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.

closings nightlife drinks

mandito's on the move

Armandos' family-friendly, Tex-Mex sister restaurant taps Katy for 2nd Houston-area outpost

Photo by Mackenzie Smith Kelley

Mandito's serves all the Tex-Mex favorites.

Katy residents will soon have a new option for fajitas, enchiladas, and margaritas. Mandito’s Tex-Mex has claimed the former Jax Grill location (9910 Gaston Rd.) for its second Houston-area outpost.

Photo by Mackenzie Smith Kelley

Mandito's serves all the Tex-Mex favorites.

Part of the Palacios Murphy Hospitality Group that also includes River Oaks favorite Armandos and Italian restaurant Lulu’s, Mandito’s is a more family-friendly establishment than its upscale siblings. Joining an original location in Round Top and an outpost in Bellaire that opened earlier this year, the restaurant takes its name from the childhood nickname of co-owner Armando Palacios — “Mandito” is “little Armando.” It is expected to open in early 2024.

The menu centers around burritos, enchiladas, flautas, and fajitas as well as the signature burrito bowl, a clever reimagining of a taco salad with ground beef, steak, or chicken topped with lettuce, corn, cheese, avocado, beans, and more. Other favorites include the Tex-Mex Kale Caesar, Tres Hombres Plate (three different enchiladas), and the Tex-Mex Banana Split. They’re paired with a robust range of frozen and shaken margaritas.

Palacios Murphy COO Alex Curley lives in Katy and sends his children to Katy ISD schools. He’s bullish on area that’s grown 20-percent since 2020, according to a release.

“As a Katy resident, I am ecstatic to be able to oversee the construction of a Mandito’s Tex-Mex in the community that I love deeply,” Curley said. “I have no doubt that Katy residents and visitors to the area’s numerous attractions will quickly fall in love with Mandito’s Tex-Mex. We have put a significant amount of work into making this concept a neighborhood locale that caters to a number of different audiences who are collectively in search of a communal space that prides itself upon delivering delicious food and drink selections and outstanding service to each and every guest.”

In keeping with that optimism, the Katy location will be slightly larger than its Bellaire sibling, with the ability to seat over 150 people indoors and 50 more on a patio that will look onto the development’s green space. In addition, an expanded to-go area will have a dedicated entrance to expedite pick-ups.

The restaurant wants to give back to its neighborhood, too. Therefore it will host spirit nights for local schools and sports team and offer a 10-percent discount to Katy ISD employees and first responders.

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