all that glitters

Favorite Heights bagel shop known for house-cured lox will soon shutter

Golden Bagel & Coffee will close at the end of September.

A popular destination for bagels and coffee will soon close its doors. Golden Bagels & Coffee announced on Instagram that its last day of service will be September 26.

"We are proud to have served you and become an integral part of our Heights community over the past four years," the post reads. "We thank you for allowing us to be a small part of your lives."

Originally opened by Katz Coffee owner Avi Katz and local attorney Gregg Goldstein in January 2018, Golden Bagels & Coffee quickly became known for its freshly made bagels and diverse selection of schmears. Unlike other bagel shops in Houston, Golden cures and smokes its own lox and nova, adding an extra level of craft to its bagel sandwiches.

The menu grew to include more sandwiches, bagel dogs, and sweets. A full range of Katz coffee, teas, and other drinks provides refreshment.

After opening the cafe, Katz stepped away from a day to day role to focus on his coffee business. Goldstein declined to comment on the reasons behind the closure, but fans have been sharing memories on social media of their favorite meals at the establishment.

Golden's imminent closure leaves the Inner Loop with the Hot Bagel Shop as its only reliable bagel option. Meyerland favorite the Bagel Shop Bakery opened a second location in Bellaire last year. Kenny & Ziggy's uses bagels from Sugar Land's Bagel Express. In Cypress, Jersey Bagels serves a range of bagels and spreads.

the-heights closings

bring on barnaby's

Favorite Houston comfort food spot picks Garden Oaks for 10th location

Courtesy of Barnaby's Cafe

Barnaby's Cafe is coming to the Stomping Grounds this fall.

Earlier this week, real estate developer Bryan Danna promised “big news…very soon” about a new tenant for the former LuLoo’s Day & Night space at his Stomping Grounds development in Garden Oaks. That news is that Houston favorite Barnaby’s Cafe has claimed the space for a new location that will open later this year.

When a Barnaby’s decal appear on the restaurant’s door a couple of days ago, news of the restaurant’s imminent arrival spread quickly on social media. It will be Barnaby’s tenth location, joining outposts in Montrose, River Oaks, the Heights, and more.

The restaurant will occupy a 2,250-square-foot space at the Stomping Grounds. It will offer a to-go window for people hanging out in the development’s green space as well as a gated, dog-friendly patio. Houston artist Roberto Cervantes will contribute works to the restaurant’s interior.

Founded in 1992 by restaurateur Jeff Gale, Barnaby’s is known for its wide-ranging and affordable menu of classic American fare, including salads, sandwiches, breakfast items, and dinner entrees. Customer favorites include the Lebanese chicken fattoush salad, chipotle black bean burger, baby back ribs, and green eggs, which are scrambled with spinach and artichoke hearts. Dogs can snack on a special “puppy menu” of ground beef, sliced chicken breast, or scrambled eggs over brown rice.

Stomping Grounds green space A to-go window will expedite orders for people in the Stomping Grounds' green space.Courtesy of Stomping Grounds

“Bringing Barnaby’s to Garden Oaks and Oak Forest has been on my wish list for more than a decade, so I’m incredibly grateful that Jeff Gale and his team saw Stomping Grounds as the right fit,” Danna said in a statement. “Jeff and I go back to his first Heights location, which was one of Barnaby’s first big moves north of Montrose, and I have always respected what he and his longtime team have built. Thirty years in the restaurant business is a serious accomplishment. You do not make it that long unless you know how to take care of people, build loyalty, and become part of the neighborhood.”

When it opens this fall, Barnaby’s will be open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. It will join other restaurants at the Stomping Grounds, including Fat Cat Creamery, Tex-Mex restaurant La Mex, Bollo Woodfired Pizza, casual sushi restaurant Himari, Little Sister Cake Shop, and High Five Mini Bar. Earlier this week, casual Vietnamese restaurant Pho Prime announced that it had claimed the space formerly occupied by The Pho Fix for a new location that will also open this fall.

news-you-can-eat openings stomping grounds barnaby's cafe