwy, the historic Star Engraving Company building that was most recently home to Stages Theater. Local developer Radom Capital has renovated the building, adding tenants such as Sugar Land-based coffee shop BlendIn Coffee Club and a 300-space parking garage that's shared with The Gordy, Stages' new home.

    "We're going to try to flip the traditional format to where you can have a meal of smaller portions," Sambrooks says. "Almost like what we do at 1751 where it's small plates based and you have a family-style entree."

    For example, instead of a giant crab cake, Andiron might offer diners a two-to-three ounce portion of fresh Dungeness crab that's grilled. These preliminary ideas will turn into menu items as the recipe testing process takes shape.

    He's working with well-regarded California producer Niman Ranch to supply the restaurant with ribeyes, strips, and filets. In addition, he's looking into importing a wide variety of Japanese beef that will be cooked over binchotan charcoal.

    Andiron will occupy approximately 4,500 square feet with an expansive, 2,800-square-foot patio. Sambrooks has enlisted New York-based design firm AvorKO and local architect Kevin Tietz with Phillip Ewald Architecture to create the restaurant's look.

    Wood-fired restaurants look to be an emerging trend in 2022. In addition to Andiron, both Chris Shepherd and B&B Butchers owner Ben Berg have announced their own wood-burning concepts that are slated to open next year.

    Andiron will open next year.

    Andiron Steakhouse rendering bar
    Courtesy of AvroKO
    Andiron will open next year.
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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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