End of Royal Oak Era

Montrose Sunday funday spot set to close with mega partying, plans to reopen with new concept

Royal Oak will close on September 11.

One of Montrose's most popular Sunday funday destinations is preparing to end its five-year run on lower Westheimer, but a new concept will soon take its place.

Serial entrepreneur Shawn Bermudez — the owner of a range of bars and restaurants including Pistolero's, Stone's Throw, and the Burger Joint — announced on Monday that Royal Oak Bar & Grill will close after service on September 11 to undergone a series of renovations. After changes that include the installation of a partially covered, wrap-around patio, the space will reopen with a new, still-undecided name.

"I'm really proud of what we have accomplished over the near six years we have been open, but I feel it's time to revamp the building and bring about a new concept that I have been conceptualizing over the past six months," Bermudez said in response to CultureMap's request for comment about his plans. "I'm really excited about the upcoming project and hope that Houston enjoys and supports my next venture."

Adding a bigger patio as part of overall renovations has been something of a trend recently. In Midtown, the Salt N Pepper Group converted Celtic Gardens into Irish Cowboy and just finished renovations at Pub Fiction that sound similar to Bermudez's plans. Royal Oak competitors like La Grange and Doc's Motorworks have proven to be popular by offering significantly more outdoor space.

To celebrate its status as one of the pivotal concepts to bring some of Midtown's party atmosphere to Montrose, Royal Oak will throw a week long closing party titled The End of an Era that features a range of drink specials: everything from $5 pours of Fireball and Maker's Mark to discounts on beer and cocktails and half-off select whiskeys. The final Sunday will be a blow out farewell bash.

After Royal Oak closes, Bermudez will attempt to move the Sunday party to Pistolero's by expanding its patio, running margarita and mimosa specials, and highlighting its food menu developed by Burger Joint chef Matthew Pak. While his plans for Royal Oak remain murky, Bermudez earned his "King of the Curve" moniker by knowing his audience. Whatever he has in mind to replace Royal Oak, expect it to be a hotspot.

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a spoonful of sugar

New Mexican eatery sweetens Houston with 150 spirits and bold flavors

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

A Dallas-based Mexican restaurant is coming to Houston. Mexican Sugar will open its first Houston location in Montrose this December.

Located next to Georgia James in the Regent Square mixed-use development, Mexican Sugar will occupy a two-story, 13,000-square-foot building. All that room offers seating for 375 as well as two private dining rooms with full audio-visual capabilities. Both the upstairs and downstairs patios will have a view of nearby Buffalo Bayou Park.

Its part of FB Society, the Dallas-based hospitality group behind Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines, and Haywire, the Texas-inspired comfort food restaurant that opened its first Houston-area location earlier this year. Mexican Sugar has three locations in the Dallas area: Plano, Las Colinas, and Uptown Dallas.

In a release, Mexican Sugar touts its use of seasonal ingredients. It also makes its tortillas by hand. Menu highlights include skirt steak, lobster fundido, and a bone-in pork chop. At brunch, look for options such as cajeta French toast, Benedictos Rancheros, and vanilla-cinnamon pancakes.

Agave fans will find plenty of choices courtesy of more the 150 tequilas and mezcals. They’re available in individual pours as well as in flights that allow customers to compare the flavors of the different spirits.

“Our goal is to create a dining experience that blends bold Mexican flavors with our signature style of hospitality that stays two steps ahead,” Justin Beam, Mexican Sugar’s director of operations, said in a statement. “We’re excited to offer Houstonians an immersive Mexican experience in a fresh, light, and approachable way.”

Courtesy of Mexican Sugar

Mexican Sugar is coming to Regent Square in December.

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