What's open

New Update: These restaurants are open and serving right now as Harvey leaves Houston

Houston, FM Kitchen and Bar, May 2017, interior

FM Kitchen & Bar is one of many Houston restaurants reopening on Wednesday.

With Harvey having moved east, more Houston restaurants have been able to reopen. Hopefully, that means Wednesday is the final day CultureMap will be providing daily updates on restaurant reopenings.

Judging by a quick scouting expedition throughout a few inner loop neighborhoods last night, Houstonians are thrilled to have their restaurants back. Every open business seemed to be packed.

While the city has months of recovery ahead, this small totem of “normal life” seems to have brought a welcome sense of relief to many people. Employees are just as happy to be out of their homes and serving customers.

Rather than list all of the restaurants that are open, the below list only includes restaurants that are reopening today. See yesterday's list for even more restaurants, although be advised that hours of operation are still in flux.

CultureMap will update this article at 3 pm. Restaurants that have reopened today and want to be on this list may post in the comments or email eric@culturemap.com.

Montrose:
Boheme - Open beginning at noon.
Cane Rosso - Open beginning at 11 am with a limited menu.
Common Bond - Open from 11 am to 5 pm with a limited menu.
El Tiempo - 1308 location has reopened, but the Annex location on Westheimer is still closed.
The Pit Room - Open beginning at 11 am with a full menu.
Provisions - Open from 12 pm to 6 pm with a limited menu in the bar.
Good Dog Montrose - Open until 10 pm with nearly-full menu.

Midtown:
Artisans - Open from 5 pm to 10 pm.
Fluff Bake Bar - Open from 10 am to 5 pm.
Holley's - Open for lunch and dinner with a limited menu.
Luna y Sol - Open from 11 am to 8 pm. Full hours resume Thursday.
Weights + Measures - Bakery opens at 8 am with pastries and coffee. Lunch and dinner service follows.

The Heights and surrounding neighborhoods:
Alice Blue - Open from 11 am to 8 pm or sold out.
Cane Rosso - Open beginning at 11 am with a limited menu.
Coltivare - Open from 5 pm to 9:45 with a limited menu.
Demeris Bar-B-Q - Regular hours.
Harold's in the Heights - Serving brunch from 11 am to 3 pm.
King’s BierHaus - Open from 5 pm to 9 pm with a limited menu.
Rainbow Lodge - Open beginning at 5 pm for happy hour and dinner.
Revival Market - Open from 8 am to 4 pm.

Washington Avenue:
El Tiempo - Washington Avenue location returns to business with a limited menu.
Federal Grill - Open at 4 pm with a limited menu.
FM Kitchen & Bar - Open beginning at 11 am.
Ginger & Fork - Open for normal hours.
Jax Grill - Open for regular hours.
Laurenzo’s - Open for normal hours with a limited menu.

Galleria/Tanglewood/Briargrove:
Berryhill Baja Grill - Regular hours.
Chama Gaucha - Open regular hours (11:30 am to 9:30 pm) with a full menu.
Ciao Bello - Open from 4 pm to 9:30 pm.
La Table - Marche (downstairs) open beginning at 11 am.
Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen - Open for lunch and dinner beginning at 11 am.

River Oaks/Greenway/Upper Kirby:
Berryhill Baja Grill - Regular hours.
Demeris Bar-B-Q - Regular hours.
Kata Robata - Open from 12 pm to 6 pm with its full menu.
Local Foods - Open from 11 am to 3 pm.
Petite Sweets - Open from 11 am to 7 pm.
Relish Restaurant & Bar - Open for lunch and dinner from 11 am to 8 pm.
Tony’s - Open from 4 pm to 9:30 pm.

Rice Village/West University:
D'Amico's Italian Market Café - Open for lunch and dinner beginning at 11 am until 10 pm or sold out.
Hungry's - Open beginning at 11 am with a limited menu.
Picnic - Open beginning at 10 am.
Pokeology - Open for regular business hours (11:30 am to 10 pm).
Prego - Open from 11 am to 8 pm.
The Raven Grill - Open beginning at noon.
Tiny’s No. 5 - Open from 9 am to 9 pm.
Tiny’s Milk and Cookies - Open from 10 am to 6 pm

Downtown:
Main Kitchen at the JW Marriott - Open to the public for lunch and dinner.
Xochi - Open beginning at 12 pm with a limited menu. Cocktail specials will benefit Harvey relief efforts.

Memorial:
Kuu - Open beginning at 11 am.
Jonathan’s the Rub - Open for lunch and dinner beginning at 12 pm.
Vallone’s - Open from 4 pm to 9:30 pm.

Bellaire/Southwest Houston:
Himalaya - Open for regular hours.
Jax Grill - Open for regular hours

Tomball:
Tejas Chocolates - Open at 11 am with a limited menu.

Update, 3 pm:

Montrose:
Good Dog Houston - Open from 11 am to 10 pm.
L’Olivier - Open for regular business.
Max’s Wine Dive - Open from 4 pm to 10 pm with a limited menu.
Pistolero’s - Open beginning at 4 pm with $1 tacos for dine-in customers.
Riel - Open beginning at 5 pm with a limited menu.
Roost - Open beginning at 5 pm with a full menu.
Sorrento Ristorante - Open for regular business.
Vinoteca Poscol - Open for regular business.

Midtown/Third Ward:
Natachee’s Supper & Punch - Open for regular business.
Oporto Fooding House & Wine - Open for regular business.
Ray’s Real Pit BBQ Shack - Open from 11 am to 4 pm. Regular hours resume Thursday.
Rico’s Morning, Noon + Night - Open for regular business

The Heights and surrounding neighborhoods:
Antone’s - Open for regular business.
Bernie's Burger Bus - Open for regular hours with a limited menu.
Connie’s Seafood - Open for regular business.
Good Dog Houston - Open from 11 am to 10 pm.
Karbach Brewing - Open beginning at 11 am.
Plonk Bistro - Open for regular business.

Washington Avenue:
Federal Grill - Open beginning at 4 pm with a limited menu.
Jax Grill - Open for regular business.
Max’s Wine Dive - Open from 4 pm to 10 pm with a limited menu.
Ninja Ramen - Open for dinner beginning at 5 pm.
Pi Pizza - Open for dinner with a limited menu beginning at 4 pm.
Pluckers Wing Bar - Open from 2 pm to 10 pm with a limited menu.
Star Fish - Open beginning at 4 pm with a full menu.

Galleria/Tanglewood/Briargrove:
Antone’s - Open for regular business.
Bosscat Kitchen & Libations - Open from 4 pm to 10 pm with a limited menu.
Dish Society - Open for regular hours.
Eloise Nichols - Open for regular business hours with a limited menu.
Houston’s - Open from 12 pm to 7 pm. Kirby location expected to open Thursday.
Krisp Bird & Batter - Open for regular business
Michael’s Cookie Jar - Open for regular business; other locations will follow this week.
Taverna - Open from 2 pm to 9 pm with a limited menu.
Toulouse - Open from 2 pm to 9 pm with a limited menu.

River Oaks/Greenway/Upper Kirby:
Americas - Open beginning at 5 pm.
Frank’s Americana Revival - Open for regular business.
Oishii - Open from 11 am to 10 pm.
Ouisie’s Table - Open for dinner beginning at 5 pm.

Rice Village/West University/Bellaire:
Bernie's Burger Bus - Open for regular hours with a limited menu.
Fajitas a Go Go - Open for regular business.
Jax Grill - Open for regular business.
Saltillo Mexican Kitchen - Open for regular business.
Thai Village - Both locations open for regular business.
The Ginger Man - Open until 11 pm; normal hours resume once the curfew is lifted.

Downtown/EaDo/Second Ward:
Cajun Stop - Open for regular business.
Ninfa’s on Navigation - Open for regular business.
Your Pie - Open for regular business.
Vic & Anthony’s - Open for dinner beginning at 5 pm.

Museum District:
Bodegas Taco Shop - Open from 12 pm to 9 pm. Regular hours resume Thursday.
Danton’s - Open for dinner beginning at 4 pm.
Lucille's - Open from 11 am to 10 pm with a limited menu.

Memorial:
Grub Burger Bar - Open for regular business
Liberty Kitchen at the Treehouse - Open from 5 pm until the curfew.
Pappy’s Cafe - Open for lunch and dinner beginning at 12 pm.
State Fare - Open at 3 pm with a limited menu.

Suburbs:
Cajun Stop - Open for regular business in The Woodlands.
Dish Society - Open for regular hours in Katy.
Fernando’s - Open for dinner in Sugar Land beginning at 5:15.
Grazia Italian Kitchen - Pearland and Clear Lake locations open for regular business.
Great W’Kana Cafe - Open for regular business in the Energy Corridor.
Grub Burger Bar - Open for regular business in The Woodlands.
Hasta la Pasta - Open for regular business in Katy.
Killen’s Steakhouse - Open from 4 pm to 9 pm with a limited menu.
V Bistro Noodle & Grill - Open in Humble for regular business.

Various locations:
Avenida Brazil - All three locations are open and serving its Houston Restaurant Weeks menu.
Churrascos - Most locations open for lunch and dinner.
Mambo Seafood - Seven of eight Houston locations open for regular business.
Molina’s Cantina - All three locations open for dinner tonight.
Perry’s Steakhouse - Five Houston-area locations open for dinner beginning at 4 pm.
Raising Cane’s - Multiple locations open for regular business.
Saltgrass Steakhouse - Multiple locations open for regular business.
Which Wich - Memorial and Vintage Park locations have reopened.

lists 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.

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